The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-06
THE UTAH EXPEDITION,
Two WEEKS LATER News FROM CAMP SCoTT-PRET
ARATIoNs FOR FORWARD MOVEMENT, &C., &c.
Special Correspondence Of the ". ]. Herald.

ARATIoNs FOR FORWARD MOVEMENT, &C., &c.
Special Correspondence Of the v. ]. Herald.
Fort LEAvENwoRTH, X. T., March 80, 1858
We have news from the Utah army to the 10th
of February. Mr.. Gerrish for three years a tra-
der in Salt Lake, and who started from Atchison
last year with train of goods but thus far fail
ed to enter the valley, reached the fort to-day
lie reports the continued good health of the army
and the certain determination of Colonel Johnston to
force W needs be his way into the city at the earliest
practical moment. He is only waiting for supplies
from New Mexico and Laramie, both of which will
reach him about the same time. The contractors,
Russell and Majors, start an train of ll5 wagons,
each OF 1000 pounds capacity, from the latter point
the 10th of this month, calculated to reach Fort
Bridger in forty days, that is, by the lst of May.
As Capt. Marcy leaves New Mexico with his mules
and escort by the lst proXimo, it may be set down
that Col. Johnston will resume his advance by the
Goth of May.
Mr. Gerrish reports the grass on the Plains as far
advanced now as it was in May of last year, which
is welcome news for horses and cattle lie met Col.
Hoffman S command of four companies and two hun
dred mule teams at point which will put them
two hundred miles from here tonight. All well.
Mr. Gerrish is of opinion that the Mormons, as
body not all disposed to resist the troops. but
deceived and led astray by the crafty villain at
their head, for whom there is now no redemption.
The officers and troops at Fort Bridger were un-
remittingly engaged in preparations for forward
march, for which Providence had blessed them with
a very mild winter. If Echo Canon was found to
and other passes of a similar dangerous character
Three hundred recruits arrived here few days
since from New York, most of whom were immedi-
ately pushed on to Fort Riley, to fill up wing of
| the First Cavalry, posted there for the winter
| They were good looking body of men.
The activity at this post for the early starting of
the Utah reinforcements is undated. The quantity
of freight shipped this year by the Missouri steam
| ers for government is immense. Much intended for
Nebraska City has been stopped at this point.
|
LEAvENwoRTH Cry, March 30 1858.
| Seven men arrived here last night from Camp
| Scott. They left there on the 10th ultimo, and
| report Colonel Johnston's command in good
| health and spirits Colonel Johnston told them
to report that if provisions were advanced to him
| in time he had no fear of the Mormons. They think
| he will have some skirmishes with the Mormons
during the early summer; but that he will not at
tempt any serious operations until the arrival ofthe
| renforcements from this place. He does not pro-
pose to make any attempt to enter Salt Lake CITY
via Echo Canon but will march north and see if he
can obtain entrance through the Bear River valley
These men express the opinion that the Mormons
will pursue an active, persevering and determined
guerilla warfare and that it will take two or three
years to completely subdue them. 1t will not be
very difficult for army to advance into Great
Salt Lake City, but all their provisions will have to
be advanced from the States to them 'at that place
while the MormOns, enjoying perfect knowledge
of the country, will, with frantic desperation fall
upon their trains, stampede their cattle, and by ev-
cry of irregular warfare exhaust and demor-
allZe the troops. Nor Will attempts to Seduce the
soldiers from their duty be wanting.
Col. Johnstons command bears itself courage
ously, though it is subjected to some deprvatons
the men eating animals, which if ia would weigh
from ten to twelve hundred pounds, but at present
only weigh from three to four hundred pounds
These cattle (oxenl have sometimes to be lifted nm
in order to be killed. The only apprehensions of
Col Johnston appear to be in regard to his supplies
The men who arrived last night state that the Com
missarv General at Fort Laramie told them Col.
Johnston had writtenahim that he (Col. Johnston)
had supplies sufficient to last his command till the
lst of May, and not one day longer.
Upon the basis of that letter attempt was being
made to send on train of supplies to Col Johnston
as early as possible Said train will probably have
started before this time. There are Fort Laramie
four months supplies for a command of 3,0O0-
Three companies 1.-TWO companies of the 9th infantry
and one of the 7th) will probably leave there to e
cort the earliest train trains to Camp Scott.
The four companies Companies and X of the 1st
| cavalry and two companies of the 9th infantry
which left here the 18th inst. expected to arrive
| at Fort Laramie in time to accompany the three
companies then at that place in escortng the first
supplies to Camp Scott, but will probably arrive
too late to do so, though they expect to make Lara
mie in twenty mine days.
| They took along with them 156 government war
ons of forage and provisions. Colonel Hoffman com
manded the expedition He intends to feed full ra-
tions of corn until he arrives at Fort Laramie, and
thence to Camp Scott one-third rations. There are
two trains of corn and other stores for the troons
| laying on the road between Fort Kearney and Fort
Laramie; they could not be got up to Laramie last
fall and it is expected that Colonel Hoffman will
exhaust their contents for his command during his
advance.
| 1t is expected that Captain Marcy, with his sup
ply of salt and animals from New Mexico will ar
rive at Fort Laramie about the time that Colonel
Hoifman's four companies do, and that they will
then advance together to Camp Scott.
Russell Waddell will start their trains now as
soon as possible. -Four of their trains will pro-
bably start tomorrow. The grass is quite green on
the prairie, the spring being more than month
earlier than it was last year; so in two or three
weeks there will be abundant grass for the animals
the prairie very well. By the middle or end of
April the reinforcements of the Utah army NAV
leave here without any hindrance, so far as the
grass is concerned. 1t will not, however, in all
! nrohahilitv start before Nav