San Andreas independent., 1858-01-16
LATER FROM SALT LAKE!
Los ANGELES Jonuorv Tth IL

Inc GAIT Lake mall arrived here on
the 1st inst, having left the Holy
: City" on the 9th of December. Papers
are to the I'd ult.; but they contain not
one single word of news-cvidently made
so at the instance of the Mormon author
tiles. From what can be cleaned through
out the interminable sermons which fill
these papers, as well as from what little
brethren who carry the mail will COM
municate, the reliable news amounts to
about the following:
Since the former dates from there, the
Mormon forces had retreated from Fort
Bridger, after burning and otherwise
destroying everything that might afford
aid or comfort to the u. S. troops Col
Alexander had fallen back from the Bear
river route to the Fort Bridger ruins,
where the entire command had united
and Col. johnson, who, together with
Gov. Cummins, and the civil officers of
the Territory, had prepared to quarter
for the winter.
The ruins of Bridger had been covered
with roofs made of tent-cloth, and as
plenty of wood can be had in the vicini-
ty, the troops are likely to pass the win
ter without much inconvenience.
Most of the horses and cattle attached
to the command had perished from the
want of forage, or been driven into Salt
Lake Valley by the Mornons. 1t is said
the Saints boast of having about ff-
! teen hundred head which they captured
from Uncle Sam.
Gov. Cummins had sent proclama-
tion to Salt Lake City, which Young or
dered to be read to the people assembled
in the Tabernacle on the 9th of Decem-
Der. Brigham still denied its official eff
feet as notice of his being superseded as
Governor, and still declared that no troops
should enter the Valley. 1t was also
rumored that Young would resign his
authority to Gov Cummins whenever he
was oficiolly instructed to so recognize
him, but that in no event should any
troops enter the Valley with him. If
true. this would indicate backing down
on the part of Brigham.
The loss of animals belonging to the
expedition has been immense; thirteen
thousand started with it, and they are
about all used up; it is said that twelve
hundred horses and mules pcrished at
Hams Fork and Fort Bridger. 1t was
stated by deserters at Salt Lake City, that
Col. johnson had sent to New Mexico
for supply of mules, to be brought to
him as early as the next season would
admit.
The policy of Brigham this winter will
be to corrupt the troops and entice them
to desert; he has arranged for it, and |
think will succeed to very great extent
Some private letters have come to the
faithful here, which report the daily
arrival in the Valley of soldiers and team
sters, and confidence is expressed that
the entire command will be disorganized
before Spring
Simultaneous with the intended en-
trance of Col. Alexander to the Valley
by Sublette's Cutoff, Young sent his
forces, under command of " Lieut.. Gen.
Wells, up north, for the purpose of oppo-
sing his march down Bear river. The
Mormons remained out in the mountains
during most of the month of November,
but the unusually deep SHOWS which have
fallen this fall and winter, compelled both
parties to go into quarters, and Wells and
his forces reached Salt Lake City about
the lst of December 1t is said he left |
fifty men to scout in the vicinity of Fort
Bridger, most likely to assist in desertion
act as outlying plckets.
Young acts with much facetiousness,
and has sent condoling messages to the
other Governor, because of his cold win
ter residence, and offers to see to his hav-
ing comfortable outfit to get back East
next Spring.
The Mormons sowed heavy crops of
grain last Fall, and intend to farm extern
sively this Spring; SO between fighting
and plowing (if such extremes ever mect)
the Saints will have busy time of it this
year.
About three-fourths of all the Nor
mons in San Bernardino have started for
Salt Lake, and the mail-carrier reports
having met the forward trains over the |
rim of the Basin into the Valley. About
three hundred wagons have started for
the "holy land" and the latter trains are
about at the Mojave; they were getting
along finely.-,S. f. Call.
s9 1t is stated that weekly literary
paper will soon be commenced in San
Francisco. We hope it may prove to be