Transcript

June 1^st 1858 About 4 o clock this afternoon I left Florence for my home in the mountains in company with Bros H[orace] S. Eldredge[,] H[ector] C. Haytgt [Haight] and some thirty two others.

We bid our friends adiue with many wishes that they may speedily follow after us.

Among them I must mention Bro A. C. Pyper and family & his Bro James. Traveled 4 miles & camped for night.

2^nd Rained very hard during the night & the morning. Very disagreeable[.] Started out late & went to Elk Horn River 17 miles where we camped for night

3^rd During the night we had one of the hardest thunderstorms I have seen for many years. Much of the road between the Horn [and] Platte river was covered with water and the road was very bad[.] Traveled 20 miles & camped on the Platte for night

4^th Wed. had some very bad roads & could not travel very fast. Found the sloughs high. Camped on the prairia without wood.

Saturday 5^th Had two deep sloughs to cross & had to raise our wagon beds. Crost over safe. Traveled 18 miles.

Sunday 6^th About 12 o clock & 4 miles east of Genoa[.] Met the Express bringing down Col T. L. Kane from the valey. Bros H. Egan, Wm Vanetten[,] John Murdock[,] Geo Knowlton, Fury Worthing, and Lewis West made up the party. They were 23 days from the Valey[.] Although the news they bring is not as cheering as we could wish yet it is cheering, because we can rely upon it. We learn by them that the Saints in the City and Northern settlements are moving South, for what purpose we did not learn.

The people they say were in fine spirits[.] Gov[erno]r Cummings had been into the City and seemed to feel favorable.

After an hour’s talk they continued their Journey & went on to Genoa. Got some Smithing done.

Monday 7^th This morning we rold down to the Luop [Loup] fork where formed there a canoe lashed together, and after a hard days work, succeed in getting all our wagons & effects safely over & swiming our horses

Tuesday 8^th Started out late, and traveled 20 miles[.] camped for night. A meeting was called, and the company organized by electing H. S. Eldredge Captain[,] H. C. Haight Chaplain and J[oseph]. W[atson]. Young Sergt of guard. Light Shower of rain.

Wednesday 9^th Traveled about 30 miles and camped without water. Roads have been very bad.

Thursday 10^th Traveled 28 miles & camped on Prairie Creek. Roads bad in places. Saw several antelope; but could not shoot any. Weather very cold for the time of year

Friday 11^th Found the bridge over wood river had been carried away by the heavy rains. I had to make another which we did in about 2 hours. Traveled 28 miles and In the Praria without wood

Saturday 12 Passed opposite Fort Kearny this morning. Day pleasant. Crossed Elm Creek about noon. Soon after Bro John [Streator] Gleason’s team ran away but we succeeded in geting them[.] there was little damage done[.] Traveled 30 miles and camped on Buffalo Creek

Sunday 13^th Traveled about 35 miles & camped after dark on the Prairia without making fire. Saw two camps of soldiers camped on the opposite side of the Platte River.

Monday 14^th Traveled 25 miles[.] roads very bad, and the weather very hot[.] Saw two or three trains opposite.

Tuesday 15^th Saw a small band of Sioux Indians, who were very friendly[.] Traveled twenty eight miles a very bad road there being many bad Sloughs to cross[.] Camped at night near Bluff fork.

Wednesday 16^th This morning met the Ogalalia Band of the Sioux Indians. We gave the Cheif [Li.....] presents. Have had some very heavy sandy roads[.] Camped for the evening[.] We came to the Indian vilage where [-] were at [------] Our [-------] it [.ook] as though we should have every [--] in [p..ces] [--] untill in stoping [---------] [illegible]

Thursday 17^th Traveled 31 miles & camped on Castle Creek.

Friday 18^th This afternoon we met at the Battle Chiefs of Sioux Creek Indians[.] They were neighborly & we passed them without any harm[.] Drove 34 miles & camped near Ancient Bluff ruins.

Saturday 19^th Traveled 34 miles & camped opposite Chimney Rock. One antelope killed in camp[.] The week has passed very pleasantly[.] Have all felt that the Lord had prospered us very much.

Sunday 20^th In the Forenoon we traveled about 10 miles then camped for four hours During which time we were visited by some Mountaineers. They told us that the troops who were ordered from the States to Utah were detained at Kearnie [Kearney]. We hope it is true.

Held a short Meeting & traveled 10 miles farther & camped opposite Scotts Bluffs

Monday 21^st Traveled 31 miles & camped on the prairie without any food or water[.] During the day many thunder Showers gathered but they all passed amongst us without geting at all wet. In one instance the Storm was straight before us & we expected to get thourally wet but the Storm parted apart after going to the North & the remainder to the South of us.

