Appleton M. Harmon diary, 1847 April-July.
- Source Locations
- Church History Library, MS 1572
- Related Companies
- Brigham Young Vanguard Company (1847)
- Related Persons
- Rufus Allen
- John Brown
- Nathan Thomas Brown
- Thomas Bullock
- Alexander Philip Chesley
- William Clayton
- James Davenport
- Edmund Lovell Ellsworth
- William Adam Empey
- Addison Everett
- Aaron Freeman Farr
- Burr Frost
- Andrew Smith Gibbons
- Eric McArthur Glines
- George Robert Grant
- Thomas Grover
- Joseph Hancock
- Appleton Milo Harmon
- John Somers Higbee
- Luke Samuel Johnson
- Heber Chase Kimball
- Jesse Carter Little
- Amasa Mason Lyman Sr.
- Stephen Markham
- Joseph Lazarus Matthews
- Francis Martin Pomeroy
- Orson Pratt
- Return Jackson Redden
- Orrin Porter Rockwell
- Shadrach Roundy
- George Albert Smith Sr.
- Erastus Snow
- Roswell Stevens
- Benjamin Franklin Stewart
- Edson Whipple
- Orson Kimball Whitney
- Wilford Woodruff
- George Woodward
- Thomas Woolsey
- Brigham Young
- Phineas Howe Young
April 13, 1847
Tuesday, the 13th Brother Kimball said to me last evening that he wanted me to get readey & go with the pioneers & drive an ox team for him[.] I consulted my Father, left my wife and child in as good circumstances as I could which was but poor at best[.] got my clothes, readey and started at about 4 A.M. in company with Bro. Everett, Jacobs & Stephens & traveled 4 miles and camped in hollow for the night
Wednesday the 14th arose in the morning got our breakfast & was prepairing to Start on our way, when we discoverd 4 Omahaw [Omahas] Indians on the ridge south of us[.] as soon as they discoverd our waggons they came to us & commenced Begging[.] Br. [Addison] Everot [Everett] told them that we was poor & was not able to give our living away[.] we could not for we ware a going whare we could not git eney more, but they did not seem willing to put up with a denial but Stil insisted & threatened to shoot a cow if we did not give them some
I started from Winter Quarters April the 13th 1847 to the Western vales amonghst the mountains or to Some place that I know not of [.] having but 18 hours Notice I Started & drove an ox team for Heber C. Kimball[.] traveled 4 miles
The 15th went 4 miles to whare we crosed the horn went to the camp[,] distance 12 miles on the Platte River
16th traveled 5 miles & camped on the Platte Rriver[.] organized the camp & a guard of 52 men ware deetayled to be a constant guard.
17th traveled 8 miles & camped at a cotton wood grove & organized the Camp in to a military capacity with a Br[i]gadier Major[,] Lieutenant Gineral [General,] a Colonel and 2 Majors and a Captain over each ten[.] (I was elected captain over ten)
April the 18th is Sunday[.] the Camp remained whare they ware[.] Some traders past us from the Pawnee nation going to the Bluffs[.] we suppose ourselves to be on the north bend of the Platte river[.] Some laws & regulations ware adopted[.] Sunday evening I was detailed on guard the fore part of the night.
Monday the 19th arose in the morning at 5 o clock at the sound of the Bugle, at 7 o clock got of on our journey in a N of W direction and traveled 13 miles and stopped for dinner by the river Platte whare O P Rockwell overtook us in company with Br [Jesse Carter] Little[,] [Return] J[ackson]. Redding [Redden] & [Nathaniel] Thomas Brown, the Flat here is from 12 to 15 miles wide interspersed with numerous small lakes or slous, the river is full of Isliands with several channels[.] in places, the water is only from 4 to 6 feet loir than the bottom, or flat, Started & traveled 7 miles & camped for the night making 20 miles this day
tusday the 20th traveled 12 miles
Wednesday the 21st arose in the morning as usual at a blast of the buguling Horn[.] got up our teams & started on our way and crosed the Looking glass crick about one mile from whare we ware camped and travled about 3 miles when we seen a lone indian aproaching towards us from narrow skirt of timber which seemed to streach it self along the river at our left while on our right the vast plain on which we travled seemed to streach it self of[f] to the Blue line of a distant Bluff which seemed to be 18 or 20 miles distant, at this place, soon after several more Indians immerged from the same wood & on coming up to us seemed to extend the hand of friendship & say how de do. We travled on 9 miles further and camped by the loup fork of the Platt[e] opposite a vilage of the Pawnees. memmy [Many] of the Pawnees waded the river & came to us amonghst which was the Chiefs Chief moland & Sisketuk who was presented with some presents consisting of some Powder lead Salt tobacco &c by our president, which was reluctantly receivd, making sighns that the pile was not big anoughf, but was more passified before we left[.] travled this after noon 8 miles and camped on the lick fork bank[.] thinking ourselves not entirely safe, a strong guard was posted of 50 men at a time
Thursday the 22nd arrose in the morn. at the Sound of the Horn[.] got up our teams & Started[.] travled one mile & crosed Looking glass crick [Creek] 7 miles more & halted for dinner on be[a]ver crick[.] after dinner we forded bever crick which is a bout 30 feet wide & 2 feet deep[.] travled 8 miles and camped at the old Pawnee village or missionary Station whare we found a plenty of hay which was verry exceptable.
