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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 16 Collections and/or Records:

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

Thomas L. Kane papers on Utah Expedition, 1857-1858

 Sub-Series — Box 14: Series 3 [Barcode: 31197232550761]
Identifier: Vault MSS 792 Series 3 Sub-Series 6
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, reports, speeches, and other materials related to Kane's involvement in negotiating a resolution to the Utah Expedition. Materials date from between 1857 and 1858.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1857-1858
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Vault MSS 792, Kane family papers / Thomas L. Kane papers on the Mormons

Enoch B. Tripp papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2032
Scope and Contents Eighteen volumes of journals and other papers. Volumes document Enoch B. Tripp's conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his missions to the state of Maine, his visit with Joseph Smith's mother (Lucy Mack Smith), wife (Emma Smith), and son (Joseph Smith III) in Nauvoo in November 1855, his participation in the Utah War in 1857, and his life in Salt Lake City. Tripp discusses anti-polygamy legislation, his time on the Mormon "Underground" to avoid arrest for practicing...
Dates: 1841-1908
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Enoch B. Tripp papers

John Bates Warall letter

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230312305]
Identifier: MSS SC 1392
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter written at Camp Floyd, Utah and addressed to Colonel Daniel Ruggles at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Warall gives a general report on the condition and activities of the camp which includes the establishment of musical bands, temperance societies, masonic lodges, and other organizations and events promoting morale among the soldiers.

Dates: 1859
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / John Bates Warall letter

Brigham Young letter

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230316959]
Identifier: MSS SC 2019
Scope and Contents Photocopy of a handwritten letter. The item is dated Sept. 14, 1857 and is addressed to "Major McCullogh" and Lewis Brunson (1831-1888). Brunson was the bishop in Fillmore, Utah for the Mormon Church. Young states that preparations are to be made to deal with the advancing federal troops which were part of the Utah Expedition, 1857-1858. He also outlines the nature of the defense of Utah. In resistance the Utahns would "desolate the Territory" and "waylay our enemies." Young also admonishes...
Dates: 1857
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Brigham Young letter

Brigham Young letter to E. B. Alexander

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231566081]
Identifier: Vault MSS 694
Scope and Contents

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."

Dates: 1857 October 7
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Brigham Young letter to E. B. Alexander

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