Transcript

Chauncey W[alker]. West's journal in traveling from Council Bluffs Winter Quarters to Ft. laramy [Laramie] and a crost [acrossed] the mountains to californ[i]a.

Left winter quarters on the 12 of June in brother John Tailors [Taylor's] company[.] we traveled 10 miles and camped for the night

on Sunday the 13 we received some instructions from brother Tailor [Taylor.] he then told us that we should reserve the sab[b]ath in travels this summer but if we were in a place where there was no wood and agrate [a great] wayes from water that we should be Justified in moving to a place whare we could get wood and watter. So agreeable to this we hitched up and drove about two miles and camped for the night

on the 14 teenth we travel 15 miles and camped on [star] creek

on the 15 we travel to horn river whitch was the distance of 6 miles, as we could not cross the river until the next day we concluded to camp on the horn[.] So we camped in a small bend where we could whatch the cattle of night

on the 16 we traveld 2 milles and cross the horn and camped two dayes to watch for the rest of the brethren which were behind

on the 19th we took up the line of march and travel 12 miles and camped on the banks of the Platt[e]

on 20 we tarried it being the Sabath[.] had a me[e]ting at 11 oclock[.] Brother Prat[t] and Tailor [Taylor] Spoke on Subject of peace an[d] union[.] we had avery good metting [meeting]

on the 21 tarried on the account of the nonarival of the cannon whitch we calculated whould have come[.] on Sunday the Same Morning brother [.entlers] and whitney ar[r]ived at our camp from winter quarters[.] they brought us nuse [news] that on[e] of the brothers had been shot by the omahanse [Omaha] indians and that he was at the horn and wanted a docktor so they started docktor Rutsh[.] before they got to the horn they he[a]rd that he was dead so they returned to the camp

on the 22 we took up aline of Marched[.] it was resolved that we travel five [a]bre[a]st[.] brother Prat[t]s and Tailors [Taylor's] compa[n]y in front and the rest in the rear[.] we traveld 14 miles and camped on the plat[te] shore[.] the co[u]ncil took it inconsideration the disadvantages that did exist in traveling so many abre[a]st[.] it was resolved that brother Pratt travel in front and brother Tailor next and grant nec [next] and smoot next[.] The artilery traveld in brother Pratts company

on this day the 23 we 12 miles and camped a short distance from the plat[te] on the banks of b[ea]utiful lake that had agrate many fish in[.] in the evening of the same day we had ameting [a meeting] in our company[.] brother Tailor [Taylor] spoke on the subject of atending to prairs [prayers] regular[.] he staited [stated] that if we traveled safe over the mountains to Californ[i]a it would be thru the providenc[e] of the lord of hosts[.] it was the resolved that at six oclock brother [illegible] should blo[w] the bugal [bugle] and every man woman and child should bow before the lord of hosts and call upon his name for sutch blessing as we stand in need of

on the morning of 24 about twenty minets [minutes] before the time ap[p]ointed to start[.] brother grants compa[n]y whitch was camped afew rods from us started to pass us[.] brother Tailor [Taylor] told me to get on his horse and go and summon them to speak in his name[.] so I did as he told me[.] they paid no attention to it but drove on[.] brother Tailor drove ove[r] on his carrage and told them if he did not stop that he would prefer acharge against them all[.] that is the captains of hundreds and fifty. they paid no atention but traveld on[.] brother Tailor went on an[d] over took Parl[e]y and told him and he camp and that afternoon they did not travel[.] brother Tailor bro[u]ght them before the counsil[.] brother Prat[t] told them they don[e] [w]rong and had to ask brother Tailor forgivenes[s.] it was then resolved by the counsil that we traveld for the next two days in the same form

on the 25 we traveld 14 miles and camped on the Plat[te] / that evening we camped very early as there was some waggin [wagon] tires to set / everything moved in order

on the 26 we traveld 18 miles and camped on be[a]ver creek about 8 miles from (paunee) [Pawnee.] it commenced raining the same afternoon and it continued raining until night whitch made it very bad traveling and camping[.] the counsil resolved that one compa[n]y should travel ahead for a week and then another[.] it was resolved that our compa[n]y Should travel ahead the in suing week

