INTERESTING FROM UTAH.
OUR CAMP FLOYD CORRESPONDENCE.
Movements of Troops and Supply Trains—The Pest of Flies—Trouble with the In-dians—Preparations for the Winter, &c.
CAMP FLOYD, U.T., Friday, Sept. 3, 1858.
Since my last letter, nothing save the arrival of recruits and supply trains has transpired to relieve the monotony of camp life, with little or nothing to do.
Major EASTMAN arrived about a fortnight since, with several hundred recruits for the Fifth Infantry, The regiment, which was a mere skeleton hitherto, on account of the large number of discharges expiration of enlistment, is now comparatively full, averaging more than sixty men per company. The new recruits are drilled daily, and the regiment, will soon be in a high state of efficiency. Major EASTMAN commands ; the colonel, Col. LOOMIS, having been until recently on duty in Florida ; and the lieutenant-colonel, Col. WAITE, having recently left on leave of absence.
Capt. ANDERSON, of the Second Dragoons, arrived on the 50th ult., with a few recruits for his regiment. His little party was all that remained of the Second Column of the reinforcements for the Utah Army af-ter reaching Fort Laramie and leaving the garrison for that post. He brings some few horses, but they are in no better condition than those that have been grazing among the hills and canons bordering upon Cedar Valley.
Some seven or eight of the supply-train have ar-rived, and all of them are, ere this, on this side of Fort Laramie. The appearance of the advanced train, winding its dusty way up the Valley, was hailed fey the soldiers with many enthusiastic shouts, such as “Hurrah fellows, don't you see the grub coming." "We'll have lots of bacon now." "Hurrah for the bull train." "I hope we won't have to eat those poor bulls again this Winter." And many a joke passed sound as they recalled the exposure, scanty fare and hard work of last Winter.
When I last wrote, the camp was constantly en-veloped in a dense cloud of dust, but since then a shower passing along the lofty hills above us deigned to pay us a visit, and gave the loose soil a thorough moistening, much to our relief. The great pest of one's daily life now is the host of the com-mon house-fly. I have seen them in country-kitchens in numbers that the good housewife was pleased to call "thick," but never so thick as in the tents of Camp Floyd. The soldiers and officers alike find that early rising is no inconvenience, as this little creature commences his torments immediately after daylight. Writing or napping during the day is out of the question, and great patience must be exercised in attempting to read. I am told, that great as this inconvenience is up here, down in the Dragoon and Artillery Camps, where they have their horses tied up at night, it is much greater; but they must submit to all the disadvantages of belonging "to the horse."
In fact, a moderate annoyance from being attached to horse corps inflicted upon them causes us some little satisfaction, as many a weary mile have we plod-ded on foot, envying them a comfortable seat on a caisson or on horseback.
Owing to the inability of the Quartermaster's De-partment to obtain the requisite amount of forage, the horses will be herded among the different valleys again this Winter, and no one looks forward to the duty of guarding the herds with any degree of plea-sure. A wandering life among these mountains, with a tent for protection against the storms of Winter, is by no means an agreeable one to contemplate; besides, great vigilance will be necessary, on account of the Indians, who are in the habit of penetrating among the settlements and driving off stock in considerable numbers.
One squadron of dragoons will be kept up, in order to be ready for any emergency which may arise. Stables will be erected for them, and the horses must eat wheat, barley and oats, mixed, at $1 50 per bushel, The Indians fired upon a party of Saints, who were cutting hay in Rush Valley, a fortnight since, and Lieutenant TYLER, with one hundred mounted men, was dispatched to the valley of Serier River to find their camp, and bring in the Chiefs for a talk ; but after a trip of eight days he returned, without having found any sign.
