Transcript
Transcript for Thomas Bullock, "Letters from the Camp of Israel," Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, 15 Oct. 1848, 313-15
July 10, 1848
Dear brother Levi, --This is the first opportunity for me to write a letter to any of my friends, and as you are now my attorney and counselor in England, I think it right to remember you the first; and as it may be interesting for you and the Saints in England to know a little of our progress, I cheerfully commence the task of communicating.
You are aware that those Saints who had been diligent in accumulating means for their removal from the sound of those who had been their oppressors, and who had driven them from their homes, their city, their temple, their all, had commenced a gathering on the west bank of the Elk Horn, 27 miles from Winter Quarters; to organize, preparatory to their journey into the wilderness, over those immense prairies, barren sage plains, sterile lands, and Rocky Mountains: that they might gather into that valley, which is hidden up in the bosom of the mountains, on the tops of the everlasting hills, and rear a temple to the Lord God of Israel, where they may hear the word of the Lord, and know His will concerning us.
On the last day of May, our beloved President, Brigham Young, commenced organizing the people into 100's, 50's, and 10's; appointing the officers necessary to manage so large a body of people, and afterwards I succeeded in obtaining the following census of the people and their stock.
Allen Taylor's 100: 190 Waggons [wagons], 597 Souls, 30 Horses, 16 Mules, 615 Oxen, 316 Cows, 63 Loose Cattle, 134 Sheep, 66 Pigs, 282 Chickens, 19 Cats, 31 Dogs, 3 Goats, 8 Geese, 0 Bee Hives, 6 Doves, 0 Squirels, 0 Ducks.
Lorenzo Snow's 100: 99 Waggons, 321 Souls, 20 Horses, 3 Mules, 308 Oxen, 188 Cows, 38 Loose Cattle, 139 Sheep, 25 Pigs, 158 Chickens, 10 Cats, 26 Dogs, 0 Goats, 0 Geese, 0 Bee Hives, 2 Doves, 0 Squirels, 0 Ducks.
Wm. G. Perkins's 100: 57 Waggons, 155 Souls, 4 Horses, 0 Mules, 191 Oxen, 99 Cows, 34 Loose Cattle, 97 Sheep, 28 Pigs, 94 Chickens, 3 Cats, 12 Dogs, 0 Goats, 0 Geese, 2 Bee Hives, 0 Doves, 0 Squirels, 0 Ducks.
Zera Pulsipher's 100: 51 Waggons, 156 Souls, 10 Horses, 0 Mules, 161 Oxen, 96 Cows, 49 Loose Cattle, 41 Sheep, 22 Pigs, 71 Chickens 5 Cats, 13 Dogs, 0 Goats, 2 Geese, 0 Bee Hives, 0 Doves, 0 Squirels, 0 Ducks.
Total: 397 Waggons, 1229 Souls, 74 Horses, 19 Mules, 1275 Oxen, 699 Cows, 184 Loose Cattle, 411 Sheep, 141 Pigs, 605 Chickens, 37 Cats, 82 Dogs, 3 Goats, 10 Geese, 2 Bee Hives, 8 Doves, 0 Squirels, 0 Ducks.
Heber C. Kimball also leads a company of 226 Waggons, with a similar proportion of animals-afterwards found: 226 Waggons, 662 Souls, 57 Horses, 25 Mules, 737 Oxen, 284 Cows, 150 Loose Cattle, 243 Sheep, 96 Pigs, 299 Chickens, 17 Cats, 52 Dogs, 0 Goats, 0 Geese, 3 Bee Hives, 3 Doves, 0 Squirels, 5 Ducks.
Total: 623 Waggons, 1891 Souls, 131 Horses, 44 Mules, 2012 Oxen, 983 Cows, 334 Loose Cattle, 654 Sheep, 237 Pigs, 904 Chickens, 54 Cats, 134 Dogs, 3 Goats, 10 Geese, 5 Bee Hives, 11 Doves, 1 Squirel, 5 Ducks.
President Willard Richards and Amasa Lyman will also lead another large company to the mountains.
Thus you see the seed of the gathering has been sown, and three of the reapers are gathering their sheaves into the store-house of the Lord, to be hidden up; while the overflowing scourge of the Almighty sweeps the earth of wickedness, and those that forget God.
On the 1st day of June, Lorenzo Snow's company moved off the ground to the Liberty Pole on the Platte, in order to make room for other waggons that came pouring in from Winter Quarters. If any person enquire, "Is Mormonism down?" He ought to have been in the neighbourhood of the Elk Horn this day, and he would have seen such a host of waggons that would have satisfied him in an instant, that it lives and flourishes like a tree by a fountain of waters; he would have seen merry faces, and heard the song of rejoicing, that the day of deliverance had surely come.
On the 2nd day of June, Pulsipher's camp followed on the trail, and we received a visit from Elders Hyde, Woodruff, Benson, and others; by them we learnt that the Pawnees and Otoe Indians had a fight in the rear of Winter Quarters, several killed.
3rd. Perkins's camp moves on their journey. Brother Hyde and others return to Winter Quarters.
4th. Meeting at President Young and Kimball's Carrells [Corrals].
Monday, June 5. President Young's company take up their line of march. Lucy, wife of Elisha H. Groves, ran over by her wagon [wagon], which broke her leg. Camp continues its journey to the Liberty Pole on the Platte, travel 12 miles.
6th. Pass an Indian battle ground. At night, camp on the banks of the river, 13 1/4 miles. At night, the captains of Tens met with the Presidency, to complete the organization of the camp, and appoint the guard to watch both day and night.
We continued our journey without any thing particular occurring day by day. Came in sight of buffalo on the 29th June, for the first time this season.
Since leaving the Elk Horn, we have travelled 27 days, averaging 14 miles per day; and have rested 10 days, which brings us this day (12th July,) to Crab Creek, 409 1/4 miles from Winter Quarters; we purpose travelling about 12 miles to good feed this day.
Last night, at half-past 10, brothers John Y. Green, Isaac Burnham, Joseph W. Young, and Rufus Allen arrived at our camp from the valley, bringing us the news up to
18th of May last, the day they started; all is well there. . . . May the Lord bless you, from your brother in the gospel of Jesus Christ,
Thomas Bullock, Clerk of Camp of Israel.