From Nauvoo to Salt Lake in the Van of the Pioneers, VI

From Nauvoo to Salt Lake in the Van of the Pioneers. The Original Diary of Erastus Snow. EDITED BY HIS SON, MORONI SNOW. VI. In our last number, we left the pioneers on Wood Creek,opposite Grand Island. Continuing his journal, Erastus Snow records as follows: April 30, we followed the course of the Platte until the timber of Wood river bore to the north and was lost in the distance. The day was very hazy, and a cold north blast made us resort to overcoats. We traveled about eighteen miles, found a small prairie stream putting into the Platte, at noon, but found none at night, and a soft bottom between us and the Platte made it expedient for us to camp on the background without wood or water. Here fur the first time we resorted to buffalo manure for fuel, and found it better than we had expected. We also sunk a well about six feet, and found water. May 1st. Today has been a romantic day for our little company. The sun rose clear and beautiful upon us, about as we started, and with it the cold, chilling blast of the north, which went down also with the setting sun. Our trail struck the waters of the Platte in about six miles, where we baited our teams and breakfasted. Some four miles to the north of us, extending along the course of the Platte, is a gradually sloping bluff, which had first made its appearance the previous evening, and which seemed alone to relieve the monotony of the plain over which we have been traveling some days. Along the side of the bluff, in view of our

926 IMPROVEMENT ERA. camp, was a herd of buffalo sheltering themselves from the north winds. After breakfast, three of our horsemen tried their skill upon this herd, which was the first we had seen. They wounded several, but secured none. It was new business to them, and they found their rifles altogether too unwieldy in the chase. As we continued up the Platte we were scarcely out of sight of buffalo all day. They were grazing along the side of the bluff. About four or five o'clock p. m., some ten or fifteen horsemen left the wagon train and struck to the bluff to give chase to a herd of about two hundred. We viewed the chase with much interest as we passed along in our wagons. Dividing into companies of from two to four, they singled out their victims and killed four old ones and six calves, besides the wounded that made their escape. We soon camped for the night a little above the head of Grand Island, having traveled about eighteen miles, and sent our wagons and butchers to dress and bring in the game. The game came into the camp at dusk, and was equally divided among the several tens. After dark two calves came near our camp and some little youngsters with a dog came close and caught one and made him fast to their wagon, and in a short time a cow came around and ventured within a few yards of our guards. This evening it was discovered that Brother Joseph Hancock was missing, and had not been seen since breakfast, when he started on foot with his gun, in the direction of the first herd of buffalo. Many fears were entertained for his safety. Guns were fired and the bugle sounded to let him know, if he were in hearing, our whereabouts. 2nd. This morning he came into camp, having killed and dressed a buffalo, but too late to find his way to camp last nightSome horsemen returned with him to get his meat, and the camp moved today about two miles, it being Sunday, to where we could find better grazing for our teams. Here we remained upon a creek putting in from the bluffs, until Tuesday, for the purpose of drying our meat and resting ourselves and teams. Our hunters also killed some more buffalo calves, and antelope. On Monday I was directed by Colonel Markham to take fifteen horsemen and proceed up the river some ten or fifteen miles to ascertain whether or not there were Indians near us, and whether their

FROM NAUVOO TO SALT LAKE. 927 fires, which seemed to sweep the whole country before us, and which had reached then within a mile of our encampment, had so far destroyed the feed that our teams could not be sustained. We went according to directions about ten miles, and found only here and there a patch of grass not burned, but fire still raging in different directions, and as far as we could see up the river fresh fires and smoke were rising. We discovered various Indian signs, and one of our company wh) went two and a half miles beyond where we halted, reported to us on his return that he saw a war party in a bottom, and retreated from them. We were of the opinion that there would be patches of unburned grass sufficient for our teams, and reported to camp accordingly. Until now, the wheels bearing our cannon had been encumbered with a wagon bed and other leading. These were removed, and it was ordered that henceforth the cannon be hauled in the rear of the company ready for immediate use, and that Captain Tanner, wich his artillerymen, accompany it. Soon after we started on Tuesday, we discovered on the south side of the river three trading wagons bound downwards. The traders also discovered us, and dispatched one of their number across the river and reported themselves as connected in trade with Mr. Sarpee, that they were sixteen days from Fort Laramie and were bound for Missouri, a little below Council Bluffs. By them, we sent about fifty letters back to our families. The river here was about a mile and a quarter wide, and in no place above two feet of water. Three of our horsemen crossed over and conversed with Mr. Papan, their leader, who thought it advisable for our company to ford the river and take the Oregon road to Fort Laramie, as the prairies, he said, were all burned over on the south side last fall,and the feed was now good,while on the north side, the prairies were now being burned. On the return of our horsemen a council was called to consider the question of crossing, and it was voted to continue on the north side and make a road for our brethren who should follow, as the mountain freshets would render the road impassable to the summer companies. This detained us so that we traveled only about twelve miles on Tuesday and camped upon a small creek. (to be continued.1)