Part 4
Mormon Battalion March
Tucson to San Diego
The Gila River was finally reached and on the 21 of Dec. they here made asphalt. On the 22 they marched 10 miles more and arrived at the Pima Indian village. The 23 and 24 were spent in the village of the Maricaopa Indians and Christmas day was spent marching from the Maricaopa Village and camping Christmas night again without water. The next day they marched 23 miles and encamped near the Gila river. At this time, beef secured in the wild bull region has exhausted and the grass was scanty and the animals fared badly. After their brief rest the Battalion continued upon their march down the Rio Gila where, on the 1st of Jan 1847 to lighten the load of the weary half starved mules a barge was made and 2500 pounds of provisions were launched on the river. The improvised boat was shipwrecked in the numerous sandbars and the contents lost at a time when rations had been reduced to a few ounces per day per person.
On the 9 of Jan. the great Colorado river was reached which ferried across one raft. This was a sight to see. Company C's wagon got stuck on the sand bar in the river and the Colonel refused to allow other companies to wait or render aid but left the boys to their plight. The worn out men got in to the water and helped the broken down team extract the wagon from the sand. Nine miles farther on, however, the wagon was abandoned because the team was unable to pull the load another rod. From the banks of the Colorado river they crossed the Colorado desert where wells were dug for water and rations were reduced to a minimum. From the Colorado river the march became the hardest and the most trying of any they had experienced, both for men and beasts. Here were the heaviest sands, the hottest days, and the coolest nights. The men were half naked and suffering for want of both food and water and better clothing. They were nearly barefoot and instead of shoes some used rawhide wrapped around their feet or they stripped the skin from the leg of an ox and sewed up the end with sinews and used this as a shoe. Cast off clothing was used to shield them from the burning sand during the daytime and to keep their feet warm at night. When their feet became so swollen and sore they could go no farther Charles and George found some old dry cattle bones with which they made a covering for their feet by putting their heels in the sockets and strapping them on as shoes. In this condition on the 19 of Jan. they came to a halt for before them were the mountains that seemed impossible to go over. A rugged ridge some 200 feet high loomed before them and their route lay up a dry ravine through the openings in the solid rocks and the passage was at least a foot narrower than their wagons. No tools were saved from their shipwreck but a few axes, a small crowbar and a spade or two. With these implements the passage was hewn out and the wagons unloaded and carried through, being tipped in a way to admit them through the narrow passage. Both men and teams were exhausted and they again camped that night without water. The night was very cold but before the sun rose the morning of the 20 they again received orders to march on. At this time the last of the flour had been given out and their rations were gone and there was yet many miles to travel. Hoofs and bones had been reboiled to sustain life, their rations now reduced to a spoonful to be divided in to 7. Men looked like death, their mouths were black past recognition with a staring glare as if death was close at hand. Their clothing was so tattered it would scarcely cover them, but the men staggered on. They soon came to an exceedingly rough rocky descending road to a little valley and in the valley to San Philip, a deserted Indian village.
Lying enemies had spread false tales of the Mormon Battalion to the villagers. They were represented as savages who would commit unthought of crimes; they thought nothing of slaying and eating the natives. Upon the arrival of the soldier boys they found the village almost deserted; the people had fled to a distance taking with them their cattle and provisions, leaving only a few of the old and infirm residents. Upon the arrival of the boys the remaining residents were surprised at the courteous treatment of the soldiers and in sympathy to them for their present starved condition they have them corn. Many ate to excess and became ill. At night a rustling noise was heard in the bushes; the guard called a halt, but no halt was made but kept coming stealthily along. A shot rang out in the dark.
A heavy thud resounded. It was an old devoted cow coming back in search for her deserted calf. The intruder was killed and dressed and the meat saved the lives of the sick soldiers. At this time orders were received for the Battalion to march to San Diego instead of to Los Angeles. On the 21 they reached Warner's Rancho and here had their first full meal except at Tucson and the wild bull country since the reduction of rations on the Dio Del Norte more than two months before. At this rancho there was a hot spring of a temperature of about 175 degrees F. Here the men washed their faces and hands but the water was too hot for which to bathe. After such refreshment the soldiers took up their march with renewed hope and upon many a lip there was a song of praise for their deliverance in nearing their journey's end. While on the march to San Diego they passed through the San Luis valley and crossed the San Luis river and traveled down the river. On the 27 of Jan they reached the San Luis Rey mission about noon and about one o'clock, one mile below the mission they ascended a bluff where to their extreme joy they got their first look at the Pacific Ocean, which seemed only a few miles away. Joy and cheer filled their souls but not unmixed with sorrow. Their hearts turned to the banks of the Missouri river, to their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, wives, and sweethearts and their children and friends; all without shelter and under the threat of massacre by the Indians; all under the same powers they were now serving, each not knowing of the others sufferings, deaths, grief's and anguishes or their joys and hopes. During this time word had reached the saints at Council Bluffs that the Battalion had met with ill fate and every man had perished. George's father, Solomon, and his wife, Phoebe, were stricken with grief upon this tragic news and sought the lord in comfort. They received to the satisfaction of their souls through the inspiration of the knowledge that their two boys were safe and would come back alive.
On Jan 29 1847 the Battalion with George and his brother reached the shores of this great western sea and planted there for the first time the American flag. This great march was at last completed, being the longest march on foot ever recorded in the annuals of history. Of it one historian had written, "This march completed, created one of the most picturesque features of American military annuals." Upon reaching the Mission of San Diego on Jan 30 1847 their proud commander, Lt. Col. George Cook issued the following memorable order.
The Lt. Col. commanding; