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James Buchanan Become President
James Buchanan takes office as President of the United States. -
A New Govener
In May 1857, President Buchanan named Alfred Cumming, a non-Mormon, to replace Young as the territorial governor of Utah, and a bunch of non-Mormons to other administrative and judicial positions. In order to protect the federal appointees and uphold law and order, Buchanan authorized Colonel Albert Sydney Johnston and 2500 federal troops to accompany the officials to Utah. -
Instructions to General William S. Harney
Instructions from General-in-Chief Winfield Scott to General William S. Harney
“In no case will you, your officers or men, attack any body of citizens whatever, except on such requisition or summons, or in sheer self-defense.” -
A Reference to the Rumors
Brigham Young refers in a sermon to "rumors" that the U.S. is sending 1,500-2,000 troops into the Utah Territory, and warns them, possibly sarcastically, that if people enter the territory and don't "behave themselves", they will be subject to a "Vigilance Committee", and the Danites will "bite their heels“. -
Martial Law
Brigham Young declares martial law. “Let there be no excitement….Save life always when it is possible. We do not wish to shed a drop of blood if it can be avoided. This course will give us great influence abroad.”
Sanford Porter Sr. wrote, “[We are] weak in number, and weak in means, but with too much American blood in our veins to put ourselves up as a target for an army to shoot at without making any effort to protect ourselves.” -
Nauvoo Legion
Brigham Young calls out the Nauvoo Legion to fight the U.S. Troops if they enter Utah Territory. -
Col. Johnston Heads to Utah
Col. Johnston and his troops leave Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and are headed for Utah. -
Andrew Jackson Allen (Nauvoo Legion)
"We ware under Poarter Rockwell, took our purvisions on behind us and went to Hams Fork where the soaldiers ware and see how thay ware gettin along and stop them if possable. We intended to stampeed if possable there annamels, when we got there it ware night and there mules ware kept so cloast we could not get to them and there cattle we see ware so weak we concluded to not desturb them and we mooved off about too miles and campt turned out our annimels made no fier but went to bed." -
Newton Tuttle (Nauvoo Legion)
"25 of us went on to Big Sandy & 25 followed after the soldiers over on to Ham's Fork & took 60 head of cattle, 2 of the men went back to the Big Saandy See 26 waggons, we than Started back a bought 1 hour before Sun Down when we got back to Green river in stead of 26 waggons we found 51. We then burnt the two trains & went back to the hills to Big Sandy and camped." -
Newton Tuttle (Navuoo Legion)
"We went on to the Sandy got breakfast then we went up to the road & found 24 waggons we burnt 22 of them & took 7 mules & 2 saddles we then went off from the road . . ." -
Hosea Stout
"Learned last night that Capt. Lott Smith had captured six wagons of our enemies ... in conformity with the orders to annoy and harrass our enemies and break them down but not to kill any of them. He has since taken and burned 52 more wagons on Green River and took the oxen. These wagons had some 5000 lbs [each] lading of the most choice and costly suplies but he before burning them caused the teamsters to take out their own proprty and such suplies as they needed to furnish them to the states." -
Captain Jesse Gove - 10th US Infantry
Letter to his wife:
"Ere this reaches you you will doubtless hear of battles and engagements, but this will all be unreliable. . . . Three supply rains have been entirely destroyed, two on Green River and one on Big Sandy, 10 miles before or on the other side of Green River." -
Hosea Stout (Nauvoo Legion)
“Like for a Storm this morning. 149 head of the captured oxen passed, look well. . . . The deserter a long slab sided Dutchman reports that many of the soldiers would desert if they believed they would be well treated here, also that they are dissatisfied with their officers and that the officers were divided in their councils what to do.” -
Captain Jesse Gove - 10th US Infantry
“Tomorrow we strike the Oregon road which, I am told, is very good. It takes the Mormons perfectly by surprise that we have avoided their strongholds, Echo Can(y)on and Emigrant Can(y)on, Fort Bridger and Fort Supply. Our distance this way is nearly double than through the can(y)ons, but our progress cannot be stayed this way by any natural defences. If the Lord gives us 25 days of good weather we have them very tight.”
