Transcript

Palmer

Company: 1858 John W. Berry Company &

Citation: Bullock, Thomas, to Editor, 22 July 1858, in Missionary Reports, fd. 17.

Text:

On arriving at Burlington we were told that we were for {two} weeks too soon & the Missionaries were thrown on their own resources; by disposing {of some} of their clothes and other goods the most of the brethren managed to get round to Florence N.T. {Nebraska Territory} where the brethren continued to gather until the 3rd May when the Camp moved on to the Elk horn and organized in messes of 8 and the following Officers appointed

John W. Berry Captain of Co

Thomas Bullock Clerk

Enoch Reese Commissary

Bernard Snow Captain of Guard

the provisions were calculated to last 50 days to be dealt out weekly to the Captains of each Mess.

Tuesday 4 Camp moves to the Platte river, and continued journeying until we arrived at Genoa on Friday 7. While staying at Genoa, all the clothing and beding was weighed, which averaged 54 lbs each person. all who had over 50 and under 75 were charged .15 per lb for Carriage. 25 persons paid for 293 lb {$43.95} after reducing it to the allowance; but 13 persons could not pay for their 127 lbs extra{.} The brethren either gave away, or left many articles to be sent on at the first convenient opportunity. The Captain brought on about 750 lbs of extra luggage belonging to the Express Company, after the entire Co. (with three exceptions) had voted to leave it here, considering it the safest course, on acount of the great risk we run, as we were threatened to be intercepted by our enemies: we also brought on 7 Elders who were anxious to come to {-} Zion.

Missionaries from England

Andrews {Andrus}, James

Beck, James

Berry, John W.

Bramall, W{illia}m.

Brown, William

Browning, James G.

Bullock, Thomas

Clark, Ezra T.

Craig, James

Dallin, William

Daniels, Daniel

Davis, Daniel

Doremus, Henry J

Ensign, Martin Luther

Evans, Richard G.

Galley, James

Gates, George

Harriman, Henry

Higbee, Isaac

Hobson, Jesse

Hubbard, Charles W.

King, Thomas R.

Lavender, James

Littlewood, Martin

Logan, Robert

Margettts, Phil{l}ip

Mc Bride, Reuben

Miller, Robert E.

Muir, W{illia}m. S.

Pace, William

Page, Daniel

Peirce, Eli Harvey

Peirce, Thomas

Pinder, John G.

Reese, Enoch

Robinson, Peter

Romney, Miles

Roskelly, Samuel

Roulet, Frederick

Russell, Thomas W.

Scofield, Joseph

Shumway, Andrew P.

Smith, John L.

Smith, Samuel H. B.

Smith, William J

Snow, Bernard

Stanniforth, George

Stevens, James W.

Stewart, Jackson

Taylor, Amos

Taylor, George

Taylor, Jabus {Jabez}

Taylor, James W.

Thomas, Wm. P.

Tippitts {Tippets}, John H.

Tompkinson {Tomkins}, Ephraim

Ure, James

Wilkin, David

Young, Brigham H.

Young, Seymour B.

 

Other Elders in Company

Bodell, Joseph

Bunting, James

Burgess, Mark

England, William

Fox, Charles

Jones, John E.

Kerswell, Wm.

Louden, Robert

Phillips, Thomas

Ursenbach, Octave

Vaughan, Michael

Wilkins, Eli

Tuesday 11 Finished ferrying the Loup Fork, without any accident; moved up the river a few miles and camped with the Missionaries who have been laboring in Canada and the United States viz.

Brinton, David

Browning, Thomas

Bull, Wm. Field

Cannon, Angus M.

Carter, William

Coombs, Isaiah M.

Gardner, Robert

Goddard, Stephen H.

Goddard, George

Hall, Thomas

Hill, Isaac N.

Hill, Richard

Huntsman, Gabriel

Mackintosh, Daniel

Maylett, W{illia{m. F.

Mc Crary, John

Rid{e}out, David O.

Riter, Samuel

Shumway, Charles

Smith, W{illia}m. H.

Snediker {Snedaker}, John F.

Terry, Joel

Twitchell, Wm. B.

Welchman, Arthur P.

Wood, Lyman S.

Saturday 15 Camp passes Fort Kearney {Kearny}, a strong wind blowing from the South, dull cloudy day, in the evening it became so dark that several wagons lost the road and had difficulty to regain it; part of the time had to travel by signal lights; heavy rain thro the night and next morning (Sunday) accompanied by heavy fog. cleared up when we reached Elm Creek, held a meeting when B{ernard}. Snow Cap. of the guard resigned, and Wm. H. Smith voted to be Capt. of Guard for both Camps.

Thursday 20 This day lay by, on account of 7 horses having got away before the guard was placed last night, several of the brethren pursued them, and return in the evening with 5 of the strays{.} The two animals lost belong to David Brinton and David O. Rid{e}out. Two camps are seen moving up to the South Fork of the Platte which is full to the rim. The Platte is at this time a noble river, and impassable.

Monday 24 Camped opposite Ash Hollow having had showery weather nearly every day. Saw an Indian have a narrow escape from drowning while trying to swim the Platte river on horseback.

Wednesday 26 At noon found signs that Elder S. W. Richards and Co. were here on the 21st April. Saw a train of 27 wagons returning to the States and 3 wagons going West, very rapidly.

Thursday 27 Camp passes Chimney Rock and then met Howard Egan, John R. Murdock & E. Van Eltan (being a part of the escort of the gallant Colonel, Thomas L. Kane) from whom we received a letter of instructions and counsel from Pres. Young, and learnt many items of interest to us: we did not see Col. Kane but felt to bless him and pray for him.

