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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 34 Collections and/or Records:

Benjamin Franklin Cummings diaries and an autobiography

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 164
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries including an autobiography. Cummings' autobiography covers his early life when he lived in Ohio and Navuoo, Illinois, served on a mission to Maine, and left Illinois for Utah. Cummings' diaries tell about his mission to the Indians in Idaho in the "Salmon River Mission," his service during the "Utah Expedition" of 1857-1858, his various encounters with Indians, his mission to Iowa in 1878 and 1879, and his life in Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah. Also included is a...
Dates: 1854-1879

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

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

Eldredge family history

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230314814]
Identifier: MSS SC 1749
Scope and Contents

Typescript history of the Eldredge family in Massachusetts and Utah written by several family members. The history describes the "miracle of the seagulls" and gives an account of "Johnston's Army" in Utah.

Dates: 1932-1938

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

Luke William Gallup diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232539194]
Identifier: MSS 660
Scope and Contents

Typewritten excerpts from a handwritten diary. Gallup summarizes his activities monthly. Gallup settled in Springville, Utah, in 1851. He writes about encounters with Ute Indians, the Utah War, and the Mormon "reformation." He comments on Mormon polygamy and tells about the death of his wife. Also included are the patriarchal blessings given to Luke and to his wife, Lydia.

Dates: 1850-1864

Biography of Charles D. Green and his wife, Mary Ann Radman Green

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230338284]
Identifier: MSS 2795
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a microfilmed copy of a typewritten biography. Mary Ann Radman Green was born in 1835 in England and died in 1903 in American Fork, Utah. Charles D. Green was born in 1838 and died in 1905 in Eureka, Utah. Charles came to Utah with Johnston's Army. He later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and settled in Alpine, Utah. Charles married Mary Ann Radman, but they had no children. They adopted Loren Fisher Green.

Dates: 1958

William Greenwood papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 39
Scope and Contents

Contains twelve handwritten, signed letters which concern Greenwood's conversion to Mormonism in England, his immigration to the United States, activities in Nauvoo, Illinois, and the 1847 trek to Salt Lake City and American Fork, Utah. Also includes a bound autobiography (plus typescript) written between 1869 and 1884.

Dates: 1847-1884

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

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