Transcript

Transcript for Charles Turner letter to J. Cowper and family, April 28, 1862

. . . we was about ten weeks in traveleing across the plains[.] that is about the travleing time but we was on the plains A little longer then that[.] we had A plenty to eat and plenty of Coffee to Drink also prety well of Tea so you see with regard to those matters you see we did well[.] as we sent you word their was from 12 to 14 to each waggon[.] in ours their 12 Adults and one Child[.] four of these Slept in the waggon the rest in the tent which we had with our waggon[.] so for that matter we did well. when travling the Sisters took it in turns to ride so A part was walking and A part rideing all the time[.] some Days our jurneys was prety long but our average was from 15 to 20 Miles per Day[.] we genraly Cooked Morning Noon and Evening[.] I was Captain of our Waggon Company and did all in my power to make all Comfortable[.] this took up prety well all my time[.] my health was good and I enjoyed my trip across the plains first rait and so did the Lasseys[.] in fact so did all who kept with them the good spirit and had the cause of truth at heart, but who did not injoy A love for the truth and keep with them the spirit of their religon was in hell all the time for they had a plenty to murmur about from Morning till Night and Night to this class last mentioned Mist [missed] their beautifull bedrooms[,] beds[,] Carpets tc [etc.] likewise their green peas[,] Cabbages[,] beef stakes[,] Eggs[,] puddings and A thousand other things besides[.] and some times at Night the grass whould be Damp[.] other times their rome floor whould be to sandy[,] some times the sage Bush was in the road and Dark before we got to our Camp ground so you see A little how the thing goes[.] but the good faithful Saints who was [page torn] and had their lamps well trimed and A plenty of Oil with [page torn] their way clear through every Day and their hearts was filled with greatude and thanks giveings to god for their Delivrance and [H]is blessings which Attended them every Day[.] their food was sweet and good their Sleeping places soft and easey and their souls full of light and peace. such could see God[’s] hand Dealing with Isreal and every Day they grew in Strength and the seens [scenes] of each Day bore testimony to their Souls of the truth of this work and shown plainly that God’s hand lead forth this people to these Chambers in these mighty mountains. I can truley say although my knoledge of this great work was satisfactory to me and I could bear testimoney to its truth in the Name of Jesus Christ to all I came in contact with. I can say and that truely that my knoledge of the truth as mighty grown since I left my feild of labour in Scotland. while upon this subject let me here say to one and all who may read or hear this read. be wise and faithfull to your God live Sober, Virtous and in the path of your religion attend faithfuly to all your Dutys likewise treasure up all the knoledge you posabley can so that your lamp may be well trimed and your Vessels well filled with Oil. and when you set out for zion remember and keep your eye upon the object you set out for[.] do not be turned either to the right or to the left[.] you will find plenty of different things to lead you off the track if you give way in the least so be wise all the time and obedent to your leaders so that you may be feed with the breath of life

We Arived in Great Salt Lake City on the 15th Day of Sept. 1861 wear [where] I stayed till the 3rd of Novr. when I left for this place which lays about 45 Miles from the City but their is A road that can be traveled which is but 30 Miles only it is over the Mountain which Makes it hard to travel but I once walked it in A Day.