Brigham
Young and Willard Richards rode on horseback up Turkey Creek to view the site
for the mill. They visited President
Young’s brothers, John, Phinehas, and Joseph.
John Young was still sick and the brethren administered to him.
Elder
Richards received fifty dollars from Albert P. Rockwood to distribute among the
needy battalion families. Wilford
Woodruff was sick in bed from exhaustion due to the hard work of the previous
days, cutting house logs.
Mary
Richards wrote in her letter to her missionary husband, Samuel W.
Richards: “The place where we have
settled for winter quarters is one of the most beautyfull flatts I ever
see. It is about one mile square. The East side borders on the Mo River and
most of the North & South. The West
side is bounded with a ridge or bluff, from the top of which it decends
graduley to the River. . . . The scene is quite Romantic.” Mary was camping about a quarter mile from
the meeting ground and about a half mile from Willard Richards’ camp.
A daughter,
Mary Minerva Snow was born to Erastus and Minerva Snow.1 Felina Clark, age nineteen months, died of
fever and “fits.” She was the daughter
of Lorenzo and Beulah Clark.
Chandler
Rogers died at the age of fifty-one. He
was the father of nine children, including battalion member, Samuel Hollister
Rogers. Chandler’s wife, Amanda Rogers
wrote: “The last day [he] went to sleep as usual, died about 8 o'clock in the
evening. We feel very lonesome.”
A son,
Samuel Clark, was born to Samuel and Rebecca Clark.2
Almon W.
Babbitt, one of the Nauvoo Trustees, arrived at Garden Grove on his way to
Winter Quarters. He told the Saints
about the Battle of Nauvoo and the surrender of the city to the mob.
Distressing
news arrived that the mob proclaimed no Mormon would be allowed to cross back
over the river to sell property. They
vowed that no Mormon in the camp would get a cent for the property left
behind. This news caused a great deal
of concern and some murmuring among the destitute Saints.
The
battalion started their march at daylight, traveled three miles, and stopped at
Stillbitter Creek to graze the animals on the grass. After four hours, they resumed their march and traveled another
twelve miles, camping in a valley just east of Point of Rocks.3
During
their travels, they passed within a half mile of some walls of an ancient
structure to the north. Two walls ran
parallel, about four feet apart for about one hundred thirty feet. They appeared to be constructed with
cement. Daniel Tyler wrote:
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 canals or
channels where large streams had once run, probably for irrigating, but which
were then quite dry, and to all appearance had not been used for generations.
In the
evening, Lt. Smith cursed the sergeants and Quartermaster Samuel Gully for
neglecting their duties.
Watson, ed., Manuscript
History of Brigham Young, 402; Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, 3:90;
“Allen Stout Journal,” typescript, BYU, 26; Journal of Henry Standage in
Golder, The March of the Mormon Battalion, 168; Yurtinus, A Ram in
the Thicket, 160; Tyler, A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion,
162; Ward, ed., Winter Quarters,
92; Our Pioneer Heritage,
3:167‑68
In the
morning, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards went to see John
Pack, who had just returned from Savannah, Missouri. Brother Pack had brought back the carding machine purchased by
the Church and also brought back two newspapers. Peter G. Camden, of St. Louis, Missouri, published a sympathetic
appeal to the citizens of the city for the poor who had been driven from
Nauvoo. The newspapers announced that
food clothing and other articles were being collected for the sufferers. The stores of J.P. Eddy and Beebe Bros. were
advertised as locations accepting contributions.
At noon,
President Young, Willard Richards, and Albert P. Rockwood rode out to see the
brickyard. They also saw an excellent
bed of clay and stone in the river which could be used for wells.
In the
evening, a council meeting was held at Brother Rockwood’s tent. A report was read regarding the herding of
cattle. Amasa Lyman, Orson Pratt, and
Wilford Woodruff were appointed as a committee to divide the city into
wards. Bishops would be appointed over
each ward and would take care of the poor.
Benjamin L. Clapp was appointed to superintend the building of a house
to store the carding machine.
