Our Pioneer Boys

Scott's Bluffs. (From Liverpool to Salt Lake.) OUR PIONEER BOYS. BY SOLOMON F. KIMBALL. In early days the Lord did raise Brave "Mormon" boys to blaze the way; To make the bridge, to clear the ridge, To hold the savage beast at bay. They broke the grounds and built new towns; They eyed the lurking red-skin thief. O'er Indian trails they packed the mails, And fared on bear and buffalo beef. Rough and ready, tough but steady, Like pure diamonds in the rough. They rescued wives from scalping knives. And chased the red men o'er the bluff. O'er the plains they guarded trains, Helping travelers on their way, Through dust and heat, with blistered feet. They never lagged or lost a day. These heroes went, on missions sent. To rescue pilgrims that were late;

OUR PlONEkJR BOYS. 669 With heavy loads, they "broke" the roads, From Salt Lake down to Devil's Gate. Met starving Saints, with travel faint, Pulling hand-carts through the snow. All through November and December; These were dreadful days of woe. Through drifting snow, these boys would go With freezing pilgrims on their backs, Through rivers deep, through slush and sleet; And o'er the hills, they "broke" the tracks. They climbed the heights, then sat up nights Nursing the sick and burying dead; Their hearts would bleed when they would feed Poor, helpless children without bread. With dauntless will they fought on still. Saving the lives of all they could; Though they could feel their strength of steel Waning for want of needed food. Great efforts made brought ample aid From comrades bringing new supplies: The strong did leap, for joy did weep, And manly tears flowed from their eyes. Our "minute men" have always been On hand to answer every call; They always went wherever sent, In winter, summer, spring or fall. Paving the way for a better day. Most of the boys have passed away; Their work well done, their victory won. They've gone to dwell in peace alway. We'll drop a tear as we draw near The tomb of these our "Mormon" braves.

670 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Our heroes dear that knew no fear, We'll strew sweet flowers o'er their graves. There are left a few who 're just as true As the veterans who have passed away; Let's give them cheer while they are here, And praise the heroes while we may! Great Salt Lake City in 1853. (From Liverpool to Salt Lake.) Soon after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, it seemed like all the evil powers of earth and hell combined had arrayed themselves against the people. For sixteen years this cruel warfare was kept up. They were driven from county to county and from state to state, until they were utterly stripped of all earthly possessions. Even then, they were not allowed to rest until they had been driven into the wilderness, some twelve hundred miles from civilization, and there left in the midst of cruel savages and wild beasts, with starvation staring them in the face. Most of our pioneer boys were born while their grief -stricken parents were passing through these terrible hardships. These lit- tle fellows naturally partook of the spirit with which they were surrounded , and this undoubtedly went far towards qualifying them for the hard and trying mission they were destined to fulfil later

OUR PIONEER BOYS. 671 on. The majority of them were descendants of our Pilgrim Fathers, and their grandsires stood shoulder to shoulder with the brave patriots who made this the most glorious nation on earth. Considering these circumstances, how could these boys le anything else than brave? After they had grown to manhood, they feared nothing; and the Indians, when doing wrong, were in constant dread of them. They were expert horsemen, and al- most lived in their saddles. They were first class marksmen, and always kept their powder dry and firearms in good condition. These young heroes, called "min- ute men,'' were organized into companies of sixty, and were very much in evidence through- out this whole Rocky mountain region, from 1847 to 1869. When emigration from the old countries began to pour into Utah, the burden of pioneer lifecommenced to weigh heavi- ly upon their young shoulders. Solomon F. Kimball. New settlements had to be built, (Photo, by C. R. Savage, 1890.) roads and bridges made, hos- tile Indians subdued, and the wild beasts looked after. These responsibilities, with many others just as important, kept them moving almost continuously. The Indians were great strategists, and were always lurking abound watching for an opportunity to take advantage of those who lived in the border settlements. They would first attack towns of less importance, so as to draw the boys in that direction. Then would make raids on settlements of greater importance, kill- ing men, women and children, and driving off large herds of stock. As soon as the authorities were made acquainted with these facts, they would dispatch a company or two of these "minute men" to their rescue. When the boys reached these settlements, they

