Charles A. Harper diary, 1847 April-August.
- Source Locations
- Church History Library, MS 1152
- Related Companies
- Brigham Young Vanguard Company (1847)
- Related Persons
- Lewis Barney
- Ezra Taft Benson
- James Davenport
- Edmund Lovell Ellsworth
- William Adam Empey
- Andrew Smith Gibbons
- Eric McArthur Glines
- Thomas Grover
- Joseph Hancock
- Appleton Milo Harmon
- Charles Alfred Harper Sr.
- John Somers Higbee
- Norton Jacob
- Heber Chase Kimball
- Amasa Mason Lyman Sr.
- Stephen Markham
- George Mills
- John Wesley Norton
- Francis Martin Pomeroy
- Orson Pratt
- Henry Garlic Sherwood
- Erastus Snow
- George Woodward
- Lorenzo Dow Young
Left my home in winter quarters April 7th 1847 in a wagon with Norton Jacob belonging to H. C. Kimballs division and journeyed about 7 miles where we encamped for the night[.] the next day we heard that P. P. Pratt had arrived from England
left our encampment the 9th about 2 oclock in the afternoon and traveled about ten miles towards the Elk Horn[.] camped that night on the open prairie and next morning resumed our journey and got to the Horn about sunset
the next day Sunday we all crosed over on a raft and camped on the other side
Monday morning the 12th the twelve all left to go back to Winter quarters and we resumed our journey across to the Platt[e] and then followed the bottom about 15 miles from where we staid Sunday night and camped on the bank of the Platt[e] to wait for the return of the twelve. Held a meeting in the evening and decided that Bros. [Thomas] Grover, [Henry] Sherwood & [Stephen] Markham should take charge till the twelve come back[.] Br Markham gave some good advice relative to our duty in guarding the camp and observing our prayers[.] had some music and dancing[.] Brother Markham placed out a guard around the camp and then called upon the Bretheren to tend to their prayers in their several messes[.] I joined in prayers with Markhams mess and then retired to our wagon to bed. N[orton]. Jacob returned with the twelve to winter quarters[.] The weather during this time had been cold and the spring is backward[.] there is some slight appearance of grass.
13th the camp comenced making some repairs on the wagons cutting and welding tires and making axletrees[.] I commenced making 2 axletrees for H C K[imball] wagon[.] had quite a lengthy lecture from Markham in the evening about obeying council, about the first principle of the Gospel, what we came to this world to perform what we had prepared our selves to do while in the world of spirits; showing that it was our choice to come in this dispensation and had the choice of our lineage and the whole summed together was not very edifying to the camp[.] attended prayers and then went to bed
14th was passed in the same way as the day preceding[.] in the evening Markham cal[l]ed the camp together and placed out the guard
15th finished up the repairs of the wagons[.] the twelve got back about 2 oclock[.] where [Were] cal[l]ed together in the evening by B Young and received some instructions relative to our future organization[.] Br Jacob and I attended Prayer in our wagon.
16th were called together by By order of Brigham[.] after a few introductory remarks opened by prayer and then proceded to organize by hundreds fifties and tens[.] a guard of fifty were chosen to guard the camp by turns[.] Brother Kimbal made some remarks in relation to our journey and gave us some good advice[.] Bro N K Whitney also made a remark[.] gave some good advice about obeying council and saade [said] he felt to Bless us by all the authority he possessed before he left us[.] Br Nobles also expressed his good feeling towards us[.] We left here about noon and traveled a short distance and camped for the night[.] placed our horses and mules and cattle in a good grove of timber with plenty of rushes, an extra guard was called out for the purpose of guarding the same
17th traveled a short distance and camped about noon[.] I started out to look for a piece of timber to make a houn [sic], found a good ashe [ash] and made and put it in H.C. Kimballs wagon
18th Sunday did not travel[.] was a cold disagreeable day so that we could have no meeting, in the evening we received some more instruction about our traveling and the order of the camp[.] the bugle was to sound at 6 oclock in the morning when every person was to rise attend prayers and prepare to start[.] the bugle was to sound again in the evening at half past eight when every man was to repair to his wagon and attend prayers and retire to bed
19th traveled about 23 miles[.] at noon the messes got back from W[inter] quarters
20th went on about 15 mi[les] and camped[.] caught a fine mess of fish enough for the whole camp
21st at noon got in sight of the Pawnee villiage[.] many of them flock around to gaze at us[.] went a few miles further and camped for night[.] placed out a guard of 50 men in consequence of the Indian chief being dissatisfied because we did not make them more presents[.] had a fine shower in the afternoon and in the night cleared off cold[.] I stood guard the last watch[.] we were undisturbed
22 the morning is clear and cold[.] we resumed our journey at the usual hour[.] crossed two brisk running streams during the day cal[l]ed Looking glass & and Beaver Creek and arrived at night at the missionary station of the Pawnees which has been deserted near a year by the missionaries where we found plenty of corn fodder and hay for our teams which had been put up by some of the Brethers [Brothers] last summer