(It snowed after 4 days) -
What Happened? - Newton Tuttle
near the army camp on Ham’s Fork: “they rode on to a company of the enemy under the command of Capt Marcy, Lot had a talk with him & then Lot made a retreat. I went on to a bluff & Had a good view of the enemys camp with the glass when Lot came up to us with the Pack mules we all made our retreat over the Hills when we were a going down a bluff they came up on us and & shot at us, one ball hit Mark Halls hat & one hit a horse on the Leg. -
What Happened? - Andrew Jackson Allen
"Coald and windy snow ten inches deep, we here the soaldiers scouting tryed to surround some of our boys and fiard after them them when thay faled to accomplish there ame no one hurt, one of our boys had a ball pas thro his hat." -
Brigham Young
“Colonel Alexander accuses us of what he terms a very uncivilized method of warfare. If we are to do as they do, we shall have to get drunk, to swear, to quarrel, to lie and believe in lies and indulge in many other like traits of civilization in order for us to get as they do.” -
Newton Tuttle (Nauvoo Legion)
"In morning our Spy see 5 waggons & 2 man on horse back a head of them towards us from Green river we left 25 men with the pack animals. Lot took 25 and went out to them and told them to go back to the States or we would burn their wagons. We then went on to Green riverand camped 1 mile below the road, their was a large camp of soldiers up by the road but we could not get a chance to Stampead their animals." -
Captain Jesse Gove
"Col. Johnston arrived in camp about one mile below the 10th and about 2 miles below our division. " -
Waiting in Fort Bridger
Col. Albert Sidney Johnston catches up with Col. Alexander and replaces him as commander. Johnston orders the regiment to spend the winter in Fort Bridger and to delay the move to Salt Lake City until next spring. -
Captain Jesse Gove
"What Col. J. intends to do no one knows. It is rumored, however, that he is going to Salt Lake City if it is a possibility. I hope so." -
Henry Ballard
“In camp it was very cold. News came that our boys had taken some more cattle, and the soilders had moved 4 miles up Blacks fork toward Bridger.” -
New York Tribune Correspondent in the Army Camp
“There is but one alternative. Either the laws of the United States are to be subverted and its Territory appropriated by a gang of traitorous lechers, who have declared themselves to constitute a ‘free and independent State’ or Salt Lake City must be entered at the point of the bayonet, and the ringleaders of the Mormon rebellion seized and hung. Whether the entrance can be effected this year is a matter of great uncertainty. My own opinion is that it cannot.” -
Captain Jesse Gove
"The 5th [regiment] came up last night. very cold. I nearly froze in my tent last night. . . . Animals died last night by fifties.“ -
Captain Jesse Gove
"Thermometer 14 [degrees F]. Horribly cold.
[By this time, Col. Johnston had caught up with the troops at Ham's Fork and ordered them to Fort Bridger. This march was accompanied by constant blizzard and cold. It is amazing there were no deaths among the soldiers during this march. ] -
New York Times Correspondent
We reached Fort Bridger on the 14th, and we shall remain here, in camp, this Winter. The wall of the Fort is built of cobble-stone, laid in mortar, four feet thick at the bottom about two feet thick at the top, and twenty feet in height. Adjoining this wall is a large corral... These improvements were found uninjured, but the wooden gates, (which were very strong, (were almost entirely consumed by fire; all the buildings which surrounded the Fort were also burned to the ground. -
Period: to
Long Hard Winter
CAPTAIN RANDOLPH BARNES MARCY
5th Infantry Led a group of men to New Mexico for supplies Nearly died in the snow -
Marching South
Brigham Young implements a scorched earth policy. All faithful are ordered to move south to Provo and to prepare their homes in Salt Lake City for burning. 30,000 Mormons left their homes temporarily in northern Utah and relocated 50 miles south to Provo. Meanwhile, Thomas Kane, a sympathetic non-Mormon, convinces President Buchanan to send him unofficially to Utah to negotiate a settlement with the Mormons. -
Free and Full Pardon
James Buchanan: Proclamation on the Rebellion in Utah. ("a free pardon for the seditions and treasons heretofore by them committed;") -
Brigham Young Accepts Peace
'I have no character to protect, no pride to gratify, no vanity to please. If a man comes from the moon and says he will pardon me for kicking him in the moon yesterday, I don't care about it. I'll accept of his pardon. It don't affect me one way or the other.' -
Captain Jesse Gove
"Left camp early. I am rear guard of our own regiment. We found the city evacuated, all had gone to Provo except a few men left to burn the city if ordered. The city is 50% better in structure and situation than I expected. It is beautifully laid out and watered at every street. Brigham’s palace is a magnificent structure. His apartment for his wives is attached. It is said that the inside is furnished in the most elaborate style, furniture imported, two or three pianos, etc.." -
Journal of Brigham Young
"Bro. Andrew Moffatt brought information that Col. Johnston and his army passed G.S.L. City, in the strictest order. They passed over the river Jordan and camped in the Church pasture. A guard was placed at the bridge. While the army was passing through the city there was not a lady to be seen. Col. Philip St. George Cooke passed through with his head uncovered as a token of his respect for the Mormon Battalion. The army was supposed to number 1500 rank and file." -
General Robert Burton on Guard in Salt Lake City
“At 10 a.m. troops commenced passing through until 12:30 when those in the rear halted. At 2 p.m. again commenced to pass through until 5:30 p.m.. There are reported to be 600 wagons, 6000 head of animals and 3000 men. They camped over Jordan, west of the city."
