BackGround: Memphis Temple, Memphis, Tennessee.
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On the first of February 1846, the people began to cross the Mississippi River and rendezvous on what was called Sugar Creek about six miles from the River. I think it was on the 6th of February that my parents crossed and camped on the said Sugar Creek with a two horse wagon loaded with such necessities as we could take, leaving the balance with good comfortable homes (houses and lands) to the mob, for which no recompense as ever been recovered.
Our camp was made in the snow about eight inches deep and was a rather uncomfortable introduction into camp life, with our tent or any shelter save it be a wagon cover made of common sheeting. Here we stayed for some time, waiting for the arrival for all those who could supply themselves with teams. At length the companies were organized and began moving west through mud and slush. Several days were consumed in reaching Bonaparte on the Des Moines River, a distance of probably forty miles.
Here we crossed the river and moved out into hills which were interspersed with many nice farms. Soon it became apparent that the camp was getting short of provisions, hence a halt was made and some went over the Missouri line. All, however, found work, and were paid literally in corn, meat, bacon and potatoes, the produce of the country. As soon as the larder was replenished the camp was moved onto Chariton River where we encountered a series of storms and were compelled to lay over several days. Here I saw the first timber cut down to browse the animals in lieu of hay.
From here we moved on through rolling hills and wild uninhabited prairie land to a place called "Garden Grove" where it was decided to make a temporary settlement, raise a crop, and send the teams back to help others to leave Nauvoo. A few were selected for this purpose, and the camp moved on to a place about forty miles. They designated it Mt. Pisgah, and here my parents stopped with others, built some log houses and prepared to raise a crop, sending their teams back to help others while the main body of the camp moved on the Council Bluffs on the Missouri River.
Here they were overtaken by Capt. Allen of the U. S. Dragoons with a requisition from the President of the U. S. for five hundred men to form a Battalion of Infantry and march through and be discharged in California at the expiration of one year. Brigham came back to Mt. Pisgah, called upon my father and others to volunteer, which they did, and on the sixteenth of July, the now famous Mormon Battalion was mustered into the service of the United States and started for Mexico via Santa Fe.
In the organization my father was elected first Lieutenant, Co. E and was, therefore, entitled to a servant at $15.00 per month. Pursuing his usual economy he concluded to take me to fill that position. As I was too young to enlist, he got a furlough from Col. Allen and came back to Mt. Pisgah for me. And thus I became identified with the Mormon Battalion. Crossing the country we overtook the Battalion at St. Joseph, Mo.
On approaching Western Missouri, Col. Allen being desirous of showing off his Mormon boys to the Missourians, selected Levi U. Hancock, Elisha Averet as fifers and Jesse Earl and myself as drummers, at the head of the command. Being two of the smallest boys in the Battalion (about 14 1/2 years old) we were very conspicuous. However, I do not recollect of ever feeling prouder or weighing more in my imagination in life that on that occasion, though I have since figured conspicuously before the people as General and as member of the Legislature, Etc.
The march through the city and suburbs was about three miles of continuous beating, so when we were through we were as wet as drowned rats from perspiration. Yet it paid in vanity for many callers at Ft. Leavenworth the next day requested introduction to those two little boys that drummed through the city of Western Missouri.
The Battalion was fitted out with teams, wagons, old flintlocks, and bayonets at Ft. Leavenworth and set out for Santa Fe on foot, a march of over one thousand miles. They had only made a few miles and camped when it was learned that Col. Allen was dangerously ill in the fort. The next day brought word that he was dead. Here was an unforeseen difficulty. The command legitimately belonged to Col. Jefferson Hunt of Co. A but after a council of war it was decided that Lieutenant James Pace, my father, was to return to Council Bluffs, see Pres. Young, report progress and ask advice, etc.
He started alone leaving me in care of Lieutenant Andrew Lytle. We moved on to Hurricane Ridge (so called from a violent storm that overtook us here demolishing tents and spreading havoc in camp so that we were compelled to lay-by for repairs). Here we were overtaken by Lieutenant Smith of the U.S. Dragoons and a Dr. Sanderson. Smith claimed the command and a second council of war gave it to him through the modesty of Captain Hunt who declined. The next day Smith assumed command and the Battalion moved forward, nothing further of note occurring.
At the crossing of the Arkansas River, my father accompanied by John D. Lee and Howard Egan, overtook the Battalion bringing news from the Bluffs.
