The lateness of the season, the dispersed condition of the troops and the smallness of the numbers available, have seemed to present elements of difficulty, if not hazard in this expedition. But it is believed that these may be compensated by usual care in its outfit, and great prudence in its conduct. All disposable recruits have been reserved for it.

So well is the nature of this service appreciated, and so deeply are the honor and the interest of the United States involved in its success, that I am authorized to say that the government will hesitate at no expense requisite to complete the efficiency of your little army, and to insure health and comfort to it, as far as attainable. Hence, in addition to liberal orders for its supply heretofore given-and it is known that ample measures, with every confidence of success, have been dictated by chiefs of staff departments here—a large discretion will be made over to you in the general orders for the movement. The employment of spies, guides, interpreters or laborers may be made to any reasonable extent you may think desirable.

The prudence expected of you requires that you should anticipate resistance, general, organized and formidable, at the threshold, and shape your movements as if they were certain, keeping the troops well massed and in hand when approaching expected resistance. Your army will be equipped, for a time, at least, as a self-sustaining machine. Detachments will, therefore, not be lightly hazarded, and you are warned not to be betrayed into premature security or over confidence.

A small but sufficient force must, however, move separately from the main column, guarding the beef cattle and such other supplies as you may think would too much encumber the march of the main body. The cattle may require to be marched more slowly than the troops, so as to arrive in Salt Lake Valley in good condition, or they may not survive the inclemency and scanty sustenance of the winter. This detachment, though afterwards to become the rear guard, may, it is hoped, be put in route before the main body, to gain as much time as possible before the latter passes it.

The general-in-chief suggests that feeble animals, of draught and cavalry, should be left ten or twelve days behind the main column, at Fort Laramie, to recruit and follow.

It should be a primary object on arriving in the valley, if the condition of things permit, to procure not only fuel, but material for hutting the troops. Should it be too late. for the latter purpose, or should such employment of the troops be unsafe or impracticable, the tents (of Sibley's pattern) furnished will, it is hoped, afford a sufficient shelter.

It is not doubted that a surplus of provisions and forage, beyond the wants of the resident population, will be found in the valley of Utah; and that the inhabitants, if assured by energy and justice, will be ready to sell them to the troops. Hence no instructions are given you for the extreme event of the troops being in absolute need of such supplies and their being withheld by the inhabitants. The necessities of such an occasion would furnish the law for your guidance.

Besides the stated reports required by regulations, special reports will be expected from you, at the headquarters of the army, as opportunity may offer.

The general-in-chief desires to express his best wishes, official and personal, for your complete success and added reputation.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brevet Brigadier General W. S. Harney,

GEORGE W. LAY,

Lieutenant Colonel Aid-de-Camp.

Commanding, etc., Fort Leavenworth, K. T.

P. S. The general-in-chief (in my letter of the 26th instant) has already conveyed to you a suggestion—not an order, nor even a recommendation-that it might be well to send forward in advance a part of your horse to Fort Laramie, there to halt and be recruited in strength, by rest and grain, before the main body comes up.

Respectfully,

G. W. L., Lt. Col., Aid-de-Camp.

As said, these instructions were issued and the preparations for carrying them out conducted with great secrecy. The Mormons, however, though far from suspecting such an invasion-for they were not conscious of having done anything to warrant it—were informed of the military movement in time to prepare for the emergency.

On the 27th of February, 1857, while the excitement caused by the incendiary reports of Judge Drummond and his clique was at its height, two citizens of Utah, Feramorz Little and Ephraim K. Hanks, arrived at Independence, Missouri, having left Salt Lake City on the 11th of the previous December. These men, braving the wintry storms, had crossed the plains under special contract with the postmaster of Salt Lake City, to carry the eastern mails, owing to the failure of Messrs. Hockaday and Magraw to punctually and properly close their contract. The new contract-Hiram Kimball'swas just about going into effect; though that gentleman, on account of the non-arrival of the mails in Utah, had not been officially notified, when Hanks and Little started east, of the acceptance of his bid by the Government. As soon as the notice came, preparations to begin were vigorously pushed forward, a fact which furnished a pretext for the complaint made by Indian Agent Twiss. Nevertheless, the delay in beginning-a delay caused by Hockaday and Magraw-was subsequently taken advantage of by the Post Office Department to justify the cancellation of the Kimball contract.

Mr. Little, having delivered the mail at Independence, proceeded on to Washington to collect his pay for the special service. He next visited New York. The newspapers of the metropolis were then teeming with hostile comments on Utah and her people, caused by Judge Drummond's report, which had lately been published. Incensed at these atrocious calumnies, and the unjust reflections thereby inspired, Mr. Little addressed the following letter to the New York Herald:

MERCHANT'S HOTEL, N. Y., April 15, 1857.

Editor Herald: SIR: As myself and Mr. E. K. Hanks are the last persons who have come to the States from Great Salt Lake City, I deem it my duty to bear testimony against the lying scribblers who seem to be doing their utmost to stir up a bad feeling against the Utonians. We left our homes on the 11th of December, brought the last mail to the States, and certainly should know of the state of things there. The charges of Judge Drummond are as false as he is corrupt. Before I left for the States, I was five days every week in Great Salt Lake City, and I witness to all the world that I never heard one word of the burning of nine hundred volumes of law, records, etc., nor anything of that character, nor do I know, or ever heard of anything of the dumb boy story he talks of.

There is only one house between my house and the Penitentiary, said to contain "five or six young men from Missouri and Iowa," and I do know that up to the day I left, there were only in that place of confinement three Indians, who were convicted at the time of Colonel Steptoe's sojourn there, for having taken part in the massacre of Captain Gunnison and party, which Drummond now charges upon the Mormons, even though Colonel Steptoe and the United States officers then in Utah investigated the affair thoroughly and secured the conviction of the three Indians alluded to. This is an unblushing falsehood, that none but a man like Drummond could pen.

The treasonable acts alleged against the Mormons in Utah are false from beginning to end. At Fort Kearney we learned all about the murder of Colonel Babbitt, and do know that that charge against the Mormons is but another of Drummond's creations.

I have but a short time at my disposal for writing, but must say, that I am astonished to find in the States, rumors against Utah. We left our homes in peace, dreaming of no evil, and we come here and learn that we are the most corrupt of men, and are preparing for war.

Yours, etc.,

FERAMORZ LITTLE.

Learning from Mr. James M. Livingston,* a Utah merchant then in New York, that the Y. X. Company had begun operations

*Mr. Livingston was senior partner of the firm of Livingston and Bell, Gentile merchants of Salt Lake City.