The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-30

From the New York Herald.
THE LAST NEWS FROM THE UTAH EXPEDITION.
We publish elsewhere the official report of Col Cooke
Of his march across the plains to his junction with the
army for Utah at Camp Scott, Fort Bridger Our
Washington correspondent also advises us that the last
official adviccs from the Utah expedition received at the
War Department the Secretary of War thinks ought not
be published In addition to these facts we learn that
Gen Scott will positively leave for California on the goth
Of next month in order to organize the column that Is to
that State in the spring against the Mormons
Col Cooke report exhibits sad picture OF hasy and
immature preparation and the snclnation Of the Sec
of War give to the public the last news received
from Col Johnston leads to the suspicion that there Is
foundation for the reports that are beginning to OBJ
tain edence in relation to the condition Of the troops at
Camp Scott It will be remembered that the last official
advces which readily given 10 the public by the
War Department stated that the troops all comfort
ably housed Fort Brdger and that the trains were
all in with provisions enough, excepting only SALT to last
until next spring or early next summer Col Cooke had
been with the animals to pasturage some miles
distant and Captain Marcy had gone to Taos to procure
more cattle to the expedition in the spring The
represented to be comfortable and in high spirits
Since then adverse have been leaking out and
it has been stated that the position of affairs In the expe
dton is very bad indeed in consequence of great
bunder or negligence in its organization In fact il is
the opinion OF some Of best informed military men
that the position of army Camp Scott il not whit
better than that of Napoeons army at Moscow and
that it may experience horrors great those of Napo
Icons retreat from Russia if it does not perish in the
camp without being able to attempt return across the
plains This is horrible thing to contemplate and will
stae the whole country and should the evil prognosti-
cations that beginning to be made turn out true
in part fearful responsibility must somewhere
such result could only follow from the most culpablc
Encouragement in the organization of the expedition on
criminal neglect Of orders and obligations in the carry
ing ont of the plan. s
Ii any of these disasters that being widely pro-
phesed should come upon the Utah expeston-if it
should turn out that criminal negligence ignorance
has hastily thrust the brave that compose 1t need
sy and improperly prepared, into danger, from whence
they can neither extrcate Themselves nor be extrcated
the country will demand and insist upon the most search
my investigation and that punishment shall fall where
ever may be deserved We convinced that the Pres
dent enterains proper sense Of his duty in this NATTER
and that he will not hesitate moment to perform IT,
Every oflicer-from q cutcnantge general down to the
Youngest lieutenant from the Secretary Of War down to
he last subwi IL necessary be brought to the bar of
acourt martial and the strictcst accountability cxactcd
nom all and wherever the blame may fall the prudence
nd Justice of the President will that illavised
emency shall not interfere with the due of jus.
dce