Saturday 5 [August 1848] this day Daniel Clark, brother [Montgomery E.] Button and brother Foulet came into Camp with their wagons[.] this [day] I done nothing but fixed my bridle and some other little things
Sunday 6 I assisted brother Foulet to make a exile [axel] for his waggon[.] this day bl brother Austin arived in camp[.] we also had a visit from some Gentiles on pretence of hunting horses and one of them told us that we had one of his and he would take the best one he could find in the drove but finally went off without any[.] this evening elder Brannan came into camp and told Miles Weaver that Eliza Savage had come up to the lower mines and wanted him to take her to Salt lake[.] they then started in company with brother [John Rufus] Stod[d]ard but in about an hour after one of the brethren came in from Sutters and told us that he had heard brannan swear by the great Jehova[h] that made him[,] that he would drink a quart of Miles Weaver's blood[.] then Franklin Weaver fearing for his brothers safety got John [Haines] Reid Read] & James Ferguson and set off in pursuit of them and overtook them but did not let Brannan know their business only they watched him closely[.] wen when they came to the mines they found Eliza out of her reason and anxious to go to the lake [Salt Lake City] and wanted Miles to take her there and seamed to be in great distress and Brannan said that Miles had sedused her and promised to take her to the lake and now was going to leave her but this Miles denied & when they ask her she said Miles never made any promise to her and all sent to him for was because she always loved him and she wished to throw herself on his protection but as Miles had no way prepared to take her he was compelled to leave her[.] then she seemed to be in great distress and when Franklin Weaver asked her what was the cause of her trouble she told she would not tell him now for he would hear it soon enough[.] from this I believe that Brannan had seduesed her and then wanted to turn her off on Miles Weaver
Monday 7 saddled my horse and started with brothers [Julius Augustus Caesar] Austin and [William] Bere [Beers] for the lower mines after some things we had left there and when we had rode about 30 miles we met the Weavers and brother Stodard bringing our things with them so we turned back 5 miles and camped for the night
Tuesd 8 started at sunrise and rode into camp where I rested the rest of the day being weary and sore with riding[.] this evening we held a meetting and organized ourselves according to the patern the Lord has given to the saints to travel in, Ebenezer B[r]own first Captn[,] Elijah Thomas 2 & James Park 3rd Capt
Wedensd 9 prepared to start over the mountains
Thursd 10 this morning we yoked up our cattle preparing to start over the mountain but some of the cattle were found to be missing and the day was spent seeking them[.] last night I stood guard for the first time on this journey[.] this evening the missing cattle are not yet found
Saturd 11 this day was spent in hunting cattle and prepareing to start on the morrow[.] the [cattle] are not yet found
Saturday 12 Started and went about 5 miles when brother Rob[b]ins wagon tongue broke and we had to stop and put in a new one[.] this day our road lay up a ridge of the mountains and was hard pulling most all the way but all got up without doubling teams except brother Austin whose load was too heavy for his steam it being weakened by the loss of one yoke of oxen & he was compelled to throw away his tool chest and many of his tools
Sunday 13 this morning brother Robins threw away his tool chest and a number of his tools[.] this day we traveled ten miles and most all up hill and one place was so steep we all had to double teams to get up
Monday 14 rested in camp to let the animals rest and feed to prepare them for hard pulling up the mountains and 4 men were sent on to seek for the next watering place and found it about ten miles ahead[.] in this place there is a little vally with good grass about 2 miles down the creek where we keep our animals but all the rest of the country nothing but dry mountains and deep canyons and very little for the animals to eat[.] last night I was on guard
Tuesday 15 went ten miles to the camping ground our pioneers found yesterday[.] tl our road was up hill most all the way and on two hills we had to double our teams[.] two men were on today again to seek another camping ground and report one ten miles ahead and worse roads than ever being rockey and steep hills
Wedensd 16 we started and traveled about 10 miles over a very hard road[.] one hill was about 2 miles long and some of the teams had to double most of the way and all of them had to double and some of them treble[,] in one place about 4 rods it being very steep and a flat rock so that the cattle could hardly keep their feet and when we came to the top of the ridge it was so steep on our left that we roled a larg rock over the precipice and it roled down about a mile and then we lost sight of it among the brush[.] at our present camping ground there is a pleasent running stream about a rod wide in some places
Thursd 17 we rested in camp and repaired our wagons
Frid 18 traveled about 15 miles mostly up hill[.] one place about half a mile was very steep and we had to double our teams to get up[.] the road was ful of brush and rock and very dusty which made it very bad[.] brother Knap [Albert Knapp] also broke one of the exis [axels] of his wagon which detained us till night before we got into camp and as the cattle had nothing to eat all day we concluded to rest in camp tomorrow[.] this evening we met according to order for prayer
Saturd 19 we rested in camp and repaired our wagons <&> our went to the next camping ground[.] distance rec[k]oned 12 miles and found the graves of our three pioneers that went out in June to search out the road, and never returned[.] they are supposed to have been murdered and buried by the Indians