Judges ECKELS and SINCLAIR, accompanied by sev-eral friends, and escorted by Captain SMITH'S squad-ron of Dragoons, left on an official visit to Fillmore, the capital, on the 13th ult., their object being to make the necessary; arrangements for opening the Courts. There seems but little prospect for lawyers in this country, except it be in cases which arise be-tween Gentile and Saint, or between Gentiles alone, as in all their business matters the Mormons refer their disputes and differences to the Bishop, and if beyond his power to decide, to the Council of the Church. There are many cases of damages which the Gentiles, merchants and others would wish to prosecute, but they consider it ridiculous to submit them to a Mormon jury with the expectation of re-covering anything. The Mormon objection to a jury composed of wagon-masters and teamsters, and the desire to be tried by their "peers," which has been so strongly set forth in some official communications, causes those who have made some acquaintance with this people, some merriment. The wagon-masters of this Army are, as a general thing, far superior to the majority of the Saints, both in intelligence and integ-rity, and certainly, as a class, far above those usually found in the jury-box in the States ; besides, there are many Gentile merchants who would most un-doubtedly deem it an insult to be called their "peers."
We have now daily communication with the city by a stage line, of which a Mr. WILLIAMS, an apos-tate, is the proprietor and manager. They make the trip each way in about seven hours. The mail con-tinues to make its time, arriving on Saturday morn-ing each week, and occasionally on Friday; but how near they will approach to the contract time when snow falls in the cañons, remains to be seen.
The whole command is now busily occupied in hauling timber for, the Cantonment, to which we will soon move. The present plan is to erect adobé build-ings and cover them with boards with two inches of earth on the top. It is optional with the men whether they build these houses themselves, the adobés and lumber being furnished, or whether they will take the Sibley tent, raised upon a wall some three or four feet high. The majority elect the house—in fact there are no companies which were at Camp Scott last Winter desirous of trying a life in tents over again. By the present arrangement each officer will be allowed one room fifteen feet square. Though this is a rather lim-ited accommodation, yet I think it will be found quite as much as their present limited allowance of furni-ture will equip.
Captain SIMPSON, of the Topographical Engineers, left some days since with an escort of an officer and twenty mounted men, to make a reconnoissance in the direction of Fort Bridger, through the Provo Cañon ; the object being to ascertain whether a short-er route may not be found than the present one through Echo and Emigration Cañons.
The Sixth Infantry were to have left Fort Bridger for Oregon, on the 20th ult. It will be remembered that they came over the road surveyed by Lieutenant BRYAN, which they pronounce favorably upon as far as Bridger's Pass, but thence to Fort Bridger the route is only adapted to small parties, on account of the scarcity of the water and grass. Nevertheless, two companies of the Fourth Artillery have been ordered to the Cheyenne Pass, with instructions to build a post.
We now have every prospect of an abundant sup-ply of subsistence stores the ensuing Winter. The restriction upon the ration was removed for the first time since last Fall, on the 1st inst. We have been abundantly supplied with the vegetables of the season by the Saints, but at enormously high prices. A sol-dier with money reminds one of a little boy with a cent—he is not satisfied until he spends it. Attempts have teen made by the Provost Marshal of the camp, to regulate the prices, and he has in many instances, where here they have refused to lower them, ordered the parties out of the camp, but they went into the cedars and there disposed of all their notions at their own prices, as we learned after they had left. Numbers of the Mormons are now seeking employment from the Government, having caught a glimpse of the coin which is beginning to circulate among them. Men who have fine farms, and can spare a month from the farm labor, seek employment in any capacity for that time in order to obtain the wherewith to purchase Winter clothing for themselves and families.
The sutlers' trains have mostly now arrived in the city, and they are erecting large, commodious stores at the site of the new camp. The most of them have extensive assortments of goods, both such as are adapted to the trade in the city as well as such arti-cles in demand among the soldiers. Their prices are very high, owing to the immense cost of transporta-ion from the States—some of them having paid as much as twenty-five cents per pound freight.
As for fruits, there are but few varieties grown in the Territory, and those mostly in the gardens of the Prophet and the First Presidency. A man was seen traversing the camp some days since with a small sack of apples, small and sour, for which he demanded the moderate sum of one dollar per dozen.
