HEADQUARTERS ARMY FOR UTAH,

Camp Winfield, U. T., October 9, 1857.

SIR: I have the honor to report that I have assumed command of the troops of the United States, constituting a part of the army for Utah, which are now encamped at this point. These troops are: the 5th regiment of infantry, eight companies of the 10th infantry, and the batteries of artillery (6 and 12-pounders) commanded by Captains Phelps, 4th artillery, and Reno, ordnance department, respectively. This camp is situated on Ham's fork, a tributary of Black's fork, which is, in turn, a tributary of Green river, about fifteen miles above the junction of the two forks. Fort Bridger is distant, in a southeast direction, about thirty miles. The 10th infantry reached here on the 28th of September; Phelps' battery on the following day. The 5th infantry arrived on the 4th of October, and Reno's battery on the same day. On the 5th instant I assumed command, for reasons which I conceive to be of the greatest importance to the troops and their supplies, and of which I shall have the honor to make a full report when a safer and more certain opportunity of sending despatches presents itself. At present I can give only a statement of what has occurred since my arrival, and report the disposition I have determined to make of the troops. On the day after reaching Ham's fork, and at the first camp I made on it, I received the enclosed letters from Governor Young and Lieutenant General Wells. The propositions they contain, however absurd they are, showed conclusively that a determined opposition to the power of the government was intended. I had met Captain Van Vliet on the 21st of September returning from Salt Lake City, and was informed by him that although the Mormons, or rather Governor Young, were determined to oppose an entrance into the city, yet he was assured that no armed resistance would be attempted if he went no further than Fort Bridger and Fort Supply. I was still further convinced of this by the circumstance that a train of more than one hundred contractor's wagons had been parked for nearly three weeks on Ham's fork without defence, and had been unmolested, although they contained provisions and supplies which would have been of great use to the Mormons.

Upon receiving these letters, I prepared for defence, and to guard the supplies near us until the nearest troops came up. I replied to Governor Young's letter, a copy of which I enclose, and have not had any further correspondence with him. On the morning of the 5th of October the Mormons burned two trains of government stores on Green river, and one on the Big Sandy, and a few wagons belonging to Mr. Perry, sutler of the 10th infantry, which were a few miles behind the latter train. Colonel Waite, of the 5th, though not anticipating any act of the kind, was preparing to send back a detachment to these trains from his camp on Black's fork, when he received, from some teamsters who came in, the intelligence of their being burned. No doubt now existed that the most determined hostility might be expected on the part of the Mormons; and it became necessary, from the extreme lateness of the season, to adopt some immediate course for wintering the troops and preserving the supply trains

with us. After much deliberation, and assisted by the counsel of the senior officers, I determined to move the troops by the following route: Up Ham's fork, about eighteen miles, to a road called Sublette's Cutoff; along that road to Bear river and Soda Spring. On arriving at Soda Spring two routes will be open-one down Bear River valley, towards the Salt Lake, and one to the northeast, towards the Wind River mountains-where good valleys for wintering the troops and stock can be found.

The adoption of one of these will be decided by the following circumstances: If the force under my command is sufficient to overcome the resistance which I expect to meet at Soda Spring, I shall endeavor to force my way into the valley of Bear river and occupy some of the Mormon villages, because I am under the impression that the Mormons, after a defeat, would be willing, and bring provisions for sale. The supplies on hand will last six months; and if I can get possession of a town in Bear River valley, I can easily fortify and hold it all winter.

There are also several supply trains in rear, to which I have communicated, and if they receive my letter in time, they will be saved, and can join us. If the Mormons are too strong for us, which I do not anticipate, the other road will be adopted, and I will make the best of my way to the mountains and tent for the winter.

I desire to impress upon you the fact that I, though not the commander appointed for this army, have adopted this course because the safety of the troops absolutely depends upon an immediate effort, and having information which makes it certain that the commander will not reach here before the 20th instant, and if we wait until that time we cannot leave this valley. The information I allude to is to the effect that Colonel Johnston had relieved General Harney, and had not left Fort Leavenworth on the 10th of September, and thirty days is the least possible time in which he can arrive here.

I cannot, for fear of this being intercepted, tell you the strength of my command, or send returns of it. It is strong enough to defend itself and its supplies. Whether it is able to assume and sustain an offensive position remains to be seen; but should the commands which I have heard are in rear come up in time, I think we will have sufficient force to carry out an active invasion. If we are obliged to winter in the mountains, you can perceive by a reference to Stansbury's maps that we will have an open road to Salt Lake City in the spring, and one which, I am told, is open early. By this one attack can be made, and attention called from the main road, (that by Fort Bridger,) which may then be traversed by troops. The Bear river route is, however, said to be the best one into the valley. The other passes through cañons that can be defended by a handful against thousands; and it is, moreover, so easily obstructed, that in a week it could be made utterly impassable. The want of cavalry is severely felt; and we are powerless, on account of this deficiency, to effect any chastisement of the marauding bands that are constantly hovering about us.

On the 7th instant I detached Captain Marcy, 5th infantry, with four companies, to Green river, to collect what he co ld find service

able from the burned trains, and to disperse any bodies of Mormons he found.

In conclusion, permit me to express the hope that my acts will meet the approval of the government, and on the first opportunity I will make a fuller and more detailed report. It is unquestionably the duty of the government to quell, by overwhelming force, this treasonable rebellion of the governor and people of Utah, and I must most urgently impress upon the War Department the fact that the small body of troops here will need reinforcements and supplies as soon as they can possibly be got here next spring. I would further respectfully suggest that troops should be sent from California and Oregon. It is said that the road from California to Salt Lake is passable all winter, and it is certainly so much earlier in the spring than that from the States.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. B. ALEXANDER,

Col. 10th Infantry, Commanding.

