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disturbance in the communities, although it may be truly said of them that the
Government never had a better regiment of volunteers.”
The battalion was ordered to
Leavenworth to be disbanded, so as to afford them transportation and subsistence home, except where they preferred to take employment in
Utah or go to
California.
Similar precautions were taken with the employs discharged by the quartermaster's department and contractors, some 500 in number.
Those who would emigrate to
California or return home were allowed to purchase arms and outfits from the
Government, and those who wished employment in
Utah were hired as wood-choppers and herdsmen.
No confusion or trouble ensued.
General Porter says:
General Johnston's attention was now successfully turned to establishing his command in comfort for the coming winter, to securing the necessary supplies for the support of men and animals, and to protecting provisions from the effects of the climate.
Before winter set in, the men were all comfortably housed, the provisions under shelter, and the mules and cattle distributed to proper grazing-grounds.
Quarters were built of
adobe, and covered with plank and earth; and, with such comforts as could be added, the troops were wintered in health and contentment.
In a letter to the writer, September 23, 1858,
General Johnston says:
Although nothing has been changed in the Mormon polity, quiet prevails.
The people take employment at our camp, when they are needed.
Large numbers are employed making adobes and in the various mechanical pursuits.
They bring in freely their surplus grain and vegetables.
Our winter-quarters will be comfortable; we are building a great many houses to shelter the men, and large storehouses for our supplies.
The walls of our houses are eight feet high; the roofs are covered with plank, which is again covered with three or four inches of clay.
Small windows, rough doors, and well-pounded clay floors complete the building.
To put up buildings, even of rude structure, for 8,000 or 4,000 men, is a work of immense labor, where the materials are to be brought from a distance.
Congress has made no appropriations for sheltering the troops here, and all this considerable outlay of money is on my own responsibility.
Congress, I do not doubt, will make the appropriation; yet it is not pleasant to have to incur weighty responsibilities.
At this distance from the seat of government much responsibility has at all times to be assumed, and I shall not shrink from it. As I will do no one thing which my conscience does not approve as beneficial to my country, I shall always be without fear, and, I hope, without reproach.
The arrival, in October, of
Colonel Crosman, who had been assigned as his chief quartermaster, was a source of great relief to
General Johnston.
His predecessor had done his part well, but
Crosman was
