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 79 Collections and/or Records:
Nelson Wheeler Whipple diaries
Two different typescripts of the same diary kept by Whipple: one prepared by Phyllis Clayton Pettit, the other by Anor Whipple. The diary gives genealogical data about Nelson Whipple's ancestors and tells of his early experiences in the Latter-day Saint Church, his move to Nauvoo, Illinois, his journey across the Plains to Utah and his life there.
Thomas Williams correspondence
Correspondence includes letters written to Mary Neohso Bailey Williams or "Moddie", Williams' wife.
John Stillman Woodbury diaries
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.
Writings and history of Jonathan Ellis Layne
Typescript (carbon copy) of an autobiographical sketch written by Layne in 1898 which gives details of his early life in Nauvoo, Illinois; his trek across the Plains to Utah; his settlement in Davis, Weber and Cache Counties, Utah; his experiences with the Mormon soldiers sent to oppose Johnston's army; and his eventual move to Alberta, Canada to escape arrest as a polygamist. Also includes extracts from his journal, 1887-1891.
Brigham Young letter
Handwritten and signed letter, dated September 12, 1857, and addressed to Philo Taylor Farnsworth, Mormon bishop in Beaver, Utah. Young writes to Farnsworth about the declaration of martial law. The item was also signed by Daniel H. Wells. Also included is a printed typescript and facsimile of the item made in 1963.
Brigham Young letter
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."
Brigham Young letter to James Burton
Handwritten and signed letter, dated 17 April 1858, and addressed to James Burton, a teamster. Young gives Burton a pass to go safely through southern Utah on his way to California.