24th
I recieved three letters from G. A. Smith &
E. T. Benson, Dominicas Carter, from the Bluffs
And two from the valley. One from A. O. Smoot Br Smoot
Gives me an account of the Affairs in the valley since his Arival
there He sayes the organization of the Presidency was recieved
at the valley And All business attended to that was necessary
He spoke of Father Woodruff situation since He had been
there, his poor health &c He said James Bevin had acted the
part of any thing but that of A Gentleman towards my Father
had treated him ill would not give up my house to Br John
Benbow According to my desire And done wrong in many things
He says the crickets eat up most of my Fathers grain that He put
in &c &c.
G A Smith & E T Benson writes they had organized 50
Branches of the Church at Council Bluffs, & all doing well most
of the soldiers that went into the Army had arived home to their
families And A feast was made for those who were at the Bluffs
They had built A New Tabernacle on Pigeon in Pottawatamie Co
Br Egan And 12 others Arived at the Bluffs on the 27th Dec left the
valley on the 13th October President Young Arived in the valley on the 20th
September And H. C. Kimball on the 24th sept the following is the organ
ization of the Church at the valley. Brigham Young President over
the whole Church Heber C. Kimball And Willard Richards his councellors
John Smith is Patriarch over the whole Church. Charles C Rich
is President in the valley John Young And Erastus Snow are his cou-
ncellors.
Arangments were making for inclosing an Additional
field of 1100 Acres. 860 men had taken shares in it vareiing from
5 to 10 Acres the smallest lots being near the city to accomodate
mechanicks. All the buildings composing the fort were to be moved
onto city lots except the square inclosed by the pioneers. The Indians
Are friendly, And it is considerd safe to settle on farms. A new
city has been laid out 10 miles north of the Temple Block Another
About 10 miles South. All the lots surveyed had been taken up &
An Addition had been made running to the mountains on the east
sitde The pioneer claims Are respected so we shall find A place
when we go there Elder Addison Pratt had Arived safe to the valley
in good health And spirits. A company of Saints that went on the Broo
klin were in route for the valley. Willard Richards & Amasa Lyman were
within 3 days drive of the valley when the express left. Dr Richards
was driving his own team. Elder Kimball writes that they raised spqua
shes in the valley from 63 to 84 lbs & turnips 8 1/2 lbs P P Pratt made
A vegitable dinner for the Presidency when they arived Among the
Bill of fare were the following Bill of items. Green corn, Green Peas, green
Beans, cucumbers, beets, parsnips, carrots, onions, potatoes, turnips squashes
pumpkins pies, cabbage Mush mellons, water mellons, cantelopes, corn
Bread wheat Bread, corn stalk Molasses And Rost Beef &c &c.
G A Smith says that it is vary hard winter so far at the Bluffs He
further Adds that Walker the Famous Utah Chif visited the Saints
in the valley with his band of Riflemen. He said Always wished to live
in peace with our people. He wanted his children to grow up with
ours As Brothers that his people should not steal from our
People if any of them did let him know it And He would
Punish them And stop it. the Brethren told him they did
not want his men to steal from the Calafornians ^{Spaniards}^ for we were
at peace with them. Walker replyed my men hate the
spanyards And will steal from them And I cannot help it
Brothers Daniel Browett, Allen And Cox were all killed by
A Band of Diggers in the Calafornia Mountains As they were
exploring A new pass through the mountains. they were surro-
unded whene Asleep And killed with stones. $100 worth of gol[d]
dust was found on the ground which belonged to Brother Allen
theyir bodies were striped of theyir clothing And then buried by
the Indians. this occurd 40 miles from the settlements on
the Sacramento their bodies were found by A company who follo
them. The Above named Brethren I Baptized in Herefordshire soon
After I commenced preacheding at Br John Benbows. Br Browett
esspecially has been A valient true harted Latter Day Saint And I
know nothing to the contrary of the others. they went into the
Army As soldiers And have died As marters
Br D Carter writes that During the conference at the valley that
the ordeal was passed upon Lyman Wight to retain his standing
but they had not recieved his Pamphlet nor did not know that
the Church had withdrawn fellowship from him at the Bluffs
He Also says that fellowship is withdrawn from Almond W. Babbit
for stating or confirming the statement to the world that Orson
Hyde had sold the mormon votes for A printing press. President
Young has Advised the Twelve At the Bluffs to come on without
bringing Any provisions with them ownly to last them there
but Bring groceries, Iron, steel, glass seeds of all kinds, Apples
peaches pares, chesnuts & Locas &c I recieved A small letter
Also from the valley speaking of some papers I sent Br Br
Bullock President Young thought had better remain as they were
for the present. I wrote one letter to day to James Burgess
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