Here we shipped water mostly in vinegar barrels to do us across the Semirone Desert, ninety miles. Much suffering followed yet we got through safe and finally arrived in Santa Fe where we lay in camp several days. Here the Battalion was divided. All the sick and most of the women were sent back to Pueblo on the outskirts of Mexico under command of Capt. James Brown of Company C The Battalion was placed under command of Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cook and ordered to make a forced march through to California to the support of Gen. Kearny who had already gone there with only one company of Dragoons, with pack mules.
I am at a loss as to dates, but as this is my history, and not that of the Battalion I must be excused for every digression of positive data. Memory says it was some time in October 1846, we left Santa Fe with teams to make a forced march through to San Diego, Southern California. When about five miles out of Santa Fe (in sight of abundance of government supplies) we camped and were place on "half rations". Our line of march took us through Albuquerque, Soccorro and many small Mexican settlements where we could buy onions and many other garden productions that added to our half rations, and helped to keep us in fair spirits.
On the River De Norte another detachment was selected and sent back to Pueblo under Lieutenant Willis, leaving the Battalion only about three hundred strong. Then we soon turned west, leaving civilization, as it were, into the wilds of the desert, making our own roads and letting our wagons down over mountain sides with ropes as circumstances demanded. On arriving on the San Pedro River, our rations were getting low in the extreme. Many were actually suffering for want of supplies. There is a vast difference in men as to there ability of endurance under such circumstances, some can endure all manner of hardships on half quarter rations, while others require more.
Hunting parties were sent out in search of game but the country was so poor little was accomplished until after we reached the San Pedro. Here we encountered wild cattle, and laid in an immense supply of beef. While traveling down this river, some of us engaged in fishing. A battle royal seemed to be raging in the command. In order to ascertain what was the matter we simultaneously took to trees, when to our astonishment, the whole command was engaged in a general "bull-fight". It appears that a large herd of wild cattle were enjoying a quiet "siesta" in the tall grass along the San Pedro, when the command came in and surprised them. Result, an open battle in which several mules were killed in the teams. Five or six men were sounded by being gored and tossed fifteen or twenty feet in the air, some of them seriously, and an innumerable number of wild cattle lay dead on the ground. After the smoke was cleared away, the wounded care for, camp was made and a fresh lot of meat added to our rations. This was the famous Bull fight of the San Pedro and proved to be the only battle the Battalion engaged in during their term of enlistment.
We traveled a few miles farther down the river when our scouts returned and reported one of their number arrested and held in custody by the Sonora Commanding Officer at Tucson, also instructions to Col. Cook to keep around to the north or he would serve the whole command the same. Here was an unexpected dilemma. We could only muster about three hundred men and the idea of attacking the whole army of the province of Sonora Mexico would seem absurd. Yet, Col. Cook made camp, issued a large supply of ammunition, put the men on drill in the afternoon, then decided to go by Tucson and "see if they would put his whole command under arrest".
Consequently the next day found us enmarch for Tucson, a distance of about sixty miles. Teams worn and jaded could not make much more than twenty miles a day. At our first camp we were met by an officer of the Mexican Army in Tucson and a posse with a request not to come through Tucson, but to keep around to the north and we would not be molested. Learning that one on the General's sons was in the posse, Col. Cook placed him under a strong guard, then told the officer of the posse to go back to his General and tell him that he, Col. Cook was on the road to California, that he would pass through Tucson, that if our scout was not returned to him before midnight he would execute his son, then go after our scout. Hence a little before midnight of the day specified the scout was returned and the son released.
The next day the Battalion marched into Tucson and found it evacuated by several hundred cavalry, infantry and artillery. The people were friendly and contributed much by way of beans, corn and fruit for which they took all they could get. We stayed here one day and replenished our mules, seized some government wheat, beans, etc. Had a false alarm at night which aroused the camp but hurt no one. It was learned afterwards that our picket had fired on a herd of cattle in the night killing one, supposing them to be cavalry, causing the alarm.
From Tucson we had to cross a ninety mile desert, consequently we started in the afternoon. When we were fairly on our way the Mexican troops returned to Tucson, then followed us, I suppose, intending to give us battle by night. Col. Cook marched late, built fires as if to camp, then moved on three or four miles, built another fire, then moved on and camped without a fire. From deserters we learned that the Mexicans, being reinforced from neighboring posts decided to catch us on the desert. That they came and surrounded the second "campfire" but not finding us went back, thus we probably escaped being annihilated, another evidence of Devine Providence in our behalf.
We arrived on the Gila River, safe from the desert and had a feast of watermelons, at the Pima Indian Village on Christmas Day 1846. Lieutenant Rosecrance said he enjoyed a piece of roasted "rattle-snake" same day and place.
