Mormon History, Feb 27, 1847

[Brigham Young Sermon] President Young said that he approved the decision and that would supersede the necessity of hauling tents as three men could lodge in a wagon and that 400 lbs. of grain must be taken to each team. The provisions, clothing, spring seed and farming utensils will make a considerable load and that 50 wagons and teams will be required at least and that number can be easily raised and if necessary teams can go to the Pawnee village with the pioneers to assist them that far, then return. The subject of building a rawhide boat was then agitated in the form of two large canoes and lash them together when used. Use the wagon boxes or rather the bottom boards for flooring and when done ferrying the boat could be used for wagon bodies. President Young said that eighteen men could lodge in one of these boats and that we build one of those boats of sole leather well stuffed with bees wax and tallow, then when we are done with them the leather is still worth the cost to tap our boots and shoes, but for experience let us build another of rawhide which is said by some to be preferable to tanned leather. Lastly the above constructed named boats were decided upon. President Young said that he would build the rawhide boat, decided that President superintend building of the boat. Brother John Richards volunteered to saw the lumber. E. T. Benson volunteered to furnish a stick of white oak timber 22 feet in length, from 6 to 12 inches at the small end; and John Lytle will do the ironing. Edward Hunter furnishes the iron, and Brother Weeks, Kesler, Ensign and Cooks, and we will assist them in other things. Both boats will have to be building at the same time and those men can carry on better. Let the hides be furnished by the company wherever the Captains can find them. Brother Woodruff volunteered to furnish one beef hide, Brother J. Vance 2. I. Morley 1, Charles Shumway to secure the sinews. After deliberation it was considered preferable to build both boats of raw hide. Let Brother Jas. G. Willey take hold and dress the hide for the boats and that Brother Jas. Hart assist him. Let the Captains of companies pick up 12 hides from the companies and deliver them to Brother Jas. Hart. Question by President Young that he has on hand 100 bushels of seed corn, that I want the brethren to buy it and pay me $1. 00 dollar per bushel. If you don't you will feed it to your mules but if you do you will say it cost too much. I have also 300 bushels that I want the pioneers to buy and pay me for it. I have paid out well nigh $2500 dollars to build a mill for the benefit of this camp having exhausted all my means to feed the poor and cannot go any farther without help. I am now in debt $300 for corn to Jumbo that I must raise. The articles requested for each team for our outfit for the Pioneer company will be 400 lbs. horse feed, 300 lbs. provisions and cooking utensils, 1 bushel seed corn, 1 bushel oats, 1 bushel white beans, 1 peck of peas, 1 do. potatoes, bushel flax seed, 1 peck of hemp seed, do. barley, do. of millet and garden seeds of every description, 10 prairie plows, 10 do. diamonds, irons suitable for wagons, horse shoes, farming utensils, etc. That every mule and horse be newly shod before starting and with one set of extra set of horse shoes with nails prepared. That everything be ready by the 15th of March. Added to the bill 5 sets of drag teeth, log chains, pit saws, cross-cuts, axes, guns, 4 blacksmiths, 4 carpenters and let each Captain of 100 select a place of deposit where every wagon and all equipage may be brought and inspected before starting. That the Captains report on Saturday 10 in the morning next at this place, and I want them to report 200 pioneers instead of 168 and 100 wagons instead of 50; mules and horses instead of oxen, for I know that they can be had, and should any refuse to let or send his teams and says that they don't intend going this spring, just cross out his name and tell him that no man can be attached to this company that will not help roll this cause on, and take no man that says he can't fit himself out for the journey, for such a man will not work when he goes. Let those that go as pioneers leave their families, but take the families of the brethren that are in the army, for they will meet us at the mountains and should we find that our teams can be wintered in safety there, and that we can live on buffalo meat, then the pioneers can return and bring their families on in the fall. Otherwise we will necessarily have to send back our teams to be wintered on the rushes in the Missouri bottoms. Then when grass rises let them come on. Concluded by saying Mr. McGarry seems to be willing to go according to counsel and that he may be a useful man after he has acquired a experimental knowledge. His skill on the flute cannot be surpassed by any musician that I have ever heard, therefore use the man with respect. -- Winter Quarters, Nebraska [Journals of John D. Lee 1846-47 and 1859. Charles Kelly, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1984. 100-103]

[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)]

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