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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 24 Collections and/or Records:

Joseph Curtis diaries

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230331719]
Identifier: MSS SC 3245
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a microfilm copy of handwritten diaries. Curtis also writes about his early life. He was born in Pennsylvania and joined the Mormon Church in 1833. He lived in Missouri and told about the persecution of Mormons there. He later lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, and served on two missions at that time. He came to Utah in 1848 and later settled in Utah Valley, Utah. Curtis was involved in numerous activities including defending Utah from the Utah Expedition in 1858.

Dates: 1836-1858
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Curtis diaries

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

Winslow Farr journals

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1420
Scope and Contents

Collection includes daily accounts of his family, his church mission to England (vol. 2), the Utah War, persecutions concerning his practice of polygamy, his subsequent prison sentence, and his life in Colonia Dublán, Chihuahua, Mexico. Typescripts of the journals are also included in the collection.

Dates: 1856-1910
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Winslow Farr journals

Luke William Gallup autobiography and diaries

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231186922]
Identifier: MSS 2347
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a microfilm copy of a handwritten autobiography and diary. Gallup writes about his early life in Connecticut, his migration to Iowa, and how he joined the Mormon Church. Gallup moved to Springville, Utah, in 1851. He writes about his life in that town, his service during the Utah Expedition of 1857-8, his relationships to his wives, his mission for the Mormon Church to Connecticut. Gallup moved to Santa Ana, California, in 1888.

Dates: 1842-1891
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Luke William Gallup autobiography and diaries

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

Ira Nathaniel Hinckley diary and family papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230331172]
Identifier: MSS SC 3206
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a typescript of a microfilm diary. Hinckley kept his diary from 5 March 1857 to 6 June 1858. He worked as a blacksmith in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then went to help immigrants along the Platte River. He visited Dakota and Crow Indians, and returned to Salt Lake City in the fall of 1857. He mentioned speeches of Mormon Church leaders relating to the religion and preparations to resist the Utah Expedition. Also included are "Some Events" in the life of Ira Hinckley. These...
Dates: 1857-1940
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Ira Nathaniel Hinckley diary and family papers

Thomas Jefferson Osborn diary

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232498920]
Identifier: MSS 242
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1857-1858
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Thomas Jefferson Osborn diary

J. W. Phelps diaries

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197231044501]
Identifier: MSS 2318
Scope and Contents These diaries are photocopied from a microfilm copy of the handwritten originals. Phelps kept the diaries primarily when he was involved in the Utah Expedition from 1857 to 1858 and the subsequent military occupation of Utah from 1858 to 1859. These items are volumes 15 to 26 of his diaries. Phelps writes about going to Utah "for suppression of the Mormons." He makes many negative comments on the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He tells about the expedition...
Dates: 1857-1859
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / J. W. Phelps diaries

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

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John Henry Standifird papers

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