The High
Council met and discussed Brigham Young’s request that they send more men and
teams to help gather the poor from the banks of the Mississippi River. Even though the brethren in Council Bluffs
were already carrying the load for providing for the Mormon Battalion families,
they responded favorably to this request for additional service. James Murdock and Allen Taylor, with about
twenty‑five more teams, would lead this rescue effort. These teams would be in addition to those
led by Orville M. Allen, who left about two weeks earlier. Brother Allen’s rescue team would arrive in
the poor camp within a few days.
A son,
Joseph Lewis Ford, was born to William and Delana Ford.
Members of
the camp started to move away from the river to other locations nearby that
were believed to be healthier. Many
cranes were seen flying south.
Joseph
Heywood, one of the Nauvoo Trustees, wrote a letter to Brigham Young. He reported that he had gone to St. Louis to
solicit aid for the destitute Saints, “whose situation is truly deplorable
scattered along the bank of the river opposite to Nauvoo.” He reported that he had been somewhat
successful in finding aid. Also, he
found a man who might be interested in buying the temple. He hoped that they could finish up the work
in Nauvoo soon, because it was “like the abomination of desolation.” The mob had searched his home in Nauvoo
while he was away, but they did not find his most valuable arms.
While the
battalion halted its march for breakfast at spring near Point of Rocks, Levi
Hancock and others climbed the highest peak.
Brother Hancock built an altar and offered prayers. He also broke off some branches from the
highest cedar tree which he gave to his friends. The rest of the battalion marched on for two miles to water the
animals.
In the
afternoon, the battalion met a company of dragoons coming from Santa Fe. They reported that General Kearny left for
California on September 25 and said that the Mormon Battalion would have to be
discharged if it did not reach Santa Fe by October 10. As a result, the battalion marched long and
hard for a total of twenty‑seven miles to Red River.
A problem
arose when a number of men were reported by their Mormon officers and put under
guard for falling behind the line of march and for other violations. John D. Lee defended the soldiers and argued
that no officer in the Battalion could court martial another legally. He still contended that Lt. Smith did not
have legal command of the battalion.
Watson, ed., Manuscript
History of Brigham Young, 403, 432; Brooks, ed., On the Mormon Frontier,
The Diary of Hosea Stout 1844‑1861, 203; Yurtinus, A Ram in the
Thicket, 161; “The Journal of Robert S. Bliss,” The Utah Historical
Quarterly, 4:73‑4; Bennett, Mormons at the Missouri, 1846‑1852,
82‑4; “Thomas Bullock Poor Camp
Journal” in Bagley, ed., Pioneer Camp of the Saints
John Hill
and Asahel Lathrop arrived from their camp about seventy miles up the Missouri
River. They, along with seven other
families had left George Miller’s company at Ponca, who were still about 150
miles up the river. They had become
discontented with Bishop Miller’s leadership and moved further south to find
better feed for their cattle. During
the last six days of their journey to Winter Quarters, Brothers Hill and
Lathrop lived on two squirrels, one goose and a turtle.
The
lowlands near the river were full of men and teams cutting cottonwood trees for
house logs. Hosea Stout traveled six
miles up the river where the camp’s herd was being kept. On Saturdays, the men would gather the
entire herd scattered over several miles.
This made it much easier for the owners to find their cattle. Otherwise it might take a week to search for
specific cattle.
A son,
John Helaman Pixton, was born to Robert and Elizabeth Cooper Pixton.4
After
traveling for about six miles in the morning to Ocate Creek,5 Lt. Smith called for a
temporary halt and invited all the battalion officers to his tent. Lt. Smith emphasized the importance of
arriving at Santa Fe within a week. He
proposed that fifty strong men from each company make a quick, forced march to
Santa Fe. The sick, lame, women, and
children would be left behind under the command of Lt. George Oman. Most of the officers agreed to this
proposal.
The
recognized religious leaders of the battalion, Levi Hancock, David Pettigrew,
and John D. Lee strongly opposed this proposed division. Many of the enlisted men were about ready to
revolt when they heard of this decision.
But Captain Jefferson Hunt said to his men that he thought “this to be
the best move that could be made.”
