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Utah Expedition (1857-1858)

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1857 - 1858

Administravtive History

The Utah Expedition (1857-1858) was a bloodless military conflict between the Mormon militia, referred to as the Nauvoo Legion, and the Unites States government over the installation of a new governor in the Utah Territory.

From May 1857 to July 1858, the Utah Expedition, otherwise known as Utah War, Utah Campaign, Buchanan's Blunder, Mormon War, or Mormon Rebellion, was a result of President Buchanan’s decision to replace Governor Brigham Young with Governor Alfred Cumming. The Presidency feared the Mormon community would not accept a non-Mormon governor, resulting in the suspension of mail to Utah and 2,500 troops accompanying Cumming’s journey. Upon news of advancing troops Utah men were called to bear arms and Northern communities were evacuated. After several months of this standard, and continually hoping for peace, the Mormon leader’s willingness to accept Cumming was heard. The agreement ended with the installation of Governor Cumming and a permanent government garrison near Salt Lake City in exchange for peace and amnesty.

Citation:
LCCN 58011786: Hafen, L.R. The Utah expedition, 1857-1858, 1958(hdg.: Utah Expedition, 1857-1858)

Wikipedia, viewed February 11, 2013 :(Utah Expedition, also known as the Utah War, Utah Campaign, Buchanan's Blunder, Mormon War, Mormon Rebellion, was an armed confrontation between Mormon settlers and the United States Government, from May 1857 to July 1858, located in Utah and Wyoming)

Encyclopedia.com, April 20, 2016(Mormon Expedition of 1857-1858; was a federal force sent by President James Buchanan to force the Mormons, led by Brigham Young, to obey federal laws ; Utah Expedition)

OCLC, April 20, 2016(access point: Utah Expedition (1857-1858); usage: Utah Expedition; Utah War; Utah Campaign; Buchanan's Blunder; Mormon War; Mormon Rebellion; Mormon Expedition)

Library of Congress, via WWW, Feb. 12, 2018 (Utah Expedition, also known as the Utah War, Utah Campaign, Buchanan's Blunder, Mormon War, Mormon Rebellion, was an armed confrontation between Mormon settlers and the United States Government, from May 1857 to July 1858, located in Utah and Wyoming; Mormon Expedition of 1857-1858; was a federal force sent by President James Buchanan to force the Mormons, led by Brigham Young, to obey federal laws)

Mormon Encyclopedia, via WWW, Feb. 12, 2018 (Mormon militia, called the Nauvoo Legion, vs. United States government in a bloodless but costly confrontation; President James Buchanan to replace Brigham Young as governor of Utah Territory; It delayed, but did not prevent, the installation of Governor Alfred Cumming; Buchanan thought Latter-day Saints would reject a non-Mormon governor; mail to Utah suspended and 2,500 troops with Cumming to Great Salt Lake City; Utah communities were called upon to equip a thousand men; President Young announced on March 23, 1858, that all settlements in northern Utah must be abandoned and prepared for burning if the army came in; Church leaders willing to accept Cumming and a permanent army garrison in exchange for peace and amnesty)

Found in 22 Collections and/or Records:

William Adams autobiography

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 569
Scope and Contents Handwritten autobiography with a typescript of the item. Adams came from Ireland, migrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, and later to Salt Lake Valley, Utah. He also lived in Springville, Spanish Fork, Parowan, and Cedar City, Utah. Adams writes about Jacob Hamblin's efforts to convert Indians, the preparations to meet the United States Army coming to Utah in 1857 and 1858, going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and meeting Emma Hales Smith, the wife of the first...
Dates: 1894
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Adams autobiography

Andrew Jackson Allen autobiography and diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230330851]
Identifier: MSS SC 3213
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a microfilm copy of a typescript of an autobiography and diary. Allen writes about his youth in Kentucky and move to Missouri after he joined the Mormon Church. He later moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, and joined the Mormon exodus to Utah in 1847. He tells about the hardships of early settlement in Salt Lake City, Utah. His diary starts in 1857. It has many gaps and entries were often months apart. He writes about the "Utah War;" his work on the railroad in 1868 and 1869; his...
Dates: 1857-1884
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Andrew Jackson Allen autobiography and diary

