PIONEERS REACH FORT LARAMIE,--JUNE 2, 1847.
In the Redman's Country.--Indian Customs.--Hunting Became
Excessive.--Description of the Bluffs.--Guide Board 409 Miles From
Winter Quarters.--Chimney Rock.--Brigham Young Rebukes Card Playing and
Frivolity.--Fasting and Prayer.--Arrive at Fort Laramie.--Ascending the
Plateaux.--Word From the Mormon Battalion.
About the 11th of May, the pioneers found themselves in the heart of
the Indians' country. The red man would naturally take some alarm at
the approach of so numerous a body of men, and his presence along the
route was indicated, as a rule, by the camping ground which had been
deserted at the approach of the white man. Here and there solitary
Indians were observed, and occasionally a small number approached
the camp. The Sioux were a somewhat treacherous, warlike tribe; and
following the habits of the Indian, some of their tribe would follow
the pioneers for days, remaining concealed in daylight, hoping for
opportunities to steal horses and cattle by night. Fortunately the
pioneers adopted the most precautionary methods of guarding against the
loss of their horses and cattle.
The Indians were not without some knowledge of the retreat of their
ancestors before the western movement which was going on rapidly in
those days. Their viewpoint therefore justifies both the fear and the
dislike of the white man. The pioneers, realizing the attitude of the
Indian, did all in their power to assure him of their friendship, but
it was not easy on a journey such as that to cultivate any particular
acquaintance. Elder Woodruff's journal shows the remarkable interest
that he took in whatever related to the customs and manners of the
Indians.
Speaking of the Sioux, he says: "We found ourselves traveling over
their hunting grounds. Some eight or ten days prior to our encampment
on the 11th of May, there had been a large band of some 500 to 1,000
located at one place. They had taken the brains out of a large buffalo.
Generally they took the hide and some of the meat, and sometimes they
broke the bones for the {284} marrow. In one place we found a hundred
calves with nothing taken except the tongues, the legs to the knees,
and the entrails. In another place thirty-five buffalo calves were
found dead where they had been washed up in heaps in their unsuccessful
effort to cross the river. On one of the bluffs, I found a medicine bag
tied to a stick six feet long, the stick having been stuck into the
bank. I also found a saddle tied to a large buffalo for the purpose,
I supposed, of showing the next party of Indians which direction the
buffaloes had gone.
"Wishing to explore the country somewhat, I left my horse to feed in
the valley while I went on to an elevated bluff. While gone, the horse
started off, and not seeing the camp, took an opposite direction and I
was compelled to run after him. In doing this, I ran through a great
camping ground of the Sioux where lodges had been on their hunting
expeditions. Here I left my gun and followed my horse until I overtook
him. On my return I examined the ground more minutely and estimated
that there had been something like 500 lodges. There were acres of
ground covered with buffalo wool where they had dressed the skins of
buffaloes and wolves, etc. I brought in a good dressed white wolf skin
with me. The day following, many of the brethren went out and brought
in parts of robes, leather, etc., which had been left. The next day,
the pioneers made a journey of eleven miles. The bluffs, for the first
time on the journey along the north fork, came boldly up to the river
front so that we were obliged to go over these bluffs with our wagons.
"There is one thing concerning the Platte River worthy of note. It is
much of the way a mile in width, generally covered with water, but
very shallow. When the south wind blows hard, the water all rushes to
the north shore so that one would suppose that there was a great rise
in the tide. When the wind shifts to the north, the water immediately
recedes from the north shore until one can walk across two-thirds of
the river on bare ground. Thus the river constantly ebbs and flows like
a tide.
"Early on the morning of the 14th, I went out to hunt buffaloes and
returned to breakfast and started out again with Phineas Young. I
was lost among the bluffs, but after a time, found my way out again.
Brother Phineas shot a buck antelope which I carried into camp. All
told, three antelopes and one {285} buffalo were killed. Some of the
hunters thought they heard Indian guns during the night on the opposite
side of the river. An Indian had gone up to a pair of mules that were
tied together and grabbed at them, but the mules sprang back and got
out of the way. One of the guards shot at him and he ran. All the
horses were then brought into the circle of our camp and the cannon
prepared, but no Indian being seen, it was not fired."
Such a large company would naturally be conspicuous to the Indians, and
no doubt the sound of music in those solitary regions attracted them,
as the camp was often animated in the evening by the sounds of music
from all parts. On the morning of the 15th, bear foot tracks were seen
in large numbers. That day the distance covered was only eight miles.
