History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

464 UTAH AS A TERRITORY.
obtained every obstacle, short of open resistance, would
be thrown in his way, that neither provisions nor labor
would be furnished, and that no information would be
afforded. At first Brigham demurred. He was surprised,
he said, that the valley should be thus invaded
so soon after the Mormons had established their settlements;
he had heard of the expedition since its
departure from Fort Leavenworth, and the entire community
was anxious to know what was the purpose of
the government. Moreover, an attache of General
Wilson, the newly appointed Indian agent for California,
whose train had passed through the city a few
days before, had boasted that the general was authorized
to expel the Mormons from the territory. They
supposed, therefore, that the arrival of the two parties
was a concerted movement, and that Stansbury was
sent for the purpose of dividing the land into townships
and sections, and of establishing thereto the
claims of government. Upon all these subjects Brigham
was undeceived, and, the true object of the expedition
being explained, he laid the matter before the
council. Stansbury was then informed that the authorities
were well pleased with the proposed exploration,
that they had themselves contemplated such a
measure, but could not yet afford the expense, and
that they would cheerfully render all the assistance
in their power. 53
After exploring a route to Fort Hall, and making
a reconnoissance of Cache Valley and the western shore
of the lake, Stansbury and his men returned to Salt
Lake City, and there passed the winter of 1849-50.
During this winter Lieutenant Gunnison gathered
most of the material for his well-known book on the
Mormons, one of the most valuable and impartial
works yet published by a gentile writer. 54
63 Stansbury' s Exped. to Valley of G. S. Lake, 84-6.
6i The Mormons or Latter-day Saints in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake:
A History of their Rise and Progress, Peculiar Doctrines, Present Condition,
and Prospects, Derived from Personal Observation during a Residence among
Them. By Lieut J. W. Gunnison of the Topographical Engineers. Philadelphia,