Camp started at an early hour. After passing 3 miles over the hills and prairie and 2 miles over the lowland, arrived at the ford of Chariton River. It is about 4 rods wide, water about 2 feet deep, stony bottom, some rock steep banks on either side which made it necessary to let the wagons down into the river with ropes and to assist the teams up the opposite bank in the same manner. A new road was cut through the east bank so that teams might be let down at two points at the same time. The brethren were very diligent and the teams all passed over in 3 or 4 hours with very little damage, except breaking a tongue out of one of the PresidentÂ's heavy wagons. Presidents Young and Richards and their families, dined with Captain John Scott of the artillery who had encamped on the east bank of the river about 30 rods north of the ferry, then passed through the river ford in their carriages, being the last of the encampment, and after going up a very steep hill, encamped on the top about ½ a mile from the river.
Parley Pratt and Bishop Miller had previously gone on 7 miles to Shoal Creek. George A. Smith, Father John Smith, and Orson Pratt went on to MillerÂ's encampment where it was intended for all to go had they time. 2 loads of corn were brought from the neighborhood of our last encampment at 20 cents. In the p.m. [afternoon], several of the brethren, forgetting it was the Sabbath, went out on a hunting excursion with very little success, notwithstanding there was plenty of deer, turkey, duck, elk, etc., in the vicinity. About 5 oÂ'clock, Brothers John Young and Evan M. Green arrived in camp from Nauvoo bringing a large package of letters and newspapers.
At 7, Presidents Young, Kimball, Taylor, Richards, Bishop Whitney, Captains Clayton, Scott, Rich, and others, met in council at the post office. Read a letter from Almon W. Babbitt of the 14 instant [March 1846] containing scraps from the Warsaw Signal and State Register, also a letter from Babbitt and Heywood, trustees, 11 instant, also from W. W. Phelps to John Taylor 16 instant [on file]. President Young said he wanted a new leaf turned over, and if there was not, a scourge would come upon the camp. We must give more attention to keeping the Sabbath and quit shooting and trading, and not pass it off carelessly as any other day, for he knew it was wrong. We will tarry here tomorrow. Let the captains of the companies select a few good hunters, let them meet on the campground before day and organize, and go and bring us in some deer, turkeys, etc., for we want some fresh meat, and let no man go who is not sent. Let others be engaged in getting grain, others in browsing the cattle and feeding the horses, etc., others in burning coal, some chopping wood, some fishing, etc.
When we get to MillerÂ's camp 7 miles ahead, we will organize, and if Bishop Miller moves again before our arrival he will be disfellowshiped from this camp unless he repents. Captain Rich took one acre of woodland to clear for corn which he did in 3 or 4 hours, supposing the camp was a going on and the exigency of the case would justify it on the Sabbath.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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