Henry Ballard diary

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 998
Scope and Contents Two typescripts of the Ballard diary. They vary in small details and in the nature of the added materials found at the back. Ballard was converted to Mormonism in England. He arrived in Utah in 1852, was active in the Utah War of 1857-8, and settled in Logan, Utah in 1859. He was a bishop for the Mormon Church, participated in many of the activities of that faith, and was sentenced to two months in the Utah penitentiary for polygamy. He also tells about troubles with the Indians of the Cache...
Dates: 1852-1905
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Henry Ballard diary

Orley Dwight Bliss autobiography and diary

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 615
Scope and Contents Handwritten autobiography and diary. Account is retrospective until 1864, when Bliss writes short daily entries about his journey from Salt Lake City to Nebraska by ox team to help gather the poor to Utah. On the return trip to Utah, Bliss describes weather conditions, daily camping locations and mileage, encounters with Indian tribes, and more than twenty deaths from cholera. Bliss immigrated to Utah at age 8 and participated in the Utah War. Several pages of family genealogy are included...
Dates: 1864-1865
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Orley Dwight Bliss autobiography and diary

John Crook papers

 Collection — Oversize 1: [Barcode: 31197232543006]
Identifier: MSS 158
Abstract

Handwritten diaries, newspaper clippings, genealogies, correspondence, and patriarchal blessings. The John Crook papers relates Crook's conversion, emigration to Utah, and major events related to his Church activities and work as a farmer and president of a coal company.

Dates: 1851-1941
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John Crook papers

Benjamin Franklin Cummings diaries and an autobiography

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 164
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries including an autobiography. Cummings' autobiography covers his early life when he lived in Ohio and Navuoo, Illinois, served on a mission to Maine, and left Illinois for Utah. Cummings' diaries tell about his mission to the Indians in Idaho in the "Salmon River Mission," his service during the "Utah Expedition" of 1857-1858, his various encounters with Indians, his mission to Iowa in 1878 and 1879, and his life in Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah. Also included is a...
Dates: 1854-1879
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Benjamin Franklin Cummings diaries and an autobiography

Duke family biographies

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230244540]
Identifier: MSS SC 569
Scope and Contents

Typewritten biographical sketch of Jonathan O. Duke, prepared by Ruby Duke Stringham, which tells (mainly through excerpts from his journal) of the Mormon expulsion from Nauvoo, Illinois; residence in Iowa; immigration to Utah; life in Provo, Utah; and participation in the Echo Canyon War. Also includes two unsigned handwritten sketches: One of Jonathan Duke and one of his son, Robert S. Duke.

Dates: undated
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Duke family biographies

Eldredge family history

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230314814]
Identifier: MSS SC 1749
Scope and Contents

Typescript history of the Eldredge family in Massachusetts and Utah written by several family members. The history describes the "miracle of the seagulls" and gives an account of "Johnston's Army" in Utah.

Dates: 1932-1938
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Eldredge family history

Luke William Gallup autobiography and diaries

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231186922]
Identifier: MSS 2347
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a microfilm copy of a handwritten autobiography and diary. Gallup writes about his early life in Connecticut, his migration to Iowa, and how he joined the Mormon Church. Gallup moved to Springville, Utah, in 1851. He writes about his life in that town, his service during the Utah Expedition of 1857-8, his relationships to his wives, his mission for the Mormon Church to Connecticut. Gallup moved to Santa Ana, California, in 1888.

Dates: 1842-1891
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Luke William Gallup autobiography and diaries

Thomas Giles autobiography

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230316389]
Identifier: MSS SC 1812
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typed autobiography of Thomas Giles taken from his journals and other sources. The item includes detailed accounts of the voyage to America, the campaign against Johnston's Army (1857-1858), and the weather and farming in Utah.

Dates: 1854-1903
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Thomas Giles autobiography

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