THE UTAH EXPEDITION— Destruction of the Trains — How the Delegate to Congress was Elected.— The special correspondent of the New York Tribune writes from "Camp 20 miles west of Fort Laramie," on the 13th of October, in regard to the destruction of the supply trains:
On the 5th of October the two regiments of in-fantry and the artillery and ordnance batteries were encamped on Ham's Fork, which branches from Black's Fork, which is a fork of Green river. The two nearest supply trains were but a few miles dis-tant from Green river, on the east bank, and about 30 miles from Col. Alexander's camp. The next on the road had advanced about 20 miles west from Pa-cific Springs, which rise at a short distance beyond the South Pass.
About 11 o'clock at night these three trains were surprised and seized by parties of Mormons, their contents examined, and what was worth pillaging was stolen, and the remainder destroyed by fire. Each train consisted of 26 wagons, and belonged to the number sent out by Messrs. Russell & Waddell, of Leavenworth City, contractors for the transporta-tion of stores to the army and for the supply of beet cattle. The teamsters made no resistance, and were unharmed. These Mormon bands are understood to be under the command of "Bill" Hickman, although it is rumored that Heber C. Kimball attends them. They are all well mounted and armed, each man be-ing provided with a California horse and with a rifle and from one to three revolvers. Hickman is sup-posed to have directed the proceeding near Pacific Springs, while a man named Locksmith commanded near Green river.
The cattle of the trains were not destroyed; the Mormons, however, left a request for the troops to follow them during the winter, that they might be in good condition for Mormon eating in the spring. Another of their jeux d’ esprit was a remark to the teamsters that they "had only burned the wagons this time, but would be likely to burn the wagoners the next."
The U. S. army is being concentrated at Soda Springs, and will from thence have before it a road along a valley, open, it is said, even at midwinter, direct to Salt Lake City.
I am unable to make an estimate of the amount of stores destroyed by them in their foray of Octo-ber 5. The original amount intended for the Utah expedition was an eight months' supply for 2,500 men, and each train was assigned a proportion of all the articles to be transported, including even ord-nance stores. Whether different arrangements were made when it was thought necessary to leave the 2d dragoons with Gov. Walker in Kansas, I am not aware. At any rate, it is the general impression that the loss of so great a quantity of provisions as the 72 wagons must have contained, would necessi-tate a movement toward Salt Lake Valley, were not such a movement on other accounts a consequence of their destruction. The season will forbid the transmission of any further supplies or troops from the East than are now already far on their way.
As the fact that the Mormons are making war upon the U. S. troops while they have a delegate on his way to represent them in Congress, may excite some surprise, the Tribune correspondent says:
In consideration of the journey of Dr. Bernhisel to Washington, while affairs are in such a condition among his constituency, I feel bound to send you the following information concerning the mode of his election, for the accuracy of which I do not vouch, for it is not of my personal knowledge. It has been stated to me that on the Sunday before the day fixed by law for the election, Brigham Young rose in the Bowery, where an audience of several thousands was collected, and spoke substantially to this effect:
"Brethren, to-morrow, you know, is the day to vote for Delegate to Congress, so the law says. But I don't see why to-day isn't just as holy, and why we shouldn't take a vote to-day. Brother Bernhisel, brethren, has done well enough in Congress, though nobody's of much use there, and if it's worthwhile to send anybody to Washington, I guess we might as well send him back; if he can't do us any good, he won't do us any harm. So all of you who are in favor of sending Brother Bernhisel back will please rise."
Accordingly the whole audience rose. The next day at the election but few votes were cast and those all for Dr. Bernhisel, it being felt to be useless to oppose him, although he is said to be very unpopular in Salt Lake City.
