The history and travels of Zions Camp, led by the prophet Joseph Smith from Kirtland Ohio to Clay County Missouri in the Spring of 1834. Written by Wilford Woodruff Assistant Historian, who was a member of Zions Camp The Saints of God were driven from Jackson County into Clay County about the 13th of November 1833 on which night were the signs in the Heavens of the falling of the Stars, see History of the Church, Millennial Star Vol ...

his wife lay beside a log in the woods with a child three days old with nothing to eat, but he was ready to go under these strange circumstances. The services of the two volunters were accepted, and the Lord opened the way for both of them to get a horse, saddle, bridle, and outfit to prepare for this tedious journey of one thousand miles in the depth of Winter, on horseback to visit the Prophet Joseph at Kirtland, Ohio. On their arrival there, arrival and laying their situation ...

where he found a few saints; and Wilford Woodruff accompanied him with Harry Brown to Henderson County where he visited the few saints who had been orginized in that region of country. His object in visiting the saints at the present time was to get the young men and middle aged to go to Kirtland and accompany the Prophet up to Missouri for the redemption of Zion. But the only ones he got to go to Kirtland from northern New York was ...

letter and showed it to the brotherin, present and said, "Did I not tell you [blank] last night that I would soon have some money and here it is." On Sunday the 27 of April the saints met togather and held a testamony meeting, and many of the elders spoke and bore their testimony, among the number was Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdry, and also Joseph Smith the ...

and seal them up to eternal life. According to appointment on the 1st day of May 1834 those who were ready left Kirtland for New Portage, their was but a small po[r]tion of the company ready. The company that did starte was composed of over twenty men, with four baggage wagons. Wilford Woodruff owned one of the four teams, and baggage wagons which he drove. The company pitched their tents by the way. This first company tearried with the Church at New Portage untill the main body arrived from Kirtland. On ...

and nearly all elders, prists, teachers, or deacons. And as our wagons were nearly filled with baggage we had to travil mostly on foot. On the 7 I gathered togather all the company and each one donated what money he had into one general fund; and we appointed F. G. Willams paymaster of the company for the funds thus collect- ed. The following is the whole list of the names of the camp, being two hund- red and five men and five women, some of whom were not present at the ...

arranged each man in his respective company, and assigned his place, and duty, which was generaly in the following order, Two cooks. Two firemen. Two tent pitch- ers. Two watchmen. One runner. Two wagoners and horsmen. and one comisary. We purchased flower; baked our own bread; coocked our own provisions generaly, which were good but sometimes scanty; and sometimes we had jonny cake or corn-dodger, instead of flour bread. Every night before retireing to rest at the sound of the trumpet we bowed before the Lord, in the several tents; and presented our thank and offerings with prayer and supplications ...

our journey and camped at night near Woorster. May 10, 1834 ~ Saturday 10th. Saturday, We passed through Mansfield, and camped for the Sabbeth in Richfield town ship. About one hour after we had encamped, elders Limon E. Johnson, Willard Snow and a number of others joined the camp from the north west parts of Vermont. May 11, 1834 ~ Sunday Sunday the 11th. The camp came togother for a meeting. The sacrament ...

Brother Parley P. Pratt broke his harness; the brotherin fastened their ropes to his wagon and drew it about three miles to the place of encampment on the Sci- oto, river, while he was riding in his wagon singing and whistling. May 14, 1834 ~ Wednesday 14th Wednesday. We traveled on to Belle Fountain where we discovered refrectory feeling in Sylvester Smith who expressed great dissatisfaction because we were short of flour; although we had used all diligence to procure a supply ...

bloodshed in that place, and when even a man of God is in a place where many has been killed he will feel lonesome and unpleasant and his spirits will sink. About forty rods from where I made this observation we came through the woods; we saw a large farm, and there was near the road on our left a mound sixty feet high covered with apple trees, and surrounded with oats; this mound contained human bones. At dinner time some of the brotherin expressed considerable fear, on account of milk sickness with which the people were ...

many of the people, and cattle were infeebled, yet my words were fulfilled. While passing through Dayton, Ohio great anxiety was manifested; various reports of our numbers and designs having wgone before us; some of the inhabidents inquired of the company where we were goingfrom, Captin Brigham Young replied, from every place but this, and we will soon be from this. Where are you gowing? To the west. We forded the Maumee river with our baggage wagons, and most of the men waded through the water. ...

