Utah Expedition (1857-1858)
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:
Eunice Pease Haws Stewart notes and diary
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.
Cynthia Jane Park Stowell autobiography
Photocopy of a typescript. The history of Stowell's family is presented by another person. Stowell tells her own story for the years from 1857 to 1892. Cynthia lived in Ogden, Utah; describes activities during the Utah War of 1857 to 1858; writes of her life as a polygamous wife; and relates her move to Juarez, Mexico, in 1892. Also included is a patriarchal blessing.
James Parshall Terry autobiography
Photocopy of a handwritten and typed autobiography of James P. Terry which includes his experiences with Johnston's Army in 1857.
James Parshall Terry journal
Handwritten biographical sketch of Terry's life which describes Mormon difficulties in Missouri, campsites during the exodus west, pioneer life in southern Utah, and Terry's mission to Canada and northeastern U.S., 1887-1888. Also an account of Terry's activities in Echo Canyon during the Utah War, 1857. The journal was written in a watermaster's log which included previous entries.
The early settlement of South Weber
Contents include four typewritten transcriptions of Thomas Peek's history of South Weber, Davis County, Utah. Peek records the history of the establishment and hardships of the Latter-day Saint people in South Weber, including brief descriptions of the Morrisite War of 1862, the Utah War of 1857-1858, and the activities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The history was written in approximately 1900.
Thomas L. Kane newspaper clippings on Mormons, 1858-1859
Contains newspaper clippings on the Mormons collected by Kane. Includes information on the development of Utah, the Mormon Church, and the Utah Expedition. Some articles discuss Kane's role in the settlement of the crisis. Materials date from between 1858 and 1859.
Thomas L. Kane papers on Utah Expedition, 1857-1858
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.
Thomas Todd autobiography
Photocopy of a typescript of an autobiography. Todd writes about his youth in Scotland, his conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850, his immigration to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1854, his service in the Utah Militia during the Utah Expedition, and his life in Spanish Fork and in Heber City, Utah. He also includes family genealogies.
Enoch B. Tripp papers
John Bates Warall letter
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.