IMPORTANT FROM UTAH.
THE ARMY AT SALT LAKE CITY,
ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRIGHAM Y OUNG
Desolate Condition of the City.
From Our Special Correspondent.
Great Salt Lake City, U. T.,
June 17, 1858.
The first division of the army (which I accompanied), consisting of Phelps's Battery, the 2d Dragoons and the Volunteer Battalion, marched from Fort Bridger on the 13th, and camped at night en the Muddy, 13 miles distant The next day they advanced 20 miles, to Bear River, where they ware joined at nightfall by Gen. Johnston and his staff, accompanied by all the civil officers of the Territory except the Governor and the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, who, you are aware, had followed the Commissioners into the city several days before. Here an express arrived from Gov. Powell and Maj. McCulloch, announcing that the Mormons had accepted the President's proclamation, and would comply with its injunctions; that they hid premised obedience to the Federal Government, would receive the Territorial officers, and would present no opposition to the advance of the Army.
On the noon of the 15th, the United States Marshal, Mr. Dotson, started for the city, accompanied by the mail and a small party of civilians, which I joined. We arrived about 4 o'clock this afternoon. Along the road we encountered no one bat two parties of apostates on their way to the States.
I have ceased to ridicule the extravagant rhetoric of the Mormons about the “Valleys of the Mountains," or to wonder that a people so fanatical by nature should have found in the scenery which surrounds them inspiration for the "war." I have traversed the Tyrol, wandered through Switzerland, tramped with a party of German students over the hills of the Palatinate, have crossed the Alleghanies half a dozen times, and have waded in the trout brooks of Northern New-Hampshire so many Summers that I am familiar with every landscape between Lakes Umbagog and Connecticut, but I have never seen a panorama of mountain scenery so varied and beautiful as on our ride from Bear River to the Valley of the Great Lake. For miles and miles in the kanyons the road winds through thickets of willows and alders and hawthorn bushes, whose twigs interlaced and often hung so low under the load of leaves and blossoms that even when we bent down on the necks of our little Indian ponies they swept our hacks. Through the interstices of the foliage we could catch glimpses of the mountain sides, streaked by slides of gravel and studded with masses of sandstone, surrounded by twittering flocks of birds which had built their nests in the crevices of the rock. The ridges we crossed between kanyon and kanyon were covered with fields of luxuriant grass and flowers. From them, whenever the sun shone clear, we could see on the west and south the broken line of the Wahsatch range; but through the morning haze only the outline of its white crests was visible, and our eyes strained to discern more.
For the first night we camped at sunset about half way through Echo Kanyon, which is 20 miles Song. We started the next morning at dawn, and just about sunrise caught a glimpse of the Mormon fortifications, none of which were visible during our fast day's ride. As the kanyon approaches Weber River, it dwindles in width to five or six hundred feet. The northern side becomes a perfect wall of rock, which rises perpendicularly hundreds of feet above the road. The southern side retains the character of an abrupt mountain slope covered with grass and stunted bushes. The creek, with its dense fringe of willows, fills the whole bottom between the road and the bluffs. The first indication that we were approaching the fortifications was the sight of piles of rock heaped into walls pierced with loopholes, which were visible on every projecting point of the cliffs along the northern side, from most of which a pebble could be snapped down upon the road. Shortly after, on turning a bend in the kanyon, we saw that all the willows along the creek had been cut away, and through the cleared space a ditch about five feet wide and ten feet deep was dug across the whole bottom, which the road crossed on a corduroy bridge. The dirt thrown from this ditch was packed so as to form a dam on which logs were so placed that it would answer also for a breastwork, behind which riflemen could be posted under cover. A sluiceway at one end allowed a free flow to the creek, but this could easily be filled up, and the material for that purpose was lying near at hand. About 200 yards further on another breastwork and ditch had been constructed from the creek to a rock net: the base of the northern cliff. Space sufficient for, the passage of wagons was left between the rock and the foot of the cliff, and the evident inten-tion was to compel trains to pass beneath the precipice which had probably been mined. At the distance of 50 or 60 yards was another dam and a ditch which the road crossed again on a temporary bridge. The purpose of this ditch was to prevent wagons rom passing to the opposite side of the bottom avoiding the vicinity of the cliff. A hundred yard, further on was the last dam and its accompanying breastwork. They stretched the whole way across the bottom. By the aid of this dam the kanyon ould be overflowed for several hundred yards to the depth of five or six feet. It was constructed just above the mouths of two narrow erges which enter the kanyon at this point, nearly opposite one anther. The earth washed down ou of the gorge on the southern side forms a tongue o sand which extent nearly half way into Echo Kan yon nd obviates the necessity of so long a dam a the first one of series. A gully washed by the rain down the center of this tongue was dug ove and arranged so as to form a breastwork in con nection with the dam. Stone walls were built acros the mouth of each of tire narrow gorges. On the slope of the steep hills adjoining the gorge on the southern side of the kanyon, ditches were dug and embankmen made in front of them at different hights. These command the whole of the for-tifications below. But a flanking party, by taking possession of the summit of any of the southern hills, would command this entire series of works.