From here we traveled down the south bank of the Gila River to the Colorado River without any particular mishap save it be toiling through excessive sands and an effort to boat some of our baggage down the Gila River in some of the zink Government wagon boxes that resulted in a failure, in the stranding of the wagon-boxes on some sand bars of the Gila and the loss of the boxes and cargo (provisions), thus shortening our rations again.
On reaching the Colorado River a day was spent in fixing up some more zinc wagon boxes with view of having to ferry the river. The boats were made ready and loaded, and run aground, then it was discovered that by wading, the boats could be got across. Then the teams were hitched up and the river forded before night, thus saving several days in ferrying. From here we entered upon another ninety mile desert. Water was, however, obtained in two places by digging, sufficient for the camp.
On reaching the main chain, or California Mountains, we followed up a wash until it became too narrow for our wagons. Not being able to get out, there was no alternative except to hew our way through which was done and we arrived at Warner's Ranch, the first settlement in California on the 8th of January 1847, got a fresh supply of beef and fared luxuriously on beef alone. From this place to San Diego our road was interspersed with many difficulties but were overcome.
At San Louis Rey we had our first view of the Pacific Ocean. The country was green with wild oats and mustard. The hills were covered with fat cattle which proved our salvation, as there was no flour in the land until Commodore Stockton brought it from the Sandwich Islands some three months later. Hence, our beef rations grew to seven pounds per day before we got any bread, coffee and accompaniments.
When we reached San Diego, on the coast, Gen.. Kearny was gone to Monterey, leaving orders for the Battalion to retrace their steps to San Louis Rey Mission and take up Quarters. After a days rest, spent mostly on the beach, we took up the line of march for San Louis Rey where we were quartered for several months with nothing to do except eat beef and drill two hours forenoon and two hours afternoon. Here, though not required to do any military duty I found it a pleasure to borrow a gun from a sick man, and join in the "drill" from which I obtained a fair knowledge of infantry tactics that became very useful to me in after years.
Here we also demonstrated the fact that a man can make away with seven pounds of beef a day when reduced to beef alone, as we were for several months before supplies came from the Sandwich Islands. We had roast beef, boiled beef, fried beef and every other kind of beef then known at once.
There was some trouble came to the surface between Gen. Kearny and Fremont resulting in Fremont's arrest and the Battalion being moved from San Louis Rey to Los Angeles. Then the taking possession of many pieces of ordinance in the hands of Fremont's men at San Gabriel Mission 12 miles from Los Angeles. Fremont was charged, among other things, with stirring up a conspiracy with the Spaniards against the Mormon Battalion. Still holding forth some of his mobocratic spleen against the Mormons. But, as usual, he signally failed and was taken back to the States under guard of members of the Mormon Battalion. Kearny's death soon after they reached the States caused proceedings to cease and he struggled hard to become great during the Rebellion but failed and died a pauper. Thus it will be, to every man who tries to injure the cause or prejudice the minds of strangers against the Latter-Day-Saints.
In June, I think, there was a report of an uprising of the Spaniards through out California. Whether true or not, the Battalion was concentrated on the Bend above Los Angeles and "breast works" were built around the camp. Company B was sent to Garrison San Diego and everything prepared for a fight but it did not come.
The only thing of note, I remember, that came of this was John Allen, a "Deserter reputed", who joined the Battalion at Fort Levenworth, was sent out on Picket Duty during the most exciting time. Well, he left his post, came into town, traded off his gun and accouterments for wine, got drunk and was found next day in an Indian 'rancherie' by an officer of the guard. He was court-martialed and sentenced to have his head "shaved" and be drummed out of the service. Being requested, I joined the Drum Corps and assisted in drumming him out of camp and out of town.
For information of those that never saw a man "Drummed out" I will say he was a tall well proportioned man with a heavy beard, one-half of which and one-half of the hair of his head, was shaved clean, leaving the remainder to show up. He was then brought on the parade ground by the guard (a file of soldiers), the band was formed and sentence of the court-martial was read to him. Then it became the duty of the Fifers and Drummers to play the "Rogues March" until he was well out of camp and out of town. Then he was turned loose with instructions to leave the country and never be seen or he would be subject to arrest and be shot on sight.
About the first of July 1847 we began to prepare to return to Council Bluffs, or where-ever the main body of the Church was. Horses, mules and saddles were being bought. A well broken riding horse would cost from $3.00 to $6.00, mules less and Broncho's for $1.00. Saddles were scarce and cost more. On the 16 July 1847 the famous Mormon Battalion was mustered out of service of the united States and Honorably Discharged. A few young men re-enlisted for six months to help guard the country until more troops could arrive by water. But the main body of the Mormon Battalion organized under James Pace and Andrew Lyttle as Captains and prepared to return.
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