Tuesday 22^nd I started out at 4 o clock and traveled 3 miles, which brought us to the river where we stoped & got breakfast. Some Indians came to Camp and we gave them some food[.] Stoped for noon within eight miles of Fort Larimie [Laramie].

Several Lodges of Indians & Traders opposite us[.] passed the Fort about 4 O clock[.] No person came over to see us, & we passed quietly along for 3 miles & stoped for supper[.] Started at 7 again & traveled until 11 oclock[.] Our road During the evening was over the Black hills and was very rough. & our driv in the former part of the day having to [go] through heavy sand ourselves and horses were very tired[.] Days travel 34 miles

Wednesday 23^rd Traveled 30 miles[.] Most of the day the road was very rough being over high rocky ridges of the Black Hills. Camped for night without water.

Thursday 24^th Started at 4 Oclock in the morning[.] traveled 7 miles before breakfast[.] weather very warm[.] days travel 27 miles[.] Camped for night near the river.

Friday 25^th Passed over some very rough road this for noon. In the evening had heavy sand. Traveled 30 miles.

Saturday 26^th Traveled 3 miles which brought us opposite Deer Creek. some traders came over & we camped for two hours. Bros Eldredge & Haight went over to their fort and traded for some Buffalo robes. Traveled 8 miles farther & stoped for supper[.] Traveled 12 miles & camp[ed] for night.

Sunday 27^th Came to the Bridge over the Platte. Traded for some robes. I learned some things concerning the road ahead which were cheering to us. E. Richardson, Wm Gibson[,] [Thomas] Chamberlin & J[ames]. Palmer left our company and Struck out a head. our days travel was 22 miles

Monday 28^th Traveled 37 miles and camped on Sweet water River for night[.] In the evening we met 2 teams returning from the Valey to the States.

The company consisted of 5 men, 2 women & several children. The women are the daughters of Harlo Redfield[.] They have all belonged to the Church & I told them that they would very soon want to get back to their friends. [Many of this group returned to Utah the following year in the Redfield Smith Freight Train.]

I felt grieved to see them going away from those who would be their friends if they would do right but if people are stubborn & self willed, unwilling to do as Saints ought to do they must take the consequences

Tuesday 29^th Passed Independence Rock & the Devils Gate[.] Camped for night on Sweet water[.] Days travel 30 miles

Wednesday 30^th In the afternoon came up with the brethren who left us. Some of them apologised for leaving the company and wished still to travel with us. Some teams in the company are getting weak. Have to be assisted by others v

Traveled 29 miles and camped without water[.] Road heavy

Thursday July 1^st Came over to sandy on the South road & got breakfast. Distance 10 miles[.] Traveled 9 miles & stopped for noon[.] In the evening 14 miles & camped for night[.] Soon after getting into camp the rain began to decend and continued more or less until morning.

Friday 2^nd Went over the South pass and camped low down on Paciffic [Pacific] Creek[.] Days travel 32 miles

Saturday 3^rd Traveled 25 miles & camped on Big Sandy[.] Very little grass

Sunday 4^th Started early this morning and came down to the Bend of Sandy for breakfast. Here we met quite a large train of families returning from Salt Lake to the States. They report very hard times, & seemed very much frightened.

Came over to Green River and here we nooned, & then crossed the River in a ferry boat by paying $5.00 per wagon

Traveled three miles farther & camped for night making 24 miles for the day.

Monday 5^th Started at half past 2 Oclock & went over to Black’s fork for breakfast.

Here we met a company of the Mail party who reported that all the families had left Salt Lake City & the northern Settlements & gone South. Saw a few Soldiers at the bridge on Hams fork. who are left there to guard the bridge[.] Traveled 34 miles.

Tuesday 6^th Passed Fort Bridger in the forenoon[.] Everything was quiet[.] About three miles west of the Fort, we met the commissoners, Powel & McCoulough, on their return to the States

We learned by a man traveling with them, that there were no families in Salt Lake City but they were expected to return Soon. Traveled 35 miles & camped at Soda Springs[.] Some of the brethren were advised to fall back and come slow in consequenceof their teams being weak

Wednesday 7^th Traveled 31 miles & camped in Ecco [Echo] Kanyon [Canyon]

Thursday 8^th Met a company of the brethren going to F[or]t Bridger with teams after goods of Messes Livingston Kinkead & Co. Traveled 35 miles & camped near East Kanyon [Canyon] Creek

Friday 9^th Passed over the Big Mountain in the forenoon