For nearly a mile below these gorges a chain of low hills, over which the red runs, extends along-side of the kanyon below the loftier peaks which bound it on the. The other half of the kanyon becomes, in consequence, a deep glen, as the cliffs which bound it on the north the almost perpendicularly from the level of the creek This glen is filled with bushes, and in it, thus protected from the wind the Mormon army had its Winter quarters. The huts they occupied were constructed by digging circular holes in the ground, over which were placed boughs in the same manner as the poles of an Indian lodge. Willow twigs were plaited around these boughs, and the whole hut was finally thatched with straw, grass and bark. The doors were tamed by a framework plaited and thatched in the same manner. Many of these huts had chimneys built of sods and stones. An open spot a few hundred feet below the dam was the site of the headquarters of the command. Here the bats we re built around a square, in the center of which was planted a tall pine flag-pole. The whole number of huts was about 150, and they could accommodate on an average 15 men apiece. A little square stone building near the flag-pole was used for a powder magazine. The scenery at this point is exceedingly picturesque. Out of the tangle of willows, alders and wild cherry trees spring the sandstone cliffs, in every crevice of which cedars and fir trees cling to the jagged points of rock. On the other side a sheet of rich verdure rolls up the mountain to its very summit. Down the glen ripples the little creek underneath an arch of fragrant shrubs twined with the slender tendrils of wild hop vines.
These fortifications possess no merit and little strength. There is not a Brevet Second Lieutenant in the army who will not smile when he passes them.
Echo Kanyon opens on to the Weber River, which the road follows for several miles to a ford. The scenery along the valley is as romantic as a dream of the valley of Rasselas. The horizon on the north and the south is bounded by corrugated ridges, above which rise rocky peaks streaked with snow. There seems to be no outlet for the road, but after crossing the ford the mouth of a kanyon is seen on the west, into which the road turns. It passes over a series of high ridges down into the East Kanyon, through which flows Bushman's Fork. Here we were struck by a heavy thunder-storm, and forced to camp. The rain pattered on us all night long, and lasted through the next forenoon. We climbed the Big Mountain into the cloud, and lost, of course, the famous view from its summit. The clouds lifted as we descended into Emigration Kanyon. All down the slope of the mountain the road was lined with rose-bushes in full bloom, clusters of columbines, and parti-colored tufts of wild flowers, drooping under the weight of rain drops, and just visible through the mist.
It was not until we emerged from Emigration Kanyon that we obtained our first view of the city. The sky was clear overhead, and the sun was burning away the clouds from the summits of the West Mountains. They still hung low down on the peaks which bound the valley on the southeast, almost covering the snow upon the crests of the range. The line of the Great Salt Lake was glittering along the western horizon. The transition was so sudden that the whole party uttered a shout of delight. We spurred our ponies down the long slope, those of the company who had lived in the city pointing out the prominent buildings as we galloped along—the tinned cupola of the Court-House, the mansion and the Zion House of Brigham Young, the Temple square, and the Arsenal. All down the valley on each side of the great southern road were broad fields of grain, to which the showers had imparted an additional green. Through the plain we could trace the winding of the Jordan by the glitter of the sunlight on its bends. As we rode through the streets hardly a soul was visible. At last we saw a group of half-naked Indian boys paddling in one of the rivulets which run along the gutters. The city is deserted.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, U. T.
