Transcript

Transcript for Mackintosh, Daniel, "Correspondence of Elder Daniel Mackintosh," The Mormon, 4 July 1857, 3

Correspondence of Elder Daniel Mackintosh.
NEW YORK CITY, June 27, 1857.

To the Editor of The Mormon:

BEING Clerk of the Hand-Cart Company of missionaries, who started from Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, April 23, it perhaps would be interesting to your numerous readers, to give in brief a statement of the organization of the Company and our journey here.

On the 24th of April, our little band of Seventy Elders, including officers, with 26 hand-carts took our line of march from Emigration Kanyon [Canyon], under the conduct of the following brethren:

Henry Herriman, President.
Joseph W. Young, Counsellor.
Stephen H. Goddard, Counsellor.
Daniel Mackintosh, Clerk.
Wm. H. Branch, Captain.
James Gallie, Chaplain.
George Goddard, Chorister.
Miner G. Atwood, Captain 1st Ten.
Eli Harvey Peirce,Captain 2d Ten.
Joel Terry,Captain 3d Ten.
David Brinton, Captain 4th Ten.
Thomas Hall, Captain 5th Ten.

The name, Office of the Priesthood, and varied points of destination, were reported by letter to the Editor of the Deseret News, and if the report reached his office in that place you will find that piece of information if required.

Under the above arrangement we traveled with our hand-carts across the plains to Florence, Nebraska Territory, without horse, mules, cow, or any other animal to assist: drawing in them our provisions, bedding, cooking utensils, tents, &c., at which place we arrived in the full enjoyment of health on the 10th inst., making the entire trip from point to point in 48 days; but out of that number, we lay by to rest, repair carts, &c., 7 1-2 days, which would make the total number of traveling days 40 1-2, and we would remark that we are satisfied that the trip can be accomplished in a shorter period, say from 30 to 35 days; but the carts with iron axles should be a least 3 feet 10 inches on the track, instead of 3 feet 6 inches, made of the best malleable iron, without flaws when forged.

In our opinion, so as to insure safety, the spindle at the shoulder should be at least one inch, or an inch-and-an-eighth, and at the point, 6-8 of an inch, and to be made with but little gather. The carts with iron axles are decidedly the easiest to travel with, and a very light tent would be found exceedingly useful in a stormy day.

On our way thither we had no trouble whatever with the Indians and saw but few, except a band of the Ogallalie Siouxs [Ogallala Sioux], who were very friendly; neither had we any trouble with the whites; and we were generally treated very courteously by those of them with whom we had any business to transact, and as to our own conduct, we have not heard of any accuser, therefore we are not disposed at present to accuse ourselves.

Upon our arrival at Florence, our ears were saluted with the general tissue of lies circulated through newspaper columns, about the rebellious spirit existing in Utah towards the United States Government; at this we were not at all surprised, when we arrived at the sources from which they originated; and we have no fears in saying that they are as false as Hell, and were only concocted in the frenzied brains of political aspirants, demagogues, and corrupt hearts, so as to screen their own iniquity from public gaze, and furthermore to get up some excitement, by which Uncle Sam's pockets could be rifled out of a few millions of dollars that lay unexpended in the treasury.

We say let the old man do it, he is rich, but being numbered in the family, we feel as though we hate to see the old fellow, so badly fooled in his old age, more especially as the measures contemplated to be resorted to arise solely on a pretended family insubordination, which could be easily settled by sending three men to Utah to enquire into the truth of the matter.

At Florence, the Elders were well received but the Saints, and in a few days began to scatter to their various fields of labor, while the greater portion kept together, took steamer for St. Louis, and arrived there on the 18th inst. and were hospitably entertained by President Horace S. Eldredge and the Saints.

We started by railway from St. Louis on the 23rd, and arrived in this city on the 27th, well, with the exception of some complaining of colds.

The Presidency of the Eastern States, Presidency of Branches, and the Saints in general have exemplified already by their works that liberal feeling which always characterizes Saints of the Most High.

It is expected that in a few days the brethren for Europe will embark at this port, those for Canada left the company in the Western States and have probably arrived in their fields of labor, and those for the States are ready to carry out their appointments.

DANL. MACKINTOSH.