Mormon History, Apr 19, 1847

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 19th It was quite cool in the morning. The Bugle Blew at 5 for prayers & 7 for starting. We travled two abrest. Men walked by the side of their wagons. We bore a northerly direction untill about noon when we reached the north Bend of the Platt. Professor Pratt took an observation & found it to be in Lat. 41.27.5. The crossing place of the Horn was in Lat. 41.16.24 making the North Bend of the Platt 10 1/2 miles north of the ford.
We formed into a circle at noon & bated. While nooning Elder Little arived with P Rockwell & two others. They brought the mail. I recieved two Letters one from L Hardy of Mass who informed me that Milton Holmes father & Mother was cut off from the Church & He with them turned Strangites And that Aphia his wife was a great apostate. O Milton Holmes how hast thou fallen. The other letter was from Mrs Woodruff which I read with interest.
Br Little brought many things that the Colonel Kane sent as presents to the 12 & others. I re-cieved A stop Box Marriners compass small enough to carry in the pocket. It was A splendid present. May the blessings of God be upon the head of Col Kane for his good feelings towards the servants of God.
We camped at night near a grove of timber on the bank of the Platt. We formed a circle from edge to edge of the bank of the river. The river on one side was our defence. We drove the tongues of our waggons out ward & fore wheel of each waggon was placed against the hind wheel of the waggon before it and all the Horses & cattle taken inside the Circle so that we were secure against the Indians.
The river was about one mile wide whare we camped & on the north side joining by our encampment. It was deep & rapid. The face of the country during to days travel was on the south side of the river. High Bluffs tuning precepitately to the river on the north side which we travled. A level prairie without any bluffs about 2 miles from the river a rise of table land about 10 feet & continues at a level. No timber except patches on the river. Soil sandy. 22 m.