June 18, 1858.
The Commissioners started from Camp Scott on June 2, and armed at Salt Lake City on the 7th. They waited a day on the Weber for Gov. Cum-ming to overtake them, but after he had joined them there, he was compelled to fall behind, by an accident which befell his equipage. The Commis-sioners were met on the Weber by Porter Rock-well and Elder Groesbeck, who were traveling eastward with a band of twenty-five men and a large mule herd. They acknowledged (what I surmised in my last letter) that their destination was to Platte Bridge for the purpose of removing the goods left there by Groesbeck last October. I informed you last week of the incidents of the visit to our camp of Groesbeck with eight of the men. Rockwell and the rest of the party did not deem it advisable, it seems, to venture within the guard lines. After recognizing Gov. Powell and Major McCulloch, Rockwell sent a messenger to Provo to warn Brigham Young of their approach. When entering the city the Commissioners were met by George D. Grant and William A. Kimball, both Mormon Major-Generals, who introduced themselves and escorted them to the Globe Restau-rant, which had been opened for their reception. Almost every house in the city was deserted, closed, and partially dismantled. None of the principal dignitaries of the Church—not a single member of the First Presidency or of the Twelve Apostles-were visible. Brigham Young's mansion and his Zion House were abandoned by their occupants; boards were nailed over the windows, the gates were closed, and not a sign of life was visible about the premises. No vehicles were to be seen in the streets, and the few persons whose footsteps were occasionally heard, belonged to the Mormon de-tachment which was left under the command of Grant and Kimball, to take care of the gardens and houses. Through the chinks in the wooden gate of the Temple square a few workmen were to be seen engaged in tearing off the roofs of the buildings within the inclosure, which have been used for civic and ecclesiastical purposes.
During the forenoon the Commissioners were visited by James Ferguson, Adjutant-General, and A. P. Rockwood, Commissary General, by Judson Stoddard, William A. Hickman, Robert Burton, and other noted Mormons, who sat down to dinner with them. In the course of the afternoon the party visited the Arsenal, where two six-pounders were exhibited, one of brass, the other iron. An express from Brigham to Ferguson and Grant arrived that evening; and word was brought also that one of the Governor's teams had broken down again, and that Hopkins, Brigham's private Sec-retary, who was returning from Camp Scott with goods which he had purchased there from the sut-lers, had overtaken him and rendered him assist-ance. No sleeping accommodations had been pro-vided for the Commissioners, and they passed the night in their ambulances, while their servants made a bed with their blankets in the porch of the restaurant.
The next morning it was reported that the Gov-ernor would enter the Valley through Parley's Kanyon—so named after Parley P. Pratt, who was shot last year in Arkansas, and who held the kan-yon and park through which it runs by virtue of a grant from the Mormon Legislature. Toward noon, therefore, Ferguson, Grant, and one or two others, rode out to meet him, and a dinner was pre-pared for him at the residence of Elder Feramorz Little, at the mouth of the kanyon. Shortly after they started, however, the Governor arrived with his ambulances, having missed the other road and come through Emigration Kanyon. His baggage wagons did not arrive until evening, as they came through Parley's Kanyon. He was conducted im-mediately to his former quarters in the cottage of W. C. Stainer, the Adam-in-the garden scene of the Mormon endowment; bat, as so arrangement had been made for food and service for himself and his family, he was obliged to share the table at the Globe. On the evening of this day (the 9th), his Excellency and the Commissioners had a long inter-view with Ferguson and Chauncey W. West, the Bishop militant of Ogden City, who had been depu-tized for the purpose by Brigham. The result of the conference was such that the two started for Provo at midnight, and returned the next day at neon, bringing news that Brigham would come up in person to have a talk with the Commissioners. On the 10th, about 11 1/2 o'clock, according to agree-ment, Brigham, Heber, and Daniel, as well as George A. Smith, Wm, H. Hooper, and twenty or thirty more of the leading men of the Church, including most if not all of the Twelve Apostles, entered the city. They dined at Brighan's man-sion, and during the evening visited first the Gov-vrnor and then the Commissioners. After supper, Brigham was serenaded by the Mormon militia band—a compliment which was not extended to any of the Gentiles.