This short distance was due in part to the difficulty encountered in
crossing over the numerous bluffs along the river. In those regions
there was nothing to break the cold, raw winds that came from the
north. Civilization had not then set up its wind breaks, and the winds
made the climate often quite disagreeable away into the month of May.
"Sunday, the 16th of May," he says, "was cold. With Brothers Young,
Kimball, Benson, Rockwell, and Stephens, I rode four miles over the
bluffs to pick out a road for the pioneers that they might again get on
to the bottom land. We had a good meeting in the afternoon and the laws
of the camp were read. One of the brethren had shot an antelope and a
buffalo. It was a violation of the camp to go hunting on the Sabbath.
The 17th was warm and pleasant, but the road was difficult. For two and
a half miles we drove through sand bluffs and again struck the bottom
land four and a half miles from the camping place. The hunters brought
in three buffaloes which detained the camp for some time. President
Young was not pleased with the excessive hunting, as they already had
much meat in the camp. Large herds of deer were seen in the valley,
more than had been seen before. A young fawn was picked up and brought
into camp. I led the company of pioneers mostly through the bluffs
in the morning before Brothers Young and Kimball came up. Upon their
arrival, we rode together all day picking out the road.
"The next day the camp was called together and President Young reproved
sharply the hunters for killing more game than {286} was necessary, for
detaining the camp, and because of their indifference in helping to
pick out the road. He said there were but two men who had manifested
any interest in helping to get the pioneers along. Afterward the
horsemen went forward to pick out the road instead of hunting, and I
did not hear a gun fired during the day."
The spring was well advanced and rain began to take the place of wind.
Elder Woodruff in his journal entry of May 19th says: "We encountered
today the worst sandhill on the journey; and what made it worse, the
rain was pouring down continuously. We had more rain today than during
the whole journey. I rode forward during the day, picking out the road.
We made eight miles.
"Next morning we made seven miles and nooned near Ash Creek, on the
south side of the river where the Oregon road first strikes the north
fork of the Platte. Several of the brethren went over in the boat,
which we were taking along, to examine the rocky bluffs, roads, creek,
etc.
"In the afternoon, we traveled eight and three-quarters miles and
camped for the night. We had a very good road most of the day on the
bank of the river. There was a good deal of rocky bluff on both sides
of the river, and some on the south side was formed into natural
terraces, rotundas, squares, etc., from fifty to a hundred feet high
and looked like good foundations for fortifications and strong-holds.
They resemble the works of art and look something like the old castles
of England and Scotland. They were level on the top. There is a
beautiful Cedar Island in the river a short distance above Ash Creek
which is a good landmark to show travelers where the Oregon road
strikes the river."
Near by the nooning place was a cedar tree in the branches of which
an Indian child was deposited for burial. Along with it were utensils
necessary for its future enjoyment.
On the 21st a large petrified bone was found. It was the leg bone from
the knee down. Its length was seventeen and a half inches, greatest
width eleven inches, greatest thickness six inches, its weight was
twenty-seven pounds.
"Before we left the encampment in the morning, Brother Clayton put up
a guide board for the benefit of the next company. {287} 'From Winter
Quarters, 409 miles; from the Junction 93 1/4 miles; Cedar Bluff 36
1/2; Ash Creek 8 miles and 133 from Fort Laramie.' When we reached
our camping place for the night, two Indians came up from the bluffs,
making signs for us to come to them. It was a Sioux Indian and his
squaw. They talked by signs and went away.
"Our road on the journey the day following was very straight, but we
came over two and a half miles of the worst sand hill that we had
passed. The bluffs presented the most singular natural scenery I had
ever beheld in all my travels. They had the appearance of the old walls
and ruins of the castles of Europe.
"The next day was Sunday the 23rd. In company with Brigham Young and
the Twelve, I visited the top of the highest bluff ruins that were
opposite our encampment, which were truly a curiosity. We had a fair
view of Chimney Rock from where we were. I carried a bleached buffalo's
head on the top and we wrote upon it our names and the distance from
several places. Orson Pratt took a barometrical observation on the
solitary cedar tree on the top of the bluff ruins.
"The camp met at half past eleven in the morning for Sabbath services.
