Skip to main content

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 55 Collections and/or Records:

Charles Lambert autobiography

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230338193]
Identifier: MSS 927
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an autobiography. Lambert was born in England; converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843; moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1844; migrated to Utah in 1849; and served on missions in England in 1870 and 1882. He also writes about the "Utah War" and about problems with swarms of crickets.

Dates: 1883
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Charles Lambert autobiography

Hans Peter Larsen autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230349307]
Identifier: MSS 515
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1828
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Hans Peter Larsen autobiography

Life history of Albert Douglas Dickson

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230342914]
Identifier: MSS 752
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an autobiography. Dickson migrated to Utah in 1852. He first settled in American Fork but later moved to Kaysville. He participated in resisting the U.S. Army during the Utah War, mentions the Morrisite War, and moved to Richville, Utah, where he served as bishop of the Richville Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also included are poems dedicated to Dickson and some anecdotes on his life.

Dates: 1892-1922
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Life history of Albert Douglas Dickson

Clarance Merrill autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230326230]
Identifier: MSS SC 2754
Scope and Contents

Handwritten autobiography. Merrill lived in Nauvoo, Illinois, as a young boy. He migrated to Utah in 1852 and lived in Provo, Salt Lake City, Bear Lake Valley, Cove Creek, and Fillmore, Utah. He also participated in the "Utah War" of 1857 to 1858.

Dates: 1908
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Clarance Merrill autobiography

Charles H. Oliphant and Orson Bennett Adams autobiographies

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230234368]
Identifier: MSS SC 155
Scope and Contents Coverless notebook containing handwritten autobiographies of Oliphant and Adams. Oliphant writes of his childhood, meetings with Brigham Young, his work as a horticulturalist, and the Deseret Horticultural Society. Adams' autobiography is written back to front in the same notebook. He writes about his joining the Mormon Battalion along with his wife who worked as a laundress, his settlement in Parowan, Utah, his fighting the Indian Wars, and exploration during the Utah War during which he...
Dates: approximately 1800s
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Charles H. Oliphant and Orson Bennett Adams autobiographies

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

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Short history of Abraham Hunsaker

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

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.