Chariton Encampment. Wind south. Considerable rain through the night. Brethren met and dispersed to their hunting grounds. Captain Averett, accompanied by John L. Butler, arrived from Bishop MillerÂ's camp with a letter from P. P. Pratt in behalf of council to President Young and council dated 22 instant, stating that they had decided to go ahead early this morning in order to leave vacant ground and plenty of corn in the neighborhood, that they would await the main encampment on Grand River, and asked advice.
About 11 a.m. Presidents Young, Kimball, Richards, Bishop Whitney, and others assembled at the post office. Heard Brother PrattÂ's letter, when President Young inquired what shall we answer. He immediately took his pen and wrote, of which the following is a copy: "Camp of Israel, March 23, 1846. To Brothers P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, and George Miller. The council feel to instruct you to stay where you are till we can come up and organize our company, though we feel willing that all should go ahead that wishes to withdraw from us. You cannot go with Brother BrighamÂ's fellowship or the fellowship of the council.
"Brother O. Pratt was counseled to let the camp have his flour, all that he had to spare, but he went and sold it to the citizens of Bloomfield. On the same principle we ask Brother Orson to deliver the carriage horses and harnesses that he has belonging to the Church to Bishop Whitney, and that will buy flour and corn for the camp, for they can fetch it. The Lord is not well pleased with his servants, inasmuch as they wish to withdraw from each other and there awaiteth a scourge for them. How long shall this people be afflicted before they will learn wisdom, and be of one heart and mind. Now, brethren, hearken to counsel before the anger of the Lord is kindled against this people. Let us be one in the Lord, and feel each otherÂ's cares and bear each otherÂ's burdens."
When President Young read the foregoing the council voted to adopt it as their own. Had it copied immediately with some additional remarks requesting them, if they shall have left Shoal Creek before this letter reaches them, to let their officers return to Shoal Creek to meet the main camp and attend to the organization, and dispatched the same by Captain Averett. The day was cloudy, slight showers in the a.m. [morning], steady rain in the p.m. [afternoon], and evening wind remained south.
President Young was frequently in the post office during the day attending to a variety of business. Wrote a letter in p.m. [?] in a plate of honey, which came from a tree found by Mahlon Johnson. The hunters returned in the p.m. [afternoon] with but little game. The day was so damp, and so many went without counsel that it was more of a fright than a kill to the poor animals. Burrier Griffin gave President Young a turkey which weighed 29 lbs. before it was dressed. Brother Lee came in with 13 squirrels and gave the historian 2. At 7, the wind changed to the north. At 8, President Young came into the post office and heard the camp journal read from Thursday morning last and pronounced it good, and retired to his wagon where he lodged at 9 oÂ'clock. About 4 this p.m. [afternoon] the ground was whitened with hail the size of peas.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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