Private George W. Taggart expressed his feelings, “I did not feel like
volunteering to go on and leave the sick behind, consequently I did not go with
the first division.” Robert Bliss
wrote, “I fear treachery.”
So the
battalion became divided and the advance group traveled on for another eighteen
miles and camped on Wagon Creek near a high rock. Some of the Missouri Volunteers were camped there. A few Mexicans and Indians entered the camp
in an attempt to sell whiskey and other items.
It is
interesting to note, but not surprising, that Dr. Sanderson chose to go ahead
with the healthy men rather then staying behind to care for the sick. Daniel Tyler wrote: “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
would be a noticeable improvement in the health of those who stopped taking the
drugs.
Elders
Orson Hyde and John Taylor arrived in Liverpool, England. They had experienced some severe gales at
sea and witnessed the wrecking of three vessels in the middle of the ocean. Their ship had saved half of the passengers
from one of the other ships.
Elders
Hyde and Taylor immediately issued a circular to the Saints. They stated that they had been sent by the
Council of the Twelve to “set in order” every department of the Church, in
England. They advised the Saints to no
longer patronize the Joint Stock Company which had been misused by the brethren
who had been left in charge of the British Mission. It was made clear that the Stock Company was independent from the
Church. A conference was appointed to
be held at Manchester, England, on October 17, where more instructions would be
given.
Reuben
Hedlock, who had been left in charge of the British mission, had fled to
London. Elder Taylor later wrote of
this man:
Elder
Hedlock might have occupied a high and exalted situation in the Church, both in
time and eternity; but he has cast from his head the crown ‑‑ he
has dashed from him the cup of mercy, and has bartered the hope of eternal life
with crowns, principalities, powers, thrones and dominions, for the
gratification of his own sensual appetite; to feed on husks and straw‑‑to
wallow in filth and mire!
Watson, ed., Manuscript
History of Brigham Young, 403, 493, 597; Brooks, ed., On the Mormon
Frontier, The Diary of Hosea Stout 1844‑1861, 203; Journal of Henry
Standage in Golder, The March of the Mormon Battalion, 169; “William
Coray’s Journal”; Yurtinus, A Ram in the Thicket, 161; “The Journal of
Robert S. Bliss,” The Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:74; Tyler, A
Concise History of the Mormon Battalion, 163; Roberts, The Life of John
Taylor, 178
A Sunday
meeting was held at the stand in Winter Quarters. Elder Orson Pratt preached on the first principles of the gospel
to the congregation consisting several nonmembers. Letters were read including some from the Mormon Battalion.
After the
morning session, Elders Orson Pratt, Amasa Lyman, and Wilford Woodruff divided
Winter Quarters into thirteen wards.
Bishops were appointed over each ward.
They ordained six of the bishops at that time.
In the
afternoon, the Saints again assembled to hear President Brigham Young
speak. He mentioned that John Hill and
Asahel Lathrop arrived from their camp about seventy miles up the Missouri
River. They had broken off with Bishop
Miller’s camp because of “oppression and disorder.” President Young said he intended to send his cattle up to Brother
Hill and Lathrop’s camp for the winter.
He advised that some families be sent up there to winter their cattle at
that location.
President
Young discouraged participating in the practice of paying visiting peddlers
inflated prices for goods. He proposed
that a committee be appointed to purchase goods collectively from the
merchants. If the prices were still too
high, they would not buy their goods.
Volunteers were asked for to help build a bridge. Brethren were given the opportunity to
advertise for help to find their lost animals or property.
In the
evening, a council meeting was held.
Elder Willard Richards reported on the plot of Winter Quarters which had
been drawn by Elder Orson Pratt.
Halmagh
Van Wagoner, age fifty-nine, died. He
was the husband of Mary Ann Van Houten Van Wagoner.
It was
rumored that the mob had removed the angel weather vane and the ball from the
top of the temple.6 Thomas Bullock wrote: “At night I took a walk thro the Camp for
the first time and counted 17 tents and 8 Wagons remaining, and most of those
are the poorest of the Saints. [There
is] not a tent or Wagon but [has] sickness in it, and nearly all don’t know
which way they shall get to the main camp.”
