Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-01-20
THE UTAH EXPEDITION.

The latest advices from the army which has
been sent to pass the Winter amid the SHOWS
of the Wahsatch Mountains, are anything but
encouraging. In fact, they tend to confirm
the worst fears which have been entertained as
TO the result OF this illstarred expedition.
There the troops are, thousand miles and
more from the frontier, isolated amid the SHOWS
and among mountains of which the Mormons,
and they alone, know all the passes. Already,
At the commencement of Winter, their ami
mails were perishing at the rate of hundred
a day. The grass is all burnt, and their supply
Of provisions, notwithstanding the vast sums
of money spent on the comm issariat and trans
portation departments, is short that a very
strict economy, If not, in fact, putting the
troops on short allowance, will be necessary
TO carry them through the Winter. With in
action and short allowance will come disease
and discomfort, and it is but reasonable to ex-
pect that by the Spring the effective force of
the troops will be very greatly diminished.
Without draft cattle or means of transporta-
tion, it will be impossible for them to move
and instead of marching against the Mormons,
they,win be exceedingly lucky If the. Mormons
do not march against them.
1t seems highly probable that Brigham
Young will represent to his deluded followers
that the financial disasters which have visited
US are Judgment from heaven upon US for
our sin and wickedness in making war upon
the Saints and should the Spring present the
soldiers, as seems almost certain, in an en-
feebled condition, he may be apt to consider
that very fact as a call from heaven upon him
| TO cut them off. As to the idea of an intended
| removal on the part of the Mormons, and that
the troops will have nothing to do but to march
in and to occupy their empty city and aban-
doned habitations, we see no plausibility in
any such suggestion. There is no place to
which they can remove; and the determina-
| ton expressed by Brigham Y oung not to yield
up the valley, except he is driven from it by
superior force, is in all probability the actual
resolution to which he has come. That being
| the case, it is by no means probable that he
will wait quietly till the army can be re-enfor-
ced and supplied by troops and provisions
moved from the frontier in the Spring. 1t may
be set down as almost certain that any such
supplies and re-cnforcements will be antici-
pated by desperate attack early in the Spring
upon the weakened and dispirited forces at
Fort Bridger. The course which, as it ap-
pears, has been adopted by Gov. Cumming OF
declaring the Territory in state of rebellion.
and organizing court for the trial of often
ders, will naturally exasperate the Mormons.
and lead them to abandon all hopes of staying
i off an armed contest.
The Government at Washington, by IFS
shameful mismanagcment of this whole expe-
dition, has placed Colonel Johnston and his
whole army in this dangerous position. What
does that Government intend to do by way of
getting them out of it {? Does it intend to
leave these two Thousand men, or such of them
as may survive the Winter, to be cut to pieces
/ by the Mormons in the Spring II not, some
thing ought to be done at once for their relief
and reinforcement. The merely issuing or
ders for new troops to hold themselves in read
iness to march in the Spring does not at ell