[William Clayton Journal] ...At half past 11 we arrived on the banks of Green River, having traveled 8 miles, and formed our encampment in a line under the shade of the Cotton wood timber. This river is about 16 to 18 rods wide and altogether too deep to be forded. Its banks are well lined with Cotton wood but none large enough to make a canoe. There are also many patches of wild apple trees and rose bushes abound bearing pretty roses. This river is 338-1/2 miles from Fort John or Laramie. There is a narrow strip of land which might answer for farming on each bank of the river. The grass grows good and plentiful but still not so much as has been represented. After dinner the brethren commenced making two rafts one for each division and a while afterwards Elder Samuel Brannan arrived, having come from the Pacific to meet us, obtain council &c. He is accompanied by "Smith" of the firm of Jackson, Heaton & Bonney, bogus makers of Nauvoo. There is another young man in company with them. They have come by way of Fort Hall and brought several files of the California Star with them. They had 11 deaths on board their ship during their voyage over, the others I understand are doing well, raising grain &c. Towards evening a storm blew up from the west and although we had no rain we had tremendous wind. The first division finished their raft before dark. There is a slough a little down the river where some of the brethren have caught some very nice fish, but the musquitoes are so very troublesome it is difficult abiding out of doors . . .
[source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
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