The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-11-18
SALT LAKE CITr.
IT'S sETTLEMENT-THE JOHNSON
EXPEDITION.
New Orleans Times-Democrat. /

On July a, 1S47, Brigham Young
with l4S Latter Day Saints, arrived
at and settled the thea waste spot
where Salt Lake City now stands.
Situated at the base of the Wa
sateh mountains, with = broad
river to the sonth, the location
was both picturesque aud secure
from Gentle Innovation, for il was
OF the line of travel. These men
were the principal remainder of
the murderous "NauvOO LEGION
of 1900, who had been routed from
Nanvoo, Illinois. Shortly after
wards the remnants of these seat
tered Saints began arriving by de-
tachments. The first house they
built here was log fort, to pro-
teet themselves from the Indians.
Then they built a tabernacle, on
small scale, in which TO celebrate
their marriages and denounce the
government for staying the proph-
ct Joseph Smith.
The city was laid off in blocks
of 10 acres, subdivided into lots
of an acre and II quarter each
the object being to give each loca-
tor not exactly a farm, but good
sized garden and plenty of room
to raise his produce, chickens,
children, hogs, Sc.
The original plan in which the
city was laid out is still in vogue,
and there may be seen surround.
ing polygamous residences gard
ems and orchards rivaling in extent
and floral beauty even those of the
far.famed Southern California
the garden spot Of the world. In
March, 1S49, when the first elec-
tion was held, the Mormon Colony
numbered $500. Brigham Young
was elected Governor of the ter.
ritory. He had just euchred young
Joseph Smith out of the presi-
dency Of the Church. At the elec-
tion there was no opposition ticket
in the field, men, women and child
rem voting.
In September 1850 Congress or
ganized Utah into q territory, and
President Millard Fillmore appoin-
ted Brigham Young Governor.
He was reappoiuted by Presidents
Pierce and Buchanan. He was
finally superseded in September,
1857, the first year of Buchanan's
administration. Albert II. Cum
ming was the appointee. General
Harvey, with 2500 soldiers, accom-
panied the Governor and his See.
retary as a guard, and to protect
the large number ofemisrants then
passing through to California.
General Albert Sydney johnson
also went out with a command the
same summer.
On hearing Of the approach of
the armies of Generals Johnson
and Harvey, the Nauvoo Legion,
about 200O strong, met them on
the borders of the territory, bear
ing flag of truce. General D..
II. Wells, now First High Coun-
seIlor in the Church, commanded
the Mormon Legion, and informed
the Federal authorities that Brig
ham Young had declared war
against the United States. The
Federal Governor was escorted
to the city and installed. But the
Mormous had abandoned their
lands and homes and fed the coun.
try in dismay. There was not q
soul in Salt Lake Valley except
the Federal officers and soldiers.
They were evidently bound for
Mexico or Arizona, and had gone
about two hundred miles, when
they were overtaken by govern
ment messengers, assured that no
harm was meant them, and per-
suaded to return, which they did,
and were soon comfortable in the
homes they had just abandoned.
This was the inglorious end of the
celebrated "Utah war; not a
hostile gun was fired; not a sol
dier scathed.