[Apostle Willard Richards Journal] Missouri River. Pleasant. At 9, Presidents Young, Kimball, Richards, P. Pratt, rode to Elder TaylorÂ's camp at Mosquito where they met O. Hyde, George A. Smith, J. Taylor, John Smith, Levi Richards, and others. Captain James Allen of the U S. Army and two others, first regiment of dragoons, Fort Leavenworth, when Captain Allen read his authority from Colonel S. W. Kearney of the Army of the West, dated June 19, 1846, for him to proceed to the Mormon Camp and enlist from 3 to 500 men to go to California by way of Santa Fe. Each company to enlist of from 73 to 109. Captain, first and second lieutenant, four laundresses to each company. Also read a circular to the Mormon camp for enlistment. Captains and lieutenants to be elected by the privates.
[At] 20 past 11, council sent for the brethren within call to assemble. Captain Allen presented the Â"reveille,Â" and O. Hyde read an extract from the Hancock Eagle of the 13th June, that 400 armed men were within striking distance of Nauvoo, and a company at Golden's Point. [At a quarter] ¼ to 12, adjourned to the wagon stand where the people were addressed by Captain Allen, introduced by President Young; that he was sent by Colonel Kearney, through the benevolence of President, l00s and l000s of volunteers ready in the states. Read his orders from Colonel Kearney and Captain Allen's circular to the Mormons, and explained.
At 12 noon, President Young addressed the assembly, wished them to make a distinction between this action of the government, and our former oppressors. Is it prudent for us to enlist to defend the country, the U. S., if so all are ready to go. If we were a state and the President did not call on us we would feel ourselves neglected, well we are noticed by him. Last year this people expected to have been there, but the blow was struck a little too soon. Let the Mormons be the first men to set their feet on that soil. Captain Allen has assumed the responsibility of saying that we may go to Grand Island and stay till they can go on, or the young men return. It is the first offer we have ever had to benefit us one whit, and proposed that the 500 men be raised, that he would see all their families brought forward as far as his reach, and feed them when he had to eat. 12:25 minutes, Captain Allen said he would write the President to give us leave to stay on the route where it is necessary, that 18 of bread, 3/4 pork bacon paid over in two months, camp kettle, two pans, one tent to every six men.
Elder Kimball moved, second by W. Richards, that 500 be raised. General vote, and President Young walked out as orderly sergeant by his clerk, W. Richards, took names as follows, Eli B. Hewitt, Joseph Matthews, Frederick N. Bainbridge, George W. Rosecrans, Charles Hancock, Henrys S. Dalton, John M. Lewis, James H. Glines, George S. Sexton, Willard Smith, (Ebenezer Harmon) only 13 July, William Reynolds. [At 12:55] 5 min to one, dismissed till 10 a.m. tomorrow, to the slough near the old campground near the river.
The Twelve and Captain Allen repaired to Mr. Taylor's tent. Has not an officer enlisting men on Indian lands to say to their families you can stay till your husbands return, says President Young? Captain Allen that he was a representative of the President, and he could act till he could notify the President, and the President was bound to ratify his doings or indemnify for damage, and that the President might give permission to travel through the Indian country and stop wherever and whenever circumstances might require. [At 1:30] 1½, Captain Allen left, and the Twelve continued to converse on the good prospect before us, and they wanted to get 500 men to go. Voted that Presidents Young and Kimball go to Mt. Pisgah to raise volunteers. President Young said he would start in the morning. President Young said the companies must be organized, see who can go to the island and who must remain. After raising the troops, the Twelve to go on with their families.
About 2, part of the council dined with Elder Taylor. About 4, Presidents Young, Kimball, and Richards returned to their encampments. Young and Richards to the river whither their teams had gone, and some of P. Young's gone over. Boat moved slowly, little help, and Kimball moved forward with his encampment to be near the ferry, but President Young turned back and informed him he could not cross, and he turned and encamped 3/4 miles west of the town. Elder Richards took his family and teams to the same place where was no water. President Young continued to cross.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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