Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-17


Letter from Cot. JokHsfsn-fle Sibiey Terts-
One Ration a day-me Dirimg sHt--Coi. John
: ston aazious for Battle soitA the Saints. 81
The following is an extract from a letter from
Colonel Johnston, commander of the Utah exps-
dition, to member Of his family in Louisville,
Kentucky: .s... --I..-f .ye, f0s
CAMP Scorr, near Fort Bridger. cd
blsck's Fork Of Green river, Dec. l2,lss7.
nave an opportunity Of sending you line but
only time to say few words, a. ! hare been en-
gagged till the last moment in my public CORE
spondence -
We are still encamped at this place, and will
continue until we move I'm the Spring. The army
mas abundance Of food and clothing, and is well
sheltered from cold In Sibley's tents. With your
knowledge Of camp life you would pronounce
our situation one Of great comfort. These Sib-
ley tents are tall conical tents twelve feet high,
with vane to prevent its smoking. which II
does not quite do. With a stove or fre built In
the middle, IT II great improvement IN the COM
fort OF the soldier, but not rs good as wall tent,
with stove, for an officer.
said we have abundance, but inasmuch as no
one. from the Governor and civil officers to the
private soldier, can obtain more than one ration,
we have nothing to give In the way of hospitality,
for If invite my neighbor to dine, he would be
no better on than IL he had staid at home, while
should be damaged by his eating my ration
Inc regular diner out would fare badly here.
What genius and tact he must be endowed with
II he could procure an invitation .,
The day before the reduction took place, we
gave a dinner to the Governor, Chief Justice Il ,
on our surplus In the larder Since then do not
think we could feed an extra rat at our mess
such Is our health and nicely il the quantity
allowed adjusted TO the measure of our wants
We, OF course, find IL irksome here, but time
Will soon roll round, and we shall find ourselves
again In the midst Of those we love and admire
Until then we must be patient We fear our
friends will suffer from groundless apprehpns ions
on our account. We have reason to COMPLAIN
OF any thing but absence from our families
Some think the MOrmOns, when IL necessary to
make the issue with them will submit to the
government. do not agree with them I think
their fanaticism and villainy will lead them TO
try one encounter at least; and think our Gov
eminent ought to desire IL, as afording simple
solution Of difficult political question If thew
resist, final settlement would be on the basis of
terms Of adjustment
Brigham Young wrote to me few DAYS since.
sending, as present, some sou pounds of salt,
or II preferred. we might buy IL for the troops
Knowing they would entertain fiendish deliy ht
In the knowlt dye that we would starve or freeze,
neither OF which We intend to do, although we
have no salt, sent it back to him with this mes
sage: brigham Young and his associates are in
rebellion against the government that until they
return to their allegiance and obey the laws
will accept ne favor or courtesy from them nor
hold any correspondence with Them that when
advance, the people who remain at their homes
or engage only in their private business will be
undisturbed. IL find them arrayed in arms
Will attack them wherever meet them; that il
they entertained the deiusive hope that the army
would retire from the Territory, they had better
Danish 1t; that the army will never take one ste
oack." A. s. JOHNSTON.