Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-03-16

w asurscTos. March q. lsEs

The Utah Expedition-Prepara Of |
tho Norm0ns
WASHINGTON, March o, 1853.
The Senate Committee on Territories, |
which was TO have reported the bill Great !
ing the Gadsden Territory before this. has |
laid the subject over again until Thursday |
next, have disagreed upon the question Of
of boundary.
Advices by the overland mail, Just ar
rived from Arizona, state that the people, |
in mass meetings, have thoroughly sustain
ed Lieut. Mowry's course here as their dele
gate, and urge that they may be cut loose
from New Mexico, and be afforded a GOV
eminent that will give them civil protec-
ton. and the means of development.
There is now not the least reason TO fear
for the safety of Capt Marcy, who is ex-
pected to leave Santa Fe the last Of this
month, for Fort Scott, with horses and
mules for the use Of Col. Johnston's expedi-
ton Gentlemen Just arrived here from
the Fort, and who are familiar with plans,
state that Gen Scots order to Gen Gar.
lend, which was telegraphed to Boonvil.e,
Mo-, on the 18th ult., will reach Santa Fe
by the 20;h inst at least. This will warn
Capt. Marcy # the Mormon plan TO cut him
him military escort sufficiently strong To
defy attack Mr. Hockaday does not doubt
that the troops will be already for the nd-
vance from the lst to the 10th Of April and
that they will at least make the attempt at
that time to enter the Valley Of Salt Lake.
have conversed to day with two other
intelligent gentlemen who have long lived
| at Salt Lake City-Messrs. Bell and Will
of in h.. ,,,.,A
that the Mormons will make desperate re-
sistance to the troops. Mr.. Bell was one of
| the last sixteen Gentiles who left the Terri
tory. He says that Brigham Young has re-
| posed oil along upon the belief that when
the people Of the States became satisfia.
| that the MormOns intended to fight rather
| than Weld submission to the laws the Gov
eminent would be forced to withdraw the
troops, and retire from the contest rather
than consent to the shedding of so much
blood. Acting under this delusion he has
| played a bold and defiant game, taking
steps which he knows lace his own neck
in the hitler. With him, therefore, the
only alternative is to fight and wear out
the troops, if possible. Submission would
now be too late Accordingly Mr. Bell be
heves the Mormons will resist to the last
extremity, or until their men are capable
of bearing arms are exterminated or made
| prisoners.
To the inquiry whether the Mormons had
taken any effective II ensures for the defence
of the Passes of the mountains, Mr. Bell re-
sponded afiirmatvelv. Echo Canon is the
only one of several similar Passes through
which the usual road into the salt Lake
Basin lis. al of them are fortified by the
Mormons, besides being mined and under
lain with explosive trains, SO that if found
necessary the application o. Il match may
instantly hurl gigantic rocks upon the de
voted heads of the troops. or open the earth
TO swallow them up. How effective their
Ingenuity in those diabolcal designs may
have been, he of course is not aware, but
he il satisfied that they have omitted moth
ing which seemed to them adapsd to hurl
| swift destruction upon their assalents.-
Echo Canon, the first through which the
troops are expected 70 pass, has been per
haps more carefully guarded than any other.
Here artificial dams are raised by means OF
which the water Ct small but plentiful
stream can easily be turned upon the road
through the Cannon. rendering it utterly
impossible for wagars or artillery.
But it is not absolutely necessary, as re-
presented that the troops should go through
this Pass. BY detour to the southwark,
it may be avoided, although that course
will add about eighty seven miles to the
distance to be marched. The danger from
Mormon sharp-s! ooters, perched among the
rocks from one to three hundred feet above
the cannons-and from missels to be hurled
from their submits by hand, has probably
been exaggerated At least 1t appears that
by following the ascent from point four
or five miles east of Echo Canon, horsemen
can ride to the very edge of the clff-and
of course rifiemen can follow on foot. This
force may not only drive off the rebels
posted there, but also, by firing down upon
those below, guarding the deiences, inter
iere seriously with their plans Of operation
There are other canons which cannot bt
evaded on the journey into Salt Lake plain
and it will undoubtedly be the policy OF the
Mormons to defend each, successfully, with
the energy of desperation. Unless my in
formants, who are intelligent men, and
competent to Judge. are much at fault
Col johnson will need all the reinforcements
that can be drawn from Kansas before he
will be able to plant his colors within the
Mormon lines of defence 1t is worthy OF
remark that Mr. Bells views in regard t.
the prepar ations of the Mormon forces al {
corroborated by information received recent
" at Fort Scott, through two trappers who
were permitted to come through.
|