New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-26
FROM TIE UTAH EXPEDITION.
LETTER FROM COL. JOHNSTON.

From The ST. Louis Republican,, March %
We have perused letter from Col. Johnston to a
friend in this city, dated ct Camp Scott Feb. D 1893,
and have been permitted to make some extracts there
from.
The Colonel had received no communication from
the Government Of u later date than Feb ~ 1891,
and Justly complains that the mail contractors take
more than three months 10 carry the mails TO Utsh
when their contract requires them TO deliver 1t there
monthly; and he adds: " send nothing by mall nor
should anything 0f puOnc nature DC cent OlneTWlse
than by express.
Notwithstanding the destruction Of part of the
train which loaded with provisions and other sup
plies necessary for his troops, and In spite oil the OBJ
staces which still presented themselves, Col Johns
ton did not abandon the hope OF marching to Salt Lake
City without halt, and until after the terrfc storm
Of the 9th OF November we quote from MS ieIter'
"On the 9th November the march was resumed
and then commenced the storm of snow, and Nntry
cold rsckiDg the bones OF our men, and starving our
oxen and mules and horses, already hall starved
They died on the road and at our camps by nun
dreds and 60 diminished were their numbers that
from camp to camp only four or fve miles, as many
days were required to bring them all up a. IL was
necessary give time to rest the animals now inca
pable of protIacted efforts and to hunt tor food In
tins way fifteen days were consumed In Masking 80
miles TO this place OF shelter and fuel for the troops
and for shelter and grass for the animals The strug-
gle thep amid snow and Arctic cold the Thermometer
at sixteen below zero for place of safety. Ii
any doubt existed before this storm OF the proprlety
of rskiDg the troops on the mountains before US be-
fore Spring, or of the ability to accomplish the march
sy of saving all the oxen left for food, even capa,
BILE of further exertion dispeed that doubt and
solved the question.
1.-THE storm which Col. Cook encountered the
Sweet Water and on through the South Pass, de.
stroyed 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 we were,
the cold must have been much more Intense than ex-
perienced by us, and hs animals presume, persisted
mainly from cold.
4" have the satisfaction to say that the privatons
Of the march endured by officers and men with
out complaint, or, perhaps, might more justly say,
with cheerfunees. The troops IN tine health aud
condition The Winter thus far has not been rgor
TO prevent often the daily instruction of the
troops. They have proved themselves TO be hardy
enough for any service, few only-as many as thirty
or less-have been frost bitten; but now our scouts
bvouac when necessary in the passes without suffer
ing.
The Mornons have declared, as fully words
and actions manifest intentions, that they will no
longer submit to the Government or TO any Govern
ment but their own. The people of the Union must
now submit to usurpation OF their Terrtoryto have
government erected in their midst, not loyal TO, or
| rather not acknowledging any dependence upon, or
allegiance 10, the Federal Government and what IL
not less impolitc, and entirely Incompatible with our
institutions, to allow them TO engraft their social
organization upon ours, and make il a part Il our
system, act with the vigOr and force 10 compel
them to submit. This is due to the dignity and honor
of the Government.
81 hope every effort will be made 10 forward the
Spring supplies early under a sufficient guard Of
mounted men for the guard VIII be needed, and slso
70 forward the supplies for the rest Of the year."