THE WORD AND WILL OF THE LORD CONCERNING THE CAMP OF ISRAEL--THE
PIONEERS START FOR THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS--NAMES OF THE HEROES--INCIDENTS
OF THE JOURNEY WEST.
The "Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel in their
journeyings to the West," was given through President Brigham Young at
Winter Quarters on the 14th of January, 1847. It was the first written
revelation sent out to the Church since the death of the Prophet
Joseph. Agreeable to its instructions, the Saints began to prepare for
their journey to the mountains.
Early in April the pioneers started from Winter Quarters. This famous
band numbered one hundred and forty-eight souls, including three women
and two children. The _personnel_ of the company as it left the
Missouri River, was as follows:
1 Brigham Young.
2 Heber C. Kimball.
3 Orson Pratt.
4 Wilford Woodruff.
5 George A. Smith.
6 Willard Richards.
7 Amasa Lyman.
8 Ezra T. Benson.
9 John S. Fowler.
10 Jacob D. Burnham.
11 Joseph Egbert.
12 John M. Freeman.
13 Marcus B. Thorpe.
14 George Wardel.
15 Thomas Grover.
16 Barnabas L. Adams.
17 Roswell Stevens.
18 Starling Driggs.
19 Albert Carrington.
20 Thomas Bullock.
21 George Brown.
22 Jesse C. Little.
23 Phineas H. Young.
24 John Y. Greene.
25 Thomas Tanner.
26 Addison Everett.
27 Truman O. Angell.
28 Lorenzo D. Young.
29 Briant Stringham.
30 Albert P. Rockwood.
31 Joseph S. Schofield.
32 Luke Johnson.
33 John G. Holman.
34 Edmund Ellsworth.
35 Sidney Alvarus Hanks.
36 George R. Grant.
37 Millen Atwood.
38 Samuel Fox.
39 Tunis Reppelyee.
40 Eli Harvey Pierce.
41 William Dykes.
42 Jacob Weiler.
43 Stephen H. Goddard.
44 Tarlton Lewis.
45 Henry G. Sherwood.
46 Zebedee Coltrin.
47 Sylvester H. Earl.
48 John Dixon.
49 Samuel H. Marble.
50 George Scholes.
51 William Henrie.
52 William A. Empey.
53 Charles Shumway.
54 Andrew P. Shumway.
55 Thomas Woolsey.
56 Chancy Loveland.
57 Erastus Snow.
58 James Craig.
59 William Wordsworth.
60 William P. Vance.
61 Simeon Heyd.
62 Seely Owen.
63 James Case.
64 Artemas Johnson.
65 William C. A. Smoot.
66 Benjamin Franklin Dewey.
67 William Carter.
68 John G. Losee.
69 Burr Frost.
70 Datus Ensign.
71 Benjamin Franklin Stewart.
72 Horace Monroe Frink.
73 Eric Glines.
74 Ozro Eastman.
75 Seth Taft.
76 Horace M. Thornton.
77 Stephen Kelsey.
78 John S. Eldredge.
79 Charles D. Barnham.
80 Almon L. Williams.
81 Rufus Allen.
82 Robert T. Thomas.
83 James W. Stewart.
84 Elijah Newman.
85 Levi N. Kendall.
86 Francis Boggs.
87 David Grant.
88 Howard Egan.
89 William A. King.
90 Thomas P. Cloward.
91 Hosea Cushing.
92 Robert Byard.
93 George P. Billings.
94 Edson Whipple.
95 Philo Johnson.
96 Carlos Murray.
97 Appleton M. Harmon.
98 Willam Clayton.
99 Horace K. Whitney.
100 Orson K. Whitney.
101 Orrin Porter Rockwell.
102 Nathaniel Thomas Brown.
103 Jackson Reddin.
104 John Pack.
105 Francis M. Pomeroy.
106 Aaron Farr.
107 Nathaniel Fairbanks.
108 John S. Higbee.
109 John Wheeler.
110 Solomon Chamberlin.
111 Conrad Klineman.
112 Joseph Rooker.
113 Perry Fitzgerald.
114 John H. Tippitts.
115 James Davenport.
116 Henson Walker.
117 Benjamin W. Rolfe.
118 Norton Jacobs.
119 Charles A. Harper.
120 George Woodard.
121 Stephen Markham.
122 Lewis Barney.
123 George Mills.
124 Andrew S. Gibbons.
125 Joseph Hancock.
126 John W. Norton.
127 Shadrach Roundy.
128 Hans C. Hanson.
129 Levi Jackman.
130 Lyman Curtis.
131 John Brown.
132 Matthew Ivory.
133 David Powell.
134 Hark Lark (colored).
135 Oscar Crosby (colored).
136 Joseph Matthews.
