Letter to Elders Hyde, Pratt, and Taylor-- This is a letter of Brigham Young and members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles who were at the Camp of Israel, Omaha Nation, Winter Quarters, near Council Bluffs to three members of the Council who were on a special apostolic mission to England. The letter is an excellent summary of conditions as they then existed with the Saints in their "Winter Quarters" preparatory to the trek west the following summer.
They also wrote a letter to General Charles C. Rich on January 7, 1847, but no available copy has been located. For additional background see: CHC 3:148-150; RCH 2:183-190; MS 9:97-101.
LETTER to Elders Hyde, Pratt, and Taylor Who Were in England on a Special Mission Camp of Israel, Omaha Nation, Winter Quarters, near Council Bluffs, January 6, (to wit, one o'clock next morning), 1847. Dearly beloved brethren,-Four days since, a letter was received by sister Taylor from brother Taylor, dated Liverpool, October 3rd, 1846, giving an account of his and Elder Hyde's arrival at their destination, which made our hearts to rejoice, and also to mourn at the calamities of our fellow beings upon the mighty ocean. Of brothers Pratt, Richards, and others, we have heard nothing since the report by the New York Herald, of their sailing; we believe they are safely through long since. We wrote Elder Orson Spencer on the 20th October, the general particulars of camp and creation, and as he left soon after that date, we hope he will tell you all those particulars before this reaches you, which we anticipate will be before you leave the island. Your families are all in usual health, and that of all our brethren in England, so far as we know, which we believe is very general.
Brother Luke Johnson has visited us within the last two weeks, direct from brother Hyde's encampment, having buried his wife at St. Joseph's, yet apparently feeling well and enjoying himself.
Our last letter shewed the prospects of a city which we now realize and feel the benefit of a city of logs and mud, but mostly of logs; that is to say, we have upwards of 700 houses in our miniature city, composed mostly of logs in the body, covered with puncheon, straw and dirt, which are warm and wholesome; a few are composed of turf, willows, straw, &c., which are very comfortable this winter, but will not endure the thaws, rain, and sunshine of spring like stone, burnt clay, or even hickory.
Our great city, which sprung up in a night, as it were, like Jonah's gourd, is divided into 22 wards, over which 22 bishops, with their counselors preside, and no one suffers for food or raiment unless it be through their own fault, that is, in not asking for it, or being well and too lazy to work; but the fact of so many houses having been built in so short a time, is a proof of the general industry of the people, which will bear comparison with the history of all the nations of the earth, and in all periods of timeÃÂ.
The Twelve, Municipal High Council, Bishops and Counsellors, have commenced building a Council house, 32 by 24 inclusive; the rafters, that is to say the puncheons are nearly ready to receive the dirt on the roof. Hitherto the Council has met at various places, mostly at Dr. Richard's Octagon, a queer looking thing, six rods east of President Young's, and very much resembling a New England potatoe heap in the time of frost.
On or about the 10th of December, Big Head, the second chief of the Omaha nation, with his family and friends were encamped near us, in their Wika ups; between one and two in the morning were fired upon by a band of the Iowas. Big Head was severely hurt, and two or three others-one arm was amputated by our surgeons and their whole camp was taken care of by us, and in our midst until about the 18th, when another encampment of their tribe passed through our city on their way south, having lost about 73 of their number while asleep, about sixty miles north of this, on the morning of the 12th, by a band of the Sioux; when they passed through this place, those who were here went with them, and they have since encamped a little north of the Old Ferry, or Mr. Sarpy's. Almost all their warriors and hunters still being on a buffalo hunt; those who were killed or remain here, have lived mostly on our cattle, either by gift or theft. The whole Omaha nation are a poor, miserable, degraded race of beings, so far as we have any knowledge, and it would seem that they must soon come to an end, if they don't alter their course.
Bishop Miller came down here from the "Running Water" at Christmas, and we commenced our council at the Octagon, and continued it three days, when the main subject was left to our council, with the general impression that the pioneer company of some two or three hundred, more or less, would be fitted out as early as circumstances would possibly permit, so as to be at the foot of the mountains somewhere in the region of Yellow Stone river, perhaps at the fork of Tongue river, say two days ride north of the Oregon road, and a week's travel west of Fort Laramie, with ploughs, corn, beans, &c., prepared to raise a summer crop for some thousand or two of the Saints who should follow after them as soon as grazing would permit, and those who remain here to plant and raise grain sufficient for their consumption, and those who will come after to fill the place of the absentees, so that the Saints may not be obliged to run to Missouri or any other place after grain, pork, &c.
In the fall, wheat in Upper Missouri was worth 18-3/4 to 25 cents per bushel, corn from 10 to 12 cents. By our stopping at this point, they have taken occasion to raise wheat from .40 to 50, and corn from .20 to .25, and the clerk says, "Wo unto you, ye Missourians"; but we are independent of them, and can live without them, for we have thousands of cattle left yet. A few brethren have gone to Missouri, and paid high prices, because the people have asked it. Pork has been worth at this point from .3-1/2 to 5 by the hog, but we have now engaged to supply the market at .2-1/2; and although wheat and flour are rather scarce at the present, we anticipate no lack by and by, for we are determined to buy at fair prices or not buy at all, and good corn and meal are tolerable plenty at .40 and .50; and if the Missourians don't sell us cheaper than that, pretty soon, they will not sell us at all, for we have means to support ourselves.
On the 9th of October, while our teams were waiting on the banks of the Mississippi for the Saints who had been driven out of Nauvoo by an infuriated mob, and left without houses, beds, bed clothes, coats, frocks, tents, stoves, beef, pork, potatoes, or any of the necessaries of life, and there was nothing but starvation and death staring them in the face, with the fever and ague, and all other complaints incident to that climate preying upon them, and they had nothing to start their journey with-the Lord sent flocks of quails, which lit upon their wagons, and on their beds, and upon their empty tables, and upon the ground within their reach, which the Saints, and even the sick, caught with their hands, until they were satisfied, and their breakfast and their dinner was full; not only the Saints saw this but the world-a steam boat was passing during part of the time, within six rods, and the passengers marvelled at the sight-others in the camp, not of us, wondered also; this occurrence continued through the day, and followed the camp when they started from the river. Tell this to the nations of the earth! tell it to the kings and nobles, and the great ones! tell ye this to those who believe that that God who fed the children of Israel in the wilderness in the days of Moses, that they may know that there is a God in these last days, and that his people are as dear to him NOW as they WERE in those days, and that he will feed them when the power of the oppressor is unbearable, and he is acknowledged God of the whole earth, and every knee bows, and every tongue confesses that Jesus is the Christ.
From brother Kane, for such we call him, for his kind offices, we have received no communications since we left Nauvoo; we att
ribute it to the tardiness of the mail, or neglect with us between us and Fort Leavenworth, the communication of which has not been convenient for us for some days. We believe Colonel Kane to be a true friend.
Lieutenant Pace came on express from Fort Leavenworth, to inform us of the demise of Lieutenant Colonel Allen, battalion being then on their march towards Fort Bent. We immediately wrote council for Captain Hunt to take the command of the battalion, according to his station, and continue to carry out the orders that had been issued to Colonel Allen, giving General Kearney the earliest information by express. This communication we dispatched by brother John D. Lee, on the 30th of August, accompanied by Howard Egan, and Lieutenant Pace on his return. They overtook the battalion on or about the 17th September, on the Arkansas river, a considerable distance below Fort Bent, on their way to Santa Fe, under the command of Lieutenant Smith. As the battalion could not get their regular pay, our messengers continued with them, under forced marches, till they arrived at Santa Fe. Dr. Sanderson, the surgeon, was very oppressive to the sick, forcing down calomel and spirits of turpentine by the spoonful. The commander was equally oppressive, yet it was all quietly submitted to by our principal officers. About the 17th October, Captain Brown was detached to Purbelow, on the Arkansas, to winter, accompanied by the laundresses, sick, &c., of the battalion numbering in all about eighty; the remainder of the battalion took up a line of march for Monterey in California, thence expecting to ship for San Francisco. Our messengers having received 3 or 4000 dollars in checks from the battalion, left Santa Fe on or about the 19th October, and arrived in camp 22nd November. Brother Samuel Gulley resigned his station and returned with them.
Instead of the officers sending to us for counsel; they wrote the President of the United States to appoint a commander. The president informed them that was not his privilege-that the command devolved on the rank; but inasmuch as they had made the request, he dispatched Captain Thompson from the Jefferson barracks to take command, if the battalion wished it. Brother Lee met Captain Thompson, learned his mission, was pleased with the man, and wished him to go forward, thinking that the battalion would be benefited by the exchange, and that the choice would be with the battalion and not with the officers alone. General Doniphan was in command at Santa Fe, and acted the friendly part towards our people: the particulars of the whole you will learn hereafter, as we have not time to write them now.
On the route brother Lee met Elders Brown and Crosby, of Mississippi, on their return from the Arkansas river, where they had been with the camp this season, and not finding us as they anticipated, had located their company on that river for the winter, and were on their return for a reinforcement to join them in the spring, hoping to fall in with us and pass over the mountains together. They had a joyful meeting, and we have since written them how and where to unite their camps with ours, at the foot of the mountains next spring. Recent reports indicate that Lyman Wight and company are somewhere near the head of the Big Blue.