Erastus Snow addressed the meeting, followed by President Young who
said he was satisfied that the Lord was with us and leading us. He
had never seen a company of people more united than the camp had been
thus far on the journey, that we should pluck the fruit of the mission
through all eternity, that he had many things to teach us but could
not do it except in a stake of Zion, but he was well satisfied with
his brethren and the Twelve, and the camp at large. One thing he would
say to the praise of the company and that was that not one had refused
to obey his counsel on the journey. His peace with God was continually
like a river, and he felt that the spirit of peace rested upon the
whole company. Several others spoke and the meeting was then dismissed.
"We intended to ride out in the evening, but saw that a storm was
gathering. It began to blow very hard and it was all we could do to
save our wagon bows and covers from being destroyed. It continued for
about an hour and then rained for another hour accompanied by hail. I
covered all my horses with all the blankets I could get, and got up
several times in the night to see them. It {288} rained occasionally
and the horses shook with cold, but when morning came all were alive
and we continued our journey.
"As soon as we camped at noon, two Indians came to the camp. They were
Sioux and well dressed and clean. We gave them dinner and they left.
We camped at night near the Quicksand Mountain, making sixteen and one
half miles that day. I rode about two miles forward to find grass and
a camping ground, and on my return saw about thirty Sioux plunge their
horses into the river on the opposite side and made towards us. I rode
with several others to the river and met them as they came out. They
shook hands with us very friendly. The chief unfurled a large American
flag with the eagle, stars, and stripes and presented me a letter
written in French which we, however, made out. They were all well
dressed and the chief was in a military coat. The brethren brought a
white flag and planted it by the side of theirs. They wanted to go into
camp. We proposed for five of them to go and the rest to remain, but
they all wished to go, so we let them and gave them supper. They were
in camp all night, but were good and stole nothing.
"Some trading was done with the Sioux next morning and we gave them
breakfast. They behaved well also when we started across the river. I
had to keep my carriage today having the rheumatism in my shoulders and
back, and my teeth ached.
"We nooned next day, Tuesday, May 25th, in good grass two miles above
Chimney Rock; and I rode with Brothers Kimball and Benson to look out
a road. By our imperfect measurement by a trigonometrical observation
by the sextant, Professor Pratt made Chimney Rock to be two hundred and
sixty feet above the level of the river.
"Just before camping at noon while traveling on a smooth prairie, an
Indian horse that was bought of the Sioux ran away with a singletree
at his heels and gave tremendous fright to the cows, oxen and horses.
In an instant a dozen or more wagons were darting by each other like
lightning and the horses and mules dashing over the ground, some
turning to the right and some to the left and some ran into other
wagons. The horses and mules that Brother Fowler was driving leaped by
my carriage like electricity and came within one inch of a collision
with my wheels which would have made a wreck. Another wagon with a
pair {289} of mules and a yoke of cattle dashed by which would also
have smashed my carriage had they locked. By this time, my own horses
started to run, but were held back by the driver. Fowler's wagon
continued regardless of rough or smooth ground about fifty rods, he
being dragged the whole distance by the bit which was the case with
many others; but all were soon stopped and returned to their lines
without accident which appeared truly a miracle. A person can hardly
conceive the power manifested by animals, especially mules, in such a
fright. It gave us some idea of what an Indian yell would do in a camp
with teams hitched to wagons.
"Brother Kimball and myself picked the road during our journey of the
following morning, and in the afternoon I piloted as straight as any
road yet made on the whole route, and picked out a camping ground on
the bank of the river in good feed. It should be understood that we
were pioneering a road for the whole House of Israel to travel over for
many years to come and it required, therefore, the greatest care in
marking the route.
"A cold rainy morning followed and we concluded not to start until
the rain stopped. We remained till 10 o'clock and traveled eleven and
one-half miles and camped for the night. During the evening, President
Young called at my fire, and seeing several brethren playing dominoes
in a wagon near by, he began to teach, saying that the devil was
getting power over the camp which had for several days given way to
cards and dominoes, etc., and that if they did not speedily repent,
their works, labors, and journey would be in vain. He said that to be
sure the camp did not quarrel, for the devil would not set them at that
as long as he could draw them gradually away from their duty and fill
them with nonsense and folly, for the devil was very cunning in winning
away the people of God. I felt the force of his remarks.
