Heritage Gateways

Pioneer 1847 Companies

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1847: May 8-14 - Thousands of Buffalo Consumed the Grass

Date: May 8, 1847

Near what is now Gothenburg, Neb., the Mormon pioneers found their wagons surrounded by an ocean of buffalo tens of thousands as far as the eye could see.

The Mormons livestock suffered greatly early in the week because the buffalo had eaten all the grass, but the herds finally began to thin out.

Where the city of North Platte is now located, the river branches into north and south arms. The pioneers stayed north. Many Indian tracks were found along the trail.

By May 14 the pioneers began to encounter sand bluffs which blocked their path along the river. Climbing the hills was tough work.

Source: 111 Days to Zion © Copyright 1997 Big Moon Traders and Hal Knight. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This includes educational uses.