Sunday 20 traveled 10 or 12 miles to tragedy Spring so called from our pioneers being killed there[.] the road was mostly up hill and some places exceeding steep and rockey insomuch that it would make one wonder that loaded wagons could come over it and not get broke[.] we found this evening by our the graves of our pioneers[.] there was a larg pile of stone neitly built over it and on a tree at the head of the graves the following inscription was neatly cut to the memory of Daniel Bruiet[,] Ezrah Allan and Henderson Cox who was supposed to have been murdered and buried by the Indians on the night of the 27 of June 1848[.] this was done by some of the advance company in honour of three of our brethren who died thus trying to push their way through to the Church
Monday 21 went about 6 miles[.] the road today was much better being mostly in a valley[.] after we came into camp some of the men went up the mountains and brought down handfuls of snow and I went out with <2> other men to hunt a little and we had not gone far till we saw 2 deer and went in pursuit of them but we had gone far till seve[r]al Indians made their appearance and made after us so we put about and returned to the camp and then formed a caral of our wagons to keep our oxen in for the night
Tuesday 22 we went about eight miles and camped[.] 3 men were sent on to seek another camping ground and returned and reported that there was an exceeding bad hill to climb and that we would have to pack our loads over it and take up our waggons emty so this evening the company were busy preparing to pack, the road we came over today was very bad being very crooked and full of large rock with several steep hills
Wedensd 23 this morning all that had animels to pack packed them and them that had none threw out about half their loads and left them under the care of some of the brethren who stopt back to fix their packs and let others have their animals to pack today but brother [William] Wood and I thought we could take our whole load over on the wagon so we let b[r]other Austin have our horses to take his things on[.] about 10 oclock we started and went 5 miles up the mountain over the roughest road we ever saw to be traveled by wagons[.] then we went down about 6 miles of still worse road being so steep in some places that the oxen would slide down and we had to turn so short sometimes between larg rocks that we could hardly get through with our waggons[.] the passages were so narrow but we finaly all got through without suffering any damage and camped in a fine valley by a lake[.] the snow still lies deep in places on the mountains and is so hard that the horses walked over it with out sinking and hardly left a track where they went
thursd 24 I rested in camp while those that had goods left back went back and brought them on and 3 went on to see what the road was like another days journey ahead and in the evening all returned to camp safe[.] the pioneers reported a very bad road ahead
Friday 25 this morning we went some 3 or 4 miles of very bad road being mostly through a wood and among larg rocks and so crooked that one would how we got through[.] then we came to a very steep hill about half illegible word mile long full of larg rocks and in some places sideling so that it was with a great difficulty that got down with the two hind wheels of our waggons locked and a man standing on one of the wheels to keep it from upseting and after we had got down in this way we went on 4 or 5 miles further to a fine valley with a beautiful stream running through it[.] the road after we got over mountain was very bad being rockey in some places and very rough and marshy in others
Saturday 26 as some of the brethren were with us were packing[,] they wished now to go on by themselves & leave us as they could go on much faster than we with waggons so we stopt this day and killed a beef that we had along with and the women baked sweet buisket and the men roasted the ribs of the ox and we had a general tea party and time of rejoicing[.] this was done that since we had to part we might part with good feelings[.] there was also 2 Indians came into camp and shared with us[.] 2 men went on to look out the road and reported it still terible bad[.] I was on guard this day
Sunday 27 we traveled about 9 miles 6 of which was very good and 3 was the worst I ever Saw being over larg rocks and down hill so that it wrenched the waggons in a way that one would think that something breake[.] yet all passed through without injury except one that had one houn brake[.] we camped tonight by a small river where there is very little feed for the animals[.] this evening we met a company of emigrants from the States consisting I believe of 19 waggons[.] they told us that we would have 3 miles very bad road and then we would get into the plains and have good roads
Monday 28 the road we had for 3 miles this morning was as bad if not worse than any we have had being a part of a canyan [canyon] of the mountains[.] part we came through last evening and part this morning[.] the mountains are very high on both sides and very Steep and great rocks have roled down from the mountains and filled the canyon with the broken fragments so that one cannot get through without going over many larg rocks and taking such short turns sometimes in narrow places between rocks that a wagon cannot get through without great difficulty[.] there is also a brook about 2 rods wide which we had to cross twice and being ful of larg rock was very hard to cross but after we got out of the canyon we had a good road in a fine larg vally. This day we traveled 10 miles
Tuesd 29 went 12 miles and camped on the salmon trout river Called by some pilots river[.] here the valley widens out probably as much as from 6 to 10 miles and is called Shoshone valley
Wednesday 30 we went 15 miles and camped again on the river[.] this morning brother [William] Wood Sought for his mare and colt but could not find them and thought perhaps they were hid in the brush and would come out when the drove was gathered up but when we had traveled some distance the drove being behind overtook us and he saw they were not there so he caught his horse and road back to camp in search of them but found nothing but one Indian and the tracks of a great many more[.] from this we believe that they Indians Stole them in the night.