Arrangements were made for a grand conference between the Commissioners, the Governor, and the Superintendent of Indian Affairs on the one hand, and the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of the Mormon Church on the other, which com-menced in the Council House the next morning at 10 o'clock. They sat until 2 o'clock in the af-ternoon, when Brigham proposed and carried an ad-journment to 5 o'clock. The conference was private, but the outline of its proceedings, go far as I have been able to gather them, was as follows: Mr. Buchanan's proclamation had been read in public in the city the evening before the Commis-sioners arrived, and a copy was forwarded to Provo the same day. It was received with great surprise and indignation by the bulk of the Mormon popula-tion, as they had been led by Col. Kane to expect a different expression of sentiment than that set forth in the beginning of the document. Even the "full and free" pardon did not reconcile them to the narration of their treasons in the preamble, which they denounced as crammed with falsehoods and unjust aspersions from beginning to end. Some-thing of this same feeling was carried into the con-ference by those Saints of inferior grade who had not been acquainted with Brigham's intention to accept the pardon in spite of the preamble. One of the introductory speeches was made by Elder Erastus Snow, a membler of the Twelve, and was full of profanity and obscenity. I will not dirty my paper by recording or even intimating some of the expressions which he used. He was severely rebuked by Gov. Powell, and each succeeding speech on the Mormon side was more decent in language and moderate in tone. Attempts, in-deed, were made by others to recount their old tales of wrongs and persecutions suffered, but Brigham invariably made them sit down and hush up, telling them that the Commissioners had not been sent to investigate their grievances, and had no authority to notice or redress them, and that he did not wish allusion to be made to the past, for it would not fail to cause distrust and a want of good fellowship. The difficulty in arriv-ing at "harmony" was the fear of the Mormons that the army would be quartered in their settle-ments, and that attempts would be made to inter-fere with polygamy. The word "polygamy" was not once uttered, but the idea was repeatedly ex-pressed by circumlocutions. What private assur-ances may have been given by the Governor and the Superintendent on these points, I do not know to a certainty, although I may write to you more fully on the subject next week. None, I do know to a certainty, were given by the Commissioners. At any rate, at the second conference, which lasted until 8 ½ o'clock in the evening, there was no fur-ther difficulty. The next morning, at a third con-ference, speeches were made by John Taylor, George A. Smith, and finally by Brigham Young himself, in which they made pledges, in behalf of themselves and the Mormon people, to submit to the Federal Government, its laws, and the au-thority of its officers.
I am told that throughout all the proceedings Brigham manifested a conciliatory disposition, in-terfering always to allay any ill feeling which was developed during the conferences. He persisted, however, in solemn declarations of his own inno-cence and rectitude, and averred that all the blame for past troubles is chargeable on corrupt officials who were sent here by Presidents Fillmore and Pierce. Every Gentile who was allowed to be present at any of the conferences assures me that the Commissioners conducted themselves with the dignity and firmness which was appropriate to their position. They refused to make any pledges on any subject whatsoever, holding out the Presi-dent's proclamation, and demanding instantaneors and unconditional compliance with its injunctions to obedience. Whenever any Mormon speaker in-dulged in abusive or foul language, they silenced him; and whenever it was sought to introduce for-eign subjects into the debate, they took care to re-store it to its legitimate channel.
On the evening of the day of the final conference (the 12th) Gov. Powell addressed a promiscuous audience of Mormons, which assembled in the Council House, at Young's request, saying that their principal citizens had pledged the population to submission and loyalty, and that he hoped the pledges would be redeemed. On the same evening the Commissioners sent a letter to Gen. Johnston, announcing that the leading citizens of the Terri-tory had promised obedience for themselves and in behalf of their fellow-citizens, and had assured them that no attempt would be made to obstruct or molest the army or the Territorial officers. They suggested that, in order to allay the apprehensions of the Mormon population, the General should issue a proclamation respecting the conduct of the troops. The letter reached Gen. Johnston on Bear River on the afternoon of the 13th, and, in compliance with its recommendation, the General issued the following proclamation the next day, which was received and posted in Salt Lake City on the evening of our arrival:
TO THE PEOPLE OF UTAH.