"During the evening I went into Dr. Richards' wagon and read a chapter
in the Book of Mormon and prayed with him, after which President
Young, H. C. Kimball, Willard Richards, E. T. Benson, and myself met
in council in Brother Brigham's wagon. President Young wrote some of
the words of the Lord concerning the camp and expressed his views and
feelings--that they must speedily repent or they would be cursed, that
they were forgetting their mission, and that he would rather travel
{290} with ten righteous men who would keep the commandments of the
Lord than the whole camp while in a careless manner and forgetting God.
We stayed together until ten o'clock.
"Next morning President Young called the camp together and required
each captain separately to call out his men and when all were present,
except two who had gone out hunting, he addressed them in something
like the following words:
'I think I will take as my text to preach my sermon from, _I am about
to revolt from traveling with this camp any further with the spirit
they now possess._ I had rather risk myself among the savages with ten
men who are men of faith, men of mighty prayer, men of God, than to be
with the whole camp when they forget the Lord and turn their hearts
to folly and wickedness. Yes, I would rather be alone and I am now
resolved not to go any farther with the camp unless you will consent to
humble yourselves before the Lord and serve Him and cease your folly
and wickedness. For a week past, nearly the whole camp has been card
playing, and checkers and dominoes have occupied the attention of the
brethren, and dancing has been going on continually.
'Now it is time to quit it. There have been trials and lawsuits upon
every nonsensical thing; and if this is suffered to go on, it will be
but a short time before you are fighting, knocking each other down and
taking life. It is time it was stopped.
'I do not want to hear any more such reports as I heard last Sunday
of men going to meeting and preaching to the rest after playing cards
until meeting time. You are a pretty set of men going to look out a
location among the mountains for a resting place for the Saints--even
the whole Church of God--who have been driven out from the Gentiles and
rejected of them. And after you have established a location, you are
then going out to preach the Gospel, seal salvation upon the house of
Israel, and gather the nations.
'How would you look if they should know your conduct and ask you what
you did when you went to seek out Zion and find a resting place for the
Saints where the standard of the Kingdom of God could be reared and her
banners unfurled for the nations to gather unto?
'Did you spend a good deal of your time in dancing, pitching {291}
quoits, jumping, wrestling, and the like? Yes, yes. Did you play
cards, dice, checkers, and dominoes? O, yes. What could you do with
yourselves? Why you would shrink from the glance of the eyes of God,
angels and men--even wicked men. Then are you not ashamed of yourselves
for practicing these things? Yes, you are, and you must quit it.'
"After speaking somewhat lengthily upon these matters, President Young
called the Twelve together, and the high priests, seventies, and
elders. There were present eight of the quorum of the Twelve, eighteen
high priests, eighty seventies, and eight elders. After this was done,
President Young said unto the Twelve:
'If you are willing to humble yourselves before the Lord and consent to
the right, and walk humbly before Him, make it manifest by raising the
right hand.'
"Then each one raised his hand. The same question was put to the high
priests, seventies, elders, and members and all consented with uplifted
hands to humble themselves before the Lord, repent of their sins and
keep His commandments.
"President Young then spoke of those who were not in the Church, as
there were some present. They would be protected in their rights, but
they must not introduce wickedness into the camp, for it would not be
suffered. He also spoke of the standard and ensign that would be reared
in Zion.
"Elder Kimball followed and said that the words of President Young were
as the words of the Lord unto him and just as binding as though they
were a written revelation, and that they were just as binding upon the
whole camp as they were upon him, and he urged the pioneers to give
heed to the teachings that had been given.
"Orson Pratt remarked that if the Saints had leisure hours, they could
spend them to much better advantage than playing cards, as there was
a world of knowledge and science to be obtained and every moment
should be improved in storing the mind with some good principle. He
acknowledged the teachings we had received to be of the Lord."
Elder Woodruff said: "A burned child dreads the fire. He had not
forgotten his journey in the Camp of Zion in 1834; and should he live
to the age of Methuselah, he should not forget the {292} hour when
the Prophet and Seer, Joseph Smith, stood upon the wagon wheel and
addressed that Camp and said that because they had not hearkened unto
his counsel, but disobeyed and transgressed from time to time, judgment
would come and that we should be visited by the destroying angel. And
so we were, and more than twenty of our members fell by the stroke and
we all suffered much in our feelings. I pray the Lord I may not see
another such time; and I would now advise my brethren to be careful in
keeping the covenant we have made lest the word of the Lord come unto
us as in the days of Joseph and we cannot escape a judgment. I would
advise all the brethren who have cards and the like to burn them, for
if you keep the covenants you have made, you will have no time to use
them; and if you keep them for your children, they will only prove a
curse to them. My prayer to God is that we may all be enabled to keep
our covenants with the Lord and each other. I rejoice that the watchmen
in our midst are quick to comprehend and warn of evil and reprove us
when wrong that we may be saved and do the will of God."
