Heritage Gateways
Official Sesquicentennial K-12 Education Project
sponsored by the Utah State Board of Education, the BYU-Public School Partnership and the Utah Education Network
BackWilliam Clayton Journals
May 3, 1847
Summary: Wary of Indians in the vacinity, laundry done, and some hunting.
Journal entry: MONDAY: This morning cold and ice in the water pails. The hunters are going out on foot. Tanner and Davenport are fixing their forges to do some repairing, shoeing, etc. At about nine the hunters, twenty in number, started out with two wagons which had been unloaded for the purpose. At the same time, fifteen of the brethren on horseback started west to examine the route, etc.
At two - thirty the party who went to look out the route returned and reported that Brother Empey had discovered a large war party of Indians while he was chasing an antelope. The Indians are in a hollow about twelve miles distance and about three hundred in number, some on their horses and some standing beside them holding the bridle. The company also saw nearly twenty scattered Indians about four miles from here. When this report was made, orders were given to dispatch a number of the brethren on horses, well armed to warn the hunters and tell them to come to camp.
In about half an hour, twenty - three men started out on this mission. Before they reached the bluffs which are about four miles from here, some of the hunters were on their way to camp, having seen only one buffalo during the day. In a little time all the hunters were notified and were on their way back. They arrived about six o'clock, having got three antelope, and the horsemen who went after them got two calves which were all brought in and the day passed without accident.
Some of the brethren saw some objects at a distance, which, by their motions, they were satisfied were Indians. The day has been fine but cool and cloudy, with occasionally a few drops of rain. A number of wagon tires have been set and other blacksmithing, washing, drying meat, etc., done. The wind near south. The cannon was unlimbered at night and prepared for action in case it should be needed.
Source: William Clayton's Journal
Published by the Clayton Family Association, and edited by Lawrence Clayton. To the best of our research, this contents of this book are no longer under copyright.