Friday 28 Another sharp frost formed ice on the water. Pass Castle Bluffs. Laramie Peak seen, covered with snow.

Sunday 30 As we approached Fort Laramie the weather changed and when about 3 miles from it a very heavy storm of rain, hail and thunder commenced, which continued until we had passed about a mile out of sight of the Fort. we got thoroly drenched; the roads became pools and slush, made it awfully disagreable walking; the ground was covered over an inch deep with the hail stones, and we were suddenly overtaken by winter: no person came out to speak to us; we could not feel to grumble, for it literally fulfilled a prediction made in England.

Monday 31 As we did not cross the North Fork of the Platte, I will be a little more particular. Camp travels over a winding road among hills, about 10 miles, found good water and grass, made a halt, then over a circuitous and hilly road turning to our left to the Platte, about 5 miles, then ascended a mountain to our right about 4 miles, passed over the divide, and descended by ravines to Box Elder Creek, about 9 miles. 27 mi

Tuesday 1 June Anniversary of Pres. Young's birth. Camp travels to a pretty little Creek, about 9 miles, and then over a divide near 2 pretty rounding bluffs; then took a sudden turn to the left towards Laramie Peak, apparently nearly our return track cross a ravine and go down to the Platte river a good road all day 23

By coming this road it is about 54 miles to Laramie, and misses crossing the Platte.

By going the South side it is about 45 miles, but crosses the river twice.

Wednesday 2 Camp travels over a good road all morning, to the river about 12 miles, in the afternoon wound thru some picturesque Bluffs of Clay, and again came to the river in about 12 miles{.}  here I would recommend the emigrants to cross the river to the South side, if possible to have a better road to the upper crossing of the Platte. We wound up over some Bluffs, and had a very rapid descent to a muddy stream, caused by recent rains     26

Thursday 3 The river of last night is gone this morning. We travelled over the tops of the Alpine Mountains of the Platte, making nearly ¾ ^ths of a square, or going 4 miles to make 1½, then had a sandy road of about 2 miles to the river, continued up the river about 3 miles, several showers passing over us. by the signs of the river banks and bottoms, it is very evident we have narrowly missed a tremendous hail storm, for the ground is riddled with holes, some of them as large as an egg cup, which would have seriously injured any train caught by it. In the afternoon took nearly a straight course for Deer Creek                          25                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 

Friday 4 Travelled over a heavy sand road past the Platte Bridge           20

Saturday 5 Went to the upper crossing of the Platte {10 miles} and satisfied that this is {the 55 are last miles} the worst of the three roads to travel, and that "Johnson's guide" for the north side, is made to sell, and deceive the Traveller as to distances

Wednesday 9 Severe storm of rain and wind at our last crossing of the Sweetwater. causing much misery to those who could not sleep in the wagons

Thursday 10 another severe storm of rain followed by snow, covered the ground several inches deep, which was very severe on many men and animals

Friday 11 Travelled thro Snow, in some places about a foot deep, cleared away, and about noon met Abraham Hatch and a C^o {company} of men going to the ferry for merchandise, from whom we learnt the news of vacating Salt Lake City and the Country north. Camped near the South Pass.

Monday 14 Travelled last night until after the Moon went down, lost the road, lay by until break of day, then started for Green River which we crossed in about 3 hours, then went up by the river on the Oregon Road to a small creek 18

Tuesday 15 Travelled a N. of W. course, about 15 miles, and came to 2 beautiful Springs of excellent cold water and plenty of grass, which is plentiful where the road has not been previously travelled, then passed over a long and very steep hill to an Aspen Grove 24

Wednesday 16 Passed several magnificient Springs on the head waters of Hams Fork, then travelled over a circuitous road winding over a {very} high mountain, descending by steep pitches – several heavy thunder showers 21

Thursday 17 went over another high mountain, and dropt down to Bear River, then travelled up it several miles, crossed a large creek where it bursts out of the side of the mountain, and made a road thro Sage Brush for about 5 miles 29

Friday 18 Continued making a road up the East side of Bear River to the Big bend, where we caulked three wagon beds and nailed covers over the bottoms to keep out the water and by fastening ropes from each bank to the raft, got every thing over safe – altho one man had a narrow escape from drowning before we had got the float in perfect operation. 15

Saturday 19 Camp makes a road nearly a S.S.W. course for about 12 miles, then go up a ravine to our right taking a S.W. course over a succession of gentle hills, and descend into a branch of Echo Kanyon during a heavy shower of rain 25

Sunday 20 Travel down Echo Kanyon, pass two companies of the military repairing the road for Col. Johnson's Army who were 12 miles behind us last night. We {hunted and} forded the Weber River in a new place, and camped near East Kanyon Creek.

Monday 21 go up East Kanyon Creek, pass over the Big Mountain and Little Mountain and arrive in Great Salt Lake City about 5 p m found the City deserted by its Inhabitants

I went to my house, found the doors fastened, and the windows boarded up, and every thing carried away, which literally and remarkably fulfils a dream I had near Grand Island when a Pioneer in the Spring of {may} 1847{.}

The following joined at Genoa

Fisher, Thomas J.

Hough {Huff, James

Metcalf,  Levi G.

Miles, Ira

Alcott, James

Brackenbury, John W.

Habgood {Hapgood}, Wm

Ammon {Mr. Ammond}

Robert Pope, wife & 2 children

85 Returning Missionaries

21 others

1 Woman

  3 Children

Total 110 Souls

With 20 Wagons 93 Animals

 

June 16 1858

Thomas Bullock

Clerk