The change in the camp it would appear was quite as sudden as a gust
of wind. It was only a short time before this that the pioneers were
commended for their zeal and unity. The dangers of self-satisfaction
were here demonstrated. Dancing, card playing, and a hilarious life
were not in consonance with the solemn mission of that band of pioneers
whose journey was to be likened in years to come to the exodus of
the children of Israel. That journey was to be an inspiration to
generations that would follow. The Sabbath following, May 30th, was set
apart for prayer and fasting.
"In the morning I shaved, cleansed my body, put on clean clothing,
etc., read a chapter in the Book of Mormon, humbled myself before the
Lord, and poured out my soul in prayer before Him, and His spirit
descended upon me and I was blessed and prepared for the service of the
day. Then I spent some time in writing in my journal.
"The camp had a prayer meeting in the morning and met again for public
meeting. President Young, with the Quorum of the Twelve and a few
others went into a valley of the hills and prayed according to the
order of the priesthood. Porter Rockwell and Brother Carrington watched
to see that no Indians came {293} upon us. We had a good time. A heavy
shower appeared, but most of it went around us and there was but little
rain where we were.
"We returned to our wagons, took some refreshments, having eaten
nothing all day; and soon the sun came out pleasantly. In the evening I
went out two miles with the Quorum of the Twelve on to a high bluff. We
had a good view of the Black Hills. There we also engaged in prayer.
"Two days afterward we camped opposite Fort Laramie. This was June
1st. When we arrived, we saw some men approaching us from the Fort. We
found them to be a part of the company of Mississippi brethren who had
been in Pueblo through the winter. Brother Crow and his family, seven
wagons and fourteen mules were at Fort Laramie. He informed us that
the remainder of the Mississippi company with a portion of the Mormon
Battalion at Pueblo would start for Laramie about the 1st of June and
follow our trail. He told us of four of the brethren who had died, but
he had heard nothing of the main body of the Battalion.
"President Young suggested the propriety of our leaving all our ploughs
at the Fort except such as we needed to use immediately when we got to
our destination, and also to do our blacksmithing, mending of wagons as
soon as possible so that we might go on our journey speedily. A company
was appointed to attend to the herding and other branches of business.
"June the 2nd, in company with the Twelve and others, I crossed the
river to visit the Fort. We examined Fort St. John which was now
vacant, but was still standing. The dimensions of this Fort were 144
by 152 outside, and inside contained sixteen rooms. The largest on the
north side was 93 feet long and 47 feet wide. The Oregon trail ran one
rod from the S. W. corner of the Fort.
"We next visited Fort Laramie, then occupied by thirty-nine persons,
mostly French who had married the Sioux. Mr. Burdoe was the
superintendent. This Fort was 168 by 116 feet outside with six rooms
inside. It was quite a pleasant location for a Fort.
"Mr. Burdoe was a Frenchman. He received us kindly and invited us into
a large sitting room. He gave us all the information {294} he could in
relation to our route and furnished us with his flat bottom boat on
reasonable terms to assist us in ferrying the Platte. He informed us
that Governor Boggs and his men had much to say against the Mormons and
cautioned him to take care of his horses and cattle, etc., lest they
should steal them. He tried to prejudice him all he could against us.
Burdoe said that Boggs' company were quarreling all the time, and most
of them had deserted him. He finally told Boggs and company that let
the Mormons be what they might, they could not be worse than he and his
men.
"After conversing with Mr. Burdoe some time we got into the flat bottom
boat, about twenty of us, and went down the Laramie Fork to its mouth
about two miles and then up the Platte one-half mile to our camp.
After dinner we met in council and decided that Amasa Lyman should go
to Pueblo with several other brethren to meet the detachment of the
Battalion that was there, and for them to come as soon as convenient to
Laramie and follow our trail."
