YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

A CONCISE HISTORY

OF THE

M0RM0I1 BATTALIO

IN THE

Jt

exican War

1846-1847.

BY SERGEANT DAN

18

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1881, by Daniel Tyler, in
the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PREFACE.

After a lapse of thirty -six years from the time of the enlist
ment of the Mormon Battalion, no apology is required for
publishing its history. Had its publication been undertaken
at an earlier date, it might have been accomplished more
satisfactorily to all concerned, as many important and inter
esting facts and incidents have doubtless been buried with
the departed veterans. However, the most sanguine expecta
tions of the author have been realized in the data collected
for compiling this history, consisting of diaries written dur
ing service and numerous letters and statements from sur
viving members of that valiant corps.
Neither labor, pains nor expense has been spared in the
effort to make this a just and authentic history. The author
has not aimed at sensational effect, nor made any attempt at
literary embellishment, but rather endeavored to offer a plain
statement of facts and give due credit to all concerned.
Should his efforts meet the approval of his intelligent
readers, his highest ambition in the publication of this work
will be attained.
D. T.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY:
Martyrdom of Joseph Smith, written by President John Taylor,
page 10; The "Mormons," a discourse delivered before the Historical
bociety of Pennsylvania, March 26, 1850, by Thomas L. Kane, page 64;
The Mormon Battalion and First Wagon Road Over the Great American
Desert, by Miss Eliza R. Snow, page 107.
CHAPTER I.
C auses that led to the Enlistment of the Battahon — Virtually a Requisitibn
from the Government — Muster Roll — Servants to Officers — Families
who Accompanied the Battahon. 110.
CHAPTFR II.
First Orders Issued — Condition of Families and Feeling of Soldiers — Instruc
tions of Church Authorities — A Pathetic Story of a Soldier's Wife.
127.
CHAPTER III.
Money Subscribed by the Soldiers for their Families and Poor Friends — First
Death on the Journey — Out of Flour — A Prejudiced Missourian—
Regrets of Mobocrats — Hurricane — Arrival at Fort Lavenworth — Anec
dote of Colonel C — Dr. Sanderson appointed Surgeon — Haste to get
Muskets — Character of Missouri Volunteers — More Money Subscribed
by tbe Soldiers — Superior Intelligence and Obedience. 131.
CHAPTER IV
Departure of Elders on Missions — Sickness — Start for Fort Leavenworth —
Henry Standage Lost — News of Colonel Kane's Sickness — A Severe
Storm — Feast of Honey — Ancient Ruins — Sanford Porter Healed in
Answer to Prayer — Wagon Overturned in a Creek — Colenel Allen's
Death — Death of Jane and John Bosco. 137.
CHAPTER V.
Question of a New Commander — Captain Hunt Elected — Arrival of Smith
and Sanderson — Council of Officers — Smith Elected to take Command —
Smith's Inhuman Treatment of the Sick — Repulsed by Sergeant
Williams — The Sick Object to take Drugs — Sergeant Jones Protests
Against their Being Forced to — Dykes' Perfidy — Letter from President
Young — The "old Iron Spoon"— A Fiendish Doctor. 143.
CHAPTER VI.
A Faithful Sentinel Arrests the Colonel — The Colonel Frightened — Buffalo
Meat — Military Law Read — Difficult Crossing— The Author Sick —
Dread of the Doctor's Poisonous Drugs — Begs to be Left to Die — News
of the Capture of Santa Fe — Dosed with Calomel — Disobey the Doctor
and Recover— Doctor Claims Credit for the Cure — Camomile Tea —
Who Used the Brandy — Pace's Account of Colonel Allen's Death,
etc. 147.

IT. CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.
Correspondence Between Sanderson and Smith and President Young — The
True Version of How the New Commander should have been Selected, 153.
CHAPTFR VIII.
Novel way of Catching Fish — Wagon Upset and Man Injured — Overtake
Price's Regiment — Character of Price and his Men — Higgins' Detach
ment Sent to Pueblo — Dissatisfaction — Alva Phelps Drugged to Death —
Curious Phenomenon — Suffer from Thirst — Forced Marches — Men Sali
vated. 157.
CHAPTFR IX.
Rations Reduced — Bones of Mules Found — Ancient Ruins — The Officers and
Healthy Men Push on for Santa Fe — Sick Left to Follow Without a
Doctor — Style of Milking Spanish Goats — Arrival at Santa Fe — Par
tiality shown the Battalion by General Doniphan — Glimpse at Missouri
..Persecutions. 161.
CHAPTFR X .
Captain Higgins' Detachment — Norman Sharp Accidentally Shot — Left to
be Doctored by an Indian, and Dies — Colonel Cook Takes Command of
the Battalion — His Orders. 165.
CHAPTER XI.
Detachment sent to Pueblo from Santa Fe — Death of Milton Smith — Death
of Joseph W. Richards — Tributes from his Comrades, and Sister Hunt.
169.
CHAPTER XII
Colonel Cooke's Statement of the Condition of the Battalion — Paid in Cheeks
that could not be Cashed— Send them to Council Bluffs — Reason for
Lieutenant Gully's Resignation — Condition of Animals — Strict Discipline
of Colonel Cooke— An Officer the First to be»Punished. 173.
CHAPTER XIII.
Mexicans too much Prejudiced to sell us Supplies — Mexican Costumes — Ser-
feant Elmer Reduced to the Ranks — Navajo Raids on the Mexicans —
[ardships of our Journey — Animals Devoured Wholly, Except Bones
and Hair — Men Have to Pull the Wagons — A Song. 178.
CHAPTER XIV
Lieutenant Dykes resigns his Adjutancy — Dinner of Sheep's Lights — Mexi
can Spurs — Mexican Woman Stolen by Navajoes — Hampton Reported
Well by Dr. Sanderson, and Dies a Few Hours Afterwards — Another |
Reduction in Rations — Rumors of Intended Revolt — Two Men Punished
Through the Meanness of Dykes — Sergeant Elmer Restored to Office —
Discouraging Reports of Guides — Condition of Teams. 184.
CHAPTER XV.
Lieutenant Willis Sent Back with the Sick — Only five Days' Rations for a
Journey of 300 Miles— Ox Mired and Killed— Oxen Providentially
Provided — Death of Elijah Freeman and Richard Carter— Wagons Ex
changed for Pack Animals— Sickness of Men— Left on the Way— A
Severe Journey— Snow Four Feet Deep— Arrival at Peublo— Condition
of Men— Gilbert Hunt Sent Back for the Sick — Sad Death of Cole
man. Igg.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI.
Detachments of Brown and Higgins — Death of Milton Kelly— Houses Com
pleted — Death of Two Children, also John Perkins, Brother Scott,
Arnold Stephens and M. S. Blanchard— Rumors of Revolt— Visit to
Soda Fountain — Description of the Place— Game Killed— Pay Received,
Also Orders to March to California. 195.
CHAPTER XVII.
Journey Commenced — Meeting with A. M. Lyman and Others from Council
Bluffs— Emotions at Meeting — A Perilous and Severe Journey by Tippets
and Woolsey — Arrival of the Detachment at Fort Laramie— Follow the
Pioneer Trail — Arrival in Salt Lake Valley — Disbanded. 198.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Travels of the Main Army — Two Wagons Left — Antics of Oxen on being
Packed — Muskets Used for Tent Poles — First Indian Wigwams —
Ancient Earthenware and Ghss — Leave the Rio Grande — Ancient Gold
Mine — Goats Killed — Table Land — Road Turns to Mexican Settlements
—Council Decides to go that Way — Prayers for the Colonel's Mind to
be Changed — \. Scare — Prayer Answered — Men March Ahead of
Teams to Break the Road — Charboneaux Kills his Mule. 202.
CHAPTER XIX .
Author's Birthday — Severe Suffering from Thirst  Mirage — Reach Water
—John R. Murdoek Sick — Henry G. Boyle Healed ia Answer to Prayer
— Bear Killed — Crossing the Mountains — Wagons Lowered With Ropes
—Dykes Almost Shot While Playing the Spy— Wild Cattle— Killing a
Wild Bull— Return of John Allen— His Adventures. 208.
CHAPTER XX.
The Apache Indians — Jerking Beef— Loading of Guns and Firing at Game
Prohibited — Order Disregarded — Author Sick — Calomel and Arsenic
as Medicine- JJeath of Elisha Smith— Howling of the Wolves— A
Song 214.
CHAPTER XXI.
Wild Horses — Game Plentiful — Wild Cattle Congregate on our Route — A
Battle with them — Losses on Both Sides — One man Thrown Ten Feet
in the Air — Wonderful Tenacity of Life in the Wild Bulls — Coolness
and Bravery of Corporal Frost — A Song on the Bull Fight. 218.
CHAPTER XXII.
Decide to March Through Tucson— Guide held at Tucson as Prisoner — Mexi
can Soldiers Arrested and held as Hostages until Foster is Released —
Mexicans Refuse to Surrender — Prepare for an Engagement — Mexican
Soldiers Desert the Town — We March Through — Kindness of Citizens
— Public Wheat Taken for Mule Feed — Primitive Mills — An Alarm —
An Excited Officer — Letter to the Governor of Sonora. 224.
CHAPTER XXIII
Long and Difficult March Without Water — Great Suffering — A Laughable
Occurrence — The Pima Village — The Natives — News from Kearny —
A Cruel Order — The Maricopa Indians— Their Honesty. 231.

VL CONTENTS,

CHAPTER XXIV.
Cross a Bend of the Gila — Brackish Water — Difficult Traveling — Boat made
of two Wagon-boxes — Provisions Shipped in it — Fears for its Safety —
Boating a Failure — Cargo Left — Another Reduction in Rations — Feed
on Mezquit Seeds — Arrival at the Colorado — Crossing the River — Suff
ering of the Men sent Back for Flour — Wagon Stuck in the Middle of
the River — Left there by the Colonel — His Statement Incorrect — Wagons
Abandoned. 237.
CHAPTER XXV.
Troublesome Fires in the Brush — Discouraging Prospect— ;No Water — Alas,
for Human Hopes — A Trying March — Great Suffering from Thirst —
Meet fresh Mules and some Beeves — Freezing at Night and Scorching
by Day — Arrival at the Cariza — -Happy Reliefs — Good Water to Drink —
Novel Style of Boots. 242.
CHAPTER XXVI
Heavy Roads — Last Food Eaten — Messengers from San Diego— Cheerful
ness of Men — News of Battles — Cutting a Road Through a Mountain
Gorge — Arrival at Warner's Rancho — A Full Meal — Cheap Beef-
Hot Spring— Sleeping Under Water— Flour from the Boat Disaster —
March for San Diego— Beef Diet. 246.
CHAPTER XXVII .
. First View of the Pacific Ocean — Arrival at San Diego Mission — Compli
mentary Order from Colonel Cooke — General Kearny's Entry to Cali
fornia — Skirmishes with Californians. 252.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Kearny's Stubborn Defense on the Hill — Providential Stratagem of the
Enemy — Desperate Resolve — Timely Relief— Sufferings of Kearny's
Men— The last Decisive Battle — Civil War Feared — Fremont's Men
Refuse to Deliver Pubhc Property — Commodore Stockton's Report to
the Secretary of the Navy — Commodore Stockton Refuses to treat with
Jose Ma Flores — Colonel Freeman's Assumption — Articles of Capitu
lation — Dispute Settled — Wisdom of Stockton and Kearny — Battalion
and Dragoons the only Regularly Mustered Soldiers in California. 259. ,
CHAPTERXXIX.
Men Visit San Diego — Precautionary Measure — March to San Luis Rey —
Police Detailed — Men nearly Naked— Exorbitant Prices of Clothing — ,
Catholic Church— Public Square about four Acres — Semi-Tropical
Fruit Trees— Large Reservoir — Duties of Soldiers in Garrison — Regrets
at Having to Shave — Reasons assigned — Fleas and Vermin — Only Cloth
ing— R. N. Allred a Non-Commissioned Staff Officer— Sunday Dress
Parade— The Drill Commenced — Incident of Drill — Religious Services
—Seventies' Meetings — Considered Officious. 263.
CHAPTER XXX.
Company B sent to San Diego— Change of Diet— Religious Services-
Sentinel Court-martialed for Sleeping at his Post— Colonel, Dissatis
fied with the Meagre Penalty, Remits the Sentence — Barrowman
Accepts the Result as an Answer to Prayer— Detachment' Sent after
Wagons— Curious Ox Yokes— Garrison Duties — Lieutenant Stone-
man and Detachment sent to San Diego— Reduced to the Ranks-
Unsettled Condition of Governorship— Circular from Commodore
Shubrick and Proclamation from Kearny— Orders to Fremont to Dis
band his Forces— His Refusal. 267

CONTENTS. TO.

CHAPTER XXXI.
Complaints of Short Rations — Tale-Bearing Dykes — Sergeant Jones and
Corporal Lane Reduced to the Ranks — March to Los Angeles —
Cooke Applies for Ordnance and Fails— Four Indians Killed — Cap
tain Hunt's Explanation — Death of David Smith — San Luis Rey
Abandoned— Petition for Discharge of Battalion Treated with Con
tempt by Officers— Arrival of Colonel Mason— Hatred of Fremont's
Men towards the Battalion — Cajon Pass Guarded. 272.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Efficiency of the Battalion — John Allen Excommunicated — Colonel Cooke
Orders the Horses, Purchased by Soldiers, Sold at Auction — Fort
Erected — War Imminent — Detachments all Called In — Dragoons our
Champions — Privilege to Re-enlist Declined — Death of Captain
Hunter's Wife — Colonel Stevenson Appointed to Supersede in Com
mand — Letters from Families — News of a Battle — Arrival of Gen
eral Kearny — He Compliments the Battalion — Skirmish with Indians
— A Barbarous Practice Abolished — General Kearny's Address to
the Battalion — Detachment to Accompany him to Fort Leavenworth. 277.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Company B at San Diego — Building a Fort — Religious Services — Literary
Club — Cheap Animals — "Herding Stallions" — Death of Albert Dunham
— "Stocks" — Miserable Mobocrat — Fossil Remains — Wedding — Immor
al Priest — Soldiers Seeking Work — News of General Taylor's Victory
— Colonel Stevenson's Arrival and Address — Lieutenant Clift Appointed
Alcalde — First Brick Made in California — Fourth of July Celebrated —
Citizens of San Diego Petition to have the "Mormon" Soldiers Re
main — Song — Return to Los Angeles. 283.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Slaughter of Dogs — "Dancing Bill" — Detachment to San Pedro — Acci
dent to John Spidle — Soap Factory — John Alien Drummed out of
Service — Fate of Hastings' Company — Liberty Pole — Celebration of St.
John's Day — Colonel Stevenson's Speech and Invitation to Re-enlist —
Other Speeches Pro and Con — Conditions for Re-enlistment Rejected
by Colonel Stevenson — Liberty Pole Raised — The Glorious Fourth —
Bull Fight— Battalion Discharged— Paid Off— Some Re-enlist. 290.
CHAPTER XXXV
Travels of General Kearny's Escort to Monterey — Kearny's Arrival —
Fremont Under Arrest — Overland Journey Commenced — Incidents of
Travel — Costume of Digger Indians — Losses in Fording a River — Visits
from Brethren— Sacramento Valley — Remains of the Ill-fated Emigrants
— A Horrible Scene — Bury the Bones — Accidental Shooting—Nude
Indians — Boiling Springs — Pass Soda Springs and Bear Lake Valley —
Meet Companies of the Saints — Arrival at Fort Lavenworth and Dis
charge — Fremont put in Irons. 299.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Discharged Soldiers at Los Angeles — Their Morality, etc. — Organize for the
Return Trip — Journey Commenced — A Remarkable Dream and its Ful
fillment — Difficult Mountain Trail — Animals Lost— Beef Cattle Slaught
ered — A Memorial of a Mountaineer's Death — The Hottest Day — Vain
Search for Walker's Pass — Ecstatic Dance of an Indian — Sacramento
Valley — News of the Pioneers — Some of the Men Decide to Remain and
Work in California. 305.

CONTENTS.

•CHAPTER XXXVII.
Get Horses Shod and Procure an Outfit— Johnson's Mill — Nude Indians —
Mrs. Johnson's Story— Horrible Account of Suffering — Human Beings
Living on the Flesh of their Fellows— Taste Developed for such Food-
Meet Samuel Brannan Returning to California — Doleful Account of Salt
Lake Valley — Captain James Brown Met — Epistle from the Twelve
Apostles — Letters from Firends. 311.
C HAPTER XXXVIII .
Many Return to California— Death of Henry Hoyt — Money Providentially
Provided— Clothing Lost — Pants Worn Out — Skins Purchased for a
New Pair — Arrival in Salt Lake Valley — Destitute Condition of Men
—Clothing Donated for Them — Seeds Brought by Battalion — Prolific
Yield of Peas — Characteristics of Peas Change. 316.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Eastward Journey Resumed — No Flour to be Obtained for the Trip —
Disappointments at Bridger and Laramie — Scant Fare — Episode with
Indians — Diet of Rawhide Saddle Bags — Providential Freezing of the
River— Reach Winter Quarters— Kindness of Friends. 320.
CHAPTER XL.
"Mormon Volunteers" — Quartered in San Diego — Detachment Sent to San
Luis Rey— Death of Sergeant Frost and Neal Donald — Extra Work
Done by the Soldiers— Serve Longer than They Enlisted for — Immor
ality Among their Successors — Journey to Salt Lake Valley by the
Southern Route. 326.
CHAPTER XLI.
Men who Returned to California for Work— Employed by Captain Sutter
to Build Mills— Discovery of Gold in the Mill Race by Mr. Marshall-
Other Discoveries — Effects of the Gold Fever. 332.
CHAPTER XLII.
Attempt to Explore a New Route to Salt Lake Valley— Forced to return on
Account of Deep Snow — Three Men Grow Impatient and Make Another
Attempt, and are Murdered by Indians — The Company Follow and Dis
cover their Remains — Animals Alarmed — Scattered by the Firing of a
Cannon. 335,
CHAPTER XLI II.
Make a Road to Carson Valley — Meet Emigrants — Their Joy at News of
Gold— Enter the Valley by the Deep Creek Route— "Mormon" Enter
prise in San Francisco — Adventurous Trip from San Francisco to
CouncU Bluffs. 339.
CHAPTER XLIV
President Young Requested by the Military Commander of California to have
Another Battalion sent'there — President Young's Address to the "Battal
ion Boys" in Salt Lake Valley — Why the Call was Made for the Battalion
— Opposed to their Re-enlisting. 343,
CHAPTER XLV
First General Festival of the Mormon Battalion in Salt Lake Valley —
Speeches by Father Pettegrew, Presidents Young, Kimball and Grant,
Sergeant Hyde, Captain Brown, Lieutenants Clark and Thompson and
Brothers Huntington, Williams, Wilkin, King, Garner, Durphy, Hess
and Hawk. 345,
CHAPTER XLVI.
Synopsis of a Lecture by Jamas Ferguson — Correspondence Between Fer-
fuson and Cooke — Cooke's Deference to the Mormon Battalion when
'assing Through Salt Lake City in 1858— Survivors of the Mormon
Battalion— Song. 364.

INTRODUCTORY,

Before entering upon the History of the Mormon Battalion,
it seems necessary to offer; some explanation of the previous
condition of the Latter-day Saints; otherwise the reader
unacquainted with those facts would scarcely be able to
appreciate the situation of the people at the time of the enlist
ment of the Battalion.
The following sketch, written by President John Taylor,
many years since, gives an excellent idea of affairs previous
to the exodus bf the Saints from Illinois. It is therefore
republished here by the kind permission of the author. As
stated in the context, it was written at a time when documen-
tiary evidence was not available; it has, however, been since
revised and compared with authentic data, and may be relied
upon as true in every particular.
The historical address of General Thomas L. Kane, also
inserted in this same connection, depicts in graphic terms some
s,cenes of which he was a witness when the . Saints fled from
their homes in Nauvoo to journey into the wilderness.

THE MARTYRDOM OF JOSEPH. SMITH.

BY PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR.

Being requested by Elders George A. Smith and "Wilford
, Woodruff, Church historions, to write an account of events that
transpired before, and took place at, the time of the martyrdom
of Joseph Smith, in Carthage jail, in Hancock County, State
of Illinois, I write the following, principally from memory,
not having access at this time to any public documents relative
thereto farther than a few desultory items contained in Ford's
"History of Illinois." I must also acknowledge myself consider
ably indebted to George A. Smith, who was with me when I
wrote it, and who, although not there at the time of the bloody
transaction, yet, from conversing with several persons who
were in the capacity of Church historians,' and aided by an
excellent memory, has rendered me considerable service/
These and the few items contained in the Tiote at- the end of
this account are all the aid I have had. I would farther add
that the items contained in the letter, in relation to dates especi
ally, may be considered strictly correct.
After having written the whole, I read it over to the Hon.
J. M. Bernhisel, who with one or two slight alterations, pro
nounced it strictly correct. Brother Bernhisel was present
most of the time. I am afraid that, from the length of time
that has transpired since the occurrence, and having to rely
almost exclusively upon my memory, there may be gome
slight inaccuracies, but I believe that in the general it is strictly
correct. A s I figured in those transactions from the commence
ment to the end, they left no slight impression on my mind.
In the year 1844, a very great excitement prevailed in some
parts of Hancock, Brown, and other neighboring Counties of
Illinois, in relation to the "Mormons," and a spirit of vindic
tive hatred and persecution was exhibited among the people,
which was manifested in the most bitter and acrimonious
language, as well as by acts of hostility and violence, frequently
threatening the destruction of the citizens of Nauvoo and

INTRODUCTORY. 11
vicinity, and utter annihilation of the "Mormons" and "Mor-
monism," and in some instances breaking out in the most
violent acts of ruffianly barbarity. Persons were kidnapped,
whipped, persecuted, and falsely accused of various crimes;
their cattle and houses injured, destroyed, or stolen; vexatious
prosecutions were instituted to harass, and annoy. In some
remote neighborhoods they were expelled from their homes
without redress, and in others violence was threatened to their
persons and property, while in others every kind of insult
and indignity were heaped upon them, to induce them to aban
don their homes, the County, or the State.
These annoyances, prosecutions, and persecutions were
instigated through different agencies and by various classes of
men, actuated by different motives, but all uniting in the one ob
ject — prosecution, persecution, and extermination of the Saints.
There were a number of wicked and corrupt men living in
Nauvoo and its vicinity, who had belonged to the Church, but
whose conduct was incompatible with the gospel : they were
accordingly dealt with by the Church and severed from its
communion. Some of these had been prominent members,
and held official stations either in the city or Church. Among
these were John C. Bennett, formerly mayor; William Law,
Counselor to Joseph Smith ; Wilson Law, his natural brother,
and general in the Nauvoo Legion ; Dr. R. D. Foster, a man of
some property, but with a very bad reputation ; Francis and
Chauncey Higbee, the latter a young lawyer, and both sons of
a respectable and honored man in the Church, known as Judge
Elias Higbee, who died about twelve months before.
'Besides these, there were a great many apostates, both in the
city and county, of less notoriety, who for their' delinquencies,
had been expelled from the Church. John C. Bennett and
Francis and Chauncey Higbee were cut off from the Church ;
the former was also cashiered from his generalship for the most
flagrant acts of seduction and adultery; and the developments
in their cases were so scandalous that the High Council, before
whom they were tried, had to.sit with closed doors.
WiUiam Law, although Counselor to Joseph, was found to
be his most bitter foe and maligner, and to hold intercourse,
contrary to all law, in his owniiouse, with a young lady resident
with him ; and it was afterwards proven that he had conspired

12 INTRODUCTORY.
with some Missourians to take Joseph Smith's life, and was only '
saved by Josiah Arnold and Daniel Garn, who, being on guard
at his house, prevented the assassins from seeing him. Yet,
although having murder in his heart, his manners were gener
ally courteous and mild, and he was well calculated to deceive.
General Wilson Law was cut off from the Church for seduc
tion, falsehood, and defamation; both the above were also
court-martialed by the Nauvoo Legion, and expelled. Foster
was also cut off I believe, for dishonesty, fraud, and falsehood.
I know he was eminently guilty of the whole, but whether
these were the specific charges 01 not, I don't know, but I do
know that he was a notoriously wicked and corrupt man.
Besides the above characters and "Mormonic" apostates,
there were other three parties. The, first of these may be called
religionists, the second politicians, and the third counterfeiters,
black-legs, horse-thieves, and cut-throats.
The religious party were chagrined and maddened because
"Mormonism" came in contact with their religion, and they
could not oppose it from the scriptures. Thus like the ancient
Jews, when enraged at the exhibition of their follies and hy
pocrisies by Jesus and His apostles, so these were infuriated
against the "Mormons" because of their discomfiture by them;
and instead of owning the truth and rejoicing in it, they were
ready to gnash upon them with their teeth, and to persecute
the believers in principles which they could not disprove.
The political party were those who were of opposite politics
to us. There were always two parties, the Whigs and Demo
crats, and we could not vote for one without offending the
other ; and it not unfrequently happened that candidates for
office would place the issue of their election upon opposition
to the "Mormons," in order to gain political influence from
religious prejudice, in which case the "Mormons'' were com
pelled, in self-defense, to vote against them, which resulted
almost invariably against our opponents. This made them
angry; and although it was of their own making, and the
"Mormons" could not be expected to do otherwise, yet they
raged on account of their discomfiture, and sought to wreak
their fury on the . "Mormons.'' As an instance of the above,
when Joseph Duncan was candidate for the office of governor
of Illinois, he pledged himself to his party that, if he could

INTRODUCTORY. 13
be elected, he would exterminate or drive the "Mormons" from
the State.* The consequence was that Governor Ford was
elected. The Whigs, seeing that they had been out-generaled
by the Democrats in securing the "Mormon" vote, became
seriously alarmed, and sought to repair their disaster by rais
ing a crusade against the people. The Whig newspapers
teemed with accounts of the wonders and enormities of Nau
voo, and of the awful wickedness, of a party which could con
sent to receive the Support of such miscreants. Governor Dun
can, who was really a brave, honest man, and who had noth
ing to do with getting the "Mormon" charters passed through
the Legislature, took the stump on this subject in good earnest,
and expected to be elected governor ald$t on this question
alone. The third party, composed of counterfeiters, black-legs,
horse-thieves, and cut-throats, were a pack of scoundrels that-
infested the whole of the western country at that time. In
some districts their influence was so great as to control impor-
ant State and County offices. On this subject Governor Ford
has the following ;
"Then, again, the northern part of the State was not desti
tute of its organized bands of rogues, engaged in murders,
robberies, horse-stealing, and in making and passing counter
feit money. These rogues were scattered all over the north,
but the most of them were located in the Counties of Ogle,
Winnebago, Lee, and De Kalb.
"In the County of Ogle they were so numerous, strong, and
well organized that they could not be convicted for their crimes.
By getting some of their numbers on the juries, by producing
a host of witnesses to sustain their defense, by perjured evi
dence, and by changing the venue of one County to another,
by continuances from term to term, and by the inability of
witnesses to attend from time to time at distant and foreign
Counties, they most generally managed to be acquitted."f
There was a combination of horse-thieves extending from
Galena to Alton. There were counterfeiters engaged in mer
chandising, trading, and store-keeping in most of the cities
*  See his remarks as contained in his History of Illinois, page 269.
t  Ford's History of Illinois, page 246.

14 INTRODUCTORY.
and villages, and in some districts, I have been credibly
informed by men to whom they have disclosed their secrets,
the judges, sheriffs, constables, and jailors, as well, as profes
sional men, were moire or less associated with them. These
had in their employ the most reckless, abandoned wretches,
who stood ready to carry into effect the most desperate enter
prises, and were careless alike qf human life and property.
Their object in persecuting the "Mormons" was in part to cover
their own rascality, and in part to prevent them from exposing
and prosecuting them ; but the principal reason was plunder,
believing that if they could be removed- or driven they would.
be made fat on "Mormon" spoils, besides having in the deserted
city a good asylum for the prosecution of their diabolical pur
suits. This conglomeration of apostate "Mormons," religious bigots,
political fanatics and black-legs, all united their forces against
the "Mormons," and organized themselves into a party, denom
inated "anti-Mormons." Some of them, we have reason to
believe, joined the Church in order to cover their nefarious
practices, and when they were expelled for their unrighteous
ness only raged with greater violence. They circulated every
kind of falsehood that they could collect or manufacture
against the "Mormons." They also had a paper to assist them
in their infamous designs, called the Warsaw Signal, edited by
a Mr. Thomas Sharp, a violent and unprincipled man, who
shrunk not from any enormity. The "anti-Mormons" had
public meetings, which were very numerously attended, where
they passed resolutions of the most violent and inflammatory
kind, threatening to drive, expel and exterminate the "Mor
mons" from the State, at the same time accusing them of every
evil in the vocabulary of crime.
They appointed their meetings in various parts of Hancock,
M'Donough, and other Counties, which soon resulted in the
organization of armed mobs, under the direction of officers
who reported to their head-quarters, and the reports of which
were publishhd in the "anti-Mormon" paper, and circulated
through the adjoining Counties. We also published in the
Times and Seasons and the Nauvoo Neighbor (two papers pub
lished and edited by me at that time) an account, not only of
their proceedings, but our own. But such was the hostile feel-

INTRODUCTORY. 15
ing, so well arranged their plans, and so desperate and lawless
their measures, that it was with the greatest difficulty that we
could get our papers circulated; they were destroyed by "post
masters and others, and scarcely ever arrived at the place of
their destination, so that a great many of the people, who
would have been otherwise peaceable, were- excited by their
misrepresentations, and instigated to ioin their hostile or
predatory bands.
Emboldened by the acts of those outside, the apostate "Mor
mons," associated with others, commenced the publication of
a libelous paper in Nauvoo, called the Nauvoo Expositor. This
paper not only reprinted from the others, but put in circula
tion the most libelous, false, and infamous reports concerning
the citizens of Nauvoo, and especially the ladies. It was, how
ever, no sooner put in circulation than the indignation of the
whole community was aroused ; So much so, that they threat
ened its annihilation ; and I do not believe that in any other
city in the United States, if the same charges had been made
against the citizens, it would have been permitted to remain
one day. As it was among us, under these circumstances, it
was thought best to convene the City Council to take into con
sideration the adoption of some measures for its removal, as it
was deemed better that this should be done legally than illeg
ally. Joseph Smith, therefore, who was mayor, convened the
City Council for that purpose ; the paper was introduced and
read, and the subject examined. All, or nearly all present,
expressed their indignation at the course taken by the Expositor,
which was owned by some of the aforesaid apostates, associated
with one or two others. Wilson Law, Dr. Foster, Charles Ivins
and the Higbees before referred to, some lawyers, store-keepers,
and others in Nauvoo who were not "Mormons," together with
the "anti-Mormons" outside of the city, sustained it. The
calculation was, by false statements, to unsettle the minds of
many in the city, and to form enmbinations there similar to
the anti-Mormon" associations outside of the city. Various
attemps had heretofore been made by the party to annoy and
irritate the citizens of Nauvoo; false accusations had been
made, vexatious lawsuits instituted, threats made, and' various
devices resorted to, to influence the public mind, and, if possi
ble, to provoke us to the commission of some OYert act that

16 ITNRODUCTORY.
might make us amenable to the law. With a perfect knowl
edge, therefore, of the designs of these infernal scoundrels who
were in our midst, as well as those who surrounded us, the
City Council entered upon an investigation of the matter.
They felt that they were in a critical position, and that any
move made for the abating of that press would be looked upon,
or at least represented, as a direct attack upon the liberty of
speech, and that, so far from displeasing our enemies, it would
be looked upon by them as one of the best circumstances that
could transpire to assist them in their nefarious and bloody
designs. Being a member of the City Council, I well remem
ber the feeling of responsibility that seemed to rest upon all pres
ent; nor shall I soon forget the bold, manly, independent expres
sions of Joseph Smith on that occasion in relation to this mat
ter. He exhibited in glowing colors the meanness, corruption,.
and ultimate designs of the "anti-Mromons ;" their despicable
characters and ungodly influences, especially of those who
were in our midst. He told of the responsibility that rested
upon us, as guardians of the public interest, to stand up in the
defense of the injured and oppressed, to stem the current of
corruption, and, as men and Saints, to put a stop to this
flagrant outrage upon this people's rights.
He stated that no man was a stonger advocate for the liberty
of speech and of the press than himself; yet, when this noble
gift is utterly prostituted and abused, as in the present instance,
it loses all claim to our respect, and becomes as great an agent
for evil as it can possibly be for good ; and notwithstanding
the apparent advantage we should give our enemies by this'
act, yet it behooved us, as men, to act independent of all sec
ondary influences, to perform the part of men of enlarged ;
minds, and boldly and fearlessly to discharge the duties devolv
ing upon us by declaring as a nuisance, and removing this
filthy, libelous, and seditious sheet from our midst.
The subject was discussed in various forms, and after the
remarks made by the mayor, every one seemed to be waiting;
for some one else to speak.
After a considerable pause, I arose and expressed my feel
ings frankly, as Joseph had done, and numbers of others fol
lowed in the same strain; and I think, but am not certain,
that I made a motion for the refnoval of that press as a nuis-

INTRODUCTORY. 17
ance. This motion was finally put, and carried by all but
one; and he conceded that the measure was just, but abstained
through fear..
Several members of the City Council were not in the Church.
The following is the bill referred to :
BUI for Removing of the Press of the "Nauvoo Expositor."*
"Resolved hy the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, that the printing-
office from whence issues the Nauvoo Expositor is a public nuisance ; and
also of said Nauvoo Expositors which may be or exist in said establishment ;
and the mayor is instructed to cause said establishment and papers to be
removed without aelay, in such manner as he shall direct.
"Passed June 10th, 1844. Geo. W. Harris, President pro tern.
"W. Richards, Recorder."
After the passage of the bill, the marshal, John P. Green,
was ordered to abate or remove, which he forthwith proceeded
to do by summoning a posse of men for that purpose. The
press was removed or broken, I don't remember which, by the
marshal, and the types scattered in the street.
This seemed to be one of those extreme cases that require
extreme measures, as the press was still proceeding in its
inflammatory course. It was feared that, "as it was almost
universally execrated, should it continue longer, an indignant
people might commit some overt act which might lead to seri
ous consequences, and that it was better to use legal than
illegal means.
This, as was foreseen, was the very course our enemies
wished us to pursue, as it afforded them an opportunity of cir
culating a very plausible story about the "Mormons" being
opposed to the liberty of the press and of free speech, which
they were not slow to avail themselves of. Stories were fabri
cated, and facts perverted; false statements were made, and
this act brought in as an example to sustain the whole of their
fabrications; and, as if inspired by Satan, they labored with
an energy and zeal worthy of a better cause. They had run
ners to circulate their reports, not only through Hancock
County, but in all the surrounding Counties. These reports
were communicated to their "anti-Mormon" societies, and these
societies circulated them in their several districts. The "anti-
*  Deseret News, No, 29, Sept. 23, 1857, p. 226.

INTRODUCTORY.

Mormon'' paper, the Warsaw Signal, was filled. with inflamma
tory articles and misrepresentations in relation to us, and
especially to this act of destroying the press. We were repre
sented as a horde of lawless ruffians and brigands, anti-
American and anti-republican, steeped in crime and iniquity,
opposed to freedom of speech and of the press, and all the
rights and immunities of a free and enlightened people; that
neither person nor property were secure: that we had designs
upon the citizens of Illinois and of the United States, and the
people were called upon to rise en masse, and put us down, drive
us away, or exterminate us as a pest to society, anil alike danger
ous to our neighbors, the State, and commonwealth.
These statements were extensively copied and circulated
throughout the LTnited States. A true statement of the facts
in question was published by us both in the Times and Seasons
and the Nauvoo Neighbor; but it was found impossible to cir
culate them in the immodiate Counties, as they were destroyed
at the post-offices or otherwise by the agents of the "anti-Mor
mons," and. in order to get the mail to go abroad, I had to
send the papers a distance of thirty or forty miles from Nau
voo. and sometimes to St. Louis (upward of two hundred
miles), to insure their proceeding on their route, and then one
half or two thirds of the papers never reached the place of
destination, being intercepted or destroyed by our enemies.
These false reports stirred up the community around, of
whom many, on account of religious prejudice, were easily
instigated to join the "anti-Mormons" and embark in any
crusade that might be undertaken against us: hence their
ranks swelled in numbers, and new organizations were formed,
meetings were held, resolutions passed, and men and means
volunteered for the extirpation of the •Mormons."
On these points Governor Ford writes: "These also were
the active men in blowing up the fury of the people, in hopes
that a popular movement might be set on foot, which would
result in the expulsion or extermination of the 'Mormon'
voters. For this purpose public meetings had been called,
inflammatory speeches had been made, exaggerated reports had
boon extensively circulated, committees had been appointed,
who rode night and day to spread the rerorts and solicit the
aid of neighbor ir.sr Counties, sua. at a public meeting at War-

INTRODUCTORY. 19
saw resolutions were passed to expel or exterminate the
'Mormon' population. This was not, however, a movement
which was unanimously concurred in. The County contained
a goodly number of inhabitants in favor of peace, or who at
least desired * to be neutral in such a contest. These were
stigmatized by the name of 'Jack Mormons,' and there were
not a few of the more furious exciters of the people who
openly expressed their intention to involve them in the com
mon expulsion or extermination.
"A system of excitement and agitation was artfully planned
and executed with tact. It consisted in spreading reports and
rumors of the most fearful character. As examples: On the
morning before my arrival at Carthage, I was awakened at ah
•early hour by the frightful report, which was asserted with
confidence and apparent consternation, that the 'Mormons'
had already commenced the work of burning, destruction?
and murder, and that every man capable of bearing arms was
instantly wanted at Carthage for the protection of the County.
"We lost no time in starting; but when we arrived at Car
thage we could hear no more concerning this story. Again,
during the few days that the militia were encamped at Carthage,
frequent applications were made to me to send a force here,
and a force there, and a force all about the country, to prevent
murders, robberies, and larcenies which, it was said, were
threatened by the 'Mormons.' No such forces were sent, nor
were any such offenses commited at that time, except the
stealing of some provisions, and there was never the least
proof that this was done bjr a 'Mormon.' Again, on my
late visit to Hancock County, I was informed by some of their
violent enemies that the larcenies of the 'Mormons' had
become unusual^ numerous and insufferable.
"They admitted that but little had been done in this way in
their immediate vicinity, but they insisted that sixteen horses
had been stolen by the 'Mormons' in one night near Lima,
and, upon inquiry, was told that no horses had been stolen in
that neighborhood, but that sixteen horses had been stolen in
one night in Hancock County. This last informant being
told of the Hancock story, again changed the venue, to another
distant settlement in the northern edge of Adams."*

-Ford's History of Illinois, page 880, 331.

20 INTRODUCTORY.
In the meantime legal proceedings were instituted against
the members of the City Council of Nauvoo. A writ, here
subjoined, was issued upon the affidavit of the Laws, Fosters,
Higbees, and Ivins, by Mr .Morrison, a justice of the peace
in Carthage, the County seat of Hancock, and put into the
hands of one David Bettesworth, a constable of the same place.
Writ issued upon affidavit by Thomas Morrison, J. P., State of Illinois,
Hancock County, ss.
"The people of the State of Illinois, to all constables, sheriffs, and
coroners of the said state, greeting :
"Whereas complaint hath been made before me, one of the justices of
the peace in and for the County of Hancock aforesaid, upon the oath of
Francis M. Higbee, of the said county, that Sk)seph Smith, Samuel Bennett,
John Taylor, William W. Phelps, Hyrum Smith, John P. Green, Stephen
Perry, Dimick B. Huntington, Jonathan Dunham, Stephen Markham,
William Edwards, Jonathan Holmes, Jesse P. Harmon, John Lytle,
Joseph W. Coolidge, Harvey D. Redfield, Porter Rockwell, and Levi
Richards, of said County, did, on the 10th day of June instant, commit a
riot at and within the County aforesaid, wherein they with force and violence
broke into the printing-office of the Nauvoo Expositor, and unlawfully and
with force burned and destroyed the printing-press, type, and fixtures of
the same, being the property of William Law, Wilson Law, Charles Ivins,
Francis M. Higbee, Chauncey L. Higbee, Robert D. Foster, and Charles
A. Foster.
These are therefore to command you forthwith to apprehend the said
Joseph Smith. Samuel Bennett, John Taylor, William W. Phelps, Hyrum
Smith, John P. Green, Stephen Perry, Dimick B. Huntington, Jonathan
Dunham, Stephen Markham, William Edwards, Jonathan Holmes, Jesse
P. Harmon, John Lytle, Joseph W. Coolidge, Harvey D. Redfield, Porter
Rockwell, and Levi Richards, and bring them before me, or some other
justice of the peace, to answer the premises, and farther to be dealt, with
according to law.
"Given under my hand and seal at Carthage, in the County aforesaid, this'
11th day of June, A. D. 1844. Thomas Morrison, J. P." (Seal.)*
The council did not refuse to attend to the legal proceedings
in the case, but as the law of Illinois made it the privilege of
the persons accused to go "or appear before the issuer of the
writ, or any other justice of peace," they requested to be taken
before another magistrate, either in the city of Nauvoo or at
any reasonable distance out of it.
This the constable, who was a mobocrat, refused to do ; and
as this was our legal privilege, we refused to be dragged, con-
*  Deseret News, No 30, Sep. 30, 1857, page 233.

INTRODUCTORY. 21
trary to law, a distance of eighteen miles, when at the same
time we had reason to believe that an organized band of
mobocrats were assembled for the purpose of extermination
or murder-, and among whom it would not be safe to go with
out a superior force of armed men. A writ .of habeas corpus
was called for, and issued by the municpial court of Nauvoo,
taking us out of the hands of Bettesworth, and placing us in
the charge of the city marshal.- We went before the municipal
court and were dismissed. Our refusal to obey this illegal
proceeding was by them construed into a refusal to submit to
law, and circulated as such, and the people either did believe,
or professed to believe, that we were in open rebellion against
the laws and the authorities of the State. Hence mobs began
to assemble, among which all through the country inflamma
tory speeches were made, exciting them to mobocracy and vio
lence. Soon they commenced their depredations in our
outside settlements, kidnapping some, and whipping and
otherwise abusing others.
The persons thus abused fled to Nauvoo as soon as practi
cable, and related their injuries to Joseph Smith, then mayor
of the city, and lieutenant general of the Nauvoo Leigon.
They also went before magistrates, and made affidavits of what
they had suffered, seen, and heard. These affidavits, in con
nection with a copy of all our proceedings wef e forwarded by
Joseph Smith to Mr. Ford, then governor of Illinois, with an
expression of our desire to abide law, and a request that the
governor would instruct him how to proceed in the case of
arrival of an armed mob against the city. The governor sent
back instructions to Joseph Smith that, as he was lieutenant
general of the Nauvoo Legion, it was his duty to protect the
city and surrounding country, and issued orders to that effect.
Upon the reception of these orders Joseph Smith assembled
the people of the city, and laid before them the governor's
instructions; he also convened the officers of the Nauvoo
Legion for the purpose of conferring in relation to the best
mode of defense. He also issued orders to the men to hold
themselves in readiness in case of being called upon. On the
following day General Joseph Smith, with his staff, the lead
ing officers of the Legion, and some prominent strangers who
were in our midst, made a survey of the outside boundaries of

22 INTRODUCTORY.
the city, which was very extensive, being about five miles up
and down the river, and about two and a half back in the
center, for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the
ground, and the feasibility of defense, and to make all necessary
arrangements in case of an attack.
It may be well here to remark that numbers of gentlemen,
strangers to us, either came on purpose or were passing through
Nauvoo, and upon learning the position of things, expressed
their indignation against our enemies, and avowed their read
iness to assist us by their counsel or otherwise. It was some of
these who assisted us in reconnoitering the city, and finding out
its adaptability for defense, and how to protect it best against an
armed force. The Legion was called together and drilled, and
every means made use of for defense. At the call of the officers
old and young men came forward, both from the city and the
country, and mustered to the number of about five thousand.
In the meantime our enemies were not idle in mustering:
their forces and committing depredations, nor had they been;
it was, in fact, their gathering that called ours into existence'
their forces continued to accumulate; they assumed a threaten
ing attitude, and assembled in large bodies, armed and
equipped for war, and threatened -the destruction and extermi
nation of the "Mormons."
An account of their outrages and assemblages was forwarded
to Governor Ford almost daily; accompanied by affidavits-
furnished by eye-witnesses of their proceedings. Persons-
were also sent out to the Counties around with pacific inten
tions, to give them an account of the true state of affairs, and
to notify them of the feelings and dispositions of the people of
Nauvoo, and thus, if possible, quell the excitement, In some
of the more distant Counties these men were very successful
and produced a salutary influence upon the minds of many
intelligent and well-disposed men- In neighboring Counties
however, where "anti-Mormon" influence prevailed, they pro
duced little effect. At the same time gaurds were stationed
around Nauvoo, and picket-gaurds in the distance; At length
opposing forces gathered so near that more active measures
were taken ; reconnoitering parties were sent out, and the city
proclaimed under martial law. Things now assumed a bellig
erent attitude, and persons passing through the city were

INTRODUCTORY. 23
questioned as to what they knew of the enemj', while passes
were in some instances given to avoid difficulty with the
guards. Joseph Smith continued to send on messengers to
the governor (Philip B. Lewis and other messengers were sent).
Samuel James, then residing at La Harpe, carried a message
and dispatches to him, and in a day or two after Bishop
Edward Hunter and others went again with fresh dispatches,
representations, affidavits, and instructions; but as the weather
was excessively wet, the rivers swollen, and the bridges washed
away in many places, it was with great difficulty that they
proceeded on their journeys. As the mobocracy had at last
attracted the governor's attention, he started in company with
some others from Springfield to the scene of trouble, and
-missed, I believe, both Brothers James and Hunter on the
road, and, of course, did not see their documents. He came
to Carthage, and made that place, which was a regular mobo-
cratic den, his head-quarters ; as it was the County-seat, how
ever, of Hancock County, that circumstance might, in a
measure, justify his staying there.
To avoid the appearance of all hostility on our part, and to
fulfill the law in every particular, at the suggestion of Judge
Thomas, judge of that judicial district, who had come to Nau
voo at the time, and who stated that we had fulfilled the law
but, in order to satisfy all he would counsel us to go before
Esquire Wells, who was not in our church, and have a hear
ing, we did so, and after a full hearing we were again dismissed.
The governor on the road collected forces, some of whom
were respectable, but on his arrival in the neighborhood of
the difficulties he received as militia all the companies of
the mob forces who united with him. After his arrival at
Carthage he sent two gentlemen from there to Nauvoo as a
committee to wait upon General Joseph Smith, informing
him of the arrival of his excellency, with a request that
General Smith would send out a committee to wait upon the
governor and represent to him the state of affairs in relation
to the difficulties that then existed in the County. We met
this committee while we were reconnoitering the city, to find
out the best mode of defense as aforesaid. Dr. J. M. Bernhisel
and myself were appoitned as a committee by General Smith
to wait upon the governor. Previous to going, however, we

24 INTRODUCTORY.
were furnished with affidavits and documents in relation both
to our proceedings and those of the mob ; in addition to the
general history of the transaction, we took with us a duplicate
of those documents which had been forwarded by Bishop
Hunter, Brother James, and others. We started from Car
thage in company with the aforesaid gentlemen at about 7
o'clock on the evening of the 21st of June, and arrived at
Carthage about 11 p. m.
We put up at the same hotel with the governor, kept by a
Mr. Hamilton. On our arrival we found the governor in bed,
but not so with the other inhabitants. The town was filled with
a perfect set of rabble and rowdies, who, under the influence
of Bacchus, seemed to be holding a grand saturnalia, whoop
ing, yelling and vociferating as if Bedlam had broken loose
On our arrival at the hotel, and while supper was prepar
ing, a man came to me, dressed as a soldier, and told me that
a man named Daniel Gam had just been taken prisoner, and
was about to be committed to jail, and wanted ine to go bail
for him. Believing this to be a ruse to get me out alone, and
that some violence was intended, after consulting with Dr.
Bernhisel, I told the man that I was well acquainted with Mr.
Garn, that I knew him to be a gentleman, and did not believe
that he had transgressed law, and, moreover, that I considered
it a very singular time to be holding courts and calling for
security, particularly as the town was full of rowdyism.
I informed him that Dr. Bernhisel and myself would, if
necessary, go bail for him in the morning, but that we did not
feel ourselves safe among such a set at that late hour of the
night. After supper, on retiring to our room, we had to pass through
another, which was separated from ours only by a board
partition, the beds in each room being placed side by side,
with the exception of this fragile partition. On the bed that
was in the room which we passed through I discovered a
man by the name of Jackson, a desperate character, and a
reputed, notorious cut-throat and murderer. I hinted to the
doctor that things looked rather suspicious, and looked
to see that my arms were in order. The doctor and I
occupied one bed. We had scarcely laid down when a
knock at the door, accompanied by a voice anounced the

INTRODUCTORY. 25
approach of Chauncey Higbee, the young lawyer and apostate
before referred to.
He addressed himself to the doctor, and stated that the
object of his visit was to obtain the release of Daniel Garn;
that GariVhe believed to be an honest man ; that if he had clone
anything wrong, it was through improper counsel, and that it
was a pity that he should be incarcerated, particularly when he
could be so easily released ; he urged the doctor, as a friend, not
to leave so good a man in such an unpleasant situation; he
finally prevailed upon the doctor to go and give bail, assuring
him that on his giving bail Garn would bo immediately dis
missed. During this conversation I did not say a word.
Higbee left the doctor to dress, with the intention of return
ing and taking him to the court. As soon as Higbee had left,
I told the doctor that he had better not go; that I believed this
affair was all a ruse to get us separated ; that they knew we had
documents with us from General Smith to show to the governor ;
that I believed their Object was to get possession of those papers,
and, perhaps, when they had .separated us, to murder one or
both. The doctor, who was actuated by the best of motives in
yielding to the assumed solicitude of Higbee, coincided with
my views; he then went to Higbee, and told him that he had
concluded not to go that night, but that he and I would both wait
upon the justice and Mr. Garn in the morning.
That night I lay awake with my pistols under my pillow,
waiting for any emergency. Nothing more occurred during
the night. ' Iii the morning we arose early, and after break
fast sought an interview with the governor, and were told that
we could have an audience, I think, at 10 o'clock. In the
meantime we called upon Mr. Smith, a justice of the peace,
who had Mr. Garn in charge. We represented that we had
been called upon the night before by two different parties to
go bail for a Mr. Daniel Gam, whom we were informed he
had in custody, and that, believing Mr. Garn to be an honest
man, we had now come for that purpose, and were prepared
to enter into recognizances for his appearance, whereupon Mr.
Smith, the magistrate, remarked that, under the present
excited state of affairs, he did not think he would be justified
in receiving bail from Nauvoo, as it was a matter of doubt

26 INTRODUCTORY.
whether property would not be rendered valueless there in a
few days.
Knowing the party we had to deal with, we were not much
surprised at this singular proceeding; we then remarked that
both of us possessed property in farms out of Nauvoo in the
country, and referred him to the county records. He then
stated that such was the nature of the charge against Mr. Garn
that he believed he would not be justified in receiving any bail.
We were thus confirmed in our opinion that the night's pro
ceedings before, in relation to their desire to have us give
bail, was a mere ruse to separate us. We were not permitted
to speak with Garn, the real charge against whom was that
he was traveling in Carthage or its neighborhood : what the
fictitious one was, if I knew, I have since forgotten, as things
of this kind were of daily occurrence.
After waiting the governor's pleasure for some time we
had an audience; but such an audience!
He was surrounded by some of the vilest and most unprin
cipled men in creation ; some of them had an appearance of
respectability, and many of them lacked even that. Wilson,
and, I believe, William Law, were there, Foster, Frank and
Chauncey Higbee, Mr. Mar, a lawyer from Nauvoo, a mobocratic
merchant from Warsaw, the aforesaid Jackson, a number of
his associates, among whom was the governor's secretary, in
all, some fifteen or twenty persons, most of whom were recreant
to virtue, honor, integrity, and every thing that is considered
honorable among men. I can well remember the feelings
of disgust that I had in seeing the governor surrounded by
such an infamous group, and on being introduced to men of
so questionable a character ; and had I been on private business,
I should have turned to depart, and told the governor that if
he thought proper to assoicate with such questionable charac
ters, I should beg leave to be excused; but coming as we did
on public business, we could not, of course, consult our pri
vate feelings. *
We then stated to the governor that, in accordance with his
request, General Smith had, in response to his call, sent us to
him as a committee of conference; that we Were acquainted
with most of the circumstances that had transpired in and
about .Nauvoo lately, and were prepared to giye him all ihfor-

INTRODUCTORY. 27
mation ; that, moreover, we had in our possession testimony
and affidavits confirmatory of what we should say, which had
been forwarded to him by General Joseph Smith; that com
munications had been forwarded to his excellency by Messrs.
Hunter, James, and others, some of which had not reached
their destination, but of which we had duplicates with us.
We then, in brief, related an outline of the difficulties, and the
course we had pursued from the commencement of the troubles
up to the present, and handing him the documents, respect
fully submitted the whole.
During our conversation and explanations with the governor
we were frequently rudely and impudently contradicted by the
fellows he had around him, and of whom he seemed to take
no notice.
He opened and read a number of the documents himself, and
as he proceeded he was frequently interrupted by "that's a
lie!" "that's a God damned lie!" "that's an infernal falsehood!"^
"that's a blasted lie!" etc.
These men evidently winced at an exposure of their acts,
and thus vulgarly, impudently, and falsely repudiated them.
One of their number, Mr. Mar, addressed himself several times
to me while in conversation with the governor. I did not
notice him until after a frequent repetition of his insolence,
when I informed him that "my business at that time was with
Governor Ford," whereupon I continued my conversation
with his excellency. During the conversation, the governor
expressed a desire that Joseph Smith, and all parties concerned
in passing or exeputing the city law in relation to the press,
had better come to Carthage; that, however repugnant it
might be to our feelings, he thought it would have a tendency
to allay public excitement, and prove to the people what we
professed, that we wished to be governed by law. We repre
sented to him the course we had taken in relation to this
matter, and our willingness to go before another magistrate
other than the municipal court; the illegal refusal of our
request by the constable; our dismissal by the municipal
court, a legally constituted tribunal; our subsequent trial
before 'Sqire Wells at the instance of Judge Thomas, the
circuit judge, and our di smissal by him ; that we had fulfilled the
law in every particular ; that it was our enemies who were

28 INTRODUCTORY. \
breaking the law, and, having murderous designs, were only
making use of this as a pretext to get us into their power.
The governor stated that the people viewed it differently, and
that, notwithstanding our opinions, he would recommend that
the people should be satisfied. We then remarked to him
that, should Joseph Smith comply with his request, it would
be extremely unsafe, in the present excited state of the country,
to come without an armed force; that we had a sufficiency of
men, and were competent to defend ourselves, but there might
be danger of collision should our forces and those of our
enemies be brought into, such close proximity. He strenuoiislv
advised us not to bring our arms, and pledged his faith as
governor, and the faith of the State, that we should be protected,
and that he would guarantee our perfect safety.
We had at that time about five thousand men under arms,
one thousand of whom would have been amply sufficient for
our protection.
At the termination of our interview, and previous to our
withdrawal, after a long conversation and the perusal . of the
documents which we had brought, the governor informed us
that he would prepare a written communication for General
Joseph Smith, which he desired us to wait for. We were kept
waiting for this instrument some five or six hours.
About five o'clock in the afternoon we took our departure with
not the most pleasant"feelings. The associations of the gover
nor, the spirit he manifested to compromise with these scoun
drels, the length of time that he had kept us waiting, and
his general deportment, together with the infernal spirit that
we saw exhibited by those whom he had admitted to his
counsels, made the prospect anything but promising.
We returned on horseback, and arrived at Nauvoo, I think,
at about eight or nine o'clock at night accompanied by Captain
Yates in command of a company of mounted men, who came
for the purpose of escorting Joseph Smith and the accused in
case of their complying with the governor's request, and going
to Carthage. We went directly to Brother Joseph's, when
Captain Yates delivered to him the governor's communication.
A council was called, consisting of Joseph's brother, Hyrum,
Dr. Richards, Dr. Bernhisel, myself, and one or two
others.

INTRODUCTORY. 29
We then gave a detail of our interview with the governor.
Brother Joseph was very much dissatisfied with the gover
nor's letter and with his general deportment, and so were the
council, and it became a serious question as to the course we
should pursue. Various projects were discussed, but nothing
definitely decided upon for some time.
In the interim two gentlemen arrived ; one of them, if not
both, sons of John C. Calhoun. They had come to Nauvoo,
and were very anxious for an interview with Brother
Joseph. These gentlemen detained him for some time; and, as our
council was held in Dr. Bernhisel's room in the Mansion
House, the doctor lay down ; and as it was now between 2
and 3 o'clock in the morning, and I had had no rest on the
previous night, I was fatigued, and thinking that Brother
Joseph might not return,I left for home and rest.
Being very much fatigued, I slept soundly, and was some
what surprised in the morning by Mrs. Thompson entering
my room about 7 o'clock, and exclaiming in surprise, "What,
you here! the brethren have" crossed the river some time
since." "What brethren?" I asked.
"Brother Joseph, and Hyrum, and Brother Richards," she
answered. I immediately arose , upon learning that they had
crossed the river, and did not intend to go to Carth
age. I called together a number of persons in whom I
had confidence, and had the type, stereotype plates, and most
of the valuable things removed from the printing-office, believ
ing that, should the governor and his force come to Nauvoo,
the first thing they would do would be to burn the printing-
office, for I know that they would be exasperated if Brother
Joseph went away. We had talked over these matters the
night before, but nothing was decided upon. It was Brother
Joseph's opinion that, should we leave for a time, public excite
ment, which was then so intense, would be allayed; that it
would throw on the governor the responsibility of keeping the
peace; that in the event of an outrage, the onus would rest
upon the governor, who was amply prepared with troops, and
could command all the forces of the State to preserve order;

30 INTRODUCTORY.
and that the act of his own men would be an overwhelming
proof of their seditious designs, not only to the governor, "but
to the world. He moreover thought that, in the east, where
he intended to go, public opinion would be set right in rela
tion to these matters, and its expression would partially influ
ence the west, and that, after the first ebullition, things would
assume a shape that would justify his return.
I made arrangements for crossing the river, and Brother
Elias Smith and Joseph Cain, who were both .employed in
the printing-office with me, assisted all that lay in their power
together, with Brother Brower and several hands in the print
ing-office. As we could not find out the exact whereabouts
of Joseph and the brethren, I crossed the river in a boat
furnished by Brother Cyrus H. Wheelock and Alfred Bell;
and after the removal of the things out of the printing-office,
Joseph Cain brought the -account-books to me, that we might
make arrangements for their adjustment; and Brother Elias
Smith, cousin to Brother Joseph, went to obtain money for the
journey, and also to find out and report to me the location of
thcbrethren. .
As Cyrus H. Wheelock was an active, enterprising man, and
in the event of not finding Brother Joseph I calculated to go
to Upper Canada for the time being, and should need a com
panion, I said to Brother Cyrus H. Wheelock, "Can you go
with me ten or fifteen hundred miles?"
He answered, "Yes."
"Can you start in half an hour ?"
"Yes." '
However, I told him that he had better, see his family, who
lived over the river, and prepare a couple of horses and the
necessary equippage for the journey, and that, if we did not
find Brother Joseph before, we would start at nightfall.
A laughable incident occurred on the eve of my departure.
After making all the preperations I could, previous to leaving
Nauvoo, and having bid adieu to my family, I went to a house
adjoining the river, owned by Brother Eddy. There I disguised
myself so as not to be known, and so effectually was the trans
formation that those who had come after me with a boat did
not know me. I went down to the boat and sat in it. Brother
Bell, thinking it was a stranger, watched my moves for some

INTRODUCTORY. 31
time very impatiently, and then said to Brother Wheelock, "I
wish that old gentleman would go away ; he has been potter
ing around the boat for some time, and I am afraid Elder
Taylor will be coming." When he discovered his mistake, he
was not a little amused.
I was conducted by Brother Bell to a house that was sur
rounded by timber on the opposite side of the river. There
I spent several hours in a chamber with Brother Joseph Cain,
adjusting my accounts ; and I made arrangements for the stereo
type plates of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants,
to be forwarded east, thinking to supply the company with
subsistence money through the sale of these books in the east.
My horses were reported ready by Brother Wheelock, and
funds on hand by. Brother Elias Smith. In about half an
hour I should have started, when Brother Elias Smith came to
me with word that he had found the brethren ; that they had
concluded to go to Carthage, and wished me to return to Nau
voo and accompany them. I must confess that I felt a good
deal disappointed at this news, but I immediately made prepar
ations to go. Escorted by Brother Elias Smith, I and my
party went to the neighborhood of Montrose, where we met
Brother Joseph, Hyrum, Brother Richards and others. Dr.
Bernhisel thinks that W. W. Phelps was not with Joseph and
Hyrum in the morning, but that he met him, myself, Joseph
and Hyrum, W. Richards and Brother Cahoon, in the after
noon, near Montrose, returning to Nauvoo.
On meeting the brethren I learned that it was not Brother-
Joseph's desire to return, but that he came back by request
of some of the brethren, and that it coincided more with
Brother Hyrum's feelings than those of Brother Joseph. In
fact, after his return, Brother Hyrum expressed himself as
perfectly satisfied with the course taken, and said he felt much
more at ease in his mind than he did before. On our return
the calculation was to throw oursebve under the immediate
protection of the governor, and to trust to his word and faith
for our preservation.
A message was, I believe, sent to the governor that night,
stating that we should come to Carthage in the morning,
the party that came along with us to escort us back, in case we
returned to Carthage, having returned.

32 INTRODUCTORY.
It would seem from the following remarks of General Ford
that there was a design on foot, which was, that if we refused
to go to Carthage at the governor's request, there should be .'an
increased force called for by the governor, and that we should
be destroyed by them. In .accordance with this project,
captain Yates returned with his posse, accompanied by the
constable who held the writ.
The following is the governor's remark in relation to this
affair :
"The constable and his escort . returned. The constable
made no effort to arrest any of them, nor would he or the
guard delay their departure one minute beyond the time, to
see whether an arrest could be made. Upon their return they
reported that they had been informed that the accused had
fled, and could not be found I immediately proposed to a
council of officers to march into Nauvoo with the small force
then under my command, but the officers were of the opinion
that it was too small, and many of them insisted upon a
further call of the militia. Upon reflection I was of the
opinion that the officers were right in the estimate of our
force, and the project for immediate action was abandoned.
"I was soon informed, however, of the conduct of the constable
and guard, and then I was perfectly satisfied that a most base
fraud had been attempted ; that, in fact, it was feared that the
'Mormons' would submit, and thereby entitle themselves to
the protection of the law. It was very apparent that many
of the bustling, active spirits were afraid that there would
be no occasion for calling out an overwhelming miltia force, for
marching it into Nauvoo, for probable mutiny when there,
and for the extermination of the 'Mormon' race. It appeared
that the constable and the escort were fully in the secret, and
acted well their part to promote the conspiracy."*
In the morning Brother Joseph had an interview with the
officers of the Legion, with the leading members of the city
council, and with ,the principal men of the city. The officers
were instructed to dismiss their men, but to have them in a
state of readiness to be called upon in any emergency that
might' occur.

-Ford's History of Illinois, page 333.

INTRODUCTORY. 33
About half past 6 o'clock the members of the city council,
the marshal, Brothers Joseph and Hyrum, and a number of
others, started for Carthage, on horseback. We were instructed
by Brother Joseph Smith hot to take any arms, and we con
sequently left them behind. We called at the house of
Brother Fellows on our way out. Brother Fellows lived
about four miles from Carthage.
While at Brother Fellow's house, Captain Dunn, accompanied
by Mr. Coolie, one of the governor's aid-de-carnps, came up
from Carthage en route for Nauvoo with a requisition from the
governor for the State arms. We all returned to 'Nauvoo with
them; the governor's request was complied with, and after
taking some refreshments, we all returned to proceed to
Carthage. We arrived there late in the night. A great deal
of excitement prevailed on and after our arrival. The gov
ernor had received into his company all of the companies
that had been in the mob; these fellows were riotous and
disorderly, hallooing, yelling, and whooping about the streets
like Indians, many of them intoxicated ; tho whole presented
a scene of rowdyism and low-bred ruffianism only found among
mobocrats and desperadoes, and entirely revolting to the
best feelings of humanity. The governor made a speech to
them to the effect that he would show Joseph and Hyrum
Smith to them in the morning.
About here the companies with the governor were drawn
up in line, and General Demming, I think, took Joseph by
the arm and Hyrum (Arnold says that Joseph took the gov
ernor's arm), and as he passed through between the ranks, the
governor leading in front, very politely introduced them as
General Joseph Smith and General Hyrum Smith.*
*  The Deseret News gives the following account of Joseph and Hyrum
Smith's passing through the troops in Carthage: "Carthage, June 25th, 1844.
"Quarter past 9. The governor came and invited Joseph to walk with him
through the troops. Joseph solicited a few moment's private conversation
with him, which the governor refused.
"While refusing, the governor looked down at his shoes, as though he was
ashamed. They then walked through the crowd, with Brigadier General Miner,
K. Demming, and Dr. Richards, to General Demming's quarters. The people
appeared quiet until a company of Carthage Grays flocked round ths doors of
General Demming in an uproarious manner, of whiph notice was sent to tho
governor. In the meantime the governor had ordered the McDonough troops

34 INTRODUCTORY.
All were orderly' and courteous except one company of
mobocrats— the Carthage Grays— who seemed to find fault on
account of too much honor being paid to the "Mormons."
There was afterward a row between the companies, and they
came pretty near haviiig a fight; the more orderly not feeling
disposed to endorse or submit to the rowdyism of the mobo
crats. The result was that General Demming, who was very
much of a gentleman, ordered the Carthage Grays, a company
under the command of Captain Smith, a magistrate in Carth
age, and a most violent mobocrat, under arrest. This matter,
however, was shortly afterward adjusted, and the difficulty
settled between them.
The mayor, aldermen, councilors, as well as the marshal of
the city of Nauvoo, together with some persons who had assisted
the marshal in removing the press in Nauvoo, appeared before
Justice Smith, the foresaid captain and mobocrat, to again
answer the charge of destroying the press ; but as there was so
much excitement, and as the man was an unprincipaled villain
before whom we were to have our hearing, we thought it most
prudent to give bail, and consequently became security for
each other in $500 bonds each, to appear before the County
Court at its next session. We had engaged as counsel a lawyer
to be drawn up in line, for Joseph and Hyrum to pass in front of them, they
having requested that they might have a clear view of the General Smiths.
Joseph had a conversation with the qovemor for about ten -minutes, when he
again pledged the faith of the State that he and his friends should be protected
from violence.
"Robinson, the post-master, said, on report of martial law being proclaimed
in Nauvoo? he had stopped the mail, and notified the post-master general of
the state of things in Hancock County.
"Prom the general's quarters Joseph and Hyrum went in front of the lines,
in a hollow square of a company of Carthage Grays. At seven minutes before
ten they arrived in front of the lines, and passed before the whole, Joseph being
on the Tight of General Demming and Hyrum on his left, .Elders Richards,
Taylor and Phelps following. Joseph and Hyrum were introduced by Gover
nor Ford about twenty times along tho line as General Joseph Smith and
General Hyrum Smith, the governor walking in front on the left. The Carth
age Grays refused to receive them by that introduction, and some of the ofiicers
threw up their hats, drew their swords, and said they would introduce them
selves to the damned 'Mormons' in a different style. The governor mildly
entreated them not to act so rudely, but their excitement increased; the
governor, however, . succeeded in pacifying them by jnaking a speech, and
promising them that they should have 'full satisfaction.' General Smith and
party returned to their loggings at fiye minutes past ten." Deseret News,
No. 35, Nov. 4, 1857, page 274.

INTRODUCTORY. 35
by the name of Wood, of Burlington, Iowa; and Reed, I
think, of Madison, Iowa. After some little discussion the bonds
were signed, and we were all dismissed.
Almost immediately after our dismissal, two men — Augustine
Spencer and Norton — two worthless fellows, whose words would
not have been taken for five cents, and the first of whom had
a short time previously been before the mayor in Nauvoo for
maltreating a lame brother, made affidavits that Joseph and
Hyrum Smith were guilty of treason, and a wirt was accordingly
issued for, their arrest, and the constable Bettes worth, a rough,
unprincipled man, wished immediately to hurry them away
to prison without any hearing. His rude, uncouth manner
in the administration of what he considered the duties of his
office made him exceedingly repulsive to us all. But, indepen
dent of these acts, the proceedings in this case were altogether
illegal. Providing the court was sincere, which it was not,
and providing these men's oaths were true, and that Joseph
and Hyrum were guilty of treason, still the whole course was
illegal. The magistrate made out a mittimus, and committed them
to prison without a hearing, which he had no right legally to
do. ' The statute of Illinois expressly provides that "all men
shall have a hearing before a magistrate before they shall be
committed to prison;" and Mr. Robert H. Smith, the magis
trate, had made out a mittimus committing them to prison
'contrary to law without such hearing. As I was informed of
this illegal proceeding, I went immediately to the governor
and informed him of it. Whether he was apprised of it before
or not, I do not know ; but my opinion is that he was.
I represented to him the characters of the parties who had
made oath, the outrageous nature of the charge, the indignity
offered [to men in the position which they occupied; and
declared to him that he knew very well it was a vexatious
proceeding, and that the accused were not guilty of any such
crime. The governor replied, he was very sorry that the thing
had occurred; that he did not believe the charges, but that he
thought the best thing to be done was to let the law take its
course. I then reminded him that we had come out there
at his instance, not to satisfy the law, which we had done
beforejbut the prejudices of the people, in relation to the

36 INTRODUCTORY.
affair of the press; that at his instance we had given bonds,
which we could not by law be required to do to satisfy the •
people, and that it was asking too much to require gentlemen
in their position in life to suffer the degradation of being
immured in a jail at the instance of such worthless scoundrels
as those who had made this affidavit. The governor replied
that it was an unpleasant affair, and looked hard; but that it
was a matter over which he had no control, as it belonged to
the judiciary; that he, as the executive, could not interfere
writh their proceedings, and that he had no doubt* but that
they would immediately be dismissed. I told him that we ,
had looked to him for protection from such insults, and that
I thought we had a right to do so from the solemn promises
which he had made to me and to Dr. Bernhisel in relation
to our coming without guard or arms; that we had relied
upon his faith, and had a right to expect him -to fulfill his
engagements after we had placed ourselves implicitly under
his care, and complied with all his requests, although extra
judicial. He replied that he would detail a guard, if we required it;
and see us protected, but that he could not interfere with the
judiciary. I expressed my dissatisfaction at the course taken,
and told him that, if we were to be subject to mob rule, and
to be dragged, contrary to law, into prison at the instance ,
of every infernal scoundrel whose oaths could be bought for
a dram of whisky, his protection availed very little, and we
had miscalculated his promises.
Seeing there wac no prospect of redress from the governor,
I returned to the room, and found the constable Bettesworth
very urgent to hurry Brothers Joseph and Hyrum to prison,
while the brethren were remonstrating with him. At the
same time a great rabble was gathered in the streets and
around the door, and from the rowdyism manifested I was afraid
there was a design to murder the prisoners on the way to
jail. Without conferring with any person, my next feelings were
to procure a guard, and, seeing a man habited as a soldier in
the room, I went to him and said, "I am afraid there is a
design against the lives of the Messrs. Smith; will you] go
immediately and bring your captain; and, if not convenient,;-

INTRODUCTORY. 37
any other captain of a company, and I will pay you well for
your trouble?" He said he would, and departed forthwith,
and soon returned with his captain, whose name I have
forgotten, and introduced him to me. I told him of my
fears, and requested him immediately to fetch his com
pany. He departed forthwith, and arrived at the door with them
just at the time when the constable was hurrying the brethren
down stairs. A number of the brethren ,went along, together
with one or two strangers ; and all of us, safely lodged in
prison, remained there during the night.
At the request of Joseph Smith for an interview with the
governor, he came the next morning, Thursday, June 26th, at
half past 9 o'clock, accompained by Colonel Geddes, when a
lengthy conversation was entered into in relation to the exist
ing difficulties; and after some preliminary remarks, at the
governor's request, Brother Joseph gave him a general outline
of the state of affairs in relation to our difficulties, the excited
state of the country, the tumultuous mobocratic movements of
our enemies, the precautionary measures used by himself
(Joseph Smith), the acts of the city council, the destruction
of the press, and the moves of the mob and ourselves up to
that time.
The following report is, I believe, substantially correct:
Governor — "General Smith, I believe you have given me a
general outline of the difficulties that have existed in the
country in the documents forwarded to me by Dr. Bernhisel and
Mr. Taylor; but, unfortunately, there seems to be a great dis
crepancy between your statements and those of your enemies.
It is true that you are substantiated by evidence and affidavit,
but for such an extraordinary excitement as that which is now
in the country there must be some cause, and I attribute the last
outbreak to the destruction of the Expositor, and to your refusal
to comply with the writ issued by Esquire Morrison. The
press in the United States is looked upon as the great bulwark
of American freedom, and its destruction in Nauvoo was
represented and looked upon as a high-handed measure, and
manifests to the people a disposition on your part to suppress
the liberty of speech and of the press. This, with your refusal
to comply with the requisition of a writ, I conceive to be the

3& INTRODUCTORY.
principal cause of this difficulty; and you are moreover repre
sented to me as turbulent, and defiant of the laws and institu
tions of your country."
General Smith— "Goyemov Ford, you, sir, as governor of this
State, are aware of the persecutions that I have endured. You
know well that our course has been peaceable and law-abiding
for I have furnished this State ever since our settlement here
with sufficient evidence of my pacific intentions, and those of
the people with wh»m I am associated, by the endurance of
every conceivable indignity and lawless outrage perpetrated
upon me and upon this people since our settlement here; and
you yourself know that I have kept you well posted in relation
to all matters associated with the late difficulties. If you have
not got some of my communications, it has not been my
fault. "Agreeably to your orders, I assembled the Nauvoo Legion
for the protection of Nauvoo and the surrounding country
against an armed band of marauders ; and ever since they have
been mustered I have almost daily communicated with you in
regard to all the leading events that have transpired; and
whether in the capacity of mayor of the city, or lieutenant
general of the Nauvoo Legion, I have striven, according to
the best of my judgement, to preserve the peace and to ad
minister even-handed justice; but my motives are impugned,
my acts are misconstructed, and I am grossly and wickedly
misrepresented. I suppose I am indepted for my incarceration
to the oath of a worthless man, who was arraigned before me
and fined for abusing and maltreating his lame, helpless
brother. That I should be charged by you, sir, who know
better, of acting contrary to law, is to me a matter of surpirse.
Was it the 'Mormons' or our enemies who first commenced
these difficulties? You know well it was not us; and when
this turbulent, outrageous people commenced their insurrec
tionary movements I made you accquainted with fhem offi
cially, and asked your advice, and have followed strictly your
counsel in every particular. Who ordered out the Nauvoo
Legion? I did, under your direction. For what purpose?
To suppress the insurrectionary movements. It was at your
instance, sir, that I issued a proclamation calling upon the
Nauvoo Legion to be in readiness at a moment's warning to

INTRODUCTORY. 39
guard against the incursions of mobs, and gave an order to
Jonathan Dunham, acting major-general, to that effect.
"Am I, then, to be charged with the acts of others? and
because lawlessness and mobocracy abound, am I, when carry
ing out your instructions, to be charged with not abiding law?
Why is it that I must be made accountable for other men's
acts? If there is trouble in the country, neither I nor my
people made it ; and all that we have ever done, after much
endurance on our part, is to maintain and uphold the Consti
tution and institutions of our country, and to protect an
injured, innocent, and persecuted people against misrule and
mob violence.
"Concerning the destruction of the press to which you refer,
men may differ somewhat in their opinions about it; but can
.it be supposed that after all the indignities to which they have
been subjected outside, that people could suffer a set of worth
less vagabonds to come into their city, and, right under their
own eyes and protection, vilify and calumniate not only
themselves, but the charecter of their wives and daughters, as
was impudently and unblushingly done in that infamous and
filthy sheet?
"There is not a city in the United States that would have
suffered such an indignity for twenty-four hours. Our whole
people were indignant, and loudly called upon our city author
ities for a redress of their grievances, which, if not attended
to, they themselves would have taken into their own hands,.
and have summarly punished the audacious wretches as they
deserved. The principle of equal rights that has been
instilled into our bosoms from our cradles as American citizens
forbids us submitting to every foul indignity, and succumbing-
and pandering to wretches so infamous as these. But, inde
pendent of this, the course that we pursued we consider to be
strictly legal; for, notwithstanding the result,, we were anxious
to be governed strictly by law, and therefore we convened the-
city council; and being desirous in our deliberations to abide
by law, we summoned legal counsel to be present on the occa
sion. Upon investigating the matter, we found that our city
charter gave us power to remove all nuisances. Furthermore,.
after consulting Blackstone upon what might be considered
a nuisance, it appeared that that distinguished lawyer, who is

40 INTRODUCTORY.
considered authority, I believe,' in all our courts, states among
other things that 'a libelous and filthy press may be considered
a nuisance, and abated as such.' Here, then, one qf the most
eminent English barristers, whose works are considered stand
ard with us, declares that a libelous and filthy press may be
considered a nuisance; and our own charter, given us by the
Legislature of this State, gives us the power -to remove nuis
ances; and by ordering that press to be abated as a nuisance,
we conceived that we were acting strictly in accordance with
law. We made that order in our corporate capacity, and the
city marshal carried it out. It is possible there may have
been some better way, but I must confess that I could not
see it.
"In relation to the writ served upon us, we were willing to
abide the consequences of our own acts, but were unwilling,
in answering a writ of that kind; to submit to illegal exac- '
tions, sought to be imposed upon us under the pretense of
law, when we knew they were in open violation of it. When
that document was presented to me by Mr. Bettesworth, I
offered, in the presence of more than twenty persons, to go to
any other magistrate, either in our city, in Appanoose, or any
other place where we should be safe, but we all refused to put
ourselves into the power of a mob. What right had that
constable to refuse our request? He had none according to
law; for you know, Governor Ford, that the statute law in
Illinois is, that the parties served with the writ 'shall go before
him, who issued it, or some other justice of the peace.' Why,
then, should we be dragged to Carthage, where the law does
not compel us to go? Does not this look like many others of
our persecutions with which you are acquainted? and have
we not a right to expect foul play? This very act was a
breach of law on his part, an assumption of power that did
not belong to him, and an attempt, at least, to deprive us of
our legal and constitutional rights and privileges. What
could we do, under the circumstances, different from what we
did do? We sued for, and obtained a writ of habeas corpus
from the municipal court, by which we were delivered from
the hands of Constable Bettesworth, and brought before and
acquitted by the municipal court. After our acquittal, in a
conversation with Judge Thomas, although he considered the

INTRODUCTORY. 41
acts of the party illegal, he advised that, to satisfy the people,
we had better go before another magistrate who was not in
our Church. In accordance with his advice, we went before
Esquire Wells, with whom you are well acquainted; both
parties were present, witnesses were called on both sides, the
case was fully investigated, and we were again dismissed.
And what is this pretended desire to enforce law, and where
fore are these lying, base rumors put into circulation but to
seek, through mob influence, under pretense of law, to make
us submit to requisitons which are contrary to law and sub
versive of every principle of justice? And when you, sir,
required us to come out here, we came, not because it was legal,
but because you required it of us, and we were desirous of
showing to you, and to all men, that we shrunk not from the
most rigid investigation of our acts. We certainly did expect
other treatment than to be immured in a jail at the instance
of these men, and I think, from your plighted faith, we had a
right so to expect, after disbanding our own forces, and putting
ourselves entirely in your hands. And now, after having ful
filled my part, sir, as a man and an American citizen, I call
upon you, Governor Ford, to deliver us from this place, and
rescue us from this outrage that is sought to be practiced upon
us by a set of infamous scoundrels."
Governor Ford. — "But you have placed men under arrest,
detained men as prisoners, and given passes to others, some of
which I have seen."
John P. Green, City Marshal. — "Perhaps I can explain. Since
these difficulties have commenced, you are aware that we have
been placed under very peculiar circumstances ; our city has
been'placed under a very rigid police guard; in addition to
this, frequent guards have been placed outside the city to pre
vent any sudden surprise, and those guards have questioned
suspected or suspicious persons as to their business. To
strangers, in some instances, passes have been given to prevent
difficulty in passing those guards ; it is some of these passes
that you have seen. No person, sir, has been imprisoned
without a legal cause in our city."
Governor. — "Why did you not give a more speedy answer to
the posse that I sent out ?"

