Arkansas intelligencer., 1858-04-30
The Utah Gxpedition-The Escape of Nor
mon Pnsoner-Traitors il the Camp.

tho SdnP.
Dispatches from Colonel Johnston, dated
at Camp Scott, have been received, but it is
not thought expedient to publish them. The
following IS given as an extract, dated Jaaua-
~ goth:
81 have nothing material to report since my
last communication. Tho troops remain in
excellent condition, and the weather !. not 20
cold as was anticipated from the severity of
the beginning, aud the healthiulness of this
climate at this season is unsurpassed. We
have not been prevented thus far from the
daily instruction of troops in the field"
The Tribune contains the following letter
OF later date;
Camp Scott, L. T., Jan. 81, 185S.-We
have at last received mail from the States
The mail which left Independence on the Ist
Of November reached hero on the 18th alt,
having been ei@hty-eight days on the road.
This delay Is not owing 10 snow or bad wea-
ther, as the following account from gentle
man who WAS a passenger will show:
1t seemed. that the mail started in charge
OF an experienced conductor. Upon It's arri-
val al Fort kearEy, this conductor requested
the principal conductor, Mr.. Miles, who was
there at the time, TO let him have two more
men to assist him, rs he found that the two
he had with him were ret sufficient to take
care of and protect the heavy mail which he
had to take Mics refused to 90 so, and the con-
ductor refused TO 90 further, and returned to
the States. Miles ;hereupon engaged a man
named lk 'mPson, who has been Ioafi;ng for
some time about the Fort, a. conductor, and
gave him the charge Of the E?ail.
When he reached the Platte bridge, or the
]st Of December, Thompson concluded to rest
awhile, aud therefore Laid by there for eleven
days, when on the 18th Elt-, Mr. Jones. the
other conductor arrived tLere in charge of
the mail which left cur camp on the Ist of
December lie directed Thompson to start
Immediately on with tae mail. 1t Was. how
ever, three days after be left before Thomp-
Il tutcl-
Daring the stcPpags at the bridge the
greater portion Of the mzi. WIS thrown into
the blacksmith sEoV, auj the remainder left
In the WAGONS: and during this time there
were several strangers constantly about the
premises. Aft,r leaving the bridge and trav-
cling Oh fcw days, Thompson pretended to
lose the road, auI, after wandering about the
country several dsy>, returned to a trading
post Oh the ma.H road. Here he stopIcd
some twelve OF Jh.,taeu DAYS, until an express
Gnnu came up;.yw I-gruu.e. wAcu hc IN saged
jhe cxpre-sulau :v~ Lgw him the road, and
..tm- ont.
. Since Thrmpsci'- arrival here, lie has been
recognized uy -ru.l usR who formerly resided
IN Salt Lake Cst., i a Mormon: and he i.
uuIegblJi.y one @! ,Au~e whom brigham sent
- TRY ami obtain 4 situation in some govern
iueII tram to act "a, = spy. THcrc j no doubt
Int tha; The ~ ti WAS oacuei at tho bridge.
.z,s it contains but ,hrre letters for brigham
Young, and the last contained thirty or forty.
l;ri-hauG la, IN '~ possession n complete set
*: brass lo--k post .tIcc KEYS belonging to the
Silt Lax C.ty Iy>,oiicc. and there would be
no difficulty, therefore ia opening and closing
she .acks.
The road from here to the States our cx-
Trc>smen report Is being in excellent condi-
ton and free from NOW. AIr. Thomson vii
DC taken ca-e o.
The whole camp WIS thrown into excite
'.nent lat night by the report Of the escape
OF the Mormon .r!~1G-r, Stow ell together with
"A cJrp,rai, who was IN confinement on nc
,coum; Il some m.-lemeauJr. They were in
.cllaTgr of y:., -H.aG of the lg;h iHfrutrv-
Just after agr: taav oa,aiua. permission to
- oUi yl tine tent ou some excuse or other.
IN charge ut a s.n,i.r.; they had no sooner
..c.,rI:I tHe bu~..-> which line the creek near
t.i" guard t.rr. th.u they started au,. ran,
,.uL, although heavily iryu.d with chains, cx
trn!.nc from ONE f,1t 20 the other. they sue
.c..edcd IN cougsal.n-, themselves in the bushes,
ami makinZ Z ,1i tHci. e-capc.
The ,-u..uei who Was sent - watch them
fired at them when they started 20 run. but
without effect. Several companies were i'm
mcdiat,ly ordered out in pursuit, and the
bushes we're thoroughly searched, without
success. during the nigh. several bodies OF
men were sent out, with ten days provisions.
in different directions in ordvr to retakc them
If possible, in whatever route they might take.
Up to this time, however, no trace has been
found Of them. Il is reported that Howard,
u Mormon who was arrested on the Sweetwa-
ter, and confined Oh a charge of treason. but
against whom the grand jury found no indict-
mcut, and who WIS con-c lventy released q
week ago, and ordered 10 leave camp, was
seen in camp Yesterday morning and after
noon, anI j. Is more than likely that he was
connected with the escape u the prisoners
and furnished them horses.
.,,.owefi is an adutant in the Mormon ar
my. and was taken prisoner on Hams Fork,
,:ogether with Col. Taylor. Stowcll had on
yiis person, at the time of his capture, several
dispatches OF most reasonable nature from
Jie.gham Young and Others, to the Mormon
forces on Green river. Taylor made his es-
cape on very stormy night, a few weeks al
Ter his capture.
The sentinel who has the prisoners in charge
was immediately arrested, AID is now in con
-snement.
1t is strongly suspected that there are ma
ny traitors in camp, and that this whole affair
was preconcerted.