New-York daily tribune., 1858-03-04
TIE CThH FXPEDTTIOk
col. JOVNSON.s REpOeT
HEADat DEPArrSrtr oy UrAa

i'luiu oi knP uD-p% lu lF0 uSl IN tlB department
under my medihte command for Tue Jnculi Of Dec,
lS51 Not an incident CT any m;ts;y importsoce has
transp-ed since my last coGsInun;os,:Op end hsve
the pleasure to acquhrt you With tho excellent eondi-
ton and fine heath ct tie trooos
Accompanying this comnuuicG Gt.on serd a COPY OF
letter dated 81 rlt at Fort Lsr6mir from tue Com.
nardcr, Major Lyndc. You will Lsmeiye from a
porusal OF II that htre IL serious cause 10 apprehent
that there will be great, L net cD.re deficiency
Of draught animals 10 bring on the Three mouths s;p
ply 1T that post intended lor The army Of Utah. aud
due here BY the Ist Of June though ii il expected
that The rations hand viii last somo ten or fifteen
days beyond that dae.
II dcsirsbe that thee. supplies should reach here
by tie 18th Of May. 20 enable the army il then p'e-
pared other respeots 70 adv anco with good supply
Of provisions hand at lGsst cnugh to Last until the
annual supply can reach tie main bocy:
Iwill order Meor lynde to report directly to gen.
eIal headquarters by this express what proportion OF
the draught oxen OF Russell Co. lcorractorst can
be relied upon fer the transportation OF supplies to Us
in the Spring: and, should there he & deficiency, It
can otlv be supplied in time from Fort LeGvenwOrth
in this way there must be activity IN the agents
of the quartemaeters department to accomplish it.
The requisite number Of mules mot two years old or
threel must be- purchased and sect forward as socn in
the north Of March az possible. Each team of six
mules should haul the srbesteuce from lfavenworh
necessary to sustain il End two other mules to Lara
ME which latter will be usefu to replace sick or tired
mules at Laramie. On their arrival they si have
exhausted their forage, but il is hoped some may be
had there; if not that the grass will then be sufficient
to sustain drsught animals for short marches through
to this place or to headquarters; and recommend,
not for ths service only, but whenever public teams
are sent out to the frontier that at least two extra
mules he sent with each team. With such means of
relief to lame sick tired mules, many valuable ami
mails can be preserved for the public service which,
without a provision of this kind, would he lost.
The greater number Of soldiers now on the sick re-
pert have been reL dercG unfit for duty by frost
bite"-s source Of suffering 70 which those who, in
this climate have no other covering for the feet than
leather shoes, very liable when on guard or
marching in snow. / have thought that in view Of
preserving the efficiency Of the soldiery during the
Winter months, well as to prevent much suffering,
Government ought to provide pair Of buffalo
shOes for each serving in this climate, and have
accordingly approved Of the admission Of that item
in the annual estimate of the chief Qua'termaster;
and also, of full allowance of Sibley tents, ss
Of protection tOthetroops against the ncemency
of the Winter season. and Ct heath and comparative
comfort. The Sbley tent is good subs itute for a.
hut, with the advantage of using it in all ocs!itics,
we'll sheltered from cold and prevailing winds:
Herewith send you drawing of the held-works
thrown up under the direction of bieutenants Webb
and Kens for the protection ofthe depot ct Bndgers
Fort. The zeal, perseverance ard skill displayed by
them in the execution of the works under unfavorable
circumstances and the cheerful olacrity of the non
commissioned officers and men under them, in the per-
ormance of their duties during severely cold weather.
il worthy Of much praise.
have lust heard that soldier who was then act
ing as hospital steward Of the 10th infantry, and was
taken prisoner by the Mormons early in October, and
who has been releaaed and permitted to return to this
camp, has brought the information that the Mormons
are organizing force to stampede or capture the
horses and mules it s expected Capt Marcy will bring
out in the Spring from NewMexco. have already
requested that an escoIt may be sent with Capt.
Marcy; but the amount Of force Will be best deter
mired BY the knowledge that an attack may be ex-
pected and deem it OF the greatest consequence as
rcgards the mobility of this force that sufficient force
should be sent to Capt Marcy to enable him to reach
here unmclested. He will probably leave New'Me1-
mo b,,tb tbaC nj have fo TINT the
Cereral-in- Chiefwl at authorize the commander
of the Department of Eew.Mexco to send force with
Capt. Marcy to cover his movements; and have
also respectfully to request the attention of the com.
manding general TO the great length Of the line of
communication Of this army and TO the necessity ol
providing means Of defending the supplies, which
must be sent forward in early Spring well during
the Summer the route, more especially that por-
ton liable to be attacked by the Mprmons. have
ordered that three Of the companies at Fot Laramie
shall sttute the convoy to the train which must
leave IN March; but this amount OF force deem n-
sufficient and recommend that four companies OF cav
airy or Oher rounted force be added to the force in
tended to protect the trains. II is four hundred miles
from Laramie TO this place-tOo great distance to
detach any part Of this mounted force with any rea-
sonable expectation in its present condition. that II
could ever reach Laramie II would, beside, bc I'M
proper to divide the force here.
have not received the first line from general head
quarters or from the War Department, and would re-
spectfuly suggest that when any com municatons are
sent the commanding officer at Fort Leayenworth be
instructed to send them forward by two or three per
accustomed to frontier life in cold climate, with
authority to obtain facilities at Keaney and Laramie,
if needed; ana TO get letter to the commander OF
New-Mexco the same mesns must be employed. No
reliance be placed the mails, ard large party
will probably get through.
With great lesPeet your obedient servant
Colonel I'd Cavalry, Commanding.
Lss"' BY rresTsph to BoGnsyie MOI
No 81 EEw-YoRk, Feb. g, 1853
gaYzed with the utmost dispatch at Fort Leaven
wf1tb to 20 Immediately with Lieut..Co. Hoffman to
nNt Laramie, to transfer thence to Col JohnstOns
command in Utah. commlssaiy stores. mems shoes
and such other supplies as may be known to be much
needed.
Two extra mules to provide for casualties, will be
taken with each wagon. The wagons mules and
everything for this train will be the best that can be
got together at Fort LeayenwOrth, within conNe-
nieDt reach Of it.
Two companies Of the lst Cavalry and two Of the
9Th Infantry, to be fitted by transfers to the maximum
and fully equipped, will be detailed to escort the train
10 Fort Laramie, aud thence-wth the two compa-
nies Of the 9th Infantry and of the 7th, already
ordered FROM that post 10 Utsh-making four conpa-
les to Fort Laramie, and seven beyond that post.
Only subsistence enough will be taken from Fort
Leayenworh for the escort and teamsters that the
wagons may take as much grsin-preferably oats
for the animals as possible. Grain may be found in
trains on the road and at Fort Laramie, and used If
necessary.
The train will march early as the 10th of March,
If possible.
The commanding officers of Forts l.eavenworb
Kearney and Laramie. and Of the 9TH Infantry, will
give Lieut.. Col. Hoffman all the aid in their power IN
the execution of this order. -
The commanding officer Of Fort Leayenworth Will
see that official copies hereof furnished all con-
cerned including Col. Johnston and the several com
manders the line Of march, and will acknowledge
tlpi receipt hereof by telegraph.
IRWIN MCDOWELL,
Asssts AdiutSut General.