History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

246
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AT THE MISSOURI.
unswerving in their loyalty to the United States.
While all this carried weight, the bounty of twenty
thousand dollars was no insignificant consideration,
nor the hope that this battalion might serve as vanguard
to Brigham's host, provided he carried out his
partially formed purpose to settle in California.
At the close of 1846, about twelve thousand souls
had assembled in the Mormon camps, a portion of
them being yet stationed as far eastward as Garden
Grove. Of the rest a few had made their way
to some Atlantic port and taken ship for California;
many had dispersed throughout the country,
some of whom were now gathering at the rendezvous.
Though the first bands that crossed the
Mississippi encountered no very severe hardships, as
I have said, the sufferings of those who set forth later
have few parallels, even among the pioneers, who, a
year or two afterward, followed their track westward
in search of gold. 21
Mount Pisgah, the next encampment west of Garden
Grove, was on the middle fork of Grand River.
Through this winter of 1846-7, which was one of
severest struggle, there was great lack of food and
clothing. They could not go on because they had
no teams, most of them being employed in bringing
forward the emigration from the Mississippi. Many
21 Instance the experiences of Mrs Richards, Reminiscences, MS., passim.
While on their journey toward the Missouri, having parted from her husband
who was about starting on a mission to England, her little daughter was taken
dangerously ill, and the mother was prematurely confined in a wagon with a
son, who died soon after. 'Our situation was pitiable; I had no suitable food
for myself or my child; the severe rain prevented our having any fire; on
the third day we resumed our journey. In ten days we reached Mt Pisgah;
my little girl was very ill, and I was also. We continued our journey till we
reached my mother at Cutler Park, and here, after weeks of almost incredible
suffering, my little daughter died. A few days previously she had asked
for some potato soup, the first thing she had shown any desire for for weeks,
and as we were then travelling, we came in sight of a potato-field. One of the
sisters eagerly asked for a single potato. A rough woman impatiently heard
her story through, and putting her hands on her shoulders, marched her out
of the house, saying, "I won't give or sell a thing to one of you damned Mormons."
I turned on my bed and wept, as I heard them trying to comfort
my little one in her disappointment. When she was taken from me I only
lived because I could not die.