672 IMPROVEMENT ERA. gathered the stock that the Indians had left, and moved the settlers to the larger settlements where they could receive proper care. Before starting on long and hazardous expeditions, their mothers and sisters baked for them plenty of hardtack. While this work was going on, the boys would kill a beef steer, or, in some instances, a family's last milch cow, cut the meat into thin slices, dip them into brine, and hang them in the sun to dry. This they called jerked beef. They filled their sacks with this dried meat, and hardtack, and this generally constituted their bill of Their loving parents, who were old, bent fare until they returned. and gray, from the hardships which they had passed through, would then place their hands upon the boys' heads and, in the name of the Lord, give them a parents' farewell blessing, between sobs and broken accents, while tears trickled down their hollowed cheeks. After these affectionate partings had taken place, the young braves met with their superior officers, to receive their final instructions. Within twen*y-four hours from the time they were notified to be ready, they had their supplies lashed to their pack animals, and were in their saddles and off. They took the trail of the red skin thieves who, sometimes, An Effective Shot. (From a Painting by H. F. Farny.)

OUR PIONEER BOYS. 673 had several days the start of them, with perhaps three or four hun- dred head of stolen stock. The men were always mounted on good horses, and the Indians knew what to expect if they were over- taken. The boys followed them for hundreds of miles over rocks, rivers, deserts, mountains, and through heavy underbrush that al- most tore the clothing from their bodies. When night came a A Mountain Trail. (From a Painting by H. F. Farny.)

. ' 674 IMPROVEMENT ERA. heavy guard was placed around their animals, in addition to camp and picket guard. This was very trying on them after riding thirty-five or forty miles a day, over a rough country, through the hot sun of summer, or the cold weather of winter. They were often so worn out that they were obliged to resort to all kinds of schemes to keep from going to sleep while on duty. The picket guard was the most trying of the three, as the men were stationed about a mile from camp in the diiferent mountain passes that they knew the Indians would be compelled to take before attacking the camp, or stampeding their horses. Here the men would lay flat on the ground for hours at a time, listening and watching for Indians. They scarcely ever built fires, on such occasions, since the smoke by day or the light by night might reveal to the red men their whereabouts. Their covering at night generally consisted of their damp saddle blankets, with their saddles for pillows. Every fifteen or twenty miles, or when they found a favoiable place, it was the custom of the Indians to divide their herds of stolen stock and drive the animals so divided in two different direc- tions. This they repeated as long as there were any stock to divide. The men kept together and followed the most favorable trail, until they reached the end of their journey. it always tested the mettle of the boys when they were com- pelled to swim rivers, during cold weather. Under such circum- stances they always made a good fire after reaching the other side. Sometimes, while fording treacherous mountain streams during high water, a horse lost its footing, and both rider and horse were carried down stream never to be seen again. While crossing such streams, some of the boys who were expert with their lassoes, have been known to stand on the banks and throw their lariats over those who were unfortunate enough to meet with such accidents. Fre- quently they saved the lives of their comrades in this way When they ran short of provisions they killed wild game and jerked the meat. Once in a while, they entered barren regions where game was not found. Then they were compelled to live on the meat of their faithful saddle animals. When they were thus obliged to kill the horses that had carried them so many thousands

OUR PIONEhJR BOYS. 675 of miles, under the most trying circumstances, it almost broke their hearts. It sometimes happened, after following the red men for hun- dreds of miles, that the boys found for their pains only four or five head of tired out cattle, and no signs of Indians. The men would then kill the cattle, jerk the meat, and start for homo, sore, stiff, and disappomted. On the return home from these long and hard expeditions, their parents hardly knew them, they were so reduced in flesh, and their clothing was so badly worn and torn. It often happened that before they. had been home long enough to get needed rest they were called in other directions, to chase after other hostile bands of Indians, or perhaps were sent out on the plains to guard emigrants who often designated them as their guardian angels. When at home, and they were at liberty, the boys took great pleasure in drilling on horseback. They were large, well built, fine-looking men, and made a splendid appearance when dressed in their military suits of navy blue, and when mounted on their beautiful horses. The favor- ite parade ground, in those days, was the Sixteenth Ward square, where the old State University now stands. Hyrum B, Clawson was one of their number, and had organized a company of sixty mounted lancers, who knew but little about riding horses. White pants, red jackets, and blue caps, constituted their uniform. About the year 1856, quite an interesting incident took place while the different military or- ganizations were parading. It happened on the 4th of July, when the Territorial militia was Joshua Midgley. out in full uniform. Pitt's brass band, composed of old timers, like Phil. Margetts, James ?mithers, Seth Rigby, Josh Midgley, and others, were mounted on Tithing

. 676 IMPROVEMENT ERA. office mules, and old work horses, Governor Brigham Young and other dignitaries were present to inspect the militia, and to wit- ness their maneuvers. Every- thing passed off nicely until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon The commanding officer in charge galloped over to the Governor's carriage and asked the Governor if he had any sug- gestions to make. President Young, with a twinkle in his eyes, said he would be pleased to see Captain Clawson's Lan- cers charge Captain Lot Smith's company of ''Minute Men." This order was soon carried into effect. The Lancers had no Phil Margetts, 1892. more than reached the front ranks of the "Minute Men" when the latter drew their sabres, parried off the brist- ling lances, and then gently pricked the Lancer's fiery steeds with the points of their sabres. The Lancers, not ac- customed to riding bucking horses, dropped their lances, and grabbed the horns of their saddles with both hands. While the band was playing, "Hail Columbia, Happy Land," through a cloud of dust could be seen sixty dif- ferent streaks of red, white, and blue, closely followed by Lot Smith. ^Born May 15, 1830; died June navy blue . Within five min- 21, 1892.) utes from the time this heroic

678 IMPROVEMENT ERA. charge was made, the organization known as Clawson's Lancers were completely chased out of existence. During the fall and winter of 1856, many of the "Minute Men" passed through hardships that few persons could have en- dured. This was the hand-cart season, when so many emigrants perished from cold and hunger. The last hand-cart company that season, numbering about six hundred, were rescued by a party of these young heroes on the Sweetwater, near where it flows through The Devil's Gate, in Wyoming, on the Sweetwater. (From Liverpool to Salt Lake.) Devil's Gate, Wyoming. Nearly one-third of these pilgrims died before reaching Salt Lake valley. Three of our brave young men, under twenty years of age, carried on their backs upwards of five hundred of these freezing people across the Sweetwater river, breaking the ice before them as they waded from shore to shore. At that time they contracted colds that finally terminated in their

OUR PIONEER BOYS. 679 deaths. When President Brigham Young heard of this heroic act, he wept like a child, and declared that this act alone would im- mortalize them. Their names are, George W. Grant, C. Allen Huntington, and David P. Kimball. It would take volumes to place properly before the people all the ,^^ heroic acts performed by our early "i JI^ day pioneer boys. They were in- ^' struments in the hands of the Lord in making it possible for the *J thousands of emigrants, who came to Utah in early days, to dwell in i 1 " ^B peace in these valleys of the moun- tains. These boys were naturally ^^^^ intelligent, honest, truthful, vir- i^^^^^l^^iii^i^U^m tuous. God-fearing and as tender- v •.vfc C. A. Huntington. hearted as children. Of course, they were somewhat rough, as they had but little time to at- tend school, and to enjoy the comforts of home life. Most of them were good story-tellers and could almost, make one's hair stand on end, while relating their experiences. They were a cheerful lot of fellows, under the most trying circumstances, and not a word of complaint was ever heard to come from their lips. It is remarkable, in vi ew of David P. Kimball. conditions, how few of them lost (Photo, by C. R. Savage. 1877.)

680 IMPROVEMENT ERA. their lives, either in Indian fights or by accident. It seemed like the powers of heaven were watching over them Hundreds . of times they took their lives in their own hands, while braving the dangers they were almost constantly passing through. They did their work cheerfully and without remuneration. The most of them also performed foreign missions, and were very successful in bringing souls to repentance. This generation of Latter-day Saints will never fully appre- George W. Grant. elate what our pioneer boys have done towards the es- tablishment of the Church in these valleys and the founding of homes, until the books spoken of in John the Revelator shall have been opened. When the dead, small and great, shall stand before God, to be judged according to their works, these brave "Mormon" boys, a few of whom are still with us, will undoubtedly be found in the front ranks among the noble and great ones "which Wm. B. Dougall, Jasper Conrad came out of great tribula- and S. F. Kimball, just returned tion." from Black Hawk War, July, 1866. Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo, by C. R. Savage.) (to be continued.)