Bishop Whitney returned from St. Louis several weeks since with a large lot of merchandize, which he has been dealing out to the sisters and friends of the battalion, and others who sent money by him, which has added much to the comfort of many souls in camp, indeed, to the camp generally. The water was very low and navigation difficult, which made freight and cartage from St. Louis here very high, near 3.00 per 100. Sugar, and some other staple articles, were very dear at the time of purchase, all of which brought the goods higher than was anticipated, and produced some grumbling in camp; but this had been mostly overcome by the recent reformation in camp, or the influence of teaching, preaching, explanation, prayer meeting, &c., and the good spirit prevails among us.
Since our buildings were completed many of the Saints have turned their attention to the manufacture of willow baskets, hundreds of dollars worth have already been completed, and there is a prospect of quite an income from this source in the spring-other articles are also commencing, such as wash boards, half bushels, &c.
We suppose that you have more intelligence concerning the Mexican War than we have. From rumor we are inclined to think that it is not quite ended yet, and that there is a good deal of dissatisfaction in the States concerning the war or the manner of carrying it on, and that the people are beginning to think that it is easier to vote ten millions out of the treasury than it is to gather it in.
January 8th. At eight yesterday morning, mercury fell to 8 degrees below zero, and it has been pretty cold since.
We have no very late news from Nauvoo. Some time after the Saints were driven out, Governor Ford took courage and gathered a troop, variously estimated from 80 to 150, and marched down to the devoted city, for the purpose of reinstating the new citizens in their rights. On his arrival he appears to have found but little or no opposition: quartered his troops in the Temple-locked arms with the ringleaders of the mob-patrolled the streets-visited the grog shops, not forgetting to take a drop of the aqua vitae-ate splendid suppers-attended fancy balls, and was hail fellow, well met, with his Black Majesty's Princes, while they were swearing behind his back, that as soon as little Tom was gone, the New Citizens should leave with far less ceremony or mercy than had been shown the Mormons: thus you have the story as cheap as we have it.
The Temple and public property have not been sold. At the last date brother Babbit had left for Kirtland. Rigdonism is unknown, and the probability is, that Rigdon himself is about ready to deny the faith. Strang is very little better off, indeed not so well, for he has already denied his faith, or changed and altered it so many times that no man can tell what he does believe.
Perhaps we have written you about enough at this time, as we shall expect to see you with us before we leave, which will probably be between the 1st and 10th of May.
In the mean time, the historian wishes you may find it convenient to bring him a good portable desk, about two feet in length, and when closed in trunk form, and all the little internal fixtures, as your judgment shall dictate, not forgetting a good razor strop.
President Kimball wishes Elder David Candland to return to Camp, and it is very desirable that all Elders should remember that the things of the Lord's house belong in the Temple, and are not to be transferred to the habitations of the Gentiles, and all the brethren who have so far forgotten their sacred instructions as to disremember their original names, had better return home and take further lessons.
Since writing the foregoing, report has reached us from the public print, that Gens. Santa Anna and Taylor have had an interview, agreed upon articles of peace between the United States and Mexico, giving the Californians the privilege of religious toleration and choice of government for the time beng; and further intelligence, that the 200 dragoons marching with the Mormon Battalion had received orders for countermarch, and were on their return; while the battalion was pursuing their course to their destination, and the United States Paymasters were on their way to settle up with their troops; of the truth of which every man must judge for himself.
Letters of the 11th and 18th of September, from Elders Scovil, Dunn, Cain, and Sirrine, also one from Thomas Ward, of the 17th of Sept., are received but your presence and this sheet must be a reply to the whole.
We remember all the dear Saints upon the Islands in kindness, love, faith, and prayer, and blessing them and yourselves.
We subscribe ourselves, your brethren, in behalf of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, BRIGHAM YOUNG, President W. RICHARDS, Clerk.
P. S.-It will be pleasing to brother Franklin Richards to learn that his wife ha
s enjoyed better health, for a few months past, than for many years previous, and is truly possessing the vigor of youth.
P. S.-No opportunity has presented to convey this to post until this morning, Jan. 23rd. Since the above, the weather had mostly been cold-sometimes mercury 16 deg. below cipher. The 6th, 7th and 8th Nos. of the MILLENNIAL STAR are received also a letter from Elder Taylor to his wife-all of which make our souls to rejoice-also a letter from brother Orson Spencer, at New York, to his family, but nothing of his interview with Colonel Kane, who is working for us with all his might. W.R. {1847-January 6-RCH 2:183-189; also MS 9:97-101}
[source: Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
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