[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] Sept 1st 1846 The first day of fall. We arose washed, prayed Breakfasted & started our journey down the river to find the bluffs. We came to a creek And had to build a bridge before we Could Cross. After Crossing the Creek the Indian trail went up the bluff which road we ought to have taken. But having no pilot we did not know the way. We kept [to] the table land under the bluff. We passed through a flat about 2 miles across it with pea vines grass woods & cane from 5 to 10 feet high which we had to wallow through with our horses & waggons. 4 of us finally clumb the bluff & traced the trail back to the bridge we made & then returned to the horsman & waggons. We had three waggons & 10 Horsman.
We came to another creek which we had to bridge. After crossing it we came onto another flat of about 600 acres & here we found Council bluffs at about sun down. There was nothing standing of the old barracks except the body of the arsinal/Magazine/ with one gable end composed of brick arched over.
We walked to the edge of the bluff. Before me on the bottom appeared a small grove of willows. Beyound it a small stream of muddy water & in the distance a dens body of cotton wood & willow. I started up a deer a few rods from me. We tried to get a shot at him but Could not. We also saw a wolfe go into the forest before us.
We looked about the premises of the old Council bluffs about half an hour & seeing nothing inviting we started for home having traveld about one mile. We found a good spring & Camped for the night. We started up a deer near this place & the Horsman Chased it but lost him. Both man & beast were vary weary going through such heavy bottoms. We saw both signs of Elk & deer vary plenty. Distance 10 miles.
[source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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