Heritage Gateways

Pioneer Date Summary

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07/13/1847 - Crockett

Date: July 13, 1847

Near Cache Cave, Wyoming:
Two messengers, John Brown and Joseph Matthews, were sent back to meet with Brigham Young back at The Needles. The camp did not desire to more on until President Young caught up with them. The messengers returned with Heber C. Kimball and Howard Egan. They reported that Brigham Young was feeling a little better but still could not travel. Albert P. Rockwood was near death and "deranged in mind."

It was becoming very urgent for the pioneers to complete their journey and to plant a crop as soon as possible in the Salt Lake Valley. The Twelve directed Orson Pratt to lead an advance company of 42 men and 23 wagons to proceed through the mountains. They were instructed to make roads to enable the main company to follow later. Heber C. Kimball returned to The Needles. At 3 p.m., this company started their journey and traveled about eight miles down Red Fork.

[The company consisted of Orson Pratt, Orrin Porter Rockwell, Jackson Redding, Stephen Markham, Nathaniel Fairbanks, Joseph Egbert, John S. Freeman, Marcus B. Thorpe, Robert Crow, Benjamin B. Crow, John Crow, William H. Crow, William P. Crow, George W. Therlkill, James Chesney, Lewis B. Myers, John Brown, Shadrack Roundy, Hans C. Hanson, Levi Jackman, Lyman Curtis, David Powell, Oscar Crosby, Hark Lay, Joseph Matthews, Gilbert Summe, Green Flake, John S. Gleason, Charles Burke, Norman Taylor, Alexander P. Chesley, Seth Taft, Horace Thornton, Stephen Kelsey, James Stewart, Robert Thomas, Charles D. Barnam, John S. Eldredge, Elijah Newman, Francis Boggs, Levi N. Kendall, David Grant.

Also traveling with the advance company were Robert Crow's wife, Elizabeth Brown Crow, and their daughters, Isa Minda Almarene Crow, Isa Vinda Exene Crow (twins, age sixteen), and Elizabeth Jane Crow. Also probably along was his very pregnant daughter Matilda Jane Therlkill (wife of George) and their children, Milton H. Therlkill (age three) and James William Therlkill (about age one).]

The main company stayed at their camp near Cache Cave. Thomas Bullock went to explore the cave which was thirty-six feet by twenty-four feet and was about four to six feet high. Many of the brethren carved their names on the walls. He observed about fifty swallows nests near the roof of the cave.

The hunters brought in twelve antelope. Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards took a walk to search for a spring. They reminisced about their missionary days when Elder Woodruff served at the Fox Islands in Maine, and when they both labored in Preston, England together. As the smaller, main camp rested in the evening, Thomas Bullock wrote: "Our camp was stiller to night than it has been since we left Fort [Laramie.]"

Mormon Ferry, Wyoming:
The ferrymen divided into two companies. The first company would stay at the ferry and the second would journey back to Fort Laramie to meet the second pioneer company. Those who stayed at the ferry were: William Empey, John Higbee (who was sick), Appleton Harmon, Luke Johnson, James Davenport, and Eric Glines (who had come back from the pioneers.) Those who left for Fort Laramie were ferrymen, Francis M. Pomeroy, Edmond Ellsworth, and Benjamin F. Stewart. Also returning pioneers, Aaron Farr, George Woodward, and Phinehas Young, and battalion members William Walker, John Cazier.

After the brethren left the ferry site, the rest were busy drying buffalo meat.

On the Platte River, Nebraska:
The second pioneer companies started the day's journey at 7 a.m. They crossed a "multitude" of trodden down buffalo paths that led from the bluffs to the river. [When the first pioneer company passed this location in May, they saw thousands of buffalo making their way to the river.] Isaac C. Haight went to hunt buffalo. He chased a herd but fell of his horse and lost the chase. The Jedediah Grant company had difficulties and were delayed. During the night their herd broke out of the yard and broke wagons, killed a cow, broke of some horns, and broke the leg of a horse. They had to spend the day repairing their wagons.

Winter Quarters:
It was very hot in Winter Quarters. Hosea Stout's last living child was very sick and Brother Stout feared that she was dying. The company marched twenty miles and camped near Santa Annas Ranch.

Kearny detachment of battalion, in Idaho:
The detachment reached the Oregon Trail at noon, and followed it to the east, toward Fort Hall. They reached the Columbia River.

Company B, Mormon Battalion, marching to Los Angeles:
During the day they had crossed over a plain where they saw about 20,000 cattle and horses grazing. The hills could be seen covered with cattle, horses, sheep, and goats.

Sources:

• Watson, ed., The Orson Pratt Journals, 445
• Luke S. Johnson Journal, typescript, BYU, 16
• Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:229
• Albert P. Rockwood Journal, typescript, BYU, 62
• Howard Egan Diary, Pioneering the West, 95
• The Journal of Nathaniel V. Jones, Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:21
• Appleton Milo Harmon Goes West, 40, 41
• The Journal of Robert S. Bliss, Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:111
• Bagley, ed., The Pioneer Camp of the Saints, 225-26
• Brooks, On the Mormon Frontier, The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1:266
• Beecher, ed., The Personal Writings of Eliza Roxcy Snow, 184
• Smart, ed., Mormon Midwife, The 1846-1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions, 91
• Isaac C. Haight Journal, typescript, 42

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.