The Commissioners of the United States, deputed by the President to urge upon the people of this Terri-tory the necessity of obedience to the Constitution and laws, as enjoined by his proclamation, have this day informed me that there will be no obstruction to the administration of the laws of the Federal Government, nor any opposition on the part of the people of this Territory to the military force of the Government in the execution of their orders. I therefore feel it in-cumbent on me, and have great satisfaction in doing so, to assure those citizens of the Territory who, I learn, apprehend from the army ill treatment, that no person whatever will be in wise interfered with or molested in his person or rights, or in the peaceful pursuit of his avccations; and, should protection be needed, that they will find the Army (always faithful to the obligations of duty) as ready now to assist and protect them as it was to oppose them while it was be-lieved that they were resisting the laws of their Gov-ernment.
(Signed) A. S. JOHNSTON, Colonel 2d Cavalry,
and Brevet Brigadier General Commanding.
Headquarters, Department of Utah, Camp on Bear River, June 14, 1858.
On the morning of the 14th the Commissioners started for Provo, accompanied by Young, Kimball, Wells, and others. There, on the 16th, Gov. Pow-ell spoke to an audience of more thin 4,000 Mor-mons. They returned to the city to-day, having spoken last evening at the town of Lehi to 1,500 more. It is their intention to await the entrance of the army, see it take its positions in the Terri-tory, and then to return to the States, starting at the beginning of July. Gen. Johnston probably left Bear River to-day with his first division, and if so, will reach the Valley next Tuesday. The army will be marched through the city, I presume, to a temporary camp on the western bank of the Jordan, from which it will soon be removed by de-tachments to camps more convenient to wood and grass. All the wood which is used in the city is brought more than twelve miles from the moun-tains, and sells for $10 per cord.
Brigham Young informed the Commissioners at Provo, that the inhabitants will return to Salt Lake City as soon as the army shall have gone into per-manent quarters, but not before. He wishes to avoid all contact between them and the troops. He himself, however, has made extensive invest-ments in real estate near Provo, some persons surmise that in the future he will divide his resi-dence between that town and the city. Several hundred workmen are busy under his direction, opening a road through Provo Kanyon to intersect the main road to the Valley from Fort Bridger. When completed, it will communicate with the continuation of Lieut. Pryan's road from Bridger's Pass.
The only Gentiles who entered the city with the Commissioners, the Governor and the Superinten-dent, were Mr. B. F. Ficklin, Mr. Morrell, the Postmaster, and Mr. David A. Burr, a son of the former Surveyor-General. Mr. Burr and Mr. Ficklin suffered no annoyance, but every possible hindrance was thrown in the way of Mr. Morrell. Soon after his arrival he sought an interview with Elias Smith, the Mormon ex-Postmaster, and de-manded the furniture of the Post-Office, the keys of the mail-bags, &c. Smith replied that he did not recognize the validity of his appointment, but that he would "take counsel" on the subject, and give him an answer the next day. The next day came, and he was just as undecided as ever, but on the day following Mr. Morrell brought him to terms by declaring that unless the keys were immediately surrendered, he would neither remain in the city nor open the mail. The keys were given up, but Smith refused to vacate the building which he used for a Post-Office, or to allow Mor-rell to transact business there. After a great deal of trouble, Mr. Morrell secured the use of half a room in a store on a side street, and the mail was opened and delivered.
