Editing Albert Sidney Johnston (section)

==Utah War==
As a key figure in the [[Utah War]], Johnston took command of the U.S. forces dispatched to crush the [[Mormons|Latter Day Saint]] rebellion in November 1857. Their objective was to install [[Alfred Cumming (governor)|Alfred Cumming]] as governor of the Utah Territory, replacing [[Brigham Young]], and restore U.S. legal authority in the region. As Johnston had replaced Brigadier General [[William S. Harney]] in command, he only joined the army after it had already departed for Utah. Johnston's adjutant general, and future U.S. general in the Civil War, Major [[Fitz John Porter]] wrote: "Experienced on the Plains and of established reputation for energy, courage, and resources, [Johnston's] presence restored confidence at all points, and encouraged the weak-hearted and panic-stricken multitude. The long chain of wagons, kinked, tangled, and hard to move, uncoiled and went forward smoothly."<ref>Johnston, pp. 211</ref>

Johnston worked tirelessly over the next few months to maintain the effectiveness of his army in the harsh winter environment at Fort Bridger, Wyoming. Major Porter wrote to an associate: "Col. Johnston has done everything to add to the efficiency of the command – and put it in a condition to sustain the dignity and honor of the country – More he cannot do… Don't let any one come here over Col. Johnston – It would be much against the wishes and hopes of everyone here – who would gladly see him a Brigadier General."<ref>Roland, pp. 202</ref> Even the Mormons commended Johnston's actions, with the Salt Lake City ''Deseret News'' reporting that "It takes a cool brain and good judgment to maintain a contented army and healthy camp through a stormy winter in the Wasatch Mountains."<ref>Deseret News (1858). Edition published October 13, 1858, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory.</ref>

Johnston and his troops hoped for war. They had learned of the [[Mountain Meadows Massacre]] and wanted revenge against the Mormons. However, a peaceful resolution was reached after the army had endured the harsh winter at Fort Bridger. In late June 1858, Johnston led the army through Salt Lake City without incident to establish [[Camp Floyd]] some 50 miles distant. In a report to the War Department, Johnston reported that "horrible crimes… have been perpetrated in this territory, crimes of a magnitude and of an apparently studied refinement in atrocity, hardly to be conceived of, and which have gone unwhipped of justice."<ref>Johnston, pp. 239</ref> Nevertheless, Johnston's army peacefully occupied the Utah Territory. U.S. Army Commander-in-Chief, Major General [[Winfield Scott]], was delighted with Johnston's performance during the campaign and recommended his promotion to brevet [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]]: "Colonel Johns[t]on is more than a good officer – he is a God send to the country thro' the army."<ref>{{Cite book |last=MacKinnon |first=William P. |title=At Sword's Point: A documentary history of the Utah War, 1858–1859 |publisher=Arthur H. Clark Company |year=2008 |location=California |pages=171}}</ref> The Senate confirmed Johnston's promotion on March 24, 1858.

With regard to the relations established by Johnston with the Native American tribes of the area, Major Porter reported that "Colonel Johnston took every occasion to bring the Indians within knowledge and influence of the army, and induced numerous chiefs to come to his camp... Colonel Johnston was ever kind, but firm, and dignified to them... The Utes, Pi-Utes, Bannocks, and other tribes, visited Colonel Johnston, and all went away expressing themselves pleased, assuring him that so long as he remained they would prove his friends, which the colonel told them would be best for them. Thus he effectively destroyed all influence of the Mormons over them, and insured friendly treatment to travelers to and from California and Oregon."<ref>Johnston, p. 235</ref>

In August 1859, parts of Johnston's Army of Utah were implicated as participants in an alleged massacre at [[Bahsahwahbee|Spring Valley]], a retaliation against an Indian massacre of an emigrant train to California. There are conflicting reports of the event and Johnston only referenced it in a November 1859 report to Scott. He wrote: "I have ascertained that three [emigrant] parties were robbed, and ten or twelve of their members, comprising men, women, and children, murdered... The perpetrators of the robbery of the first party were severely chastised by a detachment of dragoons, under the command of Lieutenant Gay. The troops failed to discover the robbers of the last two parties that were attacked. They are supposed to be vagabonds from the Shoshonee (sic) or Snake and Bannack (sic) Indians, whose chiefs deny any complicity with these predatory bands. There is abundant evidence to prove that these robber bands are accompanied by white men, and probably instigated and led by them. On that account I am inclined to believe the disclaimer of the Indians referred to, of having any knowledge of the robberies or any share in the plunder." The only evidence of the massacre is the account of [[Elijah Nicholas Wilson]] (written in 1910, about 51 years after the incident) and oral histories.<ref>Senate of the United States; First Session of the 36th Congress, 1859–60; No. 42, p. 26</ref><ref>Wilson, pp. 165</ref>

In late February 1860, Johnston received orders from the War Department recalling him to Washington D.C. to prepare for a new assignment. He spent 1860 in Kentucky until December 21, when he sailed for California to take command of the Department of the Pacific. In the spring of 1861, Johnston dispatched small parties of troops to patrol northern California in response to reports of Native American raids on settlers in the region. He warned his officers that there must be "no indiscriminate slaughter of the guilty with the innocent" and there were no further incidents.<ref>Roland, pp. 243</ref>