An expedition, consisting of a squadron of dragoons and a company of infantry, are to leave this morning for Humboldt River, whence reports have been re-ceived that four men, supposed to be deserters from the army, had been killed, and that the mail from Cali-fornia had been robbed. The full particulars of the outrage have not transpired. The detachment will be commanded by Capt. HAWES, of the 2d Dragoons.
Q.
OUR SALT LAKE CITY CORRES-PONDENCE.
Interruption of the Overland Mail Communi-cation by the Indians—Troops Ordered to Protect the Mails—Street Fights in Salt Lake City—Governor Cumming Pic-Nic-ing with the Saints, &c.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T.,
Saturday, Sept. 4, 1858.
We regret exceedingly to learn that our present great, central, overland mail communication between the Atlantic and the Pacific, through this city, has been interrupted by the Indians. Last Saturday the conductor of the California mail, due on that day, arrived in this city without his mail, It appears that on or about the 22d of last month, as the mail party—consisting of but two men—were camping for the night at the last crossing of the Hum-boldt River, a large band of Indians suddenly came upon them and took possession of everything which they had, mules, harness, provisions and, more im-portant than all, the mail. The men escaped with their lives by hiding, at the first approach of the In-dians, in the brush along the river, and remaining concealed until their departure. They then made their way on foot to the next station, where they pro-cured animals and came on as rapidly as possible to this city.
Immediately upon the receipt of this information Dr. FORNEY, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, made a requisition, through Gov. CUMMING, upon Gen. JOHN-STON for a body of troops to be sent down as soon as possible to the Humboldt River, to protect the mails and emigration from these hostile Indians. In conse-quence of which Gen. JOHNSTON, with commendable promptness, has ordered two companies of Dragoons and two of Infantry to start immediately for that por-tion of the route to California. Companies C and H, of the Second Dragoons, in command of Capt. HAWS, and a company from both the Tenth and Fifth Regi-ments of Infantry will leave the Camp to-day on this duty.
It is believed that the Indians who attacked the mail were a band of the Oregon Indians who have come down and united with the "Digger" snakes on the Humboldt for the express purpose of robbing and murdering this year's emigration to California and Oregon. Superintendent FORNEY will start during the coming week to overtake the troops and visit the tribes along the Humboldt, and discover their feelings and inten-tions. We hope soon to hear of a definite settlement of accounts with these Indians, who have committed so many depredations and shocking murders for seve-ral seasons past upon the overland emigration. We are informed that Superintendent FORNEY, upon his arrival here, sent out to these same Indians a quantity of presents as a token of his goodwill towards them, among which there was sent, very inconside-rately, a considerable amount of powder and lead.
It is to be regretted that it was deemed more pru-dent under the existing circumstances to send the 6th Infantry to the seat of war in Oregon by way of San Francisco instead of directly overland by the regular Oregon trail, not only in consequence of the greater length of the adopted route, but in conse-quence of the opportunity thus lost of attacking the Indians in their rear and surrounding them.
As it is, the Indians now so hostile in Oregon Ter-ritory have but little to fear from the troops, for, com-ing as they do all from the coast, they have only to watch them and fight them on that side, and if in the conflict they find themselves beaten and disabled, the way is perfectly open to retreat across the mountains into the buffalo country, where they can recruit their horses, obtain fresh supplies of provisions, and pre-pare to renew their attacks upon the whites at the first opportunity. The only way to cope successfully with these Indians is to cut off their hope of retreat-ing to recruit, and thus finally conquer them, if not by force of arms alone, by famine and fatigue ; for, these Indians depending mainly upon the buffalo for their support, they feel perfectly independent and fearless of consequences, as long as they can obtain a full sup-ply it.
Our city has lately been the scene of an unusual number of street fights. In one of these encounters GEORGE GRANT, brother of the late JEDEDIAH GRANT who was BRIGHAM'S second Counsellor and the Third President of the Church, received a black eye, and has since been fined $100, and bound over in the sum of $1,000 to keep the peace for one year.