42 INTRODUCTORY.
General Smith. — "We had matters of importance to consult
upon; your letter showed anything but an amiable spirit.
We have suffered immensely in Missouri from mobs, in loss
of property, imprisonment, and otherwise. It took some time
for us to weigh duly these matters ; we could not decide upon
matters of such importance immediately, and your posse were
too hasty in returning; we were consulting for a large people
and vast interests were at stake. We had been outrageously
imposed upon, and knew not how far we could trust any one
besides, a question necessarily arose, How shall we come?
Your lequest was that we should come unarmed. It became
a matter of serious importance to decide how far promises
could be trusted, and how far we were safe from mob violence.'"'
Colonel Geddes. — "It certainly did look, from all I have heard
from the general spirit of violence and mobocracy that here
prevails, that it was not safe for you to come unprotected."
Governor Ford. — "I think that sufficient time was not allowed
by the posse for you to consult and get ready. They were too
hasty ; but I suppose they found themselves bound by their
orders. I think, too, there is a great deal of truth in what
you say, and your reasoning is plausible, but I must beg leave
to differ from you in relation to the acts of the City Council.
That Council, in my opinion, had no right to act in a legisla
tive capacity and in that of the judiciary. They should have
passed a law iii relation to the matter, and then the Municipal
Court, upon complaint, could have removed it; but for the
City Council to take upon themselves the law-making and the
execution of the law, is, in my opinion, wrong ; besides, these
men ought to have had a hearing before their property was
destroyed ; to destroy it without was an infringement on their
rights; besides, it is so contrary to the feelings of American.
people to interfere with the press. And, furthermore, I cannot
but think that it would have been more judicious for you to
have gone with Mr. Bettesworth to Carthage, notwithstanding.
the law did not require it. Concerning your being in jail, I
am sorry for that; I wish it had been otherwise. I hope you
will ^oon be released, but I can not interfere."
Joseph Smith. — "Governor Ford, allow me, sir, to bring one
thing to your mind that you seem to have overlooked. You
state that you think it would have been better for us to have

INTRODUCTORY. 43
submitted to the requisition of Constable Bettesworth, and to
have gone to Carthage. Do you not know, sir, that that writ
was served at the instance of an 'anti-Mormon' mob, who had
passed resolutions, and published them, to the effect that they
would extirminate the 'Mormon' leaders? And are you not
informed that Captain Anderson was not only threatened
but had a gun fired at his boat by this said mob in War
saw when coming up to Nauvoo, and that this very thing
was made use of as a means to get us into their hands;
and we could not, without taking an armed force with us,
go there without, according to their published declarations,
going into the jaws of death? To have taken a force with
us would only have fanned the excitement, and they would
have stated that we wanted to use intimidation; therefore,
we thought it" 'the most judicious to avail ourselves of the
protection of law."
Governor Ford. — "I see, I see."
Joseph Smith. — "Furthermore, in relation to the press, you say
that you differ from me in opinion. Be it so ; the thing, after
all, is only a legal difficulty, and the courts, I should judge,
are competent to decide on that matter. If our act was illegal,
we are willing to meet it; and although I can not see the distinc
tion that you draw about the acts of the City Council, and
what difference it could have made in point of fact, law, or
justice between the City Councils acting together or separate,
or how much more legal it would have been for the Municipal
Court, who were a part of the City Council, to act separately
instead of with the councilors, yet, if it is deemed that we did
a wrong in destroying that press, we refuse not to pay for it ; ,
we are desirous to fulfill the law in every particular, and are.
responsible for our acts. You say that the parties ought to
have had a hearing. Had it been a civil suit, this of course,.
would have been proper; but there was a flagrant violation of
every principle of right — a nuisance; and it was abated on
the same principle that any nuisance, stench, or putrefied car
cass would have been removed. Our first step, therefore, was
to stop the foul, noisome, filthy sheet, and then the next in
our ODinion would have been to have prosscuted the man for
a breach of public decency. And, furthermore, again let me
say, Governor Ford, I shall look to you for our protection. I

44 INTRODUCTORY.
believe you are talking of going to Nauvoo ; if you go, sir, I
wish to go along. I refuse not to answer .any law, but I do
not consider myself safejiere."
Governor. — "I am in hopes that you will be acquitted, and if
I go I will certainly take you along. I do not, however, appre
hend danger. I think you are perfectly safe either here or
anywhere else. I can not, however, interfere with the law. I
am placed in peculiar circumstances, and seem to be blamed
by all parties."
Joseph Smith. — "Governor Ford, I ask nothing but what is
legal ; I have a right to expect protection, at least, from you ¦
for, independent of law, you have pledged your faith and that
of the State for my protection, and I wish to go to Nauvoo."
Governor. — "And you shall have protection, General Smith.
I did not make this promise without consulting my officers,
who all pledged their honor to its fulfillment. I do not know
that I shall go to-morrow to Nauvoo, but if I do I will take
you along."
At a quarter past ten o'clock the governor left.
At about half past twelve o'clock, Mr. Reed, one of Joseph's
counsel, came in, apparently, much elated; he stated that,
upon an examination of the law, he found that the magistrate
had transcended his jurisdiction, and that, having" committed
them without an examination, his jurisdiction ended; that he
had him upon a pinhook ; that he ought to have examined
them before he committed them, and that, having violated
the law in this particular, he had no farther power over them;
for, once committed, they were out of his jurisdiction, as the
power of the magistrate extended no farther than their com
mittal, and that now they could not be brought out except at
the regular session of the Circuit Court, or by a writ of habeas
corpus; but that if Justice Smith would consent to go to Nauvoo
for trial, he would compromise matters with him,, and overlook
this matter.
Mr. Reed farther stated that the "anti-Mormons," or mob,
had concocted a scheme to get out a writ from Missouri, with
a demand upon Governor Ford for the arrest of Joseph Smith,
and his conveyance to Missouri, and that a man by the name
of Wilson had returned from Missouri the night before the
burning of the press for this purpose.

INTRODUCTORY. 45
At half past two o'clock Constable Bettesworth came to the
jail with a man named Simpson, professing to have some order,
but he would not send up his name, and the guard would not
let him pass. Dr. Bernhisel and Brother Wasson went to
inform the governor and council of this. At about twenty
minutes to three Dr. Bernhisel returned, and stated that he
thought the governor was doing all he could. At about ten
minutes to three Hyrum Kimball appeared with news from
Nauvoo. Soon after Constable Bettesworth came with an order from
Esquire Smith to convey the prisoners to the court-house for
trial. He was informed that the process was illegal, that they
had been placed there contrary to law, and that they refused
to come unless by legal process. I was informed that Justice
Smith (who was also captain of the Casrthage Grays) went to
the governor and informed him of the matter, and that the
governor replied, "You have your forces, and of course
can use them." The constable certainly did return, accom
panied by a guard of armed men, and by force,, and under
protest, hurried the prisoners to the court.
About four o'clock the case was called by Captain Robert F.
Smith, J. P. The counsel for the prisoners called for subpoenas to
bring witnesses. At twenty-five minutes past four he took a
copy of the order to bring the prisoners from jail to trial, and
afterwards he took names of witnesses.
Counsel present for the- State; Higbee, Skinner, Sharp
Emmons, and Morrison. Twenty-five minutes to five the writ
was returned as served, June 25th.
Many remarks were made at the court that I paid but little
attention to, as I considered the whole thing illegal and a com
plete burlesque. Wood objected to the proceedings in toto, in
consequence of its illegality, showing that the prisoners were
not only illegally committed, but that, being once committed,
the magistrate had no farther power over them ; but as it was
the same magistrate before whom he was pleading who impris
oned them' contrary to law, and the same who, as captain,
forced them from jail, his arguments availed but little. He
then urged that the prisoners be remanded until witnesses
could be hac}, and applied for a continuance for that purpose.
Skinner suggested until twelve o'clock next day. Wood again

46 INTRODUCTORY.
demanded until witnesses could be obtained ; that the court
meet at a specified time, and that, if witnesses were not present,
again adjourn, without calling the prisoners. After various
remarks from Reed, Skinner, and others, the court stated that
the writ was served yesterday, and that it will give until
to-morrow at twelve m. to get witnesses.
We then returned to jail. Immediately after our return Dr.
Bernhisel went to the governor, and obtained from him an
order for us to occupy a large open room containing a bed
stead. I rather think that the same room had been appropri
ated to the' use of debtors ; at any rate, there was free access to
the jailer's house, and no bars or locks except such as might
be on the outside door of the jail. The jailer, Mr. George W.
Steghall, and his wife, manifested a disposition to make us as
comfortable as they could ; we ate at their table, which was
well provided, and, of course, paid for it.
I do not remember the names of all who were with us that
night and the next morning in jail, for several went and came;
among those that we considered stationary were Stephen
Markham, John S. Fullmer, Captain Dan Jones, Dr. Willard
Richards, and myself. Dr. Bernhisel says that he was there
from Wednesday in the afternoon until eleven o'clock next
day. We were, however, visited by numerous friends, among
whom were Uncle John Smith, Hyrum Kimball, Cyrus H.
Wheelock, besides lawyers, as counsel. There was also a great
variety of conversation, which was rather desultory than other
wise, and referred to circumstances that had transpired, our
former and present grievances, the spirit of the troops around
us, and the disposition of the governor;- the devising for legal
and other plans for deliverance, the nature of testimony
required ; the gathering of proper witnesses, and a variety of
other topics, including our religious hopes, etc.
During one of these conversations Dr. Richards remarked:
"Brother Joseph, if it is necessary that you die in this matter,
and if they will take me in your stead, I will suffer for you."
At another time, when conversing about deliverance, I said,
"Brother Joseph, if you will permit it, and say the word, I will
have you out of this prison in five hours, if the jail has to
come down to do it." My idea was to go to Nauvoo, and col
lect a force sufficient, as I considered the whole affair a legal

INTRODUCTORY. 47
farce, and a flagrant outrage upon our liberty and rights.
Brother Joseph refused.
Elder Cyrus H. Wheelock came in to see us, and when he
was about leaving drew a small pistol, a six-shooter, from his
pocket, remarking at the same time, "Would any of you like
to have this?" Brother Joseph immediatly replied, "Yes, give
it to me;" whereupon he took the pistol, and put it in his
pantaloons pocket. The pistol was a six-shooting revolver, of
Allen's patent ; it belonged to me, and was one that I furnished
to Brother Wheelock when he talked of going with me to the
East, previous to our coming to Carthage. I have it now in
my possession. Brother Wheelock went out on some errand,
and was not suffered to return. The report of the governor
having gone to Nauvoo without taking the prisoners along
with him caused very unpleasent feelings, as we were apprised
that we were left to the tender mercies of the Carthage Grays,
a company strictly mobocratic, and whom we knew to be our
most deadly enemies ; and their captain, Esquire Smith, was a
most unprincipled villain. Besides this, all the mob forces,
comprising the governor's troops, were dismissed, with the
exception of one or two companies, which the governor took
with him to Nauvoo. The great part of the mob was liber
ated, the remainder was our guard.
We looked upon it not only as a breach of faith on the part
of the governor, but also as an indication of a desire to insult
us, if nothing more, by leaving us in the proximity of such
men. The prevention of Wheelock's return was among the
first of their hostile movements.
Colonel Markham then went out, and he was also prevented
from returning. He was very angry at this, but the mob paid
no attention to him ; they drove him out of town at the point
of the bayonet, and threatened • to shoot him if he returned.
He went, I am informed, to Nauvoo for the purpose of raising
a company of men for our protection. Brother Fullmer went
to Nauvoo after witnesses: it is my opinion that Brother
Wheelock did also.
Some time after dinner we sent for some wine. It has been
reported by some that this was taken as a sacrament. It was
no such thing; our spirits were generally dull and heavy, and
it was sent for to revive us, I think it was Captain Jones wb,o

48 INTRODUCTORY.
went after it, but they would not suffer him to return.
believe we all drank of the wine, and gave some to one or two
of the prison guards. We all of us felt unusually dull and
languid, with a remarkable depression of spirits. In conso
nance with those feelings I sang a song, that had lately been
introduced into Nauvoo, entitled, "A poor wayfaring man of
grief," etc.
The song is pathetic, and the tune quite plaintive, and was
very much in accordance with our feelings at the time, for our
spirits were all depressed, dull and gloomy, and surcharged
with indefinite ominous forebodings. After a lapse of some
time, Brother Hyrum requested me again to sing that song.
I replied, "Brother Hyrum, I do not feel like singing;" when
he remarked, "Oh, never mind ; commence singing, and you
will get the spirit of it." At his request I did so. Soon after
wards I was sitting at one of the front windows of the jail, when
I saw a number of men, with painted faces, coming around the
corner of the jail, and aiming towards the stairs. The other
brethren had seen the same, for, as I went to the door, I found
Brother Hyrum Smith and Dr. Richards already leaning
against it. They both pressed against the door with their shoul
ders to prevent its being opened, as the lock and latch were
comparatively useless. While in this position, the mob, who
had come up stairs, and tried to open the door, probably
thought it was locked, and fired a ball through the keyhole ;
at this Dr. Richards and Brother Hyrum leaped back from the
door, with their faces towards it ; almost instantly another ball
passed through the panel of the door, and struck Brother
Hyrum on the left side of the nose, entering his face andhead.
At the same instant, another ball from the outside entered his
back, passing through his body and striking his watch. The
ball came from the back, through the jail window, opposite the
door, and must, from its range, have been fired from the
Carthage Grays, who were placed there ostensibly for our pro
tection, as the balls from the fire-arms, shot close by the jail>-
would have entered the ceiling, we being in the second story,.
and there never was a time after that when Hyrum could have
received the latter wound. Immediately, when the balls struck
him, he fell flat on his back, crying as he fell, "I am a dead
man !" He never moved afterwards.

INTRODUCTORY. 49
I shall never forget the deep feeling of sympathy and regard
manifested in the countenance of Brother Joseph as he drew
nigh to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, "Oh! my
poor, dear brother Hyrum !" He, however, instantly arose,
and with a firm, quick step, and a determined expression of
countenance, approached the door, and pulling the six-shooter
left by Brother Wheelock from his pocket, opened the door
slightly, and snapped the pistol six successive times; only
three of the barrels, however, were discharged. I afterwards
understood that two or three were wounded by these dis-
"" charges, two of whom, I am informed, died. I had in my
hands a large, strong hickory stick, brought there by Brother
Markham, and left by him, which I had seized as soon as I
saw the mob approach ; and while Brother Joseph was firing
the pistol, I stood close behind him. As soon as he had dis
charged it he stepped back, and I immediately took his place
next to the door, while he occupied the one I had done while
he was shooting. Brother Richards, at this time, had a
knotty walking-stick in his hands belonging to me, and stood
next to Brother Joseph, a little farther from the door, in an
oblique direction, apparently to avoid the rake of the fire from
the door. The firing of Brotpfer Joseph made our assailants
pause for a moment; very soblpMifter, however, they pushed
the door some distance open, and protruded and discharged
their guns into the room, when I parried them off- with my
stick, giving another direction to the balls.
It certainly was a terrible scene : streams of fire as thick as
my arm passed by me as these men fired, and, unarmed as
we were, it looked like certain death. I remember feeling as
though my time had come, but I do not know when, in any
critical position, I was more calm, unruffled, energetic, and
acted with more promptness and decision. It certainly was
far from pleasant to be so near the muzzles of these fire-arms
as they belched forth their liquid flames and deadly balls.
While I was engaged in parrying the guns, Brother Joseph
said, "That's right, Brother Taylor, parry them off as well as
you can." These were the last words I ever heard him speak
on earth.
Every moment the crowd at the door became more dense, as
they were unquestionably pressed on by those in the rear ascen-

50 INTRODUCTORY.
ding the stairs, until the whole entrance at the door was literally
crowded with muskets and rifles, which, with the swearing,
shouting, and demoniacal expressions of those outside the door
and on the stairs, and the firing of the guns, mingled with
their horrid oaths and excrations, made it look like Pandem
onium let loose, and was, indeed, a fit representation of the
horrid deed in which they were engaged.
After parrying the guns for some time, which now protruded
thicker and farther into the room, and seeing no hope of
escape or protection there, as we were now unarmed, it
occurred to me that we might have some friends outside, and
that there might be some chance fo escape in that direction, but
here there seemed to be none. As I expected them every
moment to rush into the room — nothing but extreme cowardice
having thus far kept them out — as the tumult and pressure
increased, without any other hope, I made a spring for the win
dow which was right in front of the jail door, where the mob was
standing, and also exposed to the fire of the Carthage Grays,
who were stationed some ten or twelve rods off. The weather
was hot, we all of us had our coats off, and the window was
raised to admit air. As I reached the window, and was on the
point of leaping out, I wasAuck by a ball from the door
about midway of my thigh,lipfeh struck the bone, and flat
tened out almost to the size OTa quarter of a dollar, and then
passed on through the fleshy part to within about half an inch
of the outside. I think some prominent nerve must have
been severed or injured, for, as soon as the ball struck me, I fell
like a bird when shot, or an ox when struck by a butcher, and
lost entirely and instantaneously all power of action or locomo
tion. I fell upon the window-sill, and cried out, "I am shot!"
Not possessing any power to move, I felt myself falling outside
of the window, but immediately I fell inside, from some, at
that time, unknown cause. When I struck the floor my ani
mation seemed restored, as I have seen it sometimes in squirrels
and birds after being shot. As soon as I felt the power of motion
I crawled under the bed, which was in a corner of the room,
not far from the window where I received my wound. While
on my way and under the bed I was wounded in three other
places; one ball entered a little below the left knee, and never
was extracted ; another entered the forepart of my left arm,

INTRODUCTORY. 51
a little above the wrist, and, passing down by the joint, lodged
in the fleshy part of my hand, about midway, a little above
the upper joint of my little finger; another struck me on the
fleshy part of my left hip, and tore away the flesh as large as
my hand, dashing the mangled fragments of flesh and blood
against the wall.
My wounds were painful, and the sensation produced was as
though a ball had passed through and down the whole length
of my leg. I very well remember my reflections at the time.
I had a very painful idea of becoming lame and decrepid, and
being an object of pity, and I felt as though I would rather die
than be placed in such circumstances.
It would seem that immediately after my attempt to leap
out of the window, Joseph also did the same thing, of which
circumstance I have no knowledge only from information.
The first thing that I noticed was a cry that he had leaped out
of the window, A cessation of firing followed, the mop rushed
down stairs, and Dr. Richards went to the window. Imme
diately afterwards I saw the doctor going towards the jail
door, and as there was an iron door at the head of the stairs
adjoning our door which led into the cells for criminals, it
struck me that the doctor was going in there, and I said to
him, "Stop, doctor, and take me along." He proceeded to the
door and opened it, and then returned and dragged me along
to a small cell prepared for criminals.
Brother Richards was very much troubled, and exclaimed,
"Oh ! Brother Taylor, is it possible that they have killed both
Brother Hyrum and Joseph? it cannot surely be, and yet I
saw them shoot them;" and, elevating his hands two or three
times, he exclaimed, "Oh Lord, my God, spare Thy servants!"
He then said, "Brother Taylor, this is a terrible event;'
and he dragged me farther into the cell, saying, "I am sorry
I can not do better for you;" and, taking an old, filthy
mattress, he covered me with it, and said, "That may hide
you, and you may yet live to tell the tale, but I expect they
will kill me in a few moments." While lying in this position
I suffered the most excruciating pain.
Soon afterwards Dr. Richards came to me, informed me that
the mob had precipitately fled, and at the same time confirm
ed my worst fears that Joseph was assuredly dead. I felt a

52 INTRODUCTORY.
dull, lonely, sickening sensation at the news. When I reflected
that our noble chieftain, the prophet of the living God, had
fallen, and that I had seen his brother in the cold embrace of
death, it seemed as though there was a void or vacuum in the
great field of human existence to me, and a dark gloomy
chasm in the kingdom, and that we were left alone. Oh, how
lonely was that feeling! How cold, barren and desolate ! In
the midst of difficulties he was always the first in motion ; in
critical positions his counsel was always sought. As our prophet
he approached our God, and .obtained for us His will;' but now
our prophet, our counselor, our general, our leader was gone,
and amid the fiery ordeal that we then had to pass through, we
were left alone without his aid, and as our future guide for
things spiritual or temporal, and for all things pertaining to this
world or the next, he had spoken for the last time on earth !
These reflections and a thousand others flashed upon my
mind. I thought, Why must the good perish, and the virtuous
be destroyed ? Why must God's nobility, the salt bf the earth,
the most exalted of the human family, and the most perfect
types of all excellence, fall victims to the cruel, fiendish hate
of incarnate devils ?
The poignancy of my grief, I presume, however, was some
what allayed by the extreme suffering that I endured from
my wounds.
Soon afterwards I was taken to the head of the stairs and
laid there, where I had a full view of our beloved and now
murdered brother Hyrum. There he lay as I had left him;
he had not moved a limb ; he lay placid and calm, a mon
ument of greatness even in death ; but his noble spirit had
left its tenement, and was gone to dwell in regions more con
genial to its exalted nature. Poor Hyrum ! he was a great
and good man, and my soul was cemented to his.. If ever
there was an exemplary, honest, and virtuous man, an embodi
ment of all that is noble in the human form, Hyrum Smith
was its representative.
While I lay there a number of persons came around, among
whom was a physician. The doctor, on seeing a ball lodged in
my left hand, took a penknife from his pocket and made an
incision in it for the purpose of extracting the ball therefrom,
and having obtained a pair of carpenter's compasses, made-

INTRODUCTORY. 53
use of them to draw or pry out the ball, alternately using the
penknife and compasses. After sawing for some time with
a dull penknife, and prying and pulling with the compasses,
he ultimately succeeded in extracting the ball, which weighed
about half an ounce. Some time afterwards he remarked
to a friend of mine that I had "nerves like the devil," to stand
what I did in its extraction. I really thought I had need of
nerves to stand such surgical butchery, and that, whatever
my nerves may be, his practice was devilish.
This company wished to remove me to Mr. Hamilton's hotel,
the place where we had staid previous to our incarceration in
jail. I told them, however, that I did not wish to go ; I did
not consider it safe. They protested that it was, and that I
was safe with them; that it was a perfect outrage for men
to be used as we had been ; that they were my friends ; that it
was for my good they were counseling me, and that I could be
better taken care of there than here/*
I replied, "I don't know you. Who am I among? I am
surrounded by assassins and murderers ; witness your deeds !
Don't talk to me of kindness or comfort; look at your mur
dered victims. Look at me ! I want none of your counsel nor
comfort. There may be some safety here; I can be assured of
none anywhere," etc.
They G — d  their souls to hell, made the most
solemn asseverations, and swore by God and the devil, and
everything else that they could think of, that they would
stand by me to death and protect me. In half an hour every
one of them had fled from the town.
Soon after a coroner's jury were assembled in the room over
the body of Hyrum. Among the jurors was Captain Smith,
of the "Carthage Grays," who had assisted in the murder, and
the same justice before whom we had been tried. I learned
of Francis Higbee as being in the neighborhood. On
hearing his name mentioned, I immediately arose and said,
"Captain Smith, you area justice of the peace; I have heard
his name mentioned; I want to swear my life against him.''
I was informed that word was immediately sent to him to
leave the place, which he did.
Brother Richards was busy during this time attending to
"the coroner's inquest, and to the removal of the bodies, and

54 INTRODUCTORY.
making arrangements for their removal from Carthage to
Nauvoo. When he had a little leisure, he again came to me, and at
his suggestion I was removed to Hamilton's tavern. I felt
that he was the only friend, the only person, that I could rely
upon in that town. It was with difficulty that sufficient
persons could be found to carry me to the tavern; for imme
diately after the murder a great fear fell upon all the people,
and men, women, and children fled with great precipitation,
leaving nothing nor anybody in the town but two or three
women and children and one or two sick persons.
It was with great difficulty that Brother Richards prevailed
upon Mr. Hamilton, hotel-keeper, and his family, to stay;
they would not until Brother Richards had given a solemn
promise that he would see them protected, and hence I was
looked upon as a hostas^ Under these circumstances, not
withstanding, I believe trrey were hostile to the "Mormons,''
and were glad that the murder had taken place, though they
did not actually participate in it; and, feeling that I should be a
protection to them, they staid.
The whole community knew that a dreadful outrage had
bean perpetrated by those villains, and fearing lest the citizens.
of Nauvoo, as they possessed the power, mighMiave a disposi
tion to visit them with a terrible vengeance, they fled in the
wildest confusion. And, indeed, it was with very great diffi
culty that the citizens of Nauvoo could be restrained. A horrid
barbarous murder had been committed, the most solemn pledge
violated, and that, too, while the victims were, contrary to the
requirements of the law, putting themselves into the hands of
the governor to pacify a popular excitement. This outrage
was enhanced by the reflection that our people were able to pro
tect themselves against not only all the mob, but against three
times their number and that of the governor's troops put
together. They were also exasperated by the speech of the
governor in town.
The whole events were s® faithless, so dastardly, so mean,,
cowardly, and contemptible, without oj^ extenuating circum
stance, that it would not have been surprising if ^he citizens of
Nauvoo had arisen en masse, and blotted the wretches out of
existence. The citizens of Carthage knew they would- have

INTRODUCTORY. 55
done so under such circumstances, and, judging us by them
selves, they were all panic-stricken, and fled. Colonel Mark
ham, too, after his expulsion from Carthage, had gone home,
related the circumstances of his ejectment, and was using
his influence to get a company to go out. Fearing that when
the people heard that their prophet and patriarch had been
murdered under the above circumstances they might act
rashly, and knowing that, if they onc^^oLjMjiised, .like a
mighty avalanche they would lay the country*"waste before
them and take a terrible vengeance — as none of the Twelve
were in Nauvoo, and no one, perhaps, with sufficient influence
to contaol the people, Dr. Richards, after consulting me, wrote
the folhiwing note, fearing that, my family might be seriously
affected by the news. I told him to insert that I was slightly
wounded.
Willard Richards' Note from Carthage Jail to Nauvoo*
"Carthage jail, 8 o'clock 5 ruin. p. m., June 27th, 1844.
"Joseph and Hyrum are dead. Taylor wounded, not very
badly. I am well. Our guard was forced, as we believe, by
a band of Missourians from 100 to 200. The job was done in
an instant, and the party fled towards Nauvoo instantly. This is
as I believe it. The citizens here are afraid of the 'Mormons'
p attacking them ; I promise them ho. W. Richards.
"N. B. — The citizens promise us protection; alarm guns
have been fired. "John Taylor."
I remember signing my name as quickly as possible, lest
the tremor of my hand should be noticed, and the fears of my
family excited.
A messenger was dispatched immediately with the note, but
he was intercepted by the governor, who, on hearing a cannon
fired at Carthage, which was to be the signal for the murder,
immediately fled with his company, and fearing that the citi
zens of Nauvoo, when apprised of the horrible outrage, would
immediately rise and pursue, he turned back the messenger,
who was George D. Grant. A second one was sent, who was
treated similarly ; and not until a third attempjt could news
be got to Nauvoo.

*  "Deseret News," No. 38, Nov. 25, 1857, p. 297.

56 introductory.
Samuel H. Smith, brother to Joseph and Hyrum, was the
first brother I saw after the outrage ; I am not sure whether
he took the news or not; he lived at the time in Plymouth,
Hancock County, and was on his way to Carthage to see his
brothers, when he was met by some of the troops, or rather
mob, that had been dismissed by the governor, and who were
on their way home. OnJearning that he- was Joseph Smith's
brother they spugMto kill him, but he escaped, and fled into
the woods, where IrHvas chased for a length of time by them;
but, after severe fatigue, and much danger and excitement, he
succeeded in escaping, and came to Carthage. He was on
horseback when he arrived, and' was not only very. much
tired with the fatigue and excitement of the chase, but was
also very much distressed in feelings on account of the death
of his brothers. These things produced a fever, which laid the
foundation for his death, which took place on the 30 th of July.
Thus another of the brothers fell a victim, although not
directly, but indirectly to this infernal mob.
I lay from about five o'clock until two next morning with
out having my wounds dressed, as there was scarcely any help
of any kind in Carthage, and Brother Richards was busy with
the dead bodies, preparing them for removal. My wife Leo
nora started early the next day, having had some little trouble
in getting a company or a physician to come with her; after
considerable difficulty she suceeded in getting an escort, and
Dr. Samuel Bennet came along with her. Soon after my
father and mother arrived from Oquakie, near which place
they had a farm at that time, and hearing of the trouble,
hastened along.
General Demming, Brigadier General of .the Hancock
County Militia, was very much of a gentleman, and showed
me every courtesy, and Colonel Jones also was very solicitous
about my welfare.
I was called upon by several gentlemen of Quincy and other
places, among whom was Judge Ralston, as well as by our
own people, and a medical man extracted a ball from my left
thigh that was giving me much pain ; it lay about half an
inch deep, and my thigh was considerably swollen. The doc
tor asked me if I would be tied during the operation ; I told
him no; that I could endure the cutting associated with the

INTRODUCTORY. 57
operation as well without, and I did so ; indeed, so great was
the pain I endured that the cutting was rather a relief than
otherwise. Avery laughable incident occured at the time; my wife
Leonora went into an adjoining room to pray for me, that I
might be sustained during the operation. While on her knees
at prayer, a Mrs. Bedell, an old lady of the Methodist associa
tion, entered, and, patting Mrs. Taylor on her back with her
hand, said, "There's a good lady, pray for God to forgive your
sins; pray that you may be converted, and the Lord may
have mercy on your soul."
The scene was so ludicrous that Mrs. Taylor knew not wether
to laugh or be angry. Mrs. Taylor informed me that Mr.
Hamilton, the father of the Hamilton who kept the house,
rejoiced at the murder, and said in company that "it was done
up in the best possible style, and showed good generalship;"
and she farther believed that the other branches of the family
sanctioned it. These were the associates of the old lady
referred to, and yet she could talk of conversion and saving
souls in the midst of blood and murder : such is man and
such consistency.
The ball being extracted was the one that first struck me,
which I before referred to ; it entered on the outside of my left
thigh, about five inches from my knee, and, passing rather
obliquely towards my body, had, it would seem, struck the
bone, for it was flattened out nearly as thin and large as a
quarter of a dollar.
The governor passed on, staying at Carthage only a few
minutes, and he did not stop until he got fifty miles from
Nauvoo. There had been various opinions about the com
plicity of the governor in the murder, some supposing that he
knew all about it, and assisted or winked at its execution. It
is somewhat difficult to form a correct opinion; from the facts
presented it is very certain that things looked more than sus
picious against him. <
In the first place, he positively knew that we had broken
no law.
Secondly. He knew that the mob had not only passed
inflammatory resolutions, threatening extermination to the

58 INTRODUCTORY.
"Mormons." but that they had acutually assembled armed
mobs and commenced hostilities against us.
Thirdly. He took those very mobs that had been arrayed
against us, and enrolled them as his troops, thus legalizing
their acts.
Fourthly. He disbanded the Nauvoo Legion, which had
never violated law, and disarmed them, and had about his
person in the shape of militia known mobocrats and violators
of the law.
Fifthly! He requested us to come to Carthage without
arms, promising protection, and then refused to interfere in
delivering us from prison, although Joseph and Hyrum were
put there contrary to law.
Sixthly. Although he refused to interfere in our behalf,
yet, when Captain Smith went to him and informed him that
the persons refused to come out, he told ^him that he had a
command and knew what to do, thus sanctioning the use of
force in the violation of law when opposed to us, whereas he
would not for us interpose his executive authority to free us
from being incarcerated contrary to law, although he was fully
informed of all the facts of the case, as we kept him posted in
the affairs all the time.
Seventhly. He left the prisoners in Carthage jail contrary
to his plighted faith.
Eighthly. Before he went he dismissed all the troops that
could be relied upon, as well as many of the mob, and left us
in charge of the "Carthage Grays," a company that he knew
were mobocratic, our most bitter enemies, and who had passed
resolutions to exterminate us, and who had been placed under
guard by General Demming only the day before.
Ninthly. He was informed of the intended murder, both
before he left and while on the road, by several different
parties. Tenthly. When the cannon was tiered in Carthage, signify
ing that the deed was done, he immediately took up his line
of march and fled. How did he know that this signal por
tended their death if he was not in the secret? It may be
said some of the party told him. How could he believe what
the party said about the gun signal if he could not believe

INTRODUCTORY. 59
the testimony of several individuals who told him in positive
terms about the contemplated murder?
He has, I believe, stated that he left the "Carthage Grays"
there because he considered that, as their town was contigous
to ours, and as the responsibility of our safety rested solely
upon them, they would not dare suffer any indignity to befall us.
This very admission shows that he did really expect danger ;
and then he knew that these people had published to the world
that they would exterminate us, and his leaving us in their
hands and taking of their responsibilities was like leaving a
lamb in charge of a wolf, and trusting to its humanity and
honor for its safe-keeping.
It is said, again that he would not have gone to Nauvoo, and
thus placed himself in the hands of the "Mormons," if he had
anticipated any such event, as he would be exposed to their
wrath. To this it may be answered that the "Mormons" did
not know their signals, while he did; and they were also
known in Warsaw, as well as in other places ; and as soon as
the gun was fired, a merchant of Warsaw jumped upon his
horse and rode directly to Quincy, and reported "Joseph and
Hyrum killed, and those who were with them in jail." He
reported farther that "they were attempting tD break jail, and
were all killed by the guard." This was their story; it was
anticipated to kill all, and the gun was to be the signal that
the deed was accomplished. This was known in Warsaw.
The governor also knew it and fled; and he could really be in
no danger in Nauvoo, for the "Mormons", did not know it, and
he had plenty of time to escape, which he did.
It is said that he made all his officers promise solemnly
that they would help him to protect the Smiths; this may or
may not be. At any rate, some of these same officers helped
to murder them.
The strongest argument in the governor's favor, and one
that would bear more weight with us than all the rest put
together, would be that he could not believe them capable of
such atrocity; and, thinking that their talk and threatenings
were a mere ebullition of feeling, a kind of braggadocio, and'
that there was enough of good moral feeling to control the
more violent passions, he trusted to their faith. There is,
indeed, a degree of plausibility about this, but when we put

60 INTRODUCTORY.
it in juxtaposition to the amount of evidence that he was in
possession of it weighs very little. He had nothing to inspire
confidence in them, and everything to make him mistrust
them. Besides, why his broken faith? why his disregard of
what was told him by several parties? Again, if he knew
not the plan, how did he understand the signal? Why so
oblivious to everything pertaining to the "Mormon" interest,
and so alive and interested about the mobocrats? At any
rate, be this as it may, he stands responsible for their
blood, and it is dripping on his garments. If it had not been
for his promises of protection, they would have protected
themselves; it was plighted faith that led them to the slaugh
ter; and, to make the best of it, it was a breach of that faith
and a non-fulfillment of that promise, after repeated warning,
that led to their death.
Having said so much, I must leave the governor with my
readers and with his God. Justice, I conceive, demanded
this much, and truth could not be told with less; as I have
said before, my opinion is that the governor would not have
planned this murder, but he had not sufficient energy to resist'
popular opinion, even if that opinion led to blood and death.
It was rumored that a strong political party, numbering in
its ranks many of the prominent men of the nation, were
engaged in a plot for the overthrow of Joseph Smith, and
that the governor was of this party, and Sharp, Williams,
Captain Smith, and others, were his accomplices, but whether
this was the case or not I do not know. It is very certain that
a strong political feeling existed against Joseph Smith, and I
have reason to believe that his letters to Henry Clay were
made use of by political parties opposed to Mr. Clay, and were
the means of that statesman's defeat. Yet, if such a combina
tion as the one referred to existed, I am not apprised of it.
While I lay at Carthage, previous to Mrs. Taylor's arrival, a
pretty good sort of a man, who was lame of a leg, waited
upon me, and sat up at night with me; afterwards Mrs. Taylor,
mother and others waited upon me.
Many friends called upon me, among whom were Richard
Ballantyne, Elizabeth Taylor, several of the Perkins family
and a number of the brethren from Macedonia and La Harpe.
Besides these, many strangers from Quincy, some of whom

INTRODUCTORY. 61
expressed indignant feelings against the mpb . and sympathy
for myself. Brother Alexander Williams called upon me,
who suspected that they had some designs in keeping me
there, and stated that he had, at a given point in some woods,
fifty men, and that if I would say the word he would raise
other fifty, and fetch me out of there. I thanked him, but
told him I thought there was no need. However, it would
seem that I was in some danger; for Colonel Jones, before
referred to, when absent from me, left two loaded pistols on
the table in case of an attack, and some time afterwards, when
I had recovered and was publishing the affair, a lawyer, Mr.
Backman, stated that he had prevented a man by the name of
Jackson, before referred to, from ascending the stairs, who
was coining with a design to murder me, and that now he
was sorry he had not let him do the deed.
There wore others also, of whom I heard, that said I ought
to be killed, and they would do it, but that it was too damned
cowardly to shoot a wounded man ; and thus, by the chivalry
of murderers, I was prevented from being a second time muti
lated or killed. Many of the mob, came around and
treated me with apparent respect, and the officers and people
generally looked upon me as a hostage, and feared that ray
removal would be the signal for the rising of the "Mormons."
I do not remember the time that I staid at Carthage, but I
think three or four days after the murder, when Brother Marks
with a carriage, Brother James Allred with a wagon, Dr. Ells,
and a number of others on horseback, came for the purpose of
taking me to Nauvoo. I was very weak at the time, occa
sioned by the loss of blood and the great discharge of my
wounds, so when my wife asked me if I could talk I could
barely whisper no. Quite a discussion arose as to the pro
priety of my removal, the physicians and people of Carthage
protesting that it would be my death, while my friends were
anxious for my removal if possible.
I suppose the former were actuated by the above-named
desire to keep me. Colonel Jones was, I believe, sincere ; he
had acted as a friend all the time, and he told Mrs. Taylor she
ought to persuade me not to go, for he did not believe I had
strength enough to reach Nauvoo^ It was finally agreed, how
ever, that I should go ; but as it was thought that I 'could not

62 INTRODUCTORY.
stand riding in a wagon or carriage, they prepared a litter for
me ; I was carried down stairs and put upon it. A number of
men assisted to carry me, some of whom had been engaged in
the mob. As soon as I got down stairs, I felt much better and
strengthened, so that I could talk ; I suppose the effect of the
fresh air.
When we had got near the outside of the town I remembered
some woods that we had to go through, and telling a person
near to call for Dr. Ells, who was riding a very good horse, I
said, "Doctor, I perceive that the people are getting fatigued
with carrying me ; a number of "Mormons" live about two or
three miles from here, near our route; will you ride to their
settlement as quick as possible, and have them come and meet
us?" He started off on a gallop immediately. My object in
this was to obtain protection in case of an attack, rather than to
obtain help to carry me.
Very soon after the men from Carthage made one excuse
after another, until they had all left, and I felt glad to get rid
of them. I found that the tramping of those carrying me pro
duced violent pain, and a sleigh was produced and attached to
the hind end of Brother James Allred's wagon, a bed placed
upon it, and I propped up on the bed. Mrs. Taylor rode with
me, applying ice and ice-water to my wounds. As the sleigh
was dragged over the grass on the prairie, which was quite tall,
it moved very easily and gave me very little pain.
When I got within five or six miles of Nauvoo the brethren
commenced to meet me from the city, and they increased in
number as we drew nearer, until there was a very large com
pany of people of all ages and both sexes, principally, however,
men. For some time there had been almost incessant .rain, so that
in many low places on the prairie it was from one to three feet
deep in water, and at such places the brethren whom we met
took hold of the sleigh, lifted it, and carried it over the water ;
and when we arrived in the neighborhood of the city, where
the roads were excessively muddy and bad, the brethren tore
down the fences, and we passed through the fields.
Never shall I forget the difference of feeling that I experi
enced between the place that I had left and the one that I had
now arrived at. I had left a lot of reckless, bloodthirsty

INTRODUCTORY. 63
murderers," and had come to the City of the Saints, the
people of the living God; friends of truth and righteous
ness, thousands of whom stood there with warm, true hearts to
offer their friendship and services, and to welcome my return.
It is true it was a painful scene, and brought sorrowful remem-
berance to mind, but to me it caused a thrill of joy to find
myself once more in the bosom of my friends, and to meet with
the cordial welcome of true, honest hearts. What was very
remarkable, I found myself very much better after my arrival
at Nauvoo than I was when I started on my journey, although
I had traveled eighteen miles.
The next day, as some change was wanting, I told Mrs.
Taylor that if she could send to Dr. Richards, he had my purse
and watch, and they would find money in my purse.
Previous to the doctor leaving Carthage, I told him that he
had better take my purse and watch, foi I was afraid the
people would steal them. The doctor had taken my panta
loons' pocket, and put the watch in it with the purse, cut .off
the pocket, and tied a string around the top; it was in this
position when brought home. My family, however, were not
a little startled to find that my watch had been struck with a
ball. I sent for my vest, and, upon examination, it was found
that there was a cut as if with a knife, in the vest pocket which
had contained my watch. In the pocket the fragments of the
glass were found literally ground to powder. It then occurred
to me that a ball had stuck me at the time I felt myself falling
out of the window, and that it was this force that threw me in
side. I had often remarked to Mrs. Taylor the singular fact of
finding myself inside the room, when I felt a moment before
after being shot, that I was falling out, and I never could
account for it until then ; but here the thing was fully eluci
dated, and was rendered plain to my mind. I was indeed fall
ing out, when some villain aimed at my heart. The ball struck
my watch, and forced me back ; if I had fallen out I should
assuredly have been killed, if not by the fall, by those around,
and this ball, intended to dispatch me, was turned by an over
ruling Providence into a messenger of mercy, and saved my
life. I shall never forget the feelings of gratitude that I then
experienced towards my heavenly Father; the whole scene
was vividly portrayed before me, and my heart melted before

64 INTRODUCTORY.
the Lord. I felt that the Lord had preserved me by a special
act of mercy ; that my time had not yet come, and that I had
still a work to perform upon the earth.
(Signed), John Taylor.

? ¦ **-

THE MORMONS

A DISCOURSE DELIVERED BEFORE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OP PENNSYLVANIA, MARCH 26, 1850.

BY THOMAS L. KANE.

A few years ago, ascending the Upper Mississippi in the
autumn, when its waters were low, I was compelled to travel
by land past the regions of the rapids. My road lay through
the half-breed track, a fine section of Iowa, which the unset
tled state of its land titles had appropriated as a sanctuary
for coiners, horse-thieves, and other outlaws. I had left my
steamer at Keokuk, at the foot of the Lower Fall, to hire a
carriage, and to contend for some fragments of a dirty meal
with the swarming flies, the only scavengers of the locality.
From this place to where the deep water of the river returns,
my eye wearied to see everywhere sordid, vagabond and idle
settlers; and a country marred, without being improved, by
their carelss hands. I was descending the last hill-side upon
my journey, when a landscape in delightful contrast broke
upon my view. Half encircled by a bend of the river, a
beautiful city lay glittering in the fresh morning sun; M
bright new dwellings, set in cool, green gardens, ranging up
around a stately dome-shaped hill, which was crowned by a
noble marble edifice, whose high tapering spire was radiant
with white and gold. The city appeared to cover several
miles; and beyond it, in the, back-ground, there rolled off a
fair country, chequered by the careful lines of fruitful hus
bandry. The unmistakable marks of industry, enterprise,
and educated wealth everywhere, made the scene one of singu-

INTRODUCTORY. 65
lar and most striking beauty. It was a natural impulse to
visit this inviting region. I procured a skiff, and, rowing
across the river, landed at the chief wharf of the city. No
one met me there. I looked and saw no one. I could hear
no one move; though the quiet everywhere was such that I
heard the flies buzz, and the watter-ripples break against the
shadows of the beach. I walked through the solitary streets.
The town lay as in a dream, under some deadening spell of
loneliness,- from which I almost feared to wake it; for plainly
it had not slept long. There was no grass growing up in the
paved ways; rains had not entirely washed away the prints
of dusty footsteps.
Yet I went about unchecked. I went into empty work
shops, rope-walks and smithies. The spinner's wheel was
idle, the carpenter had gone from his work -bench and shav
ings, his unfinished sash and casing. Fresh bark was in the
tanner's vat, and the fresh-chopped lightwood stood piled
against the baker's oven. The blacksmith's shop was cold,
but his coal heap and ladling pool and crooked water-horn
were all there, as if he had just gone off for a holiday. No
work-people anywhere looked to know my errand.
If I went into the gardens, clinking the wicket-latch loudly
after me, to pull the marigolds, heartsease, and lady-slippers,
and draw a drink with the water-sodden well-bucket and its
noisy chain : or, knocking off with my stick the tall, heavy-
headed dahlias and sun-flowers, hunted over the beds for
cucumbers and love-apples — no one called out to me from any
opened window, or dog sprang forward to bark an alarm.
I could have supposed the people hidden in the houses,
but the doors were unfastened ; and when, at last, I timidly
entered them, I found dead ashes white upon the hearths, and
had to tread a-tiptoe, as if walking down the aisle of a country
church, to avoid arousing irreverent echoes from the naked
floors. On the outskirts of the town was the city grave-yard
but there was no record of < plague there, nor did it anywise
differ much , from other Protestant American cemeteries-
Some of the mounds were not long sodded; some of the. stones
were newly set, their dates recent, and their black inscriptions
glossy in the mason's hardly-dried lettering ink. Beyond the
grave-yard, out in the fields, I saw, in one spot hard by where

66 INTRODUCTORY.
the fruited boughs of a young orchard had been roughly torn
down, the still smouldering embers of a barbecue fire, that
had been constructed of rails from the fencing around it. It
was the latest sign of life there. Fields upon fields of heavy-
headed yellow grain lay rotting ungathered upon the ground
No one was at hand to take in their rich harvest.
As far as the eye could reach, they stretched away — they,
sleeping too, in the hazy air of autumn. Only two --portions
of the city seemed to suggest the import of this mysterious
solitude. On the eastern suburb, the houses looking out upon
the country showed, by their splintered wood-work and walls
battered to the foundation, that they had lately been the
marks of a destructive cannonade. And in and around the
splendid Temple, which had been the chief object of my
admiration, armed men were barracked, surrounded by their
stacks of musketry, and pieces of heavy ordnance. These
challenged me to render an account of myself, and why I
had the temerity to cross the water without a written permit
from a leader of their band.
Though these men were generally more or less under the
influence of ardent spirits, after I had explained myself as a pass
ing stranger, they seemed anxious to gain my good opinion.
They told the story of the dead city; that had been a notable
manufacturing and commercial mart, sheltering over 20,000
persons; that they had waged war with its inhabitants' for
several years, and had finally been successful only a few days
before my visit, in an action fought in front of the ruined
suburb ; after which, they had driven them forth at the point
of the sword. The defense, they said, had been obstinate, but
gave way on the third day's bombardment. They boasted
greatly of their prowess, especially in this battle, as they called
it; but I discovered they were not of one mind as to certain
of the exploits that had distinguished it, one of which, as I
remember, was, that they had slain a father and his son, a
boy of fifteen, not long residents of the fated city, whom they
admitted to have borne a character without reproach.
They also conducted me inside the massive sculptured walls
of the curious temple, in which they said the banished inhab
itants were accustomed to celebrate the mystic rites of an
unhallowed worship. They particularly pointed out to me

INTRODUCTORY. 67
certain features of the building, which, having been the pecu
liar objects of a former superstitious regard, they had, as a
matter of duty, sedulously defiled and defaced. The reputed
sites of certain shrines they had thus particularly noticed;
and. various sheltered chambers, in one of which was a deep
well, constructed, they believed, with a dreadful design. Beside
these they led me to see a large and deep-chiselled marble
vase or basin, supported upon twelve oxen, also of marble, and
of the size of life, of which they told some romantic stories.
They said the deluded persons, most of whom were emigrants
from a great distance, believed their Deity countenanced their
reception here of a baptism of regeneration, as proxies for
whomsoever they held in warm affection in the countries from
which they had come. That here parents "went into the
water" for their lost children, children for their parents, wid
ows for their spouses, and young persons for their lovers ; that
thus the great vase came to be for them associated with all
dear and distant memories, and was therefore the object, of all
others in the building, to which they attached the greatest
degree of idolatrous affection. On this account, the victors
had so diligently desecrated it, as to render the apartment in
which it was contained too noisome to abide in.
They permitted me also to ascend into the steeple, to see
where it had been lightning-struck the Sabbath before ; and to
look out, east and south, "on wasted farms like those I had seen
near the city, extending till they were lost in the distance-
Here, in the face of pure day, close to the scar of the divine
wrath left by the thunderbolt, were fragments of food, cruses
of liquor, and broken drinking vessels, with a bass drum
and a steamboat signal bell, of which I afterwards learned the
use with pain.
It was after nightfall, when I was ready to cross the river
on my return. The wind had. freshened since the sunset,
and, the water beating roughly into my little boat, I headed
higher up the stream than the point I had left in the morning,
and landed where a faint glimmering light invited me to steer.
Here, among the dock and rushes, sheltered only by the
darkness, without roof beween them and the sky, I came upon
a crowd of several hundred human creatures, whom my
movements roused from uneasy slumber upon the ground.

68 INTRODUCTORY.
Passing these on my way to the light, I found it came from
a tallow candle, in a paper funnel shade, such as is used by
street venders of apples and peanuts, and which, flaring and
guttering away in the bleak air of the water, shone flicker-
ingly on the' emaciated features of a man in the last stage of a
bilious, remittent fever. They had done their best for him.
Over his head was something like a tent, made of a sheet or
two, and he rested on a but partially ripped open old straw
mattress, with a hair sofa cushion under his head for a pillow.
His gaping jaw and glazing eye told how short a time he
would monopolize these luxuries; though a seemingly
bewildered and excited person, who might have been his wife
seemed to find hope in occasionally forcing him to swallow
awkwardly measured sips of the tepid river water, from a
burned and battered bitter-smelling tin coffee-pot.- Those who
knew better had furnished the apothecary he needed ; a tooth
less old bald-head, whose manner had the repulsive dullness
of a man familiar with death scenes. He, so long as I
remained, mumbled in his patient's ear a monotonous and
melancholy prayer, between the pauses of which I heard the
hiccup and sobbing of two little girls who were sitting upon
a piece of drift-wood outside.
Dreadful, indeed, was the suffering of these forsaken beings j
bowed and cramped by cold and sunburn, alternating as
each weary day and night dragged on, they were, almost all
of them, the crippled victims of disease. They were there.1
because they had no homes, nor hospital, nor poor-house, nor
friends to offer them any. They could not satisfy the feeble
cravings of their sick ; they had not bread to quiet the frac
tious hunger-cries of their children. Mothers and babes,
daughters and grand-parents, all of them alike, were bivouacked
in tatters, wanting even covering to comfort those whom the
sick shivers of fever were searching to the marrow.
These were Mormons, famishing in Lee County, Iowa, in
the fourth week of the month of September, in the year of
our Lord 1846. The city — it was Nauvoo, Illinois. The
Mormons were the owners of that city, and the .smiling
country around. And those who had stopped their plough?)
who had silenced their hammers, their axes, their shuttles'
and their workshop wheels ; those who had put out their fires'

INTRODUCTORY. 69
who had eaten their food, spoiled their orchards, and trampled
under foot their thousands of acres of unharvested bread;
these were the keepers of their dwellings, the carousers in
their temple, whose drunken riot insulted the ears of their
dying. I think it was as I turned from the wretched night watch,
of which I have spoken, tbat I first listened to the sounds of
revel of a party of the guard" within the city. Above the
distant hum of the voices of many, occasionally rose distinct
the loud oath-tainted exclamation, and the falsely intonated
scrap of vulgar song; but lest this requiem should go
unheeded, every now and then, when their boisterous orgies
strove to attain a sort of ecstatic climax, a cruel spirit of
insulting frolic carried some of them up into a high belfry of
the temple steeple, and there, with the wicked childishness of
inebriates, they whooped and shrieked, and beat the drum
that I had seen, and rang in charivaric unison their loud-
tongued steam-boat bell.
They were, all told, not more than six hundred and forty
persons'who were thus lying on the river flats. But the Mor
mons in Nauvoo and its dependencies had been numbered the
year, before at over twenty thousand. -Where were they?
They had last been seen, carrying in mournful trains, their
sick ' and wounded, halt and blind, to disappear behind the
western horizon, pursuing the phantom of another home.
Hardly anything else was known of them: and people asked
with curiosity, "What had been their fate — what' their fortunes?"
I purpose making these questions the subject of my Lecture.
Since the expulsion of the Mormons, to the present date, I have
been intimately conversant with the details of their history.
But I shall invite your attention most particulary to an
account of what happened to them during their first year in
the wilderness ; because at this time more than any other, being
lost to public view, they were the subjects of fable and miscon
ception. Happily it was during this period I myself moved
with them ; and earned at a dear price, as some among, you
are aware, my right to speak with authority of them and their
character, their trials, achievements, and intentions.
The party encountered by me at the river shore were the
last of the Mormons that left the city. They had all of them

70 INTRODUCTORY.
engaged the year before, that they would vacate their
homes, and seek some other place of refuge. It had been
the condition of a truce between them and their assailants ;
and as an earnest of their 'good faith, the chief elders, and some
others of obnoxious standing, with their families, were to set
out for the west in the spring of 1846. It had been stipulated
in return that the rest of the Mormons might remain behind
in the peaceful enjoyment of their Illinois abode, until
their leaders, with their exploring party, could with all dili
gence select for them a new place of settlement beyond the
Rocky Mountains, in California, or elsewhere, and until they had
opportunity to dispose, to the best advantage, of the property
which they were then to leave.
Some renewed symptoms of hostile feeling had, however,
determined the pioneer party to begin their work before spring.
It was, of course, anticipated that this would be a perilous
service; but it was regarded as a matter of self-denying duty.
The ardor and emulation of many, particularly the young
and the devout, were stimulated by the difficulties it involved ;
and the ranks of the party were therefore filled up with volun
teers from among the most effective and responsible members
of the sect. They began their march in mid winter ; and by
the beginning of February, nearly all of them were on the
road, many of their wagons having crossed the Mississippi on
the ice.
Under the most favoring circumstances, an expedition of
this sort, undertaken at such a season of the year, could
scarcely fail to be disastous.* But the pioneer company
had to set out in haste, and were very imperfectly supplied
with necessaries. The cold was intense. They moved in the
teeth of keen-edged north-west winds, such as sweep down the
Iowa peninsula •from the ice-bound regions of the timber-
shaded Slave Lake and Lake of the Woods : on the bald prai
rie there, nothing above the dead grass breaks their free course
over the hard rolled hills. Even along the the scattered water
courses, where they broke the thick ice to give their cattle
drink, the annual autumn fires had left little wood of value.
The party, therefore, often wanted for good camp fires, the first
*  Nine children were born the first night the women camped out.
"Sugar Creek," February 5.

INTRODUCTORY. 71
luxury of all travelers; but to men insufficiently furnished
with tents, and other appliances of shelter, almost an essential
to life. After days of fatigue, their nights were often passed
in restless efforts to save themselves from freezing. Their
stock of food also proved inadequate; and as their systems,
became impoverished, their suffering from cold increased.
Sickened with catarrhal affections, manacled by the dread
fully acute fetters of rheumatisms, some contrived for awhile,
to get over the shortening day's march, and drag along some-
others. But the sign of an impaired circulation soon began
to show itself in the liability of all to be dreadfully frost-bitten.
The hardiest and strongest became helplessly crippled. About.
the same time the strength of their beasts of draught began to.
fail. The small supply of provender they could carry with
them had given out. The winter-bleached prairie straw
proved devoid of nourishment; and they could only keep
them from starving by seeking for the browse, as it is called,
or green bark and tender buds and branches of the cotton-
wood, and other stinted growths of the hollows.
To return to Nauvoo was apparently the only escape ; but
this would have been to give occasion for fresh mistrust, and
so to bring new trouble to those they had left there behind
them. They resolved at least to hold their ground, and to
advance as they might, were it only limping through the deep
snows a few small miles a day. They found a sort of comfort
in comparing themselves to the exiles of Siberia;* and sought
cheerfulness in earnest prayings for the spring — longed for as
morning by the tossing sick.
The spring came at last. It overtook them in the Sac and
Fox country, still on the naked prairie, not yet half way over-
the trail they were following between the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. But it brought its own share of troubles with
it. The months with which it opened proved nearly as trying
as the worst of winter.
The snow, and sleet, and rain which fell, as it appeared to
them, without intermission, made the road over the rich prai-
*  "One of the company having a copy of Mdme Cottin's "Elizabeth," it,
was so sought after that some read it from the wagons by moonlight. They
were materially sustained, too, by the practice of psalmody, "keeping up tho-
songs of Zion, and passing along DoxoWioa froir front to rear when the breath
froze on their eyelashes. "'

72 INTRODUCTORY.
rie soil as impassable as one vast bog of heavy black mud.
Sometimes they would fasten the horses and oxen of four or
five wagons to one, and attempt' to get ahead in this way,
taking turns; but at the close of a hard day of toil for them
selves and their cattle, they would find themselves a quarter
or half a mile from the place they left in the morning. The
heavy rains raised all the water courses: the most trifling
streams were impassible. Wood fit for bridging was often not to
be had, and in such cases the only resource was to halt for the
freshets to subside ; a matter, in the case of the headwaters of
the Chariton for instance, of over three weeks' delay.
These were dreary waitings upon Providence. The most
spirited and steady murmured most at their forced inactivity.
And even the women, whose heroic spirits had been proof
against the lowest thermometric fall, confessed their tempers
fluctuated with the ceaseless variations of the barometer. They
complained, too, that the health of their children suffered more.
It was the fact, that the open winds of March and April
brought with them more mortal sickness than the sharpest
freezing weather.
The frequent burials made the hardiest sicken. On the
soldier's march it is matter of dicipline, that after the rattle of
musketry over his comrade's grave he shall tramp it to the
music of some careless tune in a lively quick step. But, in the
Mormon camp, the companion who lay ill and gave up the
ghost in view of all, all saw he lay stretched a corpse, and all
attend to his last resting-place. It was a sorrow then, too, of
itself, to simple-hearted people, the deficient pomps of their
imperfect style of funeral. The general hopefulness of human
— including Mormon — nature, was well illustrated by the fact,
that the most provident were found unfurnished with under
taker's articles; so that bereaved affection was driven to
melancholy makeshifts.
The best expedient generally was to cut down a log of some
eight or nine feet long, and slitting it longitudinally, strip off
its dark bark in two half cylinders. These, placed around
the body of the deceased, and bound firmly together with
withes made of the alburnum, formed a rough sort of
tubular cofm, which surviving relatives and friends, with a
little show of black crape, could follow with its enclosure to the

INTRODUCTORY. 73
hole, or bit of ditch dug to receive it in the wet ground of the
prairie. They grieved to lower it down so poorly clad, and in
such an unheeded grave. It was hard— was it right?— thus
hurriedly to plunge it in one of the undistinguishable " waves
of the great land sea, and leave it behind them there, under
the cold north rain, abandoned, to be forgotten. They had
no tombstones, nor could they find a rock to pile the monu
mental cairn. So when they had filled up the grave, and
over it prayed a miserere prayer, and tried to sing a hopeful
psalm, their last office was to seek out landmarks, or call in
the surveyor to help them determine the bearings of valley
bends, headlands, or forks and angles of constant streams, by
which its position should in the future be remembered and
recognized. The name of the beloved person, his age, the
date of his death, and these marks were all registered with
care. His party was then ready to move on. Such graves
mark all the line of the first years of Mormon travel —
dispiriting milestones to failing stragglers in the rear.
It is an error to estimate largely the number of Mormons
dead of starvation, strictly speaking. Want developed dis
ease, and made them sink under fatigue, and maladies that
would otherwise have proved trifling. But only those died of
it outright who fell in out-of-the-way places that the hand of
brotherhood could not reach. Among the rest no such thing
as plenty was known, while any went an hungered. If but a
part of a group was supplied with provision, the only result
was that the whole went on the half or quarter ration, accord
ing to the sufficiency that there was among them ; and this so
ungrudgingly and contentedly, that, till some crisis of trial to
their strength, they were themselves unaware that their
health was sinking, and their vital force impaired.
Hale young men gave up their own provided food and
shelter to the old and helpless, and walked their way back to
parts of the frontier States, chiefly Missouri and Iowa, where
they were not recognized, and hired themselves out for wages,
to purchase more. Others were sent there to exchange for
meal and flour, or wheat and corn, the table and bed furni
ture, and other last resources of personal property which a few
had still retained.

74 INTRODUCTORY.
In a kindred spirit of fraternal, forecast, others laid out
great farms in the wilds, and planted in them the grain saved
for their own bread, that there might be harvests for those
who should follow them. Two of these in the Sac and Fox
country, and beyond it, (Garden Grove and Mount Pisgah),
included within their fences about two miles of land apiece,
carefully planted in grain, with a hamlet of comfortable log
- cabins in the neighborhood of each.
Through all this the pioneers found redeeming comfort in
the thought that their own suffering was the price of immu
nity to their friends at home. But the arrival of spring
proved this a delusion. Before the warm weather had made
the earth dry enough for easy travel, messengers came in from
Nauvoo to overtake the party, with fear, exaggerated tales of
outrage, and to urge the chief men to hurry back to the city,
that they might give counsel and assistance there. The
enemy had only wafted till the emigrants were supposed to be
gone on their road too far to return to interfere with them,
and then renewed their aggressions.
The Mormons outside Nauvoo were indeed hard pressed;
but inside the city they maintained themselves very well for
two or three months longer. ,.
Strange to say, the chief part of this respite was devoted to
completing the structure of their quaintly-devised but beauti
ful temple. Since the dispersion of Jewry, probably, history
affords us no parallel to the attachment of the Mormons for
this edifice. Every architectural element, every most fantastic
emblem it embodied, was associated, for them, with some
cherished feature of their religion. Its erection had been
enjoined upon them as a most sacred duty. They were proud
of the honor it conferred upon their city, when it grew up in
its splendor to besome the chief object of the admiration'of
strangers upon the Upper Mississippi. Besides they had built
it as a labor of love; they could count up to half a million
the value of their tithings and free-will offerings laid upon it.
Hardly a Mormon woman had not given up to it some trinket
or pin-money ; the poorest Mormon man had at least served
the tenth part of his year on its walls ; and the coarsest artizan
could turn to it with something of the ennobling attachment
of an artist for his fair creation. Therefore, though their

INTRODUCTORY. 75
enemies drove on them ruthlessly, they succeeded in parrying
the last sword-thrust, till they had completed even the gilding
of the angel and trumpet on the summit of its lofty spire..
As a closing work, they placed on the entablature of the front,
like a baptismal mark on the forehead,
THE HOUSE OP THE LORD.
Bwilt by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
HOLINESS TO THE LORD !
Then at high noon, under the bright sunshine of May, the
next only after its completion, they consecrated it to divine
service. There was a carefully studied ceremonial for the
occasion. It was said the high Elders of the sect traveled
furtively from the camp of Israel in the wilderness, and,
throwing off ingenious disguises, appeared in their own robes
of holy office, to give it splendor.
For that one day the temple stood resplendent in all its
typical glories of sun, moon, and stars, and other abounding
figured and lettered signs, hieroglyphs, and symbols: but that
day only! The sacred rites of consecration ended, the work
of removing the sacro sancta proceeded with the rapidity of
magic. It went on through the night ; and when the morn
ing of the next day dawned, all the ornaments and furniture,
everything that could provoke a sneer had been carried off;
and except some fixtures that would not bear removal, the
building was dismantled to the bear walls.
It was this day saw the departure of the last Elders, and
the largest band that moved in one company together. The
people of Iowa have told me, that from morning to night
they passed westward like an endless procession. They did
not seem greatly out of heart, they said, but at the top of
every hill, before they disappeared, were to be seen looking
back, like banished Moors, on their abandoned homes, and
the far-seen temple and its glittering spire.
After this consecration, which was construed to indicate
an insincerity on the part of the Mormons as to their stipu
lated departure, or at least a hope of return, their foes set upon
them with renewed bitterness. As many fled as were at all
prepared; but by the very fact of their so decreasing the
already diminished forces of the city's defenders, they encour-

76 INTRODUCTORY.
aged the enemy to greater boldness. It soon became apparent
that nothing short of an immediate emigration could save
the remnant.
From this time onward the energies of those already on the
road were engrossed by the duty of providing for the fugitives
who came crowding in after them. At a last general meeting
of the sect in Nauvoo, there had been passed an unanimous
resolve that they would sustain one another, whatever their
circumstances, upon the march; and this, though made in
view of no such appalling exigency, they now with one accord
set themselves together to carry out.
Here begins the touching period of Mormon history; on
which, but that it is for me a hackneyed subject, I should be
glad to dwell, were it only for the proof it has afforded of the
strictly material value to communities of an active common
faith, and its happy illustrations of the power of the spirit of
Christian fraternity to relieve the deepest of human suffering.
I may assume that it has already fully claimed the public
sympathy. Delayed thus by their own wants, and by their exertions to
provide for the wants of others, it was not till the month of
June that the advance of the emigrant companies arrived at
the Missouri.
This body, I remember, I had to join there, ascending the
river for the purpose from Fort Leavenworth, which was at
that time our frontier post. The Fort was the interesting
rendezvous of the Army of the West, and the head quarters
of its gallant' chief, Stephen F. Kearney, whose guest and
friend I account it my honor to have been. Many as were the
reports daily received at the garrison from all portions of the
Indian Territory, it was a significant fact, how little authentic
intelligence was to be obtained concerning the Mormons.
Even the regions in which they were to be sought after, was
a question not attempted to be designated with accuracy,
except by what are very well called in the West "Mormon sto
ries," none of which bore any sifting. One of these averred,
that a party of Mormons, in spangled crimson robes of office,
headed by one in black velvet and silver, had been teaching
a Jewish pow-wow to the medicine men of the Sauks and
Foxes. "Another averred that they were going about in

INTRODUCTORY. 77
buffalo robe short frocks, imitative of the costume of Saint
John, preaching baptism and the instance of the kingdom of
heaven among the Iowas. To believe one report, ammuni
tion and whisky had been received by Indian braves at the
hands of an Elder with a flowing white beard, who spoke
Indian, he alleged, because he had the gift of tongues — this,
as far north as the country of the Yankton Sioux. Accord
ing to another yet, which professed to be derived officially
from at least one Indian sub-agent, the Mormons had distrib
uted the scarlet uniforms of H. B. M's servants among the
Pottawatamies, and had carried into their country twelve
pieces of brass cannon, which were counted by a traveler as
they were rafted across the East Fork of Grand river, one of
the northern tributaries of the Missouri. The narrators of
these pleasant stories were at variance as to the position of the
Mormons by a couple of hundred leagues; but they harmo
nized in the warning, that to seek certain of the leading camps,
would be to meet the treatment of a spy.
Almost at the outset of my journey from Fort Leavenworth,
while yet upon the edge of the Indian border, I had the good
fortune to fall in with a couple of thin-necked sallow persons,
in patchwork pantaloons, conducting northward wagon loads
of Indian corn, which they had obtained, according to their
own account, in barter from a squatter for some silver spoons^
and a feather bed. Their character was disclosed by then-
eager request of a bite from my wallet; in default of which,
after a somewhat superfluous scriptural grace, they made an
imperfect lunch before me off the softer of their corn ears
eating the grains as horses do from the cob. I took their
advice to follow up the Missouri; somewhere not far from
which, in the Pottowatamie country, they were sure I would
encounter one of their advancing companies.
I had bad weather on the road. Excessive heats, varied
<Jnly by repeated drenching thunder squalls, knocked up my
horse, my only traveling companion, and otherwise added to
the ordinary hardships of a kind of life, to which I was as
yet little accustomed. I suffered a sense of discomfort, there
fore, amounting to physicial nostalgia, and was, in fact,
wearied to death of the staring silence of the prairie, before I
came upon the objects of my search.

78 INTRODUCTORY.
They were collected a little distance above the Pottawatamie
Agency. The hills of the "High Prairie" crowding in upon
the river at this point, and overhanging it, appear of an
unusual and commanding elevation. They are called the
Council Bluffs; a name given them with another meaning,
but well illustrated by the picturesque congress of their high
and mighty summits. To the south of them, a rich alluvial
flat of considerable width follows down the Missouri, some
eight miles, to where it is lost from view at a turn, which
forms the site of an Indian town of Point aux Poules. Across
the river from this spot the hills recur again, but are skirted
at their base by as much low ground as suffices for a landing-
This landing, and the large flat or bottom on the east side
of the river, were crowded with covered carts and wagons; and
each one of the Council Bluff hills opposite, was crowned with
its own great camp, gay with bright white canvas, and alivei
with busy stir of swarming occupants. In the clear blue morn
ing air the smoke steamed up from more than a thousand cook
ing fires. Countless roads and by-paths checkered all manner of
geometric figures on the hill sides. Herd boys were' dozing
upon the slopes; sheep and horses, cows and oxen, were feed
ing around them, and other herds in the luxuriant meadow of
the then swollen river. From a single point I counted four
thousand head of cattle in view at one time. As I approached
it seemed to me the children there were to prove still more
numerous. Along a little creek I had to cross were women in
greater force than blanchisseuses upon the Seine, washing and
rinsing all manner of white muslins, red flannels, and parti
colored calicoes, and hanging them to bleach upon a greater
area of grass and bushes than we can display in all our Wash
ington Square.
Hastening by these, I saluted a group of noisy boys, whose
purely vernacular cries had for me an invincible home-
savoring attraction. It was one of them, a bright-faced lafl,
who, hurrying on his jacket and trowsers, fresh from bathing in
the creek, first assured me I was at my right destination. He
was a mere child ; but he told me of his own accord where I
had best go and seek my welcome, and took my horse's bridle
to help me pass a morass, the bridge over which he alleged
to be unsafe.

INTRODUCTORY. 79
There was something joyous for me in my rambles about
this vast body of pilgrims. I could range the wild country
wherever I listed, under safeguard of their moving host.
Not only in the main camps was all stir and life, but in every
direction, it seemed to me I could follow "Mormon roads,"
and find them beaten hard, and even dusty, by the tread and
wear of the cattle and vehicles of emigrants laboring over
them. By day, I would overtake and pass, one after another,
what amounted to an army train of them ; and at night, if I
encamped at the places where the timber and running water
were found together, I was almost sure to be within call of
some camp or other, or at least within sight of its watch-fires.
Wherever I was compelled to tarry, I was certain to find
shelter and hospitality, scant, indeed, but never stinted, and
always honest and kind. After a recent unavoidable associa
tion with the border inhabitants of Western Missouri and
Iowa, the vile scum which our own society, to apply the words
of an admirable gentleman and eminent divine,* "like the
great ocean washes upon its frontier shores," I can scarcely
describe the gratification I felt in associating again with
persons who were almost all of Eastern American origin — per
sons of refined and cleanly habits and decent language, and
observing their peculiar and interesting mode of life ; while
every day seemed to bring with it its own special incident,
fruitful in the illustration of habits and character.
It was during the period of which I have just spoken, that
the Mormon battalion of 520 men was recruited and marched
for the Pacific Coast.
At the commencement of the Mexican war, the President
considered it desirable to march a body of reliable infantry to
Caliornia at as early a period as practicable, and the known
hardihood and habits of dicipline of the Mormons, were
supposed peculiarly to fit them for this service. As California
was supposed also to be their ultimate destination, the long
march might cost them less than other citizens. They were
accordingly invited to furnish a battalion of volunteers early
in the month of July.
The call could hardly have been more inconveniently
timed. The young, and those who could best have been
*  Reverend Dr. Morton, of Philadelphia.

80 INTRODUCTORY.
spared, were then away from the main body, either with pio
neer companies in the van, or, their faith unannounced, seek
ing work and food about the north-western settlements, to
support them till the return of the season for commencing
emigration. The force was therefore to be recruited from
among the fathers of families, and others whose presence it was
most desirable to retain.
There were some, too, who could not view the invitation
without jealousy. They had twice been persuaded by (State)
government authorities in Illinois and Missouri, to give up
their arms on some special appeals to their patriotic confidencei
and had then been left to the malice of their enemies. And
now they were asked, in the midst of an Indian country, to
surrender over five hundred of their best men for a war-march
of thousands of miles to California, without the hope of return
till after the conquest of that country. Could they view such
a proposition with favor ?
But the feeling of the country triumphed. The Union had
never wronged them, "You shall have your battalion at
once, if it has to be a class of Elders," said one, himself a
ruling Elder. A central "mass meeting" for council, some
harangues at the more remotely scattered camps, an American
flag brought out from the store-house of things rescued, and
hoisted to a tree mast — and, in three days, the force was reported
mustered, organized, and ready to march.
There was no sentimental affectation at their leave-taking.
The afternobn before was appropriated to a farewell ball ; and
a more merry dancing rout I have never seen, though
the company went without refreshments, and their ball-room
was of the most primitive. It was the custom, whenever the
larger camps rested for a few days together, to make great
arbors, or boweries, as they called them, of poles, and brushi
and wattling, as places of shelter for their meetings of devotion
or conference. In one of these, where the ground had been
trodden firm and hard by the worshipers of the popular
Father Taylor's precinct, was gathered now the mirth and
beauty of the Mormon Israel.
If anything told the Mormons had been bred to other
lives, it was the appearance of the women, as they assembled
here. Before their flight, they had sold their watches and

INTRODUCTORY. 81
trinkets as the most available resource for raising ready
money; and, hence, like their partners, who wore waistcoats
cut with useless watch pockets, they, although their ears were
pierced and bore the loop-marks of rejected pendants, were
without ear-rings, finger-rings, chains, or brooches. Except
such ornaments, however, they lacked nothing most becoming
the attire of decorous maidens. The neatly darned white
stocking, and clean, bright petticoat, the artistically clear
starched collar and chemisette, the something faded, only
because too well washed, lawn or gingham gown, that fitted
modishly to the waist of the pretty wearer — these, if any of
them spoke of poverty, spoke of a poverty that had known
its better days.
With the rest, attended the Elders of the Church within
call, including nearly all the chiefs of the High Council, with
their wives and children. They, the gravest and most trouble-
worn, seemed the most anxious of any to be the first to throw
off the burden of heavy thoughts. Their leading off the
dancing in a great double cotillion, was the signal bade the
festivity commence. To the canto of debonair violins, the
cheer of horns, the jingle of sleigh bells, and the jovial snor
ing of the tambourine, they did dance ! None of your minuets
or other mortuary processions of gentles in etiquette, tight
shoes, and" pinching gloves, but the spirited and scientific dis
plays of our venerated and merry grandparents, who were
not above following the fiddle to the Fox-chase Inn, or Gar
dens of Gray's Ferry. French fours, Copenhagen jigs, Virginia
reels, and the like forgotten figures executed with the spirit of
people too happy to be slow, or bashful, or constrained. Light
hearts, lithe figures, and light feet, had it their own way from
an early hour till after the sun had dipped behind the sharp
sky-line of the Omaha hills. Silence was then called, and a
well cultivated mezzo-soprano voice, belonging to a young
lady with fair face and dark eyes, gave with quartette accom
paniment a little song, the notes of which I have been unsuc
cessful in repeated efforts to obtain since — a version of the
text, touching to all earthly wanderers:
"By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept."
"We wept when we remembered Zion."
There was danger of some expression of feeling when the
song was over, for it had begun to draw tears ! but breaking

82 INTRODUCTORY.
the quiet with his hard voice, an Elder asked the blessing'of
heaven on all who, with purity of heart and brotherhood of
spirit had mingled in that society, and then all dispersed,
hastening to cover from the falling dews. All, I remember,
but some splendid Indians, who, in cardinal scarlet blankets
and feathered leggings, had been making foreground figures
for the dancing rings, like those in Mr. West's picture of our
Philadelphia treaty, and staring their inability to comprehend
the wonderful performances. These loitered to the last, as
if unwilling to seek their abject homes.
Well as I knew the peculiar fondness of the Mormons for
music, their orchestra in service on this occasion astonished
me by its numbers and fine drill. The story was, that an
eloquent Mormon missionary had converted its members in a
body at an English town, a stronghold of the sect, and that
they took up their trumpetsj trombones, drums, and hautboys
together, and followed him to America.
When the refuges from Nauvoo were hastening to part with
their table ware, jewelery, and almost every other fragment
of metal wealth they possessed that was not iron, they had
never thought of giving up the instruments of this favorite
band. And when the battalion was enlisted, though high
inducements were offered some of the performers to accompany
it, they all refused. Their fortunes were with the camp of the
tabernacle. They had led the farewell service in the Nauvoo
temple. Their office now was to guide the monster choruses
and Sunday hymns; and like the trumpets of silver, made
of a whole piece, "for the calling of the assembly, and for the
journeying of the camps," to knoll the people into church.
Some of their wind instruments, indeed, were uncommonly
full and pure-toned, and in that clear, dry air could be heard
to a great dsitance. It had the strangest effect in the world,
to listen to their sweet music winding over the uninhabited
country. Something in the style of a Moravian death-tune
blown at day-break, but altogether unique. It might be when
you were hunting a ford over the great Platte, the dreariest
of all wild rivers, perplexed among the far-reaching sand
bars, and curlew shallows of its shifting bed — the wind rising
would bring you the first faint thought of a melody; and as
you listened borne down upon the gust that swept past you a

INTRODUCTORY. 83
cloud of the dry sifted sands, you recognized it — perhaps a
home-loved theme of Henry Proch or Mendelssohn. Mendels
sohn Bartholdy, away there in the Indian marches !
The battalion gone, the host again moved on. The tents
which had gathered on the hill summits, like white birds
hesitating to venture on the long flight over the river, were
struck one after another, and the dwellers in them, and their
wagons and their cattle, hastened down to cross at a ferry in
the valley, which they made ply night and day. A little
beyond the landing they formed their companies, and made
their preparations for the last and longest stage of their
journey. It was a more serious matter to cross the mountains
then than now, that the thirst of our people for the gold of
California has made the region between them and their desire
such literal trodden ground.
Thanks to this wonderful movement. I may dismiss an effort
to describe the incidents of emigrant life upon the Plains, pre
suming that you have been made more than familiar with them
already, by the many repeated descriptions of which they
have been the subject. The desert march, the ford, the quick
sand, the Indian battle, the bison chase, the prairie fire — the
adventures of the Mormons comprised every variety of these
varieties; but I could not hope to invest them with the interest
of novelty. The character of their every-day life, its routine
and conduct, alone offered any exclusive or marked pecularity.
Their romantic devotional observances, and their admirable
concert of purpose and action, met the eye at once. After
these, the stranger was most struck, perhaps, by the strict
order of march, the unconfused closing up to meet attack, the
skillful securing of the cattle upon the halt, the system
with which the watches were set at night to guard them and
the lines of corral — with other similar circumstances indic
ative of the maintenance of a high state of discipline.
Every ten of their wagons was under the care of a captain.
This captain of ten, as they termed him, obeyed a captain of
fifty; who, in turn, obeyed his captain of a hundred, or
directly a member of what they called the high council of
the Church. All these were responsible and determined men,
approved of by the people for their courage, discretion, and
experience. So well recognized werg, the results of this organi-

84 INTRODUCTORY.
zation, that bands of hostile Indians have passed by compar
atively small parties of Mormons, to attack much larger, tbu
less compact, bodies of other emigrants.
The most striking feature, however, of the Mormon emigra
tion was undoutedly their information of the tabernacle
camps and temporary stakes or settlements, which renewed in
the sleeping solitudes, everywhere along their road, the cheer
ing signs of intelligent and hopeful life.
I will make this remark plainer by describing to you one of
these camps, with the daily routine of its inhabitants. I
select at random, for my purpose, a large camp upon the
delta between the Nebraska and Missouri, in the territory dis
puted between the Omaha and Otto, and Missouri Indians. It
remained pitched here for nearly two months, during which
period I resided in it.
It was situated near the Petit Papillon, or Little Butterfly
river, and upon some finely rounded hills that encircle a favo
rite cool spring. On each of these a square was marked out ;
and the wagons as they arrived took their positions along its
four sides in double rows, so as to leave a roomy street, or pass
age way between them. The tents were disposed also in rows,
at intervals between the wagons. The cattle were folded in
high-fenced yards outside. The quadrangle inside was left
vacant for the sake of ventilation, and the streets, covered in
with leafy arbor work, and kept scrupulously clean, formed
a shaded cloister walk. This was the place of exercise for
slowly recovering invalids, the day-home of the infants, and
the evening promenade of all.
From the first formation of the camp all its inhabitants
were constantly and laboriously occupied. Many of them were
highly educated mechanics and seemed only to need a day's
anticipated rest to engage at the forge, loom, or turning lathe,
upon some needed chore of work. A Mormon gunsmith is the
inventor of the excellent repeating rifle, that loads ' by slides
instead of cylinders ; and one of the neatest finished fire-arms
I have ever seen Was of this kind, wrought from scraps of old
iron, and inlaid with the silver of a couple of half-dollars,
under a hot July sun, in a spot where the average height of
the grass was above the workman's shoulders. I have seen a
cobbler, after the halt of .his party on the march, hunting along

INTRODUCTORY. 85
file river bank for a lapstone in the twilight, that he might fin
ish a famous boot sole by the camp fire ; and I have had a
piece of cloth, the wool of which was sheared, dyed and spun
and woven, during a progress of over three hundred miles.
Their more interesting occupations, however, were those
growing out of their peculiar circumstances and position.
The chiefs were seldom without some curious affair on hand
to settle with the restless Indians ; while the immense labor
and responsibility of the conduct of their unwieldy moving
army, and the commissariat of its hundreds of famishing poor,
also devolved upon them. They had good men they called
Bishops, whose special office it was to look up the cases of
extremest suffering; and their relief parties were out night and
day to scour over every trail.
At this time, say two months before the final expulsion from
Nauvoo, there were already, along three hundred miles of the
road between the city and our Papillon camp, over two
thousand emigrating wagons, besides a large number of nonde
script turn-outs, the motley make shifts of poverty; from the
unsuitably-heavy cart, that lumbered on mysteriously, with its
sick driver hidden under its counterpane cover, to the crazy,
two-wheeled trundle, such as our own poor employ for the con
veyance of the slop-barrels; this pulled along, it may be, by a
little dry dugged heifer, and rigged up only to drag some such
light weight as a baby, a sack of meal, or a pack of clothes
and bedding.
Some of them were in distress from losses upon the way
A strong trait of the Mormons was their kindness to their
brute dependents, and particularly to their beasts of draught.
They gave them the holiday of the Sabbath whenever it came
round : I believe they would have washed them with old wine,
after the example of the emigrant Carthagenians, had they had
any. Still, in the slave-coast heats under which the animals
had to move, they sometimes foundered. Sometimes, too, they
strayed off in the night, or were mired in morasses; or oftener
were stolen by Indians, who found market covert for such
plunder among the horse:thief whites of the frontier. But
the great mass of these pilgrims of the desert was made up of
poor folks, who had fled in destitution from Nauvoo, and been
refused a resting place by the people of Iowa.