Thursd 31 went 8 miles through deep sand and camped on the river[.] last night brother [William Reddington] Wright being on guard saw an Indian by the camp and hailed him upon which he ran away and Wright fired after him not to kill but to frighten him but this morning one of brother [James] Fergusons Asses was missing that also had been stolen by the Indians[.] this evening I am on guard again & brother Robins has begun to drive his own teem today for the first time since we started as a company from our first camp[,] he being sick all the way comeing over the mountains
[September] Friday 1st went 10 miles[.] the road was very rockey all the way and very bad on the Oxens feet[.] we camped again on the river at the head of cotton wood valley
Saturday 2 [.] went 10 miles and camped on the river at the foot of cottonwood vally[.] the road was good most of the way.
Sunday 3 we went 15 miles[.] the road lay down the river and was rather rough although in many places there was good grass[.] we camped again on the river
Monday 4 this morning we found a cow with an arrow sticking in her side[.] she had been shot by an Indian[.] at 7 we started and traveled down the river[.] the vally soon widened out and we left the river[.] on our right the vally is 8 or 10 miles wide and is one continued sand bed[.] we went about 15 miles and came to the river again and camped
Tuesday 5 as we were now leaving pilot river for trudy and according to the information we had we expected 25 miles without water so we let the cattle feed till xxx near noon then watered them and started and went about 16 miles and camped without water or grass[.] the road was very bad being deep sand all the way and small rock in some places which made it very bad for the cattles feet[.] the whole face of the country here has the appearance of having been thrown up by a volcanic eruption and the cracks all appear to have been burnt
Wedensday 6th we started at day-light and went about 8 miles to trucky [Truckee] river and camped to let the cattle feed[.] the road today was much the same as yesterday being a continuation of the same bed of sand[.] we cut grass here for the cattle as we expect 40 miles without water or grass to Marys river so we concluded to take some grass with us
Thursd 7 we traveled 20 miles and camped at the boiling springs[.] the first 8 miles we traveled was through deep sand and then we went down into a larg vally which has the appearance of being flooded annually and as far as we went today there was not a sign of vegetation to be seen except a small kind [of] shrub that is found al through this reigeon of country but I do not know the name of it and this only grew on the higher places and at the rest looked as if it had been covered with lime and then with water and then dried again[.] the road was very but very dusty[.] the boiling springs are a great curiosity[.] there is perhaps 15 or 20 holes in the earth from one to 2 feet wide like so many pots all boiling as fast as fire can make there[.] there is also one larg pool probably 10 or 12 feet long and about 6 feet wide[.] this also boils but not so furiously as the rest
Friday 8 we went 20 miles to the sink of marys river[.] the road was very good being in the same vally that we were in yesterday and all the teams got through well except one ox that had to be left till he recovered from his fatigue[.] the water and grass here is not good but cattle that is hungry and thirsty relish it very well and the water does very well to make tea of and a thirsty person can drink it also
Saturday 9 this morning brother Foulets ox came up to camp but he thought he could not travel with the teams so he left him[.] this day we went 20 miles but found no water so we turned out our animals and let them rest and feed a while then we yoked up again and went on 6 miles further where we found water & grass although neither was very good and camped for the night[.] here an Indian came into camp to us and dou pretended great friendship for us but we were rather jealous of him and he soon left
Sunday 10 we went 15 miles and camped on Marys river[.] here the water runs and is good grass & also is good and plenty this morning[.] when the drove was gathered up it was discovered that 3 horses belonging to Franklin Weaver were missing and when he went in search of them he found their tracks and the track of an Indian after them so he considered them stollen and gave up the search[.] the road was very good today
Monday 11 we rested in camp here[.] a company of emigrants came to us and camped with us[.] they informed us that the Indians had shot several of their cattle at the western crossing of marys river and they had also shot one Indian[.] this they did by 5 men remaining in ambush near their camp after the company had left and when the Indians came into camp as is their custom they shot
Tuesday 12 I bought a rifle from one of the emigrants[.] this we went 13 miles and camped by the river[.] the road was good but the dust was over the fillies of the wheels and rose in clouds and was almost like to suffocate us at times
Wedensday 13 We traveled 18 miles[.] the road was good but the dust like lime lay to the depth of from 6 to 8 inches on it and rose in clouds over us al the way[.] we crossed the river and camped about a mile above the crossing[.] the grass is not very good here[.] last night the moon was totally eclipst [eclipsed]
Thursd 14 we crossed the river and went 25 miles[.] the dust was as bad as ever[.] wood and grass was rather inferior at this camp
Friday 15 went 8 miles and camped in consiquence of some of the cattle being nearly broke down with long journies and little feed[.] the grass here is good[.] I am very much troubled with a sore ancle [ankle] and leg at present[.] it was caused by being scratched with bushes and poisoned with poison vine.
