79. My great grandfather, Samuel Miles, Mormon Battalion, pioneer!
. My great grandfather, Samuel Miles Jr., (father of William Gustavus Miles, see Blog #58,) was only 7 years old when his parents joined the Church in Freedom, New York. His father Samuel Sr.'s first wife, Sarah Simonds, had died in 1824, and in 1825, Samuel married Prudence Marks, who helped raise his 5 young children, and also had 4 more of her own children, (including Samuel). His first wife Sarah was a sister to Patience Simonds, who was the wife of Warren Cowdery, the brother of Oliver Cowdery. Thus, early on, the Samuel Miles Sr.'s family heard about the Church and was baptized on April 29, 1833. I will tell several stories of Samuel Miles Jr.'s life story later. This photo below of Samuel Miles is the only picture we have of him --- obviously he was older.
In 1847 on this day, (January 27, 1846) the first men of the Mormon Battalion arrived in California, and the war had ended just 2 weeks before! Between Wayne and me, we had 10 direct ancestors receive their endowments in the original Nauvoo Temple. Samuel Miles Jr. had begun teaching school at age 15, and at age 20, was among the first to inlist in the Mormon Battalion.
He wrote a journal during that time, and some parts of it are below.
At first he talks about the situation in Nauvoo, in 1846, as they were planning to leave and go west.
QUOTES:
Many were unable to sell their property or get means to make a fit out. We sold our place (in Nauvoo) in June for a light team of mules and all started for the headquarters of the emigrating camps in Iowa. We arrived at Council Bluffs in July as the Mormon Battalion was being raised to fill a requisition of the government for a Battalion of 500 men to march to California to take part in the Mexican war then being waged against Mexico. While this seemed a great hardship for the saints, President Young was inspired to comply with this requisition. I enlisted freely. The Battalion was comprised of five companies, I being in Company B.
Our date of enlistment was July 16th 1846. Capt. Allen of the U.S. Dragons was our commander and we were marched to Fort Leavenworth where we received our arms and pay to buy our clothing for the year, our time of enlistment.
During this time, the saints who were gathered on the frontier made preparations to go to the mountains the following season. Those who were left in Nauvoo for want of means to leave with the first companies were forced by their enemies to leave the city and cross the river and make their way west as best they could.
The time to the 13th of August was spent at the Fort breaking mules for our teams and making preparations for our long march to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Brother William Hyde and I had bought an Indian pony which we rode alternately making our journey much less wearisome. After some delay waiting for the companies in the rear and also the sick left in the Hospital, the Battalion were all together and resumed our march August 22nd.
I kept a brief daily journal. Capt. Allen our leader who had remained behind at the fort from sickness, died August 23rd, 1846. We realized that we had lost a kind, sympathetic friend. While Capt. Jefferson Hunt our senior Capt. was the choice of all to take charge of the Battalion, Lt. Smith a regular army officer now arrived at our camp and it was thought best by our officers to give him the command of the Battalion. This putting of Lt. Smith in command when it was the right of Capt. Hunt to succeed, proved a hardship to the Battalion. ( I'll insert a paragraph from another source: )
A small detachment was sent to Pueblo under Capt. Higgins. We continued our march and arrived in Santa Fe on the 9th of October. The Battalion was here put under the command of Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke. Another detachment under Capt. Brown was sent from here to winter at Pueblo mostly of the sick and those not able to make the long march to California and most of the women.
On the 19th of October, the Battalion resumed its march. Our draft animals were mostly worn down by the long journey from Ft. Leavenworth. We were now reduced to half rations. After traveling on the river over 300 miles we left it, turning to the west. Our route lay over an unknown country to our guides. We crossed the backbone of the Rocky Mountains taking our wagons down with great difficulty by unloading them and packing our supplies on mules. We shortly reached an old Mexican deserted ranch where we found wild cattle. We killed and dried some of the meat which satisfied our hunger after being so long on half rations and some of the time on much less.
