Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-03-04
From the Louisville Courier.
From The Utah Army.-Lettel
From Col. Johnston.

From Col. johnston.
We have been permitted to make th
following. extract from letter from Col. A
S. Johnston, Commander of the Utah Ex
pedition, to member of bis family in thi
city.
CAMP ScoTT, NEAR FoRr BRIDGER,
BLACKS Fork OF GREEN RIVER, Dec. IL 81.
My DEAR-----: / have an opportu
nifty of sending you line, but only tim
to say few words, as have been engaged
till the last moment in my public correspon
dence.
| We are still encamped at this place, anc
will continue until we move in the spring
The army has abundance of food and cloth
ing, and is we'll sheltered from cold in Sib
ley tents. With your knowledge of the
camp-life you would pronounce our situa
ton one of great comfort. These Sibley
tents are tall, comical tents, IL feet high
and 20 feet in diameter, open at the top
with vein to prevent its smoking, which
it does not quite do. With a stove or fire
built in the middle, it is quite great i'm.
provement in the comfort of the soldier
but not as good as wall tent with stove,
for an officer.
/ said we have abundance, but inasmuch
as no one, from the Governor and civil Of
feers to the private soldier, can obtain
more than one ration. we have nothing to
give in the way of hospitality, for if in
vite nv neighbor to dine, he would be no
better off than if he staid at home, while ]
should be damaged by his eating my ra-
ton. The regular dinner-out would fare
badly here. What genius and tact he must
be endowed with if be could procure an in
vitation! @
The day before the reduction took place,
we gave dinner to the Governor, Chief
Justice, &c, on our surplus in the larder.
Since then l do not think we could feed
an extra rat at our mess, such is our health
and so nicely is the quantity allowed ad-
iusted to the measure of our wants. We,
of course, find it irksome here, but time
will soon roll round, and we shall find our
selves again in the midst of those we love
and admire. Until then we must be pa
tient. We fear our friends will suffer from
groundless apprehensions on our account.
We have no reason to complain of any
thing but absence from our families.
Some think the Mormons, when it is
necessary to make the issue with them,
will submit to the government. do not
agree with them. l think their fanaticism
and villiany will lead them to try one en-
counter at least; and l think our govern
ment ought to desire it as affording SIM
pie solution of difficult political question.
If they resist, final settlement would be
ON the basis ola conquest. We could then
dictate TO them the terms Of adjustment.
Brigham Young wrote to me few days
since sending as a present some 800 pounds
of salt, or if preferred, we might buy it for
the troops. Knowing they would enter
tain fendish delight in the knowledge
that we would starve or freeze, neither of
which we intend to do, although we have
no salt, / sent it back TO him with this
message :-'That Brigham Young and his
associates against the Government; that
until they return to their allegiance and
obey the laws, 1 will accept no favor or
courtesy from them, nor hold any cores
pondence with them; that when ! advance
the people who remain at their homes or
engage only in their private business, will
undisturbed. If find them arrayed in
arms l will attack them wherever 1 meet
them; that if they entertained the delusiye
hope that the army would retire from the
Territory they had better Danish it; that
the army will never take one step back, DC,
DC" < * X
Yours, &c,
JOuNCT0N