Transcript
Transcript for "Correspondence," Deseret News, 20 May 1857, 88
Fort Bridger, April 30th, 1857.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DESERET NEWS:
Presuming that you and the Saints would be anxious to learn of our doings, progress, and whereabouts, we have deemed it advisable to place you in possession of this information.
On the 23d inst., we left Great Salt Lake City, proceeded on our journey to the mouth of Emigration kanyon [canyon], and there tarried about an hour expecting every minute the President, his Council, or one of the Twelve to organize us into a company; after waiting that period, we took our line of march half way up the kanyon [canyon] and camped for the night, still expecting that some one would come with power to organize as previously stated, and as none made their appearance, the brethren comprising the camp made the following nominations, which were carried unanimously:
Henry Herriman, President; Joseph W. Young and Stephen H. Goddard, Counselors; Daniel Mackintosh, Clerk, Wm. H. Branch, Captain of 50; John Y. Greene, Sergeant of the Guard; James Gallie, Chaplain; George Goddard, Chorister.
The Captain of 50 was called upon by the President to organize the Captains of Tens, when such five carts elected their captain as follows:
Minor G. Atwood, Captain of 1st Ten;
Eli Harvey Peirce, " 2d "
Joel Terry, " 3d "
David Brinton, " 4th "
Thomas Hall, " 5th "
The officers thus elected, organised their respective companies, and when completed the Captain of 50 called the camp together, and after prayer by President Herriman, the following song, composed by Philip Margetts, was sung by the author, and followed by the whole company:
[TUNE:- "O Susanna."]
Ye nations list! the men of God, from Zion now they come,
Clothed with the Priesthood and the power to gather Israel home:
No purse, no scrip they bear with them, but cheerfully they start
And cross the plains a thousand miles and draw with them a cart;
Then cheer up ye Elders, you to the world will show
That Israel must be gathered soon and oxen are too slow.
Ye pious men whose sympathy is touched for fallen man,
A pattern now is set for you, just beat it if you can;
Here's men who're called to go abroad the gospel to impart-
They leave their home and friends so dear and go with their hand cart—
Then cheer up ye Elders, &c
To head the 'Mormons' they must rise far earlier than they do,
For 'Mormonism,' is sound, without a crack or flaw—
They know the arts and sciences and we'er learning how to draw.
Then cheer up ye Elders, &c
Some men would ask, 'why do you start with carts, come tell, I pray?'
We answer when our Prophet speaks the Elders all obey;
Since Brigham has the way laid out that's best for us, we'll try,
Stand off you sympathetic fools, the hand carts now or die.
Then cheer up ye Elders, &c
Then come ye faithful ministers, with blessings now we'll go,
To gather out the honest hearts from darkness and from wo;
Our strength increasing day by day as from this land we part.
We'll bless the day that we were called to go with our hand cart.
Then cheer up ye Elders, &c
The morning services being over, the camp moved on to Brown's spring and took dinner; camped in the evening at the foot of the big Mountain after a beautiful day's traveling.
We might furnish you with the particulars of each day's travel and camping places, but to avoid encroaching too much upon space in your valuable paper we forbear, suffice it to say that we arrived at this fort about two o'clock, p. m. today in the enjoyment of reasonable good health and spirits.
East Kanyon [Canyon] creek and Weber are rising fast, the former we waded; the latter through the kindness and attention of Gilbert Vanschoonhover, Theodore Spencer and some of the Ogden boys, we had not to wade; but our baggage, and ourselves were carefully carried across on horseback, and our empty carts hauled through the river by them also. We tender them our thanks, and say God bless them.
We crossed Bear river by the bridge and felt thankful that it was there, camped on the bank and had a fine snow storm during the night but to no particular disadvantage to us. Last night we had another, while encamped near the Soda Spring, but we got bravely over them both.
We observe prayer morning and evening as a camp, also in the tens under the direction of the captains, and the President has strongly exhorted the Elders to attend to prayer in each of their tents, and in secret.
There is general good feeling in the camp, upon and peace prevail, and the Spirit of the Lord rests upon his servants.
To-morrow we intend to start from this place, (after making a few repairs) and farther proceed on our journey.
Trusting that the God of Israel will be our guide, and that he will preserve us in the prosecution of the remainder of our journey,
We remain, very respectfully, your brethren in the Gospel.
DANIEL MACKINTOSH, Clerk.