We passed through the old Mexican town of Tucson where was posted a body of soldiers who vacated the post on our approach. We found wheat stored here, some of which we used for ourselves and animals. After resting a couple of days we resumed our march over desert country of 75 miles to the Gila River where the Pima Indians were located. Much hardship and suffering were the result of this long march with little water. After resting a few days and getting some supplies from the friendly Pima Indians, we resumed our march down the Gila River to its junction with the Colorado River which was forded by our teams. The men and baggage were taken across in our pontoon wagon boxes. Here our last tedious march of nearly 90 miles across sandy country with very little water (which was obtained by cleaning out dried up wells) was made. Some supplies of beef cattle met us on this long stretch which helped to relieve our suffering. We reached San Diego on the Pacific Coast the 20th of January 1847.
We remained here only a few days when the Battalion was ordered to Garrison San Luis Rey, some 50 miles distant where we arrived on the 3rd of February. (Today, January 27, is the anniversary of when the men first reached the Garrison at San Luis Rey.) Here we were exercised in the regular Army drill by the Col. On the 15th of February Company B to which I belonged were ordered to Garrison San Diego. I acted as Commissioned Sergeant while here. I assisted the Alcalde or Judge to administer the Common law now in force in California, kept his court record and made out his report to the acting Military Governor. Our company remained here until the time of our discharge when we were marched to Los Angeles where with the other Companies of the Battalion who were quartered here were all discharged on the 16th of July which completed the term of our enlistment.
Some of the Battalion sufficient to make up one company (30 men) reenlisted for another year to Garrison San Diego. A large company intending to return to our families left on the 21st. The pioneer company started our route which lay near the base of the California mountains driving north some 600 miles to Sutter’s Fort on the Sacramento River. One pack animal and one or more riding animals to each man.
We reached Sutter’s Fort after traveling through a wild and seldom traveled region crossing large streams with rafts. We now added to our store of provisions and started to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains by the Emigrant wagon road. While in the mountains I was taken with the chills and fever which caused me much distress to travel and attend to my animals. I requested the brethren to administer to me which they did and I was healed not having another chill.
We passed the camps of the immigrants who were caught in the mountains the previous winter where many perished by starvation, the remains of some being still in view. (The Donner Party) After passing over the mountains we met Samuel Brannon returning to California he having gone out to meet the pioneers with President Young. We were shortly met by Capt. Brown who brought word from President Young and the authorities at Salt Lake that on account of the scarcity of provisions at the Valley that those not having families there or not intending to go through to the station to winter had better remain in California for the winter. This word caused about one half of our company to return.
Sutter's Fort as it appeared in 1847, when the Gold Rush started.
We of the return company made our way immediately to Sutter’s Fort where most of the Brethren obtained work from Capt. Sutter. Bro. Zadok Judd and myself made our way on horseback to San Francisco most of the way being an unsettled part of the country. On our way we passed through a settlement on the San Joaquin River made by some who came to California in the ship Brooklyn with Samuel Brannan as their leader in 1846-7. Here we found our brethren and employment. I remained here about two months chopping cord wood on the sand hills near the town and other labor.
I now obtained employment as clerk in a store in Benicia on the bay. Most of the customers being native Californians, I had a good opportunity to add to my understanding of the Spanish language both in the store and in traveling among the customers. After being here about six months the gold mines just discovered at Sutter’s Mill caused a great rush to that part of the country and Samuel Brannan was making arrangements to sell goods at Sutter’s Fort.
I remained clerking in the store of Mr. Brannan about two months at Sutter’s Fort. The trade at the store was very large being then the only place of supplies near the placer mines lately discovered. The time had now come (July 1848) for the brethren to start for the Salt Lake Valley. Most of them had done well in washing out the gold from the river sands most of them being near the spot at the discovery. I was able to make a good fit out for the return home.
A company with teams preceded our pack company across the mountains making a new road by the Carson River route. Our pack company of about 50 people overtook them and assisted them. We arrived at the fort in the Salt Lake Valley on the 10th of September 1848.
I had 2 other great grandfathers in the Mormon Battalion, one of which left early in the sick attachment. This journal entry is extremely brief compared to many things that happened during their year in the Battalion.
More stories to come -- (he was a pioneer to St. George later!)
