History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

CHAPTER IX.
AT THE MISSOURI.
1846-1847.
Native Races of the Missouri—The Pottawattamies and the Omahas—
The Mormons Welcomed as Brethren—War with Mexico—California
Territory—Mexican Boundaries—Application to the United
States Government for Aid—An Offer to Serve as Soldiers Accepted—Organization
of the Mormon Battalion—Departure of
the Battalion—Bounty Money—March across the Continent—
The Battalion in California—Matters on the Missouri.
Amoxg the savages on either side of the Missouri,
the Pottawattamies on the east side and the Omahas
on the west side, the outcasts from Nauvoo were
warmly welcomed. "My Mormon brethren," said
the chief Pied Riche, 1 "the Pottawattamie came sad
and tired into this unhealthy Missouri bottom, not
many years back, when he was taken from his beautiful
country beyond the Mississippi, which had abundant
game and timber and clear water everywhere.
Now you are driven away in the same manner from
your lodges and lands there, and the graves of your
people. So we have both suffered. We must help
one another, and the great spirit will help us both."
Extreme care was taken not to infringe in any way
upon the rights of the Indians or the government.
Brigham counselled the brethren to regard as sacred
the burial customs of the natives; frequently their
dead were deposited in the branches of trees, wrapped
in buffalo robes and blankets, with pipes and trinkets
1 Surnamed Le Clerc, on account of his scholarship.
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