Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1858 — The Mormans Migrating! [ARTICLE]

The Mormans [sic] Migrating! -----

[From the St. Louis Democrat, 16th.

<Arrival of Colonel Kane's Party—Late and Important from Camp Scott>. The party of Colonel Kane, from Camp Scott, arrived here yesterday morning on the steamer <Emigrant>. The Colonel remained but a few hours, leaving, for Washington on the Ohio and Mississippi afternoon train. The information brought by his party, of whom we may give the name.of Major Howard Eagan as authority, repeats, with additional interesting details, that telegraphed to us from Boonville on Monday night. The party left Camp Scott on the 16th of May. Governor Cumming had returned there from Salt Lake City. He stated that almost instantly on his arrival at the Mormon city he found the population moving off. The movement had indeed commenced, and shortly increased till the entire people of the Northern, settlements were in motion. Brigham Young formally delivered into his hands the “great seal” and all State records. The Mormon chiefs particularly solicitous that Governor Cumming should take possession of these momentous documents, relying upon this measure as the only one for their preservation. They were urgent that the Governor should at once deposit them in a <fire proof safe>. The reason of this soon transpired with the discovery that extensive preparations had been skilfully [sic] made to give the city to the flames, <a la> the Russians at Moscow. Large quanities [sic] of dried fencewood had been arranged in many houses which a match would have kindled to conflagration. Happily better counsels prevailed among the leaders, and strenuous endeavors were successfully made by the major part of the population to prevent the catastrophe. Having received the capitulation of Brigham, and token efficient means to prevent the still dreaded burning of the city, Governor Cumming deemed it proper, if possible, peacefully to prevent the migration southward, and set off after the trains. The whole popuration of the Northern settlements were on the road—a few guards alone being left in the villages. The number of men, women and children could scarcely be less than 36,000. Many were far advanced, so that it was useless to pursue them. The forward trains were three hundred miles southward down the valley. The Governor counted seven hundred and fifty wagons laden with families!. They were abundantly provisioned. Many hundreds had “hutted” by the way; i.e., “=had built <adotbe> houses of the road mud. The cold and heavy rains had disappointed their expectations of the dry weather necessary to the permanency of such structures, and had washed away their walls. They were thus left exposed to the winds and rains. But there appeared no very serious suffering, though much trying and inconvenience. The attempt to procure a general abandonment of the march was of course futile. There is uncertainty about the destination which the Morrmon leaders now propose to themselves. They keep their own counsel in this respect with remarkable closeness. The suggestion that they were bound for Cedar City is rather discredited by the fact that they have driven large herds of their cattle much southward of that point. It is feared that they may coalesce with some of the Indian tribes of the South, which are already sufficiently vexatious, and thus give much trouble. to the, Government: They themselves complain bitterly of the treatment of roving parties of Indians, who, finding them defenceless on the road, can not resist the temptation presented by so much booty. The Indians ridicule the Mormons, saving they are squaws and can’t fight. Camp Scott remained healthy. The accounts of inadequate provisions have been exaggerated. The quality of their fare is alone a matter of complaint with the troops. Governor Cumming has taken efficient steps to remedy all inconvenience, and preclude the possibility of suffering in the army from this source. About twenty miles west of Platte Bridge, Colonel Kane met the supply train of Colonel Hoffman, and also the United Stales Commissioners for whose arrival Colonel Johnston has hitherto been reported as waiting. The capture of the Mormons appears to be conceived by their leaders, and by those in the American camp, as probably the best course feasible. The coolness, address and firmness of Governor Cumming in securing the adoption of this alternative to war, are strongly attested by the eye-witnesses of his conduct. His management of the army in its critical circumstances also elicits, and we doubt not deserves, warm encomiums. ---<>---