Reports on the Mormon War and Western Exploration

"Message of the President of the United States, to the Two Houses of Congress at the Commencement of the First Session of the Thirty-fifth Congress ...Vol. II", U.S. War Department

This congressional report consists entirely of the Report of the Secretary of War with significant material on the Utah Expedition, including Capt. Stewart Van Vliet's report of his interview with Brigham Young. Young said "that the Mormons had been persecuted, murdered, and robbed, in Missouri and Illinois, both by the mob and State authorities, and that now the United States were about to pursue the same course; and that, therefore, he and the people of Utah had determined to resist all persecution at the commencement, and that the troops now on the March for Utah should not enter the Great Salt Lake Valley." (p. 25). Young’s Proclamation forbidding the entrance of the troops begins with, “We are invaded by a hostile force, who are evidently assailing us to accomplish our overthrow and destruction.” (p.32). The volume contains other material related to western exploration including Francis Bryan's Report (Appendix H) concerning operations of a party assigned to explore the route from Fort Riley to Bridger's Pass, Wyoming. 572 pages. Hardbound in brown blindstamped cloth with gilt title on spine.

References: Graff #4416; Wagner-Camp #286.

Condition: B+

Text is mostly clean and bright with a faint dampstain confined to the bottom margin in a minority of the pages at the front and back of the volume. Title page is lightly toned with manuscript signature. Binding has light wear and bumped corners.