Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-06-15


to lsumc Journey Of exile through an IN
hospilable country Ii was even re-
ported, aud credited by many that the
whole scheme was plan % cripple Or
even annihi.d,c them
Then the spirit OF prophecy stirred
Brigham Young. The battalion must De
raised he said. DIty 20 country and
church demand TO- and OF those who
went, not a man would tall before The
nations loc-,hc only fighting would DC
with wild beasts
So the five hundred men we're recruit.
ed In h fortnight, and mustered IN at
Council Bluffs on July 10. Three Gays
later there was a farewell dance; the
volunteers subscribed a large proportion
OF their pay tor their families and the
Mormon Door, and the march was be.
gun. Fort Lcayenwouh was reached
August 49, md here, during a halt Of
two weeks, Col. Allen tel sick and died.
The march 70 Santa Fc was resumed
August 3I,h, under the temporary
leadership OF Lieut.. a. J. Smith, Of the
regular army. and nov their suilsfings
hcgan-suiigiugs liom heat and bad
water aud from the tyranny $50 they
gIamcd-oi the commanding officer,
and Of Surgeon S1uderson, who dosed
them with nauseous drugs against their
will. By the time they entered Santa
re. on October isth, they were all but
goadeI to mutiny.
Here l.icuJcnaut.Colonel Cook as.
sumcd command, acting ON instruction
from General kcamcy to open wagon
road to the Pacific by the ella route.
The undertaking might well have dis
mayed men much better prepared for
H.. Aud what was the condition OF
these Momuns3 "The battalion, A"
writes Colonel Cooke In his journal,
were never drilled, aud. though
| Obcdicnt, have little discipline. they
exhibit great heedlessness and iguor.
ancc and some obsunacy" Aud again,
| IN another account VI his: Everything
| Conspired 10 discourage the undertaking
oil marching this battalion 1, 100 miles
for the much greater part through an
unknown wilderness without road or
trail, and wllha wagon train. II was
enlisted too much by families, some
were too old, some feeble and some too
young; Il was embarrassed by many
women; Il was undisciplined, Il was
much worn by travelling on foot anl
marching from Nauvoo; their clothing
was very sclnt, there was no money t.
pay them or clothing TO issue, thcii
mules were utterly broken down; the
quarteFmaster department was without
funds and It's credit bad, aud mules were
scarce. Those procured were very in
ierlor and were deicriorating every hOui
Tor lack OF forage or grazing. So ever
preparation must be pushed-hurried. "
Hut Cooke, though, unlike IN,
Athgnian Nenophon and the Mormon,
themselves, he had no oracle to consult
was posse ssed OF the determination tC
80 to California; and 70 he did. Beiof,
the Rio Grande was left behind, som,
$50 of the weaker men were sent bach
TO Pueblo, the others doggedly pushet
ahead. Presently It was seen that tht
guides were uuacquainted with IN,
country, and a long detour through Son
ora, ON the south, appeared inevitable
But here the colonel fortunately lost hi
temper. lie would "bc--if he woulg
20 round the world to reach California.
aud so they turned sharp to the west
This was November asst The middle
OF the following month found them a
TuCson-the Mexican garrison con
sldefalely eylCuating the town and per
hitting tnc battalion to pass through Il
peace. A, Christmas they reached III
ella, two weeks later It's junction witt
the Colorado was attained ON Ianuar
asst they pitched camp at Warner
ranch, and IN another eight days wer
safe At san Diego.