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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 28 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

Audio recording of Brigham Young, the patriot

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231234508]
Identifier: UA 1186
Scope and Contents

An audio recording on CD-R of Brigham Young, the patriot.

Dates: 1971
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Audio recording of Brigham Young, the patriot

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

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

John M. Bernhisel papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 331
Abstract

The Papers of John Milton Bernhisel includes three (3) archival series: Series I: Political Papers, circa 1847-1864; Series II: Personal Papers, circa 1825-1910; and Series III: Secondary Sources, circa 1909-1964.

Dates: approximately 1825-1964
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John M. Bernhisel papers

Biographical sketch of the life of Luman Andros Shurtliff

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230233642]
Identifier: MSS SC 88
Scope and Contents

Typewritten condensation of the original journal of Shurtliff, a businessman, politial and religious leader, Mormon missionary and patriarch, which tells of his early life in Ohio, religious revivals, conversion to Mormonism, marriages, missionary work, mobs in Far West, Missouri, expulsion from Nauvoo, Illinois, immigration to Utah, life in Weber County, Utah, and military preparations against Johnston's Army.

Dates: 1936
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Biographical sketch of the life of Luman Andros Shurtliff

Elias Hicks Blackburn papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197233294799], Folder: 2, 3, 6
Identifier: Vault MSS 785
Scope and Contents Contains records on the early ecclesiastical history of Provo, Utah. Records include accounts of sermons of the period by several prominent leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Mormon Reformation, and document the response of the community, including rebaptisms and Church disciplinary matters. Also includes Blackburn's personal family record, and records of donations by Loa (Utah) Ward members for the building of the Manti Temple during Blackburn's tenure as...
Dates: 1851-1887
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Elias Hicks Blackburn papers

David Candland diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230334259]
Identifier: MSS 1140
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten diary. Candland writes about joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his life in Salt Lake Valley and in Sanpete County, Utah. He talks about his polygamous marriages, the Utah Expedition, and the birth and deaths of children. The item includes a major gap between 1863 and 1900.

Dates: 1846-1901
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / David Candland diary

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 journals, 1854-1908

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2032 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains 18 journals kepts by Enoch B. Tripp, dated 1854 to 1908.

Dates: 1854-1908
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 2032, Enoch B. Tripp papers

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