Pioneer: 2007 Vol.54, No.1

of the Almighty that I will lead you there and back
again, and not a hair of your heads shall be harmed,3 at
which [Joseph Young] presented his hand to the
Prophet* as well as to myself, to confirm the covenant.”9
The first members of Zions Camp to begin the
journey left Kirtland on May 1, 1834, and waited in
New Portage, now Barberton, Ohio. Joseph Smith and
many others left Kirtland on May 5 and spent that
night in a barn in Streetsboro, Ohio. Brigham Young
stayed about three-fourths of a mile away at the home
The group spent the night of May 13
CAMPED ON THE BANKS OF THE SciOTO RlVER.
This was a site that had already been
used by Native Americans, stagecoaches,
of Israel Barlow,10 The following day, that group joined
the first group who were waiting in New Portage, One
of those in the waiting camp was Wilford Woodruff.
As with others, he provided most of the supplies he
brought with him. This included his own team and
wagon, as well as his personal armaments: a rifle,
sword, dirk [dagger], and pistol.11 Brother Woodruff
was moved by the scene. He recorded in his journal:
“Climbing to the top of the hill, I looked down upon
the Camp of Israel. There I knelt upon the ground and
prayed, I rejoiced and praised the Lord that I had lived
to see some of the tents of Israel pitched, and a com¬
pany gathered by the commandment of God to go up
and help to redeem Zion ”12
From this first gathering point in New Portage, the
Prophet Joseph assumed command of the newly
formed group of which Brigham Young was a
AND EVEN SOLDIERS FROM THE War
OF l8T2.
6 PIONEER • Vo 1. 5 4, No. I *2007