The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-30
OUR ARMY AMONG THE MORMONS.
LETTER FROM ONE OF OUR TROOPS IN UTAH.

CEDAR VALLEY, CAMP FLOYD, U. T.,
COMPANY F, TENTH INFANTRY, March IA, 1859.
The Passage Of Devils Gdte Description Of he Scenery
Roso tie Army are Employed in Camp-Rebsllion Still IN
The HeayI Of The Mormon Leaders-Dcseriltion Of TIE
appearance Of the Camp and Rerie,g Of the Toops-No-
Pay for the Ne,s-Rum Warranted to KaI at one Thou
sand Ycrds-The Fancy and the Gambling Hsus--7Aea.
ticals and Music of First Rate iJculy Of Get
ting Wood for Fire-Cswio,s Account Of the Way Il Is
Conveyed, dc.
We left Governors Island the 2sth May, 1858, for
Fort Leavenworih, our company consisting OF 900 re-
crus intended mostly for the Tenth regiment, OF rifles
On arrival at the passage known by the salphurous
name "Devfs Gate" stopped TO reconnoitrc This
passage liz barely wide enough for o wagon being
pied partly by stream of water Finding road clear
we pushed forward into Echo Tho entrance TO
this canon Tive sublime beautiful
gazed upon; huge mountains rising almost perpendicular
hundreds Of feet above your head, with the glimpse
OF an occasional deserted breastwork thrown up by
the Mormons TO intercept further progress.
This pass is very long and narrow, and should
the Morons have had spuuk enough to carry out their
original designs they would have made this pass for u.s.
Ike Jordan, a hard road to travel" Everything had
been deserted however, before the arrival tho troops
in advance Of and we had nothing TO resrd the fur
her progress Of arrival here Wegot TO this camp Just
the troops sent in advance commencing 10 build
winter quarers Our camp very picturesquey situated
being surrounded all sides by mountains the distance
10 the foot Of the rst being about FIVE miles. We have
spring Of pure fresh water in the midst OF u.s. which fur
nshes with q bountul supply. The troops encamped
here CONSIST OF two regiments Of dragons, CON-
pany G. light artillery Fifth and Seventh regiments In
iantry and Tenth regiment, infantry rifles We do
tailed IN companies and attachments 10 20 out in the
from the depredatons Of the Indians every company and
detachment taking their according the This
is the principal part Of the labor have 10 perform When
going out these expeditions take tents with u.s. clear
away the sDow which generally about two feet deep
the mountains pitch our tents and, with ample supply
OF buffalo robes make ourselves comfortable the
exgencies Of the will admit
We enter raining strong hopes Of being recalled
this sprng bus The prospect now Is that viii have 70
remain another year, as the sprt of rebellion In the
breasts Of the Mormon leaders only dormant waiting
the opportunity when the United troops THAR
departure Of breaking out aresh With all their outside
pretensions 70 TIE submission Of Uncle Sans iaws the
devil Ia in them still.
Our camp has the appearance OF a small city; the
houses are built Of adobe, which soldiers, like
every thing else, bave ncknamed doboys about the
size Of two ordinary bricks in the states story high
and very comfortable.
General Johnston reviews the troops every sunday On
the last review had jolly time, for 1t showed and
blew regular hurricane, bat had IL notwh
standng-no going between decks here ing under
boom cover board Of O of war. Verify, this
kind OF soldering dom exactly suit me.
We have rot received any pay for six months, on &C
count oi the not beng able 10 get money
over the mountains before winter set he has h)wever
gone to California and 10 expected back in June next
with funds Money being scarce, attendant
camp life greatly allevisted the soldier nothing
70 gamble with or get drunk save the nominal allow
hnce OF whskey derived from the suffers store. There
Is village short distance from here where be got
plenty Of g valantan,' the worst quality Of rum,
ranted to kill goo yards the distance rifles shoot
We have also few d the fancy here ana as smater
OF course any quantity Of gambling hes where the poor
soldier s taken in and eeced out Of his hard earnings
but owing 10 the scarcity Of money these representatives
OF Hoyle are not reapng very rich harvest present
There il likewise small sprpkng of the fair who
sail under the euphonious names Of Gentle Annie'
Dolby Mary ,"" Pretty Polly" &C. We have plenty Of
amusement theatre has been erected by the soldiers
which Ia amply supplied with scenery cora.ions &c,
painted BY score OF artists from the different regiments
and three regmena bands comprise orchestra Every
company almost s able 10 furnish star,v forming
array Of talent that would blush some Of your
Eastern theatres. We had circus and band of Ethio
plan Serepaders from Great Salt Lake City, but the cold
weather setting in compelled them pull up stakes aud
leave.
Our camp stu ted about forty five miles from Great
salt lake City, with stage running every other day
when the roads are passable. Lehgh City about ny
miles from u.s. and Provo City thirty eight miles, mail
Ia paisos not closed up In the letters
month coming from the States but this winter they
have been very irregular.
Our mode Of procuring wood Ia rather novel, the
eet being on the mountains five six miles distant.
nTst cul and aid down the base the mountain,
haul into camp II reminds Of half dozen fire
engines running 70 fire. 10 hear the soldiers yelling and
bootDg AZ they break through the at two forty
rate Of speed Iha done by fatigue parties, three
four times each week. the whole being In charge by
the masters, who distribute the different
companies The wood being principally cedar and pine,
not aet long, and compelled sometimes after
drawing our allowance " the weather ia very cold 10
20 10 the MONTANA our own hook and get sum.
cent supply 70 keep from freezing.