137 Gilburd Summe.
138 John Gleason.
139 Charles Burke.
140 Alexander P. Chessley.
141 Rodney Badger.
142 Norman Taylor.
143 Green Flake (colored).
The above names, with the exception of the first eight (the Apostles)
are given in their order, as divided into companies of tens.
The three women who accompanied the pioneers were Ellen Sanders, one
of the wives of Heber C. Kimball; Clara Decker, a wife of Brigham
Young; and Harriet P. Young, her mother, wife of Lorenzo D. Young. The
children were Sobieski Young, son of Lorenzo, and Perry Decker, own
brother to Clara Decker Young.
President Brigham Young was the leader of the company, which, as seen,
numbered among its members seven others of the Twelve. Apostles Parley
P. Pratt, Orson Hyde and John Taylor were absent on missions.
The object of the pioneers, as shown, was to explore the region of the
Great Salt Lake, and if possible find a home for the Saints in the
midst of the Rocky Mountains. A few leaves from Heber's pioneer
journal will now be interesting. He writes:
"On the 5th day of April, 1847, I started with six of my teams and
went out about four miles, where I formed an encampment with several
others of my division. The same day I returned home and remained in
Winter Quarters during the conference on the 6th. On the 7th and 8th I
was still making preparations for my journey, and called my family
together and spent some time in giving them instructions, blessing
them and dedicating and consecrating them to the Most High God."
Horace K. Whitney, one of the pioneers and Heber's son-in-law, who was
present at this family meeting, in his own journal says:
"Brother Kimball expressed his feelings at length. He said that any
person who attempted to come into his family and sow discord among
them, and promote disunion, and strive to alienate their minds from
him in his absence, would be cursed. 'Don't you think so, Brother
Whitney?' addressing my father. Father replied, 'Yes.' He further
observed that there was not that person living in the world in whom he
placed more confidence than he did in Bishop Whitney, and that there
was no person in the world who would have so much influence in his
(Brother K's.) absence as Bishop Whitney, and he recommended him to
them as a worthy, good and exemplary man, to counsel them in his
absence. He told his wife Vilate that if any person should presume to
come into his house and speak against him, or any member of his
family, while he was gone, to arise and command them to leave the
house, _in the name of Heber C. Kimball!_"
"On the 8th," continues Heber, "Brother Parley P. Pratt arrived in
Winter Quarters, having returned from his mission to England. Those of
the Twelve who had departed, hearing of his arrival, returned, and in
the evening we held a council at Dr. Richard's office; and it was a
time of rejoicing with us to behold our beloved brother and companion
in tribulation. He gave us a history of his mission, and of the
success, peace and prosperity of the Saints in England. They had
annihilated the Joint Stock Company, cut Reuben Hedlock and Ward off
from the Church, who were the instigators of it, being the men we had
left to preside there, and who had called the Elders of Israel from
their duties of preaching life and salvation, and set them to
preaching up joint-stockism to get gain. Now things have changed, and
the Elders are all preaching the everlasting Gospel, and an entire
reformation has commenced, and may the Lord God of Israel roll it
forth until Israel shall be saved!
