At that time the spirit of
resistance to the authority of the National Government was being
exhibited to such an extent in Utah as to call for measures of
repression. Assassinations and outrages of all kinds were common, and
the officers of the United States were powerless either to prevent or
punish their commission.
When Mr. Buchanan became President the resolution was formed that the
insubordination and conflict of authority existing in that Territory
should cease, and the necessary executive and judicial officers having
been appointed for the enforcement of the laws of the United States and
the preservation of the public peace, it was determined to send a
detachment of the Army to protect them against violence and to assist
them as a posse comitatus, when necessary, in the performance of their
duties. Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston became the commander of this
military force, and Lieut. LEE had his first experience of the service
in this expedition. As the occasion does not call for a recital of the
events of that period, I will content myself with the remark that he was
then, as on every occasion in after years, faithful to the obligations
of duty. His term of service in the Army was of short duration, and from
that fact we may infer that he was not enamored with the life of a
soldier in time of peace.
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