Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-08-12
The Iormons in lIe vyiIderness.

As the public are already aware, the bead quarters
of this sect, for time past, have been the
Camp Of the - Twelve, near Council Bluffs, west OF
the Missouri river in the Indian territory In this
locality about 4OOO remained during the past winter
while The remainder of those who left Illinois aud
who did not dispense The country, amounting TO
sOme III or II thousand, scattered eiong due
west line from NauvOO TO the Missouri riyer-prin-
clpaliy IN settlements upon the head waters of Grand
river, the Little Platte The streams of the Islna-
botany, IN the territory lately ceded to the United
States by the Poitawaiomies. The main body Of
them are about 40 miles east of the Bluffs, which,
being well tlmbered enabled them to prepare for the
rgors Of the past winter. ii the intention of The
whole of them To gather at the Bluffs fast they
can, with the bona fide design of removing to Call
frna-as many crossing the Mountains each season
as can possibly be prepared for the journey.
Last year they founded two principal stoppings in
Iowa. Immediately west Of the county of Appanoose
where large numbers of them congregated who had
40 means of proceeding farther. At each of these
places (known as Garden Grove and Mount Pispah }
they put IN crops. Those who occupied these points
last season are 10 remove stage farther this
Spring (perhaps TO the Bluffs and their improve
ments are TO be taken possession of by the remnant
who left Illinois late last Fall, and have been scatter
ed IN the frontier settlements of Missouri and Iowa
They intend farming largely the Bluffs this season.
IN order TO hi out large number to einigrate 10 Cali
fornia next Spring.
with pioneer corps of three hundred men, well pro-
ylded with seeds end utensils for farming started for
the Pacific Their Intention is TO proceed as far as
possible up to the period of necessary planting time
when they will stop and commence crop Tie
leaders will make but short delay this point and
Will proceed over into California and communicate
with join the disbanded forces of the - Mormon
Battalion" whose period of service will expire about
the first of July next. With these, they will select
locality as focus for immigration and make such
Pro' sion for the arrival of their friends as may seem
10 them best under the circumstances.
The pioneers who left the Bluffs were expected to
cross the mountains and reach Bear River Valley In
time to plant. In this, We think they will be dsap-
pointed, unless they proceed with greater CELEBRITY
than suppose them capable To perform The
whole OF that region too sterile for cultivation
with the exception of small valley within about
twenty miles of the mouth of Bear river where il
empties into the Salt Lake, known by trappers as
Cache Valley, where they usually wintered when
trapping was pursued in that vicinity. We think
this point too to reach in time for planting
this season.
About the first Of next mouth, between one and
two hundred families, carrying with them eighteen
months outfit, of provisions, &c, with train of
over four hundred wagons, will start to cross the
mounialnS-Some to Overtake and remain with the
pioneers, and others to proceed the end of their
journey, as they may severally be able They will
send at least thousand souls west of the noun
talns this season. destined to centre in California.
These, with some hundreds who have reached there
by sea, together with five hundred of their
= battalion" will, within few months, make them
quite an integral portion of the limited population of
California. Not more than three or four years can
elapse, If they continue their emigrating system,
(and they sure To do that) before these people
will treble, if not quadrupe, the entire present popu-
lation of that territory. -,
AT this time they making strenuous exertions
in England, and from that quarter they have reason
to expect, tins season, not only considerable pecuni-
any assistance, but large number of families. What
will give them greater preponderance there is, that
from their former character, their social and political
ascendancy will be dreaded, and the tide of every
other class of emigration will be diverted to higher
ATTITUDES, where there will be no commingllng or
juxtapoSition. That their social and political cha
racterstics Will be stamped upon the future condition
and history IF California, believe to be certain
and we fear will not show progress in the moral
elevation of the present Industry they undoubt-
eddy have and they possess within themselves all the
elements to make any community prosperous but
they are imbued with dogmas which deeply affect
social and domestic condition we fear rumDr does
not SANDER them in this.