"On the 9th the Twelve started again on their journey. My son William
carried out President Young, Bishop Whitney (who was going with us a
few miles) and myself in my carriage. The whole camp, after our
arrival, started out and went to within four miles of Pappea, being
about fourteen miles from Winter Quarters, and camped for the night. I
lodged in the wagon with President Young, as he had fitted up a wagon
for him and me to lodge together through the journey.
"In the course of the evening Bishop Whitney and myself went some
distance upon the prairie, where we bowed down before the Lord and
both offered up our prayers to the Most High God in behalf of the
pioneers and the Twelve, that they might be protected and upheld and
sustained by the Almighty; that His angels might go before them to
lead them to a land which the Lord should designate to be a resting
place for His people Israel; also in behalf of our families, our wives
and children, and all Israel that are left behind.
"In the forenoon of Sunday, the 11th, we arrived at the Elk Horn,
which we crossed by means of a raft that had been constructed by some
of the first pioneers that went on, at a point two and a half miles
south of its junction with the Platte. Seventy-two wagons crossed the
'Horn,' three of which afterwards returned to Winter Quarters, leaving
the others to go on with the pioneers. It was not our intention to
have encroached on the Sabbath, but the camp were in a disordered
state, some being on one side of the 'Horn,' and some on the other,
and it was thought wisdom to get them together, lest they should be
attacked by Indians and be unprepared for defense."
Leaving the Camp to pursue its journey towards the Platte river, the
Apostles with Bishop Whitney now returned to Winter Quarters to greet
Elder John Taylor, who had just arrived from Europe, bringing with him
over two thousand dollars for the Church. From him they learned that
Elder Orson Hyde was also on his way west. On the 15th, Heber, Brigham
and others rejoined the Pioneers beyond the Elk Horn.
The camp was now organized as a military body, into companies of
hundreds, fifties and tens, agreeable to "the word and will of the
Lord," with the following as officers:
Brigham Young, Lieutenant-General; Stephen Markham, Colonel; John Pack
and Shadrach Roundy, Majors; Captains of companies, Wilford Woodruff,
Ezra T. Benson, Phineas H. Young, Luke Johnson, Stephen H. Goddard,
Charles Shumway, James Case, Seth Taft, Howard Egan, Appleton M.
Harmon, John Higbee, Norton Jacobs, John Brown, and Joseph Matthews.
Thomas Bullock was appointed clerk, and Thomas Tanner captain of
artillery. The "artillery" consisted of one cannon mounted on a pair
of wheels, and taken along to frighten hostile Indians into a due
regard for the rights of the pioneers, or to perform more serious
execution if found necessary.
General Young instructed the camp as follows: The men were to travel
in a compact body, every man to keep his loaded gun in his hand, or,
if a teamster, in his wagon, ready for instant use; every man to walk
by the side of his wagon unless sent by the officer in command, and
the wagons to be formed two abreast, where practicable, on the march.
At the call of the bugle, at five A. M., the pioneers were to arise,
assemble for prayers, get breakfast, and be ready to start at the
second call of the bugle at seven. At night, at half past eight, at
the command from the bugle, each was to retire for prayer in his own
wagon, and to bed at nine o'clock. Tents were to be pitched on
Saturday nights, and the Sabbath kept.
Thus organized and equipped, the pioneers proceeded on their way,
traveling up the north bank of the Platte. Towards the latter end of
April they found themselves in the heart of the Pawnee Indian country.
