Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-26
Correspondence of the Boston Journal.
Letter from the Army of Utah.
CAMP SCoTT, December Is, 1857,
los Miles East of Salt Lake.

Since last, OF November 0U, very HUE Vi mItf-
est has occurred The whole army still encamped on
Blacks Fork our resting On Fort Bridger, which
is garrisoned by two companies and of the tenth
infantry and three companies of the gallant fifth nfan
try the command devoving on the senior captain, u
c. Robinson Next is squadron of the second dra-
goons under the command of Major Sibley. The other
seven companies of the fifth are just in advance OF the
latter under Lieut. Col. c. o. Waite Then comes the
other eight companies of the tenth, commanded by Col
E. B. Alexander. On their right, about one mile III
'front.' is the battalion of five companies, all in force,
learn eighty each, under the command of Lieut.
Col Bee Captain in the tenth nfantry of the most
accomplished officers in service, who breveted in
Mexico for gallant ices, and every way qualified to
fill the laborious position with which this appointment
is attended He still retains his commission in the reg
ular service.
In the advance on Smiths Fork, about four miles
from the main camp the balance of the dashing and
brave second Dragons under their distinguished COM
mander Lieut. Col Cooke sent to this point in order to
get grass for their horses.
If it becomes necessary the suffers, contractors &c.
of the army with their employees, be mustered into
the service and would probably increase the force some
some four or five hundred men.
The whole army has been busy since going into win
ter camp building Kitchens sinks and chmneys to the
Sibey Tent Nearly all the command are living in
them. The officers attach wall tent to the Sibey"
using the former for bed rOOm and the latter for sit
ting reception room-which are made quite comfora-
BILE with sod chimney set in one slde only the fire
an evening you will find circle of ten Or dozen off
GERS comfortably seated around my fire, enjoying pipe
cigars poor and high, costing only fifteen dollars
per hundred discussing the probabilities of winter ex-
petition to the city, the plan of operations for the spring.
the result of the last scout the chances of mails
irving during the month, the success of Capt Marcys
trip to Taos New Mexico court martals, " details
of wood" guard" " officer of the day." &c. Still
there is always room for more. Eighteen men are al
loted to each Sibley tent For winter quarters they
| Dnnnt0 no OIH cor
Up to the present time we have been favored with
pleasant, mild weather. only two or three nights has
the mercury fallen below We have had but little
snow, in all not more than sixteen inches. The last
storm drted considerably which fortunate for our
animals, they forced to subsst wholly upon the
dried grass which they root out from under the snow
and the bark of the cottonwood, which is abundant
The loss of animals, including mules oXen horses and
beef cattle, by disease worn out on the march, stolen by
Indians and MOrmons, &C., of this command is over
three thousand head In the several herds grazing
| at this point and on Head Fork" Judge we have
ten thousand head left. How many of these poor
brOkendown creatures will be left in May next, depends
very much on the severity of the winter Daily more or
less die.
On the I'd inst, our camp was somewhat relieved from
the monotOny which had existed for several days by the
arrival at headquarters, in charge of guard from an
outpost of party of MOmons, bringing dispatches from
Brigham Young, accompanied by present of several
sacks of salt to the commanding officers.
Col johnson Immediately gave the two principal men,
MessrS Earl and Woodward an interview. After read
ing Brghams letter, which of the most impu-
dent epises that ever passed from exoicial to an
official he replied in the words equivalent to those will
| hereafter mention.
Young opens his letter by saying Having received
reliable information that the army is suffering for the
supply of salt necessary for its health he has despatched
Messrs Earl and Woodward with eight hundred pounds
as present If is preferable to pay for it, he wishes
the salt weighed the amount put upon paper and the
money paid for it enclosed in envelope addressed to
him sealed" He further states, if the commanding Off
has any suspicious that the salt contains any delete
rous ingredients substances foreign to its normal
composition that he wishes him to anayze it and satisfy
himself of the contrary He then goes to say that he
wishes to inform the commandments that the demon
STATIONS which have been made by the Mormons upon
the animals and train Of the army have been made only
for the purposes of showing that the Mormons
nest In their determination to assert freemen like their
constitutional and inaienable rights He says: If
you have been sent here by the President of the United
States, of which have official information he has
sent you on pretexts founded upon lies long since expo
died. and with little regard for the Constitution laws
and rights of citizens of the United States as he has for
the constitution, laws and rights of subjects of the king
4 dom of Beelzebub." He assures him COMMANDMENTS
chief that his party does not to camp for the
purpose of spying out the position of camp learn
ing the intentions of its commander and if the Colonel
has any idea this their object he may detan them out
side the camp until the object of their mission is effected
AS to the Mormon prisoners have in hands, he
gives to understand that it will be best to treat them
kindly If we nure or kill them he insinuates that two
play at that game that he has prisoners in his pos
session belonging to the army who will meet the same
treatment that meet out to SooCeU and Others This
Stowe is the Adjutant to Major Taylors battalion
the Mormon Legion, taken prisoner at the time
Taylor was At the time they arrested they were
escorting small pack train Of supplies to Bill Hick
mans" camp, only about fifteen miles from the main
army of Utah. For our kindness in taking and keeping
one prisoner named Grow he thanks the commander in
asmuch it has saved him (Brgham) the trouble ant
expense of paying his board-not very complimentary
, ausion to Mr.. Grow He refers to " little white
mule which he learns belongs to Col. Alexander thai
has been brought into the city by Mormon scouts HI
has, out of compassion for the brute and consideration
for its owner ordered it into his own stable where
will be well cared for, and in the spring will doubt b.
in fit condition for him to Desirable his return
the States.
The whole letter is made up of similar insults and ar
rogance 1t winds up by expressing the hope that thu
messenger would meet with civil treatment from the com
handing officer, and be permitted to to the val
b ley.
Col Johnston, after reading this letter. and listening
to the remarks of Messrs Earl and Woodward request
ed them to pack the salt back to the place from which
they brought it, he refused to either receive it as
present in the way of trade He desired them to dis
tnctly understand why he refused it. He considered
Brigham Young and his associates as traitors and rebels
with whom it unbecoming any patriotic citizen Il
q interchange acts of courtesy. When they laid dow
their arms and the rebellion suppressed there may
be for such interchange, not before AS to th
= nmaton in Brigham YOungs letter that he might sus
pec that the salt poisoned he considered that it re
Elected discredit upon the writer only For his part
could not believe that any American citizen could b
guilty of so Infamous act. He then referred to tina
/ portion of the letter advising the army to retrace it
steps, He assured them that the armv would not
e one single onward step which it had taken. When
got ready would move On to Salt Lake city and exc
cute its orders These orders did not authorize tn