26^th
This was a vary important day in the History of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints word was brought in last evening that
two companies of the Saints called the Hand Cart Companies were
camped between the two mountains & would be in today so president
B. Young called together the company of Lancers, Ballows brass band,
Accompanied by the Nauvoo Brass band, & President Kimball
Gen Wells Professor Carrington with many other citizens in
carriages & went out to escort them into the city they past up
the Emigration Canyon & ove met the company at the ofoot of the
Little mountain on the west side of it. Elder Edmond Elsworth Brigham
Youngs son in Law was the captain of the first company & Daniel
D MCarthur was the captain of the 2nd company. Both companies conta-
ined 96 Hand Carts 8 waggons and 486 souls it was a
vary effecting meeting Presidents Young & kimball walked up the mountain
through the company saluted the saints then organized the company
for travelling in to the city one half of the company of Lancers went
in Front followed By the Presidency & citizens then the Marshal of the
City J. C. Little then the bands of music then Capt Edmund Elsworth
with his Hand Cart company, then Daniel D MCarthur with his
hand cart company & the remainder of the Lancers brought up the rear
in this way they started for the city Capt Leonard Hardy took Bishop
Hunter & myself into a Buggy & we met the company as they came into
the city edge of the city & we fell into the ranks behind the presidency
ithe people of the city gathered on each side of the road & the streets were

& it was an effecting sight to see such a strange sight about 500 people
enter the City of the Great Salt who had traveled on foot 1500 miles
having drawn there hand carts all the way women children & old men
had drawn their bedding, clothing & food, the whole distance & this company
of poor people from England had travelled this whole distance in
9 weeks they were covered with dust & some worn down but
cheerful they had beat any horse or ox team during the time they
past up on South Temple Street by President Youngs House the
Deseret Store by W Woodruffs, down to the grove then down to
the public square, there formed in two lines & camped for
the night. No tongue can tel, No pen can write, the sensation it
created in the reflecting mind to behold the scene. as soon as they
were camped President Young stood up in his carriage & called
upon the bishops & multitude who had gathered to see the Hand
Cart Company to bring them provision & feed them to night
to morrow mornind & noon & night again, & while they stop here
"I wish you all to tarry here untill you are dismissed & I bless you
all in doing good & keeping the commandments of God["] we then
returned to our homes & the bishops & people brought them all
the provisions that were neccessary. Edmund Elsworth saluted
his wives & children as He past his house but did not stop for
any thing untill his company was camped. He lead the Hand Cart
Company by drawing the front Hand Cart with 3 others it reflected
more honour upon him than if he had been mounted upon a
fine horse decked with gold & silver the sisters danced to the music
as they drew the hand carts & wa[l]ked through the streets