This evening a court muster was held in camp for the trial of Moses Martin for falling asleep, on watch. Brother Martin pleaded his own case; sayed that he was overcome with fetague, and so overpowered that he could not keep awake ect., ect. I desided that he should be acquitted, and never go to sleep again while on watch, which was sanctioned by the court. I took occasion from the circumstance to give the brotherin much useful instruction. May 17, 1834 ~ Saturday Saturday 17th. We crossed the state ...

some extent in others, I told them they whould meet with misfortune, difficulties, and hinderances, and sayed, "You will know it before you leave this place," exhorting them to humble themselves before the Lord; and become united, that they might not be scourg- ed. A very singular circamstance took place that very night, and the next day, concerning our teams. On Sunday morning when we arose, we found almost every horse in camp so badly foundered that we could scarcely lead them a few rods to water. The brotherin then deeply realized the effects ...

township, Henry County, in the beech woods. May 20, 1834 ~ Tuesday Tuesday 20th. We traveled through the day, twenty five miles, and encamped near Greenfield. Some part of the way the roads being so bad, I waded over my boot tops in mud, and helped to pull through the wagons, with ropes which were fixed with an iron hook in the end, which was hoocked in the tongue of the wagon, and which was easily managed. While we were eating dinner, three gentlemen came riding up ...

you; who you call your captain or leader, or sup- erior to the rest? He answered: Sometimes one and sometimes another takes charge of the company: so as not to throw the burden upon anyone in particular. Their spies who had come from the west; passed us several times that same day, and the next. May 21, 1834 ~ Wednesday Although threatened by our enemies that we should not, We passed through Indianapolias May the 21st unmollested. All the inhabitants were quiet. We had been following the Nat- ional road since the 18th, where ...

While others walked down differant streets leaving the inhabtants wondering when that big company whould come along. May 22, 1834 ~ Thursday Thursday the 22nd. After traveling through the day, we encamped on a small stream of water in a grove near Blleville May 23, 1834 ~ Friday 23rd Friday. After a long days drive we encamped about four miles from Green-Castle May 24, 1834 ~ Saturday 24th. Saturday. We crossed the Wabash river at Clinton in ferry boats, in ...

to bait at a slough, about six miles from the timber. Having no water to drink, but sutch as was filled with living animals, common- ly called wigglers, and we did not like to swal- low them, we strained them through our teeth; which saved the life of many a poor animal. This was the first prairie of any magnitude that we came to on our journey; and was a great curiosity to many of the brotherin, it was so very level that a deer miles off appeared but a shorte dis- tance. some of the brotherin started in pursuit ...

them alone; dont hurt them, how will the serpant ever loose its vermin, while the servants of God possess the same dispasition, and con- tinue to make war upon him. Men must become humble before the brute creation, and when men lose their virtuous dispasition, and seek to destroy the animal race, the lion and the lamb can dwell together, and the suckling child play with the serpant in safety.["] The brother- in took the serpants carefully on sticks, and carried them acrossed the creek. I exhorted the brotherin not to kill a serpant, bird, or ...

to my example, which was right. This evening Brother Parley P. Pratt and Amasa Lyman returned from the Eugene branch, Indiana, where I had sent them; with a company of about a dozen men. The report of mobs which were continually saluting our rear, caused the brotherin to be constantly alive to the subject, and about eleven oclock this evening, our picketed guard reported that they saw the fires of the mob on the south east of us. I instantly discovered the mistake, but wishing the brotherin ...

his tent. The whole scenery was very amus- ing. Not withstanding our enemies were continually breathing threats of vialence we did not fear, neither did we hesitate to prasecute our journey, for God was with us, and his angels were before us; and the faith of our little band was unwavering. We knew that angels were our companions, for we seen them. May 27, 1834 ~ Tuesday Tuesday May the 27th We arrived at the Okaw branch of the river Kaskaskia where we found two log canoo- es, which we ...