Transcript

. . . surprised to find many of the former company who were my companions a cross the Sea—Still on the camp ground; on inquiering the cause of their delay; I was informed; That the hand carts ordered from St Louis had ben delayed; And finally their purchase abandoned; under the impression that they could manufacture them; with less cost; And So they were now constructing them; (Now—the mode of crossing the Plains in light cars—drawn by hand—was adopted by the recommendation and council of the first Presidency—which—with wise management bid fair to be a Success—But otherwise; or failure; which proved to be the case in this instant; By a dopting the pollicy of that would cause a prolonged delay at so late a date of the Season—It being the first of August ear [ere] the camp ground was cleared of its occupant—with 1300 miles before them 300 miles of which we made passing through the State of Iowa; arriving at council Bluffs Sept 1^st which brought us on to the borders of the Plains. Here a council was called—by those having charge of the Emigration including the captains of componies—The council took into consideration the prop[r]iety of undertaking to cross the Plains So late in the Season. a desision rendered in favour of continuing on without further delay[.] two manifested their disaproval; one declined going any further; the other submitted to the majority, and continued his servises; I felt to some extent the wait [weight] of the responcibillity—having ben appointed to assist Elder Benjamine Hodgit [William Benjamin Hodgett]—who was in charge of one of what was called independent companey (of which there were two—one in charge of Elder John Hunt)[.] they were composed of those who furnished their means for their own out fit in Wagons[,] teams and provisions; At the same time assisting those of the hand cart companies who were mostly suplied through the Emigration fund. I was not in the council—above mentioned as I was not invited by those charge; I felt delicate in doing so at the solicitation of Captin Hodgit [Hodgett]; My own feelings according to my judgment was not in harmoney with the decision of the Council; Nevertheless I it my duty to comply with the request of those who were placed to direct the work in which I was ingaged; And thus I indevered to use my best energies; to make a Successful trip or cross the extended Plains before us; Not with Standing the lateness of the Season; Aall moved on in proper distance between the companies[;] [...] cievesnt [sufficient] of feed for our Animals; Elder Hodgits [Hodgetts] and my self took into consideration the proprierty of light[en]ing up the weight on our wagons and thus increas our speed without jaiding our teams; feeling that it was kneedful for us to do all that we could—even at a Sacrifice if nessasary in acomplishing what was needful[.] We were impressed to call the companey to gather and Show unto them our condition and dependence on the Lord to stay the Storms from over taking us; and that it was our duty as his children to use all the means within our reach to accomplish what is requiered of us and then if more is necessary he will come to our aid;

Therefore we had a propposition to make to them; which was for us to unload our wagons and take the clothing out of our hevy Boxes and put them into Sacks which we could prepare for that purpose; And thus make the burden on our teams more easy so as to increas our advance on the way; And as to our boxes and chests we would make a bond fire in token of the Sacrifice we were willing to make to gain the desiered Blessing; The propposition was unanimously sustained by vote on the part of the Brethren & Sisters; Aall went to work overhauling their wagons[,] empting their Boxes[,] putting their contents into Saceks [Sacks] and bundels in the best possiable manner; Thus we made our way on, with more ease and grater speed. The hand cart componey was in our rear Under care of Elders Mosses [Edward] Martin and Daniel Tylar [Tyler]. Captain Hunts componey was in their rear[.] Thus hand cart componey were between the Indipendent componeys—having—as were—a front and rear gard; Captain Hodgits [Hodgett’s] & my self Spaired no pains in Selecting campgrounds where the best feed could be found for our animals; by so doing our teams were cept [kept] in good condition—And it was for the care and regard we had for those more dependent ones be hind—That held us from making longer marches as drew nearer the mountain reagion; Thare was not noticable change in tempiture of the atmosphere[.] the water in the Streams were vary cold; makaking [making] it a vary painful task for Men—mutch more so for Wwomen & Children; to wade in crossing them whis [which] was the case with those in the hand cart componey;

