MAY 1st, 1846, was a pleasant day, and we made our start for Nauvoo, passing through Versailles to a point some ten miles from home to the first night's camp. I was encouraged to think I had kept so well, but about ten o'clock the second day I began to shake, and my teeth fairly to crack. I prayed earnestly to the Lord to heal me. I was quite weak, and all thought me very sick. But that was the last "shake" I had, for I began to get well from that time.
It was on May 4th, I believe, that we reached Nauvoo, having passed through Mount Sterling6, the county seat of Brown County, also through Carthage, where the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother the Patriarch Hyrum Smith had been assassinated7. We found the roads so muddy and such hard traveling that we did not make more than fifteen miles a day. When we came in sight of the Temple at Nauvoo our hearts were filled with mingled8 joy and sorrow—joy that we had seen the Temple of the Lord, and sorrow that the Saints had been so cruelly driven from it.
As we passed through the city we saw many houses which had been abandoned—indeed, the city itself seemed almost deserted. At some of the houses stood covered wagons10, into which people were packing goods preparatory to their flight into the wilderness11, they knew not where.
Looking westward12 across the great Mississippi River, we saw long trains of wagons strung out over the high rolling prairie. The country was new, and the roads muddy, so we rested three or four days, visiting the Temple and viewing the city that was beautiful for situation, but now was left with few inhabitants. Everything in and about the city that formerly13 hummed with industry and life was now lonely, saddened, and forlorn, and silent but for the preparations for flight by the remnant therein.
About the 8th of May we crossed the great "father of waters" and joined the "rolling kingdom" on its westward journey. We found friends and acquaintances, made up a company of our own, and passed and were repassed on the trip. Climbing an eminence14 from which we looked east and west, covered wagons could be seen as far as the eye could reach. The teams were made up of oxen, milch cows, two-year-old steers15 and heifers, and very few horses and mules16. The teamsters were of both sexes, and comprised young and old. The people who could walk did so, and many were engaged in driving loose stock.
Hundreds of teams stuck in the mud, and we had to double-up and help one another out. Many times we had to wade17 in mud half to our knees and lift our wagons out of the mire18. In this the women not infrequently would join their husbands and sons, and the old adage19 came true in numerous instances—women for a dead lift; when they plunged20 into the mud and put their shoulders to the wheels the men were urged to do double effort, and the wagon9 always rolled out and onward21, at the rate of twelve to fifteen miles per day.
At every creek22 we found campers, some repairing wagons, yokes23, chains, etc., doctoring sick cattle, washing clothes, or helping24 forward friends whose teams were weak. In all this there was excellent order, for the camps were organized in a general way by tens, fifties and hundreds. Peace and harmony prevailed all along the line. Evening prayers were attended to in each camp. There was much singing, mostly of sacred hymns25 or sentimental26 songs; and from no quarter could coarse songs be heard. Sometimes the camp would meet in a sociable27 dance in the evenings, to drive dull care away; and then there always was good order and the most perfect friendship and peace.
The camps were instructed not to kill game of any kind to waste its flesh; they were not even to kill a snake on the road, for it was their calling to establish peace on earth, and good will toward man and beast. Thus all went on in peace and order.
At one of the headwaters of the Grand River, Iowa, we found some hundreds of people putting in gardens and field crops (corn and potatoes). A few cabins had been built, so father and our party decided28 to stop there. We put in a few acres of corn and garden stuff, then father returned to Illinois to bring up the rest of the family, leaving my Uncle Alexander Stephens and myself to look after the crop and stock, which we did faithfully.
About the 6th of July we heard that President Young and several of the Twelve Apostles had returned from the most advanced companies, and that there would be a meeting held at the white oak grove29—the usual place of meeting—the next day. There was also a rumor30 in camp that a government recruiting officer had come to enlist volunteers, for the United States had declared war against Mexico.
