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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 85 Collections and/or Records:

Secondary sources on John M. Bernhisel, circa 1909-1964

 Series
Identifier: MSS SC 331 Series 3
Scope and Contents note

Contains bibliographies, letters, genealogies, papers, obituaries, medical diplomas, certificates, and other materials.

Dates: Other: circa 1909-1964

Short history of Abraham Hunsaker

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230330885]
Identifier: MSS SC 3217
Scope and Contents

Phtocopy of a micrifilm copy of a handwritten autobiography. Hunsaker was born in Illinois and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840. Hunsaker lived in Utah County, Utah, and writes about troubles with Indians. He was sent to settle in Carson Valley, Nevada, and returned to Brigham City, Utah. He metions the "Utah War" in 1857 and 1858.

Dates: approximately 1860

Lot Smith papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 293
Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies of letters by Smith describing his activities in settling Arizona. Materials date from between 1856 and 1892.

Dates: 1856-1892

Persifor F. Smith letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233620795]
Identifier: MSS 7694
Scope and Contents

A letter was written by Persifor F. Smith on January 28, 1858. The letter is five pages long and is addressed to Virginia Congressman Charles J. Faulkner, who was a Virginia politician and President Buchanan's Minister to France. Persifor references the Utah War of 1857 and 1858 in his letter.

Dates: 1858 January 28

John Henry Standifird papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197233283396]
Identifier: Vault MSS 44
Scope and Contents

Handwritten diaries and letters. Standifird writes about his life in Bountiful, St. George, Kanab, Panguitch, Manti, and Moab, Utah. He also lived in Taylor and Alpine, Arizona. He gives information on the Utah Expedition, 1857-1858, his work on the St. George and Manti temples, his mission for the Mormon Church in Missouri, and his daily life in Utah.

Dates: 1857-1909

Eunice Pease Haws Stewart notes and diary

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230330976]
Identifier: MSS SC 3208
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a microfilm copy of a handwritten diary kept from 4 March 1855 to 2 April 1858. There are many gaps. Stewart writes about her experiences while her husband is on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Nevada and Australia. She lived in Provo, Utah. Wilford Woodruff, Apostle in the Mormon Church, briefly lived with her family when Salt Lake City, Utah, was evacuated during the Utah Expedition in 1858.

Dates: 1855-1858

Cynthia Jane Park Stowell autobiography

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232488038]
Identifier: MSS 839
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typescript. The history of Stowell's family is presented by another person. Stowell tells her own story for the years from 1857 to 1892. Cynthia lived in Ogden, Utah; describes activities during the Utah War of 1857 to 1858; writes of her life as a polygamous wife; and relates her move to Juarez, Mexico, in 1892. Also included is a patriarchal blessing.

Dates: approximately 1893

James Parshall Terry autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227605539]
Identifier: MSS SC 1698
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten and typed autobiography of James P. Terry which includes his experiences with Johnston's Army in 1857.

Dates: 1880-1905

James Parshall Terry journal

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230242023]
Identifier: MSS SC 515
Scope and Contents

Handwritten biographical sketch of Terry's life which describes Mormon difficulties in Missouri, campsites during the exodus west, pioneer life in southern Utah, and Terry's mission to Canada and northeastern U.S., 1887-1888. Also an account of Terry's activities in Echo Canyon during the Utah War, 1857. The journal was written in a watermaster's log which included previous entries.

Dates: 1857-1890

The early settlement of South Weber

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230345354]
Identifier: MSS 983
Scope and Contents

Contents include four typewritten transcriptions of Thomas Peek's history of South Weber, Davis County, Utah. Peek records the history of the establishment and hardships of the Latter-day Saint people in South Weber, including brief descriptions of the Morrisite War of 1862, the Utah War of 1857-1858, and the activities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The history was written in approximately 1900.

Dates: approximately 1900