The Washington union., 1858-03-26

and half to three and half feet deep for thirty mill,
The crust OF the sufficient 10 bear the weight .,
the men, but the packmucs suffered terribly bfeaknr
through the crust and frequently stumbling and fains
down From that point TO Fort Laramie there was M
snow but the weather exceedingly cold On the se
ond day out from Laramie general thaw coinaen,ed
and the road muddy and full of water until hey
reached Fort Kearncy There the weather was warn
and the road better Grass may be expected at ear
The territorial government was ia rather a p,ss,,
state at Camp Scott waiting the movements which wouM
take the officers to the seat Of government Great Sa
Like City Col Johnston very popular with bjs
command comprising, with the volunteers, some two
thousand thiee hundred men and the most friendly re.
ons existed between him and the civil division Of the
camp
Republican, March o.
FROM COL JoHNSTON'S COMMAND AT FORT
SCOTT UTAH .
We have perused a letter from, Col. Johnston to
friend in this city, dated at Camp Scott. February B
1888, and have been permitted 10 make extracts
therefrom.
The Colonel had received no communication from b.
government of later date than the 22d of Octohar
1857 and Justly complains that the mail contractors take
more than three months to carry the mails 10 Utah
when their contract requires them 10 deliver ii ther
monthly and he adds: % send nothing by mail nor
should anything OF public nature be sent otherwise
than by express y
notwithstanding the destruction of part Of the train
which loaded with provisions and other supplies Ne
cessy for his troops anil in spite OF the obstacles which
still presented themselves Col Johnston did abandon
the hope Of marching 10 Salt Lake City without halt
until after the terrific storm of the 9Th Of November We
quote from his letter
''O On the 9th of November the march resumed
and then commenced the storm Of snow, and winy cold
rackng the bones Of men, and starving oxen
and mules and horses already half starved They died
ont hp Ioau nd n n car Y nnd snd Al
mnisbed were their numbers that from camp 70 camp
only four five miles many days required
bring them all up it necessary to give time TO the
rest animals incapable of protractcd efforts and
hunt for food In this way fifteen days consumed
in making thirty five miles to this place the nearest and
best place of shelter and fuel for the troops and for shell
ter and grass for the animals. The struggle, then
amidst and Arctic cold thc Thermometers at sixteen
below zcro for place OF safety. u any doubt
listed before this storm Of the propcty of rskng the
troops the mountains before us before spring OF Of
the ability to accomplish the march, the destruction
amongst drangh animals the necessity Of saving all
the oxen left food II capable Of further exeion
now dispelled that doubt md solved the question
'The storm which Col Cook encountered on the Sweet
Water and on through the South Pass DESTROYED more
than half of his horses and large number Of his mules
although they had corn for them In that high region
much higher than where were. the cold must have
been much intense than experienced by u.s. and hs
animals presume perishei mainly from cold
" have the satisfaction to ay that the privntions Of
the march endured by officers and men without
complaint or, perhaps, / might more justly say with
cheerfulness The troops are in fine health and cond
tion The winter thus far has not been rigorous to
prevent often the daily instruction Of the troops They
have proved themselves to he hardy enough for
vice ; few only-as many thirty or Iess have been
frost bitten but scouts bvonac when necessary,
in the passes without suffering
"Jbe Monnons have declared fully words
and actions manifest intentions. that they will
no longer submit TO the government or to uny gov
crnment but their The people of the Union must
submit to usurpation Of their Territory to have
government erected in their midst not loyal TO- or
rather not acknowledging any dependence upon, ale
glance TO- the federal government land what is not less
impolitic and entirely incompatible with institutions
to allow them to engMn their social organization upon
ours, and make it part Of system act with the
vigor and force to compel them to submit This is due
to the dignity and honor Of the government
~ hope every effort will he nude to forward the
spring supplies early under sufficient guard Of mounted
men, for the guard will be needed, and also to forwnI
the supplies for the rest of the year =