Location: Monroe, Nebraska - Location: 41:28:27N 97:35:57W
Date: April 20, 1847
On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The pioneers arose at 5:30 a.m., ate breakfast, and were on
the trail at 7:30 a.m. The wind kicked up sand and dust on the
wagons as they traveled. Wilfood Woodruff recorded: "There are
many water fowls about the Platte such as ducks, geese, brant,
but the most numerous of all are the sand hill cranes which fly
in large flocks on every side of us." They passed by numerous
islands in the river. One of them was about ten acres, covered
with timber.
At 9:15 a.m., after traveling about five miles, they arrived
at Shell Creek, which was about eight feet wide. They found a
poor bridge that had been built over it. They managed to get
all the wagons safely across using the bridge. After passing
through a small grove of trees, they came out on a wide, open
prairie. They were fascinated by a large prairie dog village
that covered about six acres.
At 11:30, after traveling another five miles, the company rested
near a muddy lake. While there, three deer were spotted. Orrin
Porter Rockwell and Thomas Brown tried to chase after them on
their horses, but did not succeed in catching them. John S. Higbee,
Luke S. Johnson, and Stephen Markham left while the company was
still resting, to go ahead with the boat wagon, hoping to catch
fish ahead. Orson Pratt and Wilford Woodruff went forward to
scout the road.
At 1:00 p.m., they pioneers continued their journey. The road
was dry and level with an occasional gopher hole to bump the
wagon wheels. Some of the holes were six feet across with three-inch
ridges. Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball went on ahead to choose
the next camping site. After about ten more miles, making twenty
total, the night's encampment was established at 5:30 p.m near
a cottonwood grove on the banks of the Platte River. The wagons
were arranged in a semi-circle next to a small island near the
bank of the river. The teams were turned loose to feed on the
island for the night. Cottonwood trees were cut down for the
horses to browse on. Additionally, each horse was given about
three quarts of corn. [This encampment was south of present-day
Monroe, Nebraska].
The men who had gone ahead with the boat wagon soon returned
with about 213 nice fish which had been caught with a net. The
fish were distributed around the camp, about two to each wagon.
Many enjoyed cooking fish for supper. In the evening, Thomas
Tanner set up his portable forge and set several wagon tires.
William Clayton wrote: "I went to the river and washed my feet
which were very dusty and sore. I also washed my socks as well
as I could in cold water without soap. After Brother Luke Johnson
had got through distributing fish, I went and asked him to draw
my tooth. He willingly agreed and getting his instruments, I
sat down in a chair, he lanced the gum, then took his nippers
and jerked it out. The whole operation did not take more than
one minute. He only got half the original tooth, the balance
being left in the jaw. After this, my head and face pained me
much more than before. I ate but little supper and then lay down,
but could not sleep for pain till near morning."
Because the camp was only about eight miles from the Pawnee
Village, it was thought wise to raise a patrol guard for the
night. Many of the men took time during the late evening to write
letters to their wives. They planned to send these letters back
with the traders at the Pawnee Village.
Brigham Young wrote a letter to his wife Mary Ann Angell, back
at Winter Quarters. "The camp is in good health and first rate
spirits. They have never felt better in their lives. I think
my health has very much improved yesterday and today. You mentioned
in you letter that you heard I lay on the ground the night I
left home. I did but do not think it hurt me, but when I arrived
in camp I found my self completly tired out. I thank you a thousand
times for your kind letters to me, more especially for your kind
acts and still more for your kind heart." He added a note to
his sons Jospeph (age 12) and Brigham Jr. (age 10). "My son Joseph
you must not go away from home and Brigham also must stay at
home. How do you suppose I would feel when I come home and find
one of my children destroyed by the Indians? I pray this may
not be the case."
Thomas Bullock wrote a letter to his wife which included: "Driving
a 2 yoke ox-team is a different kind of work than I am used to
and having to tend to the cattle myself, leaves me little time
to read. I was glad to hear from you the second time, but sorry
to hear by G. A. Smith that my little Charles is worse. Get into
your new house and be happy and contented until I come for you
next fall. I have just washed my shirt and sox in the wilderness
fashion. I have taken a bath also. President Young says I did
right in making 2 copies of the route and leaving them behind.
He has just been instructing me of God's works in the eternity
of space. He has ordered me to ride as much as possible. I have
just been in his carriage and a very comfortable place he has
got and I am glad for it. Take care of the waterbottle and find
the other one if possible. Be a good girl and take care of yourself
and my children."
Howard Egan wrote to his wife Tamson: "I never in my life had
such feelings while away from home as I have on this trip. I
cannot say that I feel sorrowful because I am where I delight
to be in the society of my Father Heber [C. Kimball] where I
can receive instruction and counsel from his lips. My health
has been very good since I left home and we are all getting along
first rate, we are about 100 hundred miles from Winter Quarters
tonight. We travel at the rate of 20 miles per day; the roads
are very very good and it is a beautiful country. Tamson I feel
sorrowful when I reflect on your situation for I know your feeling
when I am away from you, but I feel easy when I realize that
you have a kind and generous hearted mother who will do all that
she can for the comfort of those around her."
Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
An early morning meeting was held by Parley P. Pratt and John
Taylor to discuss the best way to protect the herds from the
Omahas. It was decided that each bishop would establish a herd
for his ward. Armed guards would be appointed to defend the cattle
against the Indians. The bishops were also asked to number the
cattle that had been killed, so a report could be sent to Omaha
Chief, Big Elk. Hosea Stout was ordered to take ten men on horseback
to travel around the country to search for any Omahas. They were
to whip any that they found hiding in wait to steal cattle. Brother
Stout did as he was asked, armed with horse whips, but returned
in the afternoon without finding any Indians.
The High Council wrote to Daniel Spencer and Daniel Russell
across the river, asking them to haul corn for the Omaha Indians
from Waldo's ferry on the Nishnabotna River to Bellevue, at Council
Bluffs.
Mary Richards received word that Joseph Cain had a chest brought
from England for Mary and Jane Richards, from the husbands, Samuel
and Franklin Richards. Mary quickly went to Jane's home but was
very disappointed to learn that the key to the chest was still
on the other side of the river. She did enjoy hearing Brother
Cain talk about her missionary husband. Samuel and Franklin Richards
were loved by the British Saints. After a two-hour visit, Joseph
Cain left. In the evening, the key arrived and Mary had a wonderful
time reading three letters from her husband and looking at the
gifts that he had seen back for her.
During the night, Hosea Stout was awakened by Thomas Clark,
who reported that a large number of Indians were in the city.
The police guard was immediately gathered. They patrolled the
town for several hours but did not find the reported group of
Indians.
Summer Quarters, Nebraska:
John D. Lee and others worked to put a roof on one of the cabins.
They also finished the chimney, and plowed a garden. In the evening,
the brethren me at John D. Lee's house to discuss building a lot
to secure the cattle. A place was chosen. A heated discussion began
about the policy of dividing up the land. Some of the men were
dissatisfied about the fairness of the division. Brother Lee spoke
firmly that the men should sustain the decision of the leaders. "Unless
we are united we cannot prosper and that [I] would sooner undertake
to fortify against the Indians with 20 families well united than
to risk 100 that are not." Soon good feelings again were established.
Company B, Mormon Battalion, at San Diego, California:
Lydia Hunter, wife of Jesse Hunter, gave birth to a son who they named Diego.
He was believed to be the first child born to American parents in San Diego.
Another ship arrived in the harbor.