23 This is a beautiful morning[.] some of our men have gone on horse back to seek out a fording on the Platt[.] we left our place of encampment about noon and traveled about 5 miles to the place that Miller forded the Loup fork of the Platt[e] and found it to be a very dificult place of crossing on account of the quicksand and the swiftness of the stream[.] we crossed over 4 of the wagons without much loading in them and that with difficulty[.] it was now night and we formed our ring for the night on the bank of the stream[.] just above us lay the rema of the Pawnee villiage from whence they were driven last summer by the Sioux[.] I went to the ruins together with many of the Brethern to get wood to cook our suppers[.] we surveyed the ground where the city once stood[.] the houses or wigwams where nearly all burnt[.] they had the appear
24 the morning was clear and beautiful[.] we commence taking some of our things over in a boat that we had along but found it to be too slow a process so they come to the conclusion to put on team enough to take the wagons over without unloading[.] we tried the plan and found it worked well and all got over in a short time without any accident[.] we then went on a few miles and camped south of the bank of the Loup fork
25 Sunday did not travel[.] the wether is beautiful[.] I washed out my dirty clothes in the evening[.] we were called together and had a hiymn [hymn] sung and H[eber] C[hase] K[imball] opened with prayer[.] some of the brthern expressed their feelings that they felt well in regard to our journeying and mission[.] Brigham followed and said he felt well and that he [k]new we were doing right and that we were led by the spirit of God and that if we continued faithful we wou
27 The morning clear and cold[.] four of the brethrn start back on hunt of the lost horses and we resumed our journey by striking across towards the Platt[e.] the country we passed through was dry sandy and barren[.] we halted about 1 oclock to refresh our teams[.] some of the brethern shot an Antilope and a hare during the day[.] we then travel
28th the weather clear and cool arrived at the Platt[e] about 2 oclock opposite grand Island[.] refreshed our teams and the traveled a few miles further and camped <18 miles> for the night
29th started at sunrise on account of getting feed for the teams[.] traveled till about 7 oclock where we stoped to feed and take breakfast[.] after which we resumed our journey[.] traveled about 18 miles and camped for the night[.] we crossed during the day Wood river
30th the morning beautiful[.] about noon the wind began to blow cold from the north[.] this night we camped in the open pra
31st May 1st very cold and windy all day[.] we started before breakfast and traveled a few miles to wood & water wh
2nd this morning very cold[.] froze quite a cake of ice[.] this day we spent in taking care of our meat till nearly night when we started on adont [about] 2 miles to a beautiful spot where we camped
3rd the weather is still cold[.] did not travel[.] some of the Brethern went on a scouting party and discovered a war party of Pawnees[.] they had burnt the prairie for miles which made the feed scarce
4th we traveled a few miles when we met a trader from Ft Lara
5th the wether moderate south wind
6th a slight shower of rain about daybreak after which it cleared off warm till in the afternoon when it began to blow cold from the west[.] during this day we were never out of sight of large herds of Bufaloe besides numbers of Elk & antilopes
7th the morning is cold[.] the wind from the north[.] Brother Erastus Snow received a severe reprimand from Brigham for not attending to his duty when it was his turn to drive the cows and for trying to excuse himself[.] Snow said he was able to roll off any plea that could be brought against him and if he could not roll it off he would should
8th the morning is cool[.] we traveled 11 miles during which time we behold thousands of Bufaloe on both sides of the river
9th the weather is still cool we moved on about 3 miles where we stoped to rest for the Sabath[.] had a meeting in the afternoon Bros O Pratt[,] A Lyman[,] Woodruff & Benson spoke[.] expresed their good feelings and said they thought the spirit of the Lord was with us[.] Erastus Snow also spoke said he repented of what had taken place on the morning of the 7th and asked the Brethern to forgive him
10th the morning cool[.] crosed 2 small streams during the day
11th still cool
12th
13th very cold[.] crosed a large stream where the bluff came to the river
14th very cold morning
15th still cold with some rain
16 sunday[.] did not travel the day cold
17th & 18th the wether moderate[.] traveled about 26 miles
19th slight shower of rain during the day
20 cold and cloudy[.] traveled about 15 3/4 miles[.] This day at noon we arrived oppos
21st a beautiful day[.] towards evening we were met by an Indian & his Squaw of the Sioux tribe[.] they belonged to hunting party in the neighborhood[.] traveled 15 1/2 miles[.] saw some cedar on the bluffs on both sides of the river[.] the country presenting a barren appearance[.] camped on the bank of the river near some high cliffs[.]
25 was a warm fine day[.] traveled 12 miles
27th fine through the day[.] in the evening thunder storm[.] distance traveled 12 1/2 miles
28th damp[.] drisly[.] traveled 11 1/2 miles
31st the weather fine[.] traveled 16 1/2 miles this day[.] I shot a Badger
June 1st fine day[.] traveled 12 miles and camped opposite Fort Laramie
11th clear & warm[.] traveled up the river 17 miles cross 2 streams in the afternoon
20 Sunday had no good place to stop so we traveled on 20 miles
3rd
7 arrived at Bridgers Fort and camped on an Island form
10th traveled 18 miles and camped on a small stream[.]
Monday night 12th I pased in great pain with the fever but next day I began to recover my health
16th traveled down through a narrow defile in the mountains and camped in sight of Webers Fork of Bear River[.] distance 16 1/4 miles[.] the day cool and pleasant traveling
[Edited version of diary also published in The Diary of Charles Alfred Harper [1971], 15-31.]