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Pioneer Date Summary
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05/18/1847 - Crockett
 Location: Lemoyne, Nebraska - Location: 41:16:21N 101:48:46W
Date: May 18, 1847
On the North Platte River, Nebraska:
Brigham Young called the camp together at 7:30 a.m. for instructions.
He stated that he did not want to see any more buffalo killed,
nor anything larger than a duck. He spoke out against those who
were leaving meat on the ground becuse it was not the choisest
portion. "For God has given us a commandment that we should not
waste meat, nor take life unless it is needful." He said, "Save
your powder and lead and let the game alone." He also stated that
life was as dear to the animal, according to their understanding,
as it was to us. "The Spirit of the hunter as was now manifested
would lead them to kill all the game within a thousand miles as
inconsistently as the butcher would apply the knife to the throat
of a bullock." He reproved the horsemen for taking so little interest
in looking for roads. He also chastised the officers for not enforcing
the camp rules.
When the pioneers started out, the hunters and horseman went forward
to pick out the road instead of going hunting. Wilford Woodruff
commented, "I did not hear a gun fired on the road during the day." During
the morning journey, the pioneers crossed a rapid stream, about
twenty feet wide, which they called Rattlesnake Creek. William
Clayton recorded: "Rattlesnake creek was so named from the following
incident: President Young, as he rode up to the banks of the creek
discovered that his horse stepped within a foot of a very large
rattlesnake. He turned his horse away without harming it. Soon
afterward, one of the brethren [Thomas Woolsey] came up on foot
and stepped within two feet and a half of it. It immediately coiled
up and sprang at him and would have struck him (as it sprang 2
1/2 feet) had he not jumped to one side. He took his rifle and
shot the snake dead." It measure about four and a half feet long
and had seven rattles.
They passed Cedar Bluffs, which are on the south side of the Platte.
Orson Pratt observed: "These bluffs make up to the river, and are
thinly covered with small cedars. In the bluffs on the south side
of the river, for a few miles, appear to be some rock formations." This
was the first time they saw ledges or rocks in the bluffs.
During the afternoon thunder showers passed around the company
in various directions. They traveled about sixteen miles and formed
the encampment on the west bank of a stream about eight feet wide
and one foot deep. Stephen Markham called the camp together to
remind them of their duty in regard to traveling and caring for
their teams. He spoke out against "the selfish principle of a man
bringing up his own cattle & leaving his brother's horse or ox,
for fear of walking ten rods, to save his brother one, two, or
three miles journey after it."
Winter Quarters, Nebraska:
Hosea Stout was having difficulties raising the city guard. Many
did not want to serve unless they could be assured that they would
be paid as promised. Brother Stout tried to get the attention of
those in authority to help them understand his frustrations, but
they did not take any action. Finally he decided to just dismiss
the guard, asking them to be ready for an emergency. Brother Stout
decided to go hunting. As he was traveling, he passed by John Taylor,
who has him about the guard. Brother Stout explained the problem
to him and Elder Taylor stated that he wanted the guard assembled
and went to help Brother Stout.
Summer Quarters, Nebraska:
Isaac Morley, who had authority over the Summer Quarters settlement
came up from Winter Quarters to inspect the progress of the farm.
He was very pleased and stated that more land had been broken and
corn planted at Summer Quarters than all the region around Winter
Quarters. In the evening a party was held at John D. Lee's house
with dancing and music. Company B, Mormon Battalion, at San Diego,
California: A Mexican wedding was held in town. Robert S. Bliss wrote: "They
celebrated it with the firing of Guns we gave them a gun from the
Ford while our officer was gone to Town; the Wedding ended with a
Fandango at night. It probably cost Mr. Barker $500 considering all
expenses (one cannon burst)."
Kearny Mormon Battalion detachment, California:
The small detachment of battalion men who were to travel with General Kearny
to Fort Leavenworth, passed the Mission of San Tenara on their way to Monterey.
They took prisoner a soldier who deserted from Monterey.
Sources:
Watson, ed., The Orson Pratt Journals, 399
Luke S. Johnson Journal, typescript, BYU, 8
Erastus Snow Journal Excerpts, Improvement Era 14:1023
Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:178
Howard Egan's Diary, Pioneering the West, 43
William Clayton's Journal, 156-60
Bagley, ed., The Pioneer Camp of the Saints, 158-59
Brooks, On the Mormon Frontier, The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1:256
Kelly, ed., Journals of John D. Lee, 1846-1847 and 1859, 166
The Journal of Robert S. Bliss, Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:93
The Journal of Nathaniel V. Jones, Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:17
- Source: 150
Years Ago Today
- ©These materials have been created by David R. Crockett.
Copies of these materials may be reproduced for teacher and classroom use.
When distributing these materials, credit must be given to David R. Crockett.
These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other
format, without the written permission of Mr. Crockett, Tucson Az, crockett@goodnet.com.
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