Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-09-10
oReELEY.s LErTERs--XxIV.
AN OVERLAND JOURNEY.
THE ARMY IN UTAH.

CAMP FLOYD, Utah, July 81, SO.
Camp Floyd, 40 miles south of s lit Lake
City, is located on the west side of dry
valley, perhaps ten miles wide by thirty
miles long, separated by high hills from
Lake Utah, some 5 to 20 miles distant on
the northeast. This valley would be fertile
were it not doomed to sterility by drouth.
A small stream takes its rise in cop;ous
springs at the foot of the western hills inst
north Of the camp, but is soon drank up
by the thirsty plain. Water in this stream,
aud wood Glow CEDAR on the adjacent hills,
probably dictated the selection of this site
for a camp, tn ough believe desire if moi
a secret com mpact to locate the troops as fal
as possible from the Mormon settlements
| had an influence in the premises. No Nor
mons live in his valley or within sight o
il though all the roads lending from Salt
Lake City, as well as from Provo and the
other settlements around Lake Utah, are
within days march and may be sal to
be commanded by the camp. The soil is
easily pulverized when dry, and keeps the
entire area enveloped during Summer in a
dense cloud of dust, visible for miles in ev-
cry direction. saw it when eight miles
away as | came down from Salt Lake CITY
yesterday.
The Camp is formed of low and neat
adobe houses, generally small. | presume
there are three or four hundred of them
enough, at all events 10 make three or four
Kansas cities. "Frogtown" is a satellite,
or suburb, whence grog and other Injuries
(includmg execrable whisky at about $40
per gallon) are dispensed to thirsty soldiers
who have not already drank up more than
their pay amounts to. The valley is cover
ed with Sagebush and Greasewood, as u.s.
ual; hut the camp has been freed from these
and is mainly level as a houSe-a0or. The
adobes were made on the spot by Mexicans,
the boards for roofs. finishing of, &c, sup
piled by Brigham Young and his son-in
law, from the only canon opening into Salt
Lake Valley which abOundS in timber
yellow Pine, l believe fit for saving.
The Territorial Legislature-(w which is ano-
ther name for "the Church. )-granted this
canon to Brigham, who runs three saw
mills therein AT clear prof of 500 or so
per day. His profit on the lumber sun
piled 10 the Camp was probably over $50,-
900. The price was $40 per thousand feet.
President Young assured me, with evident
self-compaeency. that he did not need aud
would not accept dollar of salary from
"the Church"-he considered himself able
to make all the money he needed by buSi-
ness, as he had made the $3.50 900 worth
of property he already possesses. With
Legislature ever ready to grant him such
perquiStes as this lumber canon-(and
believe the hest Wood canon leading into
Salt Lake Valley is held by him under
similar free grant, Il should thiuk he
might The total cost of this post to the
Government was about 5000 600
The Army insUtah has numbered 5 500
men-l heleve its present strength is hut
about 5000. II is mainly concentrated in
this camp, though some small detarhment>
are engaged in surveying or opening roads,
guarding herds, &C., in different parts of
the territory. | believe this is still the
largest regular force ever concentrated up.
on the soil of our country in time Of peace.
1t consists of the 5th, 7th and 10th regi-
ments of Infantry, battalion of Light
Artillery, and 'wo or three companies of
Dragons. l met, between Brdger and
Hams Fork. considerable force of Dra-
goouS going down.
Let us briefly consider the history and
position of this liIe Army
In the former half of 1851, il was con.
centrated in Kansas; late in that year, the
several regiments composing il were put in
march toward the Rocky Mountains. The
Mormons full soon learned that it was to
be launched against them, and at once pre-
pared to give il warm reception; the Ar
my had 40 information on the subject, save
general report. Detained in Kansas to
give effect TO Gov. Walkers electioneering
quackeries, il was at length sent on its way
at a season too late TO allow il TO reach
Salt Lake before Winter No commander
was sent with it; Gen. Harvey was au-
nounced as It's chief but has not even yet
Joined IL. IL was thus dispatched on a
long and difficult expedition, in detaehments
without chief, without orders. without
any clear idea Of It's object or destination.
Entering Utah thus as no Army, but as
number Of separate. Struggling detach-
ments, neither of which was ordered 10 pro-
lect the Supply Trains which followed one