Location: North Platte, Nebraska - Location: 41:07:26N
100:45:54W Elevation: 2800 feet
Date: May 11, 1847
On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The morning was chilly, thirty-eight degrees, but it warmed
up quickly. Thomas Bullock recorded: "While attending cattle
some of the brethren dug out a den of Wolves. There were 4 fine
cubs in it which were brought out alive, but afterwards killed,
to make caps." William Clayton added, "They are probably six
or eight weeks old and about the size of an English hare, very
vicious." Brother Bullock continued: "Dr. Richards found a Buffalo
horn filled with a Hornet's nest and brought it to camp. He afterwards
rode to the Island with an axe, cut off a patch of bark on a
large tree & wrote an inscription for the benefit of the Saints
who follow after."
The pioneers started their journey at 9:30 a.m. Brigham Young,
and others traveled ahead of the main company. In five miles,
after crossing over some bluffs, they stopped for the noon rest.
Very few buffalo were spotted during the day as they all migrated
to the east for better grass.
After another three miles, they crossed over a creek of clear
water that was about fifteen feet wide. They observed a number
of dead buffalo in the water. The night's camp was established
a half mile away where the feed was good. A well was dug four
feet deep to obtain plenty of good water.
The camp was near the junction of the North and South forks
of the Platte River. Some of the men were feeling ill. Wilford
Woodruff attributed his illness to not yet being accustomed to
eating fresh meat.
Orson Pratt wrote of a grisly object that Amasa M. Lyman found: "A
human skull was found about two miles east, the teeth were perfectly
sound and well set in the jaw. This skull probably was the head
of some Indian warrior, who might have fallen in one of the late
battles between the Pawnees and Sioux, in which the latter were
victorious. From some small scars upon the bone, it had the appearance
of having been scalped." Porter Rockwell exhibited this skull
throughout the camp.
William Clayton wrote: "Brother Appleton Harmon is working at
the machinery for the wagon to tell the distance we travel and
expects to have it in operation tomorrow, which will save me
the trouble of counting, as I have done, during the last four
days.
Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
When Hosea Stout woke up, he found Captain Caw and three other
Otoe chiefs standing in his yard, waiting for him to wake up.
They were invited in and requested two more beef cattle from
the Saints. Brother Stout sent the request on to Parley P. Pratt
and John Taylor who approved it. Brother Stout had a nice breakfast
with the Indians.
Lyman O. Littlefield left Winter Quarters on his mission to
England. Alexander McRae let him travel in his buggy as far as
Savannah, Missouri. From there he would ride with Daniel Spencer
to St. Joseph and then travel with some Saints to Weston, Missouri
where he caught a steamer for St. Louis.
Company B, Mormon Battalion, at San Diego, California:
Albert Dunham, of the Battalion, died at San Diego, from an ulcer
on the brain. He had only been sick two or three days. He was buried
beside Lydia Hunter.