On the 1st inst., a negro and a mulatto in the em-ploy of Marshal DOTSON—named FRANK POSEY and ROBERT TAYLOR—got into a quarrel, which resulted in the death of the former, POSEY having stabbed TAY-LOR in the forehead, he immediately shot POSEY with a revolver, killing him instantly. Upon examination before the Justice of the Peace, TAYLOR was acquitted on the ground of justifiable homicide.
On Tuesday night last, the large two-story house of Mr. NESBITT was burned to the ground. The fire originated accidentally. Fires are of such rare oc-currence here that when one does break out it forms quite an event. The houses here being all built sepa-rately and surrounded by gardens, (except on the principal business street,) there is no danger of the spread of a fire, and consequently we have no Fire Department in this city.
Governor CUMMING and lady lately visited Cotton-wood Cañon—the spot on which BRIGHAM and his con-federates declared their Independence,—in company with BRIGHAM YOUNG and family, and a select company of the "Saints." The party were absent some four days on this "pic-nic," and the time was pleasantly spent in dancing, singing, speaking, &c.
The United States Judges ECKLES and SINCLAIR and Secretary HARTNELL are still absent on their trip to Fillmore, where they went to appoint the times for holding the United States Courts in this Territory. They are accompanied by an escort of two companies of dragoons.
Before leaving this city, Secretary HARTNELL, refused to give commissions to the members elect of the Le-gislature from this County in consequence of the illegal proceedings during the late election. This will render a new election necessary.
Col. LAUDER, Superintendent of the Fort Kearney South Pass and Honey Lake wagon road, spent a few days in this city during the past week. He has succeed-ed during the Summer in constructing an excellent wagon road from the South Pass along the base of the Wind River Mountains, intersecting the old road again on Bear River. This new cut-off, besides being much shorter than the old road, is preferable in con-sequence of the more abundant and frequent supplies of water, wood and grass. It is probable that Col. LANDER will return with his party to the States this Fall, instead of attempting to Winter in the moun-tains.
Chief Justice ECKLES will return to the States about the 1st of next month, he having obtained leave of absence for three months, to enable him to visit his family in Indiana.
We noticed whilst out riding in this valley, recently, a phenomenon, which, we were informed, is very common in this country—namely: spouts, or columns of dust, rising from the ground as far up as the eye can reach. The one we saw was formed by a whirl-wind, which gradually caused it to rise until its sum-mit disappeared among the clouds. It appeared to be about the size, in circumference, of an ordinary hogs-head, and did not vary in diameter. About midway there was a long, graceful curve in this slender pillar, which seemed to connect the heavens and the earth. It maintained its position about five minutes, and then rapidly disappeared. These dust spouts are formed in the same manner as the water-spouts upon the ocean, although the dust, from its light character, rises more readily and to a greater height.
We know not whether history gives the reason why the crooks or staffs of the shepherds, in the ancient classical periods, were bent or crooked at the ends but perhaps the shepherd-boys of Utah will furnish us with the reason. We met, a few days since, two little boys herding their flocks of sheep, each holding in his hand a perfect crook. It was the stalk of a sun-flower, stripped of its leaves and bent over by the weight of the flower, which still remained, until it resembled perfectly the representations which we have of the classical shepherd's crook.
The sunflower grows like a weed throughout these valleys, and becomes a perfect nuisance to the farmer.
The Indians are now busy picking the seeds of these wild flowers, which they esteem as an excel-lent article of food. A. B. C.
[BY TELEGRAPH.]
ST. LOUIS, Saturday, Oct. 2.
The Salt Lake mail reached St. Joseph on the 25th ult., 21 days out. The Mormons were quiet and orderly at the time of departure. A violent snow storm was encountered by the train west of Laramie. The Indians on the route were quiet. The weekly Santa Fé mail left Independence on the 29th ult. H. A. SHEET, Receiver of Public Moneys, and Mr. REGISTER, were among the passengers,