The pioneer company now found it necessary to cross the north fork
of the Platte, just opposite Fort Laramie, the first permanent post
erected in Wyoming. The low even country of Nebraska had been passed,
and hereafter the company began its journey in Wyoming. They now found
themselves ascending the great eastern plateau of the Rocky Mountain
system. Thence forward there began a gradual ascent to the Rocky
Mountains in which they hoped to find a safe retreat. The Fort was a
trading post in the center of Indian commerce, and had been established
as early as 1834. The Fort, however, was located on the Laramie Fork.
Some time was taken in exploring the region as it was to be in the
future an important mile post in the journey of the Saints. The name
of the river and the fort was taken from a French trapper whose name
was Laramie, and who was killed by the Indians on the stream which now
bears his name. The Saints presented a busy scene repairing wagons and
making preparations for the ascent of the Rocky Mountains. They had
kept well to the north, but the route had been established by trappers
and explorers. The river afforded a water supply for their animals
as well as for domestic purposes. At this time there were practically
{295} only two routes across the continent, one to southern California
by way of Pueblo, the other along the present route of the Union
Pacific railroad. As Oregon was a great objective point in those days,
emigrants turned to the northwest before reaching Utah.
"We continued our journey on the 4th of June. The scenery grew more
interesting as we began to ascend the Black Hills. Brother Robert Crow
had joined us which added to our company nine men, five women, and
three children, six wagons, thirteen yoke of oxen, twenty cows, three
bulls, ten young cattle and horses which made our camp now one hundred
and forty-eight men, eight women, five children, seventy-nine wagons,
ninety-six horses, fifty-one mules, ninety oxen, forty-three cows,
three bulls, nine calves, sixteen dogs, and sixteen chickens.
"As we traveled farther into the hills, they grew lofty and we began
to come into an elk, bear, and mountain-sheep country. Soon after we
arrived at the Springs, fifteen miles from Laramie, the first company
of Missouri emigrants came up, twelve wagons of them. We journeyed ten
and one-half miles farther in the after-noon. The Missouri company
camped one-fourth mile below us.
"Next day was Sunday, the 6th, which we devoted to prayer and fasting,
but the Missouri company of emigrants started on in the morning. The
camp met for prayer-meeting at 8 o'clock and the spirit of the Lord
was with the people who met again for preaching at 11 o'clock. We had
a shower of rain and the meeting closed. Another company of Missouri
wagons, twenty in number, passed us. The rain soon cleared off, and our
company moved forward five miles and camped for the night on Bitter
Creek.
"The two Missouri companies which had camped near us at night started
before us in the morning, and while nooning, another company of
thirteen wagons passed us. We were in a fair view of Laramie Peak with
its snow covered top. We camped for the night on the Horse Shoe Creek
in the best feed we had found on our journey. The hunters brought in
two black-tailed deer and one antelope.
"Next day we formed a company of men and went forward with our teams
and cleared the road of stone. We used pick-axes, bars, spades, etc.,
and it was a great help to our weak wagons. {296} In the afternoon we
traveled eight and three quarters miles over the most mountainous road
on our way and then descended into the valley and camped for the night
on Labent Creek where there was an abundance of timber, water, and good
grass.
"Brother John Higbee went forward hunting, and saw the Missouri
companies of emigrants, and when they started out they had much strife
one with another in trying to start first. They did not stop to milk
their cows; and in clearing up their breakfast, they strewed their
meal, salt, bacon, short cake, beans, and other things upon the ground
throughout their encampment; and when we came up, three wolves were
feeding upon the fragments.
"In coming over the hills to-day, we found it so cold it pierced us
like winter. On reaching the valley, we found fires the companies
in advance had built and we piled on the wood and soon got warm. An
antelope lay before us which the hunters had brought in. We carved it
up with our knives, forked it on sticks, roasted it, and satisfied
ourselves without the seasoning of salt.
"We started in the morning at 5 o'clock into better feed a mile farther
on and we turned out our teams. The brethren did some trading with the
hunters who camped near us. At 7 o'clock, fifteen of our wagons were
formed into a company to go forward to make a boat to ferry the Platte.
They went forward and we followed them. The traders started at the same
time.
"Soon another party of traders who were direct from Sante Fe overtook
us. They informed us that the Mormon Battalion was in California, that
they went in January, and that Capt. Brown was in Sante Fe for money
for the detachment and would come on to us as soon as possible.
"In the afternoon of the next day, President Young and Brother Kimball
rode with us. Our detached company had not been heard of since last
night when they camped with the fore-most company. We camped to-night,
June 9th, at Deer Creek. We had good feed and our horses and cattle
were gaining daily."
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