86 INTRODUCTORY.
It is difficult fully to understand the state of helplessness in
which some of these would arrive, after accomplishing a
journey of such extent, under circumstances of so much priva
tion and peril. The fact was, they seemed to believe that all
their trouble would be at. an end if they could only come up
with their comrades at the Great Camp. For this they calcu
lated their resources, among which their power of endurance
was by much the largest and most reliable item, and they were
not disappointed if they arrived with these utterly exhausted.
I remember a single instance of this at the Papillon
camp. '
It was that of a joy ous-hearted, clever, fellow, whose songs and
fiddle tunes were the life and deli ght of Nauvoo in its merry days.
I forget his story, and how exactly it fell about, that after a
Mormon's full peck of troubles, he started after us with his
wife and little ones, from some "lying down place" in Indian
country, where he had contended with an attack of a serious
malady. He was just convalescent, and the fatigue of march
ing on foot again with' a child on his back, speedily brought,
on a relapse. But his anxiety to reach a place where he could
expect to meet friends with shelter and food, was such that he
only pressed on the harder. Probably for more than a week
of the dog-star weather, he labored on under a high fever,
walking every day till he was entirely exhausted. His limbs;
failed him then ; but his courage holding out, he got into his
covered cart, on top of its freight of baggage, and made them
drive him on, while he lay down. They could hardly believe
how ill he was, he talked on so cheerfully — "I'm nothing on
earth ailing, but home-sick : I'm cured the very minute I get
to camp and see the brethren."
Not being able thus to watch his course, he lost his way
and had to regain it through a wretched tract of low meadow,
prairie, where there were no trees to break the noon, nor
water but what was ague-sweet or brackish. By the time he
got back to the trail of the high prairie, he was, in his own
phrase, "pretty far gone !" Yet he was resolute in his purpose
as ever, and to a party he fell in with, avowed his intention to
be cured at the camp, and nowhere else! He even jested with
them, comparing his jolting couch to a summer cot in a
whitewashed cockloft. "But I'll make them take me down,"

INTRODUCTORY. 87
he said, "and give me a dip in the river when I get there.
All I care for is to see the brethren."
His determined bearing rallied the -spirit of his traveling
household, and they kept on their way till he was within a
few hours' journey of the camp. He entered on his last day's
journey with the energy of increased hope.
I remember that day well. For in the evening I mounted a
tired horse to go a short errand, and in mere pity had to turn
back before I had walked him a couple of hundred yards. Noth
ing seemed to draw life from the languid air but the clouds of
gnats and stinging midges; and long after sundown it was so
hot that the sheep lay on their stomachs panting, and the
cattle strove to lap wind like hard fagged hunting dogs. In
camp, I had spent the day in watching the invalids, and the
rest hunting the shade under the wagon bodies, and veering
about them like the shadows round the sundial. I know I
thought myself wretched enough to be of their company.
Poor Merryman had all that heat to bear, with the mere
pretense of an awning to screen out the sun from his close
muslin cockloft.
He did not fail till somewhere hard upon noon. He then
began to grow restless, to know accurately the distance traveled.
He made them give him water, too, much more freqently;
and when they stopped for this purpose, asked a number of
obscure questions. A little after this he discovered himself
that a film had come over his eyes. He confessed that this
was discouraging; but said with stubborn resignation, that if
denied to see the brethren, he still should hear the sound of
their voices.
After this, which was when he was hardly three miles from
our camp, he lay very quiet, as if husbanding his strength; but
when he had made, as is thought, a full mile further, being
interrogated by the woman that was driving, whether she
should stop, he answered her, as she avers, "No, no! go on!"
The anecdote ends badly. They brought him in dead, I
think about five o'clock of the afternoon. He had on his clean
clothes, as he had dressed himself in the morning, looking for
ward to his arrival.
Beside the common duty of guiding and assisting these
unfortunates, the companies in the van united in providing

88 INTRODUCTORY.
the highway for the entire body of emigrants. The Mormons
have laid out for themselves a road through the Indian
Territory, over four hundred leagues in length, with substan
tial, well-built bridges, fit for the passage of heavy artillery,
over all the streams, except a few great rivers where they have
established permanent ferries. The nearest unfinished bridg
ing to the Papillon camp was that of the Corne a Cerf, or Elk
Horn, a tributary of the Platte, distant, may be, a couple of hours'
march. Here, in what seemed to be an incredibly short space
of time, there rose the seven great piers and abutments of a
bridge, 'such as might challenge honors for the- entire public-
spirited population of Lower Virginia. The party detailed to
the task worked in the broiling sun, in water beyond depth,
and up to their necks, as if engaged in the perpetration- of
some pointed and delightful practical joke. The chief sport
lay in floating along with the logs, cut from the overhanging
timber up the stream, guiding them till they reached their
destination, and then plunging them under water in the
precise spot where they were to be secured. This, the laughing
engineers would execute with the agility of happy diving .
ducks. Our nearest ferry was that over the Missouri. Nearly oppo
site the Pull Point, or Point aux Poules, a trading 'post of the
American Fur Company, and village of the Pottawatamies, ;;
they had gained a favorable crossing, by making a deep cut
for the road through the steep right bank. And here, with
out intermission, their flat-bottomed scows plied, crowded with
the wagons, and cows, and sheep, and children, and furniture
of the emigrants, who, in waiting their turn, made the woods
around smoke with their crowding camp fires. But no such
good fortune as a gratuitous passage awaited the heavy cattle,
of whom, with the others, no less than 30,000 were at this
time on their way westward: these were made to earn it by
swimming. A heavy freshet had at this time swollen the river to a
width, as I should judge, of something like a mile and a half,
and dashed past, its fierce current, rushing, gurgling and
eddying, as if thrown from a mill race, or scriptural fountain
of the deep. Its aspect did not invite the oxen to their duty,
and the labor was to force them to it. They were gathered in

INTRODUCTORY. 89
little troops on the shore, and driven forward till they lost
their footing. As they turned their heads to return, they
encountered the combined opposition of a clamorous crowd
of bystanders, vieing with each other in the pungent admin
istration of inhospitable affront. Then rose their hub-hub:
their geeing, and wooing, and hawing; their yelling, and yelp
ing, and screaming; their hooting and hissing and pelting.
The rearmost steers would hesitate to brave such a rebuff;
halting, they would impede the return of the outermost; they
all would waver: wavering for a moment, the current would
sweep them together downward. At this juncture a fearless
youngsterf climbing upon some brave bull in the front rank,
would urge him boldly forth into the stream : the rest then
surely followed ; a few moments saw them struggling in mid
current; a few more, and they were safely landed on the opposite
shore. The driver's was the sought-after post of honor here;
and sometimes, when repeated failures have urged them to
emulation, I have seen the youths, in stepping from back to
back of the struggling monsters, or swimming in among their
battling hoofs, display feats of address and hardihood, that
would have made Franconi's or the Madrid bull-ring vibrate
with bravos of applause. But in the hours after hours that I
have watched this sport at the ferry side, I never heard an
oath or the language of quarrel, or knew it provoke the least
sign of ill feeling.
After the sorrowful word was given out to halt, and make
preparation for winter, a chief labor became the making oi
hay ; and with every day-dawn brigades of mowers would take
up the march to their positions in chosen meadows — a prettier
sight than a charge of cavalry — as they laid their swaths,
whole companies . of scythes abreast. Before this time the
manliest as well as the most general daily labor, was the herd
ing of the cattle ; the only wealth of the Mormons, and more
and more cherished by them with the increasing pastoral
character of their lives. A camp could not be pitched in any
spot without soon exhausting the freshness of the pasture
around it, and it became an ever recurring task to guide the
cattle, in unbroken droves, to the nearest place where it was
still fresh and fattening. Sometimes it was necessary to go
farther, to distant ranges which were known as feeding grounds

90 ¦ INTRODUCTORY.
of the.buffalo. About these there was sure to prowl parties of
thievish Indians; and each drove therefore had its escort of
mounted men and boys, who learned self-reliance and heroism
while on night-guard alone among the silent hills. But gen
erally the cattle were driven from the camp at the dawn of
the morning, and brought back, thousands together, in the
evening, to be picketed in the great corral or enclosure, where
beeves, bulls, cows and oxen, with the horses, mules, hogs,
calves, sheep and human beings, could all look together upon
the red watch-fires, with the feeling of security when aroused
by the Indian stampede, or the howlings of the prairie wolves
at moonrise.
When they set about building their winter houses, too, the
Mormons went into quite considerable timbering 'operations,
and performed desperate feats of carpentry. They did not
come ornamental gentlemen or raw apprentices, to extemporize
new versions of Robinson Crusoe. It was a comfort to notice
the readiness with which they turned their hands to wood
craft; some of them, though I believe these had generally been
bred carpenters, wheelwrights, or more particularly boat-build
ers, quite out-doing the most notable voyageurs in the use of
the ax. One of these would fell a tree, strip off its bark, cut
and split up the trunk in piles of plank, scantling, or shingles;
make posts, pins, and pales — everything wanted almost of the
branches; 'and treat his toil, from first to last, with more sport
ive flourish than a school-boy whittling his shingle!
Inside the camp the chief labors were assigned to the
women. From the moment, when after the halt, the lines had
been laid, the spring wells dug out, and the ovens and fire
places built, though the men still assumed to set the gaurds
and enforce the regulations of police, the empire of the tented
town was with the better sex. They were the chief comforters
of the severest sufferers, the kind nurses who gave them, in
their sickness, those dear attentions, with which pauperism is
hardly poor, and which the greatest wealth often fails to buy.
And they were a nation of wonderful managers. They could
hardly be called housewives in etymological strictness, but it
was plain they had once been such, and most distinguished
ones. Their art availed them in their changed affairs. With
almost their entire culinary material limited to the milk of

INTRODUCTORY. 91
their cows, some store of meal or flour and a very few condi
ments, they brought their thousand and one receipts into play
with a success that outdid for their families the miracle of the
Hebrew widow's cruse. They learned to make butter on a
march by the dashing of the wagon, and so nicely to caculate
the working of barm in the jolting heats, that, as soon afterthe
halt as an oven could be dug in the hill-side and heated, their
well-kneaded loaf was ready for baking, and produced good
leavened bread for supper. I have no doubt the appetizing
zest their humble lore succeeded in imparting to diet which
was both simple and meagre, availed materially for the health
as well as the comfort of the people.
But the first duty of the Mormon women was, through all
change of place and fortune, to keep alive the altar Are of
home. Whatever their manifold labors for the day, it was
their effort to complete them against the sacred hour of even
ing fall. For by that time all the out- workers, scouts, ferry
men or bridgemen, roadmakers, herdsmen, or hay-makers, had
finished their tasks and come in to their rest. And before the
last smoke of the supper-fire curled up, reddening in the
glow of the sunset, a hundred chimes of cattle bells announced
their looked-for approach across the open hills ; and the women
went out to meet them at the camp gates, and with their
children in their laps sat by them at the cherished family
meal, and talked over the events of the well-spent day.
But every day closed as every day began, with an invocation
of the divine favor; without which, indeed, no Mormon
seemed to dare to lay him down to rest. With the first
shining of the stars, laughter, and loud talking hushed, the
neighbor went his way, you heard the last hymn sung, and
then the thousand-voiced murmur of prayer was heard, like
babbling water falling down the hills.
There was no austerity, however about the religion of
Mormonism. Their fasting and penance, it is no jest to say,
was altogether involuntary. They made no merit of that.
They kept the Sabbath with considerable strictness: they
were too close copyists of the wanderers , of Israel in other
respects not to have learned like them the value of this most
admirable of the Egypto-Mosaic institutions. But the rest of
the week, their religion was independent of ritual observance.

92 INTRODUCTORY.
They had the sort of strong-stomached faith that is still found
embalmed in sheltered spols of Catholic Italy and Spain, with
the spirit of the believing or dark ages. It was altogether too
strongly felt to be dependent on intellectual ingenuity or care
ful caution of the ridiculous. It mixed itself up fearlessly
with the common transactions of their every-day life, and only
to give them liveliness and color.
If any passages of life bear better than others a double
interpretation, they are the adventures of travel and of the
field. What old persons call discomforts and discouraging
mishaps, are the very elements to the young and sanguine of
what they are willing to term "fun." The Mormons took the
young and hopeful side. They could make sport and frolic of
their trials, and often turn right sharp suffering into right
round laughter against themselves. I certainly heard more
jests and "Joe Millers" while in this Papillon camp than I am
likely to hear in all the remainder of my days.
This, too, was at a time of serious affliction. Beside the
ordinary suffering from insufficient food and shelter, distressing
and mortal sickness, exacerbated, if nor originated, by these
causes, was generally prevalent.
In the camp nearest us on the West, which was that of the
bridging party near the Corne, the number of its inhabitants
being small enough to invite computation, 1 found as early as
the 31st of July, that 37 per cent, of its inhabitants were down
with the fever, and a sort of strange scorbutic disease, fre
quently fatal, which they named the Black Canker. The
camps to the east of us, which were all on the eastern side of
the Missouri, were yet worse fated.
The climate of the entire upper "Misery Bottom," as they.
term it, is, during a considerable part of summer and autumn,
singularly pestiferous. Its rich soil, which is, to a depth far
beyond the reach of the plow, as fat as the earth of a
kitchen garden, or compost heap, is annually the force-bed of
a vegetation as rank as that of the tropics. To render its fatal
fertility the greater, it is everywhere freely watered by springs,
and creeks, and larger streams, that flow into it from both
sides. In the season of drouth, when the sun enters Virgo,
these dry down till they run impure as open sewers, exposing
to the day foul broad flats, mere quagmires of- black dirt,

INTRODUCTORY. 93
stretching along for miles, unvaried, except by the limbs of
half-buried carrion tree trunks, or by occasional yellow pools
of what the children call frog spawn ; all together steaming
up thick vapors redolent of the savor of death.
The same is the habit of the great river. In the beginning
of August, its shores hardly could contain the millions of
forest logs, and tens of billions of gallons of turbid water,
that came rushing down together from its mountain head-
gates. But before the month was out, the freshet had all passed
by; the river diminished one-half, threaded feebly southward
through the center of the valley, and the mud of its channel,
baked^ and creased, made a wide tile pavement between the
choking crowd of reeds, and sedgy grasses, and wet stalked
weeds, and growths of marsh meadow flowers, the garden
homes, at this tainted season, of venom-crazy snakes, and the
fresher ooze by the water's edge, which stank in the sun like
a naked muscle shoal.
Then the plague raged. I have no means of asertaining
the mortality of the Indians who inhabited the bottom. In
1845, the year previous, which was not more unhealthy, they
lost one-ninth of their number in about two months. The
Mormons were scourged severely. The exceeding mortality
among some of them, was, no doubt, in the main, attributable
to the low state to which their systems had been brought by long
continued endurance of want and hardship. It is to be
remembered, also, that they were the first turners up of the
prairie sod, and that this of itself made them liable to the
sickness of new countries. It was where their agricultural
operations had been most considerable, and in situations on
the left bank of the river, where the prevalent south-west
winds wafted to them the miasmata of its shores, that disease
Was most rife.*
In some of these the fever prevailed to such an extent that
^hardly any escaped it. They let their cows go unmilked
they wanted for voices to raise the psalm of Sundays. The
few who were able to keep their feet, went about among the
tents and wagons with food and water, like nurses through
the wards of an .infirmary. Here at one time the digging got
- ¦ x, - . • • ; I -
*— — It is e.ertain that there is no sickness among the present inhabitants of
this region comparable to that of 1846.

94 INTRODUCTORY.
behind hand: burials were slow; and you might see women
sit in the open tents keeping the flies off their dead children,
sometimes after decomposition had set in.
In our own camp, for a part of August and September.
things wore an unpleasant aspect enough.* Its situation was
one much praised for its comparative salubrity ; but, perhapSj
on this account, the number of cases of fever among us was
increased by the hurrying arrival, from other localities, of
parties in whom the virus leaven of disease was fermented by1
forced travel.
But I am excused sufficiently the attempt to get up for your
entertainment here any circumstantial picture of horrors, by
the fact, that at the most interesting season, I was incapaciated
for nice observation by an attack of fever — mine was what
they call the congestive — that it required the utmost use of
all my faculties to recover from. I still kept my tent in the
camp line; but, for as much -as a month, had very small
notion of what went on among my neighbors. I recollect
overhearing a lamentation over some dear baby, that its
mother no doubt thought the destroying angel should have
been specially instructed to spare. I wish, too, for my own
sake, I could forget how imperfectly one day I mourned the
decease of a poor Saint, who, by clamor, rendered his vicinity
troublesome. He, no doubt, endured great pain; for he
groaned shockingly till death came to his relief. He inter
fered with my own hard-gained slumbers, and — I was glad
when death did relieve him.
Before my attack, I was fond of conversing with an amiable
old man, I think English born, who, having then recently
buried his only daughter and grandson, used to be seen sitting
out before his tent resting his sorrowful forehead on his hands,
joined over a smooth white oak staff. I missed him when I
got about again; probably he had been my mourning neigh
bor. So, too, having been much exercised in my dreams at this
time, by the vision of dismal processions, such as might have
*  This camp was moved by the beginning of October to winter quarters
on the river, where, also, there was considerable sickness before the cold
weather. I am furnished with something over six hundred as the number of
burials in the grave yard there.

INTRODUCTORY. 95
been formed by the union in line of all the forlornest
and ugliest of the struggling fugitives from Nauvoo, I hap
pen to recall as I write, that I had some knowledge some
where of one of our new-comers, for whom the nightmare
revived and repeated without intermission the torment of his
trying journey. As he lay feeding life with long drawn
breaths, he muttered: "Where's next water? Team — give
out! Hot, hot — God, it's hot. Stop the wagon — stop the
wagon — stop, stop the wagon!" They woke him — to his own
content — but I believe returning sleep ever renewed his dis
tressing visions, till the sounder slumber came on from which
no earthly hand or voice could rouse him; into which I hope
he did not carry them.
In a half dreamy way, I remember, or I think I remember,
a crowd of phantoms like these. I recall but one fact, how
ever, going far in proof of a considerable mortality. Earlier
in the season, while going westward, with the intention of
passing the Rocky Mountains that summer, I had opened,
with the assistance of Mormon spades and shovels, a large
mound on a commanding elevation, the tomb of a warrior of
the ancient race ; and, continuing on my way, had left a deep
trench excavated entirely through it. Returning, fever-struck,
to the Papillon camp, I found it planted close by this spot.
It was just forming as I arrived; the first wagon, if I mistake
not, having but a day or two before halted into place. My
first airing upon my convalescence took me to the mound,
which, probably to save digging, had been re-adapted to its
original purpose. In this brief interval they had filled the
trench with bodies, and furrowed the ground with graves
around it, like the plowing of a field.
The lengthened sojourn of the Mormons in this insalubrious
region, was imposed upon them by circumstances which I
must now advert to.
Though the season was late, when they first crossed the
Missouri, some of them moved forward with great hopeful
ness, full of the notion of viewing and choosing their new
homes that year. But the van had only reached Grand
Island and the Pawnee villages, when they were overtaken by
more ill news from Nauvoo. Before the summer closed, their
enemies set upon the last remnant of those who were left

96 INTRODUCTORY.
behind in Illinois. They were a few lingerers, who could not
be persuaded but there might yet be time for them to gather
up their worldly goods before removing, some weakly
mothers and their infants, a few delicate young girls, and
many cripples and bereaved and sick people. These had
remained under shelter, according to the Mormon statement
at least, by virtue of an express covenant in their behalf. If
there was such a covenant it was broken. A vindictive war
was waged upon them, from which the weakest fled in scat
tered parties leaving the rest to make a reluctant and almost
ludicrously-unavailing defense, till the 17th day of September,
when one thousand six hundred and twenty-five troops
entered Nauvod, and drove all forth who had not retreated
before that time.
Like the wounded birds of a flock fired into toward night
fall, they came straggling on with faltering steps, many of
them without bag or baggage, beast or barrow,* all asking
shelter or burial, and forcing a fresh repartition of the already
divided rations of their friends. It was plain now, that every
energy must be taxed to prevent the entire expedition from
perishing. Further emigration for the time was out of
the question, and the whole people prepared themselves for
encountering another winter on the prairie.
Happily for the main body, they found themselves at this
juncture among Indians who were amicably disposed. The
lands on both sides of the Missouri, in particular, were owned
by the Pottawatamies and Omahas, two tribes whom unjust
treatment by our United States, had the effect of rendering
most auspiciously hospitable to strangers whom they regarded
as persecuted like themselves.
The Pottawatamies on the eastern side, are a natron from
whom the Unitsd States bought, some years ago. a number of
hundred thousand acres of the finest lands they have ever
brought into market. Whatever the bargain was, the sellers
were not content with it; the people saying their leaders were
cheated, made drunk, bribed, and all manner of naughty

* — -I knew an orphan boy, for instance, who came on by himself at this
time afoot, starting with no other provision than his trowser's pocket full of
biscuit, given him from a steamboat on the Mississippi.

INTRODUCTORY. 97
things besides. No doubt this was quite as much of a libel
on the fair fame of this particular Indian treaty, as such
stories generally are; for the land to which the tribe was
removed in pursuance of it, was admirably adapted to enforce
habits of civilized thrift. It was smooth prairie, wanting in tim
ber, and of course in game ; and the humane and philanthropic
might rejoice therefore that necessity would soon indoctrinate
its inhabitants into the practice of agriculture. An impracti
cable few, who may have thought these advantages more than
compensated by the insalubrity of their allotted resting place,
fled to the extreme wilds, where they could find deer, and
woods, and rocks, and running water, and where, I believe,
they are roaming to this day. The remainder being what
the political vocabulary designates on such occasions as
"friendly Indians," were driven — marched is the word — galley
slaves are marched thus to Barcelona and Toulon — marched
from the Mississippi to the Missouri, and planted there. Dis
contented and unhappy, they had hardly begun to form an
attachment for this new soil, when they were persuaded to
exchange it for their present fever patch upon the Kaw or Kansas
river. They were under this second sentence of transportation
when the Mormons arrived among them.
They were pleased with the Mormons. They would have
been pleased with any whites who would not cheat them, nor
sell them whisky, nor whip them for their poor gipsey habits,
nor bear themselves indecently towards their women, many
of whom among the Pottawatamies, especially those of nearly
unmixed French descent, are singularly comely, and some of
them educated. But all Indians have something like a senti
ment of reverence for the insane, and admire those who
sacrifice, without apparent motive, their worldly welfare to
the triumph of an idea. They understood the meaning of
what they call a great vow, and think it the duty of the right-
minded to lighten the votary's penance under it. To this
feeling they united the sympathy of fellow sufferers for those
who could talk to them of their own Illinois, and tell the
story how from it they also had been ruthlessly expelled.
Their hospitality was sincere, almost delicate. Fanny Le
Clerc, the spoiled child of the great brave,- Pied, Riche,'
interpreter of the nation, would have the pale face Miss

98 INTRODUCTORY.
Devine learn duets with her to the guitar; and the daughter
of substantial Joseph La Framboise, the interpreter of the
United States — she died of the fever that summer — welcomed
all the nicest young Mormon Kitties and Lizzies, and
Jennies, and Susans, to a coffee feast at her father's house,
which was probably the best cabin in the river village. They
made the Mormons at home, there and elsewhere. Upon all
their lands they formally gave them leave to tarry just so
long as should suit their own good pleasure.
The, affair, of course, furnished material for a solemn coun
cil. Under the auspices of an officer of the United States,
their chiefs were summoned, in the form befitting great occa
sions, to meet in the dirty yard of one Mr. P. A. Sarpy's log
trading house, at their village. They came in grand toilet,
moving in their fantastic attire with so much aplomb and
genteel measure, that the stranger found it difficult not to
believe them high-born gentlemen, attending a costumed ball.
Their aristocratically-thin legs, of which they displayed fully
the usual Indian proportion, aided this illusion. There is
something, too, at all times very mock-Indian in the theatrical
French millinery tie of the Pottawatamie turban ; while it is
next to impossible for a sober white man, at first sight, to
believe that the red, green, black, blue, and yellow cosmetics,
with which he' sees such grave personages so variously dotted,
diapered, cancelled, and arabesqued, are worn by them in any
mood but one of the deepest and most desperate quizzing.
From the time of their first squat upon the ground, to the
final breaking up Of the council circle, they sustained their
characters with equal self-possession and address.
I will not take it upon myself to describe their order of
ceremonies ; indeed, I ought not, since I have never been able
to view the habits and customs of our aborigines in any other
light than that of a reluctant and sorrowful subject of jest.
Besides, in this instance, the displays of pow wow and
eloquence were both probably moderated' by the conduct of
the entire transaction on temperance principles. I therefore
content myself with observing, generally that the proceedings
were such as every way became the grandeur of the parties
interested, and the magnitude of the interests involved.
When the red men had indulged to satiety in tobaccD smoke

INTRODUCTORY. 99
from their peace pipes, and what they love still better, their
peculiar metaphoric rodomontade, which, beginning with
celestial bodies, and coursing downwards over the grandest
sublunary objects, always managed to alight at last on their
Grandfather Polk, and the tenderness for him of his affec
tionate colored children; all the solemn funny fellows present,
who played the part of chiefs, signed formal- articles of con
vention with their unpronounceable names.
The renowned chief, Pied Riche — he was surnamed Le
Clerc on account of his remarkable scholarship — then arose,
and said :
"My Mormon Brethren,
"The Pottawatamie came, sad and tired, into this
unhealthy Missouri Bottom, not many years back, when he was
taken from his beautiful country beyond the Mississippi, which
had abundant game and timber, and clear water everywhere.
Now you are driven away, the same, from your lodges and
lands there, and the graves of your people. So we have both
suffered. We must help one another, and the Great Spirit
will help us both. You are now free to cut and use all the
wood you may wish. You can make all your improvements,
and live on any part of our actual land not occupied by us.
Because one suffers and does not deserve it, is no reason he
shall suffer always, I say. We may live to see all right yet.
However, if we do not, our children will. — Bon jour."
And thus ended the pageant. I give this speech as a morsel
of real Indian. It was recited to me after the treaty by the
Pottawatamie orator in French, which language he spoke with
elegance. Bon jour is the French, Indian and English hail
and farewell of the Pottawatamies.
The other entertainers - of the Mormons at this time, the
Omahas, or Mahaws, are one of the minor tribes of the Grand
Prairie. Their great father, the United States, has found it
convenient to protect so remote a dependency against the over
powering league of the Dahcotahs or Sioux, and has judged it
dangerous at the same time to allow them to protect them
selves by entering into a confederation with others. Under
the pressure of this paternal embarrassment and restraint, it
has therefore happened, most naturally, that this tribe, once a
powerful and valued ally of ours, has been reduced to a band

100 INTRODUCTORY.
of little more than a hundred families, and these, a few years
more will entirely extinguish. When I was among them,
they were so ill-fed that their protruding high cheek bones
gave them the air of a tribe of consumptives. The buffalo
had left them, and no good ranges lay within several hundred
miles reach. Hardly any other game found cover on their
land. What little there was, they were short of ammunition
to kill. Their annuity from the United States was trifling.
They made next to nothing at thieving. Theyhad planted
some corn in their awkward Indian fashion, but through fear
of ambush dared not venture out to harvest it. A chief
resource for them, the winter previous, had been the spoliation
of their neighbors, the prairie field-mice.
These interesting little people, more industrious and thrifty
than the Mahaws, garner up in the neat little cellars of their
under-ground homes, the small seeds or beans of the wood pea
vine, which are black and hard, but quite nutritious. Gather
ing them one by one, a single mouse will thus collect as much
as half a pint, which, before the cold weather sets in, he piles
away in a dry and frost-proof excavation, cleverly thatched
and covered in. The Omaha animal, who, like enough may
have idled during all the season the mouse was amassing his
toilsome treasure, finds this subterranean granary to give out
a certain peculiar cavernous vibration, when briskly tapped
upon above the ground. He wanders about, therefore, strik
ing with a wand in hopeful spots; and as soon as he hears the
hollow sound he knows, unearths the little retired capitalist
along with his winter's hope. Mouse wakes up from his nap
to starve, and Mahaw swallows several relishing mouthfuls.
But the mouse has his avenger in the powerful Sioux, who
wages against his wretched red brother an almost bootless, but
exterminating warfare. He robs him of his poor human
peltry. One of my friends was offered for sale a Sioux scalp
of Omaha, "with grey hair nearly as long as a white horse's
tail." The pauper Omahas were ready to solicit as a favor the
residence of white protectors among them. The Mormons
harvested and stored away for them their crops of maize ; with-
all their own poverty they spared them, food enough besides,
from time to time, to save them from absolutely starving; and

INTRODUCTORY. 101
their entrenched camp to the north of Omaha villages, served
as a sort of breakwater between them and the destroying
rush of the Sioux.
This was the head quarters of the Mormon Camps of Israel.
The miles of rich prairie, enclosed and sowed with the grain they
could contrive to spare, and the houses, stacks, and cattle
shelters, had the seeming of an entire county, with its people
and improvements transplanted there unbroken. On a pretty
plateau, overlooking the river, they built more than seven
hundred houses in a single town, neatly laid out with highways
and byways, and fortified with breast- work, stockade, and blocks
houses. It had too, its place of worship, "Tabernacle of the
Congregation," and various large workshops, and mills and
factories provided with water pow^r.
They had no camp or settlement of equal size in the
Pottawatamie country. There was less to apprehend here
from Indian invasion ; and the people scattered themselves,
therefore, along the riyers and streams, and in the timber
groves, wherever they found inviting localities for farming
operations. In this way many of them acquired what have
since proved to' be valuable pre-emption rights.
Upon the Pottawatamie lands, scattered through the border
regions of Missouri and Iowa, in the Sac and Fox country,
a few among the Iowas, among the Poncas in a great com
pany upon the banks of the L'Eau qui Coule, or Running
Water river, and at the Omaha winter quarters, the Mor
mons sustained themselves through the heavy winter of 1846-
1847. It was the severest of their trials. And if I aimed at
rhetorical effect, I would ' be bound to offer you a minute
narrative of its progress, as a sort of climax to my history.
But I have, I think, given you enough of the Mormons'
sorrows. We are all of us content to sympathize with a cer
tain extent of suffering; but very few can bear the recurring
yet scarcely varied narrative of another's distress without
something of impatience. The world is full of griefs, and we
cannot afford to expend too large a share of our charity, or
even our commiseration in a single quarter.
This winter was the turning point of the Mormon fortunes.
Those who lived through it were spared to witness the gradual
return of better times. And they now liken it to the passing

102 INTRODUCTORY.
of a dreary night, since which they have watched the coming
of a steadily brightening day.
Before the grass growth of 1847, a body of one hundred
and forty-three picked men, with seventy wagons, drawn by.
their best horses, left the Omaha quarters, under the com
mand of the members of the High Council, who had wintered
there. They carried with them little but seed and farming
implements, their aim being to plant spring crops at their
ultimate destination. They relied on their rifles to give them
food, but rarely left their road in search of game. They made
long daily marches, and moved with as much rapidity as possible.
Against the season, when ordinary emigration passes the
Missouri, they were already through the South Pass ; and a
couple of short days' traveL beyond it, entered upon the more
arduous portion of their journey. It lay in earnest through
the Rocky Mountains. They turned Fremont's Peak, Long's
Peak, the Twins, and other king summits, but had to force
their way over other mountains of the rugged Utah range
sometimes following the stony bed of torrents, the head waters
of some of the mightiest rivers of our continent, and some
times literally cutting their road through heavy and ragged
timber. They arrived at the grand basin of the Great Salt
Lake, much exhausted, but without losing a man, and in
time to plant for a partial autumn harvest.
Another party started after these pioneers, from the Omaha
winter quarters, in the summer. They had 566 wagons, and
carried large quantities of grain, which they were able to put
in the ground before it froze.
The same season also these were joined by a part of the
Battalion and other members of the Church, who came east
ward from California and the Sandwich Islands. Together,
they fortified themselves strongly with sun-brick walls and
block-houses, and living safely through the winter, were able
to tend crops that yielded ample provision for the ensuing
year. In 1848, nearly all the remaining members of the Church
left the Missouri country in a succession of powerful bands,
invigorated and enriched by their abundant harvests there;
and that year saw fully established their commonwealth of
the New Covenant, the future State of Deseret.

INTRODUCTORY. 103
I may not undertake to describe to you in a single lecture
the geography of Deseret, and its great basin. Were I to
consider the face of the country, its military position, or its
climate and its natural productions, each head, I am confi
dent, would claim more time than you have now to spare me.
For Deseret is emphatically a new country; new in its own
characteristic features, newer still in its bringing together
within its limits the most inconsistent peculiarities of other
countries. I cannot aptly compare it to any. Descend from
the mountains where you have the scenery and climate of
Switzerland, to seek the sky of your choice among the many
climates of Italy, and you may find, welling out of the same hills,
the freezing springs of Mexico, and the hot springs of Ice
land, both together coursing their way to ' the salt sea of
Palestine in the plain below. The pages of Malte Brun provide
me with a less truthful parallel to it than those which describe
the happy valley of Rasselas or the continent of Balnibarbi.
Let me then press on with my history, during the few
minutes that remain for me.
Only two events have occurred to menace seriously the
establishment at Deseret; the' first threatened to destroy its
crops, the other to break it up altogether.
The shores of the Salt Lake are infested by a sort of insect
pest which claims a vile resemblance to the locust of the Syrian
Dead Sea. Wingless, dumpy, black, swollen-headed, with
bulging eyes, in cases like goggles, mounted upon legs of steel
wire and clock spring, and with a general personal appear
ance that justified the Mormons in comparing him to a cross
of the spider on the buffalo, the Deseret cricket comes down
from the mountains at a certain season of the year, in vora
cious and desolating myriads. It was just at this season, that
the first crops of the new settlers were in the full glory of tiheir
youthful green. The assailants could not be repulsed. The
Mormons, after their fashion, prayed and fought, and fought
and prayed, but to no purpose. The "Black Philistines"
mowed their way, even with the ground, leaving it as if
touched with an acid or burnt by fire.
But an unlooked for ally came to the rescue. Vast armies
of bright birds, before strangers to the valley, hastened across
the lake from some unknown quarter, and gorged themselves

104 INTRODUCTORY.
upon the well-fatted enemy. They were snow white, with little
head and clear dark eyes, and little feet, and long wings, that
arched in flight "like an angel's." At first the Mormons
thought they were new enemies to plague them; but when they
found them hostile only to the locusts, they were careful not to
molest them in their friendly office; and to this end declared
a heavy fine against all who should kill or annoy them with
fire-arms. The gulls soon grew to be tame as the poultry, and
the delighted little children learned to call them their pigeons.
They disappeared every evening beyond the lake ; but return
ing with sunrise, continued their welcome visitings till the
crickets were all exterminated.
This curious incident recurred the following year, with this
variation, that in 1849 the gulls came earlier and saved the
wheat crops from all harm whatever.
A severer trial than the visit of the cricket-locusts threatened
Deseret in the discovery of the gold of California. It was
due to a party of the Mormon Battalion recruited on the
Missouri, who on their way home found employment at New
Helvetia. They were digging a mill race there, and threw up
the gold dust with their shovels. You all know the crazy
fever that broke out as soon as this was announced. It
infected every one through California. Where the gold was
discovered, at Sutter's and around, the standing grain was left
uncut ; whites, Indians, and mustees, all set them to gather
ing gold, every other labor forsaken, as if the first comers
could rob the casket of all it contained. The disbanded
soldiers came to the Valley; they showed their poor com
panions pieces of the yellow treasure they had gained; and
the cry was raised, "To California— To the Gold of Ophir our
brethren have discovered! To California!"
Some of you have perhaps come across the half-ironic
instruction of the heads of the Church to the faithful outside
the Valley:— "The True Use of Gold is for paving streets,
covering houses, and making culinary dishes; and, when the
Saints shall have preached the gospel, raised grain, and built
up cities enough, the Lord will open up the way for a supply
of gold to the perfect satisfaction of His people. Until then let
them not be over anxious, for the treasures of the earth are in
the Lord's storehouse, and He will open the doors thereof when

INTRODUCTORY. 105
and where he pleases." — II General Epistle, 14.
The enlightened virtue of their rulers saved the people and
the fortunes of Deseret. A few only went away — and they
were asked in kindness never to return. The rest remained
to be healthy and happy, to "raise grain and build up cities.''
The history of the Mormons has ever since been the
unbroken record of the most wonderful posperity. It has
looked as though the elements of fortune, obedient to a law of
natural re-action, were struggling to compensate to them their
undue share of suffering. They may be pardoned for deem
ing it miraculous. But, in truth, the economist accounts for
all, who explains to us the speedy recuperation of cities, laid
in ruin by flood, fire, and earthquake. During its years of
trial, Mormon labor has subsisted on insufficient capital,
and under many trials: but it has subsisted, and survives
them now, as intelligent and powerful as ever it was at Nau
voo, with this difference, that it has in the meantime been
educated to habits of unmatched thrift, energy and endur
ance, and has been transplanted to a situation where it is in
every respect more productive. Moreover, during all the
period of their journey, while some have gained by practice in
handicraft, and the experience of repeated essays at their
various halting-places, the minds of all have been busy fram
ing designs and planning the improvements they have since
found opportunity to execute.
I have gone over the work I assigned myself when I
accepted your Committee's invitation, as fully as I could do
without trespassing too largely upon your courteous patience.
But I- should do wrong to conclude my lecture without declar
ing, in succinct and definite terms, the opinions I have formed
and entertain of the Mormon people. The libels of which they
have been made the subject, make this a simple act of justice.
Perhaps, too, my opinion, even with those who know me as
you do, will better answer its end following after the narrative
I have given.
I have spoken to you of a people, whose industry had made
them rich, and gathered around them all the comforts and
not a few of the luxuries, of refined life, expelled by lawless
force into the wilderness; seeking an untried home far away

106 INTRODUCTORY.
from the scenes which their previous life had endeared to
them ; moving onward, destitute, hunger-sickened, and sink
ing with disease ; bearing along with them their wives and
children, the aged, and the poor, and the decrepid; renewing
daily on their march the offices of devotion, the ties of family,
and friendship, and charity; sharing necessities and braving
dangers together ; cheerful in the midst of want and trial, and
persevering until they triumphed. I have told, or tried to tell,
you of men who, when menaced by famine, and in the midst
of pestilence, with every energy taxed by the urgency of the
hour, were building roads and bridges, laying out villages, and
planting corn-fields, for the stranger who might come after
them, their kinsman only by a common humanity, and
peradventure a common suffering — of men who have renewed
their prospesity in the homes they have founded in the desert
and who, in their new-built city, walled around by mountains
like a fortress, are extending pious hospitalities to the destitute
emigrants from our frontier lines — of men who, far removed
from the restraints of law, obeyed it from choice, or found in
the recesses of their religion something not inconsistent with
human laws, but far more controlling; and who are now solicit
ing from the government of the United States, not indemnity —
for the appeal would be hopeless, and they know it — not protec
tion, for they now have no need of it — but that identity of
political institutions, and that community of laws with the rest
of us, which was confessedly their birthright when they were
driven beyond our borders.
I said I would give you the opinion I formed of the
Mormons : you may deduce it for yourselves^from these facts.
But I will add that I have not yet heard the single charge
against them as a community — against their habitual purity
of life, their integrity of dealing, their toleration of religious
differences in opinion, their regard for the laws, or their devo
tion to the constitutional government under which we live —
that I do not, from my own observation, or the testimony of
others, know to be unfounded." * * * *

POEM BY E. R. SNOW. 107

THE MORMOM BATTALION, AND FIRST WAGON ROAD
OVER THE GREAT AMERICAN DESERT.

BY MISS ELIZA R. SNOW.

When "Mormon" trains were journeying thro'
To Winter Quarters, from Nauvoo,
Five hundred men were called to go
To settle claims with Mexico —
To fight for that same Government
From which, as fugitives we went.
What were their families to do —
Their children, wives, and mothers too,
When fathers, husbands, sons were gone?
Mothers drove teams, and camps moved on.
And on the brave Battalion went,
With Colonel Allen who was sent
As officer of Government.
The noble Colonel Allen knew
His "Mormon boys" were brave and true,
And he was proud of his command,
As he led forth his "Mormon Band."
He sickened, died, and they were left
Of a loved leader, soon bereft !
And his successors proved to be
The embodiment of cruelty,
Lieutenant Smith the tyrant, led
The Cohort on, in Allen's stead,
To Santa Fe, where Colonel Cooke,
The charge of the Battalion, took.

108 HISTORY OF THE MORMON BATTALION.
'Twas well the vision of the way,
Was closed before them on the day
. They started out from Santa Fe.
'Tis said no infantry till then,
E'er suffered equal to those men.
Their beeves were famished and their store
Was nigh exhausted long before
They neared the great Pacific shore.
Teams e'en fell dead upon the road,
While soldiers helped to draw the load !
'Twas cruel, stern necessity
That prompted such severity ;
For General Kearney in command
Of army in the western land,
Expressly ordered Colonel Cooke,
The man who failure could not brook,
To open up a wagon-road
Where wheels, till then, had never trod ;
And Colonel Cooke was in command
Across that desert waste and sand :
He, with a staunch and iron will,
The general's orders to fulfill,
Must every nerve and sinew strain
The expedition's points to gain.
Tho' stern, and e'en at times morose,
Strict sense of justice marked his course.
He, as his predecessors, knew
The "Mormon" men were firm and true.
They found road-making worse by far
Than all the horrors of the war:
Tried by the way — when they got thro'
They'd very little more to do :
The opposing party, panic struck,
Dare not compete with "Mormon" pluck,
And off in all directions fled —
No charge was fired — no blood was shed.
Our God who rules in worlds of light,
Controls by wisdom and by might.

POEM BY E. R. SNOW. 109
If need, His purpose to fulfill,
He moves the nations at His will —
The destinies of men o'errules,
And uses whom He will as tools.
The wise can see and understand,
While fools ignore His guiding hand.
Ere the Battalion started out
Uponrthat most important route,
'Twas thus predicted by the tongue
Of the Apostle, Brigham Young,
"If to your God and country true,
You'll have no fighting there to do."
Was General Kearney satisfied ?
Yes, more — for he with martial pride
Said, "O'er the Alps Napoleon went,
But these men cross'd a continent."
And thus, with God Almighty's aid
The conquest and the road were made,
By which a threatning storm was staved,
And lo ! the Saints of God were, saved.

HO HISTORY OF THE MORMON BATTALION.

MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

BY D. TYLER.

CHAPTER I.
From a perusal of the foregoing chapters, the reader will be
somewhat acquainted with the condition of the Latter-day
Saints previous to and at the time of the mustering of the
Mormon Battalion ; and indeed, with some subsequent evente
also, which are anticipated in the address of General Kane.
However, that the circumstances connected with the raising of
the Battalion may be fully understood, some further explana
tion should be given.
From the time the Saints first consented to leave
Nauvoo in order to secure freedom from persecution, rumors
and speculations were rife as to their probable destination. It
was confidently asserted by many persons in authority that
the Government would interfere .to prevent them, if they
attempted to journey west of the Rocky Mountains. Governor
Ford, in writing to Sheriff Backenstos as early as Dec. 29, 1845,
expressed the belief that the Government would prevent their
removal, as they would be likely to "join the British." Soon
afterwards Amos Kendall, ex-Postmaster General, who claimed
to be familiar with the plans of the President and Cabinet, also
informed Elder Samuel Brannan that such was the intention.
They were to be prevented upon the plea that it was contrary
to law for an armed force from the United States to invade the
dominion of another government. Of course, the Saints did
not propose to go as a hostile force, but as peaceable citizens,

ORIGIN OF THE BATTALION. Ill
seeking a home. They had, however, suffered so much in the
past without cause, that this new threat was regarded with
apprehension. Conciliatary letters were therefore written
from Nauvoo to Hon. Stephen A. Douglas and several other
members of Congress to secure their influence in opposition to
such a measure. Efforts were also made by the authorities of
the Church to obtain Government patronage while journeying
westward with a view to securing protection from persecution
as well a means of subsistence.
Oregon at that time was in possession of the United States,
and President Polk had recommended to Congress that stockade
forts be built along the overland route to that distant part, as
a protection to emigrants. In anticipation of a law being
passed to this effect, the Saints endeavored to secure the work
of building the forts. They knew they could do the work as
well and as cheap as any others, as they expected to travel
some distance in that direction. Besides, the means to be'
earned by such work would greatly aid in supporting them;
and the fact of their being in the employ of the Government
might serve as a guaranty of their good faith.
In alluding to this, in a circular issued by the High Council,
at Nauvoo, Jan. 20, 1846, it was stated that, "Should hostilities
arise between the Government of the United States and any
other power, in relation to the right of possessing the territory
of Oregon we are on hand to sustain the United States govern
ment to that country. It is geographically ours ; and of right
no foreign power should hold dominion there; and if our
services are required to prevent it, those services will be cheer
fully rendered according to our ability."
President Young also wrote to Elder J. C. Little who was
presiding over the Saints in the New England States on the
26th of Jan., 1846, as follows: "If our Government should
offer facilities for emigrating to the western coast, embrace those
facilities if possible. As a wise and faithful man, take every
honorable advantage of the times you can. Be thou a savior
and a dileverer of the people, and let virtue integrity and truth
be your motto — salvation and glory the prize for which you
contend." On receipt of this letter, Elder Little obtained letters of
introduction to Vice President Dallas, Hon. George Bancroft,

112 HISTORY OF THE MORMON BATTALION.
Secretary of the Navy, and other officials at Washington, and
soon afterwards proceeded to the seat of government. He
obtained an interview with President Polk, and also called
upon Hon. Amos Kendall, ex-Postmaster General, who prom
ised to take an interest in his case and see the President
about it.
Two days subsequently he was informed by Mr. Kendall
that the President designed to take possession of California by
the aid of the "Mormons," who would receive orders to push
through, take the country and fortify it in the name of the
United States.
To execute his design Elder Little was to go forthwith to the
camps and raise one thousand picked men to make a dash into
and take possession of the country as before stated. They
were to have their own officers except the commander, who
was to be an appointee of the President. Another thousand
were to be sent by way of Cape Horn in a U. S. transport, for
the same service.
This was the plan which the President laid before the
Cabinet. Elder Little remained at Washington several days, awaiting
definite instructions in regard to the matter, and in the mean
time addressed an appeal to the President, setting forth some
of the grievances of the Saints, alluding to their intention to
journey westward and testifying to their loyalty.
Afterwards Elder Little had another interview with the
President, which lasted about three hours. The President
informed him that he had read the petition with interest, and
that his people should be protected as good citizens, which he
believed them to be.
Before leaving, however, the Elder learned, by a subsequent
interview, that the design of the President had been changed,
and that only five hundred men would be called for. He also
learned that the President had instructed the Secretary of War
to make out dispatches to Colonel Kearney, commander of the
Army of the West, relative to the contemplated Mormon
Battalion. The foregoing will perhaps be sufficient to give the reader a
general idea as to how the plan of raising the Battalion was at
first conceived.

col. Kearney's order to capt. allen. 113
I now give Colonel Kearney's order to Captain Allen.
"Head Quarters, Army of the West,
"Fort Leavenworth, "June 19, 1846.
"Sir :
"It is understood that there is a large body of Mormons
who are desirous of emigrating to California, for the purpose
of settling in that eountry, and I have, therefore, to direct
that you will proceed to their camps and endeavor to raise from
among them four or five companies of volunteers to join me
in my expedition to that country, each company to consist of
any number between seventy4hree and one hundred and
nine; the officers of each company will be a captain, first-
lieutenant and second lieutenant, who will be elected by the
privates and subject to your approval, and the captains then
to appoint the non-commissioned officers, also subject to your
approval. The companies, upon being thus organized, will be
mustered by you into the service of the United States, and
from that day will commence to receive the pay, rations and
other allowances given to the other infantry volunteers,
each according to his rank. You will, upon mustering into
service the fourth company, be considered as having the rank,
pay and emoluments of a lieutenant-colonel of infantry, and
are authorized to appoint an adjutant, sergeant-major and
quartermaster-sergeant for the battalion.
"The companies, after being organized, will be marched
to this post, where they will be armed and prepared for the
field, after which they will, under your command, follow on
my trail in the direction of Santa Fe, and where you will
receive further orders from me.
"You will, upon organizing the companies, require provis
ions, wagons, horses, mules, etc. You must purchase every
thing that is necessary, and give the necessary drafts upon the
quartermaster and commissary departments at this post, which
drafts will be paid upon presentation.
"You will have the Mormons distinctly to understand that
I wish to have them as volunteers for twelve months ; that
they 'will be marched to California, receiving pay and allow
ances during the above time, and at its expiration they will

114 HISTORY OF THE MORMON BATTALION. ,
be discharged, and allowed to retain, as their private property,
the guns and accoutrements furnished to them at this post.
"Each company will be allowed four women as laundresses,
who will travel with the company, receiving rations and other
allowances given to the laundresses of our army.
"With the foregoing conditions, which are hereby pledged
to the Mormons, and which will be faithfully kept by me and
other officers in behalf of the government of the United States,
I cannot doubt but that you will, in a few days, be ableio
raise five hundred young and efficient men for this expe
dition. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"To Captain James Allen, (Signed) S. F. Kearney,
"First Reg. Dragoons, Colonel of First Dragoons.
"Fort Leavenworth."
Acting upon this order, Captain Allen proceeded to Mount
Pisgah, one of the camps of the Saints, and explained the
object of his visit by issuing the following:
CIRCULAR TO THE MORMONS.
"I have come among you, instructed by Colonel S. F.
Kearney, of the U. S. Army, now commanding the Army of
the West, to visit the Mormon camps, and to accept the service,
for twelve months, of four or five companies of Mormon men
who may be willing to serve their country for that period in
our present war with Mexico ; this force to unite with the
Army of the West at Santa Fe, and be marched thence to Cali
fornia, where they will be discharged.
"They will receive pay and rations, and other allowances,
such as volunteers or regular soldiers receive, from the day
they shall be mustered into the service, and will be entitled
to all comforts and benefits of regular soldiers of the army,
and when discharged, as contemplated, at California, they
will be given, gratis, their arms and accoutrements, with
which they will be fully equipped at Fort Leavenworth. This
is offered to the Mormon people now.
"This gives an opportunity of sending a portion of their
young and intelligent men to the ultimate destination of their
whole people, and entirely at the expense of the United States,

CIRCULAR TO THE "MORMONS." 115
and this advanced party can thus pave the way and look out
the land for their brethren to come after them. Those of the
Mormons who are desirous of serving their country, on the
conditions here enumerated, are requested to meet me without
delay at their principal camp at Council Bluffs, whither I am
now going to. consult with their principal men, and to receive
and organize the force contemplated to be raised.
"I will receive all healthy, able-bodied men of from eighteen
to forty-five years of age. "J. Allen, Captain 1st Dragoons.
''Camp of the Mormons, at Mount Pisgah,
"one hundred and thirty-eight miles east
"of Council Bluffs, June 26, 1846.
"Note. — I hope to complete the organization of this bat
talion in six days after my reaching Council Bluffs, or within
nine days from this time."
A meeting of the High Council of Mount Pisgah was called*
before which the foregoing circular was read, but the only
thing the council felt authorized to do was to treat
the government agent with courtesy and respect, and give
him a letter of introduction to President Brigham Young and
other authorities at Council Bluffs, which they did.
Elder Wilford Woodruff, of the quorum of the Twelve
Apostles, who was at the time in Mount Pisgah, dispatched a
special messenger to inform President Young of the arrival
of Captain Allen, and the object of his mission.
On the 1st of July, Captain Allen having arrived at Coun
cil Bluffs, a council, composed of President Brigham Young,
Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, "Orson Hyde, Orson
Pratt, George A. Smith and Levi Richards, was called. Before
this council, Captain Allen made known his errand.
It may well be imagined that many of the Saints hesitated
about responding to this call. It was not from lack of cour
age either. The danger of such an expedition would never
have caused them to shrink or falter; but they had been
deceived so many times by those who held authority in the
nation that they looked upon this new requisition with distrust.
The Saints were in peculiar circumstances. They were

116 HISTORY OF THE MORMON BATTALION.
scattered all the way from Nauvoo to Council Bluffs, and even
west of there, for some had crossed the Missouri. They were
destitute, having been forced to part with nearly every avail
able thing to procure bredstuffs. The poor and sick and
helpless who had been left in Nauvoo were looking to those in
the advance camps to help them, and many of the latter were
under promise to do so. They had hostile Indians in advance
of them, and still more hostile Missouri and Illinois mobo-
crats in their rear. Responding to the call would prevent the
pioneer company, which for several days previous had been
making preparations to start, from pushing forward to the.
mountains that year. How were their families to exist in
that wilderness when winter came on? How would the
helpless women and children do if the fathers and brothers,
upon whom they had depended for support and protection, were
taken away? . These Were questions that were bound to
arise. Assistance in emigrating with their families westward,
would have been hailed with joy. Work of any kind and
at any price, on the route of their proposed journey, by which
they could earn a subsistence, would have been considered a
God-send. But joining the army and leaving their families
in such a condition was repugnant to their feelings. Such a
thing had never been thought of, much less asked for, by
the Saints. The assertion which has been made by their
enemies: that they desired and solicited the privilege of
joning the army to go against Mexieo, leaving their wives and
children homeless and destitute wanderers on the banks of the
Missouri, is a base libel on the character of the Saints. They
were loyal citizens, but they never expected such a sacrifice
would be required of them to prove their loyalty to the govern
ment. Though Captain Allen represented the call as an act of
benovelence on the part of the government, and assured the
Saints that here were hundreds of thousands of volunteers in
the States ready to enlist, it is doubtful whether he would have
got one of the Saints to join him if it had been left to his own
influence. Indeed, it is said that he admitted afterwards that
he could not have blamed the people if they had refused to
respond. He would not have enlisted under sueh circum
stances himself, even to save the government.

THH MUSTERING OF THE BATTALION. 117
The condition of the people as Captain Allen passed their
camps and the kind treatment he everywhere met, including
that of the High Council at Mount. Pisgah, had touched a tender
chord in the brave officer's manly heart. His manner was
pleasing, and he gained the good will of the people quite
readily; but it required something else than his influence to
raise the Mormon Battalion.
On receiving the call, President Young and those associated
with him in council decided almost instantly that the Bat
talion should be raised. There is much, however, to prove
that they did not regard it simply as an invitation which
they could accept or decline with impunity. President
Young said, "we want to conform to the requisition made upon
us, and we will do nothing else till we have accomplished this
thing. If we want the privilege of going where we can wor
ship God according to the dictates of our consciences, we must
raise the Battalion." ,
President Geo. Q. Cannon, writing upon this subject, says
"Captain Allen did not inform the people — for the reason,
probably, that he knew nothing about it — what the design
was in case the Battalion was not raised. The secret history
of the transaction is, as President Young was afterwards
informed on the best of authority, that Thomas H. Benton,
United States Senator from the State of Missouri, got a pledge
from President Polk, that if the Mormons did not raise the
Battalion of five hundred, he might have the privilege of
raising volunteers in the upper counties of Missouri, to fall
upon them and use them up."
To say the least of it, it was a very severe test of their
loyalty. President Young "asked the people to make a dis
tinction between this action of the general government, in
calling upon them for volunteers, and their former oppressions
in Missouri and Illinois," and with a full sense of the sacrifice
required, the people responded.
Presidents Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard
Richards rode back to Mount Pisgah, visiting all the inter
mediate camps by the way, as recruiting sergeants, and sent
epistles to Garden Grove and Nauvoo explaining what was
required, and urging an immediate response. At the same

118 HISTORY OF THE MORMON BATTALION.
time others were busy in the vicinity of Council Bluffs, raising
all the volunteers they could.
President Young encouraged the men by assuring them
that their families should be cared for, that they should fare
as well as his did, and that he would see that they were helped
alono-. He also predicted that not one of those who might
enlist would fall by the hands of the nation's foe, that their
only fighting would be with wild beasts; that there would not
be as many bullets whistle around their ears as did around
Dr. Wfllard Richards' in Carthage jail, etc.
These predictions were repeated in President Young's fare
well address to the command at Council Bluffs. The sequel
will show, improbable as it naturally looked at the time and
during the travels of the Battalion, that these predictions were
literally fulfilled.
On the 16th day of July, 1846, four companies of over four
hundred men, all told, and part of the fifth, were mustered
into the service of the United States, at Council Bluffs, Iowa
Territory. Our pay and rations dated from this period. The
fifth company was soon afterwards filled.
The following are the names of officers and men, also
families accompanying the command, as far as they have been
obtained:
LIST OF NAMES IN THE MORNON BATTALION.

COMPANY A.

O FFI CERS.

Jefferson Hunt, Captain.
George W. Oman, 1st. Lieu
tenant.
Lorenzo Clark, 2nd. Lieut.
William W. Willis, 3rd Lieut.
M (1st Sergeant at Muster In)
James Ferguson, Sergt. Major.
Phinehas R. Wright, 1st Ser-
(geantFrivate at M. 0.)
Ebenezer Brown, 2nd Sergt.
Roddick N. Allred, 3rd Sergt.

Alexander McCord, 4th Sergt.
Gilbert Hunt, 1st. Corporal.
Lafayette N. Frost, 2nd Corp.
Thomas Weir, Zrd Corp. (Pri
vate at M. 0.)
William S. Muir, Ath Corp.
(Private at M. I.; 1st. Ser
geant at M. 0.)
Elisha Everett Musician.
Joseph W. Richards "
(Died at Pueblo.)

LIST OF NAMES IN THE BTTALION.

119

PRI V
1 Allen Rufus C.
2 Allred James R.
3 Allred James T. S.
4 Allred Reuben W.
5 Allen Albern
6 Brown John
7 Butterfield Jacob K.
8 Bailey James
17 Briant John S.
18 Curtis Josiah
19 Cox Henderson
20 Chase Hiram B.
21 Calkins Alva C.
22 Casper William W.
23 Calkins James W.
24 Calkins Sylvanus
25 Calkins Edwin R.
26 Colman George
27 Clark Joseph
28 Clark Riley G
29 Decker Zechariah B.
30 Dobson Joseph
31 Dodson Eli
32 Earl James C.
33 Egbert Robert C.
34 Fairbanks Henry
35 Frederick David
36 Glines James H. (Q. M.
Sergeant at M. I., Private
at M. 0.)
37 Garner David
38 Gordon Gilman
39 Goodwin Andrew
40 Hulett Schuyler
41 Holden Elijah E.
42 Hampton James (died at
camp on Rio Grand)
43 Hawkins Benjamin
44 Hickenlooper William F.
45 Hunt Martial
46 Hewett Eli B.
47 Hudson Wilford
48 Hoyt Timothy S.
49 Hoyt Henry P.
50 Ivy Richard A.
51 Jackson Charles A.
52 Johnson Henry
53 Kelley William

ATES. 9 Brunson Clinton D.
10 Brass Benjamin
11 Blanchard Mervin S.
12 Beckstead Gordon S.
13 Beckstead Orin M.
14 Bickmore Gilbert
15 Brown William W.
16 Beran James
54 Kelley Nicholas
55 Kibley James
56 Lemon James W.
57 Lake Barnabas
58 Moss David
59 Maxwell Maxie
60 Mayfield Benjamin F.
61 Naile Conrad
62 OylerMelcher
63 Packard Henry, (M. 0. as
Corporal.)
64 Persons Ebenezer
65 Roe Cariatat C.
66 Ritter John
67 Steele George E.
68 Steele Isaiah C.
69 Sessions Richard
70 Shepherd Lafayette, [M.
0. as Corporal.)
Tl Swartout Hamilton
72 Sexton George
73 Sessions John
74 Sessions William B.
75 Taylor Joseph
76 Thompson John
77 Vrandenburg Adna
78 Weaver Miles
79 Wriston John P.
80 Wriston Isaac N.
81 Weaver Franklin
82 Wilson Alfred G.
83 Wheeler Merrill W.
84 White Samuel S. (Samuel
F. in original)
85 Webb Charles Y.
86 Winn Dennis
87 Woodworth Lysander
88 White Joseph
89 Willey Jeremiah

120

HISTORY OF THE MORMON BATTALION.

COMPANY B.

O FFI
Jesse D. Hunter, Captain v
Elam Luddington, 1st Lieut.
Ruel Barrus, 2nd Lieut.
Philemon C. Merrill, 3d Lieut.
William Coray, 1st Orderly
Sergeant
William Hyde, 2nd Orderly
Sergeant PRI V
1 Allen George
2 Allen Elijah
3 Alexander Horace M.
4 Allen Franklin
5 Bush Richard
6 Bird William
7 Bingham Thomas
8 Bingham Erastus
9 Billings Orson
10 Bigler Henry W.
11 Boley Samuel (died on
Missouri river)
12 Barrowman John
13 Brackenberry Benj. B.
14 Brown Francis
15 Bliss Robert S.
16 Bybee John
17 Clark George S.
18 Colton Philander
19 Cheney Zacheus
20 Callahan Thomas W.
21 Church Haden W.
22 Camp J. G.
23 Carter P. J.
24 Curtis Dorr P.
25 Carter R.
26 Dayton William J.
27 Dutcher Thomas P.
28 Dolton Henry S.
29 Dunham Albert
30 Evans Israel
31 Evans William
32 Eastman Marcus N.
33 Freeman Elijah N.
34 Follett William A.
35 Fife Peter

CERS .
David P. Rainey, 1st Corp.
Thomas Dunn, 2nd, Corp.
John D. Chase, 3rd Corp.
William Hunter, Musician
George W. Taggart, „
Albert Smith, 3rd Orderly
Sergeant

ATES 36373839
40 41
4243
444546
4748 49
50
51 5253 54555657
58 59 6061626364656667686970

Green Ephraim
Garner William A.
Garner Phillip
Hawk Nathan
Huntsman Isaiah
Hoffheins Jacob
Hanks Ephraim R.
Hawk William
Hinkley Arza E.
on original)
Hunter Edward
Haskell George
Harris Silas
Jones David H.
Keyser Guy M.
King John*M.
Kirk Thomas
Lawson John
Morris Thomas
McCarty Nelson
Mount Hiram B.
Martin Jesse B.
Murdock John R.
Murdock Price
Myers Samuel
Miles Samuel
Noler Christian
Owens Robert
Pearson Ephraim
Persons Harmon D
Prouse William
Park James, 1st
Park James, 2nd
Richards Peter F.
Rogers Samuel H.
Study David.

(Ezra

LIST OF NAMES.

121

71 Smith Azariah
72 Stevens Lyman
73 Stoddard Rufus
74 Simmons William A.
75 Sly James C.
76 Steers Andrew J.
77 Stillman Dexter
78 Workman Andrew J.
79 Walker William
80 Willis Ira

81 Workman Oliver G.
82 Willis W. S. S.
83 Watts John
84 Whitney Francis T.
85 Wright Charles
86 Wilcox Edward
87 Wilcox Henry
88 Wheeler John L.
89 Winters Jacob
90 Zabriskie Jerome

company c.

OFFICERS.

James Brown, Captain
George W. Rosecrans, 1st
Lieutenant
Samuel Thompson, 2nd Lieut.
Robert Clift, (promoted from
Ord. Sergt. to 3rd Lieut.)
Orson B. Adams, 1st Sergt. at
M. L, 2nd Sergt. at M. 0.
Elijah Elmer, 2nd Sergt. at
M. I., 1st Sergt. at M. 0.
Joel J Terrill, 3rd Sergt. (Pri
vate at M. 0.)

David Wilkin, Ath Sergt.; (Pri
vate at M. 0.)
Jabez Nowlin, 1st Corporal;
(Private at M. 0.)
Alexander Brown, 2nd Corp.
Edward Martin, 3rd Corp.;
(2nd Sergt. at M. 0.)
jfy Daniel Tyler, Ath Corp., (3rd
Sergt. at M. 0.)
Richard D. Sprague, Musician
Russell G. Brownell, „
(Corporal at M. 0.)

PR IV ATES.

1 Adair Wesley
2 Boyle Henrj' G. (Henry
B. Miller on original)
3 Burt William
4 Barney Walter
5 Babcbck Lorenzo
6 Brown Jesse J.
7 Bailey Addison
8 Bailey Jefferson
9 Beckstead William E.
10 Brimhall John
11 Blackburn Abner
12 Bybee Henry G.
13 Clift James
14 Covil John Q. A.
15 Condit Jeptha

16 Carpenter Isaac
17 Carpenter William H.
18 Calvert John
19 Catlin George W.
20 Donald Neal
21 Dunn James
22 Dalton Harry
23 Dalton Edward
24 Durphy Francillo
25 Dodge Augustus E.
26 Forbush Lorin
27 Fellows Hiram W.
28 Fife John
29 Fifield Levi
30 Gould John C.
31 Gould Samuel

122

MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

32 Gibson Thomas
33 Green John
34 Hatch Meltliah
35 Hatch Orin
36 Holt William
37 Harmon Ebenezer
38 Harmon Lorenzo F.
39 Holdaway Shadrach
40 Hendrickson James
41 Hancock Charles
42 Hancock George W.
43 Ivie Thomas C.
44 Johnston William J.
45 Johnston Jesse W.
46 Johnson Jarvis
47 Lay ton Christopher
48 Larson Thurston
49 Landers Ebenezer
50 Lewis Samuel
51 Myler James
52 McCullough Levi H.
53 Morey Hurley
54 Maggard Benjamin
55 Mowrey John T.
56 Mead Orlando F.
57 More Calvin W.
58 Olmstead Hiram
59 Perkins David
60 Perkins John
61 Pickup George

62 Peck Thorit, (Corp. at
M. 0.) ,
63 Peck Isaac
64 Pulsipher David
65 Persons Judson
66 Richie Benjamin
67 Rust William W.
68 Richmond Benjamin
69 Reynolds William
70 Riser John J.
71 Smith Milton
72 Smith Richard
73 Shupe James
74 Shupe Andrew J.
75 Shipley Joseph
76 Squires William (Corp. at
M. 0.)
77 Shumway Aurora
78 Thompson James L.
79 Thomas Nathan T.
80 Thomas Elijah
81 Tuttle Elanson
82 Truman Jacob M.
83 Tindell Solomon
84 Wade Edward W
85 Wade Moses
86 Wood William
87 White John J.
88 Wilcox Matthew
89 Welsh Madison
90 Wheeler Henry

COMPANY D.

OFFICERS

Nslson Higgins, Copt.
George P. Dykes, 1st Lieut.
Sylvester Hulett 2nd Lieut.
Cyrus C. Canfield, 3rd Lieut.
Nathaniel V. Jones, 1st Sergt.
(Private at M. O.)
Thomas Williams. 2nd Sergt.
Luther T. Tuttle,' 3rd Sergt.
Alpheus P. Haws, Ath Sergt.

Arnold Stephens, 1st Corp.
John Buchanan, 2nd Corp.
William Coon, 3rd Corp. ,
Lewis Lane, Ath Corp. (Private
at M. O.)
Willard Smith, Musician
Henry W. Jackson, (Henry
J. on original) Musician

LIST OF NAMES.

123

PRI V ATES .

1 Abbott Joshua
2 Averett Juthan
3 Brown James 1st
4 Brown James S.
5 Badlani Samuel
6 Button Montgomery
7 Brizzee Henry W.
8 Boyd George W.
9 Boyd William
10 Barger William W.
11 Compton Allen
12 Cole James B.
13 Casto William
14 Casto James
15 Curtis Foster
16 Clawson John R.
17 Cox Amos
18 Collins Robert H.
19 Chase Abner
20 Davis Sterling
21 Davis Eleazer
22 Davis James
23 Douglass Ralph
24 Douglass James
25 Flecther Philander
26 Frazier Thomas
27 Fatoute Ezra
28 Forsgreen John
29 Finlay Thomas
30 Gilbert John
31 Gifford William W.
32 Gribble William
33 Hoagland Lucas
34 Henry Daniel
35 Hirons James
36 Huntington Dimick B.
37 Hendricks Wm. D.
38 Holmes Jonathan
39 Higgins Alfred
40 Hunsaker Abraham, (1st
Sergt. at M. 0.)
41 Jacobs Sanford, (Corp. at
M. 0.)
42 Kenny Lor en E.
43 Lamb Lisbon
44 Laughlin David S.

45 Maxwell William
46 Meeseck Peter J.
47 Meacham Erastus
48 Bingham Erastus
49 Merrill Ferdinand
50 McArthur Henry
51 Oakley James
52 Owen James
53 Peck Edwin M.
54 Perrin Charles
55 Pettegrew James P.
56 Rollins John
57 Rawson Daniel B.
58 Roberts Benjamin
59 Runyan Levi
60 Rowe William
61 Richmond William
62 Robinson William
63 Raymond Almon P.
64 Smith John G.
65 Stephens Alexander
66 Spencer William W.
67 Stewart Benjamin
68 Stewart James
69 Stewart Robert B.
70 Sargent Abel M.
71 Savage Levi
72 Stillman Clark
73 Swarthout Nathan
74 Sharp Albert
75 Sharp Norman
76 Shelton Sebert C.
77 Sanderson Henry W.
78 Steele John
79 Thompson Henry
80 Thompson Miles
81 Tanner Myron •
82 Twitchel Anciel
83 Tubbs William
84 Treat Thomas
85 Hayward Thomas
86 Tippets John
87 Walker Edwin
88 Woodward Francis
89 Whiting Almon
90 Whiting Edmond

124

MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
COMPANY E.

OFFICERS.

Daniel C. Davis, Captain.
James Pace, 1st. Lieut.
Andrew Lytle, 2nd. Lieut.
Samuel L. Gully, 3rd Lieut.
Samuel L. Brown, 1st Sergt.
Richard Brazier, 2nd Sergt.

Ebenezer Hanks, 3rd Sergt.
Daniel Browett, Ath Sergt.
James A. Scott, Corp. (died at
Pueblo)
Levi W. Hancock, Musician.
Jesse Earl, ' ",

PRIVATES.

1 Allen John, (drummed
out of service; non -"Mor
mon")
2 Allen George
3 Bentley John
4 Beers William
5 Brown Daniel
6 Buckley Newman
7 Bunker Edward
8 Caldwell Matthew
9 Campbell Samuel
10 Campbell Jonathan
11 Cazier James
12 Cazier John
13 Clark Samuel
14 Clark Albert
, 15 Chapin Samuel
16 Cox John
17 Cummings George
18 Day Abraham
19 Dyke Simon
20 Dennett Daniel Q.
21 Earl Jacob
22 Ewell Wm.
23 Ewell Martin F.
24 Earl Justice C.
25 Findlay John
26 Follett William T.
27 Glazier Luther W.
28 Harmon Oliver N.
29 Harris Robert
30 Harrison Isaac
31 Hart James S.
32 Harrison Israel
33 Hess John W.

34 Hickmot John
35 Hopkins Charles
36 Hoskins Henry
37 Howell T. C. D.
38 Howell William
39 Jacobs Bailey
40 Judd Hiram
41 Judd Zadock K.
42 Jimmerson Charles
43 Knapp Albert
44 Kelley George
45 Karren Thomas
46 Lance William
47 McLelland Wm. C.
48 Miller Daniel
49 McBride Haslam
50 Miller Miles
-51 Park Wm. A.
52 Pettegrew David
53 Pixton Robert
54 Phelps Alva, (died on the
Arkansas)
55 Porter Sanford
56 Pugmire Jonathan, jun..
57 Rollins-- —
58 Richardson Thomas
59 Richards L.
60 Roberts L.
61 Sanders Richard T.
62 Scott Leonard M.#
63 Scott James R.
64 Skein Joseph
65 SpidleJohn
66 Slater Richard
67 Snyder John

68 Smith Lot
69 Smith David
70 Smith Elisha
71 Smith John
72 St. John Stephen M.
73 Stevens Roswell
74 Standage Henry

LIST OF NAMES. 125
75 Strong William
76 Tanner Albert
77 West Benj.
78 Wilson George
79 Woolsey Thomas
80 Williams James V
81 Whitworth Wm.

SERVANTS TO OFFICERS.
The following names have been sent me as having served
as servants to officers in the Mormon Battalion, and as they
were mostly too young to be received as soldiers, are entitled
to much praise for their youthful patriotism and bravery.
There may have been a few others not reported :
Zemira Palmer, to Col. James Allen until his death; to Dr.
George B. Sanderson from Ft. Leavenworth to Santa Fe, thence
to Lieut. Lorenzo Clark until the corps was discharged.
William Byron Pace, to Lieut. James Pace. Wilson D. Pace,
to Lieut. Andrew Lytle. N. D. Higins, to Captain Nelson
Higgins. Charles Edwin Colton, to Adjutant P. C. Merrill.
James Mowrey, to Lieuts. George Rosecrans, Samuel Thomp
son and Robert Clift. Elisha Smith, to Capt. Daniel C. Davis.

LIST OF FAMILIES WHO ACCOMPANIED
THE BATTALION.
Mrs. Celia Hunt, wife of senior Captain Jefferson Hunt;
sons. Hyrum, John, Joseph, Parley; daughters: Jane, Harriet,
Mary; second wife, Matilda; in the family, Peter Nease, Ellen
Nease, John Bosco and wife, Jane. Mrs. Hunter, wife of
Captain Jesse D. Hunter, of Company B., died at San Diego,
left an infant and perhaps other children. Mrs. Mary Brown,
wife of Captain James Brown, of Company C. ; son : David
Black, and some children by first wife. Mrs. Captain Nelson
Higgins, of Company D. ; sons : Alpheus, Don Carlos ; daugh
ters: Druzilla, Almira (married John Chase at Pueblo), and
one child born at Pueblo. Mrs. Susan, wife of Captain Daniel
C. Davis, of Company E; son: Daniel C. Davis, Jr. Mrs. Fanny

126 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
Mariah, wife of Dimick B.Huntington; sons: Clark Allen, Lot;
daughters : Martha, Zina, Betsey Prescinda (born „ at Pueblo).
Mrs. Malinda, wife of Milton Kelley ; Malinda Catherine (born at
Pueblo, now wife of Benj. L. Alexander). Mrs. Elizabeth, wife
of Sergt. Sebert C. Shelton ; sons : Jackson Mayfield, John May-
field; daughters: Sarah Mayfield, Caroline Shelton, Mariah
Shelton. Mrs. Eunice, wife of James P. Brown; sons: Robert,
Newman, John (born while traveling between Pueblo and
Salt Lake Valley) ; daughters : Sarah Jane and Mary Ann.
Mrs. Norman Sharp; daughter born at Pueblo. Miss Caroline
Sargent. Mrs. Montgomery Button; sons: James, Jutson,
Charles; daughter: Louiza. Mrs. Albina, wife of Thomas S.
Williams ; son : Ephraim ; daughters : Caroline, Phebe, (the
latter born at Pueblo.) Mrs. Jane Hanks, wife of Sergt.;
Ebenezer Hanks. Mrs. Phebe, wife of Sergt. Ebenezer Brown.
Mrs. Sophia, wife of William Tubbs. Mrs. Catherine,
wife of John Steele; daughter: Mary, also Young Eliza
beth (born twelve days after arriving in Salt Lake Val
ley). Mrs. Susan, wife of Sergt. Orson B. Adams. Mrs. Mary
Ann, wife of John Hyrons. Mrs. Emeline, wife of John
Hess. Mrs. Rebecca, wife of Elisha Smith. Mrs. Isabella,
wife of David Wilkin . Mrs. J. T. S. Allred. Mrs. Reuben Allred.
Mrs. Sarah Shupe, wife of Andrew Jackson Shupe. Mrs.
Coray, wife of Sergt. Coray. Mrs. Ruth Abbott. Mrs.
Harriet Brown, wife of Daniel Brown. Mrs. Sarah, wife of
Nicholas Kelley; son: Parley. Mrs. Agnes, wife of Sergt.
Edward L. Brown. Mrs. Caroline, wife of John Sessions.
There may have been a few others, not reported, as all are
collected from memory.

FIRST ORDEB-i ISSUED. 127

CHAPTER II.
First Orders Issued — Condition of Families and Feeling of Soldiers —
Instructions of Church Authorities — A pathetic Story hy a Soldier's
Wife.
^"Tiie following orders were read immediately after the first
four companies and part of the fifth were mustered into
service:
"Head Quarters, Mormon Battalion,
Council Bluffs, Iowa,
July 16, 1846.
(Order No. 1.)
"In virtue of authority given me by the Col. com
manding the army of the west, I hereby assume the command
of the Mormon Battalion, raised at this place for the service
of the United States. Therefore, companies now organized
will be held in readiness to march at the shortest notice, and
as soon as the fifth company be filled all will be ready for
movement. J. Allen, Lt. Col. U. S. A., Commanding."

(Order. No. 2.)
"The following appointments are made in the Battalion:
"First lieutenant, George P. Dykes, to be Adjutant; private,
James H. Glines, to be Sergeant Major; private, Sebert C.
Shelton, of Company A, to be Quartermaster Sergeant. They
will be respected and obeyed accordingly.
J. Allen, Lt. Col. U. S. A., Commanding."

"Head Quarters, Mormon Battalion,
Council Bluffs, July 16, 1846.
(Order No. 3.)
"William L. Mclntyre, of the Mormon people, is hereby-
appointed assistant surgeon to the Mormon Battalion of vol-

128 mormon battalion history.
unteers of the United States, and under my command. He
will be obeyed and respected accordingly, and will be entitled
to the pay and emoluments as an assistant surgeon in the United
States Army. J. Allen, Lt. Col. U. S. A., Commanding."

£ To show the feelings of the members of the Batallion, as
well as the condition of their families, I will here quote from
the journal of the late Sergeant Wlliam Hyde, which may
be^taken as a sample of many :
"A^few had tents or temporary cabius. We were mustered
into the service of the United States, on 16th of July, 1846,
and marched to the Missouri river, a distance of eight miles,
to [purchase blankets and other necessary articles for the
campaign, the price of the same to be deducted from our first
draft on government.
"The thoughts of leaving my family at this critical time are
indescribable. They were far from the land of their nativity,
situated upon a lonely prairie with no dwelling but a wagom
the scorching sun beating upon them, with the prospect of
the cold winds of December finding them in the same bleak,
dreary place.
My family consisted of a wife and two small children, who
were left in company with an aged father and mother and a
brother. The most of the Battalion left families, some in
care of the Church and some in the care of relatives, with
some in their own care. When we were to meet with them
again, God only knew. Nevertheless, we did not feel to mur
mur." Sergeant Hyde further says: "On Saturday, the 18th of
July, 1846, President B. Young, H. C. Kimball, P. P. Pratt,
W. Richards, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff met in
private council with the commissioned and non-commissioned
officers, on the bank of the Missouri river, and there gave us
their last charge and blessing, with a firm promise that, on
condition of faithfulness on our part, our lives should, be
spared, our expedition should result in great good and our
names should be held in honorable remembrance to all gen
erations. They instructed the officers to be as fathers to the

A pathetic story. 129
privates, to remember their prayers, to see that the name of
the Deity was revered, and that virtue and cleanliness were
strictly observed. They also instructed us to treat all men
with kindness and never to take that which did not belong to
us, even from our worst enemies, not even in time of war if
we could possibly prevent it; and in case we should come in
contact with our enemies and be successful, we should treat
prisoners with kindness and never take life when it could be
avoided." The foregoing instructions from the leaders of the Latter-day
Saints, given in a private council, are a complete refutation of
the oft trumped-up charge that they teach honesty, virtue and
forbearance in public, and the reverse in private. They are
in accord with the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
and other leading men with whom the author has been
acquainted almost half a century:
The following synopsis of a painfully interesting letter from
the pen of Sister Margaret Bridges, formerly wife of Alva
Phelps, whose death will be noticed in the proper place, is, by
no means, descriptive of an isolated case of suffering :
"Fillmore City,
"April 30, 1878.
"Brother Tyler:
"Dear Sir : — In complying with your request to give a
sketch of the circumstances attending the enlistment of my
former husband, Alva Phelps, in the Mormon Battalion, I
find, on referring to my memory, that my sketch must neces
sarily be brief, as at that time I was suffering from a severe
illness, leaving events only of the most sorrowful nature to be
impressed with any degree of vividness upon my recol
lection. "We were traveling when the call came for him to leave us.
It was midnight when we were awakened from our slumbers
with the painful news that we were to be left homeless, with
out a protector. I was very ilf at the time, my children all
small, my babe also extremely sick ; but the call was pressing ;
there was no time for any provision to be made for wife or
children; no time for tears; regret was unavailing. He
started in the morning. I watched him from my wagon-bed

130 mormon battalion history.
till his- loved form was lost in the distance; it was my last
sight of him.
"Two months from the day of his enlistment" the sad news
of my bereavement arrived. This blow entirely prostrated
me. But I had just embarked upon my sea of troubles;
winter found me bed-ridden, destitute, in a wretched hovel
which was built upOn a hill-side; the season was one of con
stant rain ; the situation of the hovel and its openness, gave
free access to piercing winds, and water flowed over the dirt
floor, converting it into mud two or three inches deep; no wood
but what my little ones picked up around the fences, so green
it filled the room with smoke ; the rain dropping and wetting
the bed which I was powerless to leave; no relative to cheer or
comfort me, a stranger away from all who ever loved me ; my
neighbors could do but little, their own troubles and destitution
engrossing their time ; my little daughter of seven my only
help ; no eye to witness my sufferings but the pitying one of
God — He did not desert me. <
"Spring brought some alleviation from my sufferings, yet one
pan of meal was my all, my earthly store. of provisions. I
found sale for the leaders of my team. The long, dreary
winter had passed, and, although it Was many months before
health and comparative comfort were my portion, still I
thank the Lord this was the darkest part of my life.
"The incidents immediately connected with my husband's
death I believe you are better acquainted with than I am, so
for me to give an account of his sad fate, would be both
unnecessary and painful. If, in this short epistle, you can
find any item of information, I shall be happy in forwarding
it to you. Thanking you for the interest you are taking in
our dear departed and the respect you manifest" for our hon
ored dead, I am, sincerely yours, in the bonds of the everlast
ing gospel.
"Margaret Bridges,
"(Formerly Margaret Phelps.)"
The motive that prompted our government to ask of a
body of outraged, banished exiles, more than two hundred
times their proper quota of men, according to the ratio required
of the several States in the Union, has already been explained.

SOLDIERS SEND MEANS TO THEIR EAM1LIES. 131
Our best men, and even children, in some instances had been
inhumanly massacred, and women had been shot and brutally
outraged. We had appealed to the various officials, from the
justice of the peace to the President and Congress, in vain, for
redress of our wrongs, getting the only satisfaction of —
"Gentlemen, your cause is just, but we can do nothing for you,"
one of the potent reasons assigned being that if they attempted
to give us our rights according to their oaths, our enemies
would not vote for them at the next election.

CHAPTER III.
Money Subscribed by the Soldiers for their Families and Poor Friends —
First Death on the Journey — Out of Flour — A Prejudiced Missourian —
Regrets of Mobocrats — Hurricane— Arrival at Fort Leavenworth — An
ecdote of Colonel C— Dr. Sanderson appointed Surgeon — Haste to get
Muskets — Character of Missouri Volunteers — More Money Subscribed
by the Soldiers — Superior Intelligence and Obedience.
Previous to taking up the line of march, on the 20th of July,
v the men of each company subscribed liberally of their wages
to be sent back for the support of their families and to aid in
gathering the poor from Nauvoo.
A rain storm prevailed during the forenoon of the following
day and in the afternoon we traveled about four miles through
sand and mud. Elder Jesse C. Little spent that night with us,
and the next day, at the request of the officers, he delivered
a short and encouraging address to the command while
formed in a hollow square. He spoke in high terms of the
integrity and energy of Brother Samuel Boley, who was
dangerously ill. The invalid was very kindly nursed and
doctored by our assistant surgeon, Dr. Wm. L. Mclntyre. The
5th company, having been previously filled up and organized,
overtook the command on Mosquito creek.
On the morning of the 23rd, we had to perform the painful
duty of burying brother Samuel Boley, who died between the
hours of 12 and 1 o'clock the previous night. This was the
first death that occurred in our ranks. He was wrapped in'his
blanket and buried in a rough lumber coffin, which was the
best we could get.

132 mormon battalion history.
On the succeeding day we crossed the Nishnabotany River
at Hunsaker's, Ferry, and camped near Lindon, Missouri. The
weather being excessively warm, Colonel Allen was in favor
of moderate marches ; but Adjutant Dykes, being himself a
great walker, and having the advantage of a horse to ride, urged
long marches. Colonel Allen consented to this, presuming,
probably, that the men wished it. They, however, desired only
reasonable, healthful marches. Thus many began to fail at
almost the beginning of a journey of over two thousand miles.
Several parties, about this time, were taken sick, among whom
"was the author, and were healed by anointing with oil and the
laying on of hands, and went on their way rejoicing.
Sergeants Wm. Hyde and Wm Coray, finding the. long
marches in the broiling sun too hard for them, each purchased
an Indian pony from an old settler, paying twenty-five dollars
apiece for them.
On the evening of the 25th, the command being out of flour,
and there being none in the vicinity to purchase, many retired
to bed fasting, while others made the best supper- they could
on parched corn; yet all seemed* to be in excellent spirits in
the expectation of soon having full rations. No flour, however,
was obtained for two days afterwards, during which time a dis
tance of thirty-eight miles was traveled in the heat and dust, and
that too while many of the men were sick. When we had crossed
the Nodaway River and camped at the town of Oregon, a
Missourian, probably a mobocrat of the old type, whose name.
we regret, does not appear, who had been hired to deliver
a load of flour, stopped at some distance from our camp and
refused to deliver it to the Quartermaster and take his receipt,
because he was a Mormon. He would deliver it to no one but
the Colonel. That noble officer, however, was highly insulted,
and ordered him to deliver the flour immediately upon pain
of being arrested and put under guard.
Delivery was made immediately.
"Good for the Colonel !" and "God bless the Colonel!" were
repeated from one end of the camp to the other.
Passing on from the Nodaway river, we found the country
poor and broken, the road bad and the inhabitants very
miserable. A. great many of the settlers in this part of the
country, were old mobocrats, as several of them admitted.

