The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-19
Interesting from the Utah Anay.
letter from OIL Jotnstoa-77e sbfey TsHts-o,ie
Ration Dag--N0 Dining 0ut--6si. Jolt1Stoi
14Rrioas for a Battle loith The SAINT

The following is an extract from a letter from
Colonel Johnston, commander of the Utah expe-
tion, to member Of his family in Louisville Ken
tucky:
CANT ScorT, near Fort Bridger. !
Blacks Fork of Green River, Dec. L, 1851.
have an opportunity of sending yon line, but
only time TO say fow words, have been en-
gaged till the last moment 10 my public correspon-
dence.
We are still ercamped at this place and. will
continue untf we move in the spring. The army
has abundance OF food and clothing. and is we'll
sheltered from tbs cold in Sibley tents. With
your knowledge Of camp life, you would pronounce
our situation one of great comfort. These Sibley
tents are tall. concal tents, u feet high aud 20
feet ia diameter. open at the top, With a vane to
prevent its smoking, which it does not quite do
With stove or fire built in the middle it is a
great improvement in the comfort Of the soldier
bnt not as good wall tent, with a stove, for an
officer.
j said we have abundance. but inasmuch as no
one, from the Governor and civil officers to the
private soldier obtain more than one ration
we have nothing to give in the way of hospitality
for IL invite my neighbor 10 dine, he would be
no better off than ifhe had staid at home. while
should be damaged by his eating my ration. The
regular diner out would fare badly here What
genius and tact he must be endowed with, if he
could procure an invitation.
The day before the reduction took place, we
gave dinner to the Governor Chief Justice. &C.
on our piu5 III the iafGer. since then do not
think We could feed extra rat at our mess such
IL our health, and nicely is the quantity allowed
adjusted to the measure of our wants. We of
course, hnd it irksOme here, but time Will Soon
roll round, and we shall find ourselves again in
the midst of those We love aud admire. Until then
we must be patient. We fear our friends will suf
fer from groundless apprehensions on our account
We have no reason TO complain of anything but
absence from Families,
Some think the Mormons, when it is necessary
them INIT to fh..
government do not agres l0ith heB think
their fanaticism aud viliauy will lead them to try
one encounter at least: anu / think our govern
ment ought to desire it. affording a simple So
luton of a difficult political question If they re-
sst, final settlement would be on the basis Of a
conquest. We could then dictate to them the
terms Of adjustment.
Brigham Young wrote to me a few days since.
sending present some 500 pounds of salt or If
preferred, we might buy it for the troops Know
ing that they would entertain tiendsh delight in
the knowledge that we would staIve or freeze,
neither OF which We intend to do although we
have no salt, sent it back to him with this mes
sage-"That Brigham Young and his associates
are in rebellion against the government that until
they return to their allegiance and obey the laws
Will accept no favor or courtesy from them, nor
hold any correspondence with them; that when /
advance, the people who IeniaiD at their homes OF
engage only in their private business, will be un-
disturbed. II ind ttem dTgugSd in arms, a0ili
attack them Wherstsr Heet them that if they en-.
tertain the delusiVe hope that the army would re-
tire from the Territory. they had better Danish it,
| that The army iDW aereF take one step back
| 4. S. JOHNSTON