New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-03-31
From Col. Johnston's Command at Fort
Scott, Utah.

We have perused letter from COL Johnston to
friend In this city, dated at Camp Scott, February
Q, 1885, and have been permitted to make some ex
tracts therefrom.
The Colonel had received no communication from
the Government OF later date than the 23d Of DC
tober, 1851 and justly complains that the mail con
tractors take more than three months to carry the
mails to Utah. when their contract requires them to
deliver it there monthly and be adds: IL send
nothing by mail, nor should anything Of public
nature be sent otherwise than by express"
Notwithstanding the destruction of a part OF the
train which was loaded with provisions and other
supplies necessary for his troops and in spite Of the
obstacles which still presented themselves, Col John
ston did not abandon the hope Of marching to Salt
Lake City without a halt, until after the terrific
storm of the 9Th Of November. We quote from his
letter On the 9Th OF November the march was re-
sumed, and then commenced the storm of snow and
wintry cold racking the bones of men, and starry.
ing our oxen, and mules aud horses, already half
starved. They died on the road, and at our camps,
by hundreds, and SO diminished were their numbers
that from camp to camp, only four or five miles, as
many days were required to bring them all up as it
was necessary to give time to rest the animals now.
incapable Of protracted Efforts and to hunt for food
In this way fifteen days were consumed in making
thirtyive miles to this place. the nearest and best
place of shelter and fuel for the troops and for shell
ter and grass for the animals. The struggle then
amidst snow and Arctic cold (the Thermometer at
sixteen below zero) was for place of safety. II any
doubt existed before this storm of the proprety of
spring, or of the ability to accomplish the march,
the destruction amongst our draught animals, the
necessity of saving all the left for food even if
capable of further exerton, dispeled that doubt
and solved the question.
"The storm which Col. Cook encountered on the
Sweet Water, and on through the South Pass, de-
stroyed more than half of his horses, and a 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 experienced by us, and his animals, presume,
persisted mainly from cold.
81 have the satisfaction to say that the privatons
of the march were endured by officers and men with
out complaint, or, perhaps might more justly say,
with cheerfulness. The troops in fine health and
condition. The winter thus far has not been so rigor
GUS as TO prevent often the daily instruction of the
troops. They have proved themselves to be hardy
enough for any service, few only-as many Thirty
or lesshave been frost bitten but now our scouts
hivouac, when necessary in the passes without suf
fering.
al hope every effort will be made to forward the
spring supplies early, under sufficient guard Of
mounted men, for the guard will be needed, and ALSO
TO forward the supplies for the rest of the year"
tSt. Louis Republican, 23d.