Utah Expedition (1857-1858)
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 6 Collections and/or Records:
Philip St. George Cooke letter
Handwritten letter dated 8 March 1886. Cooke responds to a request to give an account his part in the Utah Expedition, 1857-1858, during which a federal army entered Utah. Cooke writes about the march, the wintering at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, the establishing of Camp Floyd, Utah, and about his conversatins with Albert Sidney Johnston, who led the expedition.
Hans Peter Larsen autobiography
Typewritten copy of an autobiography. Larsen was converted to the Mormon Church in Denmark, migrated to Utah in 1855, served in the Utah Militia during the Utah Expedition of 1857-1858, helped build the fort at Wellsville, Utah, and settled in Mendon, Utah.
Thomas Jefferson Osborn diary
Diary and photocopy. Covers the activities of the author while serving with the Utah Militia in resisting the US Army during the "Utah Expedition, 1857-1858." He also records activities in Ogden, Utah, at the same time.
J. W. Phelps diaries
James Parshall Terry autobiography
Photocopy of a handwritten and typed autobiography of James P. Terry which includes his experiences with Johnston's Army in 1857.
Brigham Young letter to E. B. Alexander
Letter, handwritten and signed "Brigham Young" by a scribe, addressed to Col. E.B. Alexander, commander of the 5th and 10th United States infantry regiments during the Utah Expedition. The letter is dated October 7, 1857 and was sent with two copies of the Deseret News in an attempt to "enliven the monotonous routine of camp life."