The
advance companies of the battalion traveled about twenty‑four miles and
arrived at Wolf Creek.7 They found good water and grass at this
location. Lt. Smith restored full
rations to this advance group of troops.
Some Mexicans came into the camp to sell cakes and bread.
Abner
Blackburn wrote of an event that probably occurred at this time.
Camped one
afternoon about three oclock. Presently
there rode up several Spainiards.
Amongst them was a Spanish Hidalgo and his daughter with their rich
caprisoned horses and their jingeling uniform.
The [Senorita] lit off her horse like a nightengale. The whole camp was there in a minute. Their gaudy dress and drapery attracted all
eyes. The dress of the [Senorita] is
hard to describe, all the colors of the rainbow with ribbons and jewelry to
match. . . . We gave them presents and made them welcome to our camp and also
to martial music as a greeting. The
damsel was struck with our drummer boy, Jesse Earle, and his violin. He played “The Girl I Left Behind Me.” She could not contain herself and with her
companaros started a dance and made the dance fit the tune. . . . She took a
fancy to our drummer boy. The
attachment was mutual; but his admiration cooled off somewhat when she
appropriated his handkerchief and pocket‑knife.
The rear
companies of the battalion traveled about eighteen miles and camped at Wagon
Mound in a beautiful valley they called the Valley of Hope. Good grass was found for the teams.
Watson, ed., Manuscript
History of Brigham Young, 404‑05 Wilford Woodruff’s Journal,
3:91; Brooks, ed., On the Mormon Frontier, The Diary of Hosea Stout 1844‑1861,
203; Journal of Henry Standage in Golder, The March of the Mormon Battalion,
169; Yurtinus, A Ram in the Thicket, 165, 173; “The Journal of Robert S.
Bliss,” The Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:74 “Norton Jacob
Autobiography,” BYU, 42‑43; Bagley. Frontiersman, Abner Blackburn’s
Narrative, 41‑2; “Thomas Bullock Poor Camp Journal” in Bagley, ed., Pioneer
Camp of the Saints
Brigham
Young visited the sick and finished his well that was thirty‑two feet
deep. The High Council met and
appointed a committee to purchase sheep.
Wilford
Woodruff left Winter Quarters in the morning in his carriage to take four or
five sisters on a “graping expedition.”
They crossed over the river on the ferry and traveled to Council Point. On the way, Elder Woodruff shot three
prairie chickens and they arrived at the grape fields at dark. Elder Woodruff built a fire and fetched
water from the Missouri River. The
women made their beds in and under the wagon.
Elder Woodruff tried to sleep under the stars, but the moon was shining
bright, keeping him awake. At midnight
he went to the river for several hours to hunt.
A
daughter, Susan Burgess, was born to Horace and Iona Burgess.
A son,
William Thomas Ewell, was born to William and Mary Ewell.8
The Saint
Louis Weekly Reveille reported that Joseph L. Heywood, one of the Nauvoo
Trustees, was in the city asking for provisions to help the poor who had been
driven from Nauvoo.9 “We know their wretched state, not from
report, but from eye witness, of misery which is without a parallel in the
country. They are literally starving
under the open heavens; not even a tent to cover them‑‑women and
children, widows and orphans, the bed‑ridden, the age‑stricken and
the toil worn.” The article asked for
clothing and money to be donated to help the Saints.
A very
pleasant day cheered up the sick and hungry Saints. Thomas Bullock wrote, “A very fine day, the woods all alive with
the sweet music of birds which makes me feel delightful even in my exiled
state.”
An issue
of the Hancock Eagle was published by the non‑Mormon new citizens
of Nauvoo. It reported that the anti‑Mormons
were in violation of the treaty because they had in effect stolen the guns from
the Mormons. “It is no exaggeration to
say that nineteen‑twentieths of the arms delivered have been
confiscated.”
The Nauvoo
Temple had sustained much damage from the mob.
“Holes have been cut through the floors, the stone oxen in the basement
have been considerably disfigured, horns and ears dislodged, and nearly all
torn loose from their standing.” Names
had been carved in the woodwork of the large assembly room on the main floor.
