Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-24
MARCH TO CALIFORNIA.

MARCH TO CALIFORNIA.
Colonel Cooke Assumes Command-The De-
blitated sent to pueblo--Nlilton Smith Passes
AwY-Joyous Meeting at Pueblo and Is
Enlistment Of Winter Quarters - Death
Of Joseph William Richards Condition
of the Main Company Prior to Starting
for California-Lieu,enlnt Gllley Leaves the
Bl,talion-Mexieans Antagonisie 10 the Sol
diers.
On the 18th OF October, IS 40,
Colonel P. St. George Cooke, acting
under instructions from General
Kcarney, assumed command of the
Battalion at Santa Fe and on the
18th orders were issued giving in
structions concerning the march to
California, those incapable, owing to
sickness and debility, being excused
from undertaking the trip at that
time. The latter we're attached to
Captain Brown detachment and on
the 18th inst. they took up their
march to Pueblo, there to remain
during the approaching winter. The
journey thither was devoid of special
incident, although one death oc-
curred-that OF Milton Smith, whose
spirit took its flight on the 27th of
October, The detachment reached
Pueblo Nov. 18th and selected quar-
tiers near where Captain Higgins
company and a party of Saints were
stationed. The meeting was one of
unbounded joy, husbands join
ing wives, fathers and mothers their
children and children their parents,
after a separation of some two
months, during which time sad and
trying experiences had been en-
countered.
The erection of winter quarters
was Immediately commenced by the
arriving battalion, and feeble though
I many of them were, the work was
pushed with all possible speed, the
aim being to have some of the
houses prepared as quickly as pos
sible for those who were unable to
care for themselves. Eighteen
rooms fourteen feet square were
erected, but before their completion
some OF those worst afflicted had
succumbed to their sickness and
were given as decent burial as was
possible under prevailing circum-
stances, Joseph William Richards,
young man of sterling worth and
integrity and brother to Elder
Franklin d. Richards of the Coun-
Gil Of Apostles, was among this num-
Der.
Returning to the main company,
which had a long, weary journey
before it, we find its condition in no
way suited to the perilous trip. This
was fully apparent to Colonel Cooke,
the new commander who wrote OF
the status OF the Battalion, saying:
Everything conspircd to discour-
age the extraordinary undertaking
OF marching this Battalion eleven
hundred miles, tor the much greater
part through an unknown wilder
ness, without road OF trail, and with
a wagon train. 1t was enlisted too
much by families; some were too
old, some feeble, and some too
young; it was embarrassed by many
women; it was undiscipIined; it was
much worn by travelling on foot, and
marching from Nauvoo, Illinois;
their clothing was very scant; there
was no money to pay them, or
clothing to issue; their mules we're
utterly broken down; the quarter
master department was without
funds and its credit bad; and ami
mails were scarce"
On the 10Th Of October, John d.
Lee and Howard Egan started for
Council Bluffs with the department
checks they being accompanied by
Lieutenant Samuel L. Gulley and
Roswell Stevens. Lieutenant Gul-
ley was a man fearless in the defense
OF right and more than once did he
take issue with the demeanor OF
! Dr. Sanderson and Others of his ilk
who did all in their power to make
things decidedly disagrecable for the
Mormons. For the stand which he
took he was hated by those officers
not Of the Mormon faith and owing
to the pressure which they brought
to bear against him he subsequently