Notwithstanding the "harmony" which the Governor and the Superintendent assert prevails, it is impossible for a Gentile to rent a house any-where within the city. I was requested to select and rent a convenient building for certain civil officers of the Territory who will arrive with the army; but every Mormon to whom I have applied for that purpose has answered that he cannot let even a single room without "taking counsel." At present I am dependent on Marshal Dotson for the privilege of spreading my blankets on the floor of a room in his little adobe; but I do not know how soon an attempt may be made to dislodge me and my companions from even these quarters. Within two hours after his arrival the Marshal was told that his house and land were sold during the month of April for non-payment of taxes, and that he had committed a trespass in entering the prem-ises. I learn that the real estate which Mr. Hock-aday, the United States Attorney, owned within the city was appropriated and sold at the same time on the same pretense. The price for which these pieces of property were disposed of is suffi-cient evidence of the outrage which was committed in their sale. The tannery which belonged to Mr. Hockaday, and for which he paid taxes on an as-sessment of $12,000 in the year 1856, was sold for $125, with all the fixtures and stock, the value of which was at least $25,000 more. The work of removing goods and furniture still goes on. Even during the progress of the conferences a train started for Provo, loaded with boxes and packages from the Tithing Office. During the few hours I have been in the city I have seen the roof torn from one house, and the windows removed from three or four. Last evening my attention was attracted to a noise in the street, and on going to the door to ascertain its cause, I saw that goods were being removed from the office of the Quarter-master-General of the Mormon Army, and that workmen were tearing off the shutters and nailing boards over the windows. In many of the vacated buildings I see piles of combustibles ready for firing.
You are aware of the unsuccessful attempt of D. W. Thorpe, an agent of Col. Kinney, to communi-cate with Brigham Young from the East last Win-ter. The Colonel was more fortunate in agents which he dispatched from the California side. Three gentlemen, named Clarkson, Brookie, and Harvin, arrived from Provo last week, where they had been visiting Brigham. They had proposed to sell him, on behalf of Col. Kinney, 3,000,000 acres of land in the Mosquito country, at ten cents per acre. But Brigham replied that this country suits him well enough, and that he intended to make a stand here.
There is little money current here except the Mormon gold coin, and the one dollar shinplasters of the Deseret Currency Association, which are printed on tissue paper. These bills promise to pay "one dollar in live stock upon the presenta-tion of one hundred dollars." I have not seen a piece of silver since I have been in the city.
The Mormon guard which remains in the city has its regular roll-calls at sunrise and sunset, at which it appears underarms. Whether these per-formances are authorized by Gov. Cumming I do not know, but it would be more indicative of "harmony " if the guard would confine itself to the duty of police without aspiring to military display. I have been told to-day that Brigham Young's first wife remains in the city and retains her apart-ments in the mansion. Correspondence of The Cincinnati Inquirer.
CAMP ON BEAR RIVER, UTAH TERRITORY,
FRIDAY, June 18,1858.
I sent you by the last mail the order of march for the Army of Utah to advance in the direction of Salt Lake. The first division left Camp Scott on Sunday, the 13th, the second division on the day following, and the third division on Tuesday, the 15th—one day sooner than was expected when I wrote you.
I was with the third division—rear division—com-manddd by Col. Alexander. The tents were struck early in the morning of Tuesday, but owing to the un-avoidable delay of putting in motion the immense train of wagons which, in a country like this, must of ne-cessity accompany a large column of troops, it was 11 o’clock before we turned our backs upon Fort Bridger.
Soldiers and wagons now stretched out far on the Salt Lake road, and began ascending the mountains to the south-west. Every one seemed in the happiest state of excitement. The soldiers sang as merrily as if they were going to a grand frolic. Soon we reached the top of the Big Butte, which, from Fort Bridger, shuts out the horizon, as you look along the Salt Lake road. Here we beheld, lying far beneath us, the ruins of old Camp Scott and the gray walls of Fort Bridger; beyond, the eye rested upon mountain ranges, rising high above another, lifting their ragged and snowy peaks aloft to the sky. As we crossed the summits of the distant hills, we turned again and again to catch a lingering glimpse of Fort Bridger until it faded from our view. Looking back, too, we beheld far behind our trains, creeping over the hill-tops, and winding slowly around the bases of mountains, presenting a singular and beautiful appear-ance. At night we camped on the Muddy (which has its appropriate name) having marched thirteen miles. Next morning we advanced, ascending hill after hill, for eight miles, when we crossed "Quaking Aspen" Mountain, and then descended for miles through nar-row valleys, walled up on either side by high ranges of rugged hills with immense and frightful rocks poised upon their summits. On one of these hills, from which the read could be enfiladed, the Mormons had nicely constructed, of rock, a redan with loop holes to shoot through. Such a work could have been of but little value to them, as one piece of our artillery could knock it to atoms in five minutes.