In 1847 on this day, (January 27, 1846) the first men of the Mormon Battalion arrived in California, and the war had ended just 2 weeks before! Between Wayne and me, we had 10 direct ancestors receive their endowments in the original Nauvoo Temple. Samuel Miles Jr. had begun teaching school at age 15, and at age 20, was among the first to inlist in the Mormon Battalion.
He wrote a journal during that time, and some parts of it are below.
At first he talks about the situation in Nauvoo, in 1846, as they were planning to leave and go west.
QUOTES:
Many were unable to sell their property or get means to make a fit out. We sold our place (in Nauvoo) in June for a light team of mules and all started for the headquarters of the emigrating camps in Iowa. We arrived at Council Bluffs in July as the Mormon Battalion was being raised to fill a requisition of the government for a Battalion of 500 men to march to California to take part in the Mexican war then being waged against Mexico. While this seemed a great hardship for the saints, President Young was inspired to comply with this requisition. I enlisted freely. The Battalion was comprised of five companies, I being in Company B.
Our date of enlistment was July 16th 1846. Capt. Allen of the U.S. Dragons was our commander and we were marched to Fort Leavenworth where we received our arms and pay to buy our clothing for the year, our time of enlistment.
During this time, the saints who were gathered on the frontier made preparations to go to the mountains the following season. Those who were left in Nauvoo for want of means to leave with the first companies were forced by their enemies to leave the city and cross the river and make their way west as best they could.
The time to the 13th of August was spent at the Fort breaking mules for our teams and making preparations for our long march to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Brother William Hyde and I had bought an Indian pony which we rode alternately making our journey much less wearisome. After some delay waiting for the companies in the rear and also the sick left in the Hospital, the Battalion were all together and resumed our march August 22nd.
I kept a brief daily journal. Capt. Allen our leader who had remained behind at the fort from sickness, died August 23rd, 1846. We realized that we had lost a kind, sympathetic friend. While Capt. Jefferson Hunt our senior Capt. was the choice of all to take charge of the Battalion, Lt. Smith a regular army officer now arrived at our camp and it was thought best by our officers to give him the command of the Battalion. This putting of Lt. Smith in command when it was the right of Capt. Hunt to succeed, proved a hardship to the Battalion. ( I'll insert a paragraph from another source: )
Lieutenant Smith, a West Point graduate, disliked Mormons, and the Saints viewed his appointment as another unfortunate choice. The volunteers concluded that there was an unholy alliance between Smith and his accomplice, George B. Sanderson, the Battalion doctor. Smith, who looked on the LDS volunteers and their accompanying women and children as unfit for army service, confronted them with long, forced marches, making them sick. Then Dr. Sanderson concocted medicines of calomel and arsenic which, the men believed, either cured or killed. Brigham Young counseled the recruits by letter to turn to faith and priesthood ordinances for healing, and “let surgeon’s medicine alone.”Much sickness was experienced while Dr. Sandersen our physician forced his medicines down the men against their will so that our situation through these cruel officers was very hard on us. I was blessed with good health. I assisted the orderly or first Sergeant of our company in making out his reports of the company, etc. (Samuel was well educated for that day, having attended the University of Nauvoo.)
A small detachment was sent to Pueblo under Capt. Higgins. We continued our march and arrived in Santa Fe on the 9th of October. The Battalion was here put under the command of Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke. Another detachment under Capt. Brown was sent from here to winter at Pueblo mostly of the sick and those not able to make the long march to California and most of the women.
On the 19th of October, the Battalion resumed its march. Our draft animals were mostly worn down by the long journey from Ft. Leavenworth. We were now reduced to half rations. After traveling on the river over 300 miles we left it, turning to the west. Our route lay over an unknown country to our guides. We crossed the backbone of the Rocky Mountains taking our wagons down with great difficulty by unloading them and packing our supplies on mules. We shortly reached an old Mexican deserted ranch where we found wild cattle. We killed and dried some of the meat which satisfied our hunger after being so long on half rations and some of the time on much less.