A HURRICANE. 133
They said that they had been misled by false rumors, and very
much regretted having persecuted the Saints. They would
have been glad to take their old "Mormon" neighbors back.
They had not prospered since the Saints were banished
from the State, and the men they then hired to labor for them
' accomplished only about one half the amount of work in a day
that the "Mormons" did.
On the 29th, we passed St. Joseph, then a town of some
importance, in good order, keeping time to the tune of "The
Girl I left Behind Me," and camped one mile outside of the
town. While here Luke Johnson, formerly one of the Twelve
Apostles, but at that time out of the Church, met Sergeant Wm.
Hyde and informed him that the .Missourians were per
fectly astonished 'at the course the "Mormons" were taking.
The Missourians had supposed, when they heard of the Presi
dent's requisition, that the1 Saints would only spurn it. But
when they saw the Battalion march through with civility and
in good order, they were really dumbfounded.
On the 30th, we passed through Bloomington and camped
on a small creek, where, about 9 o'clock p. m., the wind com
menced to blow a gale and continued until the trees fell in all
directions around the camp.
The men were aroused from their slumbers, and hurried out-
of their rude brush shelters or "wigwams," looking every
moment for the trees in camp to fall. About eighty smoulder
ing fires were revived by the gale, while the howling of the
wind, the crashing of the trees as they fell around us, the vivid
lightning and the roar of thunder made the scene one of terror.
Yet the fact that not one tree fell in our camp proved that God
was with us. Our teams were in a field covered with deadened
timber, which fell thick around the animals, but the only harm
done was the killing of one ox. The owner of the field after
wards remarked that it was a marvel that they were not all
killed. He had been quite alarmed lest his house, which was
n the vicinity should blow down.
The following day we passed through the thriving town of
iVeston, keeping time to music, the same as at St. Joseph, to
the admiration and astonishment of the inhabitants. They
said none but Mormons, under such forbidding circumstances,
would have enlisted. They frankly admitted that they would

134 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
not have thought of such a thing. Some of them said "the
call is a disgrace and a shame to the Government." The gen
erality of the citizens of this town were honorable, upright
people, and have always been opposed to any spirit of persecu
tion. From Weston we marched to the ferry on the Missouri river,
opposite Fort Leavenworth, and were nearly five hours in
crossing and making our way to the garrison. We found
companies of Missouri volunteers there. We received our tents
the same day; these added much to our comfort, but, as every
rose has its thorn, so with our movable houses; the hot sun
beating upon them "made it warm for us" in the middle of
the day, though we were very comfortable compared with our
previous condition. We camped on the public square of the
Fort. Henry W. Bigler was shaking, terribly with the ague at the
time we camped.
Our tents, being new, and pitched in military order, pre
sented a grand appearance, and the merry songs which
resounded through the camp made all feel like "casting dull
care away."
Between Council Bluffs and Fort Leavenworth the following
laughable occurrence took place:
In the Battalion was a man whom we will call O, who had,
by some means, procured a peculiar kind of hat belonging to
an officer's uniform of the Nauvoo Legion. This lone hat was
the only article of uniform in the Battalion, except that worn ,
by the colonel. Our friend C. was the "speckled bird" of the
flock. Naturally enough his messmates teased him, and by
others many rich and perhaps some cutting jokes were passed
at his expense. O, being somewhat eccentric in his way,
concluded he had rather "too much of a good ' thing," and
•dropped out of the ranks, as ^ome supposed, to desert and
return to the Bluffs. This opinion was strengthened by his
long absence.
Finally "Joe," who is now a resident of Utah, an acquaint
ance of C, overtook the command on the way to Fort Leaven
worth, and gave the following account of the missing man,
whom he had passed on the road, and who he thought would
be in camp that night.

ANECDOTE OF COLONEL C. 135
A Missouri farmer, learning that "Joe" belonged to the
Mormon community, informed him that he had had the
honor of having his colonel to dine with him, and repre
sented him as being a fine appearing man and a gentleman.
On receiving a description of the colonel's person and dress,
"Joe" concluded that it could have been no other than our
eccentric friend, C. An hour or two after "Joe's" arrival, but
not until the story of the fine dinner had been pretty well
circulated through our camp, in came the missing man, C. No
sooner did he enter the lines than one of the boys swung his
hat, crying out at the top of his voice, "Three cheers for Col
onel C," which, we believe, were several times repeated, accom
panied with loud hurrahs throughout the camp. Col. Allen ,
who was lying on the ground in his tent, hearing the noise,
sprang to his feet and hastily inquired what was the cause of
it. On being informed, instead of being angry and ordering
him under arrest, as many a stiff-collared fourth corporal
would have done, the noble, high-minded commander settled
himself down again and laughed and shook his sides until he
almost wept. To this day there are many members of the
Battalion to whom our friend is known only as Colonel C.
I trust my genial friend, for whom I entertain a high regard,
will pardon me for taking away a portion of the monotony of
our narrative at his expense.
The distance from Council Bluffs to Fort Leavenworth is in
round numbers two hundred miles, directly down the Missouri
river. On the day of our arrival at the garrison we received the
following:(Order No. 4.)
"Head Quarters, Mormon Battalion,
Fort Leavenworth, August 1, 1846.
"Dr. George B. Sanderson, of Platte County, Missouri, is
hereby appointed a surgeon in the United States Army, to
serve with the Mormon Battalion of volunteers. This appoint
ment is subject to the approval of the President of the United
States.

136 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
Surgeon Sanderson will, on his acceptance of this appoint
ment, make his proper requisition on the medical officer of
this post for such medical supplies as he may deem necessary
for the service of five hundred men for six months, or the
march of these men to California. J. Allen, Lt. Col., Commanding."
On the 3rd of August, companies A, B and C drew their
arms, which consisted of U. S. flint-lock muskets, with a few
cap-lock yaugers for sharpshooting and hunting purposes.
The usual accoutrements were also drawn, as well as camp
equipage and provisions, the want of which had been seri
ously felt on the way.
Quite a crowd gathered around the arsenal before it was
opened, each seeming desirous to get the first gun issued.
Col. Allen accompanied the officer who was to issue the arms,
and, seeing the crowd around the door, in his good-natured,
humorous way, said, "Stand back, boys; don't be in a hurry
to get your muskets; you will want to throw the d  d things
away before you get to California."
On the 4th, companies D and E drew their arms, accoutre
ments, etc.
Volunteers from different parts of the country arrived at the
garrison daily, to get their outfits. Many of them were rough,
desperate-looking characters. Quarreling and fighting were
not unusual among those from Upper Missouri. While we
remained at the Fort, one of the Missouri volunteers, from
Platte Co., struck a comrade with a hatchet, inflicting a
dangerous, perhaps mortal, wound.
On the 5th we drew forty-two dollars each, as clothing money
for the year. Most of the money was sent back by Elder P.
P. Pratt and others for the support of the families of the sol
diers, and for the gathering of the poor from Nauvoo. There
was also a- donation to aid Elders P. P. Pratt, 0. Hyde and
John Taylor, of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in pur
suing their mission to England, and to assist Elder J. C.
Little to go upon his mission to the Eastern States. The pay
master was much surprised to see every man able to sign his
own name to the pay roll, as, according to a reliable journal
in my possession, only about one in three of the Missouri

OFFICERS ELECTED. 137
volunteers, who drew their pay previously, could put his
signature to that document.
The members of the Mormon Battalion, too, were not only
more intelligent than their fellows, but they were more sub
missive and obedient to their commanding officers. Col. Allen
was heard to say, in conversation with a prominent officer of
the garrison, that he "had not been under the necessity of giv
ing the word of command the second time. The men, though
unacquainted with military tactics, were willing to obey or
ders." While at the garrison a company election was held,
resulting in the election of one 3rd Lieutenant, one 4th Lieu
tenant and one 4th Corporal for each company.
Private John R. Murdock, of company B, (now President of
the Beaver stake of Zion and member of the Utah Legislature)
while endeavoring to train a six-mule team was run over by
the wagon while the hind wheels were locked, and seriously
hurt.

— V» I »

CHAPTER IV
Departure of Elders on Missions — Sickness — Start from Fort Leavenworth
— Henry Standage lost — News of Col. Kane's Sickness — A Severe
Storm — Feast of Honey — Ancient Kuins — Sanford Porter Healed in
Answer to Prayer — Wagon Overturned in a Creek — Colonel Allen's
Death — Death of Jane, and John Bosco.
On the 8th of aifly Elders Orson Hyde, John Taylor and J.
C. Little took leave of the Battalion at Fort Leavenworth and
proceeded on their missions.
The first Sund ay spent by the Battalion at Fort Leaven
worth was observed by holding religious service. Elder Geo.
P. Dykes preached a kind of military and gospel sermon, which
was his usual style on such occasions.
The weather at this time was extremely warm, the ther
mometer indicating 101° in the shade and 135° in the sun.
Some of those who had taken sick on the road were much im
proved, but a number of new cases of sickness from ague and
fever were developed while in garrison. Sergeant Wm. Hyde
was among the number. Jonathan Pugmire, Jr., of company
E, (recently Bishop's Agent of Bear Lake Stake of Zion, and

138 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
lately deceased) was also taken seriously ill with fever. In
writing of this, under date of April 25, 1878, he said: "At
Leavenworth" I was detailed to do blacksmithing, that being
my trade. Having no conveniences of a shop, I had to work
out of doors, under the scorching heat of an August sun, the
rays of which, reflected from a bed of limestone, made the
heat almost unbearable. Just as I finished the last wheel and
gave the last stroke of the hammer, I fell to the ground in a
raging fever, and had to be carried to my tent. For my ser
vices as blacksmith up to date I have not received a cent. I
still feel the effects more or less of the sickness thus contracted.
I had to be hauled a considerable portion of the way to Santa
Fe, and the fever being intense, I suffered severely for want of
water." This case is a sample of many, so far as fevers and suffering
for want of water are concerned, as our water was generally
carried in canteens and flagons, hanging from straps over the
shoulders of the men. Col. Allen was taken seriously ill after
our arrival at Fort Leavenworth, and as there seemed to be
no improvement in his case while we remained there, he in-
' structed the senior Captain, Jefferson Hunt, to advance with
the command while he would remain there to recruit and com
plete the business pertaining to outfitting the Battalion.
On the 12th, companies A., B. and C, took up the line of
march for Santa Fe, and traveled that day five miles, finding
only poor water and but little of it, which made it very bad
for the sick, several of whom had raging fevers. One of com
pany B's wagons also broke down.
""On the^3rd, Henry Standage traveled ahead of his com
pany, and was not heard from until the following day, when
he was overtaken, to the infinite joy and relief of himself and
friends, as he had been without either food or blankets for al
most two days and" much anxiety had been caused by his ab
sence. On the 14th, companies D and E left Leavenworth for Santa
Fe, and the same day news was received, by express, through
Brother Joseph Matthews, from the Twelve at Council Bluffs,
to the effect that Col. Thomas L. Kane was lying at the point
of death. We also learned from Brother. Matthews that the
main body of the Church had crossed the Missouri River, at

SEVEBE STORM. 139
Sarpee's Point, and traveled up the west side some fifteen or
twenty miles, where they had established Winter Quarters.
On the 15th the advance companies crossed the Kansas or
Kaw river, which, at the ferry, was about three hundred yards
in width. We were ferried over in flat boats by some half-
civilized Delaware and Shawnee Indians who were living
there and cultivating the soil. In the evening we reached
Spring Creek, where we found more than a dozen springs
within twenty yards of each other. We remained at this
point two days, during which time a heavy shower of ram fell
and we learned that although our tents did us considerable
good, they were not as substantial as shingle-roofed houses.
The rain spattered through and ran under them, and we were
pretty thoroughly drenched. While here, Robert S. Bliss
found a bee-tree containing twenty or more pounds of nice
honey, which made him and his immediate friends an ex
cellent repast.
It was intended to remain longer at Spring Creek, but our
beef cattle^became so troublesome to the crops of the Indians,
that the command advanced about four miles, to Stone Coal
Creek. Here we were overtaken by companies D and E. After
our encampment, a furious hurricane, accompanied by rain,
hail, vivid lightning and peals of thunder, like the constant
roar of heavy artillery, met us from the west. Before it
reached us we beheld in the distance a heavy dark cloud illu
mined only by the vivid lightning, while our ears were saluted
with continuous rolling thunder and the sweeping of the
wind. When the storm reached us only five or six out of over
one hundred tents were left standing, and it took six men to
each tent to hold it. Three wagons were upset, two of which
were heavy government baggage wagons; the other, a light
two-horse carriage, was slightly injured. Sergeant Wm. Coray 's
carriage was driven before the wind about ten rods. The
ground was descending to the east. Mrs. Coray was in the
carriage when it started, but she preferred exposure to the
storm to risking the, dangers of being driven in the carriage
before the wind, and sprang to the ground, and with womanly
dignity and courage took the driving rain and the pelting
hail. The author, being unable to stand and brace against the
strength of the gale, was driven some twelve or fifteen rods to

140 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
a patch of willows flattened by the wind like lodged grain,
nearly to the ground. He fell to his face, held to the willows
with his right hand, and placed his left arm over hi's head, at
the same time pulling the willows over the back of his head
to shield it from the pelting hail. His hat, like many others,
was blown away at the commencement of the storm. There
were many sick in our camp, among whom Were Mrs. Celia
Hunt, wife of Senior Captain Jefferson Hunt, and her twin
babes, who were taken with chills and fever before leaving
Fort Leavenworth. They were very sick. The matron lady hap
pened to be in her wagon, while her husband held the babes
in the tent, which blew down. With much difficulty the Cap
tain kept the little ones from drowning and suffocating. As
everything was wet they were forced to sleep in .their wet
clothes. Strange to say, with all the exposure, neither the
good lady nor her "dear angels," as she termed her babes, had
any more chills and fever. My recollection is that others, also,
were cured by this wonderful shower bath. The storm lasted
about twenty minutes.
Colonel Sterling Price and his command of cavalry, who
left the garrison two days in advance of us, were encamped at
Stone Coal Creek, when we arrived there. During the storm
his animals were scattered in all directions, and several days
were spent in searching before they could be recovered. The
result was a portion of Price's cavalry did not overtake the
Battalion until after we arrived at Santa Fe.
The day after the storm we rested and dried our clothes.
During the afternoon the Battalion was called together and
was addressed by Captain Hunt, Corporal Daniel Tyler, Musi
cian Levi W. Hancock and Sergeant Wm. Hyde respectively
An excellent spirit prevailed, and all seemed to appreciate the
remarks. Three persons were also baptized for their health
and one for the remission of sins.
R. S. Bliss, the Nimrod' of the Battalion, here found another
bee-tree, and provided another treat for himself and friends.
While at this place two pieces of artillery, a blacksmith
forge and six or eight wagons loaded with ammunition for
Kearney's Brigade, passed us.
On the 21st Adjutant Dykes arrived from the garrison,
and brought word that Col. Allen was still very sick. Many

ANCIENT RUINS. 141
prayers ascended to God for his recovery. He was universally
beloved by the command. Our hospital wagon also arrived.
On the 22nd the Battalion left Stone Coal Creek, or, as it
was called, by the command, "Hurricane Point," and had
traveled but a short distance when we came to a small stream
which was very difficult to cross. Long ropes were fastened
to the wagons on each side, with ten to fifteen men to each
rope to aid the teams in crossing. All were over about noon.
After traversing a fine prairie of rich bottom land, we camped
at night at Allen's Grove. The sick were much improved in
health. During our next day's travel we passed an old stone wall,
some five feet thick. Ruins of an ancient city were also plainly
visible, showing that the country must have been inhabited
sometime long ages past by a civilized people. Sanford Por
ter, of company E, was taken sick while traveling this day,
and fell behind the command. He suffered so intensely that
he thought he must die; but while alone he summoned all
his faith and called upon the Lord in fervent prayer, asking
that his life might be spared if there was any further work
for him to do. In an instant all pain left him and he was as
vigorous and healthful as he ever had been in his life.
On the 24th we traveled over a district of country, which,
if cultivated, would make excellent farms. Parties who had
worked in the precious metals, also, thought they saw strong
indications of lead ore along our route. We nooned at
Schwitzer's Creek, and at night camped on Beaver Creek.
On the 25th, three yoke of oxen being lost, John G. Smith
and others remained and hunted for, but did not find them.
The command moved on and while nooning the camp was
visited by a number of Kaw Indians, who afterwards followed
us some distance. During the afternoon we met Bro. McKen-
zie, who had been to Bent's Fort as Indian interpreter to Gen
eral S. F. Kearney. Several letters were sent back by him to
anxious friends.
On the following day, while crossing a creek, one of com
pany C's wagons was upset in the stream, containing six or
seven sick men and a number of women. The water was
several feet deep, and the banks high. The men who were on
the banks jumped into the stream and pulled the inmates from

142 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
the wagon. All of them were completely immersed and some
were strangling as they were unable to get their heads above
water. Among those who assisted in clearing the wagon was
the author of this narrative. Being overheated from trav
eling, as well as exhausted by his efforts to rescue the parties
from a watery grave and to turn the wagon right side up, he
contracted a severe cold and fever which resulted in chronic
catarrh and other afflictions, from which he still suffers.
The lost oxen were recovered and Sergeant Shelton overtook
the command and brought the painful news of the death of
our highly esteemed and much loved Colonel, James Allen,
who departed this life at 6 o'clock a. m. of the 23rd day of
August, 1846.
On the 28th some Santa Fe traders brought and delivered
to us Sergeant Hyde's pony, which he had lost several days
previously, in consequence of which he had, while still in very
poor health, been compelled to walk about seventy miles.
The same day an aged English lady by the name of Jane
Bosco, who was traveling in company with Captain Hunt,
died, and her husband, John Bosco— not a soldier— died be
fore daylight the next morning. Thus they gained an oft-
repeated wish, that neither should be left to mourn the loss of
the other. They were very highly respected. They were
buried in one grave, and a dry substantial stone wall was built
around and over the tomb, under the supervision of Elisha
Averett, to mark their last resting place and to shield their
bodies from the wolves. The covering was of good but un
polished flat rock.
On the 29th, Adjutant Dykes preached the funeral sermon
of the lamented Colonel, James 'Allen. Senior Captain Jeffer
son Hunt also made some very appropriate remarks on the
occasion. We also learned of a row in a camp of Missouri vol
unteers not far distant from ours, in which one soldier shot and
mortally wounded another.

NEW COMMANDER ELECTED. 143

CHAPTER V
Question of a New Commander — Captain Hunt Elected — Arrival of Smith
and Sanderson — Council of Officers — Smith Elected to take Command
— Smith's Inhuman Treatment of the Sick— Repulsed by Sergeant
Williams — The Sick Object to take Drugs — Sergeant Jones Protests
Against their Being Forced to — Dykes' Perfidy — Letter from President
Young — The "old Iron Spoon" — A Fiendish Doctor.
After learning of the death of Colonel Allen, the question
naturally arose as to who should succeed him as our com
mander. On this and other points, the late Lieutenant Wes
ley W. Willis, has, in substance, the following: "On receipt
of this intelligence, the officers held a council, and agreed that
Captain Hunt should assume the command of the Battalion,
which decision was unanimously sustained by the men.
At the same time the officers wrote a letter to the President of
the United States, informing him of the death of Colonel Allen,
and praying him to appoint Captain Hunt to the command.
This letter was forwarded to Independence, Mo., by Sergeant
Ebenezer Brown, of company A.
We continued our march under the orders of Captain Hunt
to Council Grove. Here, on learning that Lieutenant Smith was
on the way, intending to take command, the officers appointed a
committee of two, viz., Jesse D. Hunter, Captain of company
B, and Adjutant George P. Dykes, to examine the law and as
certain to whom the right of command belonged and report
accordingly to the council. Captain Hunter reported in favor
of Captain Hunt, but Lieutenant Dykes reported against him,
being of the opinion that inasmuch as we were enlisted by a
'United States officer, the right of command belonged to an
officer of the regular army.
While here, Lieutenant Smith, Major Walker, Dr. George B.
Sanderson, and others, came to us, bringing a letter to Captain
Hunt from Major Horton, of Fort Leavenworth, informing him
that the Government property in possession of the Battalion

144 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
was not receipted for, and advising us to submit to the command
of Lieutenant Smith and he would forward receipts for the
same, as it might save us considerable trouble.
This caused another council to be convened to hear what
these gentlemen had to say. The council was addressed by
Major Walker and Lieutenant Smith, both of whom advised
that Major Horton's suggestion be acceded to. Captain Hunt
stated boldly and emphatically that it was his right to assume
command, and that he had no fears of the responsibility of
leading the Battalion; and then left it with the council to say
who should command. It was moved by Captain Higgins and
seconded by Captain Davis, that Smith should take command.
The motion was carried, all voting for it except three, viz:
Lieutenants Lorenzo Clark, Samuel Gully and Wesley W.
Willis." When the command was given to Lieutenant Smith, the
soldiers were not consulted. This caused an ill-feeling be
tween them and the officers that many hold to this day. The
appointment of Smith, even before his character was known,
caused a greater gloom throughout the command than the
death of Colonel Allen had.
On the morning of the 31st of August, we struck tents at 7 a.
m., under the command of Lieutenant Smith, and marched
that day to Diamond Springs, at which place we were mustered
and inspected by our new commander.
The following day we reached Lost Springs so called from
being a kind of lonesome place, destitute of timber. Our food
had been cooked the previous day, as we had been apprised of
the situation at Lost Springs, and we followed the Arab style,
of digging narrow trenches in which we burned weeds, to heat
water for our tea and coffee.
On the 2nd of September we camped at Cottonwood Creek,
in the Comanche Indian country. These Indians were very
hostile at that time.
Lieutenant Smith, at this point, pulled several of the sick
out of the wagons because they had neglected to report them
selves to Dr. Sanderson. When he learned that some of them
did not design being drugged, he used some horrid oaths and
threats. Sergeant Thomas S. Williams, who had purchased a
team to haul a portion of our knapsacks, had some of the sick

SMITH'S THREAT AND WILLIAMS' REPLY. 145
in his wagon. Smith approached the wagon with the inten
tion of hauling the sick out, when the Sergeant ordered him to
stop. At this Smith became furious and drew his sword and
threatened to run Williams through if he attempted to allow
any more sick to ride in the wagon without his permission.
Williams braced himself, grasped the small end of his loaded
whip and told him if he dared to make one move to strike he
would level him to the ground ; that the team and wagon were
his private property and he would haul whom he pleased. He
further told him that these men were his brethren, that they
did not believe in taking drugs and that he would never leave
one lying sick on the ground while they could crowd into the
wagon, or so long as his team could pull them.
Smith slunk away and inquired who that man was, and was
told that it was Sergeant Williams. He next went to some
officers and had some talk with them, which resulted in a sug
gestion to "Tom" — as the Sergeant was familiarly called — to
meet with all the officers at night and to "treat" them, begin
ning with the Colonel, which he did.
Thus, with a single drink of whisky, the wound was healed
without any apology from either side. It was noticeable ever
after, however, that when they passed each other, Sergeant
Williams was recognized and saluted in a respectful manner.
About this time Sergeant N. V Jones went in a respectful
manner to Colonel Smith and informed him that the soldiers
were loyal; that it was not out of any disrespect to him or Dr.
Sanderson that the sick declined to take the Doctor's medicine ;
but that they had religious scruples against taking mineral
medicine. The Colonel replied that he' did not know anything about
our religion, and that he did not wish to force men against
their religious convictions. He then turned to Adjutant
Dykes and asked him if Jones' statement was true, and the
Adjutant replied that there were no such religious scruples,
and that the Church authorities themselves took such medicine.
This made matters worse for the sick, if such a thing were
possible, than they were before. The humane, patriotic
Sergeant did his duty manfully, but his good offices in behalf
of his comrades in arms were turned to evil by one who
might have saved them much persecution, sorrow and, in

146 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
some cases, perhaps, even death. Ever after this an ill-feeling
was perceptible between the Adjutant and Sergeant Jones.
That the position taken by Sergeant Jones was correct, the
following letter, which was subsequently received, will amply
prove :
"Camp of Israel, Omaha Nation, Cutler's Park,
August 19, 1846.
To Captain Jefferson Hunt aud the Captains, Officers, and Soldiers
of the Mormon Battalion: —
We have the opportunity of sending to Fort Leavenworth,
this morning, by Dr. Reed, a package of twenty-five letters,
which we improve, with this word of counsel to you all : If
you are sick, live by faith, and let surgeon's medicine alone if
you want to live, using only such herbs and mild food as are
at your disposal. If you give heed to this counsel, you will
prosper; but if not, we cannot be responsible for the conse
quences. A hint to the wise is sufficient.
In behalf of the Council, Brigham Young, President.
W. Richards, Clerk."
About this time, quite a number of the Battalion took sick
with the chills and fever, and were administered to by Dr.
Sanderson out of an old iron spoon. After this it was cus
tomary every morning for the sick to be marched to the tune
of "Jim along Joe" to the Doctor's quarters, and take their
portion from that same old iron spoon. It was believed by
many that this spoon had been thrown away by some
soldier at the garrison and picked up by the Doctor, thinking
a new one would either be too expensive or too good for the
"Mormons" to use in taking their medicine. It may, however,
have descended from the Doctor's ancestors and been preserved
by him as a precious heirloom.
So determined was Dr. Sanderson that the men should
take his calomel and arsenic (these being all, or nearly all,
the medicines he used except a decoction of bayberry bark
and camomile flowers, as strengthening bitters to the con
valescent), that he threatened with an oath, to cut the throat
of any man who would administer any medicine without his
orders.

A FIENDISH DOCTOR. 147
Dr. Mclntyre, a good botanic physician, had been appointed
assistant surgeon by Colonel Allen on the day of our enlist
ment ; yet under pain of this threat he must not administer
one herb to his afflicted friends and brethren unless ordered
so to do by the mineral quack who was his superior in
office. Every morning at sick call, those who were unable to travel
reported themselves to the Surgeon, not only to receive his
medicine but»his wicked cursing also.
It would have been difficult to select the same number of
American citizens from any other community who would
have submitted to the tyranny and abuse that the Battalion
did from Smith and Sanderson. Nor would we have done so
on any consideration other than as servants to our God and
patriots to our country.

« »¦

CHAPTER VI.
A Faithful Sentinel Arrests the Colonel— The Colonel Frightened— Buffalo
Meat— Military Law Read— Difficult Crossing— The Author Sick-
Dread of the Doctor's Poisonous Drugs — Begs to be Left to Die —
News of the Capture of Santa Fc — Dosed«with Calomel — Disobey the
Doctor and Recover — Doctor Claims Credit for the Cure — Camomile
Tea — Who Used the Brandy — Pace's Account of Colonel Allen's
Death, etc.
Soon after Smith took command, while going the grand
rounds alone, to see that the sentinels were doing their duty,
he was halted by Thomas C. D. Howell, a sentinel on guard.
The Colonel, by mistake, gave the wrong countersign, and
Howell held him as a prisoner until the arrival of the relief
guard, when he turned him over to the Corporal. The
Colonel was not only very wrathy, but it may also be pre
sumed that he was a little frightened, for he afterwards
remarked to another officer, that, the man who took him
prisoner "would just as leave kill a man as look at him."
Those who are acquainted with the peaceable character of
Brother Howell will be able to appreciate the effect of his
firmness upon the Colonel, for there was generally nothing
blood-thirsty indicated in his looks or manner.

148 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
It appeared that the Colonel had without knowing it given
the password of the previous night, but would not be con
vinced of his mistake until the Adjutant pointed out the
proper countersign in his own handwriting. Smith never
forgave Howell. Posterity, however, will commend the senti
nel for his integrity.
On the 5th we saw a few buffalo, the first that most of us
had ever seen. Several carcasses of these animals that had
been killed by Missouri Volunteers lay by the wayside, no
portion of them having been used except the tongues. We
thought of the scripture— "Woe unto those who take life and
waste flesh when they have no need."
On the following day we not only saw plenty of buffalo,
but one of the soldiers killed one We thought the meat
very good. It was, however, like most of the male "sentinels,"
rather tough. We learned in time to select for our eating
younger and more tender animals, instead of shooting the
oldest, which were generally found, singly, at some distance
from the herd.
On the 7th of September we were ordered on parade at 5 p.
m., and had the military law read to us for the first time, the
object being that we might be better posted in regard to
campaign duties.
On the evening of the 9th we encamped on a stream known
as Pawnee Fork, the crossing of which was very difficult, and
occupied some time. Each wagon had to be let down the
bank with ropes, while on the opposite bank from twenty to
thirty men with ropes aided the teams in pulling the wagons
up. The water was muddy, very much like that of the
Missouri river.
The following day we encountered a heavy rain storm, and
found no timber to cook our suppers with. As a rather poor
substitute, we used wet buffalo-chips.
The author, having been attacked by fever several days
previous, found himself growing rapidly worse. The team
sters feared trouble with the' Doctor if they allowed him to
ride in the wagons unless he was on the sick report, and as he
preferred *the mercy of the savages to the cruelty and wicked
abuse of Dr. Sanderson, with his poisonous drugs, he. lay
down upon the ground and begged his messmates to leave

SURRENDER OF SANTA FE. 149
him, and report him dead and buried. His comrades reported
him to Lieutenant Rosecrans, who was in command of Com
pany C, in the absence of Captain Brown, who was sick, and
that officer directed them to put him in a wagon and report
him to be entered on the sick list. This was just as the com
mand was about breaking camp.
Soon after an express from Santa Fe brought us the glad
news of the surrender of that place to General S. F. Kearney,
without resistance. An order from the General directed the
Battaljon to leave the road and not go by way of Bent's Fort,
whence we had been ordered by Colonel Allen, but march
direct to Santa Fe, which, of course, we proceeded to do,
although the most of our provisions, etc., and two pieces
of artillery, were in advance of us towards the former place,
where we understood our lamented Colonel, James Allen,
designed us to winter, in case we were too late to cross the
mountains that fall.
In the evening two comrades led the author to the quarters
of the indolent Doctor, who never visited a wagon to see the
sick while they could move one limb before the other, with
a man under each arm to bear the weight of the body. The
doctor first demanded to know the sick man's name; next,
what ailed him; then, how long he had been sick; 'next, why
he had not come before, and, last, but not least, if he did not
know that fevers did not cure themselves. This was in re
sponse to the explanation from the sick man that he had hoped
to get over his affliction withont troubling the doctor.
Instead of doing up his calomel powders in papers as he had
previously done, to allow the soldiers to take them at their
quarters, the doctor brought out the "rusty old spoon" previ
ously referred to, mixed the powders in molasses and ordered
them taken in his presence. He had learned that his medi
cine was not generally taken, as a number of the men had
been thoughtless enough to strew it along the road where he
saw it. ¦
The sick man was compelled either to take the medicine
quietly, have it forced down him, or be left to perish on the
plains ; of course, on reflection, he chose the former.
About noon on the 11th, we reached the Aakansas river.
This stream, at the point where we crossed it, was about a

150 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
quarter of a mile wide and was filled with sand from bank to
bank, with here and there a small stream of brackish water
coursing down a narrow channel. The first rivulet being some
distance from the eastern shore of the river, the men dug
holes about two or three feet deep in the sand, thereby ob
taining a sufficiency of water for all needful purposes. The
afternoon was a general time of washing. Having consider
able fever the writer drank an incredible amount of water in
the afternoon and evening, although the doctor had forbidden
him drinking any cold water for two days at least after ^king
his medicine, saying that if he did, the result would be death.
The water had the desired effect, that of breaking up the fever,
and it caused a greater degree of perspiration than he ever
experienced before or afterwards, and left him very weak.
On the morning of the 12th two men again took him to sick
call. On arriving, the Doctor said, with an oath, "Tyler, your
fever is broke. I had no idea of being able to break it so soon."
The writer did not inform him that he had disobeyed his
orders, but left him to imagine that he had wrought a won
derful cure. He has ever since believed, however, that the
water, under Divine Providence, was the cause of preserving
his life instead of taking it away, as the Doctor predicted that
it would. He did not give him any more strong medicine at
that time, but at the regular evening and morning call, he
marched to the tune of "Jim along Joe" and took as much as
the old iron spoon would hold of the decoction of bayberry
bark and camomile flowers ; for that is what it really was,
without a drop of the brandy the Government furnished for
mixing medicines with ; that we understood was drank by the
Doctor and Smith and their immediate associates, including
their negro servants, who sometimes got rather tipsy. In the
latter case, of course, the plea was they had stolen it; and to
pass it off, they got a little "cussing."
Here Lieutenant James Pace, of company E, overtook the
command. The following is a condensation of a report kindly
furnished by him to the author :
"I left the command at Hurricane Point, Aug. 21st 1846,
by permission of Captain D. C. Davis, and returned to Fort
Leavenworth, to learn the condition of Colonel Allen. I
arrived at the fort on the 22nd and learned that the Colonel

PACES ACCOUNT OF COL. ALLEN'S DEATH. 151
was not expected to live many hours. At the request of
Lieutenant Gully, I remained through the day watching over
the Colonel. At evening he was removed to his old quarters.
Lieutenant Gully and myself followed in the procession. We
remained with him through the night. His niece, a fine
young lady of sixteen or eighteen years of age, gave her
special attention to him during the night. She was the only
relative I heard of as being present, and her name I have not
on my record. The Colonel died at six o'clock a. m., Aug. 23rd,
1846; at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. At the announcement of
the Colonel's death, Lieutenant Smith and Dr. Sanderson were
for pushing Quartermaster Gully out forthwith to join the
Battalion. The requisition was warmly repulsed by Gully,
who informed them finally that he was not under their com
mand, nor would he remove until it suited him. At this
pressing moment- Major Horton, commander of the post, sent
by his orderly, requesting Lieutenant Gully and myself to come
to his quarters. He desired to know the whereabouts of the
Battalion, also if every necessary requisition was filled and
completed ; which Quartermaster Gully promptly answerd in
the affirmative. Lieutenant Smith and Dr. Sanderson followed
us up to hear what Major Horton would say to us. After the
necessary inquiries, and being informed of Smith's and
Sanderson's arrogant assumptions, he said we now had a perfect
right to elect our own Colonel, and that no one had any right
to assume the command. . He also stated that he had written
a letter to that effect to Captain Hunt, and that he would send
an express forthwith to Gereral Kearney and inform him of
our situation. He also added that we were a separate corps,
from all other soldiers in the service. He then suggested that
one of us should return to Council Bluffs and inform our
President of our situation, and return to the command as soon
as possible. It was decided that I should go, as Lieutenant
Gully, as quartermaster, had charge of our entire outfit.
Lieutenant Smith and Dr. Sanderson, on hearing what the
Major said to us, changed their tactics, and in very smooth,
language, and with much sophistry, asked me to do them the
favor of taking a letter from each of them to President Young,
which I did. Their object was to solicit the President's
influence for Smith to take command as Colonel, and Sander-

152 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
son to be the surgeon of the Battalion. I also took a letter from
Lieutenant Gully, asking the President's counsel in regard to
our future action. I took my leave about noon of Aug. 23d,
being well fitted out with a good horse and other things
necessary, by order of Major Horton, and arrived at the camp
of the Saints at Cutler's Creek, west side of the Missouri,
about 18 miles above Sarpee's Point, Aug. 26th, at 10, a. m.
I took only a few letters, as the command was about forty-five
miles in the advance, and knew nothing of my intended
return. I delivered what letters I had. I then sat in council,
answering questions, and receiving special counsel for the
Battalion. Howard Egan and John D. Lee accompanied me
on my return. On reaching Fort Leavenworth, I was received
by Maj. Horton as a gentleman and an officer. He deemed it
unsafe for so small a party to travel alone. I insisted on fol
lowing up the Battalion, to which he finally consented, at the
same time charging me to keep with one train until I was
sure I could reach another the same night. He fitted me out
with a fresh horse and, all the grain our carriage could haul
with three packages of letters for different commands. We
left the garrison on the 6th of September, and, I think, over
took the Battalion on the 11th, at the crossing of the Arkansas
river.

Sanderson's letter to pres. young. 1-53

CHAPTER VI.
Correspondence Between Sanderson and Smith and President Young — The
True Version of How the New Commander should have been Selected,
The following are the letters referred to by Lieutenant Pace,
with their replies:
Fort Leavenworth, August 22, 1846.
Mr. Brigham Young and Others,
Council Bluffs,
Gentlemen: — I have the painful
task to perform of informing you of the death of our friend,
Lt. Col. Allen, of the Mormon Battalion. He died this morn
ing aboutjsix o'clock, after a confinement, of about ten days,
to his bed. He died of congestive fever; was indisposed for
many^days previous to taking to his bed. Your people have
lost a" devoted friend and good officer. I am in hopes, in fact
I have no fears, nor you need not entertain any, your people
will be taken care of. The most perfect harmony has prevailed
among themselves since their arrival at this post, and every
one speaks to their praise. Lt. Smith, of U. S, A. will go out
with them until they overtake Gen. Kearney, who will take
them under his special care. I am going out myself as Sur
geon to the .Battalion. I was appointed by Col. Allen on the
1st inst., and everything that I have in my power shall be
extended jto them for their comfort. Please to give kind
est regards to Col. Kane, and had it, been in my power I
should have visited him during his illness. I have just
learned he is much better.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Ceo. B- Sanderson, Surgeon M. B.
10

154 MORMON battalion history. «
Fort Leavenworth, August, 23, 1846.
President Brigham Young:
Sir: — It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you
of the death of Lieutenant Colonel James Allen, late com
mander of the Mormon Battalion. The command left this
post last week, and is now encamped about forty miles from
here. The particulars of the lamented and universal favorite,
Colonel Allen, will be communicated to you by Lieutenant
James Pace, the bearer of this note. If it is the wish of your
people that I should take charge of the Battalion, and conduct
it to General Kearney, I will do it with pleasure and feel
proud of the command.
I have in my possession most, if not all, the papers that re
late to the movements of this Battalion, and will use my best
endeavors to see all orders and promises heretofore given, car
ried into execution. I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obt. servant,
A. J. Smith,
1st Lt. 1st Dragoons.

Camp of Israel, Omaha Nation.
Aug, 27, 1846
Sir,
Your letter of the 22nd inst, to Mr, Young and others has
just arrived, and while we mourn the loss of a gentleman,
and noble officer with our friends in the Battalion, and his
brother officers of the army, we are consoled with the assurance
you have made that our brethren have won the praise of their
country, by their harmony and good order, and we doubt pot
your services to the Battalion will be duly appreciated. Your
regards have been presented to Col. Kane, who is convalescent,
and thinks he shall be able to ride out in a few days.
Most respectfully, In behalf of the Council,
Brigham Young, President.
Willard Richards, Clerk.
To Geo. B. Sanderson,
Surgeon, Mormon Battalion.

pres. young's letter to a. j. smith. 155
Camp of Israel, Omaha Nation,
August 27, 1846.
Sir, Your letter of the 23rd inst., to President Young, announc
ing the death of Lt. Col. Allen, was received this day, and we
feel to sympathize with you and our friends of the Battalion
in this deep affliction.
You kindly offered to take the charge of the Battalion and
conduct it safely to Gen. Kearney. We have not the pleasure
of a personal acquaintance, and consequently can have no
personal objections to you; but, sir, on the subject of command
we can only say, Col. Allen settled that matter at the organ
ization of the Battalion; therefore, we must leave that^point to
the proper authorities, be the result what it may. Any assist
ance you may render the Battalion while moving will beduly
acknowledged by a grateful people.
Most respectfully, Sir,
Yours in behalf of the Council.
Brigham Young, President.
Willard Richards, Clerk
A. J. Smith, 1st Lt. 1st Dragoons,
U, S, Army of the West.

The following letter explains itself:
"Camp of Israel, Omaha Nation,
August, 27, 1846.
Samuel Gulley, Quartermaster, and the "Mormon Battalion."
Beloved Brother, — Your letters of the 21st and 23rd inst.,
per Lieutenant Pace, we received, and feel to mourn the loss
we have sustained in the death of Lieutenant Colonel -Al
len, who, we believe, as a gentleman and officer, had the af
fections of all his acquaintances. To such dispensations of
Providence, we must submit, and pray our HeavenlyMFather
to guide your steps, and move in all your councils.
You will all doubtless recollect that Colonel Allen repeat
edly stated to us and the Battalion that there would be no
officer in the Battalion, except himself, only from among our
people; that if he fell in battle, or was sick, or disabled by

156 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
any means, the command would devolve on th'e ranking of
ficer, which would be the Captain of Company A, and B, and
so on, according to letter. Consequently the command must
devolve on Captain Jefferson Hunt, whose duty we sup
pose to be to take the Battalion to Bent's Fort, or wherever
he has received marching orders for, and there wait further
orders from General Kearney, notifying him by express of
Colonel Allen's decease at the earliest date.
From the great confidence we had in Colonel Allen's as
surance of the order of making officers in command, and the
confidence we have in General Kearney and the officers of
the United States, that they will faithfully perform, according
to the pledges made by Colonel Allen as an officer on the part
of the Government, we consider there is no reasonable chance
for a question on the future command of the Battalion, and
as to expediency, we know of none worthy of "consideration.
But should General Kearney propose any other course, we
presume the Battalion would not feel disposed to act upon it •
until they had notified the General of the pledges they had
received from the Government through Colonel Allen, and
received his answer, and we know of no law that could require
the brethren to act contrary to those pledges, or under any
circumstance contrary to their wish. We trust there is not a
man in the Battalion who would let pass the first opportunity
of procuring the rules and regulations of tactics of the United
States army and making himself master of the same before
the close of the year. For the Council, Brigham Young, President.
W. Richards, Clerk.

This letter was not received until Smith was in command,
hence too late to be acted upon. A little postponement by the
officers until Lieutenant Pace's return, which was daily looked
for, would have been satisfactory to all, and Captain Hunt,
who had been duly elected would have continued in com
mand with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

NOVEL WAY OF CATCHING FISH. 157

* CHAPTER VIII.
Novel way of Catching Fish— Wagon Upset, and Man Injured— Overtake
Price's Regiment — Character of Price and his Men — Higgins' Detach
ment Sent to Pueblo — Dissatisfaction— Alva Phelps Drugged to Death
— Curious Phenomenon — Suffer from Thirst — Forced-Marches — Men
Salivated.
While at the crossing of the Arkansas, many fish were
caught by the soldiers by spearing them in the shallow water
with swords and bayonets.
After reaching the Arkansas, we traveled up the river about
one hundred miles, and then crossed it at a point where the
road branched, one road leading up the river to Bent's Fort
and the other to Santa Fe. While journeying up the river one
of the wagons upset, somewhat injuring Francis Whitney.
After crossing the river we overtook five companies of Colonel
Sterling Price's regiment%from western Missouri. We found
them a profane, wicked and vulgar set of men. Price will be
remembered as the commander of a portion of the mob militia
at Far West, in 1838, when a few officers and about seventeen
ministers of different denominations sat as a court martial
and condemned Joseph Smith and others to be shot on the
public square in view of their families.
At this point, Captain Higgins, with a guard of ten men,
was detailed to take a number of the families that accompa
nied the Battalion, to Pueblo, a Mexican town located farther
up the Arkansas, to winter.
Many of the Battalion were dissatisfied with this move, as
President Young had counseled the officers not to allow the
Battalion to be divided on any account. Colonel Allen had
also promised President Young that they should not be di
vided. Lieutenants Pace and Gully strenuously opposed the
separation of the families from the Battalion, as well as any
deviation from the pledges of Colonel Allen, and requested
that a council be called and letters from the Twelve Apostles

158 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
read; but Adjutant Dykes objected, saying there was no time
for calling councils, and that President Young did not know
our circumstances. The families, therefore, were forced to
leave us on the 16th of September, notwithstanding the fears
and protests of their relatives and friends, and take up their
line of march for Pueblo, in care of Captain Higgins and the
soldiers, whose names, according to the best information
at hand are as follows: Corporal Gilbert Hunt, Dimick B.
Huntington, Montgomery Button, John Tippets, Milton
Kelley, Nicholas Kelley, Norman Sharp, James Brown, Harley
Morey, Thomas Woolsey and S. C. Shelton. When the de
tachment left, the command made preparations to march on,
but after the teams were hitched up and all were ready to
start, the marching order was countermanded to give the of
ficers time to make out their monthly report.
While we remained at that point Alva Phelps, of company
E, died, a martyr to his country and religion. It is under
stood that he begged Dr. Sanderson not to give him any
strong medicine, as he needed only a little rest and then
would return to duty ; but the Doctor prepared his dose and
ordered him to take it, which he declined doing, whereupon
the Doctor, with some horrid oaths, forced it down him with
the old rusty spoon. A few hours later he died, and the gen
eral feeling was that the Doctor had killed him. Many boldly
expressed the opinion that it was a case of premeditated mur
der. When we consider the many murderous threats previ
ously made, this conclusion is by no means far-fetched.
Brother Phelps was buried on the south side of the Arkansas
river, in a grave only about four feet deep, its shallowness
being due to the fact that the water was very near the surface
of the soil. He was the husband of Margaret Phelps (now
Margaret Bridges) and father of the two little children men
tioned in her very touching letter published previously in
this work.
On the evening of Brother Phelps' death, what appeared to
be a star was noticed in the east as dancing in the air. It
continued to move both north and south, up and down; it was
directly in the course we had traveled. It attracted consider
able attention while it remained in sight, and finally disap
peared below the eastern horizon.

FORCED MARCHES. 159
The following day we traveled twenty-five miles across a
dreary desert and suffered intensely from excessive heat and
want of water. Our teams also shared in the suffering. There
was a mirage, which was very deceptive to the sight. It had
the appearnce at times of a fog continually rising from stag
nant pools and at other times of lakes of water in plain view.
This mirage moved along as we traveled and stopped when
we halted, thus keeping the same distance from us. What an
aggravation to a person almost dying for the want of water !
We passed one lone pond full of insects of all sizes and shapes.
Out of this pond we drove several thousand Buffalo.
Even when the water was not roiled it was discolored and
had a most disgusting appearance. The animals, doubtless,
rendered it more noisome than it otherwise would have been
by gathering in it to defend themselves from the flies. Our
readers will perhaps imagine that we were now more disap
pointed than before. On the contrary, kind friends, no lux
ury was ever more thankfully received. The few whose can
teens and flagons were not exhausted, of course did not use it,
but, bad as it was, it was very welcome to the most of us.
The following day we continued on across the dry, parched
desert, without finding any water, except a pond similar to
that first mentioned, and which was hailed with joy and con
sidered a great blessing. That night we again made a "dry
camp," but started at 4 o'clock the next morning and trav
eled 10 miles to Cimmeron Springs before breakfast.
Whether Colonel Smith had had no experience in travel
ing with teams, or whether he desired to use up the teams and
leave the Battalion on the plains helpless, does not appear.
It is true, however, that, for the last two hundred miles, where
there had been but little feed, he had shown no wisdom or
care in preserving either man or beast; but on the contrary,
no matter whether our drives were to be long or short, he
had driven on forced marches, on which account many, in fact
nearly all, of the teams as well as men, failed very fast. Prob
ably he relied too much on the judgment of his Adjutant.
On the 20th we traveled ten miles, and encamped before
the sink of Cimmeron Creek, where we obtained brackish
water by digging holes in the sand. Our only fuel for ten
days had been buffalo chips, and in some places they were very

160 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
scarce, having been mostly used by troops in advance of us.
At night the commissioned officers, with David Pettegrew,
known as Father Pettegrew, and Levi W. Hancock, our spir
itual advisers, met in council, with Egan, Lee, Pace and others,
when our condition was freely discussed, but nothing was or
perhaps could be done to ameliorate it.
On the 21st we traveled eighteen miles and camped again
on the Cimmeron, and had to dig in the sand in the bed of
the river for water for both man and beast. The country over
which we had passed through the day was rough and sandy.
Samuel H. Rogers' journal of this date has the following:
"Last night I stood horse-guard. When I went to report my
self to the Adjutant I found the five orderlies and the Colonel
talking about the sick. It appears that the Colonel and Sur
geon are determined to kill us, first by force marches to make
us sick, then by compelling us to take calomel or to walk and
do duty."
We continued along the same stream the following day.
Both men and teams failed fast, many completely giving out
from exhaustion and sickness. The author and many others
were badly salivated. We camped at night at a bold spring.
About this time I appealed to Captains Hunt and Brown,
separately, calling attention to the mal-practice of Sanderson,
referring to the fact that new cases of severe salivation were of
daily occurrence. I requested them to inform the Colonel
that this mineral practice was contrary to our religious faith.
Captain Hunt replied that he had informed him that it was
"rather against our religious faith," and that his reply was, that
he knew nothing about our religious faith. On my insisting that
he should be made to know, the Captain replied: "Brother
Tyler, you would raise a mutiny." „ I answered : "There would
be no mutiny; the Battalion would sustain you to a man."
He replied to the effect that he could do nothing, and the
subject was dropped. I felt that I had only discharged a
plain, diuy.

RATIONS REDUCED. 161

CHAPTER IX.
Rations Reduced— Bones of Mules Found — Ancient Ruins— The Officers
and Healthy Men Push on for Santa Fe — Sick Left to Follow Without
a Doctor — Style of Milking Spanish Groats — Arrival at Santa Ee —
Partiality shown the Battalion by General Doniphan — Glimpse at Mis
souri Persecutions.
To add to the hardships of the men they were reduced to
two-thirds rations, and, through drinking brackish water,
many were attacked with summer complaint. Many of the
feeble ones also suffered severely from cold and rain while on
guard at night, as they preferred to bear their portion of camp
duties while they could possibly do so, rather than make their
condition known and have to take the doctor's drugs and
abuse. On the 24th we found the bones of about one hundred
mules which died in a cold storm about a year previously.
The storm consisted of snow and hail. A human skull was
found among the bones. Dr. Sanderson believed it to be the
skull of an Indian. The animals belonged to a company of
"fur traders." We learned t\\e particulars from an emigrant
returning to the east, who informed us that it was with diff
iculty that the white msn who owned the animals had escaped
ed with their lives. It was tl|e most severe storm, so far as
we could learn, that had ever occurred in that region.
The two mountain peaks known as the Rabbit's Ears, and
which serve as a guide to travelers, were in sight on our route.
4- company of traders going south of Santa Fe camped
with us that night. Buffalo chips, which had been our only
fuel since leaving the Arkansas river , were very scarce.
On the 25th we marched twenty miles, over a rough and
mountainous road and camped at Gold Spring, the first good
water for several days; we also had a view of the first timber
seen for nine days, there having been no shrubbery, even,
along the whole distance traversed in that time.

162 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
On the 26th we saw a number of deer, elk, and antelope.
We reached Cedar Springs at night, at which place we found
cedar, spruce, and cottonwood timber.
On the 27th we marched over .rough sand hfts and encamp
ed by a pond of stagnant water. There were a few buffalo
chips, which were soon gathered, when some who had none of
this kind of fuel, traveled two miles to timber and brought
wood on their shoulders. A few antelope added to our short
rations were quite a treat. The monotony of the barren
plains in our rear was considerably relieved by the view of
numerous mountain peaks in front, the first many of us ever
saw, including the Rabbit's Ears.
Sergeant William Hyde incidentally remarks here: "Our
encampments generally inclose from four to six acres of ground.'
During the next day our route for a considerable distance
was over hills and high ridges. A number of antelope were
killed and some bears and wild turkeys were seen, but no
buffalo were visible, as we were quite out of the country over
which they ranged.
On the 29th we passed the "Rabbits Ears" about noon.
The teams and men were continually failing on account of a lack
of feed, water and judgment on the part of our commander*
The following day we passed Rock Creek. On account of find
ing no feed for our animals, we traveled until about 9 o'clock
a* night, and were on the move again the next morning at
day break. .
About noon on the 1st of October we passed within half a
mile of the walls of an ancient structure situated on the north
side of the road. There wen two solid walls about four feet
apart running parallel nearly due north and south. The total
length of these walls was about one hundred and ninety feet ;
for one hundred- and thirty feet they were intact. The rock
was laid in cement, which had become solid as the rock itself.
Whether these had been partition walls of a castle or some
large building, or a part of a fortification, it would be difficult
to determine. It was evident that the whole face of the
country had undergone a change. There were numerous ca
nals or channels where large streams had once run, probably
for irrigating, but which were then quite dry, and to all ap
pearance had not been used for generations.

THE BATTALION DIVIDED. 163
We reached Red River on the 2nd of Ootober and on the
3rd camped by a large spring, the outlet of which formed
a small creek. Here a council of officers was called. The
commander informed the council that he had received orders
from General Kearney that unless the command reached
Santa Fe by the 10th we would be discharged. He suggested
selecting fifty able-bodied men from each company, taking the
best teams and traveling on a double forced march, leaving
the sick with the weak teams to follow as best they could.
This proposition was carried, being opposed only by Lieuten
ants James Pace, Andrew Lytle, Samuel Gulley and, we think,
Lieutenant W. W. Willis, with invited guests, Levi W. Han
cock, David Pettegrew, Sergeant Wm. Hyde and others. Their
opposition was on the ground that Colonel Allen had
pledged himself that the Battalion should not be divided.
Accordingly, the Battalion was divided, the able-bodied
soldiers and most of the commissioned officers, including
Colonel Smith and Dr. Sanderson, making their way with all
possible haste to Santa Fe, leaving the sick and feeble men
and the worn out teams to follow as best they could.
The fact of Dr. Sanderson leaving the sick behind while he
proceeded on with those who were healthy, is a fair indication
of the interest he took in attending to the duties of his office.
But the sick did not complain on that score. The sorrow
which they felt at the loss of friends through having the
Battalion divided, was in a great measure compensated by the
relief they experienced at being rid of the Doctor's drugs and
cursing for a few days. There was a noticeable improvement,
too, in most of those who were sick after the Doctor left, so
that when they arrived in Santa Fe many of them were con
valescent. After the division of the command, no unnecessary time
was spent on the road even by those who brought up the rear.
They were anxious to reach Santa Fe as early as possible, lest
their friends of the advance division should be attached to
some other corps and they be left to serve under their old
religious persecutor, of Missouri memory, Colonel Sterling
Price. The feed and water, too, became better as we advanced, and
we were able to force our jaded animals a little farther in a

164 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
day than we had previously done. We passed a number of
Mexican towns, and were visited by many of the inhabitants,
who offered to sell us bread and cakes. The houses in these
towns were generally small and squatty. They were built of
adobies, or unburnt brick, of a very large size. The roofs,
which were mostly flat, were covered with clay. The street's
were narrow and irregular. The fields were unfenced, and
the method of farming pursued was of the most primitive
style. The people generally were a cross between the Spaniards
and Indians.
While passing through the village of San Miguel, we saw
for the first time Spanish sheep and goats, and were amused at
watching the process of milking the latter. It was generally
done by boys, who sat at the rear of the animals, and the
milk pail caught frequent droppings of nanny-berries, which
were carefully skimmed out with the fingers. Possibly, this
may in some degree account1 for the extreme richness of the
goat's milk cheese.
The first division of the Battalion arrived at Santa Fe on
the evening of October 9th, 1846. On their approach, General
Doniphaii, the commander of the post, ordered a salute of
one hundred guns to be fired from, the roofs of houses, in
honor of the Mormon Battalion. The second division arrived
on the 12th of October.
When Colonel Sterling Price with his cavalry command
which left Fort Leavenworth two or three days ahead of us,
arrived at Santa Fe, he was received without any public
demonstration, and when he learned of the salute which had
been fired in honor of the "Mormons," he was greatly cha-
grinned and enraged.
This same General Doniphan, who had been an eminent
lawyer of Clay County, Missouri, was present, when Joseph
Smith and others were tried by a court-martial of the mob at
Far West, in 1838. When the prisoners were sentenced upon
that occasion to be shot in presence of their families, General
Doniphan denounced the decision as "cold-blooded murder,"
and swore that neither he nor the regiment which he com
manded should witness the execution. He was not only an
officer in the militia, but he was the only lawyer of promi
nence who was present on that occasion, and his influence

(APT. HIGGINS' DETACHMENT. 165
was -such that by his firm and spirited action the decision of
the court-martial was changed and the prisoners were turned
over to the custody of the civil authorities of the State.
When the Battalion arrived at Santa Fe, General Doniphan
was pleased to find a number of old acquaintances and friends
among the soldiers, whom he knew to be honorable, upright
and loyal men, and it was probably the memory of the wrongs
which they had suffered from the Missouri mobocrats which
prevented him from extending any courtesies to Colonel Price
and his disgraceful command on their arrival.

CHAPTER X.
Captain Higgins' Detachment— Norman Sharp Accidentally Shot— Left to
be Doctored by an Indian, and Dies— Colonel Cooke Takes Command
of the Battalion — His Orders. ,
We will leave the main army for a season and return to
the Arkansas river and follow Captain Higgins' detatchment
to Pueblo, their winter quarters. This detatchment left the
Battalion at the last crossing of the Arkansas river on the
16th of September.
Our narrative will necessarily be very brief, having received
no journal and 'but a few items by letter and verbally from
members of the party.
After four days' travel up the river, private Norman Sharp
accidentally shot himself in the arm. He was so badly
wounded it was deemed advisable to send him back a few
miles to a friendly Indian village for treatment. The medi
cine man appeared very friendly and seemed almost certain
he could cure him in a very few days. His treatment, how
ever, was against his recovery. A warm fire was kept up
day and night for about three days, when mortification set
in and he died a stranger in a strange land. Mrs. Sharp and
her sister, about ten years old, and Thomas Woolsey remained
with him and did all their circumstances would permit for
his recovery but to no avail. Woolsey and a squaw buried
him. Peace to the remains of the faithful martyr until the

166 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
resurrection morn, when he will be crowned with eternal life.
Mrs. Sharp, the now bereaved widow with a sorrowful heart,
her young sister and Wolsey, soon overtook the detatchment,
which had stopped to set wagon tires.
We have nothing more of importance until the arrival of
the company at 4heir destination ; hence we will return to
Santa Fe and accompany Captain James Brown, with a
detatchment of the sick to the same point.
Immediately after the arrival of the Battalion at Santa Fe,
Colonel Cooke, who was there awaiting our arrival, assumed
command, having been appointed to do so by General Kearney,
who left Santa Fe some time previously. He greeted us with
the following :
(Orders No. 7.)
Head Quarters Mormon Battalion, Santa Fe,
October 13, 1846.
By virtue of my appointment, as Lieutenant Colonel of the
Battalion of Volunteers, by the General commanding the
Army of the West, and pursuant to his instructions contained
in Order No. 33, of the 2nd of October, I hereby assume the
command of that Battalion now encamped in this city.
First Lieutenant A. J. Smith, 1st dragoons, will receive
actg. A. C. L., from Captain Grier, 1st dragoons, A. A. C. L.,
eight hundred dollars of specie funds belonging to the sub
sistence department.
Brevet Second Lieutenant George Stoneman, 1st dragoons,
will perform the duties of Assistant Quartermaster on the
expedition to Upper California. He will give the proper
receipts for transportation, etc., not issued to the Captains of
companies. (Signed.) P. St. George Cook.
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding.

(Orders No. 8.)
"Head Quarters Mormon Battalion,
Santa Fe, October 15, 1846.
Agreeable to instructions from the Colonel commanding,.
Capt. Jas. Brown will take the command of the men reported by

COL. cooke's orders. 167
the assistant Surgeon as incapable, from sickness and debility,
of undertaking the present march to California. The Lieu
tenant Colonel, commanding, deems that the laundresses on
this march will be accompanied by much suffering and would
be a great encumbrance to the expedition ; and as nearly all
are desirous of accompanying the detachment of invalids
which will winter near the source of the Arkansas river, it is
ordered that all be attached to Captain Brown's party. The
detachment will consist of Captain James Brown, three Ser
jeants, two Corporals, and sixteen privates of , company C ;
First Lieutenant E. Luddington and ten privates of company
B • one Sergeant and Corporal and twenty eight privates of
company D; and one Sergeant and ten privates of company E,
and four Laundresses from each company. Captain Brown
will without delay require the necessary transportation and
draw rations for twenty-one days. Captain Brown will march
on the 17th inst. He will be furnished with a descriptive list
of the detachment. He will take with him and give receipts
for a full proportion of camp equipments.
(2) The commanding officer calls the particular attention of
company commanders to the necessity of reducing the bag
gage as much as possible; transportation is deficient. The
road most practicable is of deep sand and how soon we shall
have to abandon the wagons it is impossible now to ascertain.
Skillets and ovens cannot be taken, and but one camp kettle
to a mess, of not less than ten men.
(3) Company commanders will make their requisitions on
the Assistant Quarter Master, Captain W. M. D. McKissock,
for mules and wagons, provision bags, pack saddles complete,
and such other articles as are necessary for the outfit.
By order of
Lieut. Col. Cooke.

(Orders No. 9.) "Head Quarters Mormon Battalion,
Santa Fe, October 15, 1846.
(1) Sergeant Major J. H. 'Glines having been reported in
capable of performing the march to California, he is assigned

168 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
to company A, and will be borne on the rolls of that company
accordingly. (2) Sergeant James Ferguson, of company A, is appointed
Sergeant Major of the Battalion. He will be obeyed and re
spected accordingly.
By order , Lieut. Col. Cooke.
(Signed) » George P. Dykes, Adjutant.

(Orders No. 10.)
Sergeant J. J. Terry and D. Wilkin and Corporal J. Now-
lan, of company C, preferring to acoompany the detachment
for Fort Pueblo, are hereby reduced to the rank.
(2) On recommendation of their company commander, Cor
porals Edward Martin and Daniel Tyler are promoted to the
rank of Sergeant, and privates R. G. Brownell, Wm. Squires
and John Fife are appointed Corporals, all in company C.
They will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
By order Lieut. Col. Cooke.
(Signed) G. P. Dykes, Adjutant.

DETACHMENT SENT TO PUEBLO.

169

CHAPTER XI,
Detachment sent to Pueblo from Santa Fe — Death of Milton Smith — Death
of Joseph W. Richards — Tributes from his Comrades, and Sister
Hunt.
The names of the officers and men who went from Santa Fe
to Pueblo to winter, under command of Captain James
Brown, are as follows, so far as known:

COMPANY A.

Joseph W. Richards
swan (died)
1 Allred James T. S.
2 Allred Reuben W.
3 Blanchard Marvin S.
4 Calkins James W.
5 Garner David
6 Glines James H.

Mu-

7 Hulett Schuyler
8 Holden Elijah E.
9 Jackson Charles A.
10 Lake Barnabas
11 Oyler Mel cher
12 Roe Caratat C.
13 Sessions John
14 Wriston John P.

COMPANY B.

Elam Luddington, 1st. Lieut.
John D. Chase, 3d. Corp.
1 Allen Franklin
2 Bingham Erastus
3 Bird William
4 Garner. Philip

5 Persons Harmon D.
6 Stephens Lyman
7 Stillman Dexter
8 Walker William
9 Wright Charles

COMPANY C.

Orson. B. Adams, 1st. Sergt*
Alexander Brown, 2nd Corp.
1 Brown Jesse J.
2 Beckstead William E.
3 Carpenter William H.
4 Carpenter Isaac
5 Calvert John
6 Durphy Francillo
7 Gould Samuel
8 Gould John C.
9 Johnson Jarvis
10 Larson Thurston

11 NowlanJabez (Corp. at M.
I., Private at M. 0.)
12 Persons Judson A.
13 Smith Richard
14 Smith Milton (died)
15 Shupe Andrew J.
16 Shupe James
17 Terrill Joel J.
18 Tindell Solomon
19 Wilkin David ( Corp. at M.
I., Private at M. 0.)
20 Perkins David
21 Perkins John

*  Reported erroneously on former roll as 2nd Sergt.
ll

170

MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

COMPANY D.

Thomas S. Williams
Sergt.
Arnold Stephens 1st.
1 Abbott Joshua
2 Averett Jonathan
3 Casto William
4 Chase Abner (died)
5 Davis James
6 Douglass Ralph
7 Gifford William B.
8 Hirons James
9 Kenney Lorin E.
10 Lamb Lisbon
11 Laughlin David S.

2nd
Corp.

12 Meeseck Peter J.
13 Oakley James
14 Rowe William
15 Steele John
16 Sargent Abel M.
17 Gribble William
18 Roberts Benjamin
19 Sanderson Henry W.
20 Sharp Albert
21 Stillman Clark
22 Smith John G.
23 Tanner Myron
24 Whiting Almop
25 Whiting Edmund

COMPANY E.

Ebenezer Hanks 3d. Sergt.
1 Clark Samuel
2 Cummings George
3 Glazier Luther W
4 Hess John W.
5 Hopkins Charles

6 7 8
9
10 11

Karren Thomas
Miller Daniel
Park William A.
Pugmire Jonathan, jr.
Stevens Roswell
Jacobs Bailey

I believe the detachment took up its line of march on the
18th instead of the 17th, as directed in the order- of Colonel
Cooke; so says John G. Smith, one of the party, who kept a
daily journal.
Few incidents occurred on the journey from Santa Fe to
Pueblo outside of the ordinary routine of travel. Very good
time was made in traveling, considering the miserable plight
of the teams and the feeble condition of most of the men. The
third day after starting several yoke of fresh oxen were ob
tained, which proved a great benefit to the detachment.
On the night of the 27th Milton Smith died and the next
day received as good a burial as his friends could give him on
the prairie.
Owing to the weak condition of the teams, the sick were
obliged to walk when ascending steep hills and where the
roads were unusually bad, which was a great hardship to
them.

.DEATH OF JOS. W. RICHARDS. 171
On the 9th of November, when the detachment had reached
the Arkansas river, Captain James Brown, and others, left the
command and proceeded on to Bent's Fort, to secure sixty
days' provisions, and the following day the detachment crossed
the river and traveled on towards Pueblo.
The detachment arrived within four miles of Pueblo on the
15th of November, where a halt was made to allow time for
the officers to make the necessary arrangements for the winter
quarters. On the 17th the Arkansas river was crossed, Pueblo entered
and a camping place selected near the quarters of Captain
Higgins' detachment and a company of Saints from Missis
sippi, who had stopped there to winter.
The greeting which occurred between comrades and old
friends, husbands and wives, parents and children, when the
two detachments met, was quite touching. A thrill of joy ran
through the camp which none but those living martyrs can
fully comprehend.
It was immediately agreed that eighteen rooms, fourteen
feet square, should be erected for the winter quarters, and the
men who were able to chop were dispatched to the woods to
procure timbers for the houses, with the understanding that
the first rooms finished should be allotted to the sick. The
work of erecting the houses was pushed with all possible ra
pidity, but before they were finished sufficiently to shelter the
sick from the piercing winds and cold mountain storms, some
had already succumbed. Among the number, was Joseph
Wm. Richards, a very estimable young man, who died on the
21st of November. Of his death, C. C. Roe, a comrade, writ
ing to Apostle Franklin D. Richards, brother to the deceased,

"The Battalion left Point Pool, on the Missouri river, on the
24th day of Jul y, 1846, and marched to Fort Leavenworth on
foot, without tents or shelter of any kind, sleeping on the
ground, which was sometimes saturated with rain and heavy
dews. Some rain storms fell upon us while thus sleeping
under the open canopy of the heavens. At Fort Leavenworth
Joseph Wm. Richards took sick, doubtless from exposure on
the road. When the command left the garrison he remained
in the hospital unable to be moved. By kind treatment and

172 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
medical aid he was soon able to be forwarded, and overtook us
at Council Grove. From this time his health fluctuated.
When the Battalion was divided by order of Lieutenant A. J.
Smith, and the stronger portion put on a forced march to be
in Santa Fe in time to cross the mountains to California the
same fall, he, being stronger than usual, was selected as one of
them. When I arrived with the invalids I found Joseph
again prostrated, so far at least that he was considered unfit
to attempt to cross the mountains and deserts to California.
As my health increased his seemed to fail, and as we had been
very much attached from the beginning, he placed himself en
tirely in my care. On the sad night of his departure, while I
was endeavoring, at his request, to render him some assist
ance, after grasping me with a hug which almost took my
breath, he gradually sank down and in a few moments ex
pired in my arms without a struggle or a groan, but quietly
passed away like a child going to sleep."
Apostle Franklin D. Richards, writing of his brother's
death, says: "When the call for the Battalion was made
known to us, the massacred body of one of my brothers,
George S. Richards, lay buried in the well, with about fifteen
others, at Haun's Mill, in Caldwell County, Missouri; another,
Joseph William Richards, born in Richmond, Berkshire
Gounty, Massachusetts, May 25, 1829, died at Fort Pueblo, en-
route from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to California, in November,
1846. Brother Samuel and myself were in England, on our
first mission."
James Ferguson, himself Sergeant Major of the Battalion,
in a lecture delivered before an assembly of Elders, including
the Presidency of the European Mission, in Liverpool, Eng
land, November 7, 1855, speaks thus of Brother Richards' en
listment, travels, virtues and the patriotism of his aged and
feeble mother:
"Exposed to enemies who lurked in every grove, Pres
ident Young visited the various camps, nor ceased his
exertions till the last muster roll was filled. But few knew
the sacrifice it cost. There was one scene that was particu
larly touching. An aged mother to whom the call of the
government and the wish of the President were made known
came forward. She had five sons — one was murdered and

CHARACTER OF JOS. W. RICHARDS. 173
now lay buried deep and unavenged in the tragic well in Mis
souri. Two were in a foreign land, preaching the faith for
which their brother's blood was shed ; one was still too young
to administer, but needed care and comfort ; the other was a
young man, the sentinel and protector of her tottering steps.
Even in her aged heart, withered and broken as it was, the
love of country burned deep and strong. She yielded up her
son and never saw him more. I knew him well. We marched
side by side. He had been worn down by the bitterness and
exposure of many persecutions. But Joseph Richards was
noble, generous and brave, and never complained."
Sister Celia Hunt, who often took him nourishment and said
comforting words to him, giving him the last food he ever ate,
a few hours before his death, speaks of him as among the most
noble young men she ever knew. He never complained of his
lot. We will now leave these two detachments, for the present,
and return to Santa Fe, and follow the main army again.

CHAPTER XII.

Colonel Cooke's Statement of the Condition of the Battalion — Paid in
Checks that could not be Cashed — Send them to Council Bluffs —
Reason for Lieutenant Gully's Resignation — Condition of Animals —
Strict Discipline of Colonel Cooke — An Officer the first to be Punished.
Of the condition and fitness of the Battalion to pursue their
journey across the great American Desert, Colonel P. St. George
Cooke, our new commander, very properly and truthfully re
marks: "Everything conspired to discourage the extraordi
nary undertaking of marching this Battalion eleven hun
dred miles, for the much greater part through an un
known wilderness, without road or trail, and with a wagon
train. "It was enlisted too much by families; some were too old,
some feeble, and some too young; it was embarrassed by many
women ; it was undisciplined ; it was much worn by traveling
on foot, and marching from Nauvoo, Illinois; their clothing

174 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
was very scant; there was no money to pay them, or cloth
ing to issue ; their mules were utterly broken down ; the quar
termaster department was without funds, and its credit bad ;
and animals were scarce. Those procured were very inferior,
and were deteriorating every hour for lack of forage or graz
ing. So every preparation must be pushed — hurried. A
small party with families (Captain Higgins' company, already
mentioned) had been sent from Arkansas crossing up the river,
to winter at a small settlement close to the mountains, called
Pueblo. The Battalion was now inspected, and eighty -six men,
found inefficient, were ordered, under two ofiicers, with nearly
all the women, to go to the same point; five wives of officers
were reluctantly allowed to accompany the march, but fur
nished their own transportation.
"By special arrangement and consent, the Battalion was
paid in checks — not very available at Santa Fe.
"With every effort, the quartermaster could only undertake
to furnish rations for sixty days; and, in fact, full rations of
only flour, sugar, coffee and salt; salt pork only for thirty
days, and soap for twenty. To venture without pack-saddles
would be grossly imprudent and so that burden was added."
Redick N. Allred, Quartermaster Sergeant, of company A,
made the purchases here mentioned.
I will here add, in relation to Colonel Cooke's assertion that
the Battalion "was much worn by traveling on foot and march
ing from Nauvoo, Illinois," that while his statement is strictly
correct, it was much worse "worn" by the foolish and unnec
essary forced marches of Lieutenants Smith and Dykes, which
utterly broke down both men and beasts, and was the prime
cause of the greater part of the sickness and probably of many
deaths. I am satisfied that any other set of men but Latter-day
Saints would have mutinied rather than submit to the oppres
sions and abuse thus heaped upon them.
About noon, October 19th, we took leave of John D. Lee and
Howard Egan, who started with our checks for Council Bluffs,
being accompanied by Lieutenant Samuel L. Gulley, ex-quar
termaster of the Battalion, and Roswell Stevens.
The stand Lieutenant Gully took against Lieutenants
Smith and Dykes and Dr. Sanderson, at Fort Leavenworth,

CONDITION OF ANIMALS. 175
and subsequently, had created such a prejudice among the
non-Mormon officers that it was thought best for him to resign
and return home. He had, however, established his character
as a brave, noble-minded and undeviating friend to the Bat
talion, in whose memory the very name of Samuel L. Gully
is associated with all the noble characteristics that grace a
model officer. He would have sacrificed his life rather than
be untrue to his friends.
With a hearty shake of the hand and "God bless you, Brother
Gully, and give you a safe journey to the bosom of your fam
ily and the church," we bade him adieu and never saw him
after. He returned with the parties mentioned, and died the
next year in crossing the plains en route for Salt Lake. Peace
to his ashes.
Simultaneously with the departure of these men, the Bat
talion broke camp at Santa Fe and traveled six miles to Aqua
Frio, the nearest point for grazing.
Under date of November 19th, the commander adds:
"I have brought road tools and have determined to take through
my wagons ; but the experiment is not a fair one, as the mules
are nearly broken down at the outset. The only good ones,
about twenty, which I bought near Albuquerque, were taken
for the express for Fremont's mail — the General's order requir
ing "the twenty -one best in Santa Fe."
It is but justice to the Colonel and the command to state
here that, with few exceptions, the mule and ox teams used from
Santa Fe to California were the same worn-out and broken
down animals that we had driven all the way from Council
Bluffs and Fort Leavenworth; indeed, some of them had been
driven all the way from Nauvoo the same season.
On the 20th of November, after we had traveled past every
place where it would be possible to purchase provisions for
a considerable length of time, to the surprise of the com
mand the rations were reduced, as will be seen by the following:

(Orders No. 11.)
"Head Quarters Mormon Battalion, "Santa Fe.
"Until further orders, three-fourths pound of flour, also[three-
fourths rations sugar and coffee will be issued. Beef one and a

176 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
half pounds will be issued for a day's ration. The command
ers of companies will select a non-commissioned officer from
each company. He will be reported on daily duty, whose
duty it will be to issue rations and superintend the loading of
the wagons and the care of the mules. They will have im
mediate command of the teamsters and assistants. Command
ers of companies will be held strictly responsible that the issue
of rations is made carefully as now ordered. The welfare and
safety of the Battalion may depend on it.
(2) "Hereafter, no muskets or knapsacks will be carried in a
public wagon or on a public mule without orders or express
permission of the commanding officer, and no one will leave
his company a quarter of a mile without permission, and no
musket will be fired in camp. The officer of the day will at
tend to the execution of these regulations and confine under
guard any one who disobeys them. At reveille all will turn
out under arms. The company commanders will order turns
of guard or confine those who fail. After roll call the ranks
will be opened and an officer will pass down each rank and
see that all are fully armed and equipped. Immediately after
roll call, breakfast will be disposed of and everything packed
in the wagons by a sufficient number of each mess under the
acting Quartermaster Sergeants of the company, as provided
for in the order. All this will be done without waiting for
signals or the loss of a moment. . The teams will be hitched
up as the teamsters get their breakfast. Morning reports will
be handed in to the Adjutant ten minutes after. Every team
ster must have one or more buckets or camp kettles with which
to water his team. The teams will not stop to water unless
ordered by the commanding officers, as everything depends on
our animals. I call all the ofiicers and the Quartermaster Ser
geants of companies and the teamsters and the assistants to do
the best for them possible. The order will be read twice at
the head of each company by its commanders.
"By order of
Lieut. Col. Cooke.
(Signed) G. P. Dykes, Adjutant."

STRICT DICIPLINE OF COL. COOKE. 177
The foregoing order was strictly observed. The officers and
soldiers were brought to the letter of the law. " The discipline
enforced was quite as strict as that of the regular army. There
was one feature about Colonel Cooke's discipline which dif
fered materially from that of Colonel Smith. His theory was
that officers should obey first, and set the example to the men.
The first breach of the regulations was by an officer, and it was
promptly punished.
Captain Jesse D. Hunter, of company B, was put under
arrest on the morning of the 21st of October and made to
march in the rear of his company during the day, for remain
ing over night in Santa Fe without the knowledge or consent
of the commanding officer. By this move the Battalion
learned that if their new commander was strict in his disci
pline, he was impartial, as officers would be held to the same
accountability as soldiers. Smith's policy was just the reverse
of this, for while privates were punished by him for the merest
trifles, officers could go where and do what they pleased, with
out any notice being taken of them.
I cannot forego the temptation to allude to a couple of inci"
dents showing the contrast between the Battalion of "Mor
mons" and a portion of Price's regiment of Missouri volun
teers. Some of the latter were doubtless among those who
aided, under this same Colonel Price, in driving the Saints
from Missouri. I further quote from Cooke's "Conquest of New
Mexico and California:"
"At the last moment I learned that nineteen beeves and
fourteen mules were missing. * * I was, of course, without
mounted men to send after the missing cattle. I sent the offi
cer of the day, and every member of the old guard in pursuit,
in four parties, * * but this consumed an hour. They
were all recovered."
Under date of the 23rd, he says : "Passed the camp of a
Major and three companies of Price's regiment, who left Santa
Fe, four days before the Battalion ; the Major said that after a
day's march it took him two or three to collect the animals."

178 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XIII.
Mexicans too much Prejudiced to sell us Supplies— Mexican Costumes— •
Sergeant Elmer Reduced to the Ranks— Navajo Raids on the Mexicans
—Hardships of our Journey— Animals Devoured Wholly, Except
Bones and Hair— Men Have to Pull the Wagons— A Song.
On the 22nd, the Assistant Quartermaster vainly endeavored
to obtain fresh mules and oxen from some small Mexican
towns that we passed. The prejudice of the natives was
so strong against the Government of the United States,
that they would render no assistance beyond selling a little
feed and perishable vegetables. On the 23rd, however, he
succeeded in exchanging thirty of our worthless mules for
half the number of fresh, though, as a rule, small mules,
the stock owned by the Mexicans being rather diminutive.
The Colonel also purchased eight mules from officers of Cap
tain Burgwin's command. He also exchanged about as
many more for better ones, and obtained ten yoke of oxen.
Two of our poorest heavy wagons were also exchanged for
lighter and better ones. The hand of an all-wise providence
was certainly in these things, as, without something of the
kind, we must inevitably have been left without means of
conveyance, on the great desert, in an enemy's country, sur
rounded by the most ferocious savages.
On the 24th we passed another town of Mexicans or "Greas
ers," as those of mixed blood are frequently termed. Many of
the men were as nude as when born, except a breech-clout, or,
as Colonel Cooke has it, "center-clothing," tied around the loins.
On the 25th we received the following :
(Order No. 12.)
"The oxen may be unyoked every evening on reaching
camp and be herded with the beef cattle, by the Sergeant, one
Corporal and twelve of the guard. The officer of the day will
select a separate position for this part of his guard. At or be
fore the first call for reveille the Quartermaster Sergeant and
teamsters will turn out and change the mules to fresh grass.

COL. cooke's order. 179
When there is corn it must be fed at the pickets, where the
mules will be so far apart that they cannot reach each other.
Breakfast and packing up must go on without loss of time
after reveille ; and at trumpet signal, and not before, must the
mules and oxen be harnessed, yoked and hitched up. The
mules must be taken far out at first when not herded, and
not brought in nearer; another trumpet signal, will be
sounded every evening for taking them to water. The Quarter
master will equalize the teams with the new purchase and as
sign the six extra mules to each company command. The
company commanders will relieve the flagging) mules with these
from day to day. The guard must hereafter be kept more
strictly at their post. When the guard is stationed, death is
the punishment awarded by law to a sentinel who sleeps on
his post in time of war, which now exists.
(2) Sergeant E. Elmer, of company C, is hereby reduced to
the ranks for neglecting, this morning, to form his company
while reveille was beating and for telling his Colonel that he
did so because he could not see to call the roll."
"By order of Lieut. Col. Cooke.
(Signed.) G P Dykes, Abjutant."

Although the reason assigned by Sergeant Elijah Elmer
for being about one or possibly two minutes late in forming
the company at reveille, was, that he could not see to call the
roll, the facts were, however, as I understood them, that he
stopped to lace or tie his shoes, but did not wish to make this
excuse to his commander.
The author was selected to perform the duties of orderly
until further instructed.
Sergeant Elmer, like Pharaoh's butler, was subsequently
restored to his office, and retained the respect and friendship
of all his acquaintances up to the time of his death, which
occurred quite recently at Panguitch, in Iron County, Utah.
Quartermaster Stoneman, who was a gentleman in all that
the word implies, used every effort to obtain a larger supply
of good animals before leaving the last Spanish-Indian settle
ments. He was several times highly insulted by Mexicans,

180 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
who contemptuously refused to trade with him. He could
hardly seem to realize that he was endeavoring to deal with
a whipped, though as yet unconquered foe.
As we passed Captain Burgwin's command we learned that
he had received a letter from the American traders below,
stating that General Armijo was marching up to seize their
property, and asking protection. General Armijo was soon
after captured and put in irons.
On the 26th, we passed several Mexican villages. The
Assistant Quartermaster crossed the river to purchase, pack-
saddles, blankets and mules. He declined, however, to pay
the unreasonable prices demanded. Otero, of whom he
thought to make the purchase, had had about five or, six
thousand sheep driven off the previous evening by Indians, and
two shepherds were killed. He rode the entire night endeavor
ing to hire men to pursue the Indians, but without success, so
far as we were able to learn. In one of the towns we
passed through, 6,600 sheep were reported stolen and two
shepherds killed ; thus over 12,000 sheep were stolen and four
men killed in one day within a few miles of our encampment.
Our course now lay down the Rio Del Norte. We found
the roads extremely sandy in many places, and the men while
carrying blankets, knapsacks, cartridge boxes (each containing
thirty-six rounds of ammunition), and muskets on their
backs, and living on short rations, had to pull at long ropes
to aid the teams. The deep sand alone, without any load,
was enough to wear out both man and beast. Upon one
occasion, several wild geese were killed by some of the hun
ters, which proved a treat to them and their immediate
comrades or messmates. Once in awhile, also, as we passed
the Mexican villages, those who had money or anything to
trade found opportunities for purchasing Spanish grapes.
These, however, were exceptional cases, as most of the men
were without money, that which they had drawn at Fort
Leavenworth having been sent back to their families, and the
paymeut made at Santa Fe having been in checks that were
not negotiable in that region. The men were ready to eat
anything that would furnish them any nourishment, the
rations issued to them being insufficient to satisfy the cravings
of hunger. When we left Santa Fe we supposed the few fat

WORN-OUT ANIMALS USED FOR FOOD. 181
cattle taken along were intended for beef, but we were soon
undeceived upon that point. When one of them was slaugh
tered the second day out, the Colonel gave positive orders that
no more of them should be killed, as they must be used as
work animals, and only such killed for beef as were unable
from sheer weakness and exhaustion to work. From that
time on it was the custom to kill the work animals as they
gave out and issue the carcasses as rations. Nor was any por
tion of the animal thrown away that could possibly be utilized
for food. Even to the hides, tripe and entrails, all were eagerly
devoured, and that, too, in many cases without water to wash
them in. The marrow bones were considered a luxury, and
were issued in turns to the various messes.
On the 27th, we encountered cold rain in the valley of the
Rio Del Norte. Heavy snow also fell upon the mountains.
The storm had one good effect, though, it made the
road much better by settling the sand, but at best we could
say with Levi W. Hancock's song :
"How hard, to starve and wear us out,
Upon this sandy desert route!"
Canals for irrigating purposes were found all along the
banks of the river. Some of them several miles in length.
They conveyed water to the farms, or as they were called in
that country, ranchos. There being little or no rain during
the growing season the water was made to flow over the
ground until it was sufficiently saturated, and then shut off
until needed again for the same purpose. The inhabitants of
that region were generally of the lower class, and had but
little respect for chastity.
On the 30th we had to leave the river for a time and have
twenty men to each wagon with long ropes to help the teams
pull the wagons over the sand hills. The commander perched
himself on one of the hills, like a hawk on a fence post, send
ing down his orders with the sharpness of — well, to the Bat
talion, it is enough to say — Colonel Cooke.
The following is the song by Levi W. Hancock to which
reference was made previously :

182 MORMON' BATTALION HISTORY.

THE DESERT ROUTE.

