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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 4 Collections and/or Records:

Lorenzo Hill Hatch autobiography and diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230330463]
Identifier: MSS SC 3135
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a microfilm copy of a handwritten autobiography and diary. Hatch writes about his early life, joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839, his life in Nauvoo, Illinois, his migration to Utah in 1850, and settling in Lehi, Utah, in 1851. He tells about his mission for the Mormon Church from 1856 to 1858, his work as a farmer and a carpenter, and Mormon Church meetings. He writes about serving in the legislature of Utah. He also tells about his service as a...
Dates: 1855-1885
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Lorenzo Hill Hatch autobiography and diary

Henry E. Maynadier letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230307990]
Identifier: MSS SC 985
Scope and Contents

General Orders dated October 5 and 7, 1857, giving marching orders for the battalions and trains of the U.S. Army stationed at Camp Winfield in the Utah Territory (modern Wyoming). One letter is signed by Maynadier by the order of Col. Alexander.

Dates: 1857; 1857
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Henry E. Maynadier letters

Charles Sansom diaries and an autobiography

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 3137
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a microfilm copy of handwritten diaries and an autobiography. Sansom writes about his early life in England, the death of his father, and his work in a woolen factory. He tells about his migration to Utah and his career as a trombone player in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also writes about the Utah Expedition, 1857-1858. He tells about his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to England from 1873 to 1874. He writes mostly about his activities and those of...
Dates: 1873-1907
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Charles Sansom diaries and an autobiography

Thomas Williams correspondence

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231024909]
Identifier: MSS 6769
Abstract

Correspondence includes letters written to Mary Neohso Bailey Williams or "Moddie", Williams' wife.

Dates: 1858-1859
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Thomas Williams correspondence

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