The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-10-20
AN OVERLAND JOURNEY.
The Army inUtah.
XIV

OaWp rlo}u, Nv MiieS Oou'" o' Oo'o
Lake City, is located on the west side of
a dry valley. perhaps ten miles wide by
thirty miles long, separated by high hills
from Lake Utah, some fifteen to twenty
miles distant on the northeast. This
valley would be fertile were it not doomed
to steriity by drought. A small stream
takes its rise in copious springs at the
foot of the western hills just north of the
camp, but it is soon drank up on the thirs-
ty plain. Water in this stream, and wood
Qow cedar) on the adjacent bills, proba-
biz dictated the selection OF this site for
a camp though | believe desire if not
q secrect compact to locate the troops as
far as possible from the Mormon settle
ments had an influence in the premises.
No Morn ons live in this valley or within
sight of it; though all the roads leading
from Salt Lake City. as we'll as from
Provo, and the other settlements around
Lake Utah, are within days march and
may be said to be comm banded by the
camp. The soil is easily pulyerized
when dry, aud keeps the entire area en-
veloped in cloud Of dust during the
Sumner, visible for miles in every direc-
ton. saw it when eli ght miles away as
came down from Salt Lake City yester-
day.
The camp is formed of low and neat a
dobe houses, generally small. Ipresune
there are three or four hundred OF them
enough, at all events, to make three or
four Kansas cities. "Frogtown" is a sa-
tie lite, or suburb, whence prog and other
luxuries Oneudng execrable whisky, at
about $40 PER gallon) and dispensed to
thirsty soldiers who have not already
drank Up more than their pay amounts to.
The Valley is covered with Sagebush and
Greasewood, as usual; but the camp has
been freed from these, and is mainly as
leeel as house floor. The adobes were
made on the spot by Mexicans, the boards
for roofs. ini> hing off. &C., supplied by
Brigham Young aud his sou-n.law, from
the only canon opening into Salt Lake
Valley which abouDds in timber Yellow
Pine, | bcieve) fit for saving. The Ter
ritorial Legislature-which is another
name for "the Church )-granted this
canon to Brigham, who runs three saw
mills therein at clear profit of Sl00
or SO per day. His profit on the lumber
supplied to the Camp was probably over
$50. 900. The price was SO per thous-
and feet President Young assured ne,
with evident self-complscency, that he
did not need and would not accept dol
Tor OF salary from 'the Church con-
sidered hiuself able to make all the mon
ey he needed by business, a. he had mad e
the $3.50, 900 worth of property be already y
possesses. With a legislature ever read y
to grant him such perqui.ites as this lum
ber canon-(and believe the best Wood
canon leading into Salt Lake Valley is
held By bin under a similar free grant
Il should think be night. The total
cost of this post to the Government was
about $500, 900.
The army in Utah has nun bered 3.
500 men--I believe its present strength
is about 1900. 1t is mainly concentra.
ted in this camp. though some small de
tachDeuts are eng aged in surveying OIL
opening roads, guarding herds. &C., in
different parts Of the Territory. | be
lieve this is still the largest regular force
ever concentrated upon the soil Of our
country in time of peace. 1t consists o.
the 5th; 7th and 10th regiments of Infan
try, battalion of Light Artillery and
two or three companies of Dragons.
met between Bridger aud Hams Fork, q
considerable force of Dragons going
Gown.
Let us briefly consider the history ant
position of this little Army.
In the former half of 1857. it was con
r centrated in Kansss; late in that year ,th,
several regiments composing it we're pu
in march toward the Rocky Mountains
The Mormons full soon learned that i
was 20 be launched against them, and a
once prepared to give it a warm reccp
ton; the Army had no information on th'
subject, save general report. Detained
in Kansas to give effect to Gov. Walker
electioneeriDg quackeries, it was at lengtl
sent on its way at season too late to al
low it to reach Salt Lake before Winter
! No commander was sent with it; Genera
/. Harney was announced as its chief bu
5 has not even yet joined it. 1t was thu
dispatched on long and dificalt expedi
g ton. in dctacbments, without chief
e without orders, without any clear idea o
, its object or destination. Entering Utsl
. thus as no Army, but as number 0
e seperate. struggling detachments, neithe
, of which was ordered to protect the sup
DIV Trains which followed one or two III ar
= ehes behind them. they bad the NORTH
? cation to learn. about the lst of October
{ that those Supply Trains. without eve
e an armed corporai's guard in their yicin
t ity, had been surprised and burnt by
Mormon band, who thus in effect mad
: war on the United States. Indignant.
but still without leader and witbou
g definite orders, the Army struggled on
/. Bridger, lib miles from Salt Lake, whlc
e the aormons abandoned oD its approach
s Bridger is many thousand feet above tn
g level of the sea and the ground was her