Friday the 23rd Started about noon & travled about 5 miles in Search of a fording place and got 4 waggons over with mutch dificulty & then we Camped for the night[.] I was on guard the last part of the night[.] B Youngs horse got choked to death with the halter
Saturday morning the 24th after confabulating for someime what method to persue & building some 2 rafts which was to no purpose inconceyuince of Swift Water & the numerous sand bars, we commenced fording again & soon found that the sand packed So that the Last waggons by doubleing teams that they could go with all thare loads by razing the box to prevent water from running in & by 2 o clock all the waggons ware acrost the Loup fork of the Platt[e] the Loup fork whare we forded was about ½ a mile wide & from dry sand bars to 3 feet deep Quick sand bottom[.] we travled 3 miles up the fork & camped on its bank[.] the surroundding country is as handsone as I ever saw mostly Prairie but very little timber & what thare is, is along the river bank in Spots.
Sunday the 25th rested from our laibours. 8 hunters was selected to hunt on horse back for Buffalo Some 18 or 20 to hunt on foot.
Monday the 26th arose by an alarm jest at day break[.] the allarm was that 6 indians was indeavering to Steal horses, but fortunately disconvered & fired at by the guard, who all ways keep a good look out, we Started on our way, & travled 7 miles and camped on the prairie by a run of water for dinner.
May 6th
of the 2nd division in front which was my (self) or ten, the bottom is from 8 to 10 mi wide in this place & buffalo grasing theiron in all most everry direction[.] pased several herds not ½ mile distant from the camp[.] antilope in everry direction, killed 2 this fore noon, Buffalo meat is a drug in the camp, travled 4 miles & halted for dinner on the prarie whare the feed is poor being eat down by the emmence herds of buffalo which seems to be free commoners[.] we Saw a drove of Elk, I imagine our selves in a game country, several hair [hare] seen[.] travled 8 mi & halded for dinner on the Prairie about a quarter of a mile from the river[.] feed eat compleetely down by the Buffalo[.] after a Suitable refreshment we moved on to the W of North West 7 miles and camped at the rivers edge in a half circle oposite several Small islands from which we obtained our fuel[.] my judgement is that we have seen 8,000 Buffalo
Friday May the 7th
a cold N. wind this morning, on the oposite side of the river thare is a tall range of bluffs in all appearance not more than 2 miles from the river[.] the bottom looks green from here & immence herds of buffalo thare the river is between a mi & a mi & ½ wide here[.] about 8 o clock the camp was called togeather by Prest Young who caled upon some of
May Saturday the 8th I arrose earley at the usial signal[.] verry little air stirring[.] a warm plesant day[.] hiched up our teams & got underway, about 9 A.M. our direction
May 19th 1847 Should be led out of the road & be made to go behind the rest of the day.
Wednesday, the 19th We arose earley got up our teams & started at 5 A.M. & traveled 3¼ miles & halted near the river at 20 minutes past 6 A.M. to git our breakfast having crosed 2 Small cricks just before we halted[.] we got up our teams & started on again at 8 & 45 min. A.M. traveled 1¼ of a mile, halted came to a crick some 20 feet wide which came from the bluff[.] this we foraded & rose the bluff[.] the sand being verry soft it was hard for our teams to travel assend it[;] the sand has drifted in irregular heaps, about ⅔ of the serfase being barron, the ballence covered with grass.[.] we decended the r---y bluff through a gulley or kind of sag to the bottom again makin ¾ of a mile acrost over the bluff[.] here we crosed a small crick & as it was araining we halted & turned out our teams at ½ past 10 A.M. making 6 ms in all, rain continues, we hiched up & started on in the rain[.] traveled 2 ms & camped in a cimecircle at the rivers edge[.] 8 ms this day.
Thursday the 20th Cold and clowdy[.] we started at 8 A.M. traveled ¾ of a mile & crosed a crick 10 feet wide & 2 deep our direction is west & halted for dinner at 11 A.M. having traveled 7¾ miles oposite side the river from our noon camping place r---te M---tis the the place --.[.] the oregon road comes to the river through a valley extending back some 4 ms at the mouth of which I could see agrove of ash timber[.] the bluff above & below this presents a bold rockey front along which thare is thickly strued cedar trees and shrubs[.] 4 of the Breathering [Brethren] etc A[masa] Lyman[,] L[uke] Johnson[,] John Brown & orson Pratt crosed the river to ascertain the facts of the oregon Trail coming down the above mentioned valley or revine, I understand that this is called ash hollow by Fremont, & those bluffs cedar bluffs, we started on a gain at 2 P.M. & traveled 3¼ ms to whar we crosed a Tributary to the North Fork of about 6 rods wide[.] we traveled on over a dry sand bottom & crossed past a point of the bluff that came near the river & camped in a circle a bout a ¼ from the river[.] at ½ past 5 P.M. making 8 miles since dinner 15¾ during the day[.] we gethered a plenty of drift wood for fuel a long the beach, which was pine & cedar from our noon camping place etc. ash hollar is 140 ms from Fort Larimie [Laramie] acording to Freemont's account. I was onguard the fore part of the night, the above mentioned Tributary has been named Castle river[,] I have since learned.
