Chapter I: Preface

THE life of a pioneer in Western America always is full of peril and hardship; often it has a large share of startling episodes and thrilling adventures; not infrequently it is associated with notable historic events; and the experiences met with develop independence of character, firmness of purpose, and, in those whose spiritual nature is not dwarfed by unworthy conduct, a sublime faith in God that when man puts forth his highest endeavor all things beyond the scope of his efforts are ordered for the best by the Great Ruler of the universe. When to the pioneer's experiences are added those that come from travel in foreign lands, perils of the sea, and the hostility of warlike foes, the narrative of such a life cannot fail to be alike profitable and interesting reading to both young and old.

The subject of the autobiographical sketch in this volume feels that he is not presumptuous in saying that each class of experience named in relation to the pioneer and the traveler has been his. The perils and hardships of the pioneers in whose work he commingled have been the theme of song and story for half a century; the thrilling and adventurous character of his experiences as frontiers-man and Indian interpreter were of a kind notable even in those avocations; his association with historic events of moment includes the period when the territorial area of the great Republic was almost doubled by the acquisition of the Pacific slope and the Rocky Mountain region, and when the great gold discovery in California was made, since he was a member of the famous Mormon Battalion and also was present at the finding of gold in California, being the first man to declare--on tests made by himself--that the little yellow flakes were the precious metal; and his reliance on Deity is portrayed in his missionary work at home and in foreign lands, with civilized people and among savages, often in circumstances when life itself apparently was forfeit to duty conscientiously performed.

In the following pages there is no claim to transcendent literary merit. Yet the writer feels that the narrative is presented in the plain and simple language of the people, with a clearness and force of expression that will be pleasing and impressive to every reader possessed of ordinary or of superior educational attainments; while the very simplicity and directness of the language used, far from embellishing the events described, prove an invaluable guide in securing accuracy, that not an incident shall be overdrawn or given undue importance.

The purpose of the writer has been to relate the story of his life, for the benefit and entertainment of his children and friends, and of all others who may read it, and to do so with a strict regard for veracity; for he feels that the numerous thrilling and sensational incidents in his life were sufficiently exciting to bear a toning down that comes from calm contemplation when the agitation of the immediate occurrence has passed, rather than to need the coloring of a graphic pen. In such a presentation, too, he feels that the result of his labors in this respect will be a further step in carrying out that which has been the leading purpose of his life, namely, to do good to all mankind, to the glory of God.

With a fervent desire and firm confidence that every worthy aim in presenting this autobiography shall be achieved, and shall find a vigorous and ennobling response in the hearts of those who read it, the leading events of his life, and the narration thereof, are respectfully submitted to his family and friends by

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Home of the Author--A Career of Thrilling Experiences--His Birth and Parentage--Early Avocations--Migration from North Carolina to Illinois--Life on the Frontier--Dangers to Early Settlers--A Frontiersman--Father's Advice--More Settlers Come--Churches and Schools--Limited Opportunities--Frozen Feet--Unimpressionable to the Preaching of the Time--Talk of a New Religion, Prophets, Miracles, etc.--Prosecution of the New Church--"Showers of Stars"--Popular Adverse Views of the Mormons--The Mormons Driven from Missouri Into Illinois--Mormon Elder Comes to Preach--Converts Uncle James Brown--Preaches Again--Preparations to Mob the Elder--His Scriptural Doctrine Disconcerts Enemies and Secures him Friends--His Discourse--Effect on Young James S. Brown of the First Gospel Sermon to him--His Testimony to the Spirit and Truth of the Elder's Message.

CHAPTER II.

Persecuted by Playmates--Give Them an Effective Check--Fight with Wild Beasts--Parents Join the Mormons--The Author Holds Back--Assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith--Mormons Leave Illinois for the West--Exciting Times--My Winter's Work--Father Decides to Wait a While Before Leaving Illinois--My Determination to go with the Mormons--Confide a Secret to my Mother--A New Consultation--Change In the Family Plans--Father Prepares to Start--Gives me Permission to Go--Thinks of Leaving me because of My Illness--I Feel to Prefer Death to Being Left Behind.

CHAPTER III.

Start for Nauvoo--Taken Severely Ill--The Lord Answers my Prayer for Relief--Pass through Carthage--In Nauvoo "The Beautiful," but Almost Deserted City--Scene on the Iowa Shore--Cross the Mississippi--Curious Make-up of the Exiles' Teams--The Bad Roads--Stuck in the Mud--Repairing Camps--Good Order Maintained--Unnecessary Killing of Game Forbidden--Reach Grand River and Put In a Crop--Learn of the Call for the Mormon Battalion--Apostles as Recruiting Officers--Call for Volunteers--Response by the Camp--Received into the church by Baptism--Filled with the Love of the Gospel--Get the Spirit to Enlist--Consult my Relatives and Ezra T. Benson--An Elder's Promise--Join the Mormon Battalion.

