History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CHAPTER XIX.
THE UTAH WAR.
1857-1858.
Opening of the Campaign—Burning of Supply Trains—Strategic Movement
of Colonel Alexander—His Retreat—Arrival of Albert
Sidney Johnston—The March to Fort Bridger—Winter at C*mp
Scott—Mission of Colonel Kane—Governor Cumming at Salt Lake
City—Pardon Proclaimed—The Peace Commissioners—The Army
of Utah Advances on Zion—The City Deserted—The Mormons Return
to their Homes—The Troops Cantoned at Camp Floyd—Conduct
of the Soldiery and Camp Followers—Judges Sinclair and
Cradlebaugh—The Reformation in Utah.
" I am ordered there, and I will winter in the valley
or in hell," exclaimed General Harney, who had now
joined the expedition, when Van Vliet on his way to
Washington reported to him the condition of affairs
among the Mormons. With such prospects before
them, it was probably fortunate for the army of Utah
that the command changed hands early in the campaign,
the general's services being again required in
Kansas, Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston, then at Fort
Leavenworth, being appointed his successor, and Colonel
Alexander, the senior officer, meanwhile assuming
command.
About the middle of August, Colonel Robert Burton
with seventy men from the first regiment of the
Nauvoo legion, afterward joined by a company from
Provo, had already been sent eastward as a corps of
observation, with instructions to follow the main emigrant
trail, protect incoming Mormon trains, ascer-
tain the number, equipments, and materiel of the