Struggle For Possession of the West -The First Emigrants by Randall Parrish

The First Emigrants

<< Previous 1 2 3 Next >>

Route of the Mormons

The large majority of this Church army traveled westward from Council Bluffs up the valley of the Platte, following a trail now cut deep into the soil of the prairie. Yet there were side streams from points farther south, the one most used leading from Independence, Missouri, northwest across the Plains until it united with the main current of travel at Grand Island. This, a little later, became an important route for emigrant trains bound for California and Oregon, and still later was raced over by overland coaches and the pony express. Others of the Mormons, although usually traveling in much smaller parties, advanced up the valley of the Arkansas, and skirted the eastern base of the Rockies on their long journey to the " Promised Land." Such a company brought the first American families within the present limits of Colorado, residing on the site of Pueblo throughout the Winter of 1846-47.

The Mormon Trail.

Houses were erected by them, a number of children were born, numerous deaths occurred, and there is a record of one wedding. Sufferings on the Journey During the course of this passage across the wilderness much suffering and hardship occurred, but there is no record of Indian attack. Exposure and death left many along the trails. One large company, having yet a thousand miles to travel, decided to press on as late as the last of November, thus braving a winter on the Plains and in the mountains. At first they traveled fifteen miles a day, but were soon delayed by breaking axles, and other accidents. At Wood River their cattle stampeded, and thirty head were lost. The beef cattle, milch cows, and heifers were yoked up, but did little service, and the allowance of food was reduced to one meal a day. On reaching Laramie, where they hoped to procure provisions, they found none. Again the ration was reduced, men able to work each receiving twelve ounces of flour daily; women and old men, nine ounces; children, four to eight. The weather grew severe, and they suffered greatly from cold. Before them loomed the grim mountains already white with snow. The old and infirm began to die, and each camp was a burying-ground. Then the able-bodied commenced falling out, some dying in the shafts of their carts. While yet sixteen miles from the nearest possible camp on the Sweetwater, it began to snow, and their last ration of flour was issued. At this moment of despair messengers reached them, saying a train of supplies was only two or three days ahead. Encouraged by this news, the survivors managed to drag forward, but during the night five died of cold and exhaustion.

The next morning the snow was a foot deep, and they had left only two barrels of biscuits, a few pounds of sugar and dried apples, with a quarter of a sack of rice. They determined to remain in camp, sending forward the captain and one of the elders in search of the supply train. During those three days of waiting the sufferings of the party were intense. Many sickened and died. One writer says:

"Some expired in the arms of those who were themselves almost at the point of death. Mothers wrapped with their dying hands the remnant of their tattered clothing around the wan forms of their perishing infants. The most pitiful sight of all was to see strong men begging for the morsel of food that had been set aside for the sick and helpless."

Late in the night of the third day the help so long waited for reached them. Yet it came almost too late to save. In Inman's words:

"Some were already beyond all human aid, some had lost their reason, and around others the blackness of despair had settled, all efforts to arouse them from their stupor being unavailing. Each day the weather grew colder, and many were frost-bitten, losing fingers, toes, or ears, one sick man, who held on to the wagon bars to avoid jolting, having all his fingers frozen. At a camping ground at Willow Creek, fifteen people were buried, thirteen of them frozen to death."

Entering the Great Salt Lake Valley by Carl Christian

Anton Christensen

Beyond this point the weather moderated, and, when the struggling remnant arrived at Salt Lake, they had a death roll of sixty-seven out of four hundred and twenty. Martin's party, six hundred strong, journeying a few miles behind, also suffered severely upon the North Platte, but got through with less serious loss of life.

The number passing westward in this Mormon movement has never been estimated, but certain figures can be given as evidence of its importance. The first scouting party, led in person by Brigham Young, numbered 143 men and convoyed a train of 73 wagons. Next behind these followed 1,200 men, women, and children with 397 wagons; then the Kimball company of 662 persons and 226 wagons; then those under charge of Richards, 526 people with 169 wagons.

Increased Migration to Oregon

At the same time the migration to Oregon was steadily increasing. In 1849 fourteen hundred Mormons passed Fort Bridger. A peculiar fact of these early migrations is that few, if any, paused en route. Not even rumors of gold deposits in the Black Hills, or the Big Horn Range, sufficed to halt the current flowing steadily toward Salt Lake and the Pacific. Occasionally a few adventurers were thus turned aside, yet their discoveries, if any, made no perceptible mark on history. An illustration is afforded by the story of thirty men deserting from Captain Douglas's party in 1852. They started out to prospect in the Black Hills, but were never again heard of. Bancroft reports that in 1876 evidence of their work was discovered on Battle Creek, together with fragments of skeletons, and numerous mining tools. They were probably killed by Indians.

Added July, 2008

Also See other tales by Randall Parrish:

Adventures and Tragedies on the Overland Trail

Beginning of Settlement in the American West

Border Towns of the American West

Frontier Scouts and Guides

Mushroom Towns of the American West

The Reign Of The Prairie Schooner

About the Author: Adventures and Tragedies on the Overland Trail was written by Randall Parrish as a chapter of his book, The Great Plains: The Romance of Western American Exploration, Warfare, and Settlement, 1527-1870; published by A.C. McClurg & Co. in Chicago, 1907. Parrish also wrote several other books including When Wilderness Was King, My Lady of the North, Historic Illinois, and others.

<< Previous 1 2 3 Next >>

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Old West Books - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of Old West books for our frontier enthusiasts. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!