Skip to main content

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 5 Collections and/or Records:

William Frank Atkin papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232484912]
Identifier: MSS 341
Scope and Contents Correspondence, diaries, and a biography. The diaries relate to Atkin's missions to New Zealand from 1903 to 1906 and from 1916 to 1918. The correspondence is from family members and friends and largely relates to family matters and to Atkin's missionary activities. The biography is a history of Atkin's father, Thomas Atkin (1833-1919), who was a Mormon pioneer that was active in Tooele County politics. The biography also includes information about the Mormon response to the Utah...
Dates: 1883-1919
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / William Frank Atkin papers

John E. Bennion diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 981
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten diaries. Bennion writes about his life in the Taylorsville area of Utah and in Rush Valley and Long Valley, Utah. He also lived for a time in Nevada. Bennion was married polygamously, participated in the Utah War of 1857-1858, had an encounter with an Indian in 1858, saw the first handcart company arrive in Salt Lake City in 1856, served on a mission to England for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and participated in many other activities.

Dates: 1855-1877
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John E. Bennion diaries

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

Enoch B. Tripp papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2032
Scope and Contents Eighteen volumes of journals and other papers. Volumes document Enoch B. Tripp's conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his missions to the state of Maine, his visit with Joseph Smith's mother (Lucy Mack Smith), wife (Emma Smith), and son (Joseph Smith III) in Nauvoo in November 1855, his participation in the Utah War in 1857, and his life in Salt Lake City. Tripp discusses anti-polygamy legislation, his time on the Mormon "Underground" to avoid arrest for practicing...
Dates: 1841-1908
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Enoch B. Tripp papers

John Stillman Woodbury diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 168
Scope and Contents

Handwritten diaries for the years 1851, 1853 to 1855, 1857, and 1876 to 1877. These are all missionary journals kept on various missions for the Mormon Church to Hawaii. Woodbury comments on visits from Mormon Church Apostles and writes about leaving Utah for Hawaii during the Mormon "Reformation" in 1857 and being called to return to face the approach of the U.S. Army.

Dates: 1851-1877
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John Stillman Woodbury diaries

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.