Saturday 16 we went 15 miles this morning[.] we had to climb a very steep bank to cross a point that came close up to the river then we came down on the river bottom again[.] the road was good but dusty as ever[.] there is good grass there this evening[.] there is a thick black smoke to be seen ahead of us[.] we saw it two days ago but do not know what it means
Sunday 17 we went 15 miles and camped in good grass by the river[.] we passed the place where we Saw the Smoke yesterday and Saw quite a number of indians in one group[.] we counted nine[.] they were coming towards us and as our teams were very much scattered the front halted till the rear came up[.] the Indian then turned about and left us
Monday 18 this morning[.] one Indian came into camp but did not seem to have any other business but to try to get something to eat[.] we also saw some others at a distance but as we were just leaving camp they did not come up[.] I suppose they were waiting to see what would be the result of the others visit[.] this day we traveled 12 miles[.] went through the narrow pass of the mountains[.] crossed the river once and camped by the river on the edge of a larg vally[.] good water and grass here[.] this evening 2 Indians came into camp[.] I think they had been to a council as they came from the direction of the great fire and were up the river[.] they were larg strong good looking men and were naked except a wolf skin wrapt round them
Tuesday 19 this morning six Indians came into camp[.] this day we traveled 20 miles over a larg barren plain[.] it had much the appearance of the desert of Senora[.] a good camp and good grass
Wedensday 20 we went 18 miles on the river bottom[.] good and grass most all the way but the grass is all dry except close to the river
Thursday 21 we traveled about 7 miles and camped at the foot of the mountains a little above where the river bends close up to the mountains[.] last night or this morning 2 horses were cut loose and taken off by the Indians[.] this was done in less than 20 paces of the waggons and yet not seen by the guard[.] guards [William Cook] Prouse [Prows,] [James Zemira] Palmer[,] [James Pollock] Park[,] and Rob[b]ins[.] and when 3 men that drove horses came to our camp they saw 2 Indians and one of them had a horse but not any of ours
Friday 22 we went 16 miles and camped in good grass[.] the portion of the valley we traveled in was good soil but very dry[.] it might be a good farming country if it had rain[.] this evening a number of Indians came into camp to trade fish
Saturday 23 we traveled 17 miles and camped in good grass by the river[.] we went through a narrow pass of the mountains and across a larg plain to our camp[.] the dust today was very bad[.] this evening we had thunder and lightning and a few drops of rain
Sunday 24. this morning we had a light rain[.] we crossed the river and left it on our right, and traveled 20 miles over hills and through canyons till we struck the river again where there is a number of hot springs in the bed of it.
