Near the close of the year, the U. S. army, under General Johnson, took possession of Fort Bridger.
1858.—March 21. The citizens of Utah, living north of Utah County, agreed to abandon their homes and move south. This was deemed advisable as a defensive measure.
In the meantime Col. Thos. L. Kane had arrived in Salt Lake City, via California, for the purpose of bringing about a peaceful solution of the difficulties between the U. S. and Utah.
April 19. Gov. Cumming and Col. Kane visited the Utah library, where they were shown the records and seal of the U.S. court, which was said to have been destroyed.
June 7. Messrs. Powell and McCullough, sent out as peace commissioners, by the general government, arrived in Salt Lake City.
June 26. The "Army of Utah," under Col. Johnson, passed through Salt Lake City and camped on the west side of the river Jordan.
June 30. The people who had moved south began to return to their homes.
October 28. Jacob Hamblin, with eleven men, left Southern Utah to open intercourse with the Indians on the east side of the river Colorado.
1861.—April 23. Two hundred wagons, with four yoke of cattle each, carrying 15,000 pounds of flour, started for the Missouri river, to bring the poor of the Saints to Utah.
October 18. President B. Young sent the first message over the overland wire to the U.S.