November was now passing in her cold days and chilly nights; And ear [ere] we made the last crossing of the Platt[e]—a Snow Storm was upon us; We made the crossing the night before; as we arose in the morning we saw there was an approaching Storm; and by the time we were in readiness to morrow the snow commenced falling; I was a were [aware] of a place three miles up the River—where there was low grass land serrounded by high bluffs and was well suplied with grass & timber for fuel—when I came with the mis[si]onaries in 52—We therefore decided to make for that point. and wait the result of the storme; At this juncture—the hand cart Componey made its appearence on the opposite bank at the croossing—We instructed componey to move on—that we would stop and see the them cross—and soon over take ours: They had just commenced croossing as we rode up. it was no pleasant seen [scene] for us to behold Women and children waiding a bove their knees in the cold peircing eliment: We hastened acrooss on our Animals and began takaking [taking] them one by one behind us—across—the waiding soon stoped. they huddled like sheep. a waiting our return; as we made a trip—we neaver failed to return without a blessing pronounced upon us—in adition to one already received. All being over—We proceeded on and over took our Componey: passing on to the place we had Selected to Stop in till the storm was past[.] We it well adapted to our condition there being plenty of grass and fuel serrounded with high table land and thick Bunches of willows interspersed in the little cove; thus it was a covert from the bleak winds of the plain that was now driving the falling Snow. here we rounded up our wagons; pitched our tents and gathered Some wood for the camp fires ear [ere] the day closed in;—I wonder how it is with the hand cart company: they must of remained at the crossing—I wish they were here with us—This was frequently exspressed duering the evening as we sit around our fiers [fires]; We arose in the morning with a bout 6 inches of snow on the ground[.] Elder Hodgetts returned to the crossing to learn the condition of the other companies—Elder Hunts not having come up when we left—and inform them of our Success and invite them up to share with us:—there being a sup[p]ly for all—he found them still in camp at the croosing—Capt Hunt having crossed soon after we left—they were vary mutch exsposed to the severity of the storm.—which we sorely felt—They listened with gladness to his report; and readily exxepted the invitation but as it was still snowing—they remained for the rest of the day. on the morrow our men turned out and met. assisting those with hand [carts] in pulling them in to our quarters—and shovling a way the snow and pitching their tents; as some of the men had become all most exausted and benumed; the cold having increased several degrees as the snow seased falling—being a bout a foot on the level; it was a trying time with us—on Man and beasts—it proved fatal to two of the hand cart componey duering the night & one of the following day. They fell with their faces Zion ward; to a wait the Resurection day. After being there Several days—we were met by two of the Brethren from the valley who in formed us that Men with teams and provisions were coming to our assistance; and would meete us the Devils Gate—on Sweet water—30 miles a head—This was joyaful news to us and especially so to those of the hand cart Componey—who had been on Short rations—and now vary mutch exausted from exsposure and fatiegue; We lost no time in moving on the best we could; to meete our Brethren at the point designated—The snow had setled to a bout 4 or 5 inches—we were two days in making the point arriving late in the evening—in a terrific storm of wind—with intence cold & which continued all night and the following day & night—It was under these trying circumstances: that we met our Brethren who had come from the valley to our relief So far as it was in their power. But—alass—there were quite a number of our hand cart componey whoses physical powers were so far exausted as to be unable to indure more; and So they fell a sleepe in death untill the morn of the first Resurection. This was a trying hour in deed—Nevertheless there is consolation in knowing that they lay down with their faces Zion ward in full faith and fellowship with the Saints. While Some who Survived the in those hardships to become associated with the Saints in Zion—have drifted a way from the path of the Gospel into d[a]rkness and the Spirit of unbelief—beter they had fallen with their Brethren in the light of truth. But to return—a council was called to consult the best meathod to take, to save life at any Sacrifice requ[i]site. It was decided; that those of indipendent componies; Should cach[e] all their lug[g]age except what was really necessary for the remainder of the journey; and thus turn over to the use of the hand cart Componey a portion of their teams and Wagons so as to convey them on; as fast as possiabe; this decision was unanimously Sustained by a prompt compliance; Brother Dan Jones with three other Brethren were left in care of the cached goods. While the—Now—dependent componies proseeded on; resieving further aid from the valley as we advanced; our teams had become jaded and So reduced that on arriving at Green River; and Fort Bri[d]ger they were left with Some of the Brethren at those points to chance their Surviving the Winter[.] While we proseded on with horse and Mules teams sent to Bring us through in to the valley; Thus on the 15^th of December 1856 I arrived Safe at my home in the imbrace of Wife and Children....