While here, beneath a sultry sky,
Our famished mules and cattle die;
Scarce aught but skin and bones remain
To feed poor soldiers on the plain.
Chorus. How hard, to starve and wear us out,
Upon this sandy, desert route.
We sometimes now for lack of bread,
Are less than quarter rations fed,
And soon expect, for all of meat,
Naught less than broke-down mules, to eat.
Now, half-starved oxen, over-drilled, .
Too weak to draw, for beef are killed;
And gnawing hunger prompting men
To eat small entrails and the skin.
Sometimes we quarter for the day,
While men are sent ten miles away
On our back track, to place in store
An ox, given out the day before.
And when an ox is like to die,
The whole camp halts, and we lay by :
The greedy wolves and buzzards stay,
Expecting rations for the day.
Our hardships reach their rough extremes,
When valiant men are roped with teams,
Hour after hour, and day by day,
To wear our strength and lives away.

A SONG. 183
The teams can hardly drag their loads
Along the hilly, sandy roads,
While trav'ling near the Rio Grande,
O'er hills and dales of heated sand.
We see some twenty men, or more,
With empty stomachs, and foot-sore,
Bound to one wagon, plodding on
Thro' sand, beneath a burning sun.
A Doctor which the Government
Has furnished, proves a punishment!
At his rude call of "Jim Along Joe,"
The sick and halt, to him must go.
Both night and morn, this call is heard;
Our indignation then is stirr'd,
And we sincerely wish in hell,
His arsenic and calomel.
To take it, if we're not inclined,
We're threatened, "You'll be left behind:"
When bored with threats profanely rough,
We swallow down the poisonous stuff.
Some stand the journey well, and some
Are by the hardships overcome ;
And thus the "Mormons" are worn out
Upon this long and weary route.

184 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XIV
Lieutenant Dykes resigns his Adjutancy — Dinner of Sheep's Lights — Mexi
can Spurs — Mexican Woman Stolen by the Navajoes — Hampton
Reported Well by Dr. Sanderson, and Dies a Few Hours Afterwards-
— Another Reduction in Rations — Rumors of Intended Revolt — Two
Men Punished Through the Meanness of Dykes — Sergeant Elmer
Restored to Office — Discouraging Reports of Guides — Condition of
Teams.
Up to the 1st of November Lieutenant Dykes, of Company
D, had acted in the capacity of Adjutant to the Battalion,
while Cyrus C. Canfield, the 2nd Lieutenant, had command,,
during the absence of Captain Nelson Higgins. Upon this
date, however, Lieutenant Dykes resigned his position as
Adjutant, and assumed'command of the company, as will be
seen by the following :
(Orders No. 13).
"In consequence of the absence of Captain Higgins and the
importance that the first lieutenant of his company should
command it, the resignation of his adjutancy by 1st Lieuten
ant George P. Dykes is hereby accepted and he will assume
the command of the company, giving reciepts to Lieutenant
Hulett for its public property. First Lieutenant Dykes has
the thanks of his commanding officer for- his faithful per
formance of his duties while adjutant of the Battalion.
Second Lieutenant Merrill is hereby appointed Adjutant of
the Battalion. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly-
(Signed.) P. St. George Cooke,
Lieut. Col.. Commanding."

This change gave general satisfaction to the Battalion with
the exception of Company D.
Many, after leaving Santa Fe, contracted ) severe colds,
from which they suffered for some time, but as we advanced
the effects gradually wore off. We found the judgment of

185
Colonel Cooke in traveling much better than that of Smith, in
fact, it was first-class. He never crowded the men unneces
sarily, but as we advanced the roads grew so much worse t hat
both men and teams failed fast, and our only hope of success
lay in our faith in God and on pulling at the ropes.
On the 2nd of November a number of teams gave out and
several wagons were sent back to Santa Fe, empty. The same
day about 300 miserably poor Spanish sheep were brought to
the camp for food. Such as could travel were subsequently
dealt out as rations and those that gave out by the way, when
discovered, were killed and eaten by the worn-out straggling
soldiers, who were unable to keep pace with the main body.
On one occasion the author, being behind all, seeing a smoke
a little way from the road side, went to it and found that
parties who were a little in advance of him had butchered
one of these stragglers and consumed every thing but the
lights. Of these he made a sumptuons dinner by roasting
them on the coals and eating without water. His thoughts
at partaking of this repast are still vividly impressed upon
the author's mind. He had frequently heard it said in his
childhood that if a person ate sheep's light's he would be sure
to go blind. Although the story came to his mind it didn't
have much weight withhim upon that occasiorf. The craving
for food was so strong that he readily made up his mind to eat
the lights and take his chances.
While traveling on the 2nd we met the guides engaged by
General Kearney, and sent out ahead of the Battalion to
explore the country, who reported to us that it would take at
least ninety days to reach the Pacific coast, and gave very
discouraging accounts of the route.
The same day we saw a number of Mexicans, mounted,
with spurs ten to twelve inches long and rowels one to
two inches long. These were a source of wonder to us, being
the first of the kind we had ever seen.
While passing a ranch a few days previously, Colonel Cooke
had been appealed ^o by a Mexican senora for protection as
she feared the Navajoes, who had already stolen her husband's
stock, would return and take her prisoner. Colonel Cooke
wrote a letter to Captain Burgwin, who was in charge of a
detatchment of General Kearney's brigade, not far distant,
in

186 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
asking him to render her what aid he could. The news which
we subsequently received proved that the woman's fears wsre
well grounded. The Navajoes took her prisoner and stole the,
remainder of her stock. Captain Greer's company, which
was in advance of Captain Burgwin's, pursued the Indians
and recaptured the cattle and sheep, but were repulsed by
the Indians and failed to recover the woman.
On the morning of the 3rd, Brother James Hampton who
had been on the sick list a few days was reported by Dr.
Sanderson as ready for duty, but so far from being well, he
died about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. He
was a faithful soldier and worthy Latter-day Saint. When
it was learned that he was dying, a halt of about twenty
minutes was made, and after his death he was placed in a
wagon and carried to our next camping place, where he was
buried, a lone stranger in a strange land, but, as we shall soon
see, he was not destined to long occupy the grave alone.
The same day we received the following :
(Orders No. 14.)
"The commanding officer feels it his duty, on the report of
his principal guide, for the safety of the Battalion, to make
further reduction of its rations. Hereafter ten ounces of pork
will be issued as the rations, and nine ounces of flour. Fresh
meat will be issued at a pound and a half.
"By order of Lieut. Col. Cooke, Commanding,
"P. C. Merrill, Adjt."
On the 4th, after passing through a country which was
very rough and broken, and over a road which was almost
impassable, we encamped near some ancient ruins. Here we
were overtaken by Thomas Woolsey, one of Captain Higgins'
detachment, who went to Pueblo from the crossing of the
Arkansas. He brought us the first information we received
of the accidental shooting and subsequent death of Norman
Sharp, which has already been mentioned.
About the same time a rumor reached us of a movement
which was said to be on foot among the Mexicans in the
region through which we were traveling, to revolt against the
American rule, and we also learned of a similar intention, on
the. part of the Mexicans at Santa Fe. Should such a thing

TWO MEN TIED BEHIND A WAGON. 187
have occurred at that period our situation would have been
extremely perilous, as we were not over four hundred strong,
and surrounded by hostile Indians as well as Mexicans, who
had the advantage of an acquaintance with the country, while
we were strangers there, with nothing to depend upon this
side of heaven but our muskets. Our guides were fearful and
quite downcast at learning the news, but our commander took
the matter very coolly and maintained an air of indif
ference. While traveling that day, two weary soldiers were tied
behind an ox wagon and obliged to march in that position
through wind and dust, for neglecting to get up and salute
Lieutenant Dykes while on the grand rounds of the camp the
previous night, to visit the guards stationed at different points.
They had just been relieved from standing guard for two
hours and lain down to take their rest, of which, it is scarcely
necessary to inform the reader, they stood in much need,
when the- officer of the guard, seeing Dykes approaching,
gave the usual order, "Turn out the guard ! Officer of the
day !" As the two men failed to "turn out," Dykes considered
it a great indignity, and reported it accordingly to Colonel
Cooke, who ordered the humiliating and disagreeable punish
ment already described.
Referring to this matter, Sergeant William Hyde, among
other things, says : "It was plainly manifest that Lieutenant
Dykes sought to gain favor of and please the wicked rather
than favor his brethren." Every Battalion man will endorse
the Sergeant's statement. Lieutenant Dykes afterwards
became so notorious for his officious and captious manner, that
the Battalion accorded to him the title of "the accuser of the
brethren." On the 6th of November, we arrived at the place where
General Kearney had left his wagons, and from which point
he had proceeded with pack-animals.
It may be as well to explain here, that General^Kearney,
having learned while he was at Santa Fe that the Mexicans
in California had surrendered to Commodore Stockton, resolved
to push on through as hastily as possible and, assume control
of the country as governor and commander-in-chief of Cali
fornia, in accordance with his commission from the^President

188 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
of the United States, received previous to starting upon the
campaign. He accordingly disbanded most of his soldiers at
Santa Fe, and, with one hundred picked men, set out for the
coast some time previous to our arrival at that post. Previous
to starting, however, he gave orders for Colonel Cooke to follow
on with the Mormon Battalion, and open a wagon road to the
coast. The prospect before us from this point was anything but
encouraging. Besides what we had previously endured from
hunger and having to help our worn-out animals pull the
overloaded wagons, we now had before us the additional task
of having to construct a wagon road. over a wild, desert and
unexplored country, where wagons had never been before.
On the 7th, a little relief was afforded some of the men by
the killing of a black-tailed deer. It was a rich treat to those
who got a taste of it.
On the 8th, we received the following :
(Orders No. 15.)
(1) "On the recommendation of the company commander,
private E. Elmer, of Company O, is appointed 1st Sergeant of
the same company.
(2) "Quartermaster Sergeant Shelton of the Battalion, having
failed to join it, agreeable to the order of acting Lieutenant
Colonel A. J. Smith, is hereby reduced to the ranks. He is
assigned to Company D., by "Lieut. Col. Cooke,
"P. C. Merrill, Adjutant."
The forepart of this order simply restored Sergeant Elmer
to his former position. It is understood that it was not the
intention of the Colonel to do this simple act of justice, but
as the military regulations provided that non-commissioned
officers should be appointed on the recommendation of their
respective company commanders, he could not well do other
wise, as in this case Lieutenant Rosecrans, commander in the
absence of Captain Brown, who was on detached service,
very properly declined to recommend any other.
On the evening of the 8th, four pilots who had been sent
forward by Colonel Cooke several days previously, to explore
a route, returned and reported that the country was of such a

condition of teams. 189
nature that "they considered it impossible to get through with
wagons. The Colonel, however, was inexorable. ' He had
started out to make a wagon road across the great American
desert, and he was determined not to abandon the enterprise.
During the same day we encountered the first mezquit
brush that we had seen. It is a thorny shrub, bearing a slight
resemblance to the honey locust.
On the 9th, Colonel Cooke estimated that during the last
six days previous we had only traveled forty miles, and
yet our travel had been attended with a great deal of exertion,
as the country was sandy and broken. Colonel Cooke, writ
ing of the condition of the animals at this time, says: "The
guides say that most of the mules could not be driven loose
to California. I have carefully examined them, and found
that whole teams seemed ready to break down. Twenty-two
men are on sick report. Quite a number have been trans
ported in wagons."

CHAPTER XV

Lieutenant Willis Sent Back with the Sick — Only Five Days' Rations for a
Journey of 300 Miles — Ox Mired and Killed — Oxen Providentially
Provided — Death of Elijah Freeman and Richard Carter— Wagons
Exchanged for Pack Animals — Sickness of Men — Left on the Way
— A Severe Journey — Snow Four Feet Deep — Arrival at Pueblo —
Condition of Men — Gilbert Hunt Sent Back for the Sick — Sad Death
of Coleman.
On the 10th, it was decided that a detachment of fifty-five
sick men, undsr command of Lieutenant W. W. Willis, be
sent back ,to Pueblo, by way of Santa Fe, to winter. The
Colonel ordered that they be furnished with twenty-six days'
rations, allowing ten ounces of flour per day — eighteen ounces
being the usual soldier's ration. It appears though, that
through some mistake, probably an oversight in loading the
wagon, this amount was not taken.
Following are the names of those who accompanied
Lieutenant Willis :

190

MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

COMPANY A.

1 Bevan James
2 Calkins Alva
3 Curtis Josiah
4 Carl James C.
5 Frederick David

6 Hewett Eli B.
7 Maxwell Maxey
8 Wriston Isaac N.
9 Woodworth Lysander

COMPANY B.

1 Bybee John
2 Bingham Thomas
3 Camp James
4 Church Hayden W.

5 Clark George S.
6 Eastman Marcus
7 Hinkley Arza E.

company c.

1 Blackburn Abner
2 Brimhall John
3 Babcock Lorenzo
4 Burt William
5 Dunn James
6 Johnston Jesse

7 Rust William W.
8 Richmond Benjamin
9 Shipley Joseph
10 Squires William, Corp.
11 Thomas Nathan
12 Welsh Madison

company d.

1 Badlam Sajauel
2 Compton Allen
3 Higgins Alfred
4 Hoagland Lucas
5 Mecham Erastus D.
6 Stuart James

7 Stuart Benjamin
8 Tubbs William R.
9 Tippetts John H.
10 Thomas Haywood
11 Dalton Edward
12 Dalton Harry

COMPANY e.

1 Brazier Richard Sergt.
2 Burns Thomas R.
3 Brown Daniel
4 Cazier John
5 Cazier James

6 McLelland William E.
(or McClellan)
7 Richardson Thomas
8 Wilson George
9 Sheen Joseph
10 Woolsey Thomas

OXEN PROVIDENTIALLY PROVIDED. 191
Lieutenant Willis, writing from memory of the incidents of
the Battalion, says:
"Active preparations now commenced to carry into effect
the Colonel's orders, and by 4 o'clock of the same day we had
collected of invalids fifty-six, one big government wagon, four
yoke of poor cattle, five days' rations and two dressed sheep,
as food for the sick. Our loading for the one wagon consisted
of the clothing, blankets, cooking utensils, tents and tent poles,
muskets, equipage, and provisions, and all invalids who were
unable to walk. With some difficulty I obtained a spade or
two and a shovel, but was provided with no medicines or other
necessaries for the sick except the mutton before referred to,
and only five days' rations, to travel near three hundred
miles. "Thus armed and equipped we commenced our lonesome
march, retracing our steps to Santa Fe. We marched the
same day about two miles and were visited by Captain Hunt
and others at night, who spoke words of comfort to us and
blessed us, administering the Church ordinance to the sick,
and bidding us God speed. They left us the next day.
"We resumed our march, camping in the-evenihg near some
springs. One yoke of our oxen got mired in the mud. We
took off the yoke when one got out. The other we undertook
to pull out with a rope and unfortunately broke his neck. Our
team was now too weak for our load. In the night Brother
John Green died, and we buried him by the side of Brother
James Hampton.
"What to do for a team we did not know. This was a dark
time, and many were the earnest petitions that went up to our
God and Father for Divine aid.
"The next morning we found with our oxen a pair of splen
did young steers, which was really cheering to us. We looked
upon it as one of the providences of our Father in heaven.
Thus provided for, we pursued our march. We traveled two
days without further accident.
"During the night of the 25th of November, Elijah Freeman
was taken very ill. We hauled him next day in our wagon
and could distinctly hear his groans to the head of our
Httle column. We lay by next day for his benefit.
It was very cold and snowy. Next day we resumed our

192 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
march, but were forced to stop the wagon for our afflicted
comrade to die. After his death we resumed our march until
the usual time of camping when we buried the corpse. Rich
ard Carter also died the same night and we buried him by the
side of Brother Freeman. Their graves are four miles south
of Secora, on the Rio Grande.
"We continued our march to Albuquerque, where we pre
sented oar orders for assistance to Captain Burgwin, of Kear
ney's brigade. He gave me five dollars, cash, and the privi
lege of exchanging our heavy wagon for a lighter one. . I had
fuel and everything to buy, and spent $66.00 of my own pri
vate money before reaching Santa Fe, which was, as near as I
can recollect, about the 25th of November.
"On my arrival at that place, General Price, commander of
the post, ordered me to Pueblo, on the Arkansas river. He
also ordered Quartermaster McKissock to furnish us with the
necessary provisions, mules, etc. I obtained from the Quar
termaster ten mules and pack-saddles, ropes and o^her fixtures
necessary for packing. With this outfit we had to perform a
journey of about three hundred miles, over the mountains, and
in the winter.
"Packing was new business to us, and at first we were quite
awkward. This was about the 5th of December. The first
day we marched about ten miles. Here we gave Brother
Brazier, who was too sick to travel, a mule, and left Thomas
Burns to wait upon him and follow, when he got able, to a
Mr. Turley's, where I designed leaving those who were unable
to cross, the mountains.
"The next day we traveled about twenty miles and camped
on a beautiful stream of water where we had to leave one
broke-down mule. The day after, we marched about fifteen
miles, and camped in a Spanish town. Here Alva Calkins, at
his own request, remained to await the arrival of Brothers
Brazier and Burns. About ten inches of snow fell that day,
and the next day it snowed until about noon, after which
we marched ten or twelve miles and hired quarters of a
Spaniard. Here the men bought bread, onions, pork, etc.,
from their own private means. Brother William Coleman
was seized with an unnatural appetite, and ate to excess. In
the night we were all awakened by his groans. Dr. Rust gave

A SEVERE JOURNEY. 193
him a little tincture of lobelia, the only medicine in camp,
which gave him partial relief.
"Continuing our journey, we traveled within about ten miles
of Turley's, Brother Coleman riding on a mule with the aid of
two men to help him on and off. The next morning, started
early for Mr. Turley's to make arrangements for the sick. I
left my saddle mule for the sick man, with strict instructions
to have him brought to that place. On my arrival I made the
necessary arrangements, and about noon the company arrived,
but to my surprise and regret without Brother Coleman. They
said he refused to come. Mr. Turley, on hearing me express
my regret and dissatisfaction at his being left, proffered to send
his team and carriage to go back next day and bring him in,
which offer I accepted, and agreed to pay him for his trouble.
I left quite a number of sick with Mr. Turley, paying him out
of my own private funds for their rations and quarters, and
then traveled about ten miles. At night, strong fears were
entertained that the snow was so deep we could not cross the
mountains and some resolved not to attempt it, accusing me of
rashness. I called the company together and stated the fact
to them that I was unauthorized to draw rations except for the
journey and other necessaries unless for the sick, and that I
was expending my own private money. I also stated that I
should carry out my instructions and march to Pueblo to
winter, if I had to go alone. I- then called for a show of right
hands of all who would accompany me. All voted but one,
and he fell in afterwards and begged pardon for his opposi
tion. "We continued our march from day to day, traveling through
snow from two to four feet deep, with continued cold, piercing
wind. The third day, about noon, we reached the summit of
the mountain. Before reaching the top, however, I had to
detail a rear guard of the most able-bodied men, to aid and
encourage those who began to lag, and felt unable to proceed
farther, whilst with others I marched at the head of the col
umn to break the road through enormous snow banks. It was
with the greatest exertion that we succeeded, and some were
severely frost-bitten. When we got through the banks, to our
inexpressible joy, we saw the valley of the Arkansas below,
where the ground was bare. The drooping spirits of the men

194 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
revived, and they soon descended to "the plain below, where
they were comparatively comfortable. From here the com
mand had good weather and pleasant traveling to Pueblo,
their destination for the remainder of the winter.
"We arrived on the 24th of December, and found the detach
ments of Captains Brown and Higgins as well as could be
expected, and enjoying themselves with some comfortable
quarters." John G. Smith, of Captain Brown's detachment, gives De
cember 20th as the day upon which the first portion of Willis'
detachment arrived at Pueblo, instead of the 24th, as stated in
the narrative of Lieutenant Willis. It is likely that Brother
Smith's date is the correct one; as he kept a daily journal and
was very accurate in regard to dates. He states that the men
in Willis' command were haggard and emaciated on their ar
rival, from the sickness, hunger and fatigue which they had
endured. Lieutenant Willis got Gilbert, son of Captain Jefferson Hunt,
who had accompanied the families to this point, to go back to
Mr. Turley's and bring up the sick he had left there. They
started on the 27th, and the same day the Lieutenant started
for Bent's Fort, a distance of seventy-five miles. He arrived
on the 2nd and was very kindly received by Captain Enos,
commander of the post and acting Quartermaster, who fur
nished sixty days' rations for the company and transportation
to Pueblo with ox teams. On Lieutenant Willis' return, the
detachment went to work, preparing their quarters, each mess
to build a log cabin.
About the middle of January Corporal Gilbert Hunt and
company returned with all the sick except Brothor Coleman.
Mr. Turley forwarded the Lieutenant a letter by Corporal
Hunt to the effect that he sent his carriage as agreed upon,
but on arriving at the place where Brother Coleman was left,
he was not . there. The Spaniard reported that after the
company had left, in spite of entreaties to the contrary, Brother
Coleman, followed on after the company, and it was supposed,
after traveling a short distance, he expired, as he was after
wards found dead, by the road-side not far distant.

DEATH OF MILTON KELLEY. 195

CHAPTER XVI.
Detachments of Brown and Higgins— Death of Milton Kelley— Houses
Completed— Death of Two Children, also John Perkins, Brother Scott,
Arnold Stevens and M. S. Blanchard— Rumors of a Revolt— Visit to
Soda Fountain — Description of the Place— Game Killed— Pay Received,
also Orders to March to California.
Few incidents of importance had occurred with the detach
ments of Captains Brown and' Higgins up to this time since
their arrivaal at Pueblo. One death occurred on the 4th of
November, that of Milton Kelley, which was supposed to have
been caused by taking cold while upon a hunting expedition.
He was a noble and brave soldier, and previous to enlisting in
the Battalion had fought in the Blackhawk war. He was also
a kind husband, a good neighbor, an excellent traveling com
panion and a faithful Latter-day Saint. He had been married
several years, but had no issue. Soon after his death, how
ever, his wife was delivered of a fine daughter, which was
named Malinda Catherine Kelley, and who is now the wife of
Benjamin L. Alexander.
Most of the houses built by the detachments were so far
completed as to be occupied by the 5th of December. Though
only rude cabins, they found them much better than tents to
live in. The valley in which they were located was well
'adapted for winter quarters. What snow fell soon melted,
and there was good grazing for their animals. True, they
had occasional wind storms, when the dust would be blown
through ihe crevices of their houses, covering their food and
everything else, but though unpleasant and annoying, this was
so slight an evil, compared with what they had previously
suffered from, that they felt to bear it without complaining.
The men and families, too, were tolerably well supplied with
food, so that none need suffer from hunger. An occasional
hunting expedition would result in securing a supply of ven-

196 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
ison, which furnished a very acceptable change of diet. Most
of the sick were also very much improved since getting rid of
the drugs of the inhuman doctor. A few cases of sickness,
however, still lingered on.
On the 1st of January, 1847, -the twin son of Captain Jeffer
son Hunt, by his wife Celia, died. The same day Mrs. Fanny
Huntington, wife of Dimick B. Huntington, gave birth to a
child which also died a few hours aftewards. Both the little
innocents were buried in one grave.
On the 15th of January, nine wagons, loaded with sixty
days' rations, for the command, arrived from Bent's Fort, and
the convalescent soldiers and their families were thereby en
abled to experience the contrast between short food and hard
labor and full rations and no labor.
On the 19th, John Perkins,' a fine young man, died, after a
lingering illness, and was buried the following day.
About this time the command commenced the practice of
squad drills, in which the men became very proficient.
Owing to rumors being freely circulated to the effect that
the Mexicans and Indians intended to attack Pueblo, prepara
tions for defense were made, and Captain Brown also called
upon the old settlers for assistance, which they promised to
render. The people of Bent's Fort were also alarmed, lest the
enemy might make a sudden raid upon them. Communica
tion with Santa Fe had been cut off.
On the 5th of February another death occurred, that of a
Brother Scott, a promising young man, after a short but severe
illness, from winter fever and liver complaint. He was buried
with the honors of war.
On the evening of the 28th, Corporal Arnold Stevens died
and was buried the next day, with military honors ; and on
the 10th of April M. S. Blanchard also departed this life, after
a lingering illness. The great number of deaths that occurred
among that portion of the Battalion who wintered at Pueblo
were doubtless due, mainly, to diseases contracted through the
exposure and hardships of the journey and the murderous
drugging which they had received from Dr. Sanderson, though
the unhealthfulness of Pueblo may partly account for them,
as some claim. As many of the Missouri volunteers who

VISIT TO SODA FOUNTAIN. 197
were also stationed at Pueblo for the winter, died, it is prob
able that climatic influences may have been one cause.
Captain Brown, having returned from Santa Fe on the 9th,
with only a part of the pay due the men, set out again for that
post on the 1st of May, for the purpose of trying to obtain the
balance. On the 2nd of May, John G. Smith and others, with one
wagon and three yoke of oxen, started for Soda Fountain,
where they arrived two days later. One of the springs at this
place is described by Brother Smith as being four feet in di
ameter. The ground surrounding it is somewhat elevated,
except at the outlet, and a kind of shelly incrustation abounds
on the margins of the water. Another spring, about the same
size, is said to boil up quite strongly and the water is impreg
nated with soda to such an extent that it is unexcelled for rais
ing bread. A hanging rock, resembling saleratus, prob
ably formed from the little rill that runs from the spring, pro
jects over the creek ; it is about six feet thick, thirty feet wide
and forty long. There is another small spring, in the vicinity
which is only about one foot in diameter, and boils up slowly,
passing off in a little rivulet. These springs and their sur
roundings would be an excellent study for scientists. To see
soda or saleratus streaming from the earth, all ready for use,
without the aid of man, and that, too, of the best and purest
quality, is certainly marvelous. This is one of those facts that
are stranger than fiction.
As spring advanced the hunters were quite successful in
killing the Rocky Mountain or black-tailed deer, which
abounded in the mountains in that region. They do not dif
fer materially from other deer, except that they are larger and
darker in winter than those found east of the Rocky Moun
tains. When fat, their meat has a fine flavor and is preferable
to the more eastern species. In fact, this rule holds good with
most mountain game, and even domestic animals.
On the 18th of May, Captains Brown and Higgins and oth
ers, returned from Santa Fe with the soldiers' money and
orders to march to California.
The wagons were loaded, and the command took up the line
of "march and crossed the Arkansas river on the 24th of May,
1847, at noon.

198 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XVII.
Journey Commenced — Meeting with A. M. Lyman and Others from
Council Bluffs — Emotions at Meeting — A Perilous and Severe Journey
by Tippetts and Woolsey — Arrival of the Detachment at Fort Laramie —
Follow the Pioneer Trail — Arrival in Salt Lake Valley — Disbanded.
On the 26th the company laid by, waiting for the provision
wagons from Bent's Fort, and the following day Captain Hig
gins went back to Pueblo for the loose cattle.
On the 29th travel was resumed towards California by way .
of Fort Laramie, on the Platte river. The Platte river was
reached on the 3rd of June, and from that time the course of
travel lay down the stream.
On the 5th the South Fork of the Platte river was crossed,
and owing to the great depth of the water, the wagon- boxes
had to be raised and blocks of wood put under them to keep
the loading dry.
On the afternoon of the 11th of June, while on Pole Creek,
to the great joy of the detachments, they were met by Elder
Amasa M. Lyman of the Quorum-of the Twelve Apostles, who
was accompanied by Brothers Thomas Woolsey, Roswell Ste
vens and John H. Tippetts, from Winter Quarters, bringing
letters from the families and friends of the soldiers, as well as
counsel from President Brigham Young ; also news of the
travels and probable destination of the Church.
Kind reader, if y ou can fancy yourself banished from civil
ization, ostracized, your Government failing to redress your
wrongs; your best friends and leading citizens murdered in
cold blood, when held as prisoners, under the plighted faith of
your State for their protection ; yourselves and families flee
ing before ruthless mobs during one of the coldest winters
ever known in the Western States; many sick, and all short
¦ of provisions, living to a considerable extent on short rations
of parched corn or corn meal. Imagine that no luxuries or

THE PRIVATIONS ENDURED BY THE SAINTS. 199
palatable food for the sick were to be had except a quantity of
quails sent by Divine Providence into your camp, nay more,
into your tents and seeking, to conceal themselves under
the very bedding where your sick wife or child or even your
aged father lay (and him perhaps a revolutionary soldier who
had fought many a hard battle to gain his and your liberty,)
and perhaps under the couch of that mother who had given
you life and cared for your tender years, whose emaciated
face and sinking and tottering limbs you had fondly hoped
to make happy and comfortable in her declining years. Then
picture your beloved wife and little ones, not now in the cold
February storms, but in an almost tropical July sun, without
house or home, perhaps living in a tent and perhaps only a
mere wagon with one yoke of oxen, and in an Indian country.
Fancy the penalty of returning to civilization to be death, of
remaining on the Indian lands of Nebraska to be incurring the
displeasure of and threatened ejectment by Government offi-
ciels. Then suppose you had petitioned every officer, from
the justice of the peace to the chief executive of the nation,
to redress your wrongs, and that the only satisfaction given
was, "Your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you." Suppose
your patriotism had induced you to leave — not home, being
without a home to leave — but your family, in an Indian
country, without food, and, at the call of your country, had en
listed to aid in the suppression of the common enemy, and
served for months without news from your family. Then
suppose some portions of your family, and for aught you knew
every member, had succumbed either to the inclemency of
the weather, starvation or the tomahawk !
If you can imagine all of these facts as your own experience,
you may have a faint idea of the feelings and emotions of
this loyal band of soldiers.
This picture, so far from being overdrawn, is but a faint
synopsis of the existing- facts. But we will leave the painful
past ancftxplain how John H. Tippetts and Thomas Woolsey,
two members of the detachments that wintered at Pueblo,
happened to be at Winter Quarters when Elder Amasa M.
Lyman left there, as it has been stated that they accompanied
him to meet the detachments, and yet no mention was pre
viously made of their having left the Battalion.

200 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
On the 23rd day of December, 1846, these fearless soldiers left
Pueblo, on the head waters of the Arkansas river, alone and
without a guide, to take money to their families and friends,
whom they had not heard from since John D. Lee and How
ard Egan overtook the Battalion as previously noted.
The second day they passed Pike's Peak. When they
awoke in the morning they found themselves ensconced under
about six inches of snow. The fourth night they camped on
Cherry Creek, near where Denver City now stands. On ar-
riying at the South Fork of the Platte river, they followed
down it, passing an old deserted Indian village. A severe
east wind arose, which forced them to take shelter under the
bank of the river during the night, where they slept on the
ice. Brother Tippetts avers that the weather was so cold that
six inches of the tail of one of the mules was frozen. Another
day's travel took them to where they could get wood. Here
they remained for three days, owing to the severity of the
weather. They killed a buffalo, which gave them a supply
of meat. After one day's travel from this point, one of the
men went for water and was driven back by a ,buffalo sentinel.
They followed the river down to Grand Island, where some
Pawnee Indians took them prisoners and detained them one
day and night.
They crossed the river below the island on the ice, then
continued eastward to the Elk Horn River. Here they
packed sand in their blankets to keep the mules from slipping
on the ice, which was rather thin and weak, but they suc
ceeded in crossing in safety.
The same day they were stopped by a band of Omaha In
dians. Among them was a white man. Brother Tippetts asked
him if he could speak English. He answered "Yes." Then he
exclaimed, "For God's sake, tell us where we are!" They found
themselves within sixteen miles of Winter Quarters, where
they arrived at dark, on the 15th of February, 1842, at the
house of President Brigham Young, where a picrac party
was gathered. Being invited, they freely partook of the sup
per, which was to them a great treat, as they had been three
days without food. Brother Tippetts had previously dreamed
of partaking of just such a feast. They were out fifty-two
days, traveling like Abraham, not knowing whither they went.

TRYING TO OVERTAKE THE PIONEERS. 2Q1
After the meeting with Brother Lyman and the friends
who accompanied him, the journey was resumed, and on the
13th of June, while resting, during the afternoon, the detach
ment was addressed by Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, who im
parted such instructions as he had received from President
Young and the quorum of the Twelve, for the Battalion,
prominently among which was an exhortation to live as
Saints and followers of Jesus Christ, and forsake all of their
sins and evil deeds.
It was then supposed the detachment would have to march
to California to be discharged.
On the night of the 16th, the command camped within one
mile of Fort Laramie, about five hundred and forty miles west
of Council Bluffs, where they were mustered into service
eleven months before.
President Young, with a company of pioneers, making their
way westward, had passed Laramie twelve days previously,
and with a view to overtaking them, the command made an
early start on the morning of the 17th and followed up their
trail. The road was bad, almost impassable in places, so that
travel was necessarily slow and tedious ; but they gradually
gained on the Pioneers, whose joumeyings they occasionally
learned of by finding a post set up at a camping place,
with writing on it, showing when the Pioneers had passed
there. On arriving at the ferry on the Platte, the command learned
that the Pioneers were one day's travel in advance. Finding
a blacksmith working at this point, a halt was made for one
¦ day, in order to get animals shod. Many emigrants on their
way to Oregon or California were crossing the ferry, and among
them many of the old enemies of the Saints, the Missouri mob-
ocrats. All the way from this point #o where the pioneer trail
branched off from the Oregon route, many emigrants were
seen making their way to the western coast by the northern
route. Nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of
the journey to Salt Lake Valley. The command failed to
overtake the Pioneers, but arrived on July 27, 1847, three days
after the company of Pioneers entered the valley. Here they

202 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
were formally disbanded, without having to proceed onto Cal
ifornia as expected.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Travels of the Main Army — Two Wagons Left — Antics of Oxen on being
Packed — Muskets Used for Tent Poles — First Indian Wigwams-
Ancient Earthenware and Glass — Leave the Rio Grande— Ancient Gold
Mine — Goats Killed — Table Land— Road Turns to Mexican Settlements
—Council Decides to go that Way — Prayers for the Colonel's Mind to
be Changed — A Scare — Prayer Answered — Men March Ahead of
Teams to Break the Road — Charboneaux Kills his Mule.
Our narrtive left the main army of the Battalion on the
Rio Grande del Norte, on the 10th of November, to follow
the travels of the detachments. Let us now return to that
point, and follow the fortunes of the army journeying under
command of Colonel Cooke.
Having parted with Lieutenant Willis and his detachment,
with many prayers and much anxiety for their safety, but
with a strong desire to meet them all again, we naturally
turned our attention to the task before us ; and no very prom
ising picture did it present. However, our trust was in our
Father in Heaven, and the promises made to us by His ser
vants previous to our enlistment, and the sequelwill show
that the trust was not in vain.
Deeming it impracticable to take all of the wagons farther,
Colonel Cooke issued an order requiring the acting assistant
quartermaster to leave there the two remaining ox wagons,
the teams for them being absolutely necessary for the further
march of the Battalion. The commanders of companies were
also required to reduce^their number of tents to one for nine
instead of six men, and for all the upright poles and the extra
camp kettles to be left there.
We did some packing that same day of both oxen and mules.
The former created much merriment, and took away for the
moment some of the monotony of our surroundings. It was
certainly very laughable to witness the antics of our frightened
bullocks, which scarcely knew which end they stood upon,

ANCIENT EARTHENWARE. 203
nor we either for that matter, for as some of the boys had it
"they kicked up before and reared up behind;" they bellowed
and snorted, pawed and plowed the ground with their horns
¦whirling and jumping in every direction. Even our very
sedate commander for once had his nature overcome sufficiently
to get off the following : "Thirty-six mules were lightly packed,
besides oxen ; some of which performed antics that were irre
sistibly ludicrous (owing to the crupper perhaps), such as
jumping high from the ground in quick-step time [he might
have said double-quick time] turning round the while — a per
fect jig."
On the 11th, we marched about fifteen miles, and while
Oharboneaux, one of the guides, had gone some miles ahead
in search of water for camp, Colonel Cooke, seeing a patch of
willows and cane grass, rode into it and followed down the
bottom for near a mile, where he found water and grass plen
tiful. We camped on the bluff.
Here, for the first time, we tried our commander's new
invention of using our muskets for tent poles. This was done
simply by setting the breeches of the guns on the ground, one
in front and another in the rear of the tent, with bayonets off;
in the muzzle of each a peg large enough to fill it was in
serted, the upper end of which entered the ridge pole, the
same as the iron peg in our former poles. The backs of the
tents were opened and a gore inserted, which gave them a
rather low pyramidal shape, and made them more roomy; but
I must be excused from going into extacies over the exter
nal beauties of our camp, under this new arrangement. The
hight of our tents was reduced about six inches.
We saw, the same day, for the first time during our jour
ney, some Indian wigwams, although we were traveling
through a country where Indians were numerous. Their hos
tility to the whites led them to keep their families secluded.
We also found a large amount of ancient pottery-ware,
which lay in broken fragments over the ground. Some of it
was glazed and flowered. There were also some pieces of
glass. According to the estimate of the commanding officer, eight
days' rations had been saved to the Battalion by the return of
Lieutenant Willis' detachment. This estimate did not include

204 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
the twenty-two, out of the twenty-seven days' rations, for the
detachment of fifty-six men overlooked and not sent as
ordered, and for the want of which they so severely suffered.
While traveling on the 13th, we received directions from
our guides to turn off to the right ; so we took final leave of
the Rio Grande del Norte and traveled in a south-westerly
direction, camping the following night near a natural reser
voir in the rocks in a deep ravine. This well was about thir
teen feet in diameter and probably a hundred feet deep. The
route which we were now taking was perfectly new to the
guides even, as they had never traveled in this direction.
° During our next day's travel, we found the ruins of an
ancient building, about thirty-six feet square, and containing
five rooms.
The 15th of November being Sunday, we concluded to lay
by on the bank of a small stream. An old white ox which-
had seen at least a dozen summers, and which we had driven
all the way from Fort Leavenworth, having given out the day
before a few miles back, was brought into camp, butchered
and issued as rations. He was a mere skeleton, and his small
amount of remaining flesh was more like a sickly jelly than
real meat. In consequence of this incident we named the
valley in which we were encamped "White Ox Valley," and
the little rivulet "White Ox Creek." ,
The day was stormy, snow and rain falling alternately.
Some of the hunters went about five miles from the camp, up
a ravine, and found an old deserted vineyard, with some good
grapes still hanging on the vines, upon which they feasted.
Passing around the base of a mountain on the 16th to a
narrow canyon, we found a marshy water hole, which
was given the name of "Cooke's Spring" a name which it still
bears. Here, again, we found much broken earthen ware
scattered all over the ground. By whom it had been made or
why it was scattered so extensively, could only be conjectured.
The next day we passed through the gap in the mountains,
and came to a place where mining, for precious metals, had
evidently been carried on at some time in the distant past.
There were at least thirty holes cut in the solid rock, from ten
to fourteen inches deep, and from six to ten inches in diam
eter, evidently for the purpose of catching and retaining water

BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE. 205
when showers occurred. Here we also found, for the first time,
California partridges or quail. These birds do not differ much
in size from those of the Eastern and Middle States, but are of
a bluish color, with oblong bodies, and beautiful top-knots.
They are swift runners. They are common in some parts of
Utah. A new variety of oak was also found here, which has since
received the name of quercus emoryi; also a new and very beau
tiful variety of oose, or Spanish bayonet, some of the leaves of
which were a yard long, with edges resembling saw-teeth and
stalks running up the center from fifteen to eighteen feet high.
One of our guides here killed two goats which must have
strayed from some passing herd or been stolen and then lost
by some Indians, as both were ear marked.
On the 18th, we marched north-west eighteen miles and
camped on a stream of clear water, which, however, like most
of the creeks in this country, sank in the sand a short distance
below. This place is known as the Mimbres. For beauty of
landscape, this part of the country can scarcely be excelled.
It is what is known as "table land." There are flats of thou
sands of acres of good soil, but with no timber or rocks of any
note, extending several miles each way. When you leave one
of these tables or flats, it is only to ascend or descend, as the
case may be, 'to another. Elevated to the highest of these,
no matter which way you cast your eye, a most beautiful, grassy
plain attracts your vision, stretching out as far as you can
discern. But alas ! as "every rose has its thorn," this "para
dise found" has drawbacks so serious that it cannot be inhab
ited. There are no seasonable rains to moisten the earth nor
sufficient water with which to irrigate it.
On the 17th, we struck the copper mine road leading from
the mine to Yanos. Along this we marched eighteen miles
over a gradually ascending prairie to Ojo de Vaca, or Cow
Springs. On the 20th, we laid by, and the guides, having been twelve
miles ahead, and being able to see from there much farther
without being able to discover any indication of water,
returned disheartened, declaring that they did not think any
more would be found short of the Gila river, a distance of
about one hundred miles. As David Crockett would define it,

206 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
the Colonel was "dumbfounded." To turn back was starva
tion and chagrin; to go forward seemed rashness; and to
follow the road to Yanos and thence to other Mexican settle
ments was, at best (if we escaped the enemy, which we were
not likely to do), to fall in under General Wool, and find our
selves in Old Mexico, instead of California, at the end of. the
war or the term of our enlistment, on the 16th of July follow
ing. The commander called his staff and the captains of compa
nies together in council. The decision was to follow the road,
which was said, by the guides, to lead in a south-westerly
direction, through settlements where food and fresh teams
could be obtained.
A gloom was cast over the entire command. All of our
hopes, conversation and songs, since we had to leave Nauvoo
were centered on California; somewhere on that broad domain
we expected to join our families and friends.
In this critical moment, brother David Pettegrew, better
known as Father Pettegrew, owing to his silver locks and
fatherly counsels, and Brother Levi W. Hancock, went from
tent to tent, and in a low tone of voice counseled the men to
"pray to the Lord to change the Colonel's mind." Then they
invited a few to accompany them to a secret place where they
could offer up their petitions and not be seen "by those in
camp. That night over three hundred fervent prayers ascended
to the throne of grace for that one favor.
While we remained at this place an amusing incident
occurred, which reflected rather badly on the courage of one
of the men. One of the guides ascended a hill not far from
our camp and raised a signal smoke, in hopes of attracting
some Mexicans, and learning from them something concern
ing the country over which we proposed to travel, and nego
tiating, if possible, for provisions and animals. The smoke
had the desired effect ; it attracted a number of Mexicans. It
happened, however, that one of our men was in the vicinity of
this hill gathering fuel, and seeing the Mexicans approaching,
without knowing what their purpose was, he dropped his wood
and ran into camp terribly excited, creating considerable mer
riment among his comrades at his expense. But, although
the guides talked with the Mexicans, and some of the latter

PRAYER ANSWERED. 207
even came to the camp and stayed all night, no information
of importance could be obtained from them, nor could any
purchases be made.
On the morning of the 21st, the command resumed its jour
ney marching in a southern direction for about two miles,
when it was found that the road began to bear south-east.
instead of south-west, as stated by the guides. The Colonel
looked in the direction of the road, then to the south-west,
then west, saying, "I don't want to get under General Wool,
and lose my trip to California." He arose in his saddle and
ordered a halt. He then said with firmness : "This is not my
course. I was ordered to California; and," he added with an
oath, "I will go there or die in the attempt!" Then, turning
to the bugler, he said, "Blow the right."
At this juncture, Father Pettegrew involuntarily exclaimed,
"God bless the Colonel!" The Colonel's head turned and his
keen, penetrating eyes glanced around to discern whence the
voice came, and then his grave, stern face for once softened
and showed signs of satisfaction.
The next day we traveled about eighteen miles and camped
without water. Here it was decided and ordered that the
men walk in double file in front of the wagons, just far enough
apart to make trails for the wheels, and that at the end of an
hour's march the leading companies and teams halt and allow
the others to precede them and take their turn at breaking the
road. This gave all an equal share of the burden. This plan
was followed subsequently in traveling over all the heavy, sandy
road until we reached the coast. It was much like tramping
snow — very hard on the men, especially those who took the
lead, as we had no road or trail to follow.
Here, also, Charboneaux, one of the guides, came into camp,
packing his saddle and pistols on his back. He said he got off
to let his mule graze, when the animal kicked him, ran off and
would not be caught; hence he shot him down to save his
saddle and pistols, as he claimed, from falling into the hands
of the Apache Indians.

208 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XIX.
Author's Birthday — Severe Suffering from Thirst  Mirage— Reach Water
— John R. Murdock Sick — Henry G. Boyle Healed in Answer to Prayer
—Bear Killed— Crossing the Mountains— Wagons Lowered With Ropes
—Dykes Almost Shot While Playing the Spy— Wild Cattle— Killing a
Wild Bull— Return of John Allen — His Adventures.
The 23rd was the thirtieth anniversary of the author's birth,
and this is how it was celebrated : The command started
early, and after about twelve miles' travel came to a hole or
crevice in a rock at the point of a mountain, where there was,
perhaps, water enough to give each man a half pint. As the
Colonel and staff rode up to it, the former remarked to the
latter in a rather low tone, "The men can do without water
better than the animals." He cast a look behind and seemed
disappointed at my being so near. His mule with his staff and
their mules, drained the spring. The author waited a few
moments for a little to seep in and obtained, perhaps, a quarter
of a gill of muddy water. In the meantime, others came up,
some casting a wistful look into the hole and passing on, while
others stopped and dipped with spoons what they could get.
In writing on this point, our sympathizing commander says :
"In the mountain ridge the water wa,s found, mentioned by
Spaniards last night, who thought there would be enough for
the men a drink. It was soon gone [of course it was I] and
the poor fellows were waiting for it to leak from the rocks, and
dipping it with spoons ! There was nothing to do but toil on
over the ridge." Six miles beyond, a guide was met with the
news of water three leagues (nine miles) further on. While
crossing this valley, before meeting the guide, the commander,-
remarked to some of the men that he had marched with a knap
sack on his back, but his sufferings were nothing like theirs,
and he feared theirs would be worse before they got through
to California.

CASE OF HEALING IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. 209
Here something resembling the deceptive mirage described
before in this work, was constantly before us, seeming to keep
the same distance off; sometimes it looked like a river, at
others like a sea or lake.
After dark, we reached what seemed to be the bottom of a
lake or pond, which was dry and solid, and the wagons rolled
on it with perfect ease. Colonel Cooke very properly says :
"It appeared in the obscurity (of twilight) something between
smooth marble and a great sheet of ice ; wagons moved with
traces unstretched, and made no track." We followed it only
about two or three miles, when, to our great joy, water was
found in some swamp holes on its western shore. Here the
front rank arrived about 8 o'clock that evening; the rear,
about 7 o'clock the next day, having made an arduous and
continuous march of about twenty -four hours, and having been
without water for about forty-eight hours.
About thirty years previous a terrible treachery and cow
ardly slaughter of Apache Indians, by one Johnson, who still
lived in Sonora, took place here, for the purpose of obtaining
scalps, for which the Governor was offering $50 each.
This clay flat is about thirty miles long, and is called by
the Mexicans Las Playas. ' Here John R. Murdock, who drove
the Colonel's baggage wagon, was taken sick, and was unable
to drive for a week or more. This was his only sickness on
the route. He drove a team from Leavenworth to California.
We did not travel the following day, owing to so many
teams and men being exhausted from the previous two days'
and nights' march.
Our quartermaster purchased some five mules of visiting ;
Mexicans. Here, also, Henry G. Boyle was taken violently
sick, through drinking too much water on his arrival
when he was very warm and thirsty. It being his turn
to go on guard, he had no alternative but to go or report him
self on sick list. He chose the latter, and Sanderson, the
doctor, gave him the usual dose — calomel — which, however,
he did not swallow, but consigned it to the flames. The writer
and another Elder or two were called upon to anoint him with
oil and lay hands upon him, and before night he was well.
Here pioneers were sent forward to work a road over the
backbone of the Rocky Mountains. The down grade was

210 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
found to be much more difficult than the ascent. The
descent, for over a half mile, was at an angle of about forty-
five degrees. /
On the 25th, Charboneaux, the guide, who was a little
ahead of the command, ascended one of the mountains and
was confronted by three grizzly bears. He showed great
presence of mind and bravery. A second or third shot lev
eled the most ferocious one. He escaped the others by climb
ing upon a rock, when they soon retreated in good order. The
meat of the one killed was put in the wagons and eaten for
supper. On the 28th we reached the backbone of North America—
the summit of the Rocky Mountains. Here we found plenty
of deer, bear, antelope and small game. Several of the men
went into the Sugar Loaf Mountains for the purpose of hunt
ing. They got lost in their rambles, but all found their way
back to camp the following day except John Allen, a worth
less fellow, who attached himself to the Church at Fort Leav
enworth that he might join the Battalion and obtain passage
and protection to California. It was thought by some that he
had deserted.
On the 29th, preparations were made for descending the
mountain to the valley below. Most all of the animals were
packed and sent down the mountain a distance of about six
miles, into the valley, where a guard was left in charge of the
baggage while the men and animals returned. The next day
this process was repeated, and then the work of taking the
wagons down was commenced.
The Colonel and his staff, on arriving at the summit of the
mountain, estimated that it would require from five to ten days
to descend, but it was accomplished in two days. Long ropes
were attached to the wagons, upon which the men pulled, and
in this manner the wagons were all lowered. One of them, by
some accident, got loose, and ran down with such force that it
became badly damaged, and was abandoned as worthless. One
or two others were slightly injured, but were soon repaired.
During the three days that we were encamped on the ridge
the weather was extremely cold and disagreeable, but when
we arrived in the valley, which was perhaps three quarters of
a mile lower in altitude, it was warm and pleasant.

NARROW ESCAPE OF LIEUT. DYKES. 211
On the 1st of December we resumed our journey, traveling
down a canyon. While encamped that night, Lieutenant
George P. Dykes, who was officer of the day, attempted to play
the role of spy, in order, as was supposed, to find some cause
for complaint against the men. His fault-finding disposition
nearly cost him his life in this instance. He sneaked around,
got inside the line and was stealthily making his way to where
the guns were stacked, when he was discovered by the senti
nel, Brother Henry G. Boyle (now a highly respected resident
of Payson), who, supposing him to be an enemy, cocked and
leveled his gun and was on the point of pulling the trigger
when he recognized Dykes. Had he not at that moment dis
covered who it was, a half ounce ball and ten or twelve buck
shot would have ended the sneaking business so far as Lieu
tenant Dykes was concerned. Brother Boyle says to this day
it makes him shudder when he thinks of how narrowly he
escaped killing the man, although no blame could have been
attached to him had he fired before recognizing him.
Being on the west of the dividing ridge, we found that all
of the streams ran westward instead of eastward, as previously.
The scenery was most beautiful, with mountain precipices and
rocks in all shapes and sizes heaped upon each other. The
mezcal, a wild vegetable, sometimes roasted by Indians for
food, was found there, as well as the Spanish bayonet, ever
green oaks, cottonwoods and sycamores, the leaves of which
were nicely tinted by frost. Everything there, even to the
rocks, bore a brilliant shade or tint of some kind.
On the 2nd, we reached the ruins of the rancho, San Bernar
dino. The spring and dwelling had been surrounded by a
wall with two bastions (adobe, if my memory serves me right),
but which were now much dilapidated. The country seemed
to be mostly mezquit flats or tables.
The first wild cattle were found here. They were of Mexi
can stock, baving been brought here by a Mexican, who was
driven out by the Apache Indians and forced to leave his stock
behind. One of the guides killed a wild bull and was found
drying his meat on our arrival. A few hunters were imme
diately sent out, and more went out on their own responsi
bility, the author among the latter. Every now and then a
bull bounded past him, having been routed by the hunters.

212 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
After following one and another, in the hope of getting a
shot, he discovered one standing under a lone tree, at a dis
tance of perhaps half a mile. He crouched and sneaked along
from bunch to bunch of the Mezquit until one half the dis
tance was made, when the crack of a musket and a rather
sharp screech or lowing of the animal proved that another
hunter had found his quiet resting place. His thigh bone
was broken. Another shot succeeded in bringing him to the
ground. By this time I had approached within a few rods,
when the well-known voice of Walter Barney, one of my mess
mates, directed me to stop until he fired again. I insisted,
however, on going up and cutting the animal's throat to save
the waste of amunition ; but as he claimed that there might
be danger of the animal rising and goring me, I picked up a
rock about the size of a man's fist and threw it a distance of,
perhaps, ten feet, against the horn of the animal. Quick as
thought he bounded to his feet, and, with a wild, shrill bellow,
hobbled after me on three legs. I fired and he fell again, only
to arise and pursue his intended victim with the more fury.
I was below him on a hill-side; as he neared me I dodged
him, and while he was turning round gained a few feet up the
hill. My comrade fired again, and the animal once more fell to
the ground. This time a bullet from my musket, a little
below the curl in the pate, ended the battle. Six bullet holes,
all in fatal places, showed that these cattle could endure as
much lead as a buffalo. He had a very large body, with
horns about two yards from tip to tip, and he was round and
fat. We soon found a way to strip a piece of his hide off, by
which we got some meat, and Barney started for camp.
It was now after sunset. We had wandered some four miles
from camp, and I, having been sickly from the day before we
reached the Arkansas river, was completely exhausted and
unable to return ; hence, it was agreed that I should remain,
and, after dark, keep up a light, in order that my comrades
might come with pack-animals and take me and the best part.
of the meat of the huge animal to camp. I had but little fear
of other wild beasts or Indians, although the country abounded
with both. I made my supper mainly from the roasted melt
or spleen of the animal. My comrade, with others, returned
with mules about 10 p. m. We took what meat the mules

/ I

RETURN OF JOHN' ALLEN. 213
could pack, I mounted the one with the lightest load, and
reached camp about 12 o'clock, some time having been occu
pied in dressing the beef.
- This same evening, John Allen, the desperado and hunter,
who was supposed to have deserted, came into camp, having been
absent five , days. He was minus his gun, coat, vest, shoes
and butcher knife, which he said were taken from him by
Apache Indians. They made signs to him to take off his
shirt, also ; but the weather was cold, and he felt that if they
did not kill him he must soon perish, hence he bared his
breast and signified that he would prefer them to shoot him.
They then let him go.
He finally struck our trail, and finding Captain Jesse I).
Hunter's dead horse, gnawed through his posterior like a
wolf and got his first meal since leaving the command. He
had killed a turkey, but the sound of his gun betrayed him to
the Indians, who took it from him. The poor fellow had even
picked up the hoofs of dead animals and gnawed off the most
tender portions and eaten them.
He was, for once, humbled, and much of his disagreeable,
wicked, profane and quarrelsome nature seemed for a time to
have left him.
Cooke sets him down as "tbe only member of the Battalion
not a Mormon."

214 MORMON BATTALION HISTQRY.

CHAPTER XX.
The Apache Indians — Jerking Beef— Loading of Guns and Firing at [Game
Prohibited — Order Disregarded — Author Sick— Calomel and Arsenic as
Medicine — Death of Elisha Smith — Howling of the Wolves — A Song,
The commander expected to obtain some fresh animals of
the Indians at the rancho, San Bernardino,, but was disap
pointed. We rested one-and-a-half days at this place, and the hunt
ers brought in five days' allowance of wild beef, which was
issued as rations. Wild cattle abounded in that region. It is
asserted that 80,000 head were driven to this rancho before it
was abandoned.
Colonel Cooke mentions the Apaches as being "poor/dirty
Indians." They may be such, but those who visited our^eamp
were, in my view, not as bad as represented. For a down
trodden' race, they had quite an intelligent, dignified look,
and were certainly much more cleanly and tidy in appear
ance than the Iowas, Poncas, Pottawatomies or Omahas.
We jerked beef until about 2 p. m., when we were ordered
to take up the line of march. This order gave much dissatis
faction, as another day or even the remainder of this Jday and
night, would have enabled us to dry much more meat with
out increasing the weight of our loads. Besides, the com
mander promised to lay in enough when we reached the wild
cattle to do us through to California. As it was, considerable
fresh beef had to be left on the ground.
Before breaking camp, the following orders were issued.
"Head Quarters Mormon Battalion,
Camp at San Bernardino,
"Rations for six days have been wasted since leaving Santa
Fe. Of the present allowance there is enough, allowing for no
wastage or accident.
"Commanders of companies hereafter will give no permission
to leave the column of march or the camp, and muskets will

wild cattle. 215
not be fired at game. The Battalion will be in readiness to
march at one o'clock.
"By order Lieut. Col. Cooke.
(Signed) P. C. Merrill, Adjutant."
A verbal order was also issued at this place to have no
loaded guns in the command.

This last order concerning the firing at game, although
doubtless well-meant, gave much dissatisfaction, and was dis
regarded; not on account of our short rations so much as the
fact that we were about to go among thousands of wild cattle,
ten-fold more dangerous than the buffalo. The Colonel
thought that if the cattle were wounded there would be more
danger of serious consequences, while the soldiers took the
view that to stand and tamely suffer themselves to be gored to
death was a cruel and unjust requirement. This was the only
order not strictly obeyed.
On the 5th we traveled about twelve miles, crossing some
low mountains. Many wild cattle were seen, amounting to
hundreds, if not thousands. Several were killed, and the most,
of the carcasses left. In some cases, the best cuts were saved.
The next day we made twelve miles, cutting our way, a part
of the distance, through mezquit brush. A cold rain and
some snow fell. During that day's journey the author was
quitesick, but avoided making known his condition by hiding
in the tall grass until the command had all passed by, and
then slowly and painfully making his way to camp. He had
not forgotten, nor, indeed, entirely recovered, from the effects
of his previous drugging and dreaded having to take another
dose of Dr. Sanderson's calomel or arsenic. The fact that
the doctor's calomel had given out and arsenic was substitu
ted, was no secret. Sanderson openly stated the fact long
before we reached California.
Our camp, that night, was in a grove of ash, oak and black
walnut. We called the stream Ash Creek, because that was
the predominating timber.
While encamped here, Elisha Smith, not an enlisted soldier,
but hired by Captain Davis as teamster, or servant, died, and

216 mormon battalion history.
the large wolves, probably scenting the corpse, made the night
hideous with their howls. Their grum voices almost rent the
air only a few feet from our camp.
He was buried in the wilderness, alone, and, like the others,
without a coffin, or a slab, to mark his last resting place.
Brush and billets of wood were piled upon his grave and there
burned to conceal his remains from the Indians and wolves.
His wife had gone with one of the detachments to winter at
Pueblo, hence she was not with him during his last, short
illness and death. She subsequently married Thomas Burns,
who claimed to be a descendant of the Scottish Bard, Robert
Burns. The following song, by Levi- W. Hancock, is in memory of
Mr. Smith's death and burial :

DEATH AND THE WOLVES.

BY LEVI W. HANCOCK.

The Battalion encamped
By the side of a grove,
Where the pure waters flowed
From the mountains above.
Our brave hunters came in
From the chase of wild bulls —
All around 'rose the din
Of the howling of wolves.
When the guards were all placed
On their outposts around,
The low hills and broad wastes
Were alive with the sound,
Though the cold wind blew high
Down the huge mountain shelves,
All was rife with the cry
Of the ravenous wolves.

DEATH AND THE WOLVES. 217
Thus we watched the last breath
Of the teamster, who lay
In the cold grasp of death,
As his life wore away.
In deep anguish he moan'd
As if mocking his pain,
When the dying man groan'd
The wolves howl'd a refrain.
For it seem'd the wolves knew
There was death in our camp,
As their tones louder grew,
And more hurried their tramp.
While the dead lay within,
With our grief to the full,
O, how horrid a din
Was the howl of the wolves !
Then we dug a deep grave,
And we buried him there —
All alone by the grove —
Not a stone to tell where !
But we piled brush and wood
And burnt over his grave,
For a cheat, to delude
Both the savage and wolf.
'Twas a sad, doleful night !
We by sunrise, next day,
When the drums and the fifes
Had performed reveille —
When the teams were brought nigh,
And our baggage arranged,
One and all, bid Good bye,
To the grave and the wolves.

14

218 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XXI.
Wild Horses— Game Plentiful— Wild Cattle Congregate on our Route— A
Battle with them — Losses on Both Sides — One man Thrown Ten Feet
in the Ah- — Wonderful Tenacity of Life in the Wild Bulls — Coolness
and Bravery of Corporal Frost— A Song on the Bull Fight.
From Ash Creek we marched seventeen miles north-west
and encamped without wood or water, except a little fine
brush. Wild horses were first seen here.
Starting at sunrise on the morning of the 9th, we traveled
to San Pedro Creek, a distance of ten miles, where we nooned.
We then crossed over and marched six miles down the stream,
where we encamped.
The grass here looked as though it was of no more strength
than dry straw, but the wild cattle and horses fattened on it,
and it proved to be the best feed we had found for some time.
The bottom land in that region seemed pretty good, but we
saw but little timber. Bear, deer and antelope, as well as
wild cattle, were tolerably plentiful, especially the latter.
Continuing our journey down the San Pedro, we encamped
on the night of the 11th in a canyon. A kind of cane grass
grew in this region, from four to six feet high, being very
profuse and luxuriant in the bottom near the stream. The
soldiers, who went out in, advance of the command, passed
along the bluffs on each side of the stream and came upon
hundreds of wild cattle, which, startled at their approach,
rushed down into the bottom for shelter. The animals, con
gregated on the line of our route, on hearing the rumblings
of our approaching wagons, were startled, and some ran off
in afright. Others, however, to gratify their curiosity, per
haps, marched towards us, as if bent upon finding out who
dared to intrude upon their quiet retreat. Their terribly
beautiful forms and majestic appearance were quite impres
sive.

A FIGHT WITH WILD BULLS. ' 219
Contrary to the orders of the Colonel, as previously noticed,
every man had his musket loaded, and a battle followed. In
the open ground, where the cattle could see us from a dis
tance, they would run away, but when near us, whether
wounded or not, they were the assaulting party. Hence, the
roar of musketry was heard from one end of the line to the
other. One small lead mule in a team was thrown on the
horns of a bull over its mate on the near side, and the near mule,
now on the off side and next to the bull, was gored until he
had to be left with entrails hanging a foot below his body.
One or two pack-mules were also killed. The end-gates of
one or two wagons were stove in, and the sick, who were
riding in them, were of course frightened. Some of the men
climbed upon the wheels of the wagons and poured a deadly
fire into the enemy's ranks. Some threw themselves down and
allowed the beasts to run over them ; others fired and dodged
behind mezquit brush to re-load their guns, while the beasts
kept them dodging to keep out of the way. Others, still,
climbed up in small trees, there being now and then one
available. Brother Amos Cox was thrown about ten feet into the air,
while a gore from three to four inches in length and about
two or three in depth was cut in the inside of his thigh near
its junction with the body. Sanderson sewed up the wound.
Cox was an invalid for a long time, but finally recovered, so
far, at least, that the Surgeon reported him able for duty;
but he complained bitterly that injustice was done him, and I
do not think his complaint was without cause. I saw him in
Pottawatomie County, Iowa, a year afterwards, and he still
felt the effects of his injury.
Albert Smith, quartermaster sergeant of company B., was
run over by a wounded bull, and, I understand, had three of
his ribs partially severed from the back bone. He suffered
severely for several weeks, but declined going on sick report
to avoid Dr. Sanderson's cure-all, calomel and arsenic.
Major Clowd, our paymaster, had one of his pack mules
killed. Dr. William Spencer, assistant surgeon's steward, shot
six balls into one bull, and was pursued by him, rising and
falling at intervals, until the last and fatal shot, which took
effect near the curl of the pate, was fired'. The wounds were

220 • MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
as follows: Two bullets through the lights, two through the
heart and two in the pate. The Doctor carried the heart two
or three days, exhibiting it to all who desired to see it, and
relating the particulars of his remarkable adventure. The
author saw the heart and heard the painfully interesting
narrative of his informant's hair-breath escape from death or
severe injury. Of course, either of the shots would eventually
have proved fatal, but this incident showed how severely the
animals might be wounded and still live long enough to fight
and kill or injure human beings.
Colonel Cooke, in his writings, refers to this circumstance,
and acknowledges to having seen the heart.
Another incident the commander relates thus : "I was very
near Corporal Frost, when an immense coal-black bull came
charging upon us, a hundred yards distant. Frost aimed
his musket, a flint-lock, very deliberately, and only fired when
the beast was within six paces ; it fell headlong almost at
our feet."
To show the cool deliberation of Corporal Frost, eye-wit
nesses add the following : The Corporal was on foot, while,
of course, the Colonel and staff were mounted. On the first
appearance of the bull, the Colonel, with his usual firm man
ner of speech, ordered the Corporal to load his gun, suppos
ing, of course, that he had observed the previous order of
prohibition. To this command he paid no attention. Think
ing him either stupefied or, again quoting Davey CrocKett,
'dumbfounded," with much warmth and a foul epithet he,
next ordered him to run, but this mandate was as little
heeded as the other. Doubtless Cooke thought one man's
"ignorance with some stubbornness" was about to receive a
terrible retribution, but when he saw the monster lifeless at
his feet, through the well-directed aim of the brave and fear
less Corporal, how changed must have been his feelings ! The
Corporal, who might have fled and concealed himself from
danger, stood firm at the risk of his own life to protect his
brave though austere commander, not even resenting or
seeming to notice the abrupt manner in which he was ordered
to run, thus showing not only a brave but generous and
forgiving heart. Colonel Cooke gave Corporal Frost the
credit of being "one of the bravest men he ever saw."

THE BUTCHER AND THE BULL. 221
Lieutenant Stoneman, quartermaster of subsistance, in an
attempt to fire a fifteen-shooter rifle at one of these bulls, by
some accident, burst his gun and seriously injured the thumb
of his right hand. One bull was shot and fell near where
one of the butchers, Robert Harris, stood, who ran to
cut the bullock's throat, when, quick as thought, the animal
bounded to his feet, caught the butcher's cap on his horn and
ran off, the butcher shouting, "Stop you thief; I'll have some
beef," and pursued him about seventy-five yards when the
animal again fell and the fatal knife quickly ended all dis
putes. The number of bulls killed is not known, but it is probably
not less than twenty. Henry Standage and Sanford Porter,
who fell behind on account of trying to catch some salmon
trout, which, it was said, abounded in the river, on entering
our trail, saw nine lying in one place. After stopping and
roasting what choice cuts they wanted, they followed on and
overtook the command. Probably twice as many or more
were fatally wounded ; thus making the number about sixty.
This is considered a very low estimate ; one writer says eighty-
one were killed outright.
The following song was composed on this event :
THE BULL FIGHT ON THE SAN PEDRO.

BY LFVI W. HANCOCK.

Under command of Colonel Cooke,
When passing down San Pedro's brook,
Where cane-grass, growing rank and high,
Was waving as the breeze pass'd by :

There, as we gain'd ascending ground,
Out from the grass, with fearful bound,
A wild, ferocious bull appear'd,
And challeng'd fight, with horns uprear'd.

222 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
"Stop, stop!" said one, "just see that brute!"
"Hold!" was responded, "let me shoot."
He flashed, but failed to fire the gun —
Both stood their ground, and would not run.
The man exclaimed, "I want some meat,
I think that bull will do to eat;"
And saying thus, again he shot
And fell'd the creature on the spot :
It soon arose to run away,
And then the guns began to play ;
All hands at work — amid the roar,
The bull was dropp'd to rise no more.
But lo ! it did not end the fight —
A furious herd rushed into sight,
And then the bulls and men around,
Seemed all resolved to stand their ground.
In nature's pasture, all unfenc'd,
A dreadful battle was commenc'd ;
We knew we must ourselves defend,
And each, to others, aid extend.
The bulls with madden'd f ury raged —
The men a skillful warfare waged;]
Tho' some, from danger, had to flee
And hide or clamber up a tree.
A bull at one man made a pass,
Who hid himself amid the grass,
And breathless lay until the brute
Pass'd him and took another shoot.
The bulls rushed on like unicorns,
And gored the mules with piercing horns,
As if the battle ground to g&in,
When men and mules should all be slain.

THE BULL FIGHT ON THE SAN PEDRO. 223
With brutal strength and iron will,
Poised on his horns with master skill,
A bull, one mule o'er mule did throw,
Then made the latter's entrails flow.
One bull was shot and when he fell,
A butcher ran his blood to spill,
The bull threw up his horns and caught
The butcher's cap, upon the spot.
"Give up my cap !" exclaimed the man,
And chased the bull, as on he ran :
The butcher beat, and with his knife
Cut the bull's throat and closed his life.
0. Cox, from one bull's horns was thrown
Ten feet in air : when he came down,
A gaping flesh-wound met his eye —
The vicious beast had gored his thigh.
The Colonel and his staff were there,
Mounted, and witnessing the war :
A bull, one hundred yards away,
Eyed Colonel Cooke as easy prey.
But Corp'ral Frost stood bravely by,
And watch'd the bull with steady eye ;
The brute approach'd near and more near,
But Frost betray'd no sign of fear.
The Colonel ordered him to run —
Unmov'd he stood with loaded gun ;
The bull came up with daring tread,
When near his feet, Frost shot him dead.
Whatever cause, we did not know,
But something prompted them to go;
When all at once in frantic fright,
The bulls ran bellowing out of sight.
And when the fearful fight was o'er,
And sound of muskets heard no more,
At least a score of bulls were found,
And two mules dead upon the ground.

224 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XXII.
Decide to March Through Tucson— Guide held at Tucson as Prisoner — Mexi
can Soldiers Arrested and held as Hostages until Foster is Released —
Mexicans Refuse to Surrender — Prepare for an Engagement — Mexican
Soldiers Desert the Town — We March Thrbugh — Kindness of Citizens
—Pubhc Wheat Taken for Mule Feed— Primitive Mills— An Alarm—
An Excited Officer — Letter to the Governor of Sonora.
We followed down the river on the 12th and 13th, and
found the roads were more rough as we passed near the base
of the mountains extending towards the Gila River. Our
course was nearly north.
Leroux and other guides returned from an exploration of
the table land to the west, where, at twenty miles distant,
they had found water on a trail leading to Tucson.
They found a party of Apache Indians and some Mexicans
distilling mezcal into whiskey, and learned of a garison of
two hundred Mexican soldiers being stationed at Tucson.
Leroux, to get off, had to invent the following story, and
Foster, the interpreter, had thought proper to go to Tuscon to
give it more probability.
He said : "Tell the commander at Tucson that an army of
Americans are en route to California ; that the front guard is
about three hundred and sixty men, and if it stops to drill it
will be to give time for the main army to come up. He may
judge of the strength of the main army by the guard."
It was also to be understood, if Foster did not return by a
stated time, that he was a prisoner at Tucson ; hence the fol
lowing order, which is referred to but not given in Cooke's
work, was issued :
"Head Quarters Mormon Battalion,
"Camp on the San Pedro,
"December 13th, 1846.
"Thus far on our course we have followed the guides
furnished us by the General (Kearny). These guides now

DECIDE TO MARCH THROUGH TUCSON. 225
point to Tucson, a garrisoned town, as our road, and assert
that any other course is a hundred miles out of the way and
over a trackless wilderness of mountains, rivers and hills.
We will march, then, to Tucson. We came not to make war
on Sonora, and less still to destroy an important outpost of
defense against Indians ; but we will take the straight road
before us and overcome all resistance. But shall I remind
you that the American soldier ever shows justice and kind
ness to the unarmed and unresisting? The property of
individuals you will hold sacred. The people of Sonora are
not our enemies.
"By order of "Lieut. Col. Cooke,
"(Signed) P. C. Merrill, Adjutant."

On the 14th, the Battalion ascended the bluff and traveled
up hill mainly for eight or nine miles, when it struck a trail
leading to Tucson. The commander selected fifty men with
whom he pushed forward. Passing the front guard, he soon
reached water, ^yhere he found four or five Mexican soldiers
cutting grass. Their arms and saddles were on their horses
near by, easily accessible to our little troupe ; but they had
no wish to molest them. The Mexicans paid but little atten
tion to our men.
The Colonel learned from a Mexican sergeant that a rumor
of a large force of American soldiers had reached the town
and great excitement prevailed.
Of course, the Colonel, who was possessed of generalship as
well, as discipline, took no pains to disabuse their minds, and
thus expose our little army to unnecessary peril.
Indians who had seen us in the distance had largely over
estimated our numbers, and this served to impress the people
of Sonora with the truth of the statement made by the
guides. The Colonel also learned from the Mexican sergeant that
the commander of the garrison had orders from the governor
not to allow an armed force to pass through the town without
resistance. A message was, therfore, sent to the commander
by this same sergeant that the people need not be alarmed, as

226 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
we were their friends, we would do them no harm but would
siniply purchase some supplies and pass on.
The next day we traveled about twelve miles, passing a
distillery and camped without water. The Battalion marched
in front of the wagons to protect the provisions.
Here a new species of cactus proved very troublesome. It
was jointed, and when an animal rubbed against the thorns,
it would break loose at the joints, and sections, some three
inches long, more or less, would stick fast to the animals.
The same variety is found in Southern Utah.
A corporal, son of Comaduran, commander of the post, and
three soldiers were met but showed no signs of fear until Colonel
Cooke ordered them arrested, when they seemed terribly
frightened. On arriving at camp, the corporal was questioned
by our commander as to Foster. He said (which proved to
be the fact) that Foster was under guard, but had been
earnestly requested to come with them and refused. He
feigned indignation at being arrested, lest the Mexicans
should suspect our weakness as to our numbers, and get rein
forcements and fight us. As he anticipated, his conduct
inspired them with terror.
One of the prisoners was released and sent to the garrison
with two of the guides, one of whom took a note to the com
mander of the post demanding Foster's release, and stating
that the other three were held as hostages.
'-;'" About midnight, Foster was brought to camp by two officers,
one of whom was authorized "to make a special armistice."
Colonel Cooke sent a proposition to the commander that
he deliver up a few arms as a guaranty of surrender and
that the inhabitants of Tucson would not fight against the
United States, unles they were exchanged as prisoners" of war.
The Mexican prisoners were also released.
Our camp at this time was about sixteen miles from the
fort. The following day, when a few miles from town, a
cavalry man met us with a note from Captain Comaduran,
declining the proposition for a surrender.
We were now ordered to load our muskets and be ready for
an engagement ; but we had not traveled far before two other
Mexicans met us, stating that the soldiers had fled and forced

TUCSON DESERTED RY( THE INHABITANTS. 227
most of the inhabitants to leave the town. They had also
taken two brass pieces of artillery with them.
About a dozen well-armed men, probably soldiers in citi
zen's dress, met and accompanied the Battalion to the town.
Before passing through the gate, a halt was ordered, when
Colonel Cooke made a short speech. He stated that the sol
diers and citizens had fled, leaving their property behind and
in our power; that we had not come to make war on Sonora,
and that there must not be any interference with the private
property of the citizens.
We then marched through the town, where a few aged men
and women, as well as some children, brought us water and
other little tokens of respect.
The author remembers, with much gratitude, the silver-
haired Mexican, of perhaps more than three score years and
ten, who, when signs of thirst were given, ran to the brook as
fast as his tottering limbs could carry him, dipped up his
water, and, almost out of breath, but with cheerful counte
nance, delivered the refreshing and much needed draught.
He has doubtless, long since, been gathered to his fathers ; if
so, peace to his ashes. Surely, "I was athirst, and he gave me
drink." We made no halt in the village which had contained
400 or 500 inhabitants, all of whom, with the exception of one
hundred, had fled, but traveled down the stream about a half
mile and camped.
The Colonel, with a few others, then went back to the town.
At first, some of the women were much frightened, but, on
receiving only marked kindness, from both officers and sol
diers, their excitement was allayed, and they showed strong
signs of gratitude. Both the persons and property of the citi
zens were held sacred. A quantity df public wheat, however,
was found (perhaps about 2,000 bushels) stored there, of which
our commander ordered taken to camp, what he thought the
teams could haul, for feeding the animals.
The starving soldiers boiled some of this wheat, and ate it,
and, as a consequence, many suffered with diarrhoea.
The grinding of grain here was done by what Americans
generally term "corn-crackers," with which most of the fami
lies were provided. A small species of the donkey was the
motive power. The mills were on the same plan as hand-

228 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
mills ; a circuit of the donkey making one revolution of the
upper mill-stone. This, however, being so far ahead of the
method pursued by the surrounding native tribes, who ground
all of their seeds and grain by hand, on flat rocks, hol
lowed out a little for the purpose, was doubtless considered
an important improvement. On arriving at Tucson, the Bat
talion had been some time without salt, and only about three
bushels could be obtained there.
On the 17th, the Colonel and staff, with other officers and
men to the number of about fifty, passed up the creek about
five miles above Tucson towards a village where they had
seen a large church from the hills which we had passed over.
They, however, returned before reaching the village, as they
found the route so covered with mezquit brush, as to afford
the Mexicans an excellent ambush, if disposed to make an
attack. As our passage through Tucson was on Sunday, it was
rumored that the inhabitants, being Catholics, had marched
to the little village higher up the stream before our arrival
and held mass, that the commander could report to the Gov
ernor, as an excuse for allowing us fo pass without resistance,
against orders, that we surprised the town while they were at
worship. Some of our soldiers purchased a little unbolted flour of the
Mexicans at Tucson, which most of them afterwards carried
on their backs as they traveled, to avoid disobeying orders,
while others concealed theirs in the wagons unknown to the
Colonel. Quinces and semi-tropical fruits were also purchased
here, as well as beans, corn, etc.
On the night of the 17th, a pick3t guard was placed some
distance above Tucson, with instructions that if more than a
certain number of Mexicans passed in or out of the town (a
dozen or twenty, I think), to fire an alarm and run into camp.
About midnight, signal guns were fired by the pickets, Alburn
Allen and Rufus C. Allen, his son, who saw more men pass
ing than the Colonel's order allowed. They also ran to camp,
as directed, and notified the officer of the day, Lieutenant
George Oman, who was considerably excited, and called for
the music, saying: "Beat that drum, beat that drum — if you
can't beat that drum, beat that fife." He also ordered every

GUARD FORMED IN LINE. 229
man into line. Lights were raised by replenishing the camp-
fires and the music played a lively air. Each company
formed in a separate column.
At this point, which was, perhaps, reached in less time than
it has taken to write the incidents, Colonel Cooke appeared on
the scene, and with a stern voice ordered : " Cease that music !
Dust those lights !" and then formed his line of battle, placing
the companies alternately on either side of the road. It hap
pened to be the author's turn to take charge of the camp guard.
The light was dusted by the men throwing sand upon it with
their hands. A line was formed from left to right in single
file, each man being stationed about ten feet or more from
his left-hand comrade, thus extending about one hundred feet.
The Sergeant's idea was, in case of an attack, not to have his
commander complain, as a certain officer did in the Black-
hawk war, when six bullet holes were found in one of the
chiefs, that "it was a great waste of ammunition," but that each
soldier should have an opportunity to pick his man. Another
reason for taking this course was that his own men might be
less exposed to the enemy's fire.
After half an hour or more had elapsed, the Sergeant Major
passed out from camp about fifty yards, towards where the
guard was stationed, and shouted "Where is the guard ?" The
Sergeant ordered him to advance and give the countersign,
which was done. He was surprised to find the guard about
100 yards- from camp, and ordered it nearer by, then directed
the Sergeant to place his men at intervals around the com
mand. About this time the Colonel sent Lieutenant Stone-
man, with ten picked men from company A, to reconnoitre
and see what they could discover. They marched stealthily
into the little city, but found all silent as the grave. On their
way back to camp they were met -by Quartermaster Sergeant
Redick N. Allred, with another detachment, which had been
sent to look after the welfare of the first, whose long absence
had awakened some fears for their safety.
There being no discoveries made, after about one hour, or,
perhaps, a little more, from the time of forming the line, the
men, after being instructed to remember' their places and to
have their arms in easy reach, were allowed to retire. Noth
ing further came of the alarm.

230 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
A quotation from "Cooke's Conquest," will show that our
movements had been Watched and reinforcements from three
other garrisons had been ordered, and were on their way to
aid their Tucsonian brethren in the defense of. their pueblo.
How numerous the reinforcements were we are not informed,
but the force, when combined, was doubtless far superior to
our own. In fact, the soldiers and citizens able to bear arms,
at Tucson alone would have outnumbered us, and, having a
fort and walled town, with two pieces of cannon, could have
resisted a force far superior to our little band of about 360, all
told. Cooke says: "Signal smokes had been observed, and it was
afterwards ascertained, that at this Indian-like announcement
of the approach [of the fifty, men up the creek] the Mex
icans [who had fled from Tucson] further retreated, and the
reinforcements, which had come from the presidios of Fron-
teras, Santa Cruz and Tubac, marched to return to their posts."
Who shall say that the same God who sent terror into the
camps of the enemies of ancient Israel, did - not have an eye
over the little modern Israelitish force then crossing the great
desert by his Divine command through the Prophet Brigham,
who had said, "There will be no fighting, except with wild
beasts." Cooke further says: "A note was written to Captain Com
aduran on his return, enclosing a letter for Don Manuel Gan-
dara, Governor of Sonora, at Ures, who was said to be very
well disposed towards the United States; it is here given:
"Camp at Tucson, Sonora,
Dec. 18, 1846.
Your Excellency: — The undersigned, marching in command
of a Battalion of United States infantry from New Mexico to
California, has found it convenient for the passage of his
wagon train to cross the frontier of Sonora. Having passed
within fifteen miles of Fronteras, I have found it necessary to
take this presidio in my route to the Gila. Be assured I did
not come as an enemy of the people whom you represent; they
have received only kindness at my hands." After some fur
ther conciliatory statements he concludes: "Meanwhile. I
make a wagon road from the streams of the Atlantic to the

LONG MARCH WITHOUT WATER. 231
Pacific Ocean, through the valuable plains and mountains,
rich with minerals, of Sonora. This, I trust, will prove useful
to the citizens of either republic, who, if not more closely, may
unite in the pursuits of a highly beneficial commerce.
With sentiments of esteem and respect, I am your Excel
lency's most obedient servant,
P. St. G. Cooke,
Lieut. Col. of United States Forces.
To his Excellency, Sen. Don Manuel Gandara, Governor of
Sonora, Ures, Sonora."