Colonel S. CoOPER,

Adjutant General U. S. Army.

[Endorsement on the foregoing.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF UTAH,

28 miles from South Pass, October, 15, 1857.

I have read this communication, and respectfully refer it to the consideration of the General-in-chief. I will remain near the Pacific Springs, with Colonel Smith, until the arrival of Lieutenant Smith, and will move on to the army, protecting the supply trains. With great respect, your obedient servant,

A. S. JOHNSTON,

Col. 2d Cavalry, Commanding army, Utah.

FORT BRIDGER, September 30, 1857.

SIR: I have the honor to forward you the accompanying letter from his excellency Governor Young, together with two copies of his proclamation and a copy of the Laws of Utah, 185, chap. 7, containing the organic act of the Territory.

It may be proper to add, that I am here to aid in carrying out the instructions of Governor Young. General Robison will deliver these papers to you and receive such communication as you may wish to make.

Trusting that your answer and actions will be dictated by a proper respect for the rights and liberties of American citizens,

I remain, very respectfully,

DANIEL H. WELLS,

Lieut. General, Commanding Nauvoo Legion.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, UTAH TERRITORY,

Great Salt Lake City, September 29, 1857.

SIR: By reference to the act of Congress, passed September 9, 1850, organizing the Territory of Utah, published in a copy of the Laws of Utah, herewith forwarded, p. 146, chap. 7, you will find the following:

"SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the executive power and authority in and over said Territory of Utah shall be vested in a governor, who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The governor shall reside within. said Territory, shall be commander-in-chief of the militia thereof,” &c., &c.

I am still the governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for this Territory, no successor having been appointed and qualified as provided by law, nor have I been removed by the President of the United States.

By virtue of the authority thus vested in me, I have issued and forwarded you a copy of my proclamation, forbidding the entrance of armed forces into this Territory. This you have disregarded. I now further direct that you retire forthwith from the Territory by the same route you entered. Should you deem this impracticable, and prefer to remain until spring in the vicinity of your present encampment, Black fork, or Green river, you can do so in peace and unmolested, on condition that you deposit your arms and ammunition with Lewis Robison, quartermaster general of the Territory, and leave in the spring as soon as the condition of the roads will permit you to march. And should you fall short of provisions, they can be furnished you upon making the proper applications therefor.

General D. H. Wells will forward this and receive any communication you may have to make.

Very respectfully,

BRIGHAM YOUNG,

Governor and Super't. of Indian Affairs, Utah Territory.

To the OFFICER COMMANDING THE FORCES

Now invading Utah Territory.

Proclamation by Governor Brigham Young.

CITIZENS OF UTAH: We are invaded by a hostile force, who are evidently assailing us to accomplish our overthrow and destruction. For the last twenty-five years we have trusted officials of the government, from constables and justices to judges, governors, and presidents, only to be scorned, held in derision, insulted, and betrayed. Our houses have been plundered and then burned, our fields laid waste, our principal men butchered while under the pledged faith of the government for their safety, and our families driven from their homes to find that shelter in the barren wilderness, and that protection among hostile savages,

which were denied them in the boasted abodes of Christianity and civilization.

The Constitution of our common country guaranties unto us all that we do now or have ever claimed. If the constitutional rights which pertain unto us as American citizens were extended to Utah, according to the spirit and meaning thereof, and fairly and impartially administered, it is all that we could ask-all that we have ever asked.

Our opponents have availed themselves of prejudice existing against us, because of our religious faith, to send out a formidable host to accomplish our destruction. We have had no privilege nor opportunity of defending ourselves from the false, foul, and unjust aspersions against us, before the nation. The government has not condescended to cause an investigating committee, or other person, to be sent to inquire into and ascertain the truth, as is customary in such cases. We know those aspersions to be false, but that avails us nothing. We are condemned unheard, and forced to an issue with an armed mercenary mob which has been sent against us at the instigation of anonymous letter writers, ashamed to father the base, slanderous alsehoods which they have given to the public, of corrupt officials who have brought false accusations against us to screen themselves in their own infamy, and of hireling priests and howling editors who prostitute the truth for filthy lucre's sake.

The issue which has thus been forced upon us compels us to resort to the great first law of self-preservation, and stand in our own defence a right guarantied to us by the genius of the institutions of our country, and upon which the government is based. Our duty to ourselves to our families-requires us not to tamely submit to be driven and slain without an attempt to preserve ourselves. Our duty to our country-our holy religion-our God-to freedom and liberty--requires that we should not quietly stand still and see those fetters forging around us which are calculated to enslave and bring us in subjection to an unlawful military despotism, such as can only emanate, in a country of constitutional law, from usurpation, tyranny, and oppression.

Therefore, I, Brigham Young, governor and superintendent of Indian affairs for the Territory of Utah, in the name of the people of the United States in the Territory of Utah, forbid

First All armed forces of every description from coming into this Territory under any pretence whatever.

Second. That all the forces in said Territory hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice to repel any and all such invasion. Third. Martial law is hereby declared to exist in this Territory from and after the publication of this proclamation; and no person shall be allowed to pass or repass into, or through, or from, this Territory without a permit from the proper officer.

Given under my hand and seal at Great Salt Lake City, Territory of Utah, this fifteenth day of September, A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-second. BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Vol. ii-3