Friday the 21st. A pleasant day[.] Wm Claton [Clayton] put up a guide board with the following inscription on it, From Winter Quarters 409 ms, from the junstion of North & south fork 93¼ from Cedar bluffs South Side the North fork of Platt river 36 ms & from Ash hollow south side the river 8 ms[.] Camp of Pioneers May the21st 1847, acording to Fremonts acount we are 132½ ms from Fort Laremie, the bluffs oposite this place are called Castle (Bluffs). We got up our teams and started at 25 to 8 A.M. & traveled in a N. of W. direction 7¾ ms & halted on the Prairie for dinner[.] at 15 past 11 A.M. we got up our teams at the sound of the horn our usial signal & started at ½ past 1 P.M. & traveled 4½ ms & crossed a point off the Bluff ½ a mile wide[.] we then came on to the bottom again & traveled 2¾ ms & camped in a circle a bout a ½ mile from the river at ½ past 5 P.M. making 15½ ms this day. When we first came to this place thare was an indian & squaw here on horse back[.] they ware Sants & Some of the brothering learned from them that thare ware more of them camped on the bottom a bove here & some over the bluff N W of us, but how far we did not assertain.
Saturday the 22nd a fine pleasant morning & we got up our teams & started at 8 A.M. & traveled near a west coarse 5½ miles & crosed a crick about 2 rods wide & very shallow, called Crab crick [Creek.] we continued our corse 1¾ miles & halted for dinner making 7¼ ms this foer noon[.] our halting place is near ¾ of a mile from the river[.] at ½ past 11 A.M. an Indian dog Came to us last evening but he is verry wild & Shy & has traveld with us to day
We got up our teams & started on again at 20 minutes to 2 P.M. & traveled 4¼ ms & crosed the bed of a stream a bout 8 rods wide but no water thare[.] we crosed 3 or 4 of the same discription but smaller previous to this[.] we then turned to the left & wound our way up a revine or valley a ra—d passing be tween the pondrous heaps of rock & gravel until we came to the bed of a river some 10 rods wide which we followed down until we came to the bottom near the river making 2¼ ms through those windings the surface over which we have traveled[.] this after noon preduses but verry little vegatasion, some grass & a kind off herb which mutch resembles worm wood both in looks & smell, & some other herbs, &c. constituted the vegetation[.] we moved on under the bluff 1¾ ms & camped in a circle 150 yards from the river at, ¼ to 6 P.M. making 8¼ ms[.] this after noon, a thunder storm past off to the North of us, jest as we ware camping. it sprinkeled a little whare we ware, a dark heavey cloud hung in N.W. of us un till dark, in fact this after noon has brought to our view quite change of [s]cenery, the bluffs presenting a bold, Craggy, Rockey, broken, apearance, on the oposite side the river[.] thare is a grove of cedar timber extending some 4 ms down the river which is the heav[i]est body of timber I have seen since we left grand Isleand [Island], several petrified bones of enormous size have been found yesturday & today which are supposed to be mammoth bones, several off the brethering have visited the bluffs[.] this evening Gorge [George] R. Grant & Orson K. Whitney found & caught a Young gray Eagle & brought it to camp[.] a great meney rattle snakes have been seen with a few day past of the large kind.
Monday the 31st this is a plasant morning, but verry cold we got up our team & Started at ¼ to 8 a.m. & traveled 9½ ms over a nearly barron plain with the exceptions of the Prickelly Pairs which grew in grat a bundance[.] we halted near an the for dinner, and bated our teams on a low bottom between us & the river[.] dug a well, after a Suit able refreshment we started on & traveled over soft sandy second bottom in a N. W. course 7¼ ms & camped by a crick in 2 lines along its beach at a ¼ to 7 P.M. making 16¾ during the day, thare has been conciderable timber a long the river for the last 20 miles principly Cottonwoods, a fine deer killed to day by John Higby [Higbee] Several elk seen to day[.] bread Stuff Scarce with us, Short allowence, all things goes well peace & union in the camp, the feed is scarce owing to the poor Soft yellow Sanddy Soil whare we are
[text missing]
North fork of the Platte river upper ferry June 18 1847[,] 125 miles west of fort Laramie or John
By order and in behalt of the council we remain your Brothering in Christ
Brigham Young
Thomas, Grover
John. S. Higbee.
Wm. Empy
Appleton M. Harmon
Edmond, Elsworth
Luke, Johnson
Francis, M. Pumary [Pomeroy]
James Devenport
Benjamin F. Stewart
Mr. Thomas Grover and Company
Monday the 5 of July we ferryed 6 waggons for Retford & Badall for $4.00 cash