9th We started at 5 oclok & drove one mile into better feed
& turned out our teams, the brethren traided some for robes
mogacines, & skin shirts & pants with the Hunters who camped
near us and at about 7 oclock 15 waggons of our party was chosen
to go forward to make a boat to ferry the Platt; they went forward
we followed them, the traiders started at the same time soon another
party of traiders over took [us] who were direct from Santifee they
informed us the Mormon Battalion was at Calafornia went in
Jan & that Capt Brown was in Santafee for money for the detach
ment & would come on as soon as possible we travled 11 1/4 miles
& nooned in a valley without watter, in the afternoon we trav
led 8 miles & camped upon A'la'preel Creek when we rode up
to the Creek we overtook our little pioneer company that we sent
on In the morning to built the boat, the Missouri company was also
in sight notwithstanding their exhertion to get ahead of us, our
detachment followed the Mo company how far they travled I know
not our Hunters killed two black tailed deer & one antilope
yesterday & an antilope today I am still troubled much with the
teeth ake with the exception of this I feel vary well distance 19 1/4
~ Thursday
10th In company with G. A. Smith I went forward to a large
creek 8 3/4 miles from our camping place Here we overtook the Mo
Company they were about 4 miles from our camp we nooned upon
this creek, in the afternoon we reached the platt river &
camped upon deer creek, 9 miles whole distance of the day 17 3/4
I examined a splendid grind stone queyry on the east side
of the road as it leaves the hills & strikes the platt At was
30 rods long above the ground & could readily be got at the
grit, was fine & nise the Hunters brought in two antilope, we
have good feed & our horses & cattle are gaining. In the after-
noon Presidents Young & Kimball rode with us. our detac-
hed company camped last night withe fore most company
& we have not herd from them since. Br Carrington
found a vary extensive coal bed in this creek one layer
of about 10 feet thick another 5 feet length not known
but was examined for 20 rods or more the specemins of
coal produced wer excellent, the Twelve walked on to the
river bank examined the river, feed, &c had prayers
& returned. At the blowing of the horn I did not feel
much like retiring to bed so I walked 1/2 a mile from the
camp on the bank of Deer Creek & found Br Clayton
fishing with a hook. He had caught about two dozen good
fish. Another Br Harmon had caught some they resem-
bled the eastern Herrin, they were about to leaves & they left
their lines for me to fish with so I sat down for half
an hour musing alone as unconcerned as though I had been
sitting upon the banks of Farmington river, vary suddenly
I herd a rustling in the bushes near me & for the first time
time the thought flashed across my mind, that I was in
a country abounding with the griselly, bear wolves & India-
ns, and was liable to be attacked by either of them ant any
moment & was half a mile from any company & had no weapon
not even enough to have defend myself against a badger
& I thought wisdom dictated for me to return to camp so I
took up my polls & fish & walked leasurelly home & retired
to rest which closed the business of the day
~ Wednesay
9th We started at 5 oclok & drove one mile into better feed
& turned out our teams, the brethren traided some for robes
mogacines, & skin shirts & pants with the Hunters who camped
near us and at about 7 oclock 15 waggons of our party was chosen
to go forward to make a boat to ferry the Platt; they went forward
we followed them, the traiders started at the same time soon another
party of traiders over took us who were direct from Santifee they
informed us the Mormon Battalion was at Calafornia went in
Jan & that Capt Brown was in Santafee for money for the detach
ment & would come on as soon as possible we travled 11 1/4 miles
& nooned in a valley without watter, in the afternoon we trav
led 8 miles & camped upon A'la'preel Creek when we rode up
to the Creek we overtook our little pioneer company that we sent
on In the morning to built the boat, the Missouri company was also
in sight notwithstanding their exhertion to get ahead of us, our
detachment followed the Mo company how far they travled I know
not our Hunters killed two black tailed deer & one antilope
yesterday & an antilope today I am still troubled much with the
teeth ake with the exception of this I feel vary well distance 19 1/4
~ Thursday
10th In company with G. A. Smith I went forward to a large
creek 8 3/4 miles from our camping place Here we overtook the Mo
Company they were about 4 miles from our camp we nooned upon
this creek, in the afternoon we reached the platt river &
camped upon deer creek, 9 miles whole distance of the day 17 3/4
I examined a splendid grind stone queyry on the east side
of the road as it leaves the hills & strikes the platt At was
30 rods long above the ground & could readily be got at the
grit, was fine & nise the Hunters brought in two antilope, we
have good feed & our horses & cattle are gaining. In the afternoon Presidents Young & Kimball rode with us. our detached company camped last night withe fore most company
& we have not herd from them since. Br Carrington
found a vary extensive coal bed in this creek one layer
of about 10 feet thick another 5 feet length not known
but was examined for 20 rods or more the specemins of
coal produced wer excellent, the Twelve walked on to the
river bank examined the river, feed, &c had prayers
& returned. At the blowing of the horn I did not feel
much like retiring to bed so I walked 1/2 a mile from the
camp on the bank of Deer Creek & found Br Clayton
fishing with a hook. He had caught about two dozen good
fish. Another Br Harmon had caught some they resembled the eastern Herrin, they were about to leaves & they left
their lines for me to fish with so I sat down for half
an hour musing alone as unconcerned as though I had been
sitting upon the banks of Farmington river, vary suddenly
I herd a rustling in the bushes near me & for the first
time the thought flashed across my mind, that I was in
a country abounding with the griselly, bear wolves & Indians, and was liable to be attacked by either of them at any
moment & was half a mile from any company & had no weapon
not even enough to have defend myself against a badger
& I thought wisdom dictated for me to return to camp so I
took up my polls & fish & walked leasurelly home & retired
to rest which closed the business of the day
"Journal (January 1, 1847 – December 31, 1853)," June 9, 1847 - June 10, 1847, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 20, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/xkrB