Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-02-20
BRIGHAM 4op Nd AND THE EEg sMoRMoNs.
Rusor@ Ea5pgssrntg to United stotes T,oeps
.ditA he Norma .s sat Salt Lake Valley-1he

San FRANCISCO, Jan. 20. 1858. q
By way of Greg, we have another report that
an engagement had taken place between the United
States troops and superior force OF Mormons IN
Salt lake Valley It is said hard fight ensued, and
that the MormOns after sustaining severe loss, were
obliged to retreat. The news was brough to Col.
Steptoe at the Dales by. reliable Snake Indian,
and by him sent on to this city, arriving here last
evening by the steamer Commodore, hom Portland.
1t is also reported that the Cayuse and WallaWalla
Indians had ordered all the whites to leave their
country within five days. The Indians say that
white men, who are neither Americans nor English,
offer to furnish them wish plenty Of muskets to fight
our people and it is believed from every indication
that the Mormons are engaged melting the Indians
to hostility The general relief in the North is that
in the coming spring many if not all the Indian
tribes will be exceeding y troublesome. The report
of the battle must be received with doubt, as such
rumors have been frequently circulated without any
foundation. '.f ..... g .'
REPORTED ATTEMPT TO ENTER BY ECHO cANoN-fooK
DBAaooNs KILLED-PREsENr POSITION OF COL. JOHN
SONS COMMAND.
We find the following letter in the San Francisco
Herald The truth of the intelligence it contains
We are inclined to question, from the Tact that our
dates from the army as late as December ls, and
nothing has been said about an attempt to force the
Echo Canon by Col. Alexander
SACRAMENTO, Jan 0, 1853
Mcssrs. Middleton and Pearson arrived at Carson
Valley on the 6th and Pearson has just arrived h"m
Carson Valley via the Big Tree route. They brought
an express from Washington to Harris Fork for Col.
Johnson. On December Z, Colonel Alexander, with
the Sixth Dragons had attempted to force their way
through Echo Canon in the attempt, four OF the
dragons were killed. Thinking it impossible to
force the pass, Col. Johnston, who had assumed
command Of the troops, retired, and in few days
despatched Colonel Alexander, with twenty'eight
dragons as an escort, to St. Louis to obtain sup.
plies Colonel Johnston then retreated short dis
lance to Sulphur Springs and took the Sublette cut
off around to the north of Salt Lake to Box Elder,
from which Messrs. Middleton and Pearson started
December Is. Colonel Johnston was there at the
time with the second and third dragons and light
artillery, seven six pound and five twelve pound
paxh'ans. He has sent foraging parties, fifty men
each and has obtained 2, 400 cattle and other sup.
plies of all kinds. The Colonel has pckets out all
the way from Bold Elder to Gravelly Ford, of from
forty to sixty men. An escort Of seven dragons
came with the expressmen to Gravelly Ford. -
He will attempt to enter Salt Lake Cit" about the
LIST of May as he expects Harvey will arrive on the
other side about that time
There are three companies of Dragons at Fort
Bridger. Fort Supply, twelve miles south, has been
evacuated by the Mormons and the troops have
possession of it. Mr.. Pearson has seen snow ex-
cept since leaving Carson Valley. Johnston's COM
nand have experienced no inconvenience whatever
from snow, not having seen any. Harvey will have
the I'd Dragoons three companies 18th mounted re-
giment. Five companies rifles will arrive on the l1th
We have received files of the Deseret Neacs up to
the I'd of December last, from which We obtain
interesting intelligence in regard to the condi
ton of things among the Mornons, and the state of
their feelings upon the war question. Ii won!d APP
pear from the moderate tone assumed by Brig
ham Young and several of the apostles that they
not so belIgerent they have been, and that they
are not altogether unavorable to peaceful solution
of the difficulty between them and our government
However, we will let Brigham speak for himself
In his discourse on the 10th Of November last he
thus addresses tic c"''''''' -------t-----"
Dn,unA-- I>uT EXPECT ANY TROUBLE.
You hear some of the brethren surnse tina, we
going to have trouble. You need not expect any
trouble, except you take a course to bring it upon
you. You need never expect to see sorrow unless
your own conduct, conversation and acts bring it to
your hearts. Br. Phncas correctly observed in his
remarks that il ten men united in these noun.
tains they are not to be overcome by their enemies
Is this whole people perfectly united? fear not
When undertake to present before this people the
true principles of the priesthood almost shudder,
because so many do not yet understand them and
gard to the brethren now in the mountains. Gen.
eral Wells takes the charge, and when l write to
him l counsel him to do as the Holy Ghost shall
dictate him and inform him that whatever he may
order and perform he has my faith and influence to
sustain him.
l pray God to turn away our enemies, to put
hooks in their jaws and turn them wherever he will
with their gold, their horses, and all they possess
They do not know the 'Mormons,' they are stran-
gers to this people, full Of wrath and malice to-
wards us; but they know not why. They know
not that they stirred to anger against by the
enemy of all righteousness. Should those who in
stigated the sending of this army undertake to come
here, there will be another scenery, for they are
more or less acquainted with u.s. and know that we
are the most upright people on the EARTH and they
ignorance will not talk about them, for you know
their history, and you know and have much of
the squald wretchedness of the wicked inhabitants
of the earth. Is there honor and virtue among
them? Where is the man woman among them
that is to be trusted? If there is here and there
any sembance of goodness or virtue it is at once
overcome by every fendish art in their power.
Women are overcome by sycophants, by those who
rule the nation, and those who have power and in
fuence in the various States, parties and religious
sects. Man is overcome by man. They cudde and
wink and gamble and run to and fro in denominations
of every grade and lift their voices for and against
each other, did the Paddy in his petition to the
king for an Office wherein he stated that he would
vote for against him, fight for or against him,
just as he wished it. Colonel Alexander, probably
one of the best men in the army, now near Bridger
ruins, told one of our messengers, when replying to
piece of advice had given him to resign his
mission rather than be found operating against
innocent people, that he compelled to remain in
the army, for if he resigned he knew not how to
manage to sustain his family He said, ~ have no
commission, for then should have no means to
support my wife and children" As an American,
shame and confusion would overwhelm me were
even to think of trying to sustain my family by sid
ing with tyranny and oppression. That's the only
circumstance wish to name. They are sent osten.
sibly to civilize this people, but do not wish to
talk much about such nonsense. The whole world
is wrapt up in the garment of corruption, confusion
and destruction, and they fast making their way
down to hell, while We have the words Of eternal
life. The whole world sadly in want Of what
they call master spirit. That is what the govern
ment of the United States deprived Of there is
not one to be found among Them neither in the Cab
met of the President in the Senate of the United