on the 27 whitch was Sunday we had me[e]ting and some very good instructions ware given[.] also on Sunday we sent some men up to pannee [Pawnee] to see if we could ford the plat[te.] they returned and staited that it was to[o] high and it was impossible to ford it[.] Resolved that we travel up the plat[te] and head it

on the 28 we trave[le]d 10 miles and camped about two miles from pannee [Pawnee] on (pannee) creek

on the 29 we traved 9 miles and camped for the night[.] we had to ford willow creek whitch was very bad to ford[.] we found also this day avery bad road

on the 30 we traveld 8 miles and came to asmal [a small] branch whitch had very bad banks[.] we stop[p]ed and b[u]ilt two bridges and dug the banks down[.] brother Pratt and Tailor [Taylor] whitch had gon[e] ahe[a]d then returned and staited that we could not get any further[.] it was complet[e]ly hedged up[.] Said we must go and find aford and crost the river so we did

on the next day whitch was the firs[t] of July we crost over the river and traveld about 8 miles and camp(ed) without wood or water

on the 2 we traveld 18 miles and camped[.] on this day we had avery dry sandy road to travel and no water for our cattle whitch made it very hard[.] however jest at night it commenced raining and it continued raining until sundown[.] that night we camped on by side [beside] a slue [slough]

on the morning of 3 we had to b[u]ild abridge to cross the slue[.] we had to draw timber two miles[.] we are over and traveled 15 miles and camped on the big plat[te] shore[.] we struck the pioneers trail

on the 4 it being Sunday we laid still[.] during the day we had ameting [a meeting.] some very good instructions given everything moved along in purfect order[.] council met at 6 oclock[.] counsil desided that brother P[arley] P[arker] Pratt should travel in front and brother Tailor [Taylor] next and the artil[l]ery next and if the other compa[n]ys wanted to travel abre[a]st they could or travel behind

on Monday morning the 5 we traveld about one mile and made aford and crost [crossed] gravel creek[.] on the same day we traveld 15 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the 6 we traveld 19 miles and camped on the plat[te] and had abutiful [a beautiful] road

we traveld 18 miles and camp by aslue [a slough] one mile from the plat[te]

on the 8 we traveld 15 miles[.] we had some bad slues [sloughs] to cross[.] on this day brother Pratt and Tailor found two horses loos[e] on the prairie[.] they cau[gh]t them[.] whos[e] they were we cannot tell as yet

on the 9 we traveld 14 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the 10 we traveld 8 miles and camped and bur[n]t some coal and sent some out to hunt bufalo[.] I went for one and saw a large drove[.] it was lo to run then so we concluded to return to the camp and go in the morning

on Sunday the 11 we had ameting [a meeting.] brother Tailor [Taylor] Spoke very Strong on the principal of union[.] at five oclock council met

on 11 Monday we persude [pursued] our Journy[.] we traveld twelve miles and camped on the plat[te]

on Tuesday we traveld nine and camped on the plat[te.] the rest of the day we spent in Setting waggins tires[.] on Tues the Same night brother griney companys cattle broke out and broke two waggons down and broke ahorses [leg]

on 13 Wensday morning at five oclock there was a company of hunters ap[p]ointed to go and kill bufalo[.] the waggins was to start on and the hunters to come to the camp at night[.] they returned at night with one buf[f]alo[.] the camp traveld (18) miles and camped on the plat[te.] als[o] on that day we found aletter deposited in abox that the pioneers left

on Thirsday we traveld 19 miles and crost buffalo creek the same day we found acld [a cold] spring of first-rate watter[.] at night we camped on the plat[te]

on 14 friday we 10 miles[.] crost mud creek and camp on the plat[te.] killed the same day two bufalos.

on 15 Satterdy we traveld 18 miles an cros[sed] heir creek and camped on the plat[te.] the same day our company killed two bufalow[.] [a]lso at night there was alarge herd came almost up to the camp[.] we thought that they were comming in to the camp[.] the men were all cal[l]ed to arms[.] jest before they got to the camp they turned their course and went to the bulffs