The second day's march brought us to Bear River, where we found the two advance divisions with the headquarters halted. It was intended here to change the order of march, and the whole army to resume its march on the day after the arrival of the rear division; but the high water in the river and the difficulty of crossing it have detained us two days. The army is now across, having lost only a few mules by drowning. The first and second divisions forded the stream, but it had risen so much before the third division could cross, that a bridge had to be built, and the wagons of this division were pulled across by hand.
Lieutenant Forney, of the 10th Infantry, and Cap-tain McGraw, of the Volunteers, were sent ahead this morning with their companies to build a bridge over the Waber River.
The army will continue its march to-morrow, and daily after that, till arrival in Salt Lake.
The order of march is entirely reversed. A bat-talion, under command of Brevet-Colonel C. F. Smith, composed of Capt. Gardner's company of infantry, two companies of cavalry and one section of Phelps's Battery, constituting the advanced guard, will march at 5 a. m; then comes the 10th Infantry and Phelps's Battery at 5 ¼ a. m.; next, the 5th Infantry and Reno's Battery at 5 ¾ a. m.; next, Col. Loring's battalion of Mounted Riflemen, lst Cavalry (300), 6th and 7th In-fantry. at 6 ¼ a. m.; next, the Volunteers, commanded by Col. Bee, at a. m.; next, the 2d Dragoons, con-stituting the rear guard, at 7 a. m. The headquarters will be with the advance.
On the 15th an express came to Gen. Johnston from the Commissioners in Salt Lake, announcing that peace was made with the Mormons. The terms and conditions acceded to were dictated in the President's proclamation. The Mormon leaders wished to stipulate particularly that the troops should not be quartered in their houses among their people; but were informed by the Commissioners that, such con-dition was useless, as our laws provided against that, and that the soldiery sent to maintain the law would not be likely to break it in this instance.
The Commissioners, I understand, were not well re-ceived, They were not at first allowed a house to sleep in, and were met with defiance and threats to burn the city. The Mormons had all deserted but about three hundred men and a dozen women, and straw was stuffed into the houses ready to fire the city; but upon hearing that Gen. Johnston was about to advance; and believing it a fact, the head traitors "caved in," and came to terms to the tune of "double quick" time.
Erastus Snow, an apostle, abused the President in the Tabernacle, and denounced his proclamation as a "tissue of lies from beginning to end," but finally con-sidered it safest to avail himself of the Executive clemency.
The Mormons are all to return to the city and to their homes.
Correspondence of The St. Louis Republican.
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, June 18, 1858.
The Peace Commissioners arrived hers in the early part of last week, and were soon joined by the Gov-ernor, and in a few days thereafter by the Secretary of the Territory. A meeting was immediately called, and on the 10th and 11th insts. a conference was had between the Governor and Commissioners, and the heads of the Mormon Church. It lasted four hours each day; there was no small quantity of feeling dis-played. It is reported in the streets that Brigham be-came unusually eloquent on the occasion; but all soon subsided, and conditions were agreed upon by which the tomahawk was buried.
These conditions were about the same as had been agreed upon on the Governor's first visit, viz.: The troops were to enter without opposition; civil officers to be permitted to perform the various duties of their offices without interruption, and an unconditional obedience to the laws of the land. On the other hand, all prior offenses were to be forgotten as per Presi-dent's proclamation—bygones to be bygones.
This city, which six weeks ago contained not less than 15,000 inhabitants, now has but little over 100, they all having emigrated to a small town about fifty miles south, called Provo, where they live, some in tents, some in wagons, some in small houses, and some without any one of these comforts. And even to this day, notwithstanding the treaty of peace, they con-tinue to leave the city which they have been for the last ten years attempting to build. The roofs of the public works, the floors of the houses and all the board fencing, have been used in boarding up the doors and windows of the houses. All appear des-olate—hardly a person can be seen, save about the Post-Office, and about a small but neat restaurant, which is the only place of accommodation in the city, and it only affording relief in the way of meals. Not a cent's worth can be bought here, nor can any work be procured from the manufacturing establishments. One baker's shop embraces all the trade and com-merce of the city.