CHAPTER IV.

Start for the Battalion Rendezvous--A Journey of Hardship--In the Mormons' Camp on Missouri River--First Experiences in the Army--Blessed by Apostles--Prophetic Address by President Brigham Young--The Battalion starts on its Long Journey--Doing Camp Duty--Heavy Storms and Insufficient Rations--Hard Experiences--At Fort Leavenworth--Mexican Mules as a Cure for Egotism--Colonel Allen Taken Ill--On the Santa Fe Road--Suffering from Thirst--Sickness among the Troops--Dr. G. B. Sanderson, a Tyrannical Quack--Army Merchants--Order of Marching.

CHAPTER V.

Crossing of the Kaw River--Indian Farmers--Fierce Storm on Stone Coal Creek--Crossing a Creek with Precipitous Banks--Ruins of an Ancient City--Wagonload of Sick Upset in a Stream--Sad News of Col. Allen's Death--Dispute over His Successor--Military Rules Disregarded In Settling The Question--Troops Dissatisfied--Sickness In Camp--Harshness of the New Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Smith--Brutality of the Doctor --Doses of Objectionable Medicine in an Old Iron Spoon--In the Comanche Indian Country---Abuse from Lieutenant Colonel Smith--Scarcity of Fuel--Buffalo Chips--Cooking Food under Great Difficulties--Increase of Sickness--Up the Grand Valley of the Arkansas--Detachment of Sick Sent to Pueblo--Mirages--Herds of Buffalo--On the Sick List--Reach the Rocky Mountains--Prehistoric Ruins--In Mexican Villages--Arrival at Santa Fe.

CHAPTER VI.

Exemplary Conduct of the Mormon Troops--Lieutenant Colonel P. St. George Cooke Arrives and Assumes Command--A Welcome Change--Another Detachment of Sick, also the Laundresses, Sent to Pueblo--Selecting Men to Continue the Journey to California--Reducing the Baggage--Difficulties of the 1,100 Miles Journey Ahead--Poor Equipment Therefor--Leave Santa Fe--Roads of Heavy Sand--On One-third Rations--Hardships Increase--Galled Feet and Gnawing Stomachs--More Sick Men for Pueblo--Leaving the Last Wagons--Mules and Oxen In a Pack Train--In an Unknown Country--Hunting a Pass over the Mountains--Alarm of an Enemy--A Beaver Dam--Crossing the Rio Grande Del Norte--Great Suffering Among the Troops.

CHAPTER VII.

Pushing to the West--Overhearing a Conversation with Col. Cooke--The Colonel Fears the Men Will Starve--No Berries, not even Bark Of Trees, for Food--True State of Affairs as to the Outlook Kept from Most of the Troops--Hides, Intestines, and even soft Edges of Hoofs and Horns of Animals Eaten--"Bird's Eye Soup."--In a Snowstorm--Relics of Ancient Inhabitants--Camp without Water--Old Silver and Copper Mines--Hardest Day of the Journey--Men Appear as if Stricken with Death--The Writer so Ill as to be Unable to Travel Longer, and Expects to Die--Uncle Alexander Stephens Comes with Water and Revives Him--Awful Suffering in Camp--Reported Sick Next Morning--Brutal Dr. Sanderson Gives a Deadly Dose of Laudanum, but the Writer Vomits it After Being Made Fearfully Sick--In Terrible Distress for Days--Healed by the Laying on of Hands of the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

CHAPTER VIII.

On the Summit of the Rocky Mountains--Crossing the Backbone of the North American Continent--Review of the Journey--Graves Opened by Wolves--Mutilated Bodies--An Unparalleled Journey of Hardship--The Prospect Ahead--A Matter of Life and Death--Start Down the Pacific Slope--Descending the Cliffs with Wagons--One Vehicle Slips and is reduced to Kindling Wood and Scrap Iron--Into a New Climate--Change in the Character of Vegetation--Wild Horses and Cattle--Attacked by Wild Cattle--Several Men Hurt and one Mule Gored to Death--A Number of Cattle Killed--Supply of Beef--Reach the Pan Pedro River--Traveling Through a Heavy Growth of Mesquit and Chapparal--Approach the Mexican Garrisoned Town of Tucson--News of Approach of a Large American Army Sent to the Mexicans--Order Issued by Colonel Cooke.