Sunday 16 we had ameting at 11 oclock[.] brother Parley ex[h]orted the bretheren to be united in all things[.] gave many other good instruction[.] jest before the me[e]ting clozed brother Jance ar[r]ived from brother grants compa[n]y informing us that they had lost 51 he[a]d of cattle on friday night and that they had searched the country all around and could find none[.] they wished us of the other compa[n]ys to turn out and help them hunt[.] the counsil met and resolved that each fifty on 17 Monday Morning Should Send two men on horseback to hunt and that the men Should be divided and half of them go one side of the river and the other on the other Side of the river[.] so they went Searched but found none

on the 18 brother grant sent four men to go back one hundred miles and sent word unto the counsil that they could do with them as they Saw fit[.] as soon as the counsil heard the nuse [news] they met and resolved that every ten Send one off to help them and that they be sent amediately [immediately] to them

on we[d]n[e]sday the 19 early in the morning the cattle were sent and the rest of the companys Started on[.] they traveld 19 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the 20 we traveled 12 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the 21 we came in site [sight] of some two hundred indians lodges[.] we traveld 8 miles and camped on the plat[te] in about four miles of the indians[.] there we resolved to tar[r]y until brother grants compa[n]y should come up[.] the indians appeared very friendly[.] they came to our camp and had awar [a war] dance[.] we plaid [played] the drum and fife for them[.] at the close we fired the cannon three times[.] they appeared to be very mutch amazed and fritend [frightened] at the big gun[.] the same day brother grants company came in site [sight]

on the 22 we started our journ[e]y[.] traveld 12 miles

on Sunday the 23 there did ar[r]ive ten of the bretherin to our camp[.] Seven from the pioneers and three from the army had ameting at 1 oclock[.] letters read from the twelve

on monday morning persude [persued] our journey[.] traveld 6 miles an[d] come to the Sand hills[.] the sand was very deep and furling[.] we traveld 16 miles and camped on the plat[te]

Tuesday we traveld 5 miles and came to alarge creek whitch we had to ford[.] soon after this we met aband of indians[.] they appeared very friendly[.] we feasted some of their leading Men and they past on[.] we traveld 18 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on we[d]n[e]sday we traveld 6 miles and met a company of men going to the states from Oregon[.] in the afternoon a thunder shower high wind[.] traveld 15 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on Thirsday we crost sand hills for two miles and traveld 16 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on friday we traveled and camped on aslue [a slough] 9 miles from the plat[te]

on Saterday traveld 18 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on Sunday we rest Me[e]ting at 11 oclock

monday the 2 of august we persude [pursued] our journ[e]y[.] we traveld 8 miles and stop[p]ed to find in starting brother (bilneps) run against brother (Odrs) waggon and brok[e] his axeltree[.] we traveld 18 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the fourth in the morning we met fifteen of the bretheren from the army going to fort leavensworth in company with general carney [Kearny.] we traveld 18 miles and camped on the plat[te.] the road was very sandy

on the fifth we traveld (14) miles and camped on the plat[te.] the road was very bad Sand from six to seven inches deep

on friday the 6 we arrived at fort laramy [Laramie.] cros't [crossed] the river and traveld [--] miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the 7 we moved one half mile to abetter camping place[.] tarry to repare [repair] waggons

on Sunday the 8 we tarried[.] I went in compa[n]y with brother John Tailor [Taylor] and Ritch [Rich] back to the indian town in search of brother [Jonathan] pugmires son whitch had stop[p]ed with the indians[.] we found him[.] he was willing to come with us[.] the indians appeared very friendly

on the 9 we tar[ri]ed to repare waggons and shoe some lame oxen

on the 10 we traveld 8 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the 11 we started to cross the black hills distance 118 miles[.] traveld 18 miles and camped on b[ea]utiful creek

on the 12 we traveld 19 miles and camped on horsho benend [Horseshoe bend] creek[.] the road very ruff [rough] and hilly

on the 13 we traveld 8 miles and crosst over the largest hill on the rout to the Salt lake from laramy [Laramie.] traveld 18 miles over the dry bed of a creek and camped on the top of the hills[.] drove our cattle into hollow to feed and water

