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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 3 Collections and/or Records:

Elias Hicks Blackburn papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197233294799], Folder: 2, 3, 6
Identifier: Vault MSS 785
Scope and Contents Contains records on the early ecclesiastical history of Provo, Utah. Records include accounts of sermons of the period by several prominent leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Mormon Reformation, and document the response of the community, including rebaptisms and Church disciplinary matters. Also includes Blackburn's personal family record, and records of donations by Loa (Utah) Ward members for the building of the Manti Temple during Blackburn's tenure as...
Dates: 1851-1887
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Elias Hicks Blackburn papers

Duke family biographies

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230244540]
Identifier: MSS SC 569
Scope and Contents

Typewritten biographical sketch of Jonathan O. Duke, prepared by Ruby Duke Stringham, which tells (mainly through excerpts from his journal) of the Mormon expulsion from Nauvoo, Illinois; residence in Iowa; immigration to Utah; life in Provo, Utah; and participation in the Echo Canyon War. Also includes two unsigned handwritten sketches: One of Jonathan Duke and one of his son, Robert S. Duke.

Dates: undated
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Duke family biographies

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
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Eunice Pease Haws Stewart notes and diary

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