Transcript

I started this morning, July 12th, in company with some fifty other brethren and sisters for Salt Lake Valley. There were nineteen wagons in the company, all ox teams. I had two yoke of cattle and one wagon and three passengers with their luggage and provisions which consisted of sister [Hannah Tillet] Sinclair (a widow) and her daughter, Jane Sinclair. Sister Sinclair was a very worthy woman from North Shields, her husband was a sea captain. She and her daughter had come as far as Florence but for want of means could not proceed any further and as she had been very generous in entertaining the Elders for many years I felt it to be my duty to assist them by taking them with me. The brother passenger's name was Richard Newness who gave me forty dollars for his passage and provisions. Bro. Newness and I slept on the ground under the wagon all the distance of a thousand miles over the plains and Widow Sinclair and her daughter slept on my feather bed in the wagon. We encountered many heavy thunder storms during the journey over the plains and sometimes water would run under our bed under the wagon. We camp'd on the Big Pappio [Papillon] Creek the first night from Florence and effected an organization, of which I was Chaplain.

July 19th. We crossed the river in the afternoon, which is a very difficult stream to cross owing to the quicksand. We had to hitch from 6 to 8 yoke of cattle to each wagon. We all got over safe by about dark. I waded seven times which is about half a mile whide [wide] with a very swift currant.

July 31st. During the last five days we have seen an immense quantity of Buffalos. The Platte valley has been litterly black with them. We were compelled to stop our train a number of times for them to get out of the way as we were fearful of our cattle becoming frightened and stampeding. Once a very large bull buffalo was alone behind the main herd of several thousand head which had just cross'd the south fork of the Platte and came on a loap going west after the herd and but for me firing a shot at him in the head from my revolver which turned him close by the hind end of the wagon, he would have bounded between my two yoke of oxen and being the last wagon that day in the train providently avoided serious results.

August 7th. Camped near to a very large camp of Sioux Indians. The chief and many of his braves visited us in the evening and were very friendly. They sat down on the ground forming a large circle. We gave them some crackers, sugar and tobacco. I explained to them the best I could through gestures, etc. and told them that we were Mormons and their true friends and by and by Indians and Mormons would be one and that they would not be oppress’d and driven as they and the Mormons had been. They appeared to understand considerable and much pleased, so much so that the chief put his arms round my neck and saluted me with a kiss.

On the 9th of August, drove about seven miles and camp’d as the day was very hot. Some Government officers pass’d on the south fork of the Platte. A few of our brethren went over to talk to them but could not learn much only that they were going ahead of their train of supplies that was behind them. About this time green headed flies and mosquitos were very annoying to both man and beast.

On the 12th of August we pass'd the grave of one of our Danish brethren. The wolves having dug up the body which made it a frightful sight to behold.

21st of August we cross'd the Platte opposite Fort Laramie and camp'd in the evening where we met Bro. Samuel W. Richards and Bro. Snyder who were on their way to Liverpool as Missionaries. There were several other brethren along. We held a very pleasant meeting.

August 23rd. We met Bro. Parks with four yoke of oxen to render assistance to those who most needed it. We camped near to the station on Horseshoe creek; there are some half dozen log houses erected here with an excellent corral for the purpose of forming a station on the line between Salt Lake and Missouri River for the benefit of a carrying company which had been organized in Salt Lake City by Pres. Brigham Young call'd the Y X Company. It would have evidently been a most excellent thing if the U.S. Government had let us alone, but as Uncle Sam is sending of 4000 troops to Salt Lake with the intention of killing and destroying the Saints of God. But Pres. Young was determined that they should not have their own way in that matter. In consequence, of this army coming Pres. Young gave orders to vacate all the stations and burn the houses and corrals. We held a meeting in the evening with Bro. Bennett and the brethren who return'd with us to Salt Lake.

August 28th. We camp’d at Deer Creek where we found seventy of our brethren and another large station. Nathaniel V. Jones was the captain here. The whole of the brethren left with us next morning. They had twenty eight horses and ox teams.

September 2nd. We passed Devils Gate Station where we staid some 6 hours. There were a number of brethren camp’d here from Salt Lake City who Pres. Brigham Young had sent to act as a Guard for the Emigration and defend them from the soldiers who were on their way. Traveled some eight miles and camp’d on the Sweetwater.

September 7th. Traveled about 10 miles and camp’d on the Sweetwater. I took a long walk with my gun down the river, shot a jack rabbit. Saw some very interesting and romantic scenery. I had many pleasing reflections while traveling alone in this sequestered and remote part of the earth where the footprints of a white man is seldom seen and all nature appears as though nothing had been molested since it rolled out of the Hands of the Creator.

September 8th. We traveled 25 miles. While nooning near the last crossing of the Sweetwater we met Bros. Bennet and Holly came up as they were taking an express to Salt Lake on horseback. They told us that they had been back as far as Fort Laramie as spies to see how far the Gov’t Troops were on the way. They pretended they were gold diggers returning from California to the States and that met several hundred of the troops and went into their camp and conversed freely with several of the officers, said they were going to Salt Lake and would hang BrighamYoung and Heber C. Kimball and others that they had got with writs for and they swore and cursed and boasted of what great things they should do when they got there, but they will find their boasting is in vain long before they get there.

September 14th. Met several brethren from Salt Lake with thirty nine yoke of oxen which Pr. Young had sent to help our Emigration in. Arrived at Fort bridger about 9 P.M. Laid over the next day shoeing oxen and in the evening Captain Van Vlict of the U.S. Army who had been to see President Young arrived in company with Dr. Bernhisch, O.P. Rockwell, N.V. Jones and several other brethren who came with the captain and Dr. Bernhisch as an escort as far as the Gov’t Camp on Harns [Ham's] Fork.

September 18th. W.G. Young and company arrived about noon, and the next morning we all started together for Salt Lake City where we arrived on the 25th.