on the 14 we traveld 5 miles and came to lapoo [La Bonte] creek[.] crost it and traveld (8) miles up the creek and camped for the night

on the 15 we traveld 4 mile it being Sunday and camped for the day[.] drove our cattle down the creek one mile to good feed

on the 16 we traveld 5 miles and met brother Prat[t] and Benson[.] brother benson had just returned from the pioneers[.] Stated they had found a b[ea]utiful country whitch made us rejois [rejoice.] we traveld 12 miles and camped on deer creek

on the 17 we laid still to rest our teams and to do some nesary [necessary] blacksmithing[.] on the evening of the same day Brother Benson spoke to us[.] he gave us a history of his travels[.] in short he gave us adescription of the country they had found whitch made us feel glad

on the 18 we traveld 13 miles and camped on the plat[te]

on the 19 we traveld 5 miles and camped on deer creek[.] it rain[e]d all the day

on the 20 we traveld 14 miles and camped on the horn[.] I went back to fetch up ateam that give on [out.] took until twelve oclock

on the 21 we traveld 17 miles and camped on the plat[te] two mile from the fary [ferry,] one hundred and fifty miles above laramy [Laramie].

On the 23 we tar[r]y it being Sunday

on Monday the 22 we crost the river and traveld 11miles[.] camped on chichen creek

on the 23 Tuesday we got to head of cattle of grants compa[n]y that we let them have at the time they lost their cattle[.] we traveld 18 miles and camped at abutiful Spring[.] Short feed

the 24 wensday we traveld 8 miles and came to asmall creek[.] turned out to feed[.] Captain Larsen went ahead to find better feed[.] traveld 2 miles and camped pm swift creek

on the 25 thirsday we traveld (19) miles and camped on Sweet watter [Sweetwater]

on the 26 we tar[ri]ed

on Saterdy the 27 we traveld 7 miles and camped on sweet water

on Sunday 28 we traveld 10 miles and camped on sweet water[.] [- - -] brother tailor [Taylor] went on to overtake Parley [Parker Pratt] to get help

on mondy 29 traveld 11 miles and camped on sweet water[.] brother tailor [Taylor] returned[.] got no help

on tuesday 30 we traveld 12 miles and camped on sweet watter [Sweetwater]

on we[d]n[e]sday 31 we traveld[.] we traveld 7 miles and camped on sweet watter [Sweetwater]

on thirsdy 3 2 we traveld 19 miles and camped on Sulpher [Sulphur] creek

on the first day of September we traveld 9 miles and camped on Sweet watter [Sweetwater]

on the [2] we tar[ri]ed.] had me[e]ting[.] Tailor [Taylor] gave some good instructions

on Sunday the 3 we tarveld [traveled] 12 miles and camped on a smal creek 4 feet wide

on the 4 Monday we traveld 11 miles and camped on Sweet watter [Sweetwater]

on tuesday the 5 we tar[ri]ed] and made afeast for the twelve and sixty of the pioneers that was on their way to winter quarters

on wensday the 6 we traveld 13 mile and camped at the persifick [Pacific] spring

on thirsday the 7 we traveld 22 mile and camped on little Sandy There I was taken sick with the mountain fever

on friday the 8 we traveld 10 miles and camped on big Sandy

on Saterday the 9 we traveld 17 mile and camped on big Sandy

on Sunday the 10 we traveld 10 miles and camped on green river

on Monday the 11 we tar[ri]ed[.] some of the poor teams concluded to tarey an[d] rest their teams and then come on slowly

on tuesday the 12 we traveld 20 miles and camped on black Stone creek

on wensday the 13 we traveld 6 miles and camped on the same creek

on thirsday the 14 we traveld 18 miles and camped on black fork four miles behind the company

on friday the 15 we traveld 14 miles and camped on a creek 20 feet wide

on Satirday the 16 we traveld 8 mile and camped on a small creek one half mile from fort Bri[d]ger

on Sunday the 17 we traveld 13 miles and camped on small creek 8 feet wide

on Monday the 18 we traveld 12 miles and camped on the top of a hill

on tuesday the 19 we traveld 10 miles and camped lar[ge] river. we had to double team up abig hill