Monday 25 we traveled 10 [,] crossed a branch of the river[,] went through a deep canyon and crossed the river twice and camped in a little vally near the head of the canyan
Tuesday 26 we left the canyan and traveled 20 miles up the river bottom and camped on the river in good grass[.] the Indians now croud into our camp every evening and morning and yesterday morning they brought a child into camp and made motions to show that his mother was dead and brother Ferguson th took him and called him Laman
Wedensday 27. we traveled 15 miles and crossed 3 points where the river puts round through deep canyons[.] we also crossed the Salene branch this day[.] we thundere and lightning but the storm went round behind us[.] it snowed on the mountains
Thursday 28 we traveled 18 miles up the river bottom and camped near the river[.] it is nearly dry and does not run here
Friday 29 we traveled 18 miles and camped near the canyon at the head of marys river[.] we have traveled in sight of this canyan for three days[.] there good grass[.] and water here but no wood except wormwood and willow[.] neither is there any other on all this river
Saturday 30 we lay in camp to wash and let the animals rest
Sunday 1st we went ten miles and camped at the Springs of marys river[.] we passed thro the canyan[,] passed by two warm springs and crossed the creek nine times in the canyan
Monday 2 we went 15 miles and camped near the Sulpher and cold Springs[.] these Springs are a great curiosity[.] in one place the water is boiling up with great force and run down boiling hot for some distance raising a Steem like a steem mill[.] there is also cold Springs within a few yards of the other and the water is cold enough to make a persons teeth ache
Tuesday 3 we went ten miles and camped by the wells or horse Springs[.] here Some Indians came to us and wanted to trade horses and skins for guns & amunition
Wedensday 4 we went 16 miles and camped by a spring I call spring branch[.] good water but poor grass[.] this evening we had thunder and lightning and a little rain and it snowed on the mountains
Thursday 5 we traveled 20 miles. Crossed the divide between Snake river and the waters of salt lake and camped on goose creek[.] the day was very cold[.] good water and poor grass at this camp[.] last night we let our cattle go loose for the first time on the rout[,] we having had to chain them up at nights for fear of the Indians
Friday 6 we traveled 22 [miles] down goose creek a good road all the way[.] a good camp[.] good grass and water
Saturday 7 went 8 miles[.] left goose creek[.] went over to ceder [cedar] branch and went up that to where the road leaves it and went up on the hill and camped and turned the cattle back to the creek to feed
Sunday 8 traveled 20 miles[.] went over the mountains on the devide between ceder bran and providence creek and camped on providence creek[.] good wood and water but poor grass
Monday xx 9 went <10> miles down the creek and camped[.] good wood water and grass here[.] we had to fix the road at the crossing of the creek[.] there is at this place two mountains on the South of the creek I call the two Sisters
Tuesday 10 we traveled 14 miles and camped by a branch that comes down from the mountains on the south of the vally[.] this I call flint stone creek
Wedensday 11 we went ten miles and camped at prospect spring and here for the first time our eyes beheld the great Salt lake[.] our camp was close up to the mountains on the south side of the vally
Thursday 12 we traveled 20 miles a l across a larg vally to mud creek[.] we also past 2 bieutiful [beautiful] Springs about half way[.] this morning James Ferguson through ill will to me [cauy…] my horse out of the drove and tied him to a tree near the camp after I had left and caused me to turn back 8 miles after him and walk all the way to camp this evening as I could not ride him his back being Sore and this evening I called him before the company for trial and it was decided that he should acknowledge a fault to me and pay me a dollar for my trouble going after the horse
Friday 13 traveled 30 miles mostly in vallies althou we had to cross several ridges in passes of the mountains but the vallies here genarally connect them selves by narrow passes of the mountains[.] we camped by a warm Spring which was both Salty and Sulpherie
Saturday 14 we went 16 miles[.] the road was much the same as yesterday[.] we camped by a Spring in a deep hollow
Sunday 15 we went 10 miles crossed bear river and camped near the river
Monday 16 this morning as some of the men were hunting the horses they found our mistake about bear river as the one we crossed headed only a little way above our camp and another and much larger one headed a few miles further up the vally[.] we crossed it this morning[.] it was more than 20 yards wide and about 3 feet deep and run very rapid where we crossed it[.] we traveled 25 miles through a beautiful vally with a great many Springs in it and some of them boiling hot and a larg lake of fresh water is in this vally[.] we camped by a beautiful little stream with a grove of cottonwood by it
Tuesday 17 we went 12 miles[.] passed a larg number of springs and brooks[.] one spring was boiling hot and salt as brine[.] we camped by some little springs about 2 miles from the salt spring[.] this evening Calvin More came into camp from the citty and informed us that we were near Browns settlement[.] he also informed us respecting the two rivers we had crossed[.] the first is called sick river[.] the other is bear river[.] it appeared they both sink for some distance at this time of the year which was the cause of our not knowing bear river when we came to it
Wednesday 18 traveled 8 miles to Capt Browns and camped in a little grove near his house
Thursday 19 we went 20 miles to what is called the half way house and camped by a creek in a beautiful part of the vally
Friday 20 we traveled 20 miles to the city of the great salt lake[.] we crossed a point of the great desert plain that surrounds the great salt lake and passed several hot springs one of which is fitted up for a bathing place[.] we also passed hot springs lakes 4 miles from the citty