The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-22
THE UTAH EXPEDITION.

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Our ExpedftiOnary Correspondence.
CAMP ON BLACKS FORK, Nov. Is, 1851.
h the letters have sent you before this have gwen
connected account OF all the military operations IN ths
direction up the date of Colonel Jonnstons assuming
command of the army for Utah on the 9th inst
On reaching the army the Colonel found his means Of
transportation very defective and crippled condition
me battery horses, mules and oxen were worn down
nth the hong march and short forage TO which they had
subjected as and unreasonable period OF the
year and were hardly travel five miles day The
amount of subsistence hand he found entirely made
quae TO meet the demand for the great number of troops
tsmsers and camp followers during the long winter be-
fore them The season for active operations in this high
latitude had passed. the weather had become nclemens
and cold and indeed the aspect Of everything, with the
exception of ardent desire of the troops to push for
ward and meet the enemy, seemed to conspire to dis
uearten him. Notwithstanding all these obstacles, our
aew commander with his usual promptitude at once dc
tsrmined TO advance as possible towards Salt Lake
City. Accordingly everything was Immediately put in
readiness and army ordered tomarch on the 6th Un
fortunately however, for the success of his pans cold
snow up the night of the 5th during which
about 400 animals were driven of by the Momons and
perished from cold and hunger. The troops however,
were put motion according to the order but ncumber
cd as they with gigantic train, extending fourteen
in the face of terrific storm most upon
the and animals. The advance did not reach camp
until dark, and the not until the following
evening.
The effects of this have dsassous In the
upon the poor and jaded animals. Besides those
that have persisted from cold and starvation, many have
cd with snow and there is hardly probability unless the
weather moderates the enduring the work that
necessarily required of them much longer upon the
meagre sustenance afforded by the dry grass.
After the march Of the 9th forced TO remain in
for three days for the purpose OF getting up the rear
recruiting the exhausted animals; during this
time the cold intense, and showed ncessanty, caus
hg great destruction mong the oxen.
Aher advance but after marching four miles
became much weared that were again forced
have never before witnessed such a of suffer
ng and destruction among the brute creation as occurred
during this short march The road literally strewed
with dead dying horses mules and oxen, that had
been down famished and abandoned by the trains
m front Of u.s. and every few minutes own column
wss brought TO sudden halt for the purpose of exr
eating from harness ANNALS that could go further
There not hundred yards of the road but what con-
Ssiaed more or less o. them.
erues that had been our compagnons du voyage, aud
had served faithfully during the long journey across
he Plains, abandoned to die OF sarvaton and many
sance Of commsseration and pity was bestowed upon
Mem the troops parsed and left them 10 the tender
mercy Of the wolves their cOadjutors the Mormons
The night Of the 10th the coldes of the seasonhe
thermometer standing at day light on the folio wing
ing at 10 degrees below large number OF the
naming animals died during the night which caused such
obliged to make two trips over the road to take
along all the supplies.
We have only about twenty miles TO march before we
reach place where shall find the requisites for
winter cantonment yet regard IL as by no means
tan that the miserable animals will live TO get there as
making only about two miles day, and this
II the expense Of large amount Of our chief item of sub
ssence-workbg What will be the result of these
disasters remains 10 he seen fear, however, that the
army In destined TO suffer much befre Is extrcated
frsm the unfortunate position in which, as understand
has been involved, being contrary to the councils OF
military authority OF the highest rank and experience.
The troops necessarily undergoing the severest SER
vice tha. has devolved upon soldiers in this
other country The propensites Of Mormon neghbors
and their o msapprehenson and disregard OF the rights
emmapdipg officer 10 exercise the strctes vigilance in
restraining their ndscrnnac pnehdnt for appropriang
The property OF others And what TN outpost picket,
CURED " be strong and always ON the alert the troops
hnd but hne time for rest And even during the short
intervals duty they have shelter but their
ten which are not much better at this nclement season
than the open air.
Mountains: may well he called sinecure and Is attend
cd with small amount of exposure and suffering II is
only two nights since that thirteen men, IN two companies,
The soldiers say they considered campaign in the Big
Cyprus swamp OF Florida hard service but they regard
that child's play when contrastcd with winter
campaign in these mountains.
Nevertheless the officers and perform their arduous
duties with perfect cheerfulness and discipline, and
wonderful as may appear, they never murmur, and
their a-dcr does not abate or falier in the slightest
such troops will perform wonders, and accomplish all
that be DONE but hardly be expected that they
will vanquish the elements-nether is II reasonable TO
anticipate that they will convert stones into raons and
thereby other obstacles that have been placed
in their way by human agency.
be possessed with the idea that the is
SUNG Of order its PRONUNCIATION and its execution
denticaly and the thing-synonymous. grant
that in well disciplined armies directed and welded by
wise able commanders, this happy state OF discipline
Dften obtains. can, however, imagine state OF thugs
where there would very wide difference. For
pie is very easy matter for man having the authori.
~ TO issue order for the army 10 march across the
Gnept in midwnter into Oregon, Utah. or even to the
Arvfh hrnla In
ment but fancy these little military operations would be
attended with eome difficulties, especially " the snow
should fall deep. Neither does strike requiring
any very extraordinary amount OF martial capacity for
general 70 order army 10 march certain number Of
ste 10 the hour, specified number OF miles per day,
and always camp upon good grass wood and water but
unless he has previously Brought under subecton 70 his
authority that eiiwlled aud caprcious old lady, Dame
Nature, Il Is highly probable that the army would lnd,
arriving a the Of the prescribed day march
that she had failed 10 comply with that portion Of the
der which requires her supply the necessary requisites
for encsmping.
I, also no very difficult matter for the general direct
his subodDaes 10 send forward supplies for an army but
NJ without convoys they have To pass through country
infested by savage and civilized enemies, IL he fails TO
attend TO the details OF the execution these supplies
reach their destination, particularly n neither him.
scf the subordnates participate any Of the
sconvenlences resulting from neglect or failure IN their
rs simple affair for the senior OF a staff
department 70 sit in comfortable Office In the Fast and
order his clerks out door agents 10 load Of
wagons with certain stores for army but should he
and not give matter HIS personal attention. whsever
amount Of self graduation he may appropriate HIMSELF
whatever applause he may Interested wspapers
heap upon him, s ten TO there will be neglect or
omssiOn IN the execution OF his orders
wish to pc distinctly understood that discuss this
subject fhc general principles OF military admins
6aion and whatever others may do, dsclaim making,
ss this time, any personal applications
believe pretty generally conceded that Napoleon
very considerable General and clever commander
q ARRIVES, yet be thought beneath the dignity Of
h station to devote his personal attention and energies
The mnuiest details the service and he invariably
tnew what supplies were available for his troops, aod
his chiefs o stan were perfectly aware Of The severity OF
The penalty that would be visited upon them for the
sghtesi derection in duty especially where the welfare
comfort Of his soldiers was concerned.
NOVEMBER Is.