CHAPTER XXIII.
Long and Difficult March Without Water — Great Suffering — A Laughable
Occurrence — The Pima Village — The Natives — News from Kearny —
A Cruel Order — The Maricopa Indians — Their Honesty.
On the 18th, the command resumed its journey. At the
end of seven miles, the mules were watered. This was the
last water for a considerable distance, as the stream sank at
that place. We traveled about three miles down the dry bed,
and found the, sand very heavy. Our progress, after leaving
the bed of the stream, although over level clay ground, was
frequently obstructed with mezquit thickets. We made camp
without water at 9 p. m., having traveled twenty-four miles. .
The mules were tied up and fed grain.
Straggling, worn-out, famishing men came into camp at all
hours of the night, and the rear guard did not reach camp
until near daylight.
On the 19th, those who were able started forward on the
arrival of the rear guard, while the more feeble, who had but
just arrived, rested until after daylight. Water was reported
at a hole between two mountains, fourteen miles distant, but
on our arrival it could not be found. The report was prob
ably an encouraging ruse of the guides.
The main portion of the road was baked clay, but in places
we had sand beds to pull through. At sundown the advance

232 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
of the command reached a small pool of water, enough to give
the most of those present a drink by lying down to it, which
was the only method allowed. Dipping was forbidden, in
order that as many as possible might have a chance for a
drink. The main portion of the army, however, had no water
during the entire day, save a few drops which the men man*
aged to suck from the mud in small puddle holes found by
the wayside. Nor could they cook anything except a little
wheat which some managed to parch.
They traveled during the day, and especially as night set
in, in a straggling, scattered condition. The men might be
found all along the road in squads of two or three, without
blanket, fire or tent. In the evening the Colonel gave per
mission to the Captains to halt their companies at discretion
during the night, but only for a short time at once, as the only
hope for water was by traveling on, and both men and mules
could travel in the cool of the night without water better than
in the day time. But in no case were the halts, during the
night, to exceed six hours.
Company C was in the rear of the others, and Lieutenant
Rosecrans left his men and rode on in advance and. into the
hills in search of water, and, fortunately, found a hole some
distance from the road. He took the foremost of his command
to- it, then filled their canteens, mounted his mule, and, riding
back to his famishing men, gave them what water he had and
led them to the spring. After having drank their fill from
the weak spring of water, which soon became muddy, they
cooked some provisions and pursued their journey to overtake
the command, which they did about 3 a. m., but not without
passing many lying by the way begging for water. Some small
pools had been found in one or two places, but the famishing
animals had consumed or spoiled them.
The advance struck water and camped about noon on the
20th and several parties took mules and canteens and went
back and relieved the suffering of their comrades, or doubtless
some would have perished. The stragglers continued to ar
rive the whole of the afternoon.
To narrate each individual's suffering this day alone would
make quite a book.

HONESTY OF THE PIMA INDIANS. 233
On the 21st, a march of ten miles brought us to the Gila
river, where we made a halt. While here our camp was vis
ited by from 1,500 to 2,000 Pima Indians. Although all our
property was exposed in such a manner that many articles
might have been easily stolen, not a thing was molested by
them. Weaver, one of the guides, assured us that these In
dians were so scrupulous that they had been known to follow
travelers half a day to restore lost property to the owner.
A rather laughable incident occurred here. Henry W.
Bigler, now a much respected citizen of St. George, but then a
soldier, and "Colonel's orderly" for the day, was asked by the
Colonel if his musket was loaded. The reason of the question
was that the commander had given his mule some grain and
another mule seemed bent on sharing it with him. Several
times Cooke had driven it away and it had as often returned.
On Brother Bigler replying that his gun was not loaded, he
was ordered to load it, and the Colonel added, with an oath,
that he would shoot the mule, and walked into his tent.
The orderly glanced at and recognized the mule as a private
animal, belonging to one of his comrades. Quick as thought
he bit off the bullet, put it into his pocket, emptied the powder
from the carlridge into his gun and rammed the paper on top
of it. '"
By/this time Cooke returned, took the gun, walked to within
about ten feet of the mule (which stood broadside to him),
leveled the piece, and, as he supposed, fired the fatal shot. On
seeing the animal uninjured, however, he looked daggers at
the orderly, threw the gun upon the ground, and, with another
oath, said, "you didn't load that gun right," and turned on his
heel and again entered his tent amid roars of laughter from
teamsters and others who had witnessed the whole affair.
At this point, the Colonel sketched a map of our route from
where Kearney left the Rio Grande, with the aid of no instru
ment but a compass. The map appears in his "Conquest of
New Mexico and California," and is proven to be as accurate
as could be expected. It shows this part of our journey to
have been almost a semi-circle. The distance between the
points is estimated to be 474 miles. The following quotation
from Cooke's writings will show at least one of the national
benefits of this arduous campaign :
IB

234 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
"A new administration in which Southern interests pre
vailed, with the great problem of the practicability and best
location of a Pacific Railroad under investigation, had the
map of this wagon route before them with its continuance to
the west, and perceived that it gave exactly the solution of its
unknown element, that a southern route would avoid both
the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, with their snows,
and would meet no obstacle in this great interval. The new
'Gadsden Treaty' was the result; it was signed, December 30,
1853." Thus, while the Mormon Pioneers, under President"
Brigham Young and associates, were paving the way for the
Union Pacific Railroad up the Platte and over the South Pass
of the Rocky Mountains to San Francisco, the Mormon Bat
talion, under Colonel Cooke and associates, were virtually
locating the prospective Southern Pacific across the great
desert to San Diego.
"Mormon" enterprise is also suggesting a cross-line to con
nect Utah and our Northern Territories with Mexico and the
Southern States. Such connection is only a matter of time.
On the 22nd, we marched ten miles and arrived at the Pima
village, supposed to contain about 4,000 inhabitants. They
were quite a large-sized, fine-looking race of people and very
industrious and peaceable. They engaged in agriculture, and
manufactured blankets and other fabrics by hand. The poison
of the civilized asp is unknown among them, and our Amer
ican and European cities would do well to take lessons in
virtue and morality from these native tribes.
Long before we reached the village, we were met by the
Indian women and children, many of whom were quite pretty
and graceful, and walked generally by twos, with arms lov
ingly entwined around one another, presenting a picture of
contentment and happiness that was very pleasing to look
upon. Even our stern and matter-of-fact Colonel was not
proof against their bewitching charms. In writing of them,
he says :
"One little girl particularly, by a fancied resemblance,
interested me much ; she was so joyous that she seemed very
pretty and innocent ; I could not resist tying on her head as
a turban, a bright new silk handkerchief, which I happened

TRADING WITH THE INDIANS. , 235
to wear to-day; the effect was beautiful to see — a picture of
happiness !"
Kindness to the natives, by military officers, as manifested
in several instances by Colonel Cooke, is so rare in this age,
that this circumstance may be mentioned, as one of the note
worthy events of our journey.
In this connection, it may be well to state that on the day
following, the Colonel presented their chief with three ewe
sheep with a fair prospect of increase ; thereby encouraging
their industries, in fact, inaugurating a new one — the culture
of sheep and woolen manufacture.
The Colonel stopped at the chief's house a few minutes and
congratulated him on having the most prosperous and happy
tribe he had ever met with. He advised him, although these
Indians were peaceable and never troubled their neighbors,
.to be prepared for any emergency that might arise, and
especially to resist any outside pressure. Some of the soldiers
traded buttons taken off their clothes for cakes of bread ;
obtaining a cake for each button ; others called at a hut and
were treated with stewed pumpkin, We also traded some old
clothing for corn, beans, molasses, squash, etc.
On the 23rd, we left the Pima village and proceeded on fif
teen miles. During the day we met three pilots who had
been through to San Diego with General Kearny. They
informed us that we were at least one month in advance of the
General's expectations. We learned that General Kearny
had been twelve days in going from the Pima village to San
Diego with pack -mules, and it was thought that we would be
from forty to sixty days with wagons. The news received
from General Kearny was to the effect that the Mexicans had
again revolted, and that the safety and conquest of California
depended upon the prompt and energetic action of the General
and command. The letter was written at Warner's rancho,
in California.
Our march was now through rich, cultivated grounds.
There, seemed to be a beautiful plain of from fifteen to twenty
miles in all directions.
In the evening, the Colonel, who had not prohibited private
purchases, ordered that all private provisions should be left
on the ground or carried by the owners, as he claimed the

236 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
teams were unable to haul any more. This the men took
rather hard, as they had sold clothing off their backs, indeed,
one or two had even sold their last shirt to get it, and, besides,
they were on less than half rations. The result of this order
was that a great deal of provisions was left on the ground by
the starving men.
On the night of the 23rd, and during the 24th, we camped
at a village of the Maricopa Indians, who were estimated to
number about ten thousand. Their head chief was named
Don Jose Messio. They lived in dome-shaped houses,
thatched with corn-stalks and straw, varying from about twenty
to fifty feet in diameter, with arbors in front, on which
lay, piled up, cotton stalks, with unopened bolls, to dry. This
was probably from late crops, as the rule for picking out cot
ton is when the bolls open in the field. We saw domesticated
animals here, the horse, mule, ox, dog and even Spanish fowls.
Their implements of husbandry consisted of axes, hoes, shov
els, and harrows. Plows were not seen and probably only
forked sticks were used to loosen the soil, as it was loose, rich
and easily worked. The natives showed no signs of fear, and
did not run like the Apaches, who, at the time, were said to
be hostile.
Colonel Cooke very kindly suggested to our senior officers
that this vicinity would be a good place for the exiled Saints
to locate. A proposition to this effect was favorably received
by the Indians.
As an evidence of the honesty of the Pima and Maricopa
Indians, it may be mentioned that General Kearny left some
bales of goods and a number of broken down mules with the
former to be called for by Colonel Cooke on his arrival, and
they were promptly delivered up. Other mules that General
Kearny had been forced to leave to their fate, when given
out after passing the Maricopa village, were found and cared
for by the Indians, and promptly and voluntarily delivered
to us on our arrival there. Here, then, were two tribes of
Indians, at least, who should be excepted from the rule laid
down by a certain military officer, late of Fort Cameron,
that "no Indian is good until buried six feet under ground."
At one of these villages a portion of the men of company
E boiled and ate some of the public corn. Lieutenant Dykes

DIFFICULT TRAVELING. 237
reported the fact to the commander, who, in great pretended
indignation, ordered the ration of beef due company E to be
fed to the mules. This ironical order was actually carried
out, and the beef, as I understand, was left on the ground,
where the mules refused to eat it.

CAAPTER XXIV
Cross a Bend of the Gila — Brackish Water — Difficult Traveling — Boat made
of two Wagon-boxes — Provisions Shipped in it — Fears for its Safety —
Boating a Failure — Cargo Left — Another Reduction in Rations — Feed
on Mezquit Seeds — Arrival at the Colorado — Crossing the River —
Suffering of the Men Sent Back for Flour — Wagon Stuck in the Middle
of the River — Left there by the Colonel — His Statement Incorrect —
Wagons Abandoned.
We spent Christmas day by marching eighteen miles from
the Maricopa village, mainly up hill and over sand, and
camped without water. The following day we advanced
twenty-three miles and encamped near the Gila River. Our
, route between the Maricopa village and this point lay across
a bend of the river. From our having to follow around the
base of a mountain the distance was considerably greater
than a direct line would have been.
We found the water quite brackish, owing to the fact that
the Saline River, which is a larger stream than the Upper Gila,
empties into it just below the Maricopa village. At this
point our loads were lightened by a cache of three-hundred
mule shoes.
Our route from this point lay down the river, over heavy
sandy bottoms, in some places quicksand. It was so difficult
traveling that we only made sixty miles in six days, and
even then the men had to work very hard at helping the
mules to pull the loads. Of course, all our beef secured in
the wild bull region was exhausted, and the famished sheep
and oxen that were slaughtered had so little flesh on their
bones that very little could be got from them to appease our

238 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
hunger or furnish us sustenance. Dr. Sanderson pro
nounced such flesh very unwholesome, and predicted that if
we did not adopt the plan of broiling or frying it instead of
boiling it, as we had been doing, we would "die off like rotten
sheep." How to fry it without grease was "beyond our ken,"
and to broil it would be to waste so much by shrinkage and
loss of juice that it would only aggravate our hunger, so we
continued to boil it and drink the soup. Sometimes we would
add to the soup about two spoonfuls of flour for each man.
The entrails were generally utilized by hanging them over a
stick and broiling and then eating them. The hide was
used by cutting it up into pieces, singeing the hair off and
boiling it until tender enough to eat. The tripe was also
boiled. When an animal was slaughtered the entire carcass
was rationed out to companies and messes; and then, again,
after cooking, the meat was divided into as many lots as there
were men in the mess, and allotted, to the men after a some
what original fashion. One man would be required to turn
his face from the food, so as not to see it, while another would
point to a lot and ask him "who shall have this?" He would
name a man, and thus one after another of the men had his
portion accorded to him.
As we traveled down the river, we found rocks covered
with ancient hieroglyphics, including profiles of men, beasts
and reptiles.
Grass in many places was very scant, and our animals
fared badly. On the 1st of January, 1847, we had recourse
to cutting down the Cottonwood trees for our animals to brouse
upon. Either from eating too much of this food or from
some other cause, a number of our mules and sheep died,
with strong symptoms of poison.
Despairing of our teams being able to continue with such
heavy loads, a rather novel plan was hit upon to convey a
portion of the baggage. Colonel Cooke writing of it, says:
"I am now preparing a boat of two pontoon wagon-bodies
lashed together, end to end, between two dry cottonwood
logs ; in this I shall put all the baggage I can risk. * *
I have determined to send Lieutenant Stoneman in charge;
he professes to h.ave had similar experience, and is desirous
to undertake it."

REDUCED RATIONS. 239
This move cast a gloom over the men generally, as they
took the view that with our already scanty supplies no further
risk of loss ought to be taken.
This curious barge, which was loaded with twenty-five hun
dred pounds of provisions for the men and corn for our mules,
was launched on the 1st or 2nd of January. It was expected
that it would be moored or fastened near our camp every
night, but trouble was experienced almost immediately after
it started, in getting it over a sandbar, and after that we
neither saw nor heard anything of it for several days. Dur
ing this time, the command struggled along the river bank
with great difficulty, and were oppressed with apprehensions
concerning the boat and its valuable cargo. Fears were
entertained that it had fallen into the hands of the Mexicans
or Indians, or that it had foundred on a sandbar.
Finally, on the 5th, Doctor Foster, one of our guides and
interpreter, brought the sad news that, owing to the many
sandbars in the river, much of the provisions had been taken
from the boat and left on the sandbars and on the river bank,
and that the boat was moving slowly down the stream.
Men were immediately detailed to go back and aid the
boat. After about three miles travel, they met it, with the
crew, but the last of the provisions had been left about twenty
miles further up the stream, and the main bulk about
fifteen miles still farther back.
Several of the men had already fainted and fallen to the
earth, through hunger and exhaustion, but now, sad to
relate, another reduction in the rations of one ounce to the
man was ordered. A few more such reductions and nothing
would have remained.
On the 7th of January, the quartermaster ordered the
remaining provisions weighed, and found that we had only
four days allowance of our short rations left. That day we
advanced only seven miles, owing to the pioneers having to
work the road over rocky points of ridges and gullies. When
we camped our mules hau to swim the river to obtain feed,
and then it only consisted of flag-grass and willows.
The following day we traveled over a rich alluvial bottom,
where we found wild hemp growing, and reached the mouth
of the Gila River. In the absence of grass, the mules were

240 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY. ,
fed on the fruit or seed pods growing upon a variety of the
mezquit which the men called "mescrew." For several days
previously the men had also resorted to the eating of these seeds
to make up for their lack of rations. They ground them in
coffee mills and made cakes of the meal. It was found to be
nutritious and quite palatable to the starving men, but its
use had to be abandoned as it produced constipation.
On the 9th, a march of ten miles over a bottom, which in
some places was heavy sand and in others miry clay, brought
us to the crossing of the Colorado. Here forty men were
detailed to gather the mezquit seeds, or tornia, to feed the
famishing mules upon. The river was found to be quite as
wide, though not so deep as the Missouri, and the water much
the same color as that river.
Francisco, a Spanish guide, was sent across the stream to
fire the thickets on the opposite shore, in order that the
command might travel over the next day.
Here we were overtaken by some of the men who had
been sent back to recover the provisions left on the Gila from
the barge. They brought with them about four hundred
pounds of flour, but found no pork, and the rest of the men
were left to search farther for it. These men were in a pitiable
plight; their clothing was torn into shreds, through having
to travel and crawl through thorny brush to get to the river
bank to search for the provisions. They had also suffered
severely for want of food. One man reported being two days
without anything to eat. The corporal "returned with a
shirt." Ferrying across the river in the pontoon wagon-boxes was
commenced on the 10th and continued all night and until
late the next morning.'
The crossing ranged down the river, which was over half a
mile wide, hence the ford was nearly a mile long, including
two channels, in the middle of which it was difficult to reach
the bottom with our tent poles. Planks from wagon-boxes
left on the road were laid on top of the wagon-beds and a
portion of the provisions placed upon them, and hauled over
by the mules, which had to swim in the deepest portions of
the river. Two mules were drowned while being driven
across.

WAGON STUCK IN THE RIVER. 241
Quartermaster Sergeant Smith, who, as previously men
tioned, was severely injured by a wild bull, was ordered by
the Colonel to ford the stream, although, by virtue of his
office, he had the right to ride in any wagon of his company.
The water in some places was up to his. neck.
After the baggage was all over, the loose animals were
driven across. One hundred and thirty of our poor sheep
were still alive, though, like ourselves, almost famished.
After crossing, the main army traveled about fifteen miles
to a well dug by General Kearny. Company C's wagon,
however, got stuck on the sand bar in the river, between the
two channels, with a broken-down team. The Colonel refused
to allow the other companies to wait or render any assistance,
but proceeded on with them. The wagon which was stuck
in the quicksand was released by the worn-out men getting
into the water and aiding, as on the sandy desert. The Col
onel charged that it was the inactivity of the men that kept
the wagon on the bar ; this charge he has wrongfully and
foolishly permitted to be published in his "Conquest." Great
and brave as he was, he here lost an excellent opportunity
for glory and fame by not, Washington or Jackson-like,
jumping into the river and putting his shoulder to the wheel,
thus aiding the half-starved, worn-out men and team, the
former of whom were suffering severely through his indiscre
tion in hazarding and losing their food by the boat disaster.
I esteem Colonel Cooke very highly, and think, perhaps, a
less independent and persevering man would have failed in
making the journey with wagons. I also give him much
credit for the general justice he has done the Battalion in his
work referred to, and sincerely regret the necessity that has
prompted this defense of my injured companions in arms.
The fact was, the team was broken down, and nine miles far
ther on the wagon had to be abandoned.
Private animals were pressed into service to aid the wagons,
but even with this help, three were abandoned and the bag
gage was packed on the team mules. *

242 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XXV.
Troublesome Fires in the Brush — Discouraging Prospect — No Water-
Alas, for Human Hopes— A Trying March— Great Suffering from
Thirst— Meet Fresh Mules and some Beeves— Freezing at Night and
Scorching by Day— Arrival at the Coriza— Happy Relief— Good Water
to Drink — Novel Style of Boots.
The fire set by the guide, which seemed the only method of
getting a road, annoyed us very much. In some cases the
wagons were in danger of being consumed, and, in others,
the mules' feet were liable to be ruined, by the live coals from
the burning brush. A quantity of the mezquit fruit was
gathered for the animals, by the very wise direction of our
commander. There was but very little grass at our camp.
The following will show that the Colonel was not insensi
ble of our true situation. "I was met by a man who told me
there was not a drop of water" (in the well). The worst pros
pect for sixty miles ahead instantly arose to frighten me for
the 360 nearly worn-out footmen, who confide all to me."
When he arrived at the camping place about 9 p. m., on
the 11th, he found a portion of the men cleaning out and
sinking the old well, while another party were digging a new
one. Some mud and a little water were struck in the old well,
but the quicksand ran in and not only obscured the water,
but endangered the lives of the men, who were now ten
feet or more below the surface. How to remedy the evil was a
question. Some one suggested that the wife of one of the
Captains had a wash tub, which, by boring holes in the bot
tom, might answer as a curbing. The Captain's team soon
came up and the vessel was called for, but the good lady, who
perhaps had brought it all the way from Nauvoo or even
farther, could not consent, on any account, to part with it. It
was, however, pressed into service, and bored, and sunk in the
sand. This proved a failure. Then the bottom was ordered
to be knocked out, when it worked better ; some water came
in, but, alas, for human hopes ! the fluid soon disappeared and

WATER OBTAINED. 243
all seemed lost. In this emergency, Weaver, one of the guides
and an old mountaineer trapper, was sent for, to ascertain the
practibility of traveling sixty miles more or less down the
river. He thought, with our weak teams and worn-out men,
it would be next to impossible. According to Cooke's account,
which is doubtless correct, he now cast one more anxious look
down the old well, and, as a last but faint hope of success,
ordered a fresh detail to further sink the new well, which was
already more than two feet below the old one, with no better
prospect. A half hour later all hearts were made glad with
the tidings of water deep enough to fill our camp kettles.
Colonel Cooke says, of the news of water : "It was like a
great light bursting on darkness and gloom." Further on,
the anxious commander adds : "Eighteen hours of unceasing
labor has been my lot to-day, with anxiety enough to turn
one gray." With all this anxiety, the ever hopeful officer
says: "My faith had not failed." Lieutenant Oman, with
twelve picked men, was ordered to go on a forced march the next
day, as far as Alamo Mocho, to dig a well or wells, that we
might have water on our arrival.
On the morning of the 12th, the mules of three out of the
five companies were watered from the well by 11 o'clock, when
those three 'companies resumed the march, leaving the others
to water their animals and follow on afterwards. That night
a, dry camp was made, and not until two o'clock next day did
we reach the well, Alamo Mocho, where we found Lieutenant
Oman and party had cleaned out the old well and dug another ;
but very little water had been obtained, and that of a poor
qnality. It did not seem to satisfy the thirst of either men or
animals, and the latter had to be forced away from the well
in order to get them to browse upon the scant squaw bushes.
About twenty bushels of tornia, gathered by the men near the
Colorado and carried along for the use of the mules, helped to
keep those poor animals alive.
On the morning of the 14th, Lieutenant Stoneman and
Weaver, with about twenty-five men, started early to hasten
on to the next well, called the Pozo Hondo, and make prepa
rations for the arrival of the command. Leaving two of
the wagons which the famishing animals were unable to
take any farther, the* Battalion proceeded on and camped

244 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
again without water. A portion of the way we had heavy
sand, but, in other places, solid clay, so hard that neither ani
mals nor wagons made much impression on it. In the sandy
places were signs of large herds of cattle and horses, which
had been driven to Sonora, to prevent them falling into the
hands of the Americans. Sea-shells and salt were also found
on the great clay flat, which led to the conclusion that at some
time in the distant past, the Gulf of California may have
extended over these parts.
On the 15th, we marched seven miles to the Pozo Hondo
wells. A rainbow was visible in the morning, a sight rarely
seen on these arid deserts.
On arriving at the well, one of our guides, who had been
sent ahead to purchase fresh mules and beef cattle, met us
with thirty -five mules, all in good condition. He had started
with fifty-seven, but unfortunately the other twenty-two were
lost by the way. Ten fat beeves were also brought and one
was killed, which was a great treat to the men, after having
little else than worn-out oxen since leaving Santa Fe. The
most of the mules were wild and some got away. One broke
loose from three men and made good his escape, harness and
all. The well afforded us but a little very poor water; it served,
however, to save life until better could be reached. We left
Pozo Hondo at about 4 p. m., and continued our march until
11 p. m., making about ten miles, when we halted until 2
a. m., of the 16th.
As usual, the night was very cold, and the half-naked men
suffered for want of more and better clothing. The contrast
between an almost tropical sun in the day time and a Decem
ber cold atmosphere at night was very hurtful and weakening
to both man and beast. The Indians call that region "the
hot land" — a name which strikes the writer as being quite
appropriate, as it is by far the hottest region he ever saw.
We continued our march twenty miles farther to the Cariza,
a small creek known to the Battalion as the "first" running
water," on account of it being the first seen since leaving the
Colorado river. The march of the last five days was the most
trying of any we had made, on both men and animals. We
here found the heaviest sand, hottest days and coldest nights,

NOVEL STYLE OF BOOTS. 245
with no water and but little food. Language fails to provide
adjectives strong enough to describe our situation ; it must be
left to the imagination of the reader to picture it.
At about noon, the best teams reached camp. The last,
however, did not arrive until the next morning. There were
many occasions, during our travels through the deserts., when
twenty well-armed men might have nearly used up the com
mand, in our scattered condition.
John Lawson reached camp after dark; he was riding and
packing a private mule, on which was carried his clothing,
blankets, gun, etc. He left the mule packed for a few min
utes, and was not able to find either the animal or its loading
afterwards, although a thorough search was made that night
and the next morning.
At this time the men were nearly barefooted ; some used,
instead of shoes, rawhide wrapped around their feet, while
others improvised a novel style of boots by stripping the skin
from the leg of an ox. To do this, a ring was cut around the
hide above and below the gambrel joint, and then the skin
taken off without cutting it lengthwise. After this, the lower
end was sewed up with sinews, when it was ready for the
wearer, the natural crook of the hide adapting it somewhat to
the shape of the foot. Others wrapped cast-off clothing around
their feet, to shield them from the burning sand during the
day and the cold at night.
Before we arrived at the Cariza, many of the men were so
nearly used up from thirst, hunger and fatigue, that they
were unable to speak until they reached the water or had it
brought to them. Those who were strongest reported, when
they arrived, that they had passed many lying exhausted by
the way-side. Among that number was the author, who was
then on sick report and in such a feeble condition that, after
riding a few rods on a poor government mule, he was obliged
to lay down on his back to ease the pain, which seemed to be
seated in his back and loins. At one time, it was even sup
posed that he was dead. This supposition was strengthened
by the fact that his riding mule got loose and marched into
camp. It happened, however, that there were other men in the
rear of him, one of whom had a mule which he. placed him

246 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
upon and allowed him to ride until he reached the creek at
about eight o'clock in the evening. '
About sixteen or more mules gave out entirely during the
two last days' travel and were abandoned. During that
part of our journey made in the morning, it was piercing cold.
The guides got lost and we traveled a mile or more out of our
way, through very heavy sand. Our fresh animals were
nearly exhausted.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Heavy Roads— Last Food Eaten — Messengers from San Diego— Cheerful
ness of Men— News of Battles — Cutting a Road Through a Mountain
Gorge — Arrival at Warner's Rancho — A Full Meal — Cheap Beef-
Hot Spring— Sleeping Under Water— Flour from the Boat Disaster-
March for San Diego— Beef Diet.
On the 17th, we traveled fifteen miles over very heavy sand
and encamped between two mountains. The fresh animals,
after getting rested, did good work. On the score of both men
and mules, Cooke very properly remarks: "That this fifteen'
miles of very bad road was accomplished, under the circum
stances, by mules or men, is extraordinary. The men arrived
here completely worn down ; they staggered as they marched,
as they did yesterday" — he might have added, "and many
other days."
Some of the men, unable to keep up with the wagons, trav
eled and slept at intervals, during the night, and did not reach
camp until daylight the following morning. The sheep
arrived about noon on the 18th. They numbered from sev
enty to eighty, but were so poor that when one was slaughtered
and skinned, the bones had but a very thin covering, and the
scant flesh that remained contained very little nourishment.
The Colonel, in writing on the day's incidents, says: "I went
through their companies this morning ; they were eating their
last four ounces of flour; of sugar and coffe, there has been
none for some weeks."

CHEERFULNESS OF MEN. 247
All of our government wagons had been abandoned at this
time, but five. During this day, the Indian magistrate
(Alcalde) of the town of San Philipi, and a companion, brought
a letter to the Colonel from the Governor of San Diego,
announcing the arrival of our men, who had been sent for
supplies, and promising assistance. He welcomed our approach.
The Governor's messengers were nearly naked, and not unlike
the Apaches in appearance.
We did not advance any on the 18th, but spent the day in
cleaning up our arms, and in the evening the men were para
ded and inspected.
The Colonel expressed great surprise at seeing the half
starved, worn-out men who, only the night previous, had stag
gered into camp, like so many inebriates, from sheer exhaust
ion and hunger, now playing the fiddle and singing merry
songs. The messengers having heard of several other battles in
California, the Colonel entered into precautionary measures,
as it was thought we might meet a large force of tho enemy
retreating towards Sonora.
Brother Henry Standage's journal, of this date, says: "We
have nothing but beef and very small rations of that; I was
glad, to-day, to go and pick up the pork rinds that were
thrown away by the Colonel's cook, although they were in
the sand." The reader can make his own comments.
On the 19th, after about three or four miles of hard travel,
mainly up hill, we came to a halt; even Weaver, our regular
guide, believed "we were penned up." Our indefatigable
commander, however, seemed to think it was too late in the
day to abandon the wagon enterprise. He very sternly told
the guide if he did not find a crossng or passage through these
rocks and mountain gorges, he would send men that would
do it.
We had a rugged mountain ridge some two hundred or
more feet high to surmount. Owing to rumors that we would
probably meet an army of Californians, the Colonel ordered
the baggage to the rear.
We surmounted all difficultiesand succeeded in getting over
the ridge inside of two hours. Other and seemingly more
formidable barriers now presented themselves. Our route lay

248 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
up a dry ravine, through openings in the solid rocks. Our
guides, who had always traveled either north or south of this
route, were as ignorant of its practicability as ourselves. As
we traveled up the dry bed, the chasm became more contracted
until we found ourselves in a passage at least a foot narrower
than our wagons. Nearly all of our road tools, such as picks,
shovels, spades, etc., had been lost in the boat disaster. The
principal ones remaining were a few axes, which the pioneers
were using at the time the boat was launched, a small crow
bar, and perhaps a spade or two. These were brought into
requisition, the commander taking an ax and assisting the
pioneers. Considerable was done before the wagons arrived.
One wagon was taken to pieces and carried over about an
hour before sunset. The passage was hewn out and the re
maining wagons got through? about sundown, by unloading
and lifting through all but two light ones, which were hauled
by the mules.
Both men and teams were now exhausted and the water we
had expected to reach early in the afternoon was at least seven
or eight miles farther on. We traveled until dark and camped
without water, but with good grass for the animals.
That night was very cold, and we had only a little brush
for fuel.
We were on the march before sunrise on the morning of
the 20th. We had a sand ridge to pull over, in the usual way,
by the use of long ropes, with fifteen to twenty men to each
wagon; after that we had an exceedingly rough, rocky, des
cending road to a little valley, then a good road to San Phil-
lippi, a deserted Indian village, the inhabitants, probably,
leaving on our approach.
The teams were turned loose to graze and two beeves killed,
our only food. After a brief rest, we traveled seven miles
farther over a low mountain pass and encamped for the night
where there was a blessing we could appreciate — plenty of
water. There was very little feed, however, for the animals.
We had a drill on the way, while halting for the teams to
come up.
At this point we met Charbonaux, returning from San
Diego, and learned that the Governor of that place had
detained Hall and Leraux, lest they might fall into the hands

ARRIVAL AT WARNER'S RANCHO. 249
of the hostile Californians, who, it seemed, held a grudge against
them. Orders were also received for the Battalion to march
to San Diego instead of Los Angeles.
On the 21st, we traveled about ten or twelve miles to War
ner's rancho. Warner's was the first house we saw in California,
although we had been in that State since crossing the Colorado
river. The weather was cold and cloudy, with signs of snow. The
route lay over low mountains not difficult to pass. The road
(then a mere trail) ran through a fine grove of large live oaks.
This, with the high green grass, although the weather was
rather chilly, was cheering, and we felt that we were descend
ing into an atmosphere of spring. We crossed a mountain
ridge, dividing the waters of the Colorado and the gulf from
those emptying into the Pacific. Fine timber and perpetual
snows crowned the mountain, peaks and high ridges. We
reached the rancho about 2 p. m., and encamped. The owner,
Mr. Warner, understood the Californians were hard pressed
by our forces, near Los Angeles, and hence we were liable to
meet a large force retreating to Sonora any day. The guides,
who had been sent forward for supplies on the 28th of
December, were instructed by the Colonel to meet the Battal
ion at Warner's rancho on the 21st of January, and it is
rather remarkable that they as well as the Battalion arrived
on that very day. Here we had the first full meal, except at
Tucson and the wild bull country, since the reduction of our
rations on the Rio Del Norte This meal consisted of fresh,
fat beef without salt, obtained from Mr. Warner, a native of
the State of Massachusetts.
A few pancakes were purchased from Indians, but no other
bread could be got. Three fat beeves were purchased (War
ner reserving the hides), for about $3.50.
Cattle and horses were very cheap, the country being over
run with them; some ranchmen owned several thousand
head, and there was no general market for live stock.
We remained at Warner's and rested during the 22nd, and
our rations were raised to four pounds of beef per day. We
had no other food nor even salt to season our meat. The
weather was warm, like that of April or May in the Middle
States. 16

250 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
A hot -spring of considerable volume, and of a temperature
of about 170° F., issued from some rocks on this rancho. It sent
up a cloud of steam for over half a mile below its source. Near
the center of this valley, stood an evergreen oak tree ; its boughs
reaching within five feet of the ground, and its foliage form
ing a circumference, according to Colonel Cooke's estimate,
of two hundred and seventy feet. The hot spring branch
ran around one side of this tree and a cold stream around the
other. Strange as it may appear, it was asserted, not only by War
ner but by eye-witnesses of our own men, that during cold
nights, the Indians (who were nearly nude) slept with their
bodies in the warm stream while their heads lay upon the
soddy banks. This seems another of those facts which are
"stanger than fiction." There were a number of Indians
here from San Luis Rey. They were friendly to the United
States government, and had recently captured, brought here
and killed some ten or eleven Californians. They had, how
ever, lost thirty-eight of their own number killed by Cali
fornians and some other hostile tribe in retaliation, in Temec-
ula Valley, who lay in ambush and took them by surprise.
These Indians begged the Colonel to allow them to accom
pany the Battalion, that they might bury their dead on the
way and the Colonel consented. The name of their chief was
Antonio. He, with ten of his men, were employed as scouts
and to take charge of and drive our beef cattle.
During the night of the 22nd, the wind blew all our tents
down. On the 23rd, the commanding officer decided to march
towards Los Angeles and join and assist General Kearny in
capturing that place, it being the Spanish capital of Cali
fornia. Before leaving the rancho, the Colonel had a talk
with Baupista, a prominent chief of the Cohuillos, a tribe
about two thousand strong, all told, who stood aloof from all '
other tribes and were very independent.
The chief was firmly told that it would be folly for his
tribe to interfere in any way with the Americans, as that
nation would soon and forever govern California. These
Indians professed friendship and did not interfere with either
our persons or property.

MARCH TO SAN DIEGO. 251
At this point, the parties sent back for lost provisions,
overtook us, with about four hundred pounds of flour — a
trifle over one pound to the man. As a rule, we used about
two spoonfuls per day each to thicken our soup. When
asked by the commander why they did not come in sooner,
the Corporal in charge promptly replied that they "dared not
come in without flour."
It had rained steadily for about twenty four hours before
we left Warner's, and continued through the next day and
night, this being the rainy season for that country, the climate
of which was similar to that of ancient Palestine. In
scripture language, these would be called the "early or former
rains ;" while, after a dry summer, the "latter," or, as we term
them, the fall rains set in, and there was much suffering from
cold and being wet. Several mules died and others strayed,
the fresh Indians, including Chief Antonio, soon gathered
up the missing ones.
On the 25th, we received a dispatch from General Kearny,
ordering the march to San Diego, as at first anticipated, to
meet him there. We reached Temecula Valley that day,
where we found a portion of the San Luis Rey Indians, who
had gathered to bury their dead, and they mistook us and
we them for Californians. Both lines were in battle array
before the mistake was discovered. The Indians were much
pleased to see us, and the leading men shook hands heartily
with Cooke and many others.
Following a road that branches off towards San Diego, we
passed through the San Luis Valley. There we found grass
from two to ten inches high, and plenty of wild mustard, the
foliage of which, large and fresh, made excellent greens,
which proved a luxury with our only other food, beef.
We had some difficulty in crossing the San Luis River
owing to the quicksand. We saw in that region many
thousand head of cattle and horses, besides a large herd of
donkeys, as well as wild geese, brants, ducks, pelicans, gulls,
etc., by the million.
On the 26th, our rations were increased to five pounds of
beef per day. If any of our readers have an idea that beef
alone is substantial food, the writer would beg leave to disa
gree with them. In connection with bread it fills an impor-

252 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY. "
tant place as an article of diet, but when taken alone, it is
not near equal to "mush and milk," nor will it satisfy hun
ger so long. A person living on meat alone can eat a hearty
meal every hour or two without the stomach refusing to per
form its duties of digestion; in fact, it will crave each meal
and relish it as a sweet morsel. Five pounds of fresh beef
a day, alone — don't be startled, kind reader — is a rather small
allowance for a healthy laboring man. In fact, five pounds
is only a half ration compared with what was issued to Fre
mont's battalion, when without other food than beef, as in
that case each man "consumed an average of ten pounds a
day of fat beef." Yet five pounds each (and seldom that
amount) was the extent ever issued to thq famishing "Mor
mon" soldiers, although it could be obtained in abundance
for less than one cent per pound.

CHAPTER XXVII.
First View of the Pacific Ocean — Arrival at San Diego Mission — Compli
mentary Order from Colonel Cooke — Genearl Kearny's Entry to Cali
fornia — Skirmishes with Californians.
Traveling down the river, on the 27th, we arrived at San
Luis Rey, a deserted Catholic mission, about noon. One mile
below the mission, we ascended a bluff, when the long, long-
looked for great Pacific Ocean appeared plain to our view,
only about three miles distant. The joy, the cheer that filled
our souls, none but worn-out pilgrims nearing a haven of rest
can imagine. Prior to leaving Nauvoo, we had talked about
and sung of "the great Pacific sea," and we were now upon
its very borders, and its beauty far exceeded our most sanguine
expectations. Our joy, however, was not unmixed with
sorrow. , The next thought was, where, oh where were our
fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives and children whom
we had left in the howling wilderness, among savages, or at
Nauvoo, subject to the cruelties of the mobs? Had the
government we were serving ordered them off the reser-

OUR MISSION NEARLY FILLED. 253
vation? If so, had it ordered them back, whence they came,
to perish by the ruthless mobs it had failed even to rebuke,
while the blood of innocence, even of children, cried to
heaven for vengeance? Or, if allowed to move on, had they
found a resting place where they could dwell in peace until
they could raise a crop, or go, unknown, among their enemies
and labor to replenish their exhausted store of provisions?
We trusted in God that they were in the land of the living
somewhere, and hoped we might find them on our return in
or near the valley of Great Salt Lake, within the limits of
California, then a Mexican State, but this was only hope.
We comforteds ourselves with the fact that it was the "Lord's
business to provide for His Saints," and that He was "not
slack concerning His promises." Amid it all, we went on our
way rejoicing.
An express from General Kearny directed that we take
quarters in a Catholic mission, five miles from San Diego.
As nearly all our beeves were lost on the night of the 27th,
the Colonel gave orders to gather up more on the march ; but
as he did not direct how many were to be gathered, our Indian
scouts brought to our camp, the next morning, several hun
dred, probably ten times as many as we had lost; this caused
a good deal of merriment at their expense.
Traveling in sight of the ocean, the clear bright sunshine,
with the mildness of the atmosphere, combined to increase
the enjoyment of the scene before us. We no longer suffered
from the monotonous hardships of the deserts and cold atmos
phere of the snow-capped mountains. January there, seemed
as pleasant as May in the northern States, and the wild oats,
grass, mustard and other vegetable growths were as forward as
we had been used to seeing them in June. The birds sang
sweetly and all nature seemed to smile and join in praise to
the Giver of all good ; but the crowning satisfaction of all to
us was that we had succeeded in making the great national
highway across the American desert, nearly filled our mission,
and hoped soon to join our families and the Saints, for whom,
as well as our country, we were living martyrs.
Much of the soil over which we passed was very rich, and
the vegetable growth exceedingly luxuriant. The water was
clear and good, being mainly cold mountain streams,somewhat

254 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
warmed by the brilliant rays of the sun in the middle of the
day. On the 29th of January the Battalion came in sight of the
long talked-of San Diego. Our camp was located a mile below
the Catholic Mission and some four or five miles from
the seaport town of San Diego, where General Kearny
was quartered. The Colonel rode down in the evening and
reported to the General.
The buildings,. of the old Catholic Mission of San Diego,
were dilapidated, and only used by a few rather filthy Indians
The olive, date and some ornamental trees were found in the
garden of the mission.
While encamped there we learned, for the first time, our
commander's real sentiments towards the Battalion. His
extremely strict discipline and stern, morose appearance and
acts had led to a query whether he would do us justice in any
respect. Even when nearing Tucson he hardly knew whether
to trust to our courage and fidelity or not. At that time, a
soldier, passing, heard him ask Major Cloud whether ne
thought he (Cooke) could rely on these "Mormons" in case of
an attack. The Major unhesitatingly replied : "The Battal
ion will follow where you dare to lead," which he proved very
satisfactorily to be true. This distrust is riot to be. wondered
at, when it is considered that though having no personal
acquaintance with the "Mormons" previous to meeting the
Battalion at Santa Fe, he was very much prejudiced against
them from the reports he had heard of their character.
But after about 1,400 miles travel, during 104 days, under
the painful circumstances already enumerated, his feelings
had materially changed, and he, accordingly, issued the fol
lowing :
"Head Quarters Mormon Battalion,
Mission of San Diego,
January 30, 1847.
(Orders No. 1.)
"The Lieutenant-Colonel commanding congratulates the.
Battalion on their safe arrival on the shore of the Pacific Ocean
and the conclusion of their march of over two thousand miles.
History may be searched in vain for an equal march of
infantry. Half of it has been through a wilderness where

COMPLIMENTARY ORDER FROM COL. COOKE. / 255
nothing but savages and wild beasts are found, ajc deserts
where, for want of water, there is no living creature.V"-There,
with almost hopeless labor we J$0e dug deep wells, which the
future traveler will enjoy. Without a guide who had trav
ersed them, we/B^$ ventured into trackless table-lands where
water was not found for several marches. With crowbar and
pick and axe in hand, we ii&S&fworked our way over moun
tains, whicn seemed ^ferTdefy-- aught save the wild goat, and
hewed a passage through a chasm of living rock more narrow
than our wagons. To bring these first wagons to the Pacific,
we'hay/e preserved the strength of our mules Ijy herding^thSm
over (large tracts, which you £}ave raDorftyisly gtrarded wjlh-
ojwrtoss. The garrison of four presidios of Sonora concentra
ted within the walls of Tucson, gave us no pause. We drove
them out, with their artillery, but our intercourse with the
citizens was unmarked by a single act of injustice. Thus,
marching half naked and half fed, and living upon wild ani
mals, we have discovered and made a road of great value to
our country.
"Arrived at the first settlement of California, after a single
day's rest, you cheerfully turned off from the route to this
point of promised repose, to enter upon a campaign, and meet, as
we supposed, the approach of an enemy ; and this too, with
out even salt to season your sole subsistence of fresh meat£--
"Li^utenants A< J. jSmith and George Stoneman,of-tne"Ffrst
Dragoons,' have /shaded and {..given valuable aid in all these
lapors. "Thus, volunteers, you have exhibited some high andessen-
tial qualities of veterans. But much remains undone. Soon,
you will' turn your attention to the drill, to system and order,
to for 'ms also, which are all necessary to the soldier.
By order
Lieut. Colonel P. St. George Cooke.
P. C. Merrill, Adjutant."

The foregoing order (one of those simple acts of justice so
rarely done to "Mormons") which was not read until Febru
ary 4th, six days after it was written, was cheered heartily by
the Battalion.

256 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
A few words, now, about the brave and generous General
S. F. Kearney, will not be inappropriate, as, by his orders, we
followed on his trail from Leavenworth to Santa Fe, and thence
to San Diego, in accordance with the stipulations of our enlist
ment, under Captain James Allen, of company I, First Drag
oons. After taking Santa Fe, in New Mexico, the General was
informed, on what he supposed good authority, that California
had been subjugated to the American arms; hence he dis
charged, or otherwise distributed his entire brigade, except
an escort of one hundred picked men to accompany him to
California, and the Mormon Battalion, an independent corps,
attached to his command, by orders from Washington. His
escort was mainly as follows: Captain H. S. Turner, First
Dragoons; Lieutenant W. H. Emory, Topographical Engineers,
and Captain A. R. Johnston, First Dragoons, A. D. C; one
hundred men of the First Dragoons, commanded by Captain
Ben. Moore, and Lieutenant T. C. Llammond, all mounted on
mules ; also two mountain howitzers, in charge of Lieutenant
J. W. Davidson, First Dragoons. The baggage was packed
on mules from where he left his wagons on the Rio Del Norte.
He was at first ordered to California to take possession of
the same in the name of the United States and thereby become
Governor and Commander-in-chief of the State, then under
Mexican rule. Subseqnent events will show that, although
the Californians had been whipped they were not conquered,
and the General and small escort had some severe battles,
with serious results before reaching the coast.
The General did not learn his mistake until he reached
Warner's rancho, in Lower California, on the second of Decem
ber, 1846. He had run short of provisions, and avers that
seven of his men ate, at a single meal, a fat, full-grown sheep.
Here an Englishman by the name of Stokes, who claimed to
be neutral, informed the General that Commodore Stockton
had possession of San Diego and that the enemy were in pos
session of the country from there to Santa Barbara. As he
stated he was going to San Diego next morning, Kearny gave
him a letter to the Commodore.
The mules in possession of Kearny's troops being poor and
jaded, he saw the necessity of securing fresh animals before

COL. kearny's REPORT. 257
engaging in battle with the enemy. On learning that there
was a band of horses and mules belonging to the Mexican
General, Flores, about fifteen miles distant, on the road to Los
Angeles, Lieutenant Davidson and fifteen men, accompanied
by Carson, were sent to capture them. They returned with
their booty next day, December 3rd, at noon. But the ani
mals, being wild, were not of much service.
The following is copied from the General's official report:
"Having learned from Captain Gillespie, of the volunteers,
that there was an armed party of Californians at San Pascual,
three leagues distant, * * I sent Lieutenant Hammond,
First Dragoons, with a few men to make a reconnoissance of
them. He returned at two in the morning of the 6th inst.,
reporting that he had found the party in the place mentioned,
and that he had been seen, though not pursued, by them. I
then determined that I would march for and attack them by
break of day; arrangements were accordingly made for the
purpose. My aid-de-camp, Captain Johnston, First Dragoons,
was assigned to the command of the advanced guard of twelve
dragoons, mounted on the best horses we had; then followed
about fifty dragoons and Captain Moore, mounted, with few
exceptions, on the tired mules they had ridden from Santa Fe,
ten hundred and fifty miles. * * As the day, December
6th, dawned, we approached the enemy at San Pascual, who
were already in the saddle; Captain Johnston made a furious
charge upon them with his advanced guard, and was, in a
short time after, supported by the dragoons, soon after which
the enemy gave way, having kept up, from the beginning, a
continual fire upon us. Upon the retreat of the enemy, Cap
tain Moore led off rapidly in pursuit, accompanied by the
dragoons, mounted on horses, and followed, though slowly, by
those on their tired mules.
"The enemy, well mounted and among the best horsemen in
the world, after retreating about half a mile, and seeing an
interval between Captain Moore, with his advance, and the
dragoons coming to his support, rallied their whole force,
charged with their lances, and, on account of their greatly
superior numbers, but few of us in front remained untouched ;
"Their number was thirty-eight, all of whom, save two,
were killed or wounded. For five minutes, they held the

258 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
ground from us, when, our men coming up, we again drove
them, and they fled from the field not to return to it, which
we occupied and encamped upon. A most melancholy duty
now remains for me : it is to report the death of my aid-de
camp, Captain Johnston, who was shot dead at the commence
ment of the action; of Captain Moore, who was lanced just
previous to the final retreat of the enemy; and of Lieutenant
Hammond, also lanced, who survived but a few hours. We
also had killed, two sergeants, two corporals and ten privates
of the First Dragoons ; one private of the volunteers, and
one engaged in the topographical department. Among the
wounded, are myself, (in two places), Lieutenant Warner,
topographical engineer (in three places), Captain Gillespie
and Captain Gibson, of the volunteers (the ' former in three
places), one sergeant, bugler and nine privates of the dra
goons ; many of them receiving from two to ten lance wounds,
most of them when unhorsed and incapable of resistance.
The enemy proved to be a party of about one hundred and
sixty Californians, under Andreas Pico, brother of the late
governor. "Our provisions were exhausted, our horses dead, and mules
on their last legs ; and our men now reduced to one-third
their number, were ragged, worn down by fatigue, and
emaciated. "On the morning of the 7th, having made ambulances
for our wounded, we proceeded on our march, when the
enemy showed themselves occupying the hills in our front,
which they left as we approached, till reaching San Bernardo;
a party of them took possession of a hill near to it and main
tained their position until attacked by our advance, who
quickly drove them from it, killing and wounding five of
their numbers with no loss on our part."

kearny's stubborn defense. 259

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Kearny's Stubborn defense on the Hill — Providential Strategem of the
Enemy— Desperate Resolve — Timely Relief— Sufferings of Kearny's
Men— The last Decisive Battle— Civil War Feared — Fremont's Men
Refuse [to^ Deliver Public Property — Commodore Stockton's Report to
the Secretary of the Navy— Commodore Stockton refuses to Treat
with Jose Ma Flores — Colonel Fremont's Assumption — Articles of
Capitulation — Dispute Settled — Wisdom of Stockton and Kearny —
Battalion and Dragoons the only Regularly Mustered Soldiers in
California.
Kearny's troops retained the position bn the hill at the
expense of losing their beef cattle, which fell into the hands
of the enemy.
On the 10th of December, the enemy drove a band of wild
horses near the hill with a view bf running them over the
troops and thus routing them, but the hill being well fortified
by nature on three sides, the charges did not amount to
much, beyond having some of the best of their horses killed,
which served Kearny's men for food and proved a fine treat
to them, as they had been for several days living on their own
broken-down mules which they brought from Santa Fe. One
of the two messengers who had been sent by General Kearny
to San Diego returned, and the other, who had been captured
by the enemy, was exchanged; he claimed to have hidden
papers from Commodore Stockton, in a designated tree, which
papers were understood to contain Stockton's refusal to send
aid; at all events, no aid came, nor were the papers ever
found. That night Lieutenant Beale, of the navy, Carson
and an Indian took a circuitous route to San Diego, a distance
of thirty miles, which they reached in safety.
After waiting two days longer, and having but little hopes
of the second dispatch being more successful than the first,
the General determined to "fight it out on that line," and ad
vance to San Diego himself; hence he ordered everything
they could not take, even to the soldiers' overcoats, burned.
The next morning at daybreak, one hundred sailors and
eighty marines arrived, and the enemy fled. This detatch-

280 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
ment left San Diego on the night of the 9th, concealed them
selves during the daylight on the 10th, and reached the
General's rendezvous during the night and distributed their
food and clothing among the half-naked and emaciated braves,
who had been living on mule and horse-flesh and without
water for several days.
While their sufferings were not as prolonged as those of
the Battalion, they were quite as acute, and when we take
into account the number killed, wounded and dying of their
brave officers and men, they were even more severe. But
the trouble was not all over yet. A difficulty arose between
General Kearny and Colonel Fremont about the governor
ship. General Kearny and Commodore Stockton had fought the
last decisive battle with the Californians at Los Angeles, on
the 8th and 9th of January, 1847. The enemy fled and
met Fremont coming from the north, where they entered into
a treaty with him, he signing himself governor, etc.
For a time, civil war seemed inevitable. Many of the
enemy as well as Commodore Stockton were said to be in
sympathy with Fremont, while some of his officers refused to
surrender public property to Kearny's command without
Fremont's order. On this subject the Commodore, in an
official report to the secretary of the navy, says: "Jose Ma
Flores, the commander of the insurgent forces, two. or three
days previous to the 8th, sent two commissioners with a flag
of truce to my camp to make a 'treaty of peace.' I informed
the commissioners that I could not recognize Jose Ma Flores,
who had broken his parole as an honorable man, or one hav
ing any rightful authority worthy to be treated with ; that he
was a rebel in arms, and if I caught him I would have him
shot. It seems that, not being able to negotiate with me, and
having lost the battles of the 8th and 9th, they met Colonel
Fremont on ' the 12th instant, on his way here, who, not
knowing what had occurred, entered into capitulation with
them, which now I send you; and, although I refused to do
it myself, still I have thought it best to approve it."
The following are the "articles of capitulation made and
entered into at the rancho Couenga, this 13th day of Janu
ary, 1847, between P. B. Reading, Major Louis McLane, Jr.,

AETICLES OF CAPITULATION. 261
commanding third artillery; William H. Russell, ordnance
officer, commissioners appointed by J. C. Fremont, United
States Army, and military commandant of California, and
Jose Antonio Carrillo, commandant squadron, Agustin
Olivera, deputado, commissioners appointed by Don Andreas
Pico, commander-in-chief of the California forces under the
Mexican flag.
"ARTICLE I. — The commissioners on the part of the Califor
nians, agree that their entire force shall, on presentation of
themselves to Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, deliver up their
artillery and public arms, and that they shall return peaceably
to their homes, conforming to the laws and regulations of the
United States, and not again take up arms during the war
between the United States and Mexico, but will assist and aid
in placing the country in a state of peace and tranquility.
"ARTICLE II. — The commissioners on the part of Lieu
tenant Colonel Fremont agree, and bind themselves on the
fulfillment of the first Article by the Californians, that they
shall be guaranteed protection of life and property, whether
on parole or otherwise.
"ARTICLE III. — That until a treaty of peace be made and
signed between the United States of North America and the
rebublic of Mexico, no Californian, or any other Mexican
citizen, shall be bound to take the oath of allegiance.
"ARTICLE IV.— That any Californian or citizen of Mexico
desiring, is permited by this capitulation to leave the country
without let or hindrance.
"ARTICLE V.— That by virtue of the aforesaid Articles,
equal rights and privileges are vouchsafed to every citizen of
California as are enjoyed by the citzens of North America.
"ARTICLE VI. — All officers, citizens, foreigners and others
shall receive the protection guaranteed by the second Article.
"ARTICLE VII.— This capitulation is intended to be no
bar in effecting such arrangement as may in future be in jus
tice required by both parties. Cuidad de Los Angeles,
January 16, 1847.
"ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.— That the paroles of all offi
cers, citizens, and others of the United States and of natu-

262 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
ralized citizens of Mexico, are by this foregoing capitulation
canceled, and every condition of said paroles, from and after
this date, are of no further force and effect, and all prisoners
of both parties are hereby released.
"P. B. Reading, Major, California Battalion.
"Louis McLane, Commander Artillery.
"Wm. H. Russell, Ordnance Officer.
"Jose Antonio Carillo, Command't of Squadron.
"Augustio Ollivera, Deputado.
"Approved, J. C. Fremont. Lieut. Colonel, U. S. Army, and
Military Commandant of California.
"Andreas Pico, Commander of Squadron and Chief of
the National Forces of California."

Colonel Cooke thinks this treaty was not signed , until after
the junction of Fremont's, Kearny's and Stockton's armies at
Los Angeles, on the 14th, also that Fremont knew of their
presence and that they were his superiors in rank. He also
thinks Commodore Stockton understood as much, although
he reported differently to the government.
The dispute was finally settled at Washington by depriving
Colonel Fremont of his office in the army. His subsequent
•appointments, however, go to show that whatever wrongs he
may have committed he was not disposed to desert the old
flag. The wisdom of Commodore Stockton and General Kearny
in ratifying the treaty, although made by a subordinate and
mere provisional officer, is apparent from the fact that thereby
the peace of the country was preserved until all national dis
putes were settled by the" treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo.
A counter course might have resulted in a civil war, more
terrible than all of the battles fought on the coast, and espec
ially more disastrous to the American arms. A few Dragoons
and the Mormon Battalion (less than five hundred all told)
were at that time the only regularly enlisted soldiers in Cali
fornia. Others, of course, subsequently arrived. Fremont and
men had espoused the American cause, as had also the
marines and sailors, but according to Cooke were not regularly
mustered into the service.

MARCH TO SAN LUIS REY. 263
Had not the matter been referred to Washington, doubtless
the Californians would have .taken advantage of the situation
to again take possession of the country. Thus the hand of
God was again visible in preventing the shedding of blood.
The many hair-breadth escapes of the Battalion from death
and the shedding of blood are living miracles.

CHAPTER XXIX.
Men Visit San Diego — Precautionary Measure — March to San Luis Rey —
Police Detailed — Men nearly Naked — Exhorbitant Prices of Clothing —
Catholic Church — Public Square about four Acres — Semi-Tropical
Fruit Trees— Large Reservoir— Duties of Soldiers in Garrison— Regrets
at Having to Shave — Reasons assigned — Fleas and Vermin — Only Cloth
ing— R. N. Allred a Non-Commissioned Staff Officer — Sunday Dress
Parade — The Drill Commenced — Incident of Drill — Religious Services
—Seventies' Meetings— Considered Officious.
The foregoing is, perhaps, sufficient to give the reader a.
general idea of the situation ; hence a return to the Battalion
narrative is proper.
On the 31st, of January 1847, the Battalion remained in
camp. Several of the men visited the port of San Diego,
about five miles west of the Mission. In the evening orders
were issued for a return to San Luis Rey. This was an essen
tial precautionary measure to hold the mission as a military
post, and that the Battalion might be in readiness to meet
whatever emergency might arise, either in arresting Colonel
Fremont or aiding to settle by force, if necessary, civil or
national difficulties. At the same time they could there keep
an important position between Pueblo de Los Angeles and
San Diego out of the enemy's hands, in case hostilities were
again resumed, which, at the time, and for some time subse
quently, seemed quite probable.
Accordingly, on the 1st of February, 1837, the Battalion took
up the line of march for San Luis Rey, where we arrived
about noon on the 3rd.
On the 4th, about eighty men were detailed as police to
clear up the square and quarters and make necessary repairs

264 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
which was done in good order, making everything look as
cheerful and respectable as our dirt floors would permit.
Many of the men were almost naked, without a change of
.underclothing to keep off dust or the worst of vermin, with
which the country abounded and. which even many of the
elite of the native Californians were said to be never free from.
What little clothing was in the country was in the hands of
army sutlers, and held at such extravagant prices that a short
time before our discharge, one of our poets, in a plaintive
song, very properly says: "To buy them we are too poor,"
and adds, "We'll return" (to place of enlistment) "and old
clothes burn." That we did so, the reader need not be
told. The public square of the mission, with a large adobe
Catholic Church and a row of minor buildings forming the
outside wall, contained about four acres of ground, with
orange and other tropical trees in the center. The olive,
pepper, orange, fig and many other varieties of semi-tropi
cal fruit and ornamental trees grew in the garden. There
was also a large reservoir, used for bathing, washing clothes
and watering the garden. Two large vineyards were also
connected with this mission.
On the 5th, an order was read relating to the duties of the
Soldiers when in garrison, such as times of parade, cleaning
arms and clothes, shaving, cutting hair, saluting officers, etc.,
4all of which were very good in their way. The only ground
for complaint this order afforded, so far as the author heard,
was that some who had not shaved since leaving home pre
ferred not to do so until they returned. They were probably
desirous that their wives, who had never, looked upon their
beautiful visages ornamented with a foot, more or less of
what they doubtless supposed to be very comely hair, should
have a chance to see the luxuriant growth before it was sacri
ficed. Perhaps, in some instances the rich growth proved
a shield or covering to features not as inviting as might be
desired, hence the dread of submitting to the tonsorial opera
tion. But this, like all other military orders, was imperative.
It prescribed that no beard be allowed to grow below the tip
of the ear ; hence the moustache only could be saved. The
hair also must be clipped even with the tip of the ear and

SCANTY CLOTHING. 265
everything made as neat and tidy as circumstances would
permit. By the 6th of February we had finished cleaning up and
repairing our quarters, which, in some respects, were not the
most pleasant, as we were overrun with fleas as well as the
more filthy vermin, and no person, however cleanly he aimed
to be, could escape from them.
The following quotation from the diary of Henry Standage,
then a member of the Battalion, will show to what a strait the
men were reduced for want of clothes, and also how they
managed to wash their scant apparel :
"February 6. — Went into the garden and washed my shirt
and a pair of pants, which I had made out of an old wagon
cover — all the clothing I had."
After arriving at San Luis Rey, the very able and worthy
quartermaster sergeant of company A, Redick N. Allred, was
appointed quartermaster sergeant in Colonel Cooke's non
commissioned staff, in which he remained until our final
discharge. During the first Sunday we spent in our new quarters, the
Battalion was called out on dress parade. This practice was
followed up nearly if not every Sunday until we were dis
charged. On the 8th, Colonel Cooke and Lieutenant Stoneman
commenced the squad drill with officers, which con
tinued and extended to companies and thence to the Bat
talion, and lasted altogether for twenty days, when the Bat
talion was supposed to have learned the drill, and all the officers
were considered capable of teaching it. During these exer
cises, many laughable circumstances occurred, besides some not
so agreeable ; among the latter was that of a Sergeant being
reduced to the ranks for failing to learn the drill, and among
the former was the case of a rather nervous lieutenant, who
was placed as a sentry on whom to form a line, on change of
base. He was directed not to move until the line was formed.
As he was " 'bout face" to the Battalion, however, as the little
army moved, he turned as pivot man to correspond with what
he supposed to be the intended movement. The Colonel,
discovering this, ran and turned him. back and held him a
few moments, saying: "Now, Lieutenant  , I will take
17

266 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
my hands off carefully, and see if you can stand still," fitting
the action to the word. No sooner were the hands fairly off
than the officer again began the usual turn, when the com
mander left him with the remark, "No, d — d'if he can." The
Lieutenant must, of course, be nameless in this connection.
While we were in garrison, we made it a rule, when pos
sible, to hold religious services on Sunday, which were fre
quently presided over by Captain Hunt, but sometimes by
Father Pettegrew or Levi W. Hancock. As many of the
men of the Battalion were members of the Seventies' quorums,
Seventies' meetings were also held occasionally, when cir
cumstances would permit. These were always presided over
by Brother Hancock in his capacity as one of the First Presi
dency of that organization. Brother Hancock was very
zealous, and did his best to influence the men to live as their
religion taught under every circumstance. He was really
deserving of much credit for the zeal and diligence he mani
fested in his missionary work among his brethren, but it was
very apparent that some of the officers regarded his actions as
officious, and entertained a feeling of jealousy towards him on
that account. He, however, denied the imputation that he '
was prompted by any other than the best and purest of mo
tives, and he retained the good feelings of the others and his
influence among them, notwithstanding the prejudice that
existed towards him among those few officers.

religious services, 267

CHAPTER XXX.
Company B sent to San Diego— Change of Diet— Religious Services-
Sentinel Court-martialed for Sleeping at his Post— Colonel, Dissatis
fied with the Meagre Penalty, Remits the Sentence — Barrowman
Accepts the Result as an Answer to Prayer— Detachment sent after
Wagons— Curious Ox Yokes— Garrison Duties — Lieutenant Stone-
man and Detachment sent to San Diego— Reduced to the Ranks-
Unsettled Condition of Governorship— Circular from Commodore
Shubrick and Proclamation from Kearny— Orders to Fremont to Dis
band his Forces — His Refusal.
On the 15th of February, company B was ordered to the
port of San Diego to garrison that place!
Up to the 19th of February our fare continued to be about
the same — fresh beef. Upon that date, however, Lieutenant
Oman returned from Roubideau's, whither he had been sent
five days previously, with a quantity of unbolted flour and
some beans — a most agreeable change of diet. Each man im
mediately had ten ounces of flour and two-and-a-third gills of
beans issued to him per day, and a reduction made in his
ration of beef.
News reached us on the 20th that provisions for the army
had been brought by Major Swords from the Sandwich Islands.
The next day being Sunday, the Colonel's regular day for
expeditions, a detachment started for San Diego to bring a
supply to our camp. The same day, meeting was called at 11
a. m., when, by special request, Elder Daniel Tyler preached
on the importance of revering the name of the Deity and
avoiding sin of every kind, and - of our duties to each
other. On the 26th, a supply of bolted flour, soap, sugar, coffee and
candles, arrived. The same day, John Barrowman,
who had been confined at the guard quarters for several
days for having been caught asleep while on guard
duty, was tried by court martial. The evidence went to show

268 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
that the man was almost worn out, and had but just been
overcome by sleep when he was discovered by the Sergeant,
who felt compelled to report him to save his own credit. The
sentence was therefore made as light as possible — six days'
imprisonment, two hours of each of the first five days in a
dark cell, and a stoppage of $3.00 of his pay.
The Colonel was indignant at this meagre penalty, and
remitted it.
Three other soldiers plead guilty, before the same court, to
killing an Indian's cow, and were sentenced to ten days'
imprisonment and a stoppage of $2,50 of their pay to remu
nerate the Indian for his loss. The Indian was well satisfied
with his $7.50, as cows usually sold for about two to four
dollars. This last sentence was executed.
Of Barrowman's sentence, the Colonel says : "The sentence of
the court in the case of Private John Barrowman is excessively
lenient, and the court probably considered some mitigating
circumstances which should only have been done in recom
mending the prisoner to mercy. That the prisoner was
brought before a Battalion court martial, instead of a general
court martial, whose power of inflicting punishment extended,
for this crime, to the life of the criminal, was the exercise of
great leniency on the part of the commanding officer,' and it
will not be repeated. Proceedings, therefore, in this case, are
disapproved, and the sentence is remitted."
The commanding officer held the power to mitigate the
sentence or annul it, but, very properly, not to increase it.
The reader will perceive that the fine Was remitted, not out of
any sympathy for the exhausted soldier, who had been guilty of
dozing on his post, but because the commander had not the
power to make the penalty more severe; hence, no further
cases of the kind would be intrusted to a Battalion court mar
tial. This was the beginning, and, the author thinks, under
the circumstances, very properly the end of court martials.
Brother Barrowman accepted the Colonel's action as a spe
cific and direct answer to prayer, which was doubtless a cor
rect conclusion.
On the 28th (Sunday of course) Lieutenant Samuel Thomp
son, with ten men, was detached to return to the region of
the Colorado, and bring in the wagons left there.

DAILY DUTIES OF THE GARRISON. 269
On the 1st of March, a small company of Spaniards and
Indians, probably moving to Sonora, camped near our garri
son. Some had pack-animals' and others ox teams; the ox
yokes were straight poles lashed to the back of the oxen's
horns with rawhide. The cattle were large and fat and of the
same variety as the wild bulls.
The following day an Indian child, killed by the bite of a
rattlesnake, was buried according to the rites of the Catholic
Church, eight bells being tolled.
Our daily garrison duties were: Roll call at daylight, sick
call at 7.30 a. m., breakfast call at 8.40, drill at 10 a. m. and
3 p. m. , roll call at sundown , tattoo at 8.30 and taps of the
drum at 9 p. m., after which lights must be out except in case
of sickness. All must then be silent, and were supposed to
retire for the night.
The following order explains itself:
(Orders No. 2.)
"Head Quarters U. S. Forces,
San Luis Rey,
March 2, 1847.
Authentic information of the withdrawal of all naval forces
from the town and harbor of San Diego having been received,
Lieutenant Stoneman, with a detachment of thirty-one non
commissioned officers and privates, dismounted men of the
First Dragoons, will march to-morrow morning to take the
post (formerly occupied by marines and sailors) at San Diego,
for the protection of the town and the depot of .provisions and
other public property. He will take rations for four days, and
will make necessary requisitions and provision returns on
Major F. Swords, Quartermaster U. S. Army and acting assist
ant commissary of subsistence.
By order
Lieut. Col. Cooke,
P. C. Merrill, Adjutant."

On the 8th, three or four non-commissioned officers were
reduced to the ranks for not being experts in learning the
drill. Their places were filled from the ranks.

270 MORMON battalion history.
Matters remained in the same unsettled condition in regard
to who held authority from the Government of the United
States to act as Governor and Commander-in-chief of Califor
nia. General Kearny had gone to Monterey,, and in his
absence Colonel Cooke 'was left to act at his discretion. Wri
ting of the condition of affairs, on the 12th of March, Colo
nel Cooke says :
"General Kearny is supreme — somewhere up the coast ;
Colonel Fremont supreme at Pueblo de los Angeles; Commo
dore Stockton is Commander-in-chief at San Diego ; Commo
dore Shubrick, the same at Monterey, and I at San Luis Rey ;
and we are all supremely poor, the government having no
money and no credit, and we hold the territory because Mexico
is poorest of all."
On the 14th of March, however, Major H. S. Turner arrived
at San Luis Rey, bearing documents to Colonel Cooke, announ
cing that Commodore Shubrick, who had arrived at Mon
terey on the 23rd of January, had issued a circular on the 1st
of March, announcing himself as "Commander-in-chief of the
naval forces" and General Kearny as "Brigadier General and
Governor of California." General Kearny had also issued a
proclamation as Governor ; it "absolved all the inhabitants of
California from any further allegiance to the Republic of
Mexico," and announced that they might consider themselves
as citizens of the United States, as henceforth Americans and
Californians would be one people.. Orders were sent at the
same time by General Kearny to Lieutenant Colonel Fre
mont, ordering him to disband his battalion, with the under
standing that those desiring it might re-.enlist under Colonel
Cooke. Accordingly, a courier was sent by Cooke to Fremont,
to ascertain what number of men had been mustered into
service, to which he received a reply signed by "Governor"
Fremont through his "Secretary of State," announcing that
none of his men wished to re-enter the public service. He also
refused to disband his men, on the pretext that an insurrection
was probable. He asked for no aid in view of the prospective
insurrection, but added that his "battalion would be amply
sufficient for the safety of the artillery and ordnance stores,"
from which it was inferred that he intended to hold possession
of them.

FREMONT S REFUSAL TO OBEY ORDERS. 271
Major Turner returned to General Kearny and reported Fre
mont's refusal to obey orders, but he was followed up immedi
ately by Fremont himself, who rode post haste to Monterey,
and managed to satisfy the General that he was ready to sub
mit to his commands.
On the 15th of March, we received the following :
"(Orders No. 3.)
"(1) Captain Hunter in command of Company B, Mormon
Battalion, will march this morning for San Diego. Arrived
there, his company will constitute the garison for the protec
tion of the town, and he will take charge of all the defenses
of the place.
"(2) Brevet Lieutenant Stoneman, 1st dragoons, will march
from San Diego with his detatchment of Company C, 1st
dragoons, for this post, on the 17th inst.
"(3) 2nd Lieutenant Clift will proceed without delay to
San Diego. He is appointed to receive there such ordnance
as shall be turned over to him by officers of the navy. Lieu
tenant Clift will perform the duties of assistant commissary of
subsistence, and assist the quartermaster at San Diego, and
receive such subsistence and other property* as will be turned
over to him by Major Swords, quartermaster, U. S. A.
"P. St. George Cooke.
"Lieut. Col. Commanding."

272 mormon battalion history.

CHAPTER XXXI.
Complaints of Short Rations — Tale-Bearing Dykes — Sergeant Jones and
Corporal Lane Reduced to the Ranks — March to Los Angeles —
Cooke Applies for Ordnance and Fails— Four Indians Killed — Cap
tain Hunt's Explanation — Death of David Smith— San Luis Rey
Abandoned — Petition for Discharge of Battalion Treated with Con
tempt by Officers — Arrival of ^Colonel Mason — Hatred of Fremont's
Men towards the Battalion — Cajon Pass Guarded.
Much dissatisfaction among the men was felt about this
period in consequence of being kept on short rations of beef
as well as bread, when beef was so plentiful and cheap, and
some of them even became so indignant over it as to refuse to
drill until their rations were increased.
Sergeant N. V Jones and Corporal Lewis Lane, while in
the presence of Lieutenant Dykes, happened to express their
disgust at the stingy policy pursued by the officers in this
respect, and were promptly reported by that tale-bearing
official. The result was the following :
"Orders No. 25.)
"Head Quarters Mormon Battalion,
"San Luis Rey, March 18th, 1847.
"(1) Sergeant N. V. Jones and Corporal Lewis Lane, of
Company D, having been guilty of insubordination and con
duct disgraceful to them as non-commisioned officers, they
are hereby reduced to the ranks.
"(2) On the recommendation of their Captain commanding,
private Abraham Hunsaker is hereby appointed a Sergeant,
and private Sanford Jacobs and William Barger are appointed
Corporals, all in Company D. They will be obeyed and
respected accordingly.
"(3) Pursuant to S. M. D., orders No. 4, of this date, first
Lieutenant Oman and Sergeant Brown and nine privates of
Company A, eight privates of* Comany C, Sergeant Hunsaker
and five privates of Company D, and eight privates of Com-

l L

MARCH TO LOS ANGELES. 273
pany E, will comprise the detachment which will remain to
garrison this post. 1st Lieutenant Oman, in command, will
receive such public property as will be left and pay special
attention to the safety of public mules. Returns will be
made immediately for three additional day's rations, includ
ing no salt meat. By order, "Lieut. Col. Cooke, Commanding."

With regard to reducing Sergeant N. V. Jones and Corporal
Lewis Lane to the ranks, the Sergeant says for himself, and
the same is probably true of CorporalLane : "He" (Dykes)
"carried false reports to the Colonel, and through his false
reports broke me of my office, which he had purposed to do
from the beginning, and had boasted of it."
The reader should keep in mind the difference between
finding fault with officers for real or supposed neglect of duty
and finding fault with the government. The former was
understood at the time to have been the sole cause of the
difficulty, and there were just grounds for complaint, for the
best Callifomia beef could be procured in large or small
quantities for less than one cent per pound on foot; in fact,
some could be had for killing and dressing, the owners retain
ing the hides and tallow.
As will be inferred from the Colonel's order of the 18th,
providing for a few men, under Lieutenant Oman, to
remain to garrison San Luis Rey, the balance of the Battalion
was required to go elsewhere. The fact was, their presence
was needed at the Pueblo de Los Angeles, to hold that place,
which had formerly been the Mexican capital.
Accordingly, on the 19th, Companies A, C, D and E, took
up the line of march for Pueblo de Los Angeles.
We traveled over broken country near the sea shore, and
arrived at Pueblo de Los Angeles about noon on the 23rd.
This town is near the San Gabriel River. We camped at the
eastern edge of the town ; the dragoons who came with us,
camped in the town.
On the 24th, Colonel Cooke rode to San Gabriel Mission,
about eight miles from Los Angeles, where Fremont's battal
ion was stationed. He found Captain Owens in command,

274 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
in the absence of Fremont, and both he and the other officers
there disclaimed any knowledge of orders having been
received for their disbandment or of Commodore Shubrick's
circular. They regarded Colonel Fremont as the highest
authority in the land, and, as he had left orders on his
departure for them not to turn over the ordnance to any one
except on his order, Captain 0 wens refused to let Colonel
Cooke have possession of any of the cannon.
There being no provisions to be had at Los Angeles, and
the small amount brought with us from San Luis Rey being
nearly exhausted, eight mule teams were dispatched for San
Diego on the 25th to procure a fresh supply. Before their
return, we ran entirely out of food and had to go to bed
supperless one night, and fast next morning until eleven
o'clock before we got anything to eat.
On the 27th, we removed our camp about one mile north of
the town to a beautiful location on the river bottom.
On the 28th, Lieutenant Stoneman, with a detachment of
dragoons, returned from following a party of marauding
Indians, having killed four of them. These Indians had
been raiding on the Californians, and had killed one or two
of them.
Colonel Fremont returned to Los Angeles on the 30th, and
at a meeting of the Battalion held the same day, Captain
Hunt related the circumstances of his giving up the command
to Lieutenant Smith, which were about as given in the earlier
part of this work. He remarked in substance, that, after
stating his right and willingness to take command, he sub
mitted the decision to a council of officers, who voted him
out and Smith in. This was the first time the facts had been
made public. This speech removed some prejudice.
On the 1st of April, we received news of the death of
David Smith, one of our brethren, at San Luis Rey. It was
believed by those in attendance that his death was the result
of medicine given him by Dr. Sanderson previous to the
command leaving that post, as he got worse and so continued
from the time of taking the medicine until death relieved
him. T.he two last days previous to his demise, he was
speechless. He died as he had lived, true to his God, his
country and his religion.

PETITION to discharge the battalion. 275
On the 5th, our teams returned heavily laden with pro
visions, soap, candles, etc. On the next day the following
order was issued :
"(Order No. 5.)
"Head Quarters, Southern Military District,
"Cuidad de Los Angeles,
"April 6th, 1847.
"The post of San Luis Rey will be discontinued until fur
ther orders. 1st Lieutenant, Oman, Mormon Battalion, will
march his detachment, composing its garrison, to this bity
without delay. He will drive here all the public mules and
bring with him other public property in his charge.
"P. St. George Cooke,
"Lieut. Col. Commanding."

$ On the 6th, a petition for the discharge of the Battalion
was gotten up and signed by most of the soldiers, on the
ground that peace was declared in California and their servi
ces could be dispensed with, allowing them to return and aid
their outcast families.
A council of officers was called, at which the petition was
read and thrown under the table, and not presented to Colo
nel Cooke and General Kearny, as requested. Captain
Daniel C. Davis, and Lieutenants James Pace, Andrew Lytle
and Samuel Thompson, favored the petition, while the
majority of the commissioned officers favored a universal
reenlistment with Captain Jefferson Hunt as Lieutenant Colo
nel. General Kearny having sent word to his superiors in office
in the east that he was anxious to be relieved of his charge
in California as soon as peace was established, Colonel R. B.
Mason was sent to succeed him in command; and he, being
superior in rank to Fremont, was sent by Kearny to Los
Angeles to enforce the discharge of Fremont's battalion and
obedience to other orders.
After some difficulty, he finally succeeded in discharging
Fremont's men and taking ten pieces of cannon held by
th#m, which were immediately brought to JLos Angeles and
turned over to Colonel Cooke.

276 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY. .
For some reason unknown to us, and certainly without a
just cause, the men who composed Fremont's command mani
fested a great deal of animosity towards the Mormon Battal
ion. It was currently reported, and was probably true,' that
Fremont himself did all he could to arouse this ill-feeling,
not only among his own men but also among the native
population. We were assured by some of the Mexicans that
he had told them the "Mormons" were cannibals, and especially
fond of eating children. It seemed, too, that the story gained
some credence among the natives, for their shyness about
approaching near our camp for sometime was attributed
by them to this cause.
After Colonel Cooke made the demand upon Fremont's men
for ordnance stores, which Captain Owens refused to comply
with, and especially after their subsequent discharge, their bit
terness towards us seemed to increase. We frequently heard of
their threatening to make a raid upon our camp and wipe us%
out of existence. However, they never attempted to put any
such threat into execution, and it was probably as well for
them that they did not, as they would have met with a warm
reception. A few of the most beligerent of them sought
quarrels with some of our men on meeting them in Los
Angeles, but beyond this we were not molested by them.
On the 10th, Lieutenant Hulett tendered his resignation
to return to his family.
Owing to the fact that the Californians were not allowed to
bear arms, the following and other similar orders were issued"
for their protection from marauding bands of Indians :
"(Orders No. 7.)
"Head Quarters, Southern Military District,
"Los Angeles, April 11th, 1847.
"(1) Company C, Mormon Battalion, will march to-morrow
and take post in the canyon pass of the mountains, about
forty-five miles eastward of this town. Lieutenant Rosecrans,
its commander, will select a spot for his camp as near to the
narrowest and most defensible part as the convenience of
water, feed and grass will admit of, and, if necessary, effectu
ally to prevent a passage of hostile Indians with or without
horses, he will erect a sufficient cover of logs or earth, dt
will be his duty to guard the pass effectually, and if necessary

efficiency of the battalion. 277
to send out armed parties, either on foot or mounted, to defend
the ranchos in the vicinity, or to attack wandering parties of
wild Indians.
"(2) The assistant commissary of subsistance, will take
measures to provision this post until further orders.
"P. St. George Cooke,
"Lieut. Col. Commanding.

Agreeably with the foregoing order, Company C took up
the line of march for the Cajon Pass on the 12th.

CHAPTER XXXII.

Efficiency of the Battalion — John Allen Excommunicated — Colonel Cooke
Orders the Horses, Purchased by Soldiers, Sold at Auction — Fort
Erected — War Imminent — Detachments all Called In — Dragoons our
Champions — Privilege to Re-enlist Declined — Death' of Captain
Hunter's Wife — Colonel Stevenson Appointed to Supersede in Com
mand — Letters from Families — News of a Battle — Arrival of Gen
eral Keamy — He Compliments the Battalion — Skirmish with Indians
— A Barbarous Practice Abolished — General Kearney's Address to
the Battalion — Detachment to Accompany him to Fort Leavenworth.
From the daily practice in which the Battalion engaged
while in garrison, the most of the officers and men became
very proficient in military tactics. Colonel Mason, of the 1st
dragoons, an experienced officer, gave the Battalion the credit
of excelling any volunteers he had ever seen in going through
the manual of arms.
On the 18th of April, the members of the various quorums
of Seventies, stationed at Los Angeles, assembled about one
mile from camp and organized into a mass quorum, with
Stephen M. St. John as president, and, among other business,
unanimously excommunicated John Allen from the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was the hunter
mentioned as being lost near the summit of the Rocky
Mountains, who joined the Church to get to California as a
soldier. His conduct did not entitle him to a place in respect-

278 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
able society of the world, much less in the Church of the
Saints. The labors required of the detachment stationed at Cajon
Pass being essential, and the services of company C required
at Los Angeles, the following was issued :
"(Orders No. 8.)
"Head Quarters, Southern Military District,
"Los Angeles, April 22nd, 1847.
"(1) 1st Lieutenant Pace, of Mormon Battalion, will march
to-morrow morning with twenty-seven non-commissioned
officers and men, with rations for thirty days, to the Cajon Pass,
where he will relieve Company C, Mormon Battalion, and
occupy the same position and perform the same duties of
defending the pass from the passage of hostile Indians. He
will detach on his arrival a non-commisioned officer and six
men, mounted on the horses now at that post, at Mr.
Williams' rancho, where they will operate under the
guidance of Mr. Williams, on the occasion of hostile Indians
showing on the ranchos in the vicinity. This party will
take with them their rations and will be supplied with beef
by Mr. Williams.
'(2) Lieutenant Rosecrans, commanding Company C, hav
ing turned over to. Lieutenant Pace the horses, saddles and
his instructions, will march with his company the morning
after the arrival of the detachment, with all diligence to this
post. "P. St. George Cooke,
"Lieut. Col. Commanding."
A few of Lieutenant Pace's detachment having "purchased
horses to ride upon the expedition to the Cajon Pass, the Colo
nel ordered the animals taken from them and sold to the
highest bidder. The journals kept ,by the men which mention
this circumstance do not say whether the avails of the sale
were given to the owners of the horses or not. The order
although admissible under the military regulations, was looked
upon as arbitrary.
Company A was paid off on the 23rd as was also the detach
ment of Lieutenant Pace, which started the same day to
relieve company C. The next day the following was issued :

PREPARING FOR AN EXPECTED ATTACK. 279
(Orders No. 9.) "Head Quarters S. M. District,
Los Angeles,
April 24, 1847.
The Mormon Battalion will erect a small fort on the emin
ence which commands the town of Los Angeles. Company A
will encamp on the ground to-morrow forenoon. The whole
company will be employed in the diligent prosecution of the
labors for one week, but there will be a daily detail of a non
commissioned officer and six privates for the camp guard,
which, with the cooks absolutely necessary, will not labor
during their detail. The hours of labor will be from half past
six o'clock until 12 o'clock, and from 1 o'clock until 6, o'clock.
The guard will mount at half past 5 o'clock.
(2) Lieutenant Davidson, First Dragoons, will trace to
morrow on the sight selected, his plan, which has been
approved of, a fort with one small bastion, front for at least
six guns in barbette, assisted by the company officers. He
will have the direction, as superintendent, which pertains to
an officer of engineers. As assistant quartermaster, he will
procure the necessary tools.
P. St. George Cooke,
Lt. Col. Commanding."