The
advance companies of the battalion traveled about thirty miles, and camped near
a Mexican town called Las Vegas. The
town was relatively large with a population of about five hundred people. Samuel Hollister Rogers wrote: “The houses are rudly built chiefly of
adobies, a kind of large sun‑dried brick, one storey high with a flat
roof made by laying line poles across with brush and covering with mortar. Only saw one window in the whole town. When we passed through the men, women and
children came into the street to see us.
Some climbed upon the roofs of the houses.”
Abner
Blackburn wrote that the inhabitants of the town were “a most miserable set of
poor, half clothed wretches, covered with vermin, who cared for nothing except
a few meals and a Fandango to kill time.
The rich were very rich and the poor very poor and worthless.” Their fields were near the river
bottoms. Irrigation was used to water
the crops of wheat, squaw corn, onions, red peppers and squash.
The rear
companies broke camp at noon and traveled twenty‑five miles until
midnight when they reached the Noro River.
They camped near a small Mexican settlement.
Watson, ed., Manuscript
History of Brigham Young, 405‑07; Wilford Woodruff’s Journal,
3:91; Journal of Henry Standage in Golder, The March of the Mormon Battalion,
169; Yurtinus, A Ram in the Thicket, 165‑66, 173; “The Journal of
Robert S. Bliss,” The Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:74 Our Pioneer
Heritage, 20:181; Bagley, Frontiersman, Abner Blackburn’s Narrative,
42 “Thomas Bullock Poor Camp Journal” in Bagley, ed., Pioneer Camp of the
Saints
Work
commenced on a dam for the Winter Quarters flouring mill. Almon W. Babbitt, one of the Nauvoo
Trustees, arrived at Winter Quarters with forty‑four letters and one
hundred newspapers. He reported that
the mob had taken over Nauvoo, had most of the brethren’s guns, and had defaced
the temple. Many of the poor families
had gone on to St. Louis, Missouri.
Helen Mar
Whitney wrote of Brother Babbitt’s news of mob activities, “They had several
mock ceremonies with different individuals, and had baptized or dipped Moses
Davis three times. . . . The shore of the city and nearly all the approaches to
the city, were strickly guarded, to prevent the ingress of Mormons, and when
any man was found they immediately baptized him and sent him over into
Iowa.”
A letter
was received from Bishop Newel K. Whitney who had visited the poor camp near
Montrose, Iowa, on his way to St. Louis.
(See September 20, 1846.)
He reported the destitute condition of the Saints and that about fifty
wagons would be needed to help bring the poor further to the west.
Lorenzo
Dow Young went up the river twelve miles with six others to pick grapes. They made their camp as comfortable as
possible. He wrote, “We had a little
music from the wolves, to remind us we were not alone.”
A
daughter, Charlotte J. Cole, was born to John and Charlotte Cole.10
Ashabell Dewey, age fifty-one, died of canker. He was the husband of Harriet Dewey. Ann Wadsworth, age thirty-six, died of canker and fever.
Wilford
Woodruff ate a breakfast of prairie chicken stew on the east side of the river
while on a graping expedition. He
recorded: “Found the grapes on
Cottonwoods & willows. I cut down
several hundred of them during the day the size of my arm & leg. And we all laboured hard untill sun set
picking grapes. We picked over three
Barrels of Bunch grapes & started for home by moon light. We returned as far as the ferry but could
not cross and had to camp for the night.”
Alonzo
Merrill, the eldest son of Albert Merrill died. The Merrill family were among those who experienced severe
hardship. Brother Merrill wrote:
My wife
continued to grow worse and her milk dried up.
Her young babe was without mother’s food and all the other children came
down with chills and fever. We could
not get help. The other people there
were many of them sick. One George
Bratton drove a yoke of my oxen from the range and took them up to the Bluffs
80 miles from our place. My horse that
my wife and children drove in a light wagon fell into a ravine and died in
sight of our place as I was not able to care for my stock.
A
daughter, Martha Zabriskie Doremus, was born to Henry and Harriet Doremus.
