Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-01-29
(Nev Yest 1ioss Army Csrrespondencel
THE UTAH Army.
IN WINTER QUARTERS.

~ A8 AskSS ~
The Mermons' Desfr"c tom of Fort
Bridyey-Nelaneho!y seenss-Prerara-
tins for the Winter.
CAMP SCOTT, (nesr Fort Bridger,O
Utah Territory. Tuesday. Dec. l. 1857
The army for Utah, is now in W in
ter quarters at thn place, having sue
ceeded IN reconstructing, amidst the
ruins of the old Fort (laid desolate by
the Mormons before our arrival &C
commodations sufficient to insure a
tolsrablc degree of comfort.
The march hlther was attended by q
variety OF disazreeA9 occurences.-
Tho whole army started from camp on
Blacks Fork on the 7th of Nov, the
Fifth Infantry in advance. We began
the march at daylight, but it was late
in the evening before the last ox-train
got started. The day was very com
Portable, a cold northwest wind blow
ing accompanied by snow, which was
in our faces dnring the whole march.
W. moved some fifteen miles, and it
was | believe the sevcrest fifteen miles,
journey which was ever taken by so
large a portion of the United States
Army.
Our progress was so hindered by
the giving out and death Of the mules
and cattle, that it was dark before the
advance reached their camping ground
and it was IL o'clock at night before
the troops all reached camp. The
tents had then to be pitched in the
dark, on snow nearly a foot deep, the
wood sought for, and supper cooked in
a raging snow-storm. Ofthe OBTAINS
only two reached tue camp.
Col. Taylor, one of the prisoners,
on the 10th made his escape from the
guards, and was not retaken. Ninety
| OF the Government mules died during
the day, and also a very large nam
Der of cattle The thermometer stood
at IA 6 below zero on the 18th rather
cold weather in which to live III tents.
We reached Fort Bridger on the
l4th, and VIC shall remain here in
camp this winter. The wall of the
Fort is built of cobble stone, laid in
mortar, four feet thick at the top, and
twenty feet in height. Adjoining this
wall is a large corral, enclosed by a
stone wall of the same description,
about eight feet in height. These i'm
provements were found uninjured, but
the wooden gates, (which were very
strong,) acre almost entirely consumed
By fire all the buildings which sur
rounded the Fort were also burned to
tie ground. Hearing that there were
vegetables at Fort Supply, cached and
yet in the ground a party went there
to-day to sec what could oe found.
On arriving at the spot l realized
for the first time in my life what l
imagined of the appel aace of a sack
ed, burned and abandoned village
The place wss marked bv the black
ened and charred timbers sticking up
in every direction, and by the tumbling
adobe walls and mud c%himneys.-
There was a sense of desolation abont
those ruins of a recently beautiful set
Element which was to say the least,
unpleasant. The Fort had been sur
rounded by pickets, which had burn
ed down with the buildings. This set
Element contained about Is houses be-
sides a grist and Jaw mill. There
were about SO acres of potatoes in the
ground, but they were all spoiled by
the frost. We found, by pokipg about
among the ruins, a hole containing
about three bushels Of excellent pota-
toes. W. found a patch of turnips
and beets %uninjurcd by the frost, and
of them we secured a good supply
The wheat had been cut before the
Mormons left, and had been burned in
the stack. In the meadow there was
five acres of hay, cut and lying as it
had been raked up at the time Of cut
ting.
Just before leaving the place a black
and white cat ran out towards us from
under a pile Of half burnt timber
We gave her TODD and tried to capture
her. She would not allow that, but
PERSISTED in keeping her lonely watch
over the ruins of her old home. We
arc all very busy building houses here
for our winter quarters. Ours is roof
ed, and tomorrow we hope to daub
the chinks with mud it will then be
finished, and we will have q comforta-
bic place for the winter. We have
had the site Of our "City" surveyed
and laid out. Judge Eckles finished
hi house first ; therefore, in his honor
We call the place Ecklcsville.
Our City is built in a pretty bend
Of the creek. 1t is contemplated to
build a Court House and Jail. Tho
first session oftLe United States Dis
trict Court for this district was held at
Ecklesvllle to-day. Mr.. McCarty, a
wagon maker of Russell l. Waddel's
was put on trial for shooting a soldier
a few days since. 1t seems that a par
ty of drunken soldiers attacked him
with stones, and struck him several
times. tic finally, in sclf-Gcfcnce, shot
one Of them, aud it is supposed the
soldier cannot live. McCarty was &C.
quilted, Gov. Cummins has conclu.
ded not to build a house, but to live in
tents this winter. He has sent a proc.
lamation to Brigham and the Nor
mons, by Grow and Southworth, two
Mormon prisoners, who we're released
for that purpose. Mr.. Perry has built
a log store; Mr.. Livingston a pole store
and Mr.. Gcrrish a frame store. which
are covered with canvass, 1t is also
contemplated to erect a building for a