The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-26
Important Dispatches frem Utah
Terrible Suffering OF the Army.


The dispatches received at the War Department
from Colonel Johnston, dated November 3oth
confirm tue previous reports Of excessive suffer
ing and great loss of draft animals by snow
storms, cold and starvation. sufficient number
ofoxen, though poor, had been saved to supply
part rations six days of the week, and there was
ou hand enough Of bacon for one day Of the same
period for seven months; also -four and small ra-
ssons. The storm dealt roughly with Colonel
COOKS command. He lost half his horses besides
number of mules.
Further advance toward Salt Lake City cannot
pe made without n new supply of such animals;
70 procure which Capt. Marcy had been dispatched
20 New Mexico, for their use early in spring,
Wheh the army, with a volunteer force, 1000
strong VIII resume its march as soon u supplied
WIN Eorses and mules, and when the grass on the
mountains is sufficient to sustain the,n
Two volunteer companies have been mustered
into tue service for nine mouths and it is EXPECT
ca a. INA. IN a few days two more will be mustered
tin,s ae troops nave borne the dangers and priva
IONS OF the march with patience and cheerfulBess
huey are IN hue health, although some of the regi
nisnts are still suffering from frost bite
Ane Following is the report of Col. Cooke:
cAMP ScoTT, U. t. November 20, 1851
,;InI III nc]@ =! left you on Blacks Fork, sixteen
mites Irom Fort Brdger, on the 7th inst, after one
uay march from the point of uniting the com,
mands by Col. Johnston. You nov tim5 rs i, 80;
enuP' named IN honor Of our cherished chief
no'e iorethought and action has placed US In
inter quarters, under excellent shelter without
on, o.on vi an axe. Our first days march was
o,er oW dreary waste, made more desolate nv the
iail oi snow two days Previous and the dr;x;rs,
It " " SNOW aud wind which met us in the mid.
u'e OF the march, miles from wood water grass or
~ uu''e.. 10 return was destruction, to advance
apparently, TO court it, The number of sni-
hiais Was insufficient to move either onr r,,,a or
Nonuactors trains. Still we strucrled on losinr
euehSth hourly 10y the destruction 9f our animals
n,.a ou 'ho evening OF the Sth prepared for the
tion str"sS 'an. oh the morning OF the 9th por-
Wv ..on Struck camp and advanced to the next niace
Vi sheiter there, while awaiting the arrival III tho
rear, 10 nave our animals struck dnwn hv ooiJ
nuhSef anu thirst. The rear 18th infantrvi could
,an no ,i'.'.Gr ol nve miles in day 10 over
'aMe as without leaving the supplies behind
without sustenance tor animals almost stsrr,a
uci"re we Joined the main body, almost withonr
iuei, that regiment, and the train. il esc,r,oJ
passed .ne day travelling against one Of the most
severe storms OF snow and wind ha We OK er;a cod
tor many years. and camped in dreary snot onon
TO the fuii blast OF the Storm with the ther,,i,n
cter b deg below zero at g a. m where we Me-.
under tho shelter Of bluffs. The orders win show
our march. 1t was one magnificent .,rpgaIs s.
the beginning to this place. One more day =
march and our meat rations-beef horse and
mule-would have been dminr tiyelv snail f.,
the winter. The last company of the 10Th int,n.
try, escortlng the last of the supplytrans to Fort
Ia ia
thus requiring six days to move our little army
and its supplies less than six miles In its IimJs
the giants strength was expended but the will
which moved this force, aud the spirits which vava
this will vitality, were brighter and stronger as
the constitution became weaker and if he had sad
on, on we would have gone, feeling that what he
would direct would be right.
The assurances you gave me Of confidence in
my commander have been more than realized and
he now has, believe, the unbounded confidence q
| l,.a knu frt.,, b,v lat
deFs how he grappled with the difficulties in his
path, and ] hope the spring will see him the con
queror. This little army is in fne health and in
cheerful spirits. The men have 1crne their trial,
without a murmur-duty is severe upon officers
and men; but not word of complaint have
heard. We have all endured alike and the fact
that Colonel Johnston has on the march footed
it, as did the men; suffers tie same exposure and
will not permit the officer to receive more than the
soldier, has cndeared him to ALL We are now in
camp, nicely housed; the most of us in wall tents
the men all in ''Sibley tents" The latter save the
necessity of huts, and the only suitable tents
for the men. The walltent, with stove is the
only one for ar officer The tents furnished tSib
ley tents are very Inferior especially those made
by the quarter master-inferi0r III material AM
make, aud small and unequal in size One tent i,
allowed 10 eighteen men now, but in few days
they will be issued at one to sixteen even thai
would be insufficient were not the men on guard
or other duty. Our animals are all absent excer;
thoSe needed Tor polce pur poses aud for immediate
consumption
This place (Fort Bridger) is admirably located
timber abundant close by for fuel and building
grass can be cut within 100 yards of the garrison
water at the door; and il commands every road
leading into the country. The Mormons burned
the buildings of this place and Fort Supply at tbf
latter they piled up their grain ard set fire TO il
lett their potatoes, turnips &C. in the ground The
VANS ci f"rt brldser are standing; they we're built
for defence last fsl-G feet through at base IL at
top aud 100 by ll0 Oh one part 100 by 10 on auo-
ther. They tried to fire rtle grass but snow fell
and extingushed it. Our snow was our sal Iyation
hhen the grass was burned flames scorched the
trees oO feet high. Had the command advanced
sooner than it did, the maIs would have starved
ana the army could not have found or reached a
place OF shelter. Our grass is eaten up for three
mites around us; but We have aaiulals on Smith,
Fork, (t8ree miles off, and there is grass enough
there for the whole band; but no shelter and insult
cient wood.
This valley is warm, wooded and watered and
welcomed US. Our legs are united, or fast getting
so; anu when spring comes a more devastating
swarm OF grasshoppefs will never have swept that
valley of salt Lake than will this army be if cur
progress is molested. This people design cur star
vatIon, our destructlon and there is device san
can resort to which they will not practice-froIu
assassination, murder. fire and flood. The robbers
and assassIns VIII scatter and form bands of gue-
rillas, and no party no train, no band of cattle
will pass to the valley If they murder burn or run
off. The Mormons have great fear of mounted
men, and had not Col. Johnston brought up the
two companies of the ID from Laramie, (compauies
Uhft toere 10 be cdu{ 10 Ks0JHey and ,cich drec-
tons had been gjrsn 10 prepare fr at n from the
negligence of guards and the watchfnlness of the
Aormons, we would now be struggling by hand TO
get here, and without meat Had the ID dragons
been sent at the time Observation-Disclosures
an animal would have been lost by theft. The ar
my could not, however, have entered the valley
without leaving its supplies behind. The Mormons
are set of towards, like all sssns and bullies,
and fear their leaders aud those who have no
claims in the valley will rnn away, requiring their
deuded followers to destroy their property lest it
may benefit us. The leaders rely on such conduct
as was pursued by Congress in the Kansas ques-
tion. hope Congress will declare the Territory
in rebellion and call upon all governors and com
mandng officers to arrest and keep in custody all
persons leaving the Territory and especially the
leaders, unless accompanied b. safeguard or pass
port.
yellow FEVER At HAvASA-The following ex.
tract from private letter. dated January 18th
gives sad account of the sickness in Havana:
"lonr package for the Sonora d. arrived toe
late; she was dead and bured Her illness was