The Governor and lady were fortunate enough to come across a person kind enough to permit them to occupy his house; but all others, officers and strangers, have to enjoy the luxury of sleeping in their carriages or on the ground.
The war may be at an end, but there is yet some shadow of doubt. I have asked many of the Mormons why it is they yet continue to remove their households and provisions at so great an expense, when all things are reported settled? But few will answer in plain terms, and those who do, say that they have not confi-dence in the fulfillment of what they consider the agreement. That they want to see the army enter and locate before they change the plans previously adopted by them. The fact is this: If the army lo-cates adjacent to this city, the Mormons will not re-turn to it, and will, in all probability, destroy, by fire, the whole city, and this intention may account for their refusing to allow any one to occupy their houses.
As a general thing the Mormons are kind and plea-sant to most of the civil officers, but they entertain an everlasting hatred to certain ones of the number and are utterly opposed to the army being located near them.
By dispatches received here yesterday from Gen. Johnston, he notified the Government Commissioners and people of Utah that he will leave Bear River (eighty miles from Salt Lake City), on the 17th inst., and expects to arrive in the city in five days, at which time all matters will be settled, and you will hear the news by next mail.
The correspondent of The Cincinnati Enquirer sends from Bear River the Proclamation of Gen. Johnston and his letter to the Commisioners. It may be inferred, he says, however, from his wise and sys-tematic arrangement of the march, that Gen. Johnston does not place implicit faith in the promises of these traitors in Utah.
TO THE PEOPLE OF UTAH.
The Commissioners of the United States, deputed by the Presi-dent to urge upon the people of this Territory the necessity of obedience to the Constitution and the laws, enjoined by his proc-lamation, have this day informed me that there will be no ob-struction to the administration and execution of the laws of the Federal Government, nor any opposition on the part of the proper authorities of this Territory to the military force of the Gov-ernment, in the execution of their orders. I, therefore, feel it incumbent on me, and have great satisfaction in doing go, to assure those citizens of the Territory who, I learn, apprehend, from the army, ill-treatment, that no person what-ever will be in any wise interfered with in his person or rights, or in the peaceful pursuit of his avocations; and should protection be needed, that they will find the army (always faith-ful to the obligations of duty) as ready now to assist and protect them as it was to oppose them while it was believed they were resisting the laws of their Government.
(Signed) A. S. JOHNSTON, Col. 2d Cavalry,
And Brevet Brigadier-General Commanding.
Headquarters Department of Utah, Camp on Bear River, June 14, 1858.
LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF UTAH,
CAMP ON BEAR RIVER, June 15,1858.
To the Hon. L. W. POWELL and Major B. MCCUL-LOCH, U. S. Commissioners to Utah.
GENTLEMEN: Your communication from Salt Lake City was received to-day. The accomplishment of the object of your mission, entirely in accordance with the instructions of the President—the wisdom and forbearance of which you have so ably displayed to the people of the Territory—will, I hope, lead to a more just appreciation of their relations to the Gen-eral Government, and the establishment of the su-premacy of the laws.
I learn with surprise that uneasiness is felt by the people as to the treatment they may receive from the army. Acting under the two-fold obligations of citizens and soldiers, we may be sup-posed to comprehend the rights of the people, and to be suffi-ciently mindful of the obligations of our oaths, not to disregard the laws which govern us as a military body. A reference to them will show with what jealous card the General Government has guarded the rights of citizens against any encroachments.
The army has duties to perform here in execution of the orders of the Department of War. which, from the nature of them, can-not lead to interference with the people in their various pursuits, and, if no obstruction is presented to the discharge of these du-ties, there need not be the slightest apprehension that any person whatever will have cause of complaint against it. The army will continue its march from this position on Thursday, the 17th inst., and reach the Valley in five days. I desire to encamp beyond the Jordan on the day of arrival in the Valley.
With great respect your obedient servant,
(Signed) A. S. JOHNSTON, Colonel Second Cavalry,
And Brevet Brig. General U. S. A. Commanding.
Headquarters Department of Utah, Camp on Bear River, June. 18, 1858.
[Official.] F. J. PORTER. Ass't Adj't General.
