The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-12

seiee may require, at gwen point, and the season
OF they year when they 10 be moved. The number
Of posts and their positions exhibited by the map and
the extraordinary distances taversed by troops de-
monstae that both economy and the proper efficiency
the army require an increase of it, Whilst have
commentator 10 make upon the subject knowing as
do the action Of Congress upon this subject the last
session. yet feel constrained to lay these facts before you
and the country that any apparent lack of efficiency in
the army In giving complete protection to our frontiers
may DC set down TO the want of numbers aud not to
want OF activity on the part of our troops.
Upon this point beg leave to call your attention to
the views of the General-in Chief
UTAH
The operations OF the army in connection with the
Territory Of Utah. since the date of my last report de-
serve particular notice. They have been in themselves
important, and fiaught with important results
With the inception and progress of the Mormon rebel
lion up to the meeting OF Congress last the country
is familiar 1t is familiar also with the importance as
cribed to it by Congress- with the assigned by
that body tor approprating the large sums of money
necessary for crushing the treason at single blow, The
preparations at first made To accomplish this object
have heretofore reported But the final preparations for
fitting out the expedition and the actual movement Of
the troops upon that remote and difficult Territory have
not until now been made the subject of official commu
nication have the highly beneficial consequences
sung from the policy of that movement been AS yet
brought to your notice or to that of the public
After the open acts of perpetrated by the Mormon
people against the United States in seizng the provision
trains of our army and destroying them with fire. and
in stealing and driving OF the herds of cattle and horses
belonging to the command although these essential
everybody supposed to the maintenance of troops
and their protection against starvation these people
nued to manifest every proof of fixed determination to
push their treason to the extremity of boodshed and
They not only proclaimed martial law in that Territory
without pretext but against every principle of justice
of law, and of the constitution; they embodied their
whole force of effective men, and kept them constantly
drilled and under arms, hoverng about encampmen
seeking favorable moment If should ever offer itself
to cut off and destroy the whole command They fortified
the mountain passes leading towards the town
and chief settlements where they reside, and collected
from remote neighborhoods all the deuded people be-
longing to their sect Every preparation which indicated
spirit Of determined hostility, of rebellion, of treason
and war; characterized these people in every action and
nothing but menace and defiance towards the United
States authorities fell from the lips of their chief inn
postor any of his confederates
When small force first sent to Utah, the Nor
attacked and destroyed their trains and made ready
for general attack upon the column. When sufh-
cient power put foot to put success beyond all
doubt their buster and bravado sank into whispers of
terror and submission. .
This movement upon that Territory was demanded by
the moral sentiment of the country, due to vindi
cation of its laws and constitution, and essential 10
demonstrate the of the federal to chas
tise nsubordinaton and quc rebellion however formi-
dable from numbers position they might seem to be-
Adequate preparations and prompt advance of the
army, an act of mercy and humanity to those deu
ded people, for it prevented the effuson OF blood.
These people however still evince spirit of insub
ordination and moody discomfort They keep up strict
ly their organization, which has for its object and end
the complete exclusion federal authority from all par
ticipaon in the governmental affairs OF the Territory
beyond mere hollow show. The head man chief of
their sect rules the people with absolute power and
der his dictason the temper they manifest towards the
government and the army is that of conquered people
towards foreign enemy The necessity which called for
the presence of troops in Utah will require strong force
still to be kept there The reports from the commission
ers sent to Utah for the purpose OF asceranng the exact
condition of things already in your hands and at
useful and interesting Nothing could be
praiseworhy than the just and impartial manner in
which those gentlemen discharged their delicate and re-
sponsibe duties.
The conduct of both officers and attached to the
army of Utah has been worthy of all praise The
mander, Brevct Brgadier General A. S. Johnston, who
joined his command at time of great trial and en-
barrassment with calm and lofty bearing, with true
and manly sympathy for al around him, infused into his
command spirit of serenity and contentment which
amounted to cheerulness amidst uncommon hardships
and privatons which unabated throughout the to-
dious and incenen Of the winter. The destruc
ton of trains by the Mormons the disasters which
necessarily flowed from it, drove General Johnston to the
necessity of sending detachment of men to New Mexico
for supplies essential to preserve the whole command from
the greatest extremity and to enable him to prosecute his
march with all practicable despatch.
This expedition intrusted to Captain r. B. Marcy
of the 9th infantry and, without intending to make
invdious comparison between the services of officers where
all merorious 1t is but just to bring the conduct of
tils 0illcer
be safely affirmed that in the whole catalogue of hazard
expeditions scattered thicky through the history
of border warfare filed many of them with
appalling tales of pvation hardship and suffering not
surpasses this and in particulars it has been
hardly equallcd by any.
Captain Marcy left Fort Bridger the 9th day of
Mouember, 1857 with command of forty enlisted men
and twenty-five mountain men, herders, packers and
guides, Their course lay through almost traokless
over lofty and rugged mountains, without
pathway human habitaton to guide direct in the
very depth of winter through SHOWS for many miles
gether reaching to the depth Of five feet Their beasts
OF burden very rapidly perished until very few left
their supplies gave out their luggage abandoned
they driven to subsit upon the of their
dead horses and mules all the became greatly
ciaed; some frost bitten yet not of
discomfort escaped the lips of single Their mis-
sion of extreme Importance to the of
the army, and great disaster might befa the command IL
these devoted failed to bring to the camp They
had and oil volunteered for this service and although
they might freeze die yet they would not complain
After march of fifty days they emerged from the
forests and found themselves at Fort Massachusetts,
New Mexico. During their whole march Captain Marcy
shared all the privations of the solder-march
ing, sleeping eating they did After short delay at
this post for the purpose of recruiting his party and pro-
curing all necessary supplies for his return he out
or the army at Fort Bridger.
In the time Information reached the department
hat the Mormons organizing party to intercept
Capt Marcys return with the supplies to stampede
his animals and cut off his party. Prompt measures
we're taken TO reinforce Captain Marcy, to pre-
vent such catastrophe. Information of this further
Mormon treason reached General Garland, then COM
handing the department of New Mexico, in time TO
end detachment of the mounted rifles sufficient for
protection