Elder
Jesse C. Little wrote a letter to Brigham Young reporting that he had just met
with President James K. Polk and found that the president had good feelings
toward the Saints. He asked the
president to appoint Jefferson Hunt or Sheriff Jacob Backenstos to lead the
Mormon Battalion, but the president said he did not have the power to appoint,
that the battalion would have to choose.
Elder
Little also visited with the Indian Commissioner and requested permission for
the Saints to remain on Indian lands for some time. Everything looked fine.
Elder Little earlier called upon Judge Kane and he offered his support
to help with anything in Washington on behalf of the Saints. “He wished me to say when I wrote to our
people that his son had expressed his highest regard for your great kindness
during his sickness of which he said much.”
His son, Thomas L. Kane had traveled to Washington, reported on the
barbarous treatment in Nauvoo, and worked to help the Saints receive permission
to stay on Indian lands.
The
battalion passed through the town of Las Vegas, marching to music in good
order. After about twelve more miles
they also marched through the town of Tecolotte. They made their camp on a farm near Burnetts Springs, five miles
from the town.11 While marching, they met a Mr. Simington who
was sent from Santa Fe by order of General Stephen Kearny. The message confirmed the order that the
battalion should arrive at Santa Fe by the 10th to received further
instructions from General Alexander Doniphan.
The rear
companies of the battalion rested this day.
From the top of a large rock near their camp, the soldiers were able to
see Lt. Smith’s division marching in the distance.
A son,
Ephriam Burdick, was born to Thomas and Anna Burdick.12
Watson, ed., Manuscript
History of Brigham Young, 407‑08, 433; Wilford Woodruff’s Journal,
3:91; “Diary of Lorenzo Dow Young,” Utah Historical Quarterly, 14:148 Woman’s
Exponent, 13:131; “Albert Merrill, autobiography,” typescript, BYU, 4;
Journal of Henry Standage in Golder, The March of the Mormon Battalion,
169; Yurtinus, A Ram in the Thicket, 166‑67, 174; “The Journal of
Robert S. Bliss,” The Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:74
Brigham
Young and other members of the Twelve traveled several miles to the north, to
the location where the herds were being tended. President Young wanted all those who were not herding regularly
to leave the herd grounds. He made
arrangements for the herdsmen to receive better clothes to perform their
duties. On the way back to Winter
Quarters, the brethren inspected the progress at the mill site.
Wilford
Woodruff returned to Winter Quarters and started to work at juicing the grapes
which had been gathered on his expedition.
They were able to obtain about twenty gallons of juice. Lorenzo Dow Young also returned from some
grape fields. As they left the fields,
he had difficulty finding his wagons because the willows and cottonwoods were
so thick. After quite some time, he
found them, and was on his way back to Winter Quarters. When he returned, he found his wife, Susan
Ashby Young, weeping. She had recently
received news of her father’s death from Brother Almon Babbitt. Brother Young did all that he could do to
comfort his dear wife. Her father,
Nathaniel Ashby had died near Bonaparte, Iowa, on September 23.
In the
evening, Brother Asahel Dewey was buried.
Several of the Twelve met at the post office to meet with Almon
Babbitt. Brother Babbitt was counseled
to return to Nauvoo, sell the Church property without delay, and to also sell
the property at Kirtland, Ohio. The
brethren discussed a rumor that Reuben Hedlock, who had been left in charge of
the British Mission over the Winter, had taken $7,000 dollars credit from the
Church and fled to unknown parts.
Willard
Richards called on his daughter‑in‑law, Mary Richards, and asked
her to go take care of Sister Eliza Ann Peirson, who was very sick.
A son,
Silas William Holman, was born to James and Naomi Holman.13
Orville M.
Allen, captain of the first rescue teams to help the poor, arrived at the camp
on the Mississippi River, across from Nauvoo.
He called the Saints together and informed them that he had been sent by
the Twelve to help. He told them, “I
was sent to bring as many as I can, and I will do it, and get them to Council
Bluff. . . . I’ll get you thro’ as quick as I can.”
Brother Allen shared news from the pioneer camps. He asked the camp to exert themselves to yoke up available teams and prepare to leave. Forty‑ two of the 350‑400 people immediately volunteered to go