We passed through the old Mexican town of Tucson where was posted a body of soldiers who vacated the post on our approach. We found wheat stored here, some of which we used for ourselves and animals. After resting a couple of days we resumed our march over desert country of 75 miles to the Gila River where the Pima Indians were located. Much hardship and suffering were the result of this long march with little water. After resting a few days and getting some supplies from the friendly Pima Indians, we resumed our march down the Gila River to its junction with the Colorado River which was forded by our teams. The men and baggage were taken across in our pontoon wagon boxes. Here our last tedious march of nearly 90 miles across sandy country with very little water (which was obtained by cleaning out dried up wells) was made. Some supplies of beef cattle met us on this long stretch which helped to relieve our suffering. We reached San Diego on the Pacific Coast the 20th of January 1847.
We remained here only a few days when the Battalion was ordered to Garrison San Luis Rey, some 50 miles distant where we arrived on the 3rd of February. (Today, January 27, is the anniversary of when the men first reached the Garrison at San Luis Rey.) Here we were exercised in the regular Army drill by the Col. On the 15th of February Company B to which I belonged were ordered to Garrison San Diego. I acted as Commissioned Sergeant while here. I assisted the Alcalde or Judge to administer the Common law now in force in California, kept his court record and made out his report to the acting Military Governor. Our company remained here until the time of our discharge when we were marched to Los Angeles where with the other Companies of the Battalion who were quartered here were all discharged on the 16th of July which completed the term of our enlistment.
Some of the Battalion sufficient to make up one company (30 men) reenlisted for another year to Garrison San Diego. A large company intending to return to our families left on the 21st. The pioneer company started our route which lay near the base of the California mountains driving north some 600 miles to Sutter’s Fort on the Sacramento River. One pack animal and one or more riding animals to each man.
We reached Sutter’s Fort after traveling through a wild and seldom traveled region crossing large streams with rafts. We now added to our store of provisions and started to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains by the Emigrant wagon road. While in the mountains I was taken with the chills and fever which caused me much distress to travel and attend to my animals. I requested the brethren to administer to me which they did and I was healed not having another chill.
We passed the camps of the immigrants who were caught in the mountains the previous winter where many perished by starvation, the remains of some being still in view. (The Donner Party) After passing over the mountains we met Samuel Brannon returning to California he having gone out to meet the pioneers with President Young. We were shortly met by Capt. Brown who brought word from President Young and the authorities at Salt Lake that on account of the scarcity of provisions at the Valley that those not having families there or not intending to go through to the station to winter had better remain in California for the winter. This word caused about one half of our company to return.
We of the return company made our way immediately to Sutter’s Fort where most of the Brethren obtained work from Capt. Sutter. Bro. Zadok Judd and myself made our way on horseback to San Francisco most of the way being an unsettled part of the country. On our way we passed through a settlement on the San Joaquin River made by some who came to California in the ship Brooklyn with Samuel Brannan as their leader in 1846-7. Here we found our brethren and employment. I remained here about two months chopping cord wood on the sand hills near the town and other labor.
I now obtained employment as clerk in a store in Benicia on the bay. Most of the customers being native Californians, I had a good opportunity to add to my understanding of the Spanish language both in the store and in traveling among the customers. After being here about six months the gold mines just discovered at Sutter’s Mill caused a great rush to that part of the country and Samuel Brannan was making arrangements to sell goods at Sutter’s Fort.
I remained clerking in the store of Mr. Brannan about two months at Sutter’s Fort. The trade at the store was very large being then the only place of supplies near the placer mines lately discovered. The time had now come (July 1848) for the brethren to start for the Salt Lake Valley. Most of them had done well in washing out the gold from the river sands most of them being near the spot at the discovery. I was able to make a good fit out for the return home.
A company with teams preceded our pack company across the mountains making a new road by the Carson River route. Our pack company of about 50 people overtook them and assisted them. We arrived at the fort in the Salt Lake Valley on the 10th of September 1848.
I had 2 other great grandfathers in the Mormon Battalion, one of which left early in the sick attachment. This journal entry is extremely brief compared to many things that happened during their year in the Battalion.
More stories to come -- (he was a pioneer to St. George later!)
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