Of course this latter tidings was a great surprise, as the Mormons had been denied protection against mob violence and had been forced beyond the borders of civilization in the United States, and our camps were stretched out in an Indian country, from the Mississippi River to the Missouri. Surprised as we were at the government's demand, we were still more so to think that our leaders would entertain for a moment the idea of encouraging compliance31 therewith. Yet rumor said that President Young and the prominent men with him had come as recruiting officers as well.
All who could be spared from the tents went eagerly to the White Oak grove, and there learned that the rumors32 were true. The United States government demanded that a battalion of five hundred men be raised by the Mormon Church, then fleeing from mob violence for the want of protection by that government whose right and duty it was to protect them. The men of the moving camp were required to leave their families in the wilderness, almost unprotected, and go to a foreign land to fight their country's battles.
But wonders never cease. The leading men among the Mormons—Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, and others of the Twelve Apostles—stood before the people and called for volunteers to engage in the Mexican war, saying that the five hundred men must be raised if it took the whole strength of the camp to do it. If the young men would not enlist, the middle-aged33 and old men would, said President Young; the demand of our country should be met if it took the Twelve Apostles and the High Priests.
At the close of the meeting there were many who were enthused, while others appeared confused and did not seem to catch the spirit of the matter. I was not yet a member of the Church, but all the old stories of the war of the Revolution and that of 1812, with the later Black Hawk34 Indian wars, brightened in my memory so that the spirit of the patriots35 awoke within me, and although I was averse36 to war and bloodshed, I had a desire to serve my country in any legitimate37 way. Yet I felt that, as I was under age, and, as my Uncle Alexander Stephens had decided to enlist, the responsibility of my father's affairs now rested on me.
My uncle and I were standing38 by the roadside talking over the situation, when along came Ezra T. Benson, who had been recently selected as one of the Twelve Apostles; there also came Richmond Louder, one of my associates from boyhood, and Matthew Caldwell. Richmond Louder and I had talked previously39 of being baptized together. He said they were going down to attend to that sacred ordinance40, and invited me to accompany them, which I did gladly. We went to the south fork of the Grand River, and with Uncle A. Stephens as a witness were baptized. This was on the 7th of July, 1846. Then we went to the house of General Charles C. Rich, where we were confirmed, I think under the hands of Elders Willard Richards and Ezra T. Benson, in the presence of President Brigham Young and others of the Twelve Apostles.
This done, the happiest feeling of my life came over me. I thought I would to God that all the inhabitants of the earth could experience what I had done as a witness of the Gospel. It seemed to me that, if they could see and feel as I did, the whole of humankind would join with us in one grand brotherhood41, and the universe would be prepared for the great Millennial42 morn.
When we returned to camp, my aunts partook of the same feeling that had filled me. Then I got the spirit to enlist, and after a short consultation43 with those most concerned they advised me to lay the matter before Ezra T. Benson. Accordingly, the next morning Uncle A. Stephens and I went over to the grove. I told the Elder my feelings, and the responsibilities left upon me by my father. Elder Benson said the Spirit's promptings to me were right, and I had started right. He told me to go on, saying I would be blessed, my father would find no fault with me, his business would not suffer, and I would never be sorry for the action I had taken or for my enlistment44. Every word he said to me has been fulfilled to the very letter.
Uncle Alexander Stephens and I then went to a tent where men were giving in their names as volunteers. We handed in our names, and were enrolled45 as members of the historic Mormon Battalion.
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1
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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3
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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4
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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6
sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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7
assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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8
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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9
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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11
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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12
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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13
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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14
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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15
steers
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| n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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adage
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| n.格言，古训 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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23
yokes
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| 轭( yoke的名词复数 )； 奴役； 轭形扁担； 上衣抵肩 | |
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24
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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25
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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26
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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27
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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28
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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30
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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32
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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33
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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34
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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36
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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37
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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38
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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39
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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40
ordinance
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| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
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41
brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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42
millennial
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| 一千年的，千福年的 | |
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43
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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44
enlistment
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| n.应征入伍，获得，取得 | |
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45
enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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