The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and TravelsPratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker)
Religion
The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and Travels
Pratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Apostles -- Biography; Pratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker), 1807-1857
Arriving at Elk Horn River with a small company, we made a ferry
of a raft of dry cotton-wood timber, and rafted over our own
company of about fifty wagons. We then organized for herding and
grazing purposes, continued to aid others in crossing and
organizing until five hundred and sixty-six wagons were finally
crossed and organized ready for a march. In the final organization
of this vast company Father Isaac Morley and Bishop Whitney
assisted, or rather took the oversight--being a committee appointed
for that purpose by the Presidency before they left. As Brother
Taylor and myself were present, we were appointed and invited to
take a general superintendency of this emigration.
The organization consisted of companies of tens, fifties and
hundreds, with a captain over each, and the whole presided over by
a president and two counselors, a marshal, etc. President John
Young was called to preside--having been nominated by the
Presidency before their departure. John Van Cott was appointed
marshal.
This organized, this large company moved on up the Platte about
the Fourth of July. There were some difficulties and jealousies
during the first few days, on account of some misunderstanding and
insubordination in the order of travel. This at length became so
far developed that it was found necessary to call a general halt on
the Platte River, and hold a council of the principal officers, in
which things were amicably adjusted and the camp moved on.
Arriving at the Loupe Fork of Platte River, we continued up it
quite a distance above the trail the pioneers had made, as we could
not ford the river in their track. We at length found a ford, and
with some difficulty on account of quicksands, forded the river and
made our way over to the Main Platte, re-entering the pioneer
trail. As we passed up the Platte on this trail the companies in
front had frequently to halt and build bridges, etc. On one
occasion Peregrine Sessions, who was captain of our company of
fifty, and myself found two horses which had probably strayed from
some former travellers, and which, after several unsuccessful
attempts by different parties, Brother Taylor succeeded in driving
into camp, he and I captured them. We were at the time ahead of the
company, following up a stream to try and find a ford. This was a
very timely providence to me, as I had lost all my horses the
previous winter, and was now pioneering for the company without any
horse, and on foot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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