Members of this company left Winter Quarters as early as April 5th to join with the larger group. Everyone gathered to a place about 20 miles from Winter Quarters on the banks of the Platte River. There they worked repairing wagons, organizing supplies, and chopping firewood. It wasn't until the 16th of April that the company was officially organized into the hundreds, fifties, and tens, with captains appointed and they started on their way.
Once organized, this vanguard pioneer company consisted of 142 men, 3 women, 2 children, and 72 wagons. They traveled 1031 miles before reaching their destination. Some members of the company traveled ahead and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley as early as the July 21, 1847. By the 24th of July, the entire company had arrived.
Company Departed from Winter Quarters, Nebraska
Brigham Young Called as Captain
Roles
Date Details
Started On 1847 April 16
Ended On 1847 July 21
Company Arrived at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States
Sources
Pioneer
Pioneer
Account concerning Erastus Snow and the Mormon Pioneers, 1920
Addison Everett diary
Albert P. Rockwood journals, 1847-1853
Amasa M. Lyman collection, 1832-1877
Andrew P. Shumway reminiscences, 1869
Annals of Wyoming
Appleton M. Harmon diary, 1847 April-July
Brigham Young letter, Camp of Israel to Mary A. Young, Winter Quarters, 1847 April 20
Brigham Young letter, Camp of Israel, Platte River, 1847 May 28
Charles A. Harper diary, 1847 April-August
- "Abner Blackburn reminiscences", Daughters of Utah Pioneers collection, 1828-1963, Page 12-13.
Read Transcript - "Autobiography of George Woodward, Pioneer of 1847", Daughters of Utah Pioneers collection, 1828-1963, Page 2-4.
- "Howard Egan, letters", Daughters of Utah Pioneers collection, 1828-1963.
- "Horace Thornton letter to G. Rognon, 29 December 1896", Daughters of Utah Pioneers collection, 1828-1963, Page 1-3.
Deseret News
Erastus Snow journals, 1835-1851; 1856-1857
George A. Smith autobiography and journals, 1839-1875
Heber C. Kimball papers, 1837-1866
Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008
Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956
Historical sketch and genealogy of the Thomas' families, 1888-1895
Howard Egan, Pioneering the West 1846 to 1878: Major Howard Egan's Diary Also Thrilling Experiences of Pre-frontier Life Among Indians (1917)
Iron County Record
Jacob Weiler autobiographical sketch, 1892-1895
- Jacob Weiler autobiographical sketch, 1892-1895, Page 3-4.
Jacob Weiler family record of temple work, circa 1895-1900
James Smithies diary, 1846-1859
John Brown autobiographical sketch, undated
John Brown reminiscences and journals, 1843-1896
John H. Tippets autobiography, circa 1882
John H. Tippets journal
John Harvey Tippets, Biographical Sketches
- John Harvey Tippets, Biographical Sketches.
John Pack letters, 1847
John Pack papers, 1833-1882
John S. Higbee reminiscences and diaries, 1845-1866
Joseph Smith Scofield diary (photocopy and typescript), 1846-1847
- Joseph Smith Scofield diary (photocopy and typescript), 1846-1847, Page 2-9.
Juvenile Instructor
Levi Jackman journal, 1847 March-1849 April
Levi Jackman letter, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1850
Lewis Barney autobiography and diary, 1878-1883
Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938
Lorenzo D. Young papers, 1846-1894
Members of the company that left Winter Quarters with Brigham Young April 1847 and arrived in Salt lake Valley with his company
Michael Witt, Copy and revision of the autobiography of Mr. Blackburn (1966)
Millen Atwood journal
Norton Jacob reminiscence and journal, 1844 May-1852 January
Philo Johnson reminiscences, 1890, 1894, 1941
Richard E. Bennett, We'll Find the Place: The Mormon Exodus, 1846-1848
- "Horace K. Whitney to My dear wife, 4 May 1847", Richard E. Bennett, We'll Find the Place: The Mormon Exodus, 1846-1848.