History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

268
MIGRATION TO UTAH.
were easily alarmed. The organization and order in
the camp was so perfect that not unfrequently half
an hour after a halt the people sat down to a comfortable
meal of fresh bread and broiled meat. 40
At the beginning of their journey, jealousy, bickering,
and insubordination arose among them, and a halt
was called for the purpose of holding a council and
adjusting matters. For several hundred miles they
followed the trail of the pioneers, and now were approaching
the president and his men, who, encamped
between Green River and the Sweetwater, had sent
forward two messengers 41 to ascertain the progress
and condition of the company. Upon hearing of the
difficulties that had arisen, Brigham sent for Pratt
and censured him severely for defects in the management
of the party at the start, and for misunderstandings
on the road. Pratt humbly acknowledged his
faults and was forgiven. While the president and
council were at prayer, the Sioux improved the occasion
by stealing a number of horses, which proved a
serious loss.
Pratt now returned to his command, and without
special incident reached the Salt Lake settlement on
the 19th of September; the companies arriving in detachments
at intervals of several weeks.
Brigham's band was scantily provisioned for the
journey to Winter Quarters. 42 The number that had
already gathered at Salt Lake had drawn heavily on
the pioneers' resources, and they set out depending for
subsistence on game and fish. They travelled more
rapidly in returning, 43 although most of them were
compelled to walk. A few days after the Indian dep-
40 From account of their joumeyings furnished me in Taylor's Rem., 7-12.
41
0. P. Pockwell and E. T. Benson.
42 Among them was a party of battalion men who were entirely destitute
except for a very small quantity of beef, which was soon exhausted. General
Epistle of the Twelve, in Millennial Star, x. 83.
43 'Camped on the south side of the Platte. We were 42 days in going to
the valley from this point, and only "23 clays in returning.' Hist. B. Young,
Mo, 1847, 115.