"At one o'clock p. m. of April 21st," says Heber, "we stopped to feed
beside a long narrow lake, close by the river. As soon as the wagons
were formed in a semi-circle on the banks of the lake, a guard was
placed to watch the Indians and take care of our teams. Many of the
Indians had forded the river and followed us to where we stopped,
among the number the grand chief of the Pawnee nation, 'Shefmolun.' He
presented several certificates signed by travelers who had previously
passed through the Pawnee country, all setting forth that the Pawnee
chief was friendly and that they had made him presents of a little
flour, powder, lead, etc. His object appeared to be to obtain
something from the camp. I made him a present of some salt, some
tobacco, etc, and President Young also gave him some powder, lead,
salt and other articles. Many of the brethren also contributed a
little flour, etc. But with all this the old chief did not appear
satisfied. He seemed to intimate that he expected larger presents from
such a large company, and also said he did not like us to travel
through their country, he was afraid we would kill their buffalo and
drive them off. This was interpreted by a young man of the tribe who
could talk a little English. There was not the least appearance of
hostility, but, on the contrary, all who came appeared friendly and
pleased to shake hands with us. Brother Shumway says there are about
twelve thousand of the Pawnees in this neighborhood, and it is
reported there are as many as five thousand warriors among them. We
have no fears, however, because their only object appears to be to
plunder, and it is the calculation of the brethren to be on the alert
and well prepared by night and by day.
"We continued our journey till half past five, and then formed the
encampment on the banks of the Loup Fork of the Platte river. The
brethren were called together and addressed by President Young in
reference to what passed at the Pawnee village, their apparent
dissatisfaction, etc., and he recommended that we have a strong guard
over our horses and around the camp through the night. He then called
for volunteers to stand guard, and about one hundred responded, and in
the number nearly all the Twelve. President Young and myself both
volunteered and stood the first part of the night, till one o'clock.
It was very cold indeed, and about the middle of the night it rained
again.
"Thursday, 22nd. Morning fine but cool. We have not been troubled by
the Indians, and all is peace and quiet around the camp. The cannon
was unlimbered last night and placed outside the wagons, ready for
action in case of necessity. There were some merry jokes passed this
morning on account of two of the picket guard losing their guns, and
Colonel Markham losing his hat, during the night. It is reported that
they were found asleep on their posts, and those who found them took
their guns, etc., to stir up their minds by way of remembrance and to
show what the Indians might do while they were sleeping on guard. It
is easy to suppose that after the brethren have traveled twenty miles
in the day, taken care of their teams, made fires and cooked their
victuals, and stood guard night after night, that it will require some
energy to keep themselves awake."
The Loup Fork was crossed with difficulty and considerable danger,
owing to the quicksands. Heber and others leaped into the stream, at
one time, to prevent some of the wagons being overturned. A couple of
rafts were built, and the sands packing down more firmly as the horses
continued fording, the passage was finally effected without accident
or loss. During the next few days, however, several valuable horses
were lost, two of them being killed by the accidental discharge of
guns, and the others stolen by Indians.
Several of the brethren were shot at by Indians, while out hunting for
the stolen animals.
The camp was quite complete in its equipment, industrial, military,
literary and otherwise. Ever and anon, as often as the wagons needed
repairs, Burr Frost the blacksmith and his assistants would put up
their portable forge and reset the tires of wheels, etc. William
Clayton and Willard Richards, scribes and historians, invented a
machine to measure the distance. This was done by driving a nail into
one of the spokes of a wagon wheel, which at every revolution was made
to strike upon a saw projecting from the wagon. The circumference of
the wheel being known, the number of its revolutions indicated the
distance.
The country through which they were passing is thus described: "The
country is beautiful and pleasing to the eye of the traveler,
notwithstanding there is only the same kind of scenery from day to
day, namely, on the left the majestic Platte, with its muddy waters
rolling over the universal beds of quicksands, the river frequently
hid from view by the many handsome cottonwood groves; before and
behind, on the right and left, a vast level prairie, and on the right
at a distance the continued range of majestic bluffs. There is a
loveliness and beauty connected with the scenery from day to day, but
the country is not at all calculated for farming purposes, not only on
account of the scarcity of timber, but also on account of the sandy
nature of the whole surface of land."