The 25th of April being Sunday, the Colonel's ever lucky
day, or general day to commence marches, company A moved
on to the hill, in obedience to the Colonel's order. There were
various rumors afloat about an expected attack from the Span
iards and Indians that night. Colonel Cooke directed our
officers, especially. Captain Hunt, to have the Battalion ready
to* form a linefof battle, at a moment's notice, with loaded
guns aad^fixed bayonets.
We were up most of the following night, owing to the Colo
nel believing we would be attacked. The enemy did not
appear, however, and the remaining portions of the Battalion
were ordered to remove to the hill as fast as the companies
received their pay.
Company C arrived from the Cajon Pass, having received
orders from Colonel Cooke, by express through a dragoon

280 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
Corporal, stating that another war seemed imminent. The
detachment under Lieutenant Pace also arrived, having been
ordered back by an express, the Colonel very properly with
drawing all protection until he had assurance that the condi
tions of the armistice, already detailed, would be kept by the
Californians, and until they and Fremont's men ceased their
threats. They were also given to understand that in case they
came upon us no prisoners would be taken. They, of course,
understood what that meant. The instructions to the Bat
talion were to the same effect : "Take no prisoners — show no
quarter,, nor ask any."
Our position, on the hill commanded Los Angeles, upon
which our artillery would have played to good advantage, and
the city would doubtless have been destroyed ; but with the
prospect of the Mexicans again rising and the low murmur-
ings of civil war hardly ceasing to salute our ears, what the
end would have been is difficult to say.
What few dragoons there were, were true to their country
and to the Battalion, and hone of the latter could be insulted
with impunity in -the hearing of the former. When bullies
came into the town and began to impose upon the "Mormon
boys," the dragoons would not allow them to take their own
part if they could avoid it, but would say : "Stand back; you
are religious men, and we are not ; we will take all of your
fights into our hands," and with an oath would say : "You
shall not be imposed upon by them." Several instances of the
kind might be named, but it is not deemed necessary.
Company A commenced work immediately upon their
arrival at the new camping place, at excavating the ground for
the fort, and the work was afterwards prosecuted by twenty-
eight men from each company, who were relieved, every fourth
day. On the 29th, twenty-eight volunteers came in from Santa
Barbara, bringing us some ammunition.
On the 4th of May, an order was read from Colonel Cooke,
giving the Battalion the privilege of being discharged on con
dition of enlisting for five years as U. S. dragoons ; but under
the circumstances, the generous proposition" could not consist
ently be accepted.

NEWS FROM OUR RELATIVES. 281
On the 5th, news arrived of the death of the wife of Captain
Jesse D. Hunter, at San Diego, which sad event occurred on
the 27th ult. The funeral discourse was preached by Elder
Wm. Hyde. She was a very estimable lady and faithful
Latter-day Saint. She left a male child about two weeks old.
An order was read the same day from General Kearny,
appointing Colonel Stevenson, of the New York volunteers
to^the command of the southern district of California, thus
relieving Colonel Cooke, that he might return to the United
States with General Kearny. We also learned that two com
panies of Stevenson's command were ordered to Los Angeles.
On the 8th, an express arrived from Santa Fe and the
United States, bringing some letters to the Battalion from
Nauvoo and Council Bluffs; also news of a severe battle
between United States dragoons and Navajo Indians, which
lasted three days. Twenty-eight dragoons were reported
killed. Governor Bent, of Santa Fe, was also reported killed.
The Indians were defeated with heavy loss.
This day we received the following order, which was prompt
ly executed:
(Orders No. 3.) "Head Quarters, Los Angeles,
May 8, 1847.
Lieutenant Thompson, with twenty men of the Mormon
Battalion, rationed for three days, will march immediately to
a rancho, within six miles of the foot of the mountain and use
every effort to destroy the hostile Indians reported to be in the
vicinity. A guide will be furnished. P. St. George Cooke,
Lt. Col. Commanding."

On the 9th, General Kearny arrived at Los Angeles from
Monterey. A salute of twenty-one guns was fired. Colonel
Stevenson and other officers of note accompanied him. The
General came to our camp and gave some good advice to those
with whom he conversed.
He remarked to an officer, that history might be searched
in vain for an infantry march equal to that performed by the
Battalion^all circumstances considered, and added : "Bona-
18

282 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
parte crossed the Alps, but these men have crossed a conti
nent." The following order explains itself:
(Order No. 10.)
"Head Quarters,
Southern Military District,
Los Angeles,
May 9, 1847.
The commanding officer at San Diego will employ a phy
sician for attendance on that garrison. Assistant Surgeon I.
S. Griffin, U. S. A., will report himself for duty at this post,
without unnecessary delay.
P. St. George Cooke,
Lt. Col. Commanding."

Lieutenant Samuel Thompson, of company C, and party,
who had proceeded to rout the Indians, according to the Colo
nel's order, surprised a small band in a cove in the mountains,
killing six of them. F. T. Mayfield and George Chapin, two
of his men, were slightly wounded — Mayfield in the groin,
Chapin under the eye, both with arrows. One Spaniard, who
accompanied them, was also slightly wounded. The Spaniard
ran, unobserved, and scalped and took off the ears of the dead
Indians. Under the California rule, a premium was given for
wild Indians' scalps. This barbarous custom, however, was
there and then abolished, and the Alcalda forbidden to pay
any bounty on those referred to, or any others in the future.
The Lieutenant commanding, as well as the men, were horri
fied and disgusted at the Spaniard's atrocity.
On the 10th, the Battalion was addressed by General
Kearny. He dwelt at some length upon our arduous journey,
our patriotism to the Government, obedience to orders, etc.
In short, no commander ever did or could eulogize or give a
greater meed of praise to any corps of veterans than was
given this little band by the commander of the Army of the
West. He sympathized with us in the unsettled condition of
our people, but thought, as" their final destination was not
definitely settled, we had better re-enlist for another year, by
which time the war would doubtless be ended and our fami-

ACCOUNT OF COMPANY B. 283
lies settled in some permanent location. In conclusion, he
said he would take pleasure in representing our patriotism to
the President and in the halls of Congress, and give us the
justice our praiseworthy conduct had merited.
Three men were detailed from each company as an escort, to
accompany the General to Fort Leavenworth, the names of
whom, it is to be regretted, are not available, and cannot,
therefore, be here given.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
Company B at San Diego — Building a Fort — Religious Services — Literary
Club — Cheap Animals — "Herding Stallions" — Death of Albert Dunham
— "Stocks" — Miserable Mobocrat — Fossil Remains — Wedding — Immor
al Priest — Soldiers Seeking Work — News of General Taylor's Victory
— Colonel Stevenson's Arrival and Address — Lieutenant Clift Appointed
Alcalde — First Brick Made in California — Fourth of July Celebrated —
Citizens of San Diego Petition to have the "Mormon" Soldiers Re
main — Song — Return to Los Angeles.
The General, and party, started on their return trip on the
13th. Leaving the main army on the hill, it will now be in order
to give an account of company B, who left the Battalion at
San Luis Rey, on the 15th of March. This company was
ordered to relieve the dragoons, about thirty in number, under
the command of Lieutenant Stoneman, to garrison the place
until further orders. The company arrived and the dragoons
left for San Luis Rey on the 17th.
Next day Sergeant Hyde was appointed to take eighteen
men and quarter in the fort built by -the marines, on an emin
ence about one-fourth of a mile from the town. This fort was
constructed by digging a trench on the summit of a hill, and
placing a row of large logs around the same. Against these
gravel and rock were thrown up, thus forming a barricade,

284 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
which was thought to be invulnerable. Seventeen pieces
of artillery were so arranged as to command the town and
surrounding country.
Religious services were held by the detachment every Sun
day, which were generally well attended by strangers, and
Lieutenant Wm. Hyde, and others, delivered a number of
excellent discourses and lectures, which gave general satisfac
tion tb all parties. A society was also organized, entitled the
Young Men's Club, for the purpose of lecturing, reciting,
declaiming, debating, . etc., a kind of Young Men's Mutual
Improvement Association.
A report being in circulation that the people of
Sonora were landing arms on the coast and making other
preparations for war, and that a large army was on the north
side of the Colorado river, the frigate Congress sailed about the
29th to prevent their encroachments.
On the 4th of May, the company received six months' pay,
the most of which was expended, by each individual, in pur
chasing animals, clothing, etc., as an outfit for the return trip.
It was exceedingly fortunate for the Battalion that horses and
mules were so very cheap. Wild mares were from three to
four dollars each, those broken, to ride, from six to twelve dollars.
Gentle mares, however, seldom brought more than seven or
eight dollars. Horses, unbroken, were from six to eight
dollars, horses, broken to ride, from ten to twenty dollars.
Good herding stallions were worth about fifty dollars each,
and mules were worth about double the price of common
horses. It may be well here to explain what is meant by "herding
stallions." Each band of horses running at large in a semi-
wild state usually had one powerful stallion — a leading spirit
among his fellows, which fought the battles for the band and
also kept the animals together by chasing and biting those
that lagged behind or attempted to stray away. It sometimes
occurred that lame or decripid animals were bitten and kicked
in a most shocking manner and occasionally even killed by
these stallions. The band presided over by a stallion usually
numbered about two hundred.
At 1 o'clock a. m.,on the 11th, private Albert Dunham died;
his death was caused by an ulcer on the brain. His sickness

stocks. 285
was only of two or three days' duration. He was buried beside
Captain Hunter's wife.
The Indians, who were located about San Diego, occasion
ally stole each other's wives. When caught, they were put in
the stocks for a few days, and sometimes weeks, as a punish
ment. The stocks consisted of two hewn logs, one above the
other, with semicircles cut in each so as to form a round hole,
when joined together, large enough to go around the neck,
and another smaller on each side in which to place the legs.
To put culprits in, the top log had to be raised, and, after the
head and feet had been put in place, it was again lowered and
secured, leaving the head and feet on one side and the body
on the other, resting on the ground. Sometimes only the
head, and at others, only the feet, were put in the stocks.
Many of the Californian ladies dressed in silks and satins,
and were exceedingly fair. As a rule, however, their reputa
tion for morality and virtue was not the best.
Near the foreigners' burying ground resided a miserable
specimen of humanity, who stole and begged from door to
door. He was one of the most forlorn of human beings. He
acknowledged to having been, engaged in the Haun's Mill mas
sacre, and begged our people to forgive him. He claimed to have
been one of Fremont's party, and said he had been among the
Rocky Mountains for the last seven years.
Samuel Miles, of the Battalion, was selected as a man of
legal ability and some knowledge of American law, while he
remained at San Diego, to aid the Mexican alcalde, or justice
of the peace, in administering the laws of the United States by
getting up papers, etc., which he did to the satisfaction of the Gov
ernor, to whom all legal proceedings were submitted for
approval. This is understood to have been the first adminis
tration of civil law in lower California.
An interesting fossil discovery was made on the beach by
H. W. Bigler and others — the skeleton of a whale; the ribs
of which were nine feet long and ten inches broad. They
were bleached white, hence were very light. Two were taken
to the garrison and used for seats.
On the 18th, a marriage occurred in the town, the parties
to which were a sea captain and a Spanish lady. The cere
mony was performed by a Catholic Priest. Cannon and

286 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
musketry were fired, while the wedding procession was march
ing. Feasting and drinking were kept up all night. Some
times such parties were kept up three or four days and nights
in succession, and the newly married couple not allowed to
sleep during that time. Such weddings frequently cost from
$300 to $800. The bridegroom had all the expenses to pay.
The priest of San Diego was said to have no wife, but was
the father of seventeen children. He also had the reputation
of being a drunken sot, and profane in his language.
The company being permitted to take jobs of work, such as
making adobes, burning brick, building houses, digging wells,
and performing various other kinds of mechanical labor,
many availed themselves of the chance to earn something.
A letter from San Francisco to Sergeant Hyde, received on
the 30th,'stated that the Saints who sailed from New York,on the
ship Brooklyn, had arrived and sown 145 acres of wheat, and
that Samuel Brannan had gone to meet the Saints at or near
the Great Salt Lake.
On the 14th of June, news of General Taylor's victory in
Mexico arrived, and twenty rounds of artillery were fired, and
the General cheered long and loud.
On the 22nd, Colonel Stevenson arrived from Los Angeles,
and the following day addressed the company. He spoke in the
highest terms of the industry and morals of the Battalion and
of their good reputation among the Californians, and expressed
a great desire to have the men re-enlist, especially the young
ones. Captain Hunter followed in a short speech, in which
he offered to re-enlist, for six months, on condition that the
Colonel would grant the company, at the expiration of the
term, pay and rations to, San Francisco Bay or Bear River
Valley, which proposal the Colonel readily accepted, also
promising that a small detachment should be sent to meet the
families, and act as pioneers for them if -necessary. He fur
ther promised, that those who remained in San Diego should
have the privilege of continuing to obtain work and earn
money whenever off duty.
On the 24th, Lieutenant Robert Clift was appointed alcalde
for the post.
On the 29th, H. W Bigler and others cleared the first yard
for moulding brick in San Diego, and, indeed, the first in

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION. 287
California. The labor was performed for a Californian, named
Bandena. Philander Colton and Rufus Stoddard laid up
and burnt the kiln. About this time, G. W Taggart made a
quantity of pack-saddles for the return trip.
On the 4th of July, the roar of cannon at daybreak
announced the seventieth anniversary of our nation's birth.
Henry W. Bigler's journal of this date, in substance,
says of the celebration: "These demonstrations pleased the
citizens so well that they brought out all the wine and brandy
we wanted, and a hundred times more."
In the evening, Captain Jesse D. Hunter and Colonel
Stevenson, with Sergeant Hyde and Corporal Horace M.
Alexander, who had been to Los Angeles, arrived and were
heartily cheered. The prominent citizens of the town were
also enthusiastically greeted, which pleased them much.
They sincerely regretted that the company were going to
leave them. Mrs. Bandena, one of the most prominent
ladies of the town, in an address, requested that the company
take the American flag with them, as there would be no one
left to defend it. Her's was a brief, but touching and patri
otic speech.
SONG.

BY AZARIAH SMITH.

Composed when quartered at San Diego, in the service of the
United States.

In forty-six we bade adieu
To loving friends and kindred too :
For one year's service, one and all
Enlisted at our country's call,
In these hard times.
We onward marched until we gained
Fort Leavenworth, where we obtained
Our outfit — each a musket drew —
Canteen, knapsack, and money, too,
In these hard times.

288 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
Our Colonel died — Smith took his place,
And marched us on at rapid pace;
O'er hills and plains, we had to go,
Through herds of deer and buffalo,
In these hard times.
O'er mountains and through valleys too —
We town and villages went through;
Through forests dense, with mazes twined,
Our tedious step we had to wind,
In these hard times.
At length we came to Santa Fe,
As much fatigued as men could be ;
With only ten days there to stay,
When orders came to march away,
In these hard times.
Three days and twenty we march'd down
Rio Del Norte, past many a town ;
Then changed our course — resolved to go
Across the mountains, high or low,
In these hard times.
We found the mountains very high,
Our patience and our strength to try ;
For, on half rations, day by day,
O'er mountain heights we made our way,
In these hard times.
Some pushed the wagons up the hill,
Some drove the teams, some pack'd the mules,
Some stood on guard by night^and day,
. Lest haplessly our teams should stray,
In these hard times.
We traveled twenty days or more,
Adown the Gila River's shore —
Crossed o'er the Colorado then,
And marched upon a sandy plain,
In these hard times.

song. 289
We thirsted -much from day to day,
And mules were dying by the way,
When lo ! to view, a glad scene burst,
Where all could quench our burning thirst,
In these hard times.
We traveled on without delay,
And quartered at San Luis Rey;
We halted there some thirty days,
And now are quartered in this place,
In these hard times.
A "Mormon" soldier band we are:
May our great Father's watchful care
In safetjr kindly guide our feet,
Till we^ again, our friends shall meet,
And have good times.
0 yes, we trust to meet our friends
Where truth its light to all extends —
Where love prevails in every breast,
Throughout the province of the blest,
And have good times. •

Orders were immediately given for the company to be in
readiness to march to Los Angeles and join the remainder of
the Battalion, preparatory to being discharged on th 16th.
It is proper to state here that the company,#having greatly
improved the town, as well as being peaceful, honest, indus
trious and virtuous, the citizens plead with them in the
strongest terms not to leave. They had dug from fifteen to
twenty good wells, the only ones in the town, several of which
were walled with brick, besides building brick houses, includ
ing a court-house, to be used for courts, schools, etc. They
had paved some of the sidewalks with- brick, while some,
being house carpenters, had done the finishing work on the
inside. On the 6th, the citizens of San Diegtf'sent an express to P.
St. George Cooke, commander of the southern military dis--

290 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
trict, requesting that another company of "Mormons" be
immediately sent to take the place of Company B, stating
that they did not wish any other soldiers quartered there.
Up to the time of the company leaving San Diego, Philan
der Colton, Henry Wilcox, Rufus Stoddard and William
Garner had burnt forty thousand brick. Sidney Willis had
also made several log pumps and put them into wells, which
gave universal satisfaction.
On the 9th, Company B took up the line of march for Los
Angeles, at which place they arrived on the 15th, and took
position in line.
It will now be proper to return to a consideration of the
main army, which our narrative left on the hill on the 13th
of May.

CHAPTER XXXIV
Slaughter of Dogs — "Dancing Bill" — Detachment to San Pedro — Acci
dent to John Spidle — Soap Factory — John Allen Drummed out of
Service — Fate of Hastings' Company — Liberty Pole — Celebration of St.
John's Day — Colonel Stevenson's Speech and Invitation to Re-enlist —
Other Speeches Pro and Con — Conditions for Re-enlistment Rejected
by Colonel Stevenson — Liberty Pole Raised — The Glorious Fourth —
Bull Fight — Battalion Discharged — Paid Off— Some Re-enlist.
On the 4th and 5th of June, a number of the soldiers
stationed at Los* Angeles, by order of the Colonel, engaged in
killing dogs, with which the town was overrun.
The 6th being Sunday, the Californians spent it, as they
usually did the Sabbath, in horse racing.
On the 7th, "Dancing Bill," a prisoner at guard quarters,
exchanged clothing with a squaw who brought him refresh
ments, and passed out at the door to make his escape. Henry
Standage, who was guard No. 1, suspecting that all was not
right, hailed the would-be squaw, in whose person he soon
recognized the prisoner.. He was turned over to the Corporal
of the guard, who placed him in the back room, not, however,

JOHN ALLEN DRUMMED OUT OF TOWN. 291
until he had made many threats and curses against the "Mor
mon" sentinel.
On the 10th, a small detachment was sent to San Pedro, to
guard military stores.
On the 11th, letters were received by express from General
Kearny's escort, advising us to purchase our animals at Los
Angeles, they being much cheaper there than at Monterey.
We also learned that the General had left Monterey for
Washington on the 31st of May.
The same day, various orders were read, one relating to the
case of John Allen, who had been several weeks in the guard
house for deserting his post when on picket guard during the
time of an expected insurrection. He was the man already
mentioned' as having been excommunicated from the Church
of the Saints by the mass quorum of Seventies. On being
court-martialed and found guilty of deserting his post, he was
sentenced to have one-half his head shaved and be drummed
out of the service and town at the point of the bayonet. He
was also ordered by Colonel Stevenson, through Lieutenant
George P. Dykes, not to return within two miles of the town
during the existing war, under pain of being put in irons
and retained thus until peace was declared. This order was
given in consequence of personal threats of violence made by
Allen, who was a notorious desperado.
On the 12th, John Spidle was thrown from his horse and
badly hurt, but subsequently recovered.
At this period, several of the men were in the country on
furlough, laboring for provisions for the return trip, mostly
in the harvest field, this being the usual time for cutting grain
in California. They were engaged by a Mr. Williams, who
had about one thousand acres of wheat to cut. His staple
crop was wheat, although he raised some barley, beans, peas,
etc., and had large vineyards. He claimed to have owned
about one thousand five hundred head of cattle at the com
mencement of the war. That number, however, was not extra
ordinary for ranchmen in that country. Owners of ''stock
recognized their animals only by their brands. Common
cattle sold for from one to five dollars per head, and good
work oxen, well broken, from thirty to fifty dollars per yoke.
Thousands of head of beef cattle were butchered merely for

292 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
their hides and tallow, leaving the meat on the ground. A
few years previous, the citizens turned out en masse, and killed
cattle and horses by the thousands, leaving them upon the
ground, because the country was so overrun with stock that
they were compelled to lessen the number or have all die of
starvation. They created an unbearable stench all over tho
country for months after the killing.
Much of the tallow obtained from the slaughtered animals
was used in the soap factories, while the balance, with the
hides, was shipped to the eastern and southern markets. Mr.
Williams had a soap factory, conducted about as follows :
Over a furnace was placed a boiler about ten feet deep ; and
the same in diameter, the upper part made of wood. This
was filled with tallow and the fattest of the meat. A little water
was also poured into it and then the whole tried out, after
which the grease was dipped into a box about ten or twelve
feet square. The meat was then thrown away. Mineral
earth was then leached like ashes, the lye obtained from it
and the grease put together and boiled into soap. The best
quality of soap, when made, was almost as white as snow.
Indians usually did the work. Every ranchman had a gen
eral herdsman to look after his stock.
On the 14th, the sentence of the notorious John Allen was
executed. He was marched between four sentinels, in charge
of a corporal, with martial music in the rear. He was
escorted through town at the point of the bayonet, while the
musicians played the "rogue's march."
On the 25th, we received information of the terrible suffer
ing of Captain Hastings' company of emigrants, many of
whom perished in the Sierra Nevada Mountains the previous
winter. The survivors subsisted for some time on the bodies
of the dead.
On the 17th, John Allen was retaken prisoner at the
ranch oree, a villa, about one mile-and-a-half from Los Angeles,
and placed in the guard house, from which he subsequently-
escaped by digging a hole through an adobe wall.
On the 18th, a number of men returned from the moun
tains with a liberty pole for the fort. It consisted of two
large pine logs, each fifty feet long; the* hauling cost one-

CELEBRATION OF ST. JOHN'S DAY. 293
hundred dollars, the cutting and other expenses about the
same. The same day, an order was read from the Colonel, calling
for volunteers to re-enlist for six months. None responded.
Fears were entertained by some that the Battalion would be
pressed into the service for six months longer. Under the
military regulations, this could have been done, if deemed
necessary, to give the government time to bring on other
troops. The 20th being Sunday, meeting was held as usual. Excel
lent remarks were made by Father Pettegrew, Levi W. Han
cock, Lieutenant Holman and others. One of the principal
topics was our return to hunt up and relieve, as far as possible,
our outcast, disfranchised families, and the Saints generally.
While Colonel Stevenson was absent at San Diego, visiting
Company B, considerable anxiety was felt by the Battalion
for his safety, as threats of personal violence had been made
against him by some of the New York volunteers of his
command. The 27th of June being St. John's Day, was observed, as
usual, as a holiday by Californians, or Mexicans, and Indians.
Horce-racing bull-fighting, gambling, etc., were, among the
amusements of the day.
The same day, Lieutenants Andrew Lytle and James Pace
were jointly elected by acclamation, as captains of hundreds, to
lead back those who intended to return to their families that
year. On the 28th, Colonel Stevenson returned From San Diego,
accompanied by Captain Hunter, Sergeant Hyde and Cor
poral Alexander.
On the 29th, at 8:30 a. m., the assembly call was beaten
and the Battalion responded. An address was then delivered
by Colonel Stevenson, in substance as follows: "The Span
iards are whipped but not conquered. Your term of ser
vice will soon close. It is of the utmost importance that
troops be kept here until others can be transported. I have
the right to press you into the service for six months longer,
if deemed necessary, and have no doubt but I would be sus
tained in so doing, but believing, as I do, that enough, if not
all, will re-enlist without, I have decided not to press you to

294 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
serve longer. . I am required to make a strong effort to raise at
least one company, and the entire Battalion if possible. If "
the whole Battalion, or even four companies, enlist, you shall
have the privilege of electing. your own Lieutenant Colonel,
Major and all subordinate officers. Your commander will be
the third in rank in California. Should either of his superior
officers die or be removed, he would be second in command,
and should both be removed, he would be first — military
governor and commander-in-chief of California. I sympa
thize with you in the condition of your families. I am a
father — I have been a husband. Should you re-enlist, you
shall be discharged in February with twelve months' pay,
and in the meantime, a small detachment shall be sent, if
-necessary, to pilot your families to any point where they may
wish to locate. Your patriotism and obedience to your
officers have done much towards removing the prejudice of
the government and the community at large, and I am satis
fied that another year's service would place you on a level
with other communities."
The Colonel, in this last remark, might be compared to the
heifer that gave a good bucketful of milk and then kicked
it over. It was looked upon as an insult added to the injuries
we had received without cause. We could challenge com
parison with the world for patriotism and every other virtue,
and did not care to give further sacrifice to please pampering
demagogues. At the close of the Colonel's remarks, we were dismissed
into the hands of our officers to hear speeches from them at
such time and place as might be designated. We met at ten
a. m., on a barren point, a quarter of a mile west of the
fort. Captain Hunter supposed he was looked upon by the
brethren as a recruiting officer ; he believed it to be the duty
of the Battalion to re-enter the service and serve another term,
giving various reasons.
Captain Hunt endorsed the remarks of Captain Hunter.
He urged the necessity of maintaining the ground we had
gained. As an oppotunity was now presented to gain still
more, we should embrace it, by electing from our number an
officer, who would be third in command in California, with a

RE-ENLISTMENT DISCUSSED PRO AND CON 295
chance of his becoming first, through Colonel Mason and
'Colonel Stevenson being called away. His speech was in the
main, a reiteration of that of Colonel Stevenson already
given. Captain Davis, in a brief speech, gave his assent to all that
had been said on the subject.
Lieutenant Canfield, thought we had better enlist, in order
that we might have some means to take to our families, as at
present, it would take all of our pay for an outfit, and on
finding the Church, we would have nothing. Some thought
they could live on faith, but he believed that if we did not
have something to live on besides faith, we would perish.
Lieutenant Dykes, sanctioned all that had been said, and,
then, illustrating by his actions the fable of the heifer kick
ing over the good pail of milk, argued that all we had done,
would be lost unless we served another term.
Father Pettegrew made a few remarks, stating that he
thought it our duty to return and lpok after our outcast
families; others could do as they thought best, but he believed
we had done all we set out to do, and that our offering was
accepted and our return would be sanctioned by our Church
leaders. The sun beat down so heavily upon us, that the meeting
adjourned to "the big tent" in the fort. After a few brief
speeches were made, Captain Hunter, Captain Davis and
Father Pettegrew were chosen a committee to draft conditions
of re-enlistment. The last named, asked to be excused from
acting, as his views were well understood as not favoring the
move, but those who had treated lightly his fatherly counsels,
of whom there were a few, both officers" and men, insisted that
he should remain. The articles were soon drafted, and a few
more speeches were made.
Sergeant Hyde, in a mild yet forcible manner, said we had
made one offering, which he felt assured was accepted, and
he thought we should now return and be ready for any sacri
fice which might be necessary to make in the future. All, so
far as we had any knowledge, were satisfied with our past
year's service, and he believed God was satisfied.
Sergeant Tyler, reviewed some of the leading remarks of
Colonel Stevenson, Captain Hunt and other officers on the

296 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
point of first, second and third in command in California.
He referred to the pledges of Colonel Allen, who repeatedly
assured the Battalion that in case of his death or removal, the
command would fall upon the senior officer of this corps.
The sad event of that noble officer's death, had shown the
Battalion that while a senior officer might be removed by
death or otherwise, our commander might also be removed,
and we be left without any rank in the command of California,
and the chances were two to one against us. Where was the
realization of those pledges ? So far as our officers taking
the command was concerned, instead of that, were not our
noses put upon the grindstone, and were they not still there?
Those who wished, could remain, but he felt it a duty he
owed the Church as well as his family to return.
After a few other remarks were made, mainly by way of per
sonal explanations, the meeting adjourned sine die. At the
close of the meeting, a call was made for volunteers, and some
fifteen or sixteen names were given, after which the terms
were presented to Colonel Stevenson, and were by him
rejected. On the 1st of July, the liberty pole was raised, without an
accident or any inebriety.
On the 4th, the entire command of the place assembled
under Colonel Stevenson, in the fort, at sunrise. The "Star-
Spangled banner," was played by the New York volunteer
band, while the colors were being raised. Nine cheers were
given for the stars and stripes, and "Hail Columbia" was
played by the band, after which thirteen guns were fired by
the first dragoons. The companies were then marched back
to their quarters.
At eleven a. m., the command was again called out, under
arms, and the dragoons and the Battalion paraded inside the
fort. Many Californians and Indians were present to witness
the ceremonies. The Declaration of Independence was read
by our worthy quartermaster, Lieutenant Stoneman, of the
1st dragoons, "Hail Columbia," was again played by the band,
and Colonel Stevenson made a brief and appropriate speech,
giving the fortification the name of Fort Moore, in honor of
the brave Captain, whose unfortunate death has already been
mentioned. The band then played "Yankee Doodle," followed

A BULL FIGHT. 297
by a patriotic song by Musician Levi W. Hancock, of the
Battalion and a march tune by the band, after which Colonel
Stevenson proposed to have the Declaration ofi Independence
read, if the Californians desired it, in the Spanish language,
but the offer was respectfully declined.
The soldiers were each treated to a glass of wine, marched
to their quarters, and dismissed. Thus ended the ceremonies
of the day.
On the morning of the 6th, the Battalion, on invitation,
attended the funeral services of a soldier of the 1st dragoons,
who died the previous evening at the hospital. He was
buried with the honors of war. Being a member of the
Catholic church, he was interred in the cemetery belonging
to that sect.
On the evening of the 9th of July, the town was illumi
nated in honor of Roman Catholic festivities, and the next
day a Mexican bull fight occurred on the flat near the town.
It was supposed to be a ruse on the part of the Californians
to draw the Battalion from the fort, that they might obtain
possession, secure the arms and ammunition and gain con
trol of the country. The Battalion, accordingly, remained in
the fort, from which point the men could view the sports
below the hill, almost as well as if they had been present. At
night the cannons were loaded and placed in position, and the
men lay on their arms, prepared to form a line of battle at a
moment's warning. Besides the bull fight, a grand ball was
gotten up and the Battalion especially invited to attend. "The
best music and seemingly every other attraction was offered'
to induce us to leave the fort, but we did not take the bait.
The bull fight also continued during the 11th, and closed
on the 12th. Expert Californians, mounted on spirited
horses, fought the bulls with spears or lances. Several horses
were killed and their riders saved by their comrades throwing
blankets over the bulls' heads to blindfold them while the
dismounted men escaped from the corral. Two men were
considerably hurt, and a little boy of Captain Daniel C.
Davis', a spectator of the scene, was thrown about twenty feet
by a bull, but not seriously injured. This bull had broken
from the corral, and caught the boy on his horns and threw
him out of his way while making his escape. General Pico

298 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
took an active part in these exercises, and the barbarous
scenes were witnessed by several hundred people.
On the 15th, Company B arrived from San Diego, pre
paratory to being discharged, and the next day at three
o'clock, p. m., the five companies of the Battalion were formed
according to the letter of the company, with A in front and
E in the rear, leaving a few feet of space between. The
notorious Lieutenant, A. J. Smith, then marched down between
the lines in one direction and back between the next lines,
then in a low tone of voice said: "You are discharged."
This was all there was of the ceremony of mustering out of
service this veteran corps of living martyrs to the cause
of their country and religion. None of the men regretted
the Lieutenant's brevity ; in fact, it rather pleased them.
On the 17th and 18th, some of the companies drew their
pay and, on the 20th, one company made up from the dis
charged Battalion, re-enlisted for six months and elected
Captain Daniel C. Davis, former Captain of Company E, to
command them. The object of their enlistment was to garri
son the post of San Diego.

TRAVELS OF KEARNY'S ESCORT. 299

CHAPTER XXXV
Travels of General Kearny's Escort to Monterey— Kearny's Arrival-
Fremont Under Arrest— Overland Journey Commenced— Incidents of
Travel— Costume of Digger Indians— Losses in Fording a River— Visits
from Brethren— Sacramento Valley— Remains of the Ill-fated Emi
grants—A Horrible Scene— Bury the Bones— Accidental Shooting-
Nude Indians— Boiling Springs— Pass Soda Springs and Bear Lake
Valley— Meet Companies of the Saints — Arrival at Fort Leavenworth
and Discharge— Fremont Put in Irons.
Leaving this company now for awhile, as well as the
balance of the discharged Battalion, we will follow the for
tunes of General Kearny and his escort.
General Kearny left Los Angeles on the 13th of May, 1847,
accompanied by Colonel Cooke and three men of the escort
chosen, to proceed by water to Monterey. The other nine
men of the escort, under Lieutenant Stoneman, were left to
proceed overland and meet them at Monterey.
The party traveling by land, made twenty miles the first
day and encamped by two springs, which were about six feet
apart, one of which was hot and the other cold. The fifth day
out, they arrested a soldier, and the next day another, both
deserters from Monterey. On the 18th, they ascended a
mountain through a rain cloud to fair weather above. No
other incidents of importance occurred during the journey to
Monterey, at which place they arrived about noon on the
25th. They were immediately quartered in a building
formerly occupied by Colonel Stevenson's regiment. They
found that General Kearny and party who sailed from San
Diego, and who expected to reach Monterey before them, had
not yet arrived, and that Colonel Fremont was held there
under arrest, though not in confinement, for disobedience ito
the orders of his superiors, and assuming the title of com
mander-in-chief and governor of California.
Sergeant Jones, one of the party, mentions in his diary an
instance of the sagacity of goats, that came under his ohser-

800 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
vation during his stay in Monterey. While walking along
the wharf, he noticed two of these animals, which ran bleating
from vessel to vessel until they reached their own Boat, which
they appeared to recognize at once.
To pass away the time, the detachment went on board of
the man-of-war, Columbus, which carried seventy-four guns
and seven hundred sailors and mariners. The frigate, Congress,
arrived there on the 27th, as did also the sloop Lexington,
bearing among her passengers, General Kearny and Colonel
Cooke. The next day the detachment drew seventy-five days'
rations, and on the 31st took up its line of march. The
journey, during the first few days, lay through beautiful
valleys, abounding with luxuriant grass, including the varieties
known as timothy and clover, in their wild state, also wild
oats. Numerous bands of wild horses were found, and many
streams difficult to cross were encountered. In some instances,
the men carried their packs on their heads while crossing the
rivers to keep them from getting wet. In other cases, they
rowed the luggage across the streams in a rawhide boat, which
they carried along for the purpose, packing it upon a mule
between the streams. As they advanced, they found the
grass become more scant and dry, in consequence of the drouth.
While traveling, on the 9 th of June, they learned of a com
pany of Saints, some of those who sailed on the ship Brooklyn,
being located only six miles from their line of travel, but the
men did not have time to visit them. The Digger Indians
abounded in the region through which they traveled, and
they saw many of them. These natives lived mainly on
seeds and roots, and their only clothing consisted of a wisp of
grass fastened around the loins.
While crossing a river on the 11th, Colonel Cooke lost
everything he had except the clothing he wore, including a
journal of five hundred pages, containing a diary 'of the
travels of the Battalion from Sant Fe to Los Angeles, one
hundred dollars in gold and his entire outfit of rations. One
of his men also lost everything. The Colonel's journal was
subsequently found by an Indian.
The next day, they entered the most beautiful valley they
had seen in California, where , a few American families were

VISITS FROM BRETHREN. 301
located, and where they found the first field of corn they had
seen in the country. They learned that an express from the
Church to the Saints in that country, had arrived in Upper
California. The few Saints referred to, had sailed around
Cape Horn from New York, on the ship Brooklyn. It was
also learned that Samuel Brannan had started east across the
Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains to meet the Pioneers and
pilot them through to California. A Brother Rhodes, who
emigrated to California the previous October, from Missouri,
visited the General's camp in the evening.
On nearing the Sacramento river, on the 13th, they were
also visited by another brother. A number of American set
tlers were located in the Sacramento valley. Sutter's Fort, at
which about twenty-five soldiers were stationed, was about one
mile and a half from the crossing of the river.
On the 14th, they received one additional horse each for the
journey. During that day and the next they also dried some
beef and baled some flour and pork. The Sacramento valley,
at that time, had a very inviting appearance, and the soil
appeared as good as any in the world. Mechanical and other
labor was very high-priced and scarce. Good land could be
obtained for twenty-five cents per acre under Mexican title,
and a great proportion of the land was open to squatters.
Wheat was worth one dollar per bushel.
On the 20th, while traveling over mountains which, in
many places, were covered with snow they found vegetation
just starting upon patches of bare ground. Passing through
Bear valley, they found a deserted cabin which had been
built by Missouri emigrants the previous fall, and in which
they had left many of their goods.
On the 21st, they traveled through snow from two to twelve
feet deep and over rough mountains before reaching the
Truckee river. There a small lake was found about one mile
wide and three miles long, now called Lake Tahoe. In the
vicinity of this lake were several cabins built by that portion
of Captain Hastings' company, which was snowed in
the previous fall. Their numbers were estimated at about
eighty souls, who all perished except about thirty.
The General ordered a halt and detailed five men to bury
the dead that were lying upon the ground. One of the men

302 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
was said to have lived four months on human flesh and brains.
Their bodies were mangled in a horrible manner. This place
is known as Cannibal Camp. Colonel Fremont passed the
General and party at this place. It was the first time the party
had seen him since leaving Sutter's Fort. After they had
buried the bones of the dead, which were sawed and broken
to pieces for the purpose of obtaining the marrow, they set fire
to the cabin and left the horrible place.
From that point the party traveled seven miles farther, and
encamped within one mile of another cabin, where more
dead bodies were found. The General did not, however, order
them buried.
On the 22nd,  Quigley, one of the party, accidentally
shot himself through the arm, inflicting a severe wound.
On the 26th, the party encamped by an Indian village, which
consisted of 'wigwams of brush. The Inhabitants'numbered
about two hundred, some of whom fled to the mountains and
others skulked in the brush. Some of them came to the camp
a short time afterwards. Both men and women were naked.
The next day, after traveling a considerable distance over a
sandy desert, a hot spring was reached, which threw up a
column of boiling water from four to six feet high. The water
boiled up and ran off at the rate of about one barrel per min
ute. The ground underneath seemed to be hollow, and the
sound of the water was as if poured upon red-hot rocks; it
could be heard for a considerable distance. The ground was
more or less heated for about a half mile from the spring in
each direction. A mule broke through the surface, nearly
half a mile from the spring, and steam immediately
issued forth from the hole made. The rocks and sand
for miles around, as well as the ashes, all looked as
though they had undergone the action of fire. After leav
ing these springs, great scarcity of good water, feed for the
animals, and wood, was experienced. Most of the water found
was either salty or bitter, and much of the country was a
barren waste. Some of the mules gave out from hunger, thirst
and fatigue.
On the 7th, while traveling up the Humboldt, or St. Mary's
river, another boiling spring was passed, the steam from which
could be seen for several miles.

MEET COMPANIES OF SAINTS. 303
The next day, four horses were stolen from the party by the
Snake Indians. Colonel Fremont was at this time traveling
in the rear of the General and his party, but the next day he
overtook fhem, and they afterwards journeyed together.
On the 14th, emigrants on their way to Oregon were met and
the next day the party reached- Fort Hall, where a supply of
bacon was obtained.
July 16th, one year from the day of the Battalion's enlist
ment, found the party a short distance from Soda Springs*
which place they reached and nooned at on the 17th.
Following up Bear River, very cold nights were experienced,
there being considerable frost. Emigrants, bound for Oregon,
were occasionally seen, and, on the 19th, a man named Smith,
who had come from California with Samuel Brannan, was met,
and from him the party obtained much valuable information
concerning the migrating' Saints, etc. That night they
encamped near an Indian village consisting of twenty lodges,
and the next day traveled twenty-five miles across the moun
tains and found another Indian village, where a number of
fresh horses were obtained.
Green river was reached on the 22nd, and the Big Sandy
the next day, and during that day the party was overtaken
by a thunder shower, the first, according to the diary of Brother
N. V. Jones, one of the party, which he had seen for nearly a
year. While encamped on the Platte river on the 29th, they met
the first company of Saints they had seen on the road, and
obtained their first reliable information with regard to their
families and the Church. John Binley, one of the General's
escort, stopped with the company met, on account of ill health.
On the 3rd of August, having learned that a company of the
Saints, journeying westward, would soon be met, the General
gave permission to N. V. Jones and two other brethren of his
escort, to go on in advance of him and meet it. They accord
ingly proceeded with all practicable haste, and met the com
pany on the 4th. They found many acquaintances, spent a
happy time with them before the General overtook them, and
Brother Jones received a letter from his wife, the first he had
seen from her from the time he had left Fort Leavenworth —
almost a year. It had only been written about two months

304 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
previously, and was therefore considered quite "fresh for that
age of slow transit.
During the journey from this place to Fort Leavenworth,
very little of interest occurred. On arriving at the latter post,
the mules and other public property were turned over to the
proper officers, and the men received $8.60, each as payment
for the time which they had served in excess of the year for
which they h,ad enlisted. On receiving their discharge, they
proceeded immediately to join their families in the region of
Kanesville (now Council Bluffs City), Iowa.
At Fort Leavenworth, General S. F. Kearny, "Commander
of the Army of the West," ordered Colonel J. C. Fremont put
in irons, and, in that condition, took him to the national cap
ital for trial, which resulted in his conviction upon the char
ges alleged against him, and in depriving him of his office.
The disabilities thus incurred were, however, subsequently
removed, owing to his many hardships as an explorer and,
probably, on account of benefits which the nation had derived.
from Ms services. His trial, which was quite lengthy, created
much excitement, and was a subject of national interest.

MORALITY OF THE BATTALION. 305

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Discharged Soldiers at Los Angeles— Their Morality, etc.,— Organize for
the Return Trip — Journey Commenced — A Remarkable Dream and its
Fulfillment — Difficult Mountain Trail — Animals Lost — Beef Cattle
Slaughtered — A Memorial of a Mountaineer's Death— The Hottest
Day— Vain Search for Walker's Pass— Ecstatic Dance of an Indian —
Sacramento Valley — News of the Pioneers — Some of the Men Decide
to Remain and Work in California.
Let us now return to the discharged Battalion left in that
center of sedition and profligacy — Los Angeles, a town which
could boast, perhaps, of more lewdness than any other upon
the coast. Though stationed for such a length of time in that
sink of iniquity, the character of the Battalion for sobriety and
virtue was maintained. As a proof that the men did not par
take of the immorality of the place, it may be remarked that
a hospital surgeon was heard to say that among over seventy
soldiers which he treated at Los Angeles for a loathsome dis
ease, only one was a "Mormon." And if it be any palliation
of the sin in the case of that one, it may be said that he was
led to pollute himself while intoxicated. That same surgeon
gave it as his opinion that, for virtue, the Mormon Battalion
were without a parallel among soldiers.
On the 20th of July, the majority of those who did not re-
enlist were organized into companies for traveling, after the
ancient and modern Israelitish custom, with captains of hun
dreds, fifties and tens, as follows: Lieutenants Andrew Lytle
and James Pace, of company E, captains of hundreds; Ser
geants William Hyde, Daniel Tyler and Redick N. Allred,
respectively, captains of fifties. Elisha Averett, musician, was
appointed captain of ten pioneers.
It is to be regretted that the names of the other captains of
tens are unknown to the author. None of the diaries to which
he has had access in compiling this history furnish them, and

306 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
during the lapse of thirty-five years they have escaped from
his memory.
This fact may be accepted as one of the many evidences that
the compilation of the history of this arduous and highly
important campaign was not commenced any too soon. Many
exceedingly interesting events have doubtless been buried
with the departed veterans.
On the 21st, the pioneers advanced, scarcely knowing
whither they went, only that they had been told that by trav
eling northward, mainly under the base of the mountains,
Sutter's Fort, on Sacramento river, might be reached in about
600 miles, while the sea-shore route would be 700 miles.
Captain Allred's fifty took up the line of march on the 23rd,
and traveled twenty miles to General Pico's rancho, which
seemed to have been an old deserted Catholic Mission. There
were two large gardens,in eluding vineyards. One of these covered
about 200 acres of ground. There was no grain in these en
closures, but fruit in abundance, such as grapes, figs, pears,
apricots, cherries, plums, peaches, apples, olives, dates,, etc.
The next day, after eighteen miles travel, over a rugged,
steep and high mountain, where two pack-animals lost their
footing and rolled twenty or thirty feet before they could
regain it, Francisco's rancho was reached. Here this com
pany remained some four days, awaiting the arrival of the
other two fifties, who had tarried to complete their outfit of
animals, provisions, etc.
Beef cattle were purchased at this place for all the members
of the Battalion who purposed returning to their families that
year. On the 27th, the other companies arrived at Francisco's
rancho. When within four or five miles, the author recog
nized the place and surrounding country, having seen it in a
dream prior to the Battalion's discharge. At the time of this
remarkable dream, the intention of the Battalion was to take
the southern route via Cajon Pass, reaching the Great Salt
Lake from the South. It may not be entirely uninteresting
to relate a portion of the dream.
First, I thought a man clothed in white came to my tent
door, having a bottle in his hand, filled with a liquid resem
bling olive oil. Reaching it to me he said : "take this and

REMARKABLE DREAM. 307
drink of it; it is the pure love of God, that casteth out all fear
and causeth men to draw nigh unto God." I drank two swal
lows, and returned the bottle. The eyes of my understanding
were then opened and I was filled with the glory of God
throughout my whole system. I saw that we traveled north
ward and subsequently eastward, instead of south and east as
anticipated. On arriving at this rancho, I thought we had
passed all of the wild animals that sought to destroy us or
impede our progress, which it appeared were numerous and
strong, the last being a lion, which I instructed the company
to pass without halting or seeming to notice.
On arriving at the creek, I dismounted and drank of the,
water, and received strength to pursue my journey, which
many feared I would be unable to do. I was then caught
away in the spirit to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, and
saw myself with many others in a holy Temple, where the
Twelve Apostles presided. The house was 'filled with the
glory of God, and in a room adjoining the main one in which
I sat was Jesus, the Redeemer of the world. I did not see
Him, but knew He was there. Lucifer also appeared, claim
ing to be the Christ, and offering free salvation to all who
would accept him as their ruler without any church obli
gations. He was finely dressed, in black, and very genteel,
until he discovered that no one paid any attention to his
sophistry,when he became enraged and threatened to"tear down
the Temple and destroy the kingdom of God," when, as com
manded, he left the house. All was calm as a summer's morn
ing and no one seemed to fear any of the threats made or to
believe he would have power to do any harm. I awoke and
the main features of my dream were repeated in open vision,
especially as relates to the Temple. From that time I never
doubted but Salt Lake' Valley would be the final destination
of the outcast Saints.
When I awoke and found that it was only a dream, the
reality of facts did not seem to lessen, but I found my whole
being filled with joy and rejoicing, a thrill of gladness perva
ding my soul from my crown to the ends of my fingers and
toes. As to the wild beasts, they represented the many obsta-
cles thrown in our way to hedge up our departure, promi
nently among them being the Californians selling us animals

308 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY'.
stolen from their fellows, who claimed, proved and^took them
from us, or, perhaps-, the parties divided the spoils. When
the officers saw so few re-enlist we were also threatened with
being pressed into the service; at least it was rumored
that such a move was under serious consideration.
On overtaking Captain Allred's company, I predicted that
we would have no further trouble from those sources, which
proved literally true, for no further attempt at claiming ani
mals or other trouble of like nature, came in our way. On
arriving at the creek I purposely fulfilled a portion of my
dream, by alighting from my horse, lying down and taking a
good drink at the very place seen in the dream, and received
health and strength in so doing.
Many of my comrades will doubtless recollect the relation
of the foregoing dream and vision.
We left Pico's rancho with our beef cattle in front, passing
over a rugged mountain, very high and almost perpendicular.
It made our heads swim to look down it. In crossing this and
other steep mountains, we lost twelve head of our beef cattle.
The next day we traveled over other rough mountains and
lost three more of our beeves, and then concluded to rest and
kill our remaining beef cattle and dry the meat.
On the 31st, the pioneers advanced to look out the road,
while the company remained in camp and finished curing the
meat. On the first of August, we traveled fourteen miles and
encamped in a beautiful valley where we found, cut in the bark
of a tree, the name of Peter Lebeck, who was killed by a Grizzly
Bear on the 17th day of October, 1837. The skull and other
bones of the bear, which was killed by Lebeck's comrades,
were still lying on the ground near by.
The next day, a ride of fifteen miles brought us to Tulare
River. Finding it impassable, we traveled five miles up it and
encamped. On the 3rd, Elisha Averett returned from an Indian village,
bringing with him several Indians, including a chief. A
guide was procured from among them, and we continued
twelve miles farther up the river.
The following day, we traveled six miles farther up the
stream, where a raft was made to carry over a portion of our

THE HOTTEST DAY. 309
goods, while some forded the stream with their luggage on
their heads, and still others crossed a half mile below, at a
new crossing discovered by an Indian. All were over by
about two o'clock.
On the 5th, our new guide left us because we could not
hire his entire lodge. We had but little water that night, and
it took us all night to water our animals out of a few bog
holes we had dug in damp places.
On the 9th, we arrived at a large stream of water in a
beautiful valley, and the next day made a raft and took our
baggage over the stream, while our animals were forced to
swim. On the 11th, our journey lay across a dry plain. It was
pleasant traveling in the forenoon, but in the afternoon the
weather was excessively hot, with but little air stirring, and
when a little breeze came, it was hot and suffocating. Two
men gave out and could not ride or travel ; others made but
little progress, and it almost seemed that all must perish.
Those who reached camp first, drank, filled their canteens
and returned to revive their thirsting comrades. All finally
revived and reached camp. We had no thermometer, but
all agreed that this was the hottest day they ever experienced
in any country.
Having no guide, the company remained in camp during
the 12th, for the pioneers to explore the route, and, if posible,
find Walker's Pass over the mountains. One of the men had
procured an old map at Los Angeles, in the hope of defining
the different localities, but it proved of no avail to us, as we
could not even tell, the names of the streams of water we «
were traveling on.
On the 13th, we made ten miles up the river, with the hope
of finding Walker's Pass. Our pioneers, however, returned,
informing us that there was no pass at that point.
After crossing the river and retracing our journey for a
distance of twelve miles, we decided to seek no farther for a
pass over the mountains, but continue northward to Sutter's
Fort, on the Sacramento River, situated about one-and-a-half
miles from where the great city of Sacramento now stands,
but which was then a lone, military post in a wilderness. Our
aim was to follow Fremont's trail. Indians came into our

310 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
camp that night, and had what we took to be a religious dance(
one getting the "power" much like what we had seen in
Methodist revival meetings. While another Indian beat time'
with a split stick, he danced, sang and talked, until he swooned'
away in right old-fashioned Methodist style. However, at
this juncture, the nude savages, whose clothing consisted of
a breech-clout, exhibited more good sense than many of our
civilized Christians would have done under similar cir
cumstances, for a leading spirit among them, instead of allow
ing the unconscious man to lay in a senseless swoon for hours, lit
his cigarette and blew the smoke into his ears and mouth,
and slapped the pulse of his wrists sharply, until consciousness
was restored.
After traveling twenty-two miles on the 15th, we encamped
on what was supposed to be the San Joaquin Rfver. Con
tinuing on, we did not follow any trail for any great distance,
but kept near the western base of the California Mountains,
and still supposed that we were on the San Joaquin River.
On the 20th, we arrived at the Sacramento River and
encamped. There were several small farms in this region,
mostly planted to corn, and cultivated by Indians.
On the 22nd, after crossing a beautiful valley and camping
on a fine mountain stream, three men were sent ahead to
Sutter's Fort, to engage our supply of provisions.
During our next day's travel, we passed some Indian
wigwams. The men being absent, the women and children
fled and hid in the brush, like young partridges; a few of the
males having returned, visited our camp at night.
* On the 24th, we reached a settlement of white people, and
were almost overjoyed to see a colony of Americans, the first
we had seen since leaving Fort Leavenworth, about a year
previous. But the best of all was, the news brought by a
man named Smith, who said he had accompanied Samuel
Brannan to meet the Church, and who informed us that the
Saints were settling in the Great Salt Lake Valley, and that
five hundred wagons were on the way. This was our first
intelligence of the movements of the Church since the news
brought by Lieutenant Pace and Brothers Lee and Egan, at
the Arkansas crossing. One must have our previous sad
experience to appreciate our feelings on this occasion.

PROCURE AN OUTFIT. 311
The following day, we rested and held meeting in the
evening, as we had frequently done since our discharge.
Some having but a poor fit-out, wished to remain here and
labor until spring, wages being good and labor in demand;
besides, a settlement of the New York Saints was within a
few miles. President Levi W. Hancock made some appropri
ate remarks on the union that had been and was among us,
and thought that a few might remain and labor until spring
and all would be right. He then asked the company if, in
case any felt to remain, they should have our prayers and
blessings. All voted in the affirmative. Good remarks were
also made by others on the same subject. A few remained.
Wages were said to be from twenty-five to sixty dollars per
month, and hands hard to get at any price, as there were so
few in the country.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Get Horses Shod and Procure an Outfit — Johnson's Mill— Nude Indians —
Mrs. Johnson's Story — Horrib'e Account of Suffering — Human Beings
Living on the Flesh of their Fellows — Taste Developed for such Food
— Meet Samuel Brannan Returning to California — Doleful Account of
Salt Lake Valley — Captain James Brown Met — Epistle from the
Twelve Apostles— Letters From Friends.
.yVOn the 26th, we traveled twenty miles and encamped on
11 American Fork, two miles from Sutter's Fort. Here the
animals that had become tender-footed, were shod, at a cost of
one dollar per shoe. We also purchased our outfit of unbolted
flour at eight dollars per hundred. In those days, California
and every other western territory had but little bolted flour,
except such as was transported from the United States or the
Sandwich Islands. Those were days of vigor, health and
long life.
On the 27th, the pioneers and about thirty others advanced,
while the bulk of the company remained to get horses shod.
The advance made about eighteen miles, from which point,
our course changed from northward to eastward.

312 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
On the 28th, we arrived at Captain Johnson's mill, on Bear
Creek. This man had Indians laboring for him, who were
entirely naked. I noticed one large man, probably six feet in
height, come and stand by the door, an unabashed picture of
nature unadorned. He was apparently waiting for the young
woman of the house — the captain's wife — to give him some
thing to eat. Captain Johnson passed in and out of the
house while the savage stood by the door, without taking any
exceptions to his nude appearance, from which we inferred
that he was used to seeing the Indians in such a condition.
Indeed, we were informed that those he hired, went without
clothing, and the Indian we saw there was probably one of-
his employes.
Captain Johnson was said to have been one of Fremont's
battalion, and his young wife was one of the survivors of the
ill-fated* company who had been snowed in at the foot of the
Sierras, already alluded to. Her mother, Mrs. Murray, who
was a Latter-day Saint, was among the number who perished
in that horrible scene of death. The circumstances under
which she became a member of that company were explained
to us by her daughter, Mrs. Johnson.
The lady being a widow, with several children dependent
upon her for support, while residing in Nauvoo, heard of a
chance of obtaining employment at Warsaw, an anti-"Mor-
mon" town, thirty miles lower down the Mississippi. Think
ing to better her condition, she, accordingly, removed to
Warsaw, and spent the winter of 1845-46 there. In the
spring of the latter year, a party about emigrating to Oregon
or California, offered to furnish passage for herself and chil
dren on the condition that she would cook and do the washing
for the party. Understanding California to be the final
destination of the Saints, and thinking this a good oppor
tunity to emigrate without being a burden to the Church, she
accepted the proposition, but, alas! the example of Sister
Murray, although her motives were good, is an illustration of
the truism, that "it is better to suffer affliction with the people
of God" and trust in Him for deliverance, than to mingle
with the sinful "for a season," and be lured by human pros
pects of a better result !

HORRIBLE ACCOUNT OF SUFFERING. 313
The company crossed the plains during the summer of
1846, under the guidance of Captain Hastings. They passed
through Salt Lake Valley, around the south end of the lake,
and proceeded on westward'. Lacking that union which has
characterized companies of Saints, while traveling, they split
up into factions, each party determined to take its own course.
The few who remained with the persevering Captain, pushed
through to California, while the others were caught in the
snows of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The party Mrs. Murray was with was next in rear of that of
the Captain, and, of course, nearest the source of relief. After
their food was exhausted, in fact, after several had succumbed
to death through hunger * and others were subsisting upon
their flesh, a few of them, one of whom was Mrs. Murray's
eldest daughter (afterwards Mrs. Johnson), in desperation,
resolved to make an attempt to cross the mountains and obtain
relief. Fitting themselves out with snow shoes, they started,
and, after proceeding some distance, they met Captain Has
tings and a party from the Sacramento Valley, coming with
provisions to relieve them. On reaching the camp of the
starving emigrants, the relief party found Mrs. Murray dead
and others perfectly ravenous from starvation. Children were
actually crying for the flesh of their parents while it was being
cooked. There was good reason to suspect that Sister Murray
had been foully dealt with, as she was in good health when
her daughter left her, and could scarcely have perished from
hunger during the brief period of her absence.
Leaving Captain Johnson's mill, we proceeded on, following
the trail of General Kearny. On arriving at Bear Creek, in
Bear Valley, we found three wagons and a blacksmith's forge;
which had been abandoned by the emigrants who were snowed
in the previous winter. We rested there one day, to recruit
our animals, the feed being good, and found plenty of huckle
berries, which were a fine treat.
During the 3rd of September, we passed other wagons at
the place where General Kearny's party had buried the
remains of the famished emigrants, and at night reached the
place where the rear wagons of the unfortunate Hastings com
pany were blocked by the snow, and were horrified at the
sight which met our view — a skull covered with hair lying
30

314 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
here, a mangled arm or leg yonder, with the bones broken
as one would break a beef shank to obtain the marrow from
it; a whole body in another place, covered with a blanket,
and portions of other bodies scattered around in different
directions. It had not only been the scene of intense human
suffering, but also of some of the most fiendish acts that man
made desperate by hunger could conceive.
It seemed that on reaching that point on their journey,
the unfortunate emigrants were divided into several different
parties. Some lagged behind because there was work required
to make a road for their wagons, and they were determined
not to do it themselves ; others were in favor of stopping to
recruit their animals, all of which were turned out to grass
when the storm came, and scattered and buried them up. In
this terrible delemma their provisions were soon exhausted,
and they began to subsist upon the bodies of their dead
relatives. Those who had no deceased relatives borrowed
flesh from those who had, to be refunded when they or some
of their relatives should die. In some cases, children are
said to have eaten their dead parents, and vice versa. Some
were supposed to have been murdered as we would butcher
an ox.
When relief came, one man had a trunk packed full of
human flesh and two buckets full of human blood, stored
carefully away. When questioned about the blood, he pro
fessed to have extracted it from the veins of two women after
they were dead, but the seemingly well-founded opinion was
that there had been foulplay. Some were caught in the act of
eating human flesh for a lunch, as a matter of choice, while
they were passing over the mountains with the relief party,
after they had obtained plenty of other food. And when
their pockets were examined, they were found, to contain
chunks of human flesh, which were taken from them and
thrown away. One man had even acquired- such a mania for
that kind of food, that after he had been in Sacramento Val
ley some months, where food was plentiful, he admitted to'
having a longing for another such a meal, and expressed to a
stout, comely lady a desire for a roast from her body. This
cannibal, whose name might be given were it not for shame's
sake, was, when we passed through Sacramento Valley, being

DISCOURAGING ACCOUNT OF SALT LAKE VALLEY. 315
watched for by the lady's husband, who swore he would shoot
him on sight.
Leaving the tragic scene on the morning of the 6th of
September, we resumed our journey, and in a short time met
Samuel Brannan returning from his trip to meet the Saints.
We learned from him that the Pioneers had reached Salt
Lake Valley in safety, but his description of, the valley and
its facilities was anything but encouraging. Among other
things, Brother Brannan said the Saints could not possibly
subsist in the Great Salt Lake Valley, as, according to the
testimony of mountaineers, it froze there every month in the
year, and the ground was too dry to sprout seeds without
irrigation, and if irrigated with the cold mountain streams,
the seeds planted would be chilled and prevented from grow
ing, or, if they did grow, they would be sickly and fail to
mature. He considered it no place for an agricultural people,
and expressed his confidence that the Saints would emigrate
to California the next spring. On being asked if he
had given his views to President Brigham Young, he
answered that he had. On further inquiry as to how his
views were received, he said, in substance, that the President
laughed and made some rather insignificant remark; "but,"
said Brannan, "when he has fairly tried it, he will find that I
was right and he was wrong, and will come to California."
He thought all except those whose families were known to
be at Salt Lake had better turn back and labor until spring,
when in all probability the Church would come to them ; or,
if not, they could take means to their families. We camped
over night with Brannan, and after he had left us the follow
ing morning, Captain James Brown, of the Pueblo detach
ment, which arrived in Salt Lake Valley on the 27th of July,
came up with a small party. He brought a goodly number
of letters from the families of the soldiers, also an epistle
from the Twelve Apostles, advising those who had not means
of subsistence to remain in California and labor, and bring
their earnings with them in the spring.
Henry W. Bigler received a letter from Elder George A.
Smith, of the Apostles, stating among other things, that
President Brigham Young, with one hundred and forty-three
Pioneers, arrived in Salt Lake Valley on the 24th day of July.

316 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
It also mentioned the arrival of the Pueblo detachment of
the Battalion, and stated that some were very busy putting in
garden and field crops, while others were making adobes to
build a temporary fort as a safeguard against Indians. The
letter also stated that President Young and the Pioneers
would return to Council Bluffs, and Father John Smith,
Patriarch, would preside until the Twelve returned the next
season.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Many Return to California — Death of Henry Hoyt — Money Providentially
Provided — Clothing Lost — Pants Worn Out — Skins Purchased for a
New Pair — Arrival in Salt Lake Valley — Destitute Condition of Men
— Clothing Donated for Them — Seeds Brought by Battalion — Prolific
Yield of Peas — Characteristics of Peas Change.
From the last-named encampment, many, probably over
half of the company, returned in accordance with the
instructions from the Twelve, to spend the winter in Cali
fornia. We were also overtaken there by a portion of the
company left at Sutter's Fort and a few others who had
remained behind our party to travel slowly with Brother
Henry Hoyt, who was sick. Brother Hoyt had gradually
failed since our separation, and finally died on the 3rd of Sep
tember, 1847. He would not consent to tarry, but insisted
on pursuing the journey. He had several times been taken
from his horse in sinking spells, received strength through
the ordinance of laying on of hands, and again continued
his journey. A short time prior to his demise he was asked
if he did not wish to stop and rest. He answered "No, go on."
These were the last words he ever spoke. Growing more
faint directly afterwards, he was aided by Sergeant R. N. Aired
and other companions from his horse, and laid upon the
ground under the shade of a tree, where, in a few moments,
he expired without a struggle or a groan. He was buried in
the best manner the company could afford, although in the

MONEY PROVIDENTIALLY PROVIDED. 317
absence of proper utensils his grave was rather shallow.
Timbers and brush were piled upon it to hide his remains
from the wolves. He died as he had lived, a faithful Latter-
day Saint. This last remark, to the best of the author's
knowledge and belief, holds good with regard to all members
of the Battallion who died in the service, and when "all who
lay down their lives for Christ's sake shall be crowned," it
may be presumed that not one of them will be missing from
the number.
After leaving the place last mentioned, an incident worthy
of note occurred. The author, before leaving Los Angeles,
expended all his cash and borrowed a trifle to complete his
outfit. While sitting by the camp fire, one evening, looking
at a paper he had taken from his pocket, he noticed something
bright drop between his feet. Picking it up he discovered it
was a two dollar Mexican gold piece, looking as new and
bright as though it had just come from the mint. Mention
ing the circumstance to some of his friends, among whom was
President Levi W. Hancock, the latter replied: "Keep it,
Brother Tyler, you will need it." Considering it a gift from
the Almighty, as upon no other principle could he account
for its falling in the air and alighting between his feet, he
kept it, as Brother Hancock advised.
Probably two or three days after that, by accident, the pack
containing the author's change of wardrobe, as well as his
provisions, got a little turned and frightened his half-wild
mule, which ran away and lost off the pack. All was recov
ered except the sack of clothes, which could not be found,
although diligent search was made. The only pants he had
left were of cotton and already thread-bare in several places.
On reaching Fort Hall he purchased a large deer-skin and a
young elk-skin with the two dollars which he had found.
These were taken to Salt Lake, where Sister St. John and her
daughter Harriet made a pair of pantaloons, of which the
author had been destitute for several days, having to wrap
himself in a Pima blanket.
Few incidents of importance occurred during the journey
to Salt Lake Valley, where we arrived on the 16th of
October, and were overjoyed to meet so many of our friends
and relatives. We found them living in a fort consisting of a

318 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
row of buildings running at right angles around a ten acre
block. The rooms all opened into the enclosure, and had
small windows or port holes looking outward, for purposes of
defense and ventilation. The entrance to the enclosure was
through a large gate in the centre of the east side or row of
buildings running north and south. The gate was locked at
night. The site of that first structure, which is in the Sixth
Ward of Salt Lake City, is known still as "the old fort." The
walls, however, have long since been removed; hence the
temporary fortification now exists only in name.
Many of the men, on arriving in the Valley, were extremely
destitue of clothing, but their necessities were somewhat
relieved by some of the influential brethren taking up a col
lection among the families of the settlers of such articles of
wearing apparel as they could spare for the benefit of the
"Battalion boys." Nothing that was donated seemed to come
amiss ; anything that would cover the nakedness of the men
or help to keep them warm was acceptable. True, the men
presented rather a motley, and, in some instances, almost a
ludicrous appearance, on account of the disparity in the color
and fit of their several garments, but comfort with them was
the first consideration, and they were thankful to get anything
that would tend to that object. President John Taylor and
Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter, were foremost among
those who made the collection of clothing for the destitute
soldiers. Different members of our company brought various kinds
of garden and fruit seeds, as well as grain, from California,
which were found very useful in this inland valley, situated
a thousand miles from any source of supply, as the mass had
little or none of them, though a few may have been reason
ably supplied.
Lieutenant James Pace introduced the club-head wheat.
The author, and perhaps some others, the California pea, now
so general and prolific as the field pea of Utah. The detached
soldiers who wintered at Pueblo, near the headwaters of the
Arkansas River, brought the variety of wheat known as the
taos, common in our Territory.
These with the other varieties in connection with those
brought by the emigrants, although insufficient to supply the

PROLIFIC YIELD OF PEAS. 319
demand, did much towards relieving the temporary wants of
the people. I left six quarts of the California peas with
Brother Seely Owens, who proposed to raise them on shares,
giving me one-half of the proceeds on my arrival the next
year. On my arrival in the fall of 1847, with my family,
Brother Owens delivered to me half a bushel of dry peas,
stating that while they were the best and most prolific peas
he ever saw, these were all he had saved. Some of them
were ready for use as green peas about June. His provisions
being exhausted, he and his family had mainly subsisted upon
them until the late heavy frosts stopped their bearing. Up to
that time, a new crop had come on as fast as the first was
picked' off. He proposed to make compensation for what he
had used over the portion due him, adding that he would
like a few for seed if I could spare them, as he did not wish
to be out of the prolific variety. I informed him if he would
take one-half of what was left, the matter would be satis
factorily settled. I gave to others two quarts, leaving myself
six quarts for the next spring's planting. The same result
followed as the previous year. My provisions ^an short and I
had to fall back on the peas for my family's supply of food.
Emigrants from the States for California came in hungry for
vegetables, anxious to pay cash or other provisions for them.
I picked and sold as well as used all we needed and gave
some to my neighbors until almost winter, when the frost
finally stopped their growth, after which I harvested three
bushels. Of course, every family wanted some of the new
variety. I found no difficulty in disposing of all I desired.
But, kind reader, now for the sequel: Provisions became
more plentiful, and, instead of continuous crops of the Cali
fornia peas, when the first were matured the vines died, so
that instead of a November harvest they ripened and began
to shed from the dead vines towards the end of July and early
in August, and this has been their history ever since. Some
argue that they must have been sown at some particular
stage of the moon. That may have been so, but I can assure
my friends that they were planted in the ground on our own
little planet, and that while the moon may have looked com
placently on, it was the same kind Providence who said, "It
is my business to provide for my Saints in the last days" that

320 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
caused these unusual results. I may add, also, that many in
those days of scarcity, testified that the flour increased in
their boxes to their great joy and surprise.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
Eastward Journey Resumed — No Flour to be Obtained for the Trip —
Disappointments at Bridger and Laramie — Scant Fare — Episode with
Indians — Diet of Rawhide Saddle Bags — Providential Freezing of the
River — Reach Winter Quarters — Kindness of Friends.
A few of the members of the Battalion found their families
in Salt Lake Valley on our arrival there, and, of course, had
no farther to go ; some others were so worn down with fatigue
and sickness that they were unable to proceed eastward at
that time, and still others preferred to remain in the valley
until the following spring and endeavor to prepare a home
for their families. Thirty-two out of the number, however,
were eager to meet their wives and children, and therefore
did not hesitate about continuing their journey another thou
sand miles, even at that late season of the year. We expected
to obtain flour in the valley for «the remainder of the journey,
but found that the people, as a rule, had not enough to sub
sist upon until they could harvest a crop. We were informed,
however, that plenty of flour could be obtained at Fort Bridger,
only 115 miles distant, so, relying upon that prospect, we left
the valley in good spirits on the 18th of October, 1847, and
started eastward.
We arrived at Fort Bridger during a rather severe snow
storm, the first of the season, and, to our chagrin, learned that
the stock of flour which had been kept there for sale had all
been bought up by emigrants to California and Oregon.
Bridger informed us that he had not even reserved any for
those located at the post, and they were then living solely
upon meat. He thought, however, we could get all we wanted
at Laramie, upon reasonable terms. ,
On leaving Salt Lake Valley, we had about ten pounds of
flour to the man, hence we were not entirely without when
we reached Bridger. We purchased a little beef there to serve

FAIL IN TRYING TO PURCHASE BREADSTUFF. 321
us until we could find game, and pushed on. We killed two
buffalo bulls before reaching Laramie, and jerked the best of
the meat. We had an occasional cake until we reached the
upper crossing of the Platte, 100 miles above the fort. There
we baked bur last cake, on the 4th of November, having made
our ten pounds of flour, each, last sixteen days. Of course,
during that time we had eaten considerable buffalo and other
beef and occasionally had some small game, including one
elk killed by Wm. Maxwell.
It was, probably, about the 10th of November when we
reached Fort Laramie. There, as at Fort Bridger, we were
again disappointed about getting flour, the only bread-stuff
purchased being one pound of crackers by Captain Andrew
Lytle, for which he paid twenty -five cents. We obtained a
very little dried buffalo beef of good quality. The post trader
advised us not to kill any buffalo when we reached their
range, as it would offend the Indians. He considered it would
be a safer and better plan to employ the Indians, should we
meet any, to kill some buffalo for us.
Those who had a little money purchased what meat they
could afford and divided with the company. Twelve miles
below Laramie we found an Indian trader on the south side
of the Platte river. A few of the men crossed over and pur
chased 100 pounds of flour, which cost only $25. There being
but about three pounds to the man, it was decided to use it
only for making gravy, or for thickening soup, as we had still
about 500 miles of our journey to travel.
When about sixty or seventy miles below the fort, our meat
was exhausted. We were now among a few scattering buffalo,
but as we had been informed that it would be dangerous for
us to kill any of them, we were in somewhat of a dilemma
what course to pursue to obtain food. However, we decided
that He who owned "the cattle upon a thousand hills" had a
claim on these, and, being His offspring, we would venture to
take one. Besides, there had been no Indians in sight for
several days, and, last but not least, we might as well die in
battle as of hunger, as in the former case our sufferings would
be of shorter duration.
The hunters succeeded in killing one bull and a calf. While
skinning the former we saw a smoke and discovered Indi-

322 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
ans on the south side of the river, opposite to where we
were. We consulted as to the best course to pursue. Some
thought we had better go on and leave our booty, but Captain
R. N. Allred suggested, very properly, that with our worn-
down animals, this . would be useless, as in case they were in
for fighting, they could soon overtake us ; hence, we decided to
stand our ground. We dressed our beef and reached camp
on the river, from the foot-hills some time after dark. We
were not molested.
Near that point, Captain R. N. Allred traded a small worn-
out mule to an Indian for a pony. About fifteen miles below
we passed, perhaps, 300 lodges of the Sioux tribe. There a
stalwart Indian came out and seized the pony by the bridle
bit. Captain Lytle and the author, being on the lead, returned
to relieve Brother Allred, by which time many other Indians,
squaws and papooses had gathered around.
The writer wore a broad-brimmed Panama hat, having
undressed elk-skin depending from the under side of it, with
the hairy side inward, to shield his ears and face from the
cold. His body was covered with a large dressing gown,
which had been donated to the company by our venerable
Presiding Bishop, Edward Hunter. The reader can imagine
how a man weighing not more than 135 pounds would appear
attired in the capacious folds of such a garment, made to fit a
person several inches taller and upwards of -one hundred
pounds heavier than himself. His unique appearance, when
mounted upon a mule, was not very inviting to a white man,
and it actually seemed to strike terror to the hearts of the
"reds," so that, at his approach, all scattered and left Brother
Allred, except the stalwart fellow who held the horse by the
bit. He maintained his grip and stood firm as a statue, evi
dently determined on having the pony at all hazards. The
mystery of the movement was soon solved by another brave
leading out the decrepit mule which Brother Allred had
recently traded for the pony, thus proving that the Indian
had rued his bargain. The Indian also indicated, by his
gestures, that he considered himself cheated, and, having no
interpreter we were unable to let him know that the mule
only required a little rest and a chance to recruit, when he
would be much the more valuable animal of the two. There

A MEAL OF A MULE'S BRAINS. 323
seemed no other" way but for Brother Allred to yield up the
pony and take back the mule, which the Indians had almost
used entirely up in hurrying to overtake us, and the exchange
was accordingly made, and all disputes settled.
About 150 miles below Laramie, we awoke one morning to
find ourselves under about twelve inches of snow. From this
point to Winter Quarters, about 350 miles, we had to travel
and break the trail through snow from one to two feet in
depth. Just before and after crossing the Loup Fork river, we lost
a few animals, supposed to have been stolen by Pawnee Indi
ans. Near the crossing of the river, the head of a donkey was
found, which Adjutant P. C. Merrill's company had killed some
time before for beef. It was supposed to have belonged to
Sergeant D. P. Rainey. Captain Allred took an ax and opened
the skull, and he and his messmates had a fine supper made
of the brains.
Near the same point Corporal Martin Ewell opened the
head of a mule killed by Captain James Pace's company only
the day before, with the same result.
The day we reached the Loup Fork, we divided and -ate the
last of our food, which in the main consisted of rawhide
"saddle-bags" we had used from California to pack our pro
visions in. This was during a cold storm which lasted several
days. Our next food was one of Captain Lytle's young mules,
which had given out and was unable to travel. This was the
first domestic animal our little company had killed since our
beef cattle in California, although we had several times looked
with a wistful eye upon a small female canine belonging to Jos.
Thorne, who, with his wife and one or two children, in a light
wagon, had accompanied us from Fort Bridger. Friend
Joseph, however, removed the temptation by trading her to
the Pawnee Indians for a small piece of dried buffalo meat.
Of this family pet, they doubtless made a rare treat, their
greatest feasts being composed mainly of dog meat.
Owing ' to floating ice, we were unable to cross the Loup
Fork for five days, in which time we traveled a few miles
down the river and found Captain Pace's company just in
time to save them from the danger of being robbed by Pawnee

324' MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
Indians who came over in considerable numbers. The rem
nants of the two companies afterwards remained together.
In hopes of procuring some corn from an Indian farm on
the opposite side of the river from us, a few of the men ven
tured to ford the stream, but the corn had been gathered and
twice gleaned from the field by other travelers, so that all they
could find were a few scattering, rotten ears. Captain Pace
and William Maxwell, also visited an Indian camp some
distance away, to try to purchase food, but failed to get any,.
as the Indians had none to spare. They, however, stayed all
night with them and obtained a good supper and breakfast
and were otherwise treated kindly.
The cold became so intense that the river froze entirely
over, and on the morning of the sixth day of our stay upon
its banks, we commenced to cross upon the ice. The ice bent
and cracked, and holes were soon broken in it, but we perse
vered until everything was over, the last article being Brother
Thome's wagon. The weather began to moderate when the
sun appeared above the horizon, and the ice had • become so
rotten before we finished crossing that the last few trips were
extremely dangerous. But a short time had elapsed after we
had safely gained the other shore before the ice broke away
and the river was again covered with floating fragments.
A kind providence had made the congealed water bridge
for our special benefit, and removed it as soon as it had
filled its mission. From the killing of Captain Ly tie's mule-
until we reached Winter Quarters, probably ten day's travel,
we subsisted upon mule meat alone, without salt. On arriving
at Elk Horn River, thirty miles from Winter Quarters, we
found a ferry-boat with ropes stretched across, ready to step
into and pull over, which of course we did.
It was understood that this boat was built by the
Pioneers, and was first used by them. It afterwards
served the companies who followed on their trail; was then
used by the Pioneers and Lieutenant Merrill's company on
their return; and last, but not least, by us, for whom it had
been last left. We crossed on the 17th of December, 1847.
The next morning, we arose early and took up the line of
march, and the foremost men arrived in Winter Quarters
about sundown, while the rear came in a little after dark.

KINDNESS OF FRIENDS. 325
Thus, it will be perceived that we were just two months in
making the journey from Salt Lake to the Missouri River,
a distance which is now traversed by the cars in a little over
two days. Some of the company found their families in the
town of Winter Quarters, while others were across the
Missouri River, at or near Kanesville, now Council Bluffs,
Pottawatomie County, Iowa. The reader can more easily
imagine our joy and that of our families and friends than it
can be described.
The kindness of friends, brethren and sisters, on our arrival
at Winter Quarters, now Florence, Nebraska, is deserving of
special mention. All the soldiers, although in some instances
they were highly respectable, were unavoidably dirty and
ragged; yet they found only warm-hearted, sympathetic
brethren, sisters and friends among the people, from President
Young and the Twelve Apostles to the least child who knew
what the words "Mormon Battalion" meant. They had been
taught to know that that valiant corps had been offered like
Isaac, a living sacrifice for the Church as well as the nation.

326

MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XL.
"Mormon Volunteers" — Quartered in San Diego — Detachment Sent to San
Luis Rey — Death of Sergeant Frost and Neal Donald — Extra Work
Done by the Soldiers — Serve Longer than They Enlisted for — Immor
ality Among their Successors — Journey to Salt Lake Valley by the
.Southern Route.
It will now be proper to return to a consideration of the
members of the discharged Mormon Battalion who re-enlisted.
On the 20th of July, 1847, one company, known as "Mor
mon Volunteers," made up from the rank and file of the Bat
talion, was mustered into the service of the United States at
Cuidad de Los Angeles, California, by First Lieutenant A. J.
Smith, First Dragoons, of Battalion notoriety, for a term of
six months. Daniel C. Davis, former Captain of Company E,
Mormon Battalion, was elected Captain of this company. The
names of all officers and soldiers will be found upon the fol
lowing roll which has been preserved intact:
OFFICERS.

Daniel C. Davis, Capt.
Cyrus C. Canfield, 1st Lieut.
Ruel Barrus, 2nd Lieut.
Robert Clift, 3rd' Lieut.
Edmund L. Brown, 1st Sergt.
Samuel Myers, 2nd Sergt.
Benjamin F. Mayfield 3rd
Sergt.

Henry Packard, Ath Sergt.
Thomas Peck, 1st Corpl.
Isaac Harrison, 2nd Corpl.
Hiram B. Mount, 3rd Corpl.
Edwin Walker, Ath Corp.
Richard D. Sprague, Musicn.
Henry W. Jackson Musicn.

PR I V A TES.

Boyle, Henry G.
Baily, Addison
Baily, Jefferson
Beckstead, Orin
Bowing, Henry
Brass, Benjamin
Brown, William
Beckstead, Gordon S.
Brizzee, Henry

Byrant, John
Calahan, Thomas
Calkins, Edwin
Carter, Philo I.
Clark, Riley P.
Clawson, John R.
Clift, James
Condit, Jeptha
Covil, John A.

ROLL OF "MORMON VOLUNTEERS."

327

Donald, Neal
Dayton, Willard Y.
Dutcher, Thomas P.
Earl, Jacob
Earl, Jessie
Evans, William
Fatout, Ezra
Fellows, Hiram W.
Fletcher, Philander
Hart, James
Harmon, Ebenezer
Harmon, Lorenzo F.
Harmon, .Oliver
Hickenlooper, William
Kibbey, James
Lemmon, James
Lance, William
Maggard, Benjamin
Morris, Thomas
Mowry, James
McBride, Harlem
Mowry, John
Neal, Conrad
Nowler, Christian
Peck, Isaac

Peck, Edwin M.
Park, James
Riter, John
Riser, John J.
Runyan, Levi
Richards, Peter F.
Sexton, George S.
Shumway, Aurora
Smith, William
Smith, Lot
Steel, George
Steel, Isaiah
Steers, Andrew
Thompson, Miles
Watts, John
West, Benjamin
Wheeler, John L.
Wheeler, Henry
Williams, James V
Winter, Jacob
Workman, Andrew J.
Workman, Oliver G.
Young, Nathan
Zabriskie, Jerome

The following order was given four days after the company
was mustered: "Headquarters Southern Military
District, California,
Cuidad de Los Angeles,
July 24, 1847.
Captain— -
You will proceed to San Diego with your company and
garrison that post. San Diego, San Luis and the surrounding
country, will be under your command. You will be watch
ful and vigilant, and especially have a strict eye upon all
persons passing in and out of the country, and by every mail
give me such information as regards the state of the country,.
as well as deportment of the people towards your command.
You are, whenever called upon by the civil authorities, to
sustain them in the execution of the laws, and in all things to>

328 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
act with prudence and discretion in the performance of your
duties. Respectfully, your obedient servant, J. D. Stevenson,
Col. Commanding S. M. District, Cal.
Captain D. C. Davis."

On the 25th, the company took up the line of march for
San Diego, on the Gulf of California, where it arrived on the
2nd of August. It was^intended as a kind of proyost guard,
to protect the citizens from Indian raids and to watch the
movements of belligerent parties, until information of a treaty
between the two governments should be received.
Soon after his arrival at San Diego, Captain Davis received
the following order:
"Head Quarters S. M. District, California,
"Santa Barbara, August 4, 1847.
"Sir :
"You will immediately upon the reception of this, post at
the mission of San Luis Rey twenty-seven men of your
company, with one sergeant and one corporal, the whole
under the command of Lieutenant Barrus, who will take
charge of and prevent any depredations being committed
upon the mission property. The detachment will remain at
that post until further orders from district head quarters.
You will receive by this mail a garrison flag which please
return receipt for.
"Captain D. C. Davis, J. D. Stevenson,
"San Diego. Commanding S. M. District,
"California."

This company had very little military duty to perform.
By virtue of agreement with the military commander, made
before enlistment, the most of the men, when off duty,
immediately turned their attention to common and mechani
cal labor, and San Diego again began to awake from her
slumbers and deadness to life and thrift.

DEATH OF SERGEANT FROST. 329
With a view to the sanitary and moral regulation of the
garrison, the following order was issued :
"Military Station, San Diego,
August 6, 1847.
(1) A daily detail of four men and one non-commissioned
officer, will be made for police, whose duty it shall be to clean
the quarters and the yard in front, also the parade ground.
(2) Strict attention of all must be given to cleanliness of
person and clothing, as well as a proper regard for decorum of
conduct. (3) In no case will playing at cards be allowed in quarters,
either by the men belonging to the garrison or others visiting
it, and all non-commissioned officers are hereby required to
report immediately any violation of the above regulations.
Daniel C. Davis,
Commanding Officer."

It being necessary to again garrison San Luis Rey, the fol
lowing order was issued :
"Military Post at San Diego,
"August 9, 1847.'
"2nd Lieutenant R. Barrus, Mormon Volunteers, will pro
ceed to-morrow, 10th inst., at 2 p. m., with twenty-five men
and one sergeant and one corporal to San Luis Rey, and take
charge of the mission and all other public property there,
and prevent any depredation being committed by the Indians
or others upon the same, and will report to me by every mail
anything that transpires which at all affects the public good.
You will be vigilant and act with prudence and discretion in
the performance of your duties. You will make requisition
upon the quartermaster for twenty days' provisions. The
wagon and team which transports the provisions, etc., you
will retain at the mission until further orders.
"Lieut. R. Barrus, Daniel C. Davis,
"1st Company, Capt. Commanding,
"Mormon Volunteers. San Diego."

On the 8th day of September, 1847, Sergeant Frost, the
former brave Corporal, on whose memory the Battalion love
to dwell, succumbed to the fell monster death. No eulogy

3<

330 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
on his character is needed ; suffice it to say, he was a man of
few words, but abundant in good deeds. His remains were
interred a half mile south-east of town.
A vacancy being caused by the death of Sergeant Frost,
the folllowing order was issued to fill it :
"(Order No. 3.) "San Diego,
"September, 11, 1847.
"Private Henry Packard, of Company A, Mormon Volun
teers, is hereby appointed Sergeant of said company, to fill
the vacancy occasioned by the death of Sergeant Lafayette
Frost. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
"Approved : By order of
"(Signed) J. D. Stevenson, Daniel C. Davis,
"Col. Commanding Capt. Commanding
"S. M. District, Cal. San Diego."

On the 5th of November following, Brother Neal Donald
another worthy veteran, departed and was buried by the
side of Sergeant Frost. The following order appears in
connection with the record of the company, but without date :
"Private Thomas Morris, of the Mormon Company of.
Volunteers, stationed at San Diego, is hereby appointed hos
pital steward for that post, vice Waddell, 7th New York
Volunteers, reduced. He will- be obeyed and respected
accordingly. "By order of Col. Stevenson,
"J. C. BONNYCASTLE,
"1st Lieut, and Adjt. New York Volunteers."

The time for which the company of "Mormon Volunteers"
enlisted, expired on the 20th of Jauuary, 1848, but they were
not mustered out for almost two months after that. In the
meantime, they were very busily employed when not on
duty. One of the men, Brother Henry G. Boyle, writing of
their labors, says: "I think I whitewashed all San Diego.
We did their blacksmithing, put up a bakery, made and
repaired carts, and, in fine, did all we could to benefit our-

COMPANY DISBANDED AT SAN DIEGO. 331
selves as well as the citizens. We never had any trouble
with Californians or Indians, nor they with us. The citizens
became so attached to us that before our term of service
expired, they got up a petition to the governor of California
to use his influence to keep us in the service. The petition
was signed by every citizen in the town. The governor tried
hard to keep us in the service another year. Failing in that,
he tried us for six months longer." This latter offer was
declined, and other volunteers took their place. The social
evil spread among the soldiers under the new regime, and
their condition is reported as having been simply horrible.
Brother Boyle sums up the matter by saying that "civilization
was fully establislied."
On the 14th of March, 1848, the company's time of enlist
ment having overrun nearly two months, it was disbanded at
San Diego. These veterans drew their pay the day following,
and, on the 21st, a company of twenty-five men, with H. G.
Boyle as Captain (Captain Daniel C. Davis having declined
a "third term"), started for Salt Lake Valley.
On the 31st they arrived at Williams' rancho, and fitted
out for the journey by the southern route. Those who did not
join the home-bound company mostly went up the coast to
the mines, towns and farms, and some of them died in that
land; others returned the year following, while some still
remain in California.
On the 12th of April, the little company having obtained a
proper outfit, again took up the line of march. Orin Porter
Rockwell and James Shaw, who had traveled the route the
previous winter, wTere chosen pilots by and for the company.
They started with only one wagon and 135 mules. Of course
they were packers. They arrived at Salt Lake on the 5th of
June. Theirs was the first wagon that ever traveled the southern
route. This is the only feasible route from Salt Lake, and all
Utah for that matter, to travel by wagons in the winter season,
to Southern California. Thus another great national wagon
road was pioneered by the enterprise of a portion of this
indomitable Battalion of "Mormons," or Latter-day Saints;
nor, as we shall soon discover, was this the last of their numer-

332 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
ous pioneering successes. Like Joseph in Egypt, whatever
they put their hands to prospered.
Having safely landed this little company at the capital city
of the Saints, we will now bid them adieu and return and
hunt up those we left on the Truckee river to return to Cali
fornia, and raise some money, and then come on to Salt Lake
Valley in the spring or summer of 1848.

CHAPTER XLI.
Men who Returned to California for Work— Employed by Captain Sutter
to Build Mills— Discovery of Gold in the Mill Race by Mr. Marshall —
Other Discoveries — Effects of the gold fever. —
Nothing of note transpired among those who started back
on the 7th or 8th of September, 1847, to find labor for the fall
and winter, until they reached Sutter's Fort, on or about the
14th of September, 1847.
The next day, a stipulation for all who wished labor was
entered into, as follows, to wit: "Captain John A. Sutter
being desirous of building a flouring mill, some six miles from
the fort and a saw-mill about forty-five miles away, proposed
to hire all the men, about forty in number, either by the job
or month, at their option, to dig the races. Twelve and a half
cents per yard, and provisions found, was finally agreed upon,
the men to do their own cooking. Their animals were also to
be herded with the Captain's, free of charge.
Captain Sutter advanced one-half of the prospective cost in
gentle work oxen. A portion of the men obtained plows,
picks, spades, shovels and scrapers and moved up to the desig
nated point for the saw-mill, while the balance went to dig
the race for the grist-mill. The former commenced labor
about the 17th, clearing $1.50 each the first day. They sub
sequently earned more. The frame of the flouring mill, a
short distance from, the subsequent site of Sacramento City,
was raised the latter part of December, 1847, and the saw-mill

DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA. 333
probably a little later. To the credit of "Mormon" labor, be it
remembered, is California indebted for the erection of these
mills. Much credit is due Captain Sutter and his partner, Mr.
Marshall, for starting these enterprises and their gentlemanly
bearing towards the discharged soldiers. But aside from these
discharged "Mormons," there were no laboring men worth
naming in the State, and but for them the mill enterprise
and the consequent discovery of gold in that region might
have been long delayed.
The following have been handed in as the names of those
who dug the head and tail race of the saw-mill, some of whom
also worked on the frame under the superintendence of Mr.
Marshall, who did some of the mill-wright work, to wit: Alex
ander Stephens, James S. Brown, James Barger, William
Johnston, Azariah Smith, Henry W. Bigler, of the Battalion,
and Peter Wimmer, William Scott, and Charles Bennett, not
members of the Battalion nor of the Church of the Saints, but
honorable "outsiders," who, from the days of Nauvoo, have
been more or less with the Church.
On or about the 24th of January, 1848, the water was turned
into the race above the saw-mill. The race was found good,
but the water, in leaving the flume and reaching the head of
the tail race, having considerable fall, washed a hole near the
base of the building. Being turned off, Superintendant Mar
shall went below to ascertain what effect the wash was likely
to have. 'While thus examining, his eyes caught sight of
yellow shining metal, which he picked up, not knowing what
it was, but believed it to be gold. A subsequent assay proved
his conjecture to be correct. The nuggets were in value from
twenty-five cents to five dollars each.
It is detracting nothing from Captain Sutter or his partner,
Mr. Marshall, to say that although the latter was the "lucky
man" in making the first discovery of gold, the uncovering of
the precious metal was the result of the labor of a portion of
the members of the Mormon Battalion, hence it may very
properly be said that "Mormon" labor opened up and devel
oped one of the greatest resources of our nation's wealth. The
"Mormon" discharged soldiers "shook the bush," and friend
Marshall, unexpectedly, "caught the bird." Like most great
and useful discoveries, this was unexpected and probably

334 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
unthought of, and, from a mere human standpoint, was purely
accidental. To the author, however, the ha,nd of an all-wise
providence is plainly visible in it.
The intelligence of the discovery of gold was shortly after
confidentially conveyed- to Wilford Hudson, Sidney S. Willis
and Ephraim Green, who subsequently came to the mill and
learned the foregoing facts.
They examined the rock at the bottom of the wash and
found a few additional specimens. After stoppin-g and resting
a few days, they returned to the flouring mill, thence to an
island in the Sacramento river, subsequently known as "Mor
mon Island."
On that island, or sand-bar, was found gold in paying quan
tities, but, strange to say, only a little company of nine persons
out of about forty could be persuaded that it was a reality,
although the dust was exhibited and the fact stated that men
were digging and washing from twenty to thirty dollars of
pure gold nuggets and dust per day. This order' of things,
however, lasted only a few weeks, until its opposite was real
ized. The secret was made public and such fabulous reports
were circulated that "In the settlements along the coast and
on the rivers, lawyers closed their offices, doctors forsook their
patients, schools were dismissed, farmers allowed their grain
to fall to the ground uncared for, and almost everybody of
every description came in every conceivable way and manner;
hi one grand, wild rush to the 'gold diggings'; on horses,
mules, with wheelbarrows, with packs on their own backs,
and some with nothing but the dirty rags they stood up
in, and in a few weeks, the mountain wilderness was turned
into busy mining camps, and the whole face of the country
seemed to change as if by magic."
It may also be very properly stated here that the excite
ment of the late war with Mexico now subsided and the mal
content Californians, who had sought a favorable opportunity
to re-take the country, relinquished all idea of another con
quest, and, true to the Spanish instinct, turned their attention
to mining, thus closing and healing the bloody chasm. While
Texas opened the gory conflict, with the Mexicans, to the
patriotism and unflinching industry of the Mormon Battalion
is due the honor of closing the Mexican war in California.

DONKEY BURIED IN THE SNOW. 335

CHAPTER XL11. *
Attempt to Explore a New Route to Salt Lake Valley— Forced to Return on
Account of Deep Snow — Three Men Grow Impatient and Make
Another Attempt, and are Murdered by Indians— The Company Follow
and Discover their Remains— Animals Alarmed— Scattered by the
Firing of a Cannon.
According to previous arrangements, a company of eight
persons started on the 1st of May, 1848, Sergeant David
Browett being elected Captain, to pioneer, if possible, a wagon
road over the Sierra Nevada Mountains eastward, the Truckee
route being impracticable at that season of the year. This
company consisted of David Browett, Captain, Ira J. Willis,
J. C. Sly, (known as Captain Sly), Israel Evans, Jacob G.
Truman, Daniel Allen, J. R. Allred, Henderson Cox and Robert
Pixton. Three days' travel brought this company to Iron Hill,
where they found the snow so deep they could travel no
farther. A donkey belonging to one of the men was com-
completely buried in the snow, except his ears. On this
occasion, these appendages were not to be despised, ugly and
unique as they usually appear, for one or two of the men got
hold of them and dragged Mr. Donkey on to terra firma and
saved his life. None of that company will be very likely to
wonder why those animals are made with large ears.
Brothers Willis, Sly and Evans ascended to the summit of
a mountain. Seeing nothing but snow-capped mountains
in advance of them, it was decided not to abandon but to
postpone the enterprise until a later period. So far as they
could judge, a wagon road would at least be possible and
perhaps a success. One day's travel in descending took them
back from winter's cold, snowy regions to a warm, spring
atmosphere, where flowers bloomed and vegetation was far
advanced.

336 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
The balance of May and the month of June were spent in
digging gold, buying wagons and a full outfit for a wagon
train, and making a rendezvous in Pleasant Valley, a beauti
ful place, about fifty miles east of Sutter's Fort.
About the 24th of June, Captain Browett, Daniel Allen and
Henderson Cox, desired to cross the mountains on a second
exploring tour, but their friends, or at least a portion of them,
thought the undertaking risky, owing to the wild Indians,.
They, however, being fearless and anxious to be moving,
decided to brave all dangers and make the effort. They
started, and the sequel will show that the fears of their friends
were but too well founded.
By the 2nd of July, the company were again on the march ;
two days' travel from Pleasant Valley, brought them to Sly's
Park, a small valley or mountain dell, thus named for Captain
James C. Sly, who first discovered it. Here the company made
a halt. Ten men on the 4th, took up the line of march to
pioneer the way over the summit of the mountains. Four
days' travel over rough and rugged mountains took them
across, and they found themselves safely landed at the head
of Carson Valley, Nevada. As they returned to their com
rades, they spent six days endeavoring to find a more practicable
route, but failed.
On the 16th of July, the company again broke camp, and
the next day arrived at Leek Springs. Here, in the absence.
of Captain Browett, the company again organized, with
Jonathan Holmes President, and Lieutenant Samuel Thomp
son Captain.
The company numbered about thirty-seven individuals,
all told, with sixteen wagons and two small Russian cannon,
which they had purchased before leaving Sutter's, one a four,
the other a six-pounder. The cost of these guns was four
hundred dollars.
This little band, like most of the Battalion, had great confi
dence in Divine interposition in their behalf, believing that
a kind Providence would second their efforts to return to their
families and friends.
Israel Evans, a representative member of the company, to
whom the writer is indebted for a journal of their travels,
says: "We had an abiding faith in God, that inasmuch as

REMAINS OF MURDERED BRETHREN FOUND. 337
He had opened unto us the treasures of the hills to help us
to means for our return, He would also show unto us the way
by which we could travel home."
In addition to the outfit already named, they subsequently
obtained about one hundred and fifty head of horses and
mules, with about the same number of horned stock, consist
ing of work oxen, cows and calves. This camp was kept one
. day after the return of the explorers, to work the road which
they had pioneered. They had no guide, nor, so far as
known, had the foot of white man ever trod upon the ground
over which they were then constructing, what subsequently
proved to be a great national highway for the overland
travel. Some four or five miles took them to what they named
Tragedy Springs. After turning out their stock and gather
ing around the spring to quench their thirst, some one picked
up a blood-stained arrow, and after a little search other bloody
arrows were also found, and near the spring the remains of a
camp fire, and a place where two men had slept together and
one alone. Blood on rocks was also discovered, and a leather
purse with gold dust in it was picked up and recognized as
having belonged to Brother Daniel Allen. The worst fears
of the company : that the three missing pioneers had been
murdered, were soon confirmed. A short distance from the
spring was found a place about eight feet square, where the
earth had lately been removed, and upon digging therein
they found the dead bodies of their beloved brothers, Browett,
Allen and Cox, who left them twenty days previously. These
brethren had been surprised and killed by Indians. Their
bodies were stripped naked, terribly mutilated and all buried
in one shallow grave.
The company buried them again, and built over their
grave a large pile of rock, in a square form, as a monument
to mark their last resting place, and shield them from the
wolves. They also cut upon a large pine tree near by their
names, ages, manner of death, etc. . Hence the name of the
springs. After the darkness of night' had gathered around them and
they were sadly conversing by the camp-fire, Indians or
wild animals came within smelling or hearing distance of their

338 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
stock, which became so frightened that they rushed to within
a few rods of the camp-fire, forming a circle around it, with
their eyes shining like balls of fire in the darkness. As quick
as possible, a cannon was loaded and fired. The belching
forth of fire in the darkness, accompanie^d by the terrific report,
echoing many times acre ss the little valley, so terrified their
animals that they scattered in every direction, and it was not
until late the second day that all were recovered, some having'
been overtaken at a distance of twenty-five miles on their
back track. If, as was thought, Indians were in the vicinity,
intending to make a raid upon the camp, the report of the
cannon so frightened them that they fled, as nothing was
seen of them. The Digger Indians, at that time, were almost
entirely unacquainted with the use of fire arms, and the
effect, upon them, of the roaring of a cannon, in the stillness
of the night, may easily be imagined.
While some were hunting the stock, others were working
the road, and the balance removing camp to Rock Springs,
only about four miles from the place where the men were
murdered.

MAKE A ROAD TO CARSON VALLEY. 339

CHAPTER XLIII.
Make a Road to Carson Valley — Meet Emigrants — Their Joy at News
of Gold— Enter the Valley by the Deep Creek Route— "Mormon"
Enterprise in San Francisco — Adventurous Trip from San Francisco to
Council Bluffs.
At Rock Springs the company halted two or three days, and
with the entire force were only able to work the road for a dis
tance of three miles to another opening, after which the camp
marched only five miles, which took them over the highest
mountains, though not over the main dividing ridge.
This was about the first of August, and yet, strange to tell,
those prairie farmers of the Middle and Western States,
with their wagons, had to be hauled over varioushanks of "the
beautiful snow," in some places from ten to fifteen feet deep.
On _ this short day's march, two wagons were upset and two
broken, the spokes in the hind wheel of ,one being all broken.
New spokes were, however, soon made from a dry pine tree
near at hand, which did such good service that the wheel
required no further repairs until the company reached Salt
Lake Valley.
Other work was required upon the road, and then a journey
of about five miles brought the company near to the summit
of the dividing ridge of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The next morning, the wagons were lightened by the heav
iest freight being packed upon mules over the ridge and down
the steep descent of the mountain. They camped near the
eastern base, giving the place the name of Hope Valley ; the
spirits of the explorers who first discovered it reviving when
they arrived in sight of it.
The next day's travel, took them to the lower end of the
valley. Before they could advance farther, four days more
were spent in working the road. They then traveled five
miles down the canyon to the head of Carson Valley. Here,
like the Puritan fathers upon landing at Plymouth Rock, they

340 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY'.
tendered thanks to God who had delivered them, not from
the dangers of the sea, but the far more dreaded merciless
savages, the ferocious wild beasts that abounded in that
region, and from being dashed to pieces while traveling over
and around the steep precipices of the everlasting snow-capped
mountains. They had no idea of the magnitude of the work
they had performed, nor did it once enter their minds that in
less than twelve months many thousands of their fellow coun
trymen would gladly avail themselves of this road to reach a
land they had so cheerfully and recently left.
They traveled down the Carson river a few days, but not
feeling satisfied to go farther in that direction, they halted,
and Israel Evans, with a few others, went on another explor
ing tour. They sighted a grove of cotton wood trees several
miles to the .northward. They returned to camp, and the
next day, after toiling , all day, as they had done several pre
vious days, through sage brush and sand, the grove was
reached. On arriving, they were almost overjoyed to find
themselves in the emigrant road, hear the lower crossing of
the Truckee river. They now knew where they were and
about the distance they had to travel, and governed them
selves accordingly. They soon met a few trains of California
emigrants, who, on learning that they were fresh from a new
Eldorado, were anxious to learn what the prospects were.
One of the men began to explain, and, taking his purse
from his pocket, poured into his hand perhaps an ounce of
gold dust and began stiring it with his finger. One aged man
of probably over three score years and ten, who had listened
with intense interest while his expressive eyes fairly glistened,
could remain silent no longer ; he sprang to his feet, threw his
old wool hat upon the ground, and jumped upon it with both
feet, then kicked, it high in the air, and exclaimed, "Glory,
hallalujah, thank God, I shall die a rich man yet!" Many
very interesting and somewhat similar scenes occurred as the
tidings were communicated to other trains, this company
having brought over the snow-capped ' Sierra Nevada Moun
tains, the first news of the discovery of gold in California.
When this enterprising little company reached Goose Creek
mountains, instead of following the old emigrant road via Fort ,
Hall, on Snake river, some two hundred miles more or less

LABOR AND TRAVELS OF THE BATTALION. 341
out of their way, they struck across the country, by what is
now known as the Deep Creek route, crossing the Malad and
Bear rivers a few miles above their junction. They arrived
in Salt Lake Valley about the 1st of October, 1848, feeling
happy and thankful that they had exchanged the land of
gold for wives, children and friends — the home of the Latter-
day Saints.
In all of the travels of the Battalion, making in the round
trip about five thousand miles, often in close proximity to
far superior forces of the enemy, as well as passing through
several strong nations of wild and ferocious Indians, there was
"no fighting except with wild beasts." Taking into consider
ation their many hardships and privations, there were but few
deaths, and it may be safely stated that no portion of the vet
erans of the Mexican war of the same number, did more effec
tive service, or accomplished as much in the way of filling the
coffers of the nation's wealth as did the Mormon Battalion.
To the members of the Mormon Battalion, who remained
in California after their discharge, to seek work, is also due
considerable credit for improvements made and enterprises
established in San Francisco and the surrounding region.
Zacheus Cheeney and James Baily, of the Battalion, were
the first persons to make brick in San Francisco. They com
menced the kiln in April, after which Brother Cheeney went
to the mines, and Brother Baily burned the bricks — 50,000, in
June, 1848. Some tiles had previously been burned, and
possibly some bricks may have been imported as ballast, but
none had ever been made there.
Among those of the Battalion who remained in California
until 1848, were William Hawk, his son Nathan Hawk, Silas
Harris, Sanford Jacobs,  Slater and another whose name
is forgotten, who, together with four men who were not Latter-
day Saints, were employed by Samuel Brannan to carry
private mail from California eastward to emigrants journey
ing to California and Oregon, also to Salt Lake and Council
Bluffs. They left San Francisco on the 1st of April, 1848, and
passed Sutter's Fort on the 15th. On reaching the Sierra
Nevada mountains, they had some trouble with the Digger
Indians, who ran off seventy-five of their horses, but all were
recovered. They also encountered deep snow, which, in some

342 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
places, was very soft. On reaching the Truckee river, they
found it very high and rapid, with rocky, dangerous bottom,
but they crossed in safety. They were twenty -three days in
traveling about forty miles. On reaching Salt Lake, Silas
Harris remained there, and the others continued on. They
had difficulty from high water more or less all the way to the
Platte river. When near the east end of Grand Island they
had eighteen head of horses stolen by the Pawnee Indians,
and, when in pursuit to recover them, had a skirmish in which
several shots were exchanged and one Indian was supposed to
have been killed. William Hawk, one of the pursuing party,
was miraculously saved by the guns of the Indians failing to
go off, when several aimed at him while only a few feet distant
and attempted to fire. One Indian, also, tried to shoot him
with an arrow, which Brother Hawk parried off, upon which
the Indian struck him a heavy blow across the forehead with
his bow, the mark of which he bears at the present time. He
was stunned for the moment, and bled profusely, but other
wise escaped uninjured. No other members of the company
were harmed, and the animals were all recovered.

PRESIDENT YOUNG'S ADDRESS TO THE BATTALION. 343

CHAPTER XLIV.
President Young Requested by the Military Commander of California to have
Another Battalion sent there— president Young's Address to the "Bat
talion Boys" in Salt Lake Valley— Why the Call was Made for the
Battalion — Opposed to their Re-enlisting.
President George Q. Cannon, in his "History of the Church,"
alluding to that period immediately succeeding the arrival of
the Battalion in Salt Lake Valley, says :
"By direction of Col. R. B. Mason, Military Governor of
California, Col. J. D. Stevenson wrote to President Young that
he was instructed to authorize Captain Jefferson Hunt to raise
a volunteer battalion of "Mormons." He alluded to the
"severe persecution" endured by the Saints, and attributed
much of the prejudice existing in California to the exclusive-
ness of the Saints, as well as the bad reports which had pre
ceded them ; but he said that the intercourse with the men of
the Battalion since their arrival had dispelled the prejudices,
and that having had occasion to visit all the prominent places
from Santa Barbara to San Diego, he had found a strong feel
ing of respect entertained for the Mormon people, both by the
native and foreign population, and an earnest desire expressed
that they should be retained in service during the war and
finally become permanent residents of that section.
"After the arrival of President Young in the Valley he
called the brethren of the Battalion together and blessed them
in the name of the Lord for their fidelity to the kingdom of
God. He told them it was not generally understood why the
Battalion had been raised. The Latter-day Saints had friends
and enemies at Washington. When President Polk could do
them a favor he was disposed to do it, but there were those
around him who felt vindictive towards the Saints and kept
continually harping against them, and who thought them
selves wise enough to lay plans to accomplish their destruc-

344 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
tion. The plan of raising a Battalion to march to California
by a call from the War Department was devised with a view
to the total overthrow of the kingdom of God and the destruc
tion of every man, woman and child, and was hatched up by
Senator Thomas H. Benton. The enemies of the Saints firmly
believed they would refuse to respond to the call, and they
told President Polk this would prove to him whether they
were friends to the Union ; and they further advised the Pres
ident that when the call would be rejected, to say to the States
of Missouri and Illinois and the mobocrats : "The Mormons
are at your mercy." When Captain Allen, who had been
appointed by the government to call upon the Latter-day
Saints to raise a battalion for the war, read his papers, the
power of the Almighty was upon President Young and his
brethren, and it overshadowed Allen, and he straightway
became the friend of the people, and had he lived, President
Young said, he would have remained their friend.
"It was to the praise of the Battalion, President Young said,
that they went as honorable men, doing honor to their calling
and to the United States, and he was satisfied with all of them.
If some had done wrong and transgressed and been out of the
way, President Young exhorted them to refrain therefrom,
turn to the Lord and build up His kingdom. Who could
say, he asked, he was without sin?
"President Young said he felt glad that their conduct had'.
proved to their commanders and generals that they were the
best and most reliable soldiers ; and although there were, per
haps, no people in the Union who would have responded to
the call under the circumstances the Saints were in; still it
was the best course that they could have pursued. President
Young further remarked that he saw the whole plan concocted
as plainly as he saw the faces then before him, and he felt
within himself that his faith in God would out-general the
wickedness of their enemies. The Battalion was formed, it started,
and the sword fell on the other side. If the Battalion had not
gone, they would not have been in the Valley then. He
alluded to feelings which existed between those who had been
in the army and those who had not; such feelings, he said,
were wrong. His fellowship was as pure for one person as for
another who had been preserved in the gospel covenants.

FESTIVAL OF THE MORMON BATTALION. 345
"He said he did not want the Battalion to re-enlist for
another six months. He regretted that he did not have cloth-
ing?for them ; but he would rather wear skins, he said, than
go back to the United States for clothes."

CHAPTER XLV
First General Festival of the Mormon Battalion in Salt Lake Valley-
Speeches by Father Pettegrew, Presidents Young, Kimball and Grant,
Sergeant Hyde, Captain Brown, Lieutenants Clark and Thompson and
Brothers Huntington, Williams, Wilkin, King, Garner, Durphy, Hess
and Hawk.
Some items connected with the first general festival of the
Battalion, which was held in the Social Hall, in Salt Lake
City, on the 6th and 7th of February, 1855, will be interesting
as a part of this history.
On this occasion, all the members of the Battalion who were
in the Territory, who could possibly attend, with the First
Presidency of the Church and a number of other friends,
met together to enjoy a ' social reunion. The Social Hall
was tastefully decorated, the best of music was in attend
ance and a number of tables were spread with all the
delicacies and luxuries which the country afforded in the
shape of edibles, to tempt the appetites of the assembled
guests. During the course of the proceedings, a number of speeches
were delivered, which were replete with interesting reminis
cences of days of service, and fatherly counsel from the First
Presidency of the Church and others.
Father Pettegrew being called upon by the committee, came
to the front of the stage, and said :
"Fellow-soldiers of the Mormon Battalion, and ladies — the
wives and daughters of those men who were offered a sacrifice
for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints : When
the time had arrived for the Church to take its flight into the
wilderness, according to the predictions of the Prophets, a
demand was made by the Government of the United States
for five hundred able-bodied men to go and fight for the rights
33

346 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
of the people before whom they were fleeing. I say it was at
the time when we were fleeing from the persecution, oppres
sion and tyranny exercised against us in our own country, the
land in which we were born. This order came at the very
time we were escaping into the wilderness to seek protection
and liberty among the mountains of the western wilds. It
was not long after the order came before we were on the
march for the West, to help the United States against Mexico,
and I can assure you, brethren and sisters, that when I look upon
this lively assemblage and contrast it with the scenes I have
passed through in twenty-three years' experience in this
Church, and think of what has taken place, things past come
to mind with great vividness, as though they were still
before my eyes, and I have indeed cause to rejoice in the
present scenery before me, and also in the anticipations of the
future. "My father was a -soldier and fought under General Wash
ington, and when a boy I heard nothing else, scarcely, but the
accounts of the war, and my father's views respecting the
prosperity, success, and triumph of those early warriors, and
the liberty that was gained for all. I for years enjoyed many
of the benefits of that liberty, until truth sprang out of the
earth, and the light of revelation dawned; then the liberty and
freedom purchased by our forefathers were taken from me
and my brethren. Hundreds and thousands of acres of good
land, that we paid our money for, has been taken away from
us by the wicked, while we, only some of the vast number of
the robbed and plundered, escaped with our lives and but
little else. I rejoice when I think of the scenes through
which I have passed, and then behold so many of those men
who were sick through fatigue, (for many of our noble band
were sick on their way to Santa Fe,) when upon a long march
and for two or three days and nights without water, and
suffering from fatigue such as is only known to these, my fellow
soldiers. Although their hardships were numerous, I think
there were only two of our brave men fell victims to the mon
ster death before reaching Santa Fe. When I think of this
I feel truly grateful to our God this day for His many bles
sings, and to see so many of those generous-hearted men
who have offered their lives for the cause of Christ."

HEBER C. KIMBALL'S SPEECH. 347
President H. C. Kimball, then addressed the audience as
follows :
"Brethren, keep as still as you can, I suppose you ain't in a
hurry are you? (The congregation all replied to the question
in the negative.) I motion you stick to it till you get satis
fied, if it takes the whole week ; this world was not made in a
day, neither will our victory be obtained in one day, but it will
take many years, for it is a great work. Brethren, these are
some of my feelings respecting you. You know I was one of
the recruiting officers; President Young and myself went
round recruiting, so I consider myself one of the superior offi
cers of this company ; and I feel that I have considerable of a
right here ; in fact I felt that I could not stay away.
"You all know my feelings about you ; I have not anything
in my heart but the very best of feelings toward you ; and
there is not anything in the world causes my feelings to be
aroused sooner than to see any one take a course to put a stop
to the influence of this people, either in one shape or another.
I want to see you all honor yourselves, and make your Priest
hood honorable in the sight of high heaven. I wish to see
you honor God and your calling as you did in the campaign
when you went to California. I verily believe and know, that
you did then, generally speaking, and I know that resulted in
the salvation of this people, and had you not done this, we
should not have been here.
"I want to tell you, gentlemen, that we'll have times and
seasons yet, and you will be brought into closer quarters than
you were on those occasions. I feel to warn you, and forewarn
you of these things. Don't sell your guns, but if you have not
good ones, see and g'.:t them, and rub up your swords and
be ready ; but fear not, for the Lord will prepare a ram in the
thicket, and he will save his people and overthrow the wicked,
if it takes every one of those boys who were in Zion's Camp
and this Battalion to do it. Brother Grant was in Zion's Camp,
and it was said in a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph,
that we then offered a sacrifice equal to that of Abraham
offering up Isaac, and Isaac's blessing shall be upon you,
brethren. "I hope you will stay together till you are satisfied with your
enjoyments, and myself and Brother Grant will sustain you;

348 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
and do not for a moment get it into your hearts that we are
anything but your friends, for we have the best of feelings
towards you all. Our prayers are lifted up by day and by
night in your behalf, and you will be blessed indeed, every
man and every woman. But. every man that lifts his hand
against you shall fall, and every nation, and president, and
king that lift their hands against you and this people, cannot
prosper ; but the curse of the Almighty will rest upon them.
These are my views and feelings upon that subject. May God
bless you forever and ever. Amen."
President J. M. Grant came to the front of the stage, and
made the following remarks :
"I see before me men, and I believe the principal part, if
not all of you whom I now behold, were in the renowned
Mormon Battalion.
"I have read many narratives of the valor of men, and the
service they had rendered to their country ; but I here see a set
of men that rendered service to their country — not such service
as was rendered by the men who first raised the ax to break
up the wild timber and clear the ground for cultivation;
neither do I see that class of men who labored and fought to
remove the obstacles that once existed in the United States ;
but I see men who have stood in defense of their country,
under the most heartrending circumstances that human
beings could be placed in ; men having families and friends
to leave on the open prairie; and, as our forefathers fought
under General Washington and saved the country from the
enemy, so did this Mormon Battalion save a large tract of
land from being taken by the enemy, and they saved this
people from being pounced upon by the militia of several
States ; for heartless villains had concocted plans to have all
this people murdered while upon the western frontiers.
"You will all remember that I went to Washington, and I
know from what I there learned, that the Hon. Thomas H.
Benton advocated the necessity of raising troops and cutting
off all the 'Mormons' from the face of the earth. Notwith
standing you had rendered your services, and offered your
names to go and serve your country in the war with Mexico,
yet, while you were doing this, one of the senators, and one of
the principal men in the Senate, too, did endeavor to indues

J. m. grant's SPEECH. 349
the Senate, the Cabinet, and the House of Representatives,
to raise a force sufficiently strong to go out against the poor
defenseless 'Mormon' women and children who were left upon
the wild prairie unprotected. Yes, Mr. Thos. H. Benton
wanted to take troops and pounce upon your wives and
children when upon the banks of the Missouri River, and
sweep them out of existence. And when the case was argued,
the question was asked: 'Supposing you cut off the men,-
what shall be done with the women and children ?' '0,' said
Benton, 'if you argue the case, and wish to know what shall
be done with the women, I say wipe them off, too.'
'Well, then,' was asked, 'what shall be done with the chil
dren?' 'Why,' said Benton, 'cut them off, men, women and
children, for the earth ought to drink their blood ;' and the
feeling was so strong upon the question that it came within
a little of magnetizing the whole nation. What should we
have done if we could not have argued that we had five
hundred men upon the plains, engaged in the service of their
country, and their wives and their children left without pro
tection? What, I say, would have been the consequence if we
had not had this plea? Israel must have been put upon the
altar. And if we could not have raised the complement of
men, what would have been the fate of this people? Israel
must have been put in the tomb, unless by the interference of
high heaven a ram had been found in the thicket. Yes,
brethren, had it not been for this Battalion, a horrible massa
cre would have taken place upon the banks of the Missouri
River. Then, I say, notwithstanding your hardships and the
difficulties you passed through, you rendered service to the
people of God that will ever be remembered, and such service
as will bring blessings upon your heads in time and in
eternity. And if your friends fell by the wayside ; and if
any of you lost your families, your wives or your children,
and you sustain the people of God, you can depend upon a
reward for all that you suffered, for you are the sons of God.
This is the real relationship of this Battalion to the Lord
Almighty. Our motto is, to sustain the constitution of the
United States, and not abuse it; and we intend to live by it,
and this is no chimera as some of our enemies might be
pleased to call it. You have done a good work, and I say,

350 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
may God bless you all, and may you honor God as you have
honored your country, and all will go well with you from
this time henceforth.
"When Isaac went to the altar, he was called a lad, and was
twenty-five years old (and some of you are not much older
than that now^, he went cheerfully, because he knew it to be
right; but he had no more of a task to perform than this
Battalion, for you had to live upon what you could get; eat
hides, blood and all ; and you had to eat your mules, and
walk over the scorching plains, and be days and nights
without water. I would_as soon have carried Isaac's burthen
as yours. These things are remembered by all those who see
and feel in the kingdom of God ; but I am fully aware that
many of those who are rather careless and wild do not realize
the important service that you rendered on that memorable
occasion. The burthen laid upon you was hard to bear, and
it was harder than there was any need for it to be.
"We are friendly to our country, and when we speak of the
flag of our Union, we love it, and we love the rights the Con
stitution guarantees to every citizen. What did the Prophet
Joseph say ? When the Constitution shall be tottering we
shall be the people to save it from the hand of the foe.
"I have as much love and respect for the Constitution of '76,
as any other man, and I have as much right to the liberty and
privileges it guarantees as any other man. Do I think as
much of a federal government as I ought? I believe I have
, as much respect, and am as loyal as any other man, and I
believe in giving the rights that are guaranteed by that Con
stitution to all, not excepting the degenerate children of our
forefathers. "Brethren, you have been called upon to defend not only
the Church of God, but your country ; and you have many
times been called upon to defend your leaders, and it is pos
sible that you may be called upon again. You say that you
had but little fighting to do, but that does not prove you never
will have it to do. You may yet' see the day when the inter
ests of the Church of God will call you into the field of battle,
and hence I say, brethren, be ready for whatever may come.
"I have not come here to dance, nor feast, but I have come
to mingle my voice with yours, and to say God bless you ; and

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT YOUNG. 351
also to say, you are a good set of men — servants of the people
of God. I came here to say, you deserve credit, and to offer
you my thanks for your services in that Battalion."
"After dinner, President Brigham Young came upon the
stage, and beholding the company full of life and merri
ment, he exclaimed: "Well, I declare, this beats all the par
ties I have ever seen here." He stood and watched the com
pany then upon the floor go through a few figures, after
which the house was called to order by the committee, when
President Brigham Young made the following
REMARKS:
"I intend to occupy your attention but a very short time.
"I now behold a part of the men who left their wives, chil
dren, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers, cattle, horses, and
wagons, upon the prairie, in a wild and savage country, and
took up their arms and marched forth to the defense, I would
be glad to say, of our beloved and happy Republic. The men
now before me, (for I presume there are but few here who do
not belong to the Battalion,) are men who have constantly
had a goodly share of my faith, prayers, and sympathies from
the time they volunteered to go into the service of the United
States, at least as much as any other set of men who do, or
ever did belong to this kingdom.
"Some have imagined, as I have been informed, that the
Battalion was not looked upon with sufficient favor, by the
balance of the community. Owing to this misunderstanding,
I take the liberty of expressing my feelings in part. Perhaps,
in a few instances, there may have been remarks made about
some members of the Battalion, from which it may be inferred
that there might be persons who rather lightly esteemed those
who went into the service of the United States. I presume
that some of those now present have this idea, and do not
wish to be looked upon lightly by their brethren, but wish to
be favorably considered by the Saints.
"At the departure of the Mormon Battalion, I am sure that
no set of men, or people, ever had more faith exercised for them
than this people then had. Perhaps, also, there have been no
people on the face of the earth, who, according to their knowl
edge, possessed more faith than did those very men, when
they left their families at the Bluffs,

352 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
"What gave rise to the brethren being called upon to go
into the United States service ? I will tell you some things
about it. Suppose it had been shown to you, that there were
men in Washington, and influential, too, men who held con
trol of the affairs of the nation, to a great degree, who had
plotted to massacre this people, while on the frontiers in an
Indian country, you would doubtless have gone to work to
circumvent their plans ; consequently, all we had to do was to
beat them at their own game, which we did most successfully.
I was, and am fully persuaded that a senator from Missouri
did actually apply for, and receive permission from President
Polk, to call upon the militia of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri,
and if he wished more he had also authority to go to Ken
tucky and raise a force strong enough to wipe this people out
of existence, provided that those men who had been driven
from their homes should refuse to comply with the unjust
demand upon us for troops. This circumstance you are all well
acquainted with, and I need not speak more about it. It was
most thoroughly and incontrovertably proven that we were
on hand, and that our loyalty was beyond question.
"Doubtless the spirits who surrounded the senator alluded
to, said that this people were hostile to the government ; and
the President gave him permission to call upon the governors
of the States I have mentioned (if we did not fill the tyran
nical requisition for five hundred of our men) and get troops
enough to march against us, and massacre us all. Without
doubt, this was decreed in Washington, and I was moved upon
to forestall it. As quick as this idea entered my mind it came
to me, I will beat them at their own game. Did we not do
it ? I think we did.
"The brethren who went with the Battalion went with as
good hearts and spirits, according to the extent of their
understanding, as ever men went upon missions to the world,
and they manifested a readiness to do anything required of
them. "I will say to you, that, according to the best knowledge I
have of you, the course and conduct of many were not justi
fiable before the Lord, and a knowledge of these facts caused
me to weep. But you went upon your journey, were faithful
to your officers, and faithful to the Government; and perhaps

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT YOUNG. 353
no other set of men, under the same circumstances, would
have done better ; and the character that you bear, among
the officers whose opinion is of any value, is good.
"I will briefly allude to Colonel Doniphan. After his
return, and in a party made by his friends, in St. Louis, at
which Mr. Benton was present, he made a speech, and in his
remarks, said : 'I can take one thousand mormon boys, and
do more efficient service against Mexico, than you can with
the whole American army.' This I have been told by those
who heard him make the assertion. That was his testimony,
and I presume he gave it openly and publicly. I suppose he
felt like giving Benton a challenge, for he was always opposed
to him in politics; but Benton was not disposed to say any
thing in reply to it, at least I have heard of no reply.
"The Battalion went on and performed their duties, and
fulfilled their mission ; and every person who has the spirit of
revelation, can see that to all human appearance this people
must have perished, had not these men gone into the service
of their country. So far as human nature can discern, I say
that these men now before me, were the saviors of this people,.
and did save them from carnage and death. I have always
felt an interest in their welfare, and the Lord knows it ; and
my feelings towards them have always been good, and I do not
know that I ever thought of them, but that the feeling burst
into my heart 'God bless them !' I bless you now, and pray
every good being to bless you, for I have always felt to bless
you from morning till evening, and from evening till morning.
"I see your motto there, 'The Mormon Battalion — a ram
in the thicket !' Yes, and well caught too. This Battalion
made every sacrifice required — they offered their lives to
save this people from the evils designed by their enemies.
They did everything that was required by the Government of
the United States, and I am sorry to say, that some few of
them lost their lives in the service. I will tell you one thing,
brethren and sisters, which is as true as the Lord Almighty lives;-
if that Battalion had done as I told them in every particular,
there would not a single man have fallen while in that ser
vice ; I know that such would have been the result. Most of
them did live and acted well ; but they had the world, the-
flesh, and the devil, to contend with, and their circumstances*

354 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
were of a very peculiar nature. Some of the most heart
rending and cutting scenes that men could pass through, this
Battalion was called to endure, and hence it is no wonder to
me that they should manifest their weaknesses in those trying
times. On the contrary it would have been unprecedented if
they had not in some shape or other, manifested the weakness
and frailty of human nature. Many of them are with us, some
are in California, and some scattered to the nations of the
earth to preach the gospel, and a few have died and gone to
another sphere; but we ought to be thankful that so many are
here to-day, to participate in the enjoyments of this festivity.
"Brethren, you will be blessed, if you will live for those
blessings which you have been taught to live for. The Mor
mon Battalion will be held in honorable remembrance to the
latest generation ; and I will prophesy that the children of
those who have been in the army, in defense of their country,
will grow- up and bless their fathers for what they did at that
time. And men and nations will rise up and bless the men
who went in that Battalion. These are my feelings, in brief,
respecting the company of men known as the Mormon Bat
talion. When you consider the blessings that are laid upon
you, will you not live for them ? As the Lord lives, if you
will but live up to your privileges, you will never be forgot
ten, worlds without end, but you will be had in honorable
remembrance, for ever and ever.
"We were accused of being of all people the most danger
ous. We were said to be aliens from our Government, and
from the pure institutions of our country. But what are the
facts ? It has been currently stated that while the volunteers
under Colonel Stevenson, and other troops from different parts
of the Union, were in California, United States Army officers
had to seek protection at the hands of these my brethren,
against other United States Army officers who proved treach
erous, and the Battalion continued steadfast to their trust, and
saved that region of the country to the United States. These
things they did most faithfully, and to the great benefit of
our common country.
"What is said about the treacherous ? They could go back,
mingle in society, drink and carouse, and it was all right.
But the poor Mormon Battalion, the true friends of the

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT YOUNG. 355
country — the true patriots of liberty, had to seek a home in
the mountains, and their services were but little thought of.
Does this make you feel badly ? No, their praise would be a
shame, and their presence a disgrace to these 'Mormon' boys.
"I have watched with interest the whole movements of this
Mormon Battalion from the beginning, and I will now ask
where is there in the whole United States, a more loyal and
patriotic band of men ? Where is there another set of men
like them, anywhere outside of this Church ? Others do not
know what the principles of a free government are, or should
be ; but this people do comprehend them, and know what they
are, or what they ought to be, therefore, I shall not blame them
so much as I should you were you to go astray.
"I thank the Lord that you are here under such favorable
circumstances as the present. I do not wish to detain you, and
hope you will enjoy yourselves, though I am sorry to see you
.so crowded, but pleased to see you so good-natured about it.
"You are welcome to the use of this hall ; I do not know
when the next party wish to occupy it ; but if you are not
through by the time that others want it, I will tell them to
wait, therefore, take your time; and when you get through,
you cannot get one cent into my hands for its use. If you
have any money that you do not know what to do with, give
it to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund to help the poor."
Elder William Hyde was invited to make some remarks.
He came forward and said :
"I am truly happy, brethren, sisters, and fellow soldiers, to
.meet with you in this capacity. These are the best days of
my life ; I feel that we are a happy people. I have not lan
guage to express my feelings on this occasion.
"My brethren around me feel that I, with them, have made a
free-will 'offering of all that was earthly, and of all that was
near and dear unto us, and this offering for the salvation of
the aged fathers, mothers, wives, and children of the Latter-
day Saints ; and in a temporal light, it seemed that we sacri
ficed all.
"At the time we were called upon to enlist in the service of
our country, I was in a feeble state of health, and every natural
feeling would say, brother William, you are not fit to under
take such a task ; and yet the spirit would say, you must not

356 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY. i
withhold. We passed through it ; the scenes were trying ; and!
what emotions of gratitude would come up in our minds when
reflecting upon the goodness of our heavenly Father! And
ever since the day of our discharge, I have looked for a time
like this — a day of enjoyment.
"I have been separated from my brethren in Zion for a long
time, thousands of miles of sea and land have lain between us,
and I have never forgotten you. You will be in my
mind, and I shalLbe in yours, and we shall reflect and speak
of each other in the gratitude of our souls in a time to come,
for then, having overcome and proven valiant to the cause of
God, (for I feel we shall be valiant, and be saved in the king
dom of God,) we shall think of past times, and the day of
trouble and hardships.
"I say I have been looking for a day of this kind ever since
we left the service, but it has seemed as though- we never
should have a chance of meeting all together again. Some
times a few have met, but now a large majority have the priv
ilege of meeting to join in the dance, in the music, the feast,.
the song, and to mix and mingle our joy and rejoicing all
together, and have a good time. I cannot express the joy of
my heart on this ever-to-be remembered day; it is a glorious-
day to me.
"It has been my lot to travel many thousand miles, and I
have been ready to give up many times, but the Battalion
would come into my mind, and the thought would give me-
fresh courage, and my faith would increase, and the Almighty
would bless and strengthen me, so that I would soon recover.
And I know, brethren, we were accepted in the course we pur
sued ; I feel to rejoice in having the approbation of my breth
ren who stand at the head of affairs.
"I have been thinking of a toast to-day, which I will here-
give: — President Young and all others who offered their
assistance in the day of trouble — the recruiting officers of the
Mormon Battalion: May they never want for a ram in the
thicket. And if we should not live may we have children to-
live and be as ready as we were at Council Bluffs to go forth
in the defense of our counry and our religion.
"May God bless us and save us, and may we live to His;
glory while upon earth, and throughout eternity. Amen."

CAPT. JAS. BROWN'S ADDRESS. 357
Captain James Brown came to the front of the Orchestra and
said: "Brethren, sisters, and fellow-soldiers ; as has been remarked
by Brother William Hyde, this is one of the happiest days I
have had since I enlisted in the Mormon Battalion ; and I
have not language to express the feelings of my mind, in meet
ing with the Battalion on this occasion. When I look at this
happy company and contrast the present scenes with those we
witnessed when we left Council Bluffs, Fort Leavenworth,
Santa Fe, and from there to California, and to this city, it fills
my heart with gratitude to God. And I can say that the time
has come, notwithstanding the trials and scenery around looked
gloomy then, for the Lord to favor Zion.
"We have in a measure extricated ourselves from our
enemies, and thank God for it. When we were in trouble, the
Lord extended his mercies to us, and we had cause to rejoice;
and we now are free from the claws of those who were our
oppressors ; and this is through obedience to those whom God
has set in his kingdom to govern and regulate all things for
our eternal welfare. Let us rejoice, and officers and all be
ready to go forth in defense of the principles of righteousness;
for, as we stated yesterday, we have been the means of redeem
ing our brethren ; and our sacrifice is tantamount to that of
Abraham offering Isaac. The members of the Battalion left
their wives and children, their friends and everything that
was near and dear to them upon the earth, excepting only the
counsel received from the authorities of the Church, and that
they went to fulfill.
"I do not suppose there is an individual in the Battal
ion, who, had he been left to his own thoughts and feelings,
independent of counsel, would have enlisted. I would have
felt very reluctant under the circumstances had it not been
for the counsel of my brethren whom God authorized to dic
tate the affairs of His kingdom.
"We have accomplished the work required of us, redeemed
our brethren, and helped to place the Church in the valleys
of the mountains, where the kingdom of God will roll forth
with mighty power, and it shall fill the whole earth.
Lieutenant Clark said:

358 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
"I wish to relate a circumstance that transpired when the
Battalion were about leaving for California. A lady who
belonged to the Battalion was in conversation- with another
lady, and when interrogated about her husband going to Cali
fornia, and asked how she felt, the reply was, that she would
rather be a soldier's widow than a coward's wife. My toast is,
may this spirit be in all the wives of the Mormon Bat
talion. "My heart is filled with joy and rejoicing on this festive
occasion, and I feel the same spirit that has rested upon me
from time to time since we left the service. I have many
times looked forth to the day we could meet together and see
better times, when we should see our brethren in peace, and
of which we have a small sample to-night. My faith is that
the time will come when the offspring of this Battalion will
become as' numerous as the sand upon the sea shore. And I
pray that we may ever feel the spirit that will prompt us to
act whenever called upon in defense of our country. Breth
ren, may the Almighty bless us and save us all in His ever
lasting kingdom. Amen.
Lieutenant Thompson said :
"With peculiar feelings I arise to make a few remarks. I am
very grateful for this privilege of meeting with my brethren.
I am one of those who helped to lift out the wagons when
almost embedded on the sandy plains, and my spirit is glad
within me when I think of the privileges we enjoy as a people
in this lovely valley, and I hope we may live still further to
rejoice together. My prayer is that we may live to see each
other's faces again and enjoy ourselves as we are doing here,
and as we did on the plains."
D. B. Huntington said :
"I feel like saying a word or two, although I am sensible I
have not language at command, whereby to express my feel
ings. It does my heart good to see such an assembly as this,
and it seems to me that there never was such a spirit of faith
and good feeling among this body as at the present time; and
this is only the commencement. This festival will long be
remembered in the hearts of this people, and it will be
regarded as an item of important history in this kingdom.

ADDRESS OP D. B. HUNTINGTON. 359
"It is, indeed, a pleasing thought with me that there has not
been a word of jarring in the whole of our proceedings in this
festival. "I wish to say a few words for the benefit of all, respecting
trials. I feel to say every one will have as hard a time of trial
as any .of these my brethren had when we shook hands with
our wives and bid farewell. I and my wife never saw a
darker day ; she said to me, Dimick, I fear I shall never
see you again. I laid my hands on her head and blessed her
in the name of the Lord, and told her we would live to see
each other again, and spend many happy years together.
"Brother Brigham and Brother Heber asked me to go, and
if they had told me that I should not return any more, I do
not think I should have felt it any more than I did that trial.
Probably you may have to make as great a sacrifice within
a few years to come.
"Brethren, read the Book of Mormon, for nothing will make
a man feel more deeply than to leave his family under those
circumstances, and by reading that book you will get comfort
by referring to the trials of the ancients. There is not a man
here but will be tried in one way or another, therefore be
faithful or not many will stand the trying day ; but never let
it be said that one of this noble band has fallen through trans
gression. There are a few that go into error like G. P. Dykes
and who will not do right. Brother Dykes has gone into error
and is damned ; he has the curse of his brethren upon him
for his follies and missdoings."
Brother Tippets observed :
"I never expect to see a day when I shall feel worse than
when I left my family at Winter Quarters. If I had known
where I was going, and the trials I would have to pass through
and endure, I could not have felt worse.
"My toast is, may every one of the 'Mormon' boys become
the father of a great kingdom, and every wife a mother.
Thomas S. Williams said :
"Fellow soldiers, I will take the liberty of detaining you a
short time. I have never experienced a happier time in
my life than within the last forty-eight hours. I do not know
where to begin to unbosom my thoughts and feelings on the
present delightful occasion ; but brethren, I am one with you,

360 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
in heart, mind, and soul, and in everything else in this king
dom. I can say with those who have spoken, that a more
gloomy day nor time n ever surrounded me than when we took
our line of march. Though I have been in prison and suf
fered considerably, but never was the day so dark with me as
the one before named. I was a mere boy as many others were,
from sixteen to twenty-five years of age, when we enlisted in
the service of the United States. I started as a private soldier,
and when we raised the liberty pole I had but a yoke of oxen,
and an old wagon. My wife and children I . left with only
about five days' provisions, and not having the least idea where
they would get the next. The day following I ascertained
that Brother Higgins was going to fetch his wife and family.
I therefore determined that if we could raise means any way
I would take my wife with me, and I made up my mind to do
it if I had to tramp all the way and carry my knapsack. I was
there a private soldier, without a dime in the world, but the
blessings of prosperity and peace had been pronounced upon
the Mormon Battalion, and I, of course, knew that it was right
for me to take care of my family, and hence I determined to
take them with me. I am proud to say, that I have my wife
and daughters and sons here this evening.
"What could be more gratifying than what we enjoyed of
the blessings of heaven while passing through these trying
scenes? It would be impossible, and therefore it is useless
to attempt a description of what we passed through ; for never
since the days of Adam did a set of men live, and I may say
perhaps never will live and pass through such a scene as we
did in- the Battalion; leaving our wives and children to the
care of Him who careth for all, out upon the broad plains, and
nothing to preserve them from the cold, searching winds ; they
were in the care of their heavenly Father. But brethren,
what was their faith and confidence in God ? They had a
promise from our leader that He would protect them, and
they were satisfied that all would be well.
"After all this we are assembled together among the moun
tains, to worship our God, and do that which our consciences
teach us is right in the sight of high heaven.
Mr. David Wilkin said :

DAVID WILKIN'S SPEECH. 361
"If I should undertake to express my feelings this evening,
I should make a complete failure ; for I feel far more than I
can express. I am full of pleasure and delight when I look
upon so many with whom I had the honor of walking, with
the knapsack and musket. I say that a braver set of men
never lived, and thank heaven that we live and enjoy what
the United States by its liberal constitution has bequeathed to
us. We are the living monuments of our Father's mercy;
He has made us to participate in the rich blessings of His
kingdom, and may He prolong our lives to a good old age. I
did not think of occupying two minutes when I got up here,
for I know my brethren's hearts are full to overflowing, and I
feel assured that if a vote was called, every one would readily
manifest their full and entire satisfaction with the enjoyments
of this festival. Brethren, while I look upon the countenan
ces before me I feel to rejoice in the joy and pleasure that seem
to beam forth from them ; I contrast the scenery with the past,
and compare it with what we have previously experienced.
"The motto before us — the richest gem that we can transmit
to our children and children's children. This people appre
ciate the sacrifice and offering of the "ram in the thicket."
Ancient Israel had their paschal lamb, and so have modern
Israel." J. M. King was then called upon to make a few remarks ;
he said :
The last two days have been the happiest I ever spent
upon the earth, and as has been said by others respecting the
time when we parted, I also felt it to be a trying time. I left
my wife and family at Pisgah, one of the sickliest parts in that
district of country, and indeed it was a trying time to me. I
can truly say that I feel to rejoice in the present company, in
the society of my brethren and sisters.
"It was my lot to return to the States and tarry there four
years before I could get to this place again, but I now rejoice
that I have the privilege of being with those who have waded
through "thick and thin."
"I have proved the leaders of thisjkingdon to be prophets
of the most high God, and I am ready to support and uphold
them. I well remember the evening that Brother Brigham
called for recruits, and I also recollect that he promised inas-
33

362 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
much as we would go forth and do the best we could we
should live to enjoy the society of the Saints again, and I
feel to rejoice that we have the oportunity of realizing a
fulfilment of the promise.
David Garner said :
"I feel thankful for this opportunity of meeting with you. I
have not had such a happy time in my life as this. I will
sing a few verses to cheer up your hearts." Mr. Garner then
sang "Come, come away" with much spirit and energy.
Brother Durphy said :
"I wish to present one of the blest of the Mormon Battalion
before you. There are but a very few that know me now, I
presume, owing to the great change that has taken place in
me since we were in the service of the United States, for there
is now more health and strength, and nerve in me than there
was at that time, or ever was before. "You all know that I
was a poor hump-backed, peaky-faced, long, scrawny, kind of
a man, and when we were about to leave the Bluffs, I was told
that I should never see California, but thank God I have been
and returned, and am now full of life and spirit, and I feel
that I am one of the blest of the Lord in every respect."
Brother Tippets next addressed the company :
He rejoiced in the pleasures of this festival, and often
thought of what the brave men of the Battalion had endured.
He spoke of Brother and Sister Williams' boy being raised up
from sickness by the power of God. When he went in the
service of the United States, he was supposed to be in a con
sumption; at that time he only weighed one hundred and
twenty-three pounds, but after traveling and passing .through
trials for nine months with the Battalion he weighed upwards
of one hundred and fifty pounds.
Brother John Hess said :
"There is a feeling within me that I cannot express, but it
has got my coat off. I feel to rejoice insomuch that I cannot
find language to express the feeling of gratitude in my heart.
I am thankful for what I enjoy from the hands of our heavenly
Father. Could this feeling be bought? No, money would
not begin to buy what I enjoy were it possible to sell it.
"We have felt and experienced during this festival, (saying
nothing of what we have passed through in days gone by,)

REMARKS BY WM. HAWK. 363
that the Lord is with us by his power, to protect us and do us
good. It is true it was not always pleasant to have to pass
through those trials, but it was for our good, and will be in
future, therefore, let us be determined to never flinch so long-
as there is a button to the coat. -I say I have rejoiced beyond
anything that I could express while in the society of my
brethren, and I do hope that this will not be the last time the
members of this Battalion will have to mingle together."
Singing and dancing were then freely indulged in, a spirit
of charity,* order and peace, governing and controlling the
whole proceedings. The house was next called to order, when
William Hawk came forward and made the following remarks,
with much spirit and energy :
"Brethren and Sisters — I want to bear testimony to one
saying that has been thrown out here, viz: that the President
promised this Battalion, that inasmuch as they would go forth
and do right there should not be a ball shot at them ; and I
can say for one, that I realize the truth of that saying ; I have
experienced it — I have seen those words fulfilled and that
promise verified to the very letter, when placed in the midst
of my enemies with nothing but these little mallets to defend
myself with, (the speaker here exhibited his fists,) and Ihey
were well armed with bows and arrows, knives and rifles, but
they burnt the priming, the powder flashing in the pan, and
not a gun aimed at me went off, and their arrows broke.
"When Brigham Young said he wanted us to go I put my
name down to go for one, and the Indians did not kill me. I
had to leave my family at the Bluffs, my wife in a very weakly
state of health. I had five children, and the oldest went with
me to California, and he is now in Sacramento city. On my
return, I brought my wife and was coming to this place, and
she got killed at Ash Hollow, in a stampede, and her body
is laid by the road side. I wish to make honorable mention
of her, for she was a noble woman. The rest of my family are
here and rejoicing in the truth, and I feel thankful for the
blessings that have attended me ; and I feel to wish I may
ever pour out my soul to God for a continuance of His bless
ings. And I do not wish my services in that Battalion to be
the last good deed of my life ; I want to be ready, and to be
on hand come what will."

364 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.

CHAPTER XLVI.
Synopsis of a Lecture by James Ferguson — Correspondence Between Fer
guson and Cooke — Cooke's Deference to the Mormon Battalion when
Passing Through Salt Lake City in 1858 — Survivors of the Mormon
Battalion — Song.
The following from a lecture by Sargeant Major James
Ferguson, delivered before an assembly of Elders, including
the Presidency of the Church in Europe, at 36, Islington,
Liverpool, Nov. 7, 1855, is an interesting review of some of
the most striking incidents of the Battalion's experience :
"Although on the subject of the Mormon Battalion much
has been said and written, I cheerfully comply with the
request of our much-loved President, brother Franklin D.
Richards to speak upon it now. It may seem strange to you
that such a subject should be called up in these lands ; but
when you call to mind that there is no portion of the kingdom
of God with which the interests of that Battalion are not now
interwoven, it cannot seem strange to you that it should be
talked of wherever that kingdom has an interest.
"We were mustered into service on the 16th of July, 1846.
A few hurried preparations, and the gray haired old men and
striplings marched off merrily as our commander ordered the
music to play a hasty farewell to 'the friends we left behind
us.' "Deprived of the rights granted to other volunteers, of
choosing our own officers, Captain Allen, of the regular
dragoons, was commissioned by the President of the United
States to command us. But he was a gallant and brave
officer. The rigid discipline and rough service of the army
had failed to smother the better impulses of his generous
heart. He was ever ready to befriend us, and but for his
stern and willing interference, we would have been compelled
to submit to, or avenge, various and repeated insults as we
passed down the frontiers of Missouri to our place of outfit,
Fort Leavenworth.

LECTURE BY JAMES FERGUSON. 365
"But our bright hopes in him had an end here. Scarcely
had we resumed our march, when the sad news of his death
overtook us. A gloom overspread our whole camp, for there
was not a heart but loved him.
"At. Council Grove, we were halted to deliberate how to
proceed. The command bf the Battalion was here given to
Lieutenant Smith, of the First Dragoons. Letters were
despatched to President Polk, praying for the privilege due to
us, of electing our commander. And now commenced a
series of the most trying cruelties. Our commander was not
of himself cruel and wicked, but he was weak, and became,
to a great extent, the creature of Doctor Sanderson, a rotten-
hearted quack, that was imposed upon us as our surgeon. The
hospital wagons, designed for our use by Colonel Allen, were
left behind. These abuses continued and increased until, when
we mustered at Santa Fe, and on the Rio Grande, one hundred
and fifty of the Battalion were pronounced unable to continue
the march to California. These were ordered back to winter
quarters at the Pueblo near Taos, where, in the midst of much
suffering and exposure, their term of enlistment nearly
expired. Some of them died there ; and among the num
ber, young Richards, to whom I have before referred, and
Blanchard, an only son of aged depending parents.
"On our arrival at Santa Fe, instead of the favorable answer
we had a right to expect from the government, we found
Captain Cooke appointed to take command — an officer also of
. the First Dragoons, famous, in his own corps, for the tyrannical
strictness of his discipline. Not a murmur was heard at this
fresh indignity.
"With a sorry outfit of jaded mules, famished beeves, and
scabby sheep, we resumed our march. While yet in the
settlements of New Mexico, our rations were reduced a
quarter; and for our comfort, we learned that for a march of a
hundred days, over an undiscovered country, we had fifty
days' scanty rations.
"Leaving the Rio Grande, about the southern boundary of
New Mexico, without a guide who knew the country before
us, we turned in a westerly course. We threaded our way
through the Sierra del Madre, cutting a road through the

366 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
"Pass of the Guadaloupe," alternately pulling our ponderous
wagons up the sandy hills, and lifting them down the rocky
descents. The various incidents of our travels, each day
presenting something new, are materials for a long history.
I can only glance hastily at some scenes as I pass along.
"Descending the Sierra del Madre, as we came in sight of
the valley of the San Pedro, the vast prospect before us made
us for a moment forget our fatigues and sufferings. Fresh
hope seemed to enliven every heart. It seemed like a new
world ready for population. Parched, and fainting with
thirst, the waters of the river were before us, and the shade
trees on its banks.
"While marching down this river, a scene occurred, which,
while it afforded amusement to some and suffering to others,
manifested the kind watch-care of our Heavenly Father.
Our beeves had dwindled down to a few sickly skeletons.
Our camp was threatened with scurvy, and many attacked
with diarrhoea ; and there seemed no hope for us. Surprised,
and some of them wounded by our hunters, a herd of wild
cattle made their appearance on all sides of us. Some,
more furious than the rest, made a dash at our train.
One pitched a poor fellow into the air, severely wounding
him. Another tossed a mule on its horns, and tore his
entrails, while another lifted a wagon out of its track.
"The troops of four "Presidios," having learned of our
approach, had assembled at Tucson to interrupt our march.
Heedless of the threats of the Mexican commandante, we
advanced, and, as the troops retreated with their artillery, we
marched through their walled town.
"A desert of seventy miles brought us to the Gila. We
were welcomed by the rude hospitality of the Pimas. An
old chief, at the head of his warriors, squaws, and little ones
met us in the path, and presenting his cakes of sweet corn-
meal, invoked upon us the protection of the Great Spirit as
we passed on.
"On the 10th of January, 1847, we crossed the Colorado.
An unsuccessful attempt to raft our provisions down the Gila
had deprived us of a great part of them, although we were
already reduced to quarter rations. Without a chance for rest,
we entered upon the 'Tierra Calienta, the Big Desert of the

LECTURE BY JAMES FERGUSON. 367
Colorado. Ninety miles without water, save in the deep wells
we dug but had no time to drink from, brought us to the end
of our deserts. Those alone who endured them can conceive
the sufferings experienced on this desert. It was well named
the Hot Land. In vain was our rear guard ordered to pre
vent the men from lagging behind ; the stoutest staggered,
and one after another fell fainting. They would revive
advance, and fall again ; and many, when at last water and
grass were found, fell down exhausted, unable to reach the
camp. The clear stream appeared to laugh at them in
mockery, and there they lay gasping till some feeling mess
mate returned with the replenished canteen.
"A few days brought us to the rancho of the American
Warner. Unlike the hospitable Pimas, he hid his bread and
drove his cattle into the mountains. Here we learned of the
retreat of the Californians from Los Angeles. Without a
pause for rest, we changed our course to meet them, but they
concealed themselves till we had passed.
"Thus, despite of every attempt to bring us to an engage
ment, we reached our destination at San Diego, on the 31st of
January, fulfilling the prediction of our President, that we
should not fight a battle. God fought our battles for us, and
our victories were not bought with blood. Garrison duty,
drills, and entrenching the camp at Los Angeles, made up
the balance of our service.
"Many attempts were made by Fremont to excite the people
of the country against us. He had attempted to retain the
governorship of California, against General Kearny, when our
arrival put a stop to his insubordination. Our entry into the
Pueblo, starved, ragged, and weary, seemed to testify to the
inhabitants to the truth of his accusations against us of can
nibalism, barbarity, plunder, and rapine.
"When he came into our midst at a subsequent period, how
different his reception. He was starved, dismounted, and
weary. His party sick and dying daily. We gave him
shelter, fed him, furnished him with horses, and healed his
sick. A dog will show gratitude to the hand that feeds him.
But he is silent, or snaps like a wolf.
"His attempts were all in vain. The people soon learned
that we were their friends and protectors. They petitioned

368 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
for our re-enlistment, and wept at our discharge. We had
made many friends. Lieutenants Smith and Stoneman parted
from us with regret. They had with others been taught to
despise us. But they soon found, that though 'Mormons,'
and many of us from other lands, we had the hearts of men
and Americans. And our brave Colonel — lie was rigid in his
discipline, and often cross and exacting. But beneath it all,
he had a kind, manly heart, and while sometimes he would
curse us to our face, he would defend us as his own honor in
our absence. Major Cloud, our pay master, also of the
regular army, was our true and devoted friend to the last.
He, too, is gone, among the few friends who shone out for a
little while, like bright stars on a stormy night, then set in
the midst of thick clouds. Many who had once been our
enemies became our friends. But none of our friends have
ever become enemies. The most warlike of the many tribes
of the red men that we passed, met us in kindness and. parted
from us in peace, because we did not abuse their hospitality.
"Thus ended a campaign unparalleled in any history. The
drill succeeded the weary march in cheerfulness. The song
and dance made a glad echo on the bleakest desert, and the
prayer of gratitude was never smothered by murmuring com
plaint. While one company remained an additional year in
service, and husbands and fathers endured another long
march to join their suffering families, a few sought employ
ment on the Sacramento, and there, to crown the campaign,
opened those inexhaustible mines which have drawn so many
adventurers to the rich shores of the Pacific."

The following written and published about eleven years
subsequent to Colonel Cooke's connection with the Mormon
Battalion, and at a time when, if ever, he would have thought
and spoken ill of that brave band of soldiers, is significant of
his sense of justice towards them:
"Great Salt Lake City,
"August 25, 1858.
"Editor Deseret News:
"Having been requested by numerous friends to
publish-the accompanying letters, and obtained the permission

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN FERGUSON AND COOKE. 369
of Colonel Cooke to do so, I shall feel obliged by your
insertion of them in the News.
"Very respectfully, "Yours in Christ,
"James Ferguson."

"Great Salt Lake City, U. T,
"May 4, 1858.
"Sir :
"In looking through files of eastern papers, lately received,
I saw a letter purporting to have been written by you, and
dated at Camp Scott, November 29th, 1857. In that letter you
assert that the 'Mormons' are a set of cowards, like all
assassins and bullies.
"I am what is generally termed a 'Mormon,' and as such
served my country honorably under your command. Your
statements I consider most unwarranted, and a very ungen
erous return for the sincere respect entertained for you by the
Mormon Battalion, and indeed the whole 'Mormon' people.
"I sincerely trust that you have it in your power to dis
claim the authorship of that letter. If not, as an American
citizen and a gentleman, spurning the epithets hurled at me
in connection with a people of whom in the midst of their
worst misfortunes I am proud, I ask you, kindly and with
respect, to make that apology which your own sense of honor
will suggest is due. "I have the honor to remain,
"Most respectfully, etc.,
"Lt. Col. P. St. Ge°- Cooke, James Ferguson,
"2nd Dragoons, U. S. A., Brig. Gen. U. T.
"Camp Scott. Adj. Gen."

The following is Cooke's reply:
"Head Quarters, 2nd Dragoons,
"Camp Faulkner, June 8, 1858.
"Sir:
"I have this day received your letter of May 4th, respecting
the authenticity of a letter, which you say, was published in

370 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
an eastern newspaper, purporting by, and in which I 'assert
the Mormons are a set of cowards, like all assassins and
bullies.' I wrote no such letter: I wrote no letter for publi
cation. I never wrote or spoke such a sentence. I left Camp
Scott November 26th, and did not return: the letter, you say,
was dated there November 29th.
"I never saw such a letter in the papers, or heard of its
existence, until lately as a rumor from Salt Lake City.
"I thank you for informing me of this mysterious forgery.
My sense of the performance of the Mormon Battalion was
expressed at San Luis Rey, in an order, which you remember,
and which stands printed in a Senate document; and I can
only refer to my connection with you, on the Battalion staff,
as a satisfactory and pleasant one.
"Very respectfully,"Your obedient servant,
"Gen. James Ferguson, P. St. George Cooke.
"Salt Lake City, Lt. Col. 2nd Dragoons.
"Utah Territory."

When Colonel Cooke wrote the foregoing letter he was on
his way to Utah, with the U. S. Army, under command of
the late rebel general, Sidney A. Johnston, for the purpose of
suppressing the imaginary "Mormon Rebellion." When the
army passed through Salt lake City on the 26th of June
following, Colonel Cooke, out of deference to the brave men
who had served under him in the Mormon Battalion, took off
his hat and rode through the deserted city with his head
uncovered.

The following are the names, addresses, occupations and
offices of the surviving members of the Battalion, so far as
known at the present time (March, 1882):
Adams Orson B. (Sergt), Harrisburg, Washington Co., Utah; Farmer and
Stock Raiser.
Adair Wesley, Arizona ; Farmer.
Allen Rufus C, Paragoonah, Iron Co., Utah; Farmer,

SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE BATTALION. 371
Allred Redick N (Q. M. Sergt.), Chester, Sanpete Co., Utah; Bishop, and
Col. of Militia.
Averett Elisha (Musican), Kanab, Kane Co., Utah.
Allred J. T. S., Spring City, Sanpete Co., Utah; Farmer.
Averett Juthan, Springville, Utah Co. , Utah.
Allred Reuben W. , Kanarra, Kane Co. , Utah.
Barrus Ruel (Lieut), Grantsville, Tooele Co., Utah; Farmer.
Bybee John M. ; Farmer.
Barney Walter, Monroe, Sevier Co. , Utah ; Farmer.
Brizzee H. W., Mesa City, Arizona.
Boyd G. W., Salt Lake City; Stock Raiser.
Bunker Edward, Santa Clara, Washington Co., Utah; Bishop.
Buckley Newman, Springville, Utah Co., Utah; Book-canvasser.
Bates Joseph, Payson, Utah Co., Utah.
Bird Wm. , Paris, Bear Lake Co. , Idaho.
Bigler H. W., St. George, Washington Co., Utah; Employed in the
Temple.
Barrowman John, Nephi, Juab Co., Utah; Farmer.
Brimhall John, Orderville, Kane Co. , Utah ; Farmer and Mechanic.
Boyle H. G. , Payson, Utah Co. , Utah ; Missionary, and Chaplain of Utah
Legislature.
Brown John, Leeds, Washington Co., Utah; Farmer.
Butterfield Jacob K., Taylorsville, Salt Lake Co., Utah.
Brunson C. D. , Box Elder Co. , Utah.
Beckstead Gordon S., South Jordan, Salt Lake Co., Utah.
Brown James S. , Salt Lake City ; Home Missionary.
Buchanan John (Corpl.), Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah; Carpenter.
Brown Alexander, Lynne, Weber Co. , Utah
Brown Jesse S., Promontory, Box Elder Co., Utah.
Clark Lorenzo (Lieut.), St. George, Washington Co Utah; Tanner.
Caldwell Matthew, Huntington, Emery Co. , Utah ; President of Seventies,
and Farmer.
Cazier John, Nephi, Juab Co., Utah.
Curtis R. F., Newton, Cache Co., Utah; Farmer.
Curtis Dorr P. ; Parmer.
Cox Amos, Manti, Fremont Co. , Iowa.
Chase Hiram B., Nephi.
Casper Wm. W., Mill Creek, Salt Lake Co., Utah; Major in Militia and
Farmer.
Cole James, Springville, Utah Co. Utah.
Casto Wm., Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., Utah; Horticulturist and
Farmer.
Casto James.
Collins R. H. (Corpl.), Huntington Emery Co., Utah.
Chase John D.. Nephi, Juab Co., Utah ; Member of High Council.
Carpenter W. H., St, George, Washington Co., Utah ; Broom Maker.
Cheeney Zacheus, Centerville, Davis Co., Utah ; Farmer.
Dykes Geo. P. (Lieut.), Arizona.
Dalton Henry S., Centerville, Davis, Co., Utah.

372 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
Dalton Edward, Parowan, Iron Co. , Utah ; Member of Utah Legislature
and Probate Judge.
Dalton Harry ; Farmer.
Dodge Augustus E. , Toquerville, Kane Co. , Utah ; Agriculturist.
Decker Ztchariab, Emery Co., Utah.
Dunn Thomas, Goose Creek, Cassia Co., Idaho.
Earl Jacob.
Evans Israel, Lehi, Utah Co. , Utah ; Farmer.
Fairbanks Henry, Payson, Utah Co., Utah; Farmer.
Forsgreen John, Salt Lake City.
Follett Wm. T., St. George, Washington Co., Utah.
Follett Wm. A. , Arizona.
Frederick David, Beaver, Beaver Co. , Utah.
Forbush Lorin.
Garner David, North Ogden ; Farmer.
Hunter Jesse D. (Capt.), California.
Higgins Nelson (Capt), Elsinore, Sevier Co., Utah; Farmer.
Hulett Sylvester (Lieut.), Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah.
Hanks Ebenezer (Sergt), Parowan, Iron Co., Utah; Miner.
Hunsaker Abraham (Sergt. ), Brigham City, Box Elder Co., Utah; Far
mer and Bishop of Honeyville.
Hancock Levi W. (Musician), Washington, Washington Co., Utah; One
of the First Presidency of Seventies.
Hatch Meltiar, Panguich, Iron Co. , Utah ; Ranchman.
Hatch Orin, South Bountiful Davis Co. , Utah ; Farmer.
Harmtjn Lorenzo F. (
Harrison Isaac, Sandy, Salt Lake Co., Utah; Postmaster and Justice of
the Peace.
Hendricks William D. , Richmond, Cache Co. , Utah ; Railroad Contractor.
Howell T. C. D., Clifton, Oneida Co., Idaho; Farmer.
Harmon Oliver N. , Hoytsville, Summit Co., Utah; Home Missionary.
Hess John W. , Farmington, Davis Co. , Utah ; Bishop.
Hunter Edward, Grantsville, Tooele Co., Utah; Bishop.
Hinckley Arza E. , Cove Creek, Millard Co. , Utah ; Ranchman.
Ilickenlooper Wm. F., Ogden, Weber Co.. Utah.
Holdaway Shadrach, Provo, Utah Co. , Utah.
Hunt Marshall, Snowflake, Apache Co. , Arizona.
Hawk Wm. , Salt Lake City.
Hudson Wilford, Grantsville, Tooele Co. , Utah.
Henrie Daniel, Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah.
Harris Silas, Glendale, Kane Co. , Utah ; Farmer and Stock Raiser.
Huntsman Isaac, Wellsville, Cache Co. , Utah ; Blacksmith.
Ivie Thos. C. , Scipo, Millard Co. , Utah ; Farmer.
Ivie Richard,
Jamerson Charles, Minersville, Beaver Co. , Utah.
Judd Zadock K. , Kanab, Kane Co. , Utah.
Jackson H. J.
Kelly Wm, , American Fork, Utah Co. , Utah ; Farmer.

SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE RATTALION. 373
Keysor Guy M., Richfield, Sevier Co., Utah.
Luddington Elam (Lieut), Sugar House Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah;
Merchant.
Landers Ebenezer, Salem, Utah Co. , Utah ; Farmer.
Lewis Samuel, Panguich, Iron Co. , Utah ; Stone Mason.
Lawson John.
Lake Barnabas, Franklin, Oneida Co. , Idaho.
Layton Christopher, KaysviUe, Davis Co. , Utah ; Counselor to Stake Presi
dent, and Farmer.
Larson Thurston.
Lemon James W., Weston, Cache Co., Utah ; Farmer.
Merrill Philemon C. (Adjt), St. David, Arizona; Patriarch.
Muir Wm. S. (1st Sergt.), West Bountiful, Davis Co., Utah ; Farmer.
Miles Samuel (Q. M. Sergt), St. George, Washington Co., Utah; High
Counselor and Justice of the Peace.
Morris Thomas, Farmer's Ward, Salt Lake Co., Utah; Market Gardener.
Murdock John R. , Beaver, Beaver Co. , Utah ; President of Stake and
Councilor in Legislature.
Merrill Ferdinand, Salt Lake City, Utah ; Farmer.
Murdock Orrice C, Republic City, Republic Co., Kansas ; Farmer.
McCullough Levi H, Fillmore, Millard Co., Utah.
Moore Calvin H., Spring City, Sanpete Co., Utah.
Martin Edward, Salt Lake City; Hackman.
Mesick Peter, West Weber, Weber Co., Utah.
Mead Orlando F., Spanish Fork; Shoemaker.
Myers Samuel, Glendale, Kane Co., Utah; Carpenter and Joiner.
Martin Jesse B., Scipio, Millard Co., Utah ; Farmer.
Mc Arthur Henry, "
Mowrey Harley, Paris, Bear Lake Co., Idaho.
Maxwell William B., William's Valley, Secora Co., New Mexico; Ranch
man.
Naile John C, Toquerville, Kane Co., Utah; Farmer and Pomologist.
Oakley James, Springville, Utah Co., Utah.
Olmstead Hiram, Ogden, Weber Co. , Utah.
Pace James (Leiut), Washington, Washington Co., Utah; Farmer.
Packard Henry, Springville, Utah Co. , Utah.
Peck Edward, Provo, Utah Co. , Utah ; Blacksmith.
Prows Wm. C, Kanosh, Millard Co., Utah.
Pulsipher David, Concho, Arizona.
Park James, Cedar Valley, Utah Co., Utah.
Rainey David P., (Sergt, not Corp. as erroneously appears on the roll),
Richmond, Cache Co., Utah; Farmer.
Shipley Joseph, American Fork, Utah Co., Utah.
Roberts Levi, KaysviUe, Davis Co., Utah; Farmer.
Rowe Wm., Mendon, Cache Co,, Utah; Farmer.
Rollins John, Springville, Utah Co., Utah.
Roe C. C. , Sanpete Co. , Utah.
Riser John J., Centerville, Alameda Co., California; Farmer.
Rogers Samuel H., Snowflake, Apache Co., Arizona.

374 MORMON BATTALION HISTORY.
Rust Wm., Payson, Utah Co., Utah; Doctor,
Strong Wm. , Salt Lake City.
Smith John G., Draper, Salt Lake Co., Utah; Farmer.
Stoddard Rufus, Piute Co. , Utah.
Shupe James, Ogden, Weber Co., Utah; Blacksmith.
Shepherd M. L. (Corp.), Beaver, Beaver Co., Utah; Counselor to Presi
dent of Stake, Farmer and Stock Raiser.
Smith Azariah, Manti, Sanpete Co. , Utah.
Smith Albert (Q. M. Sergt.), Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah.
Standage Henry, Arizona.
Savage Levi, Toquerville, Kane Co. , Utah ; Vine Gardener.
Smith Willard G., Littleton, Morgan Co., Utah; Stake President and
Probate Judge.
Sprague R. D. (Musician), Brigham City, Box Elder Co., Utah.
Sanderson Henry W., Fairview, Sanpete Co., Utah; Mayor, and Major in
Militia.
Stephens Lyman, Orderville, Kane Co. , Utah ; Carpenter and J oiner.
Smith Lot Sunset, Apache Co., Arizona; President of Stake.
Steele John, Toquerville, Kane Oo. , Utah ; Farmer.
Sessions John, Provo Valley, Wasatch Co. , Utah ; Farmer.
Thompson Samuel, (Lieut), Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah; Farmer.
Tyler Daniel (Sergt), Beaver City, Beaver Co., Utah; President of High
Priests' Quorum, and Magistrate.
Terrill Joel J. (Sergt), Ogden, Weber Co., Utah; Farmer.
Tuttle L. T. (Sergt.), Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah; Merchant.
Taggart G. W. (Musician), Richville, Morgan Co., Utah; Member of High
Council.
Tanner Myron, Provo, Utah Co. , Utah ; Bishop.
Thompson John C, Riverdale, Weber Co., Utah ; Farmer.
Twichel Anciel, Beaver, Beaver Co. , Utah ; Farmer.
Tippets John H., Sanpete, Co., Utah.
Thompson James L. ; Farmer.
Thomas Elijah, Leeds, Washington Co. , Utah.
Wriston John P.
Wade Edward, Ogden, Weber Co. , Utah.
Workman Andrew J., Virgen City, Kane Co., Utah; Farmer.
Workman Oliver G. , Salt Lake City.
Walker Wm. H., Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake Co., Utah ; Farmer.
Wilson George D., Hillsdale, Iron Co., Utah.
Wilson A. G., Moab, Emery Co., Utah.
Weaver Franklin, Cache Co. , Utah.
White S. S., Pleasant Grove, Utah Co., Utah.
Webb C. Y., Parowan, Iron Co., Utah.
Winn Dennis, Richmond, Cache Co., Utah.
Williams James V., Monroe, Sanpete Co., Utah.
Wilkin David. Pioche, Lincoln Co. , Nevada.
Zabriskie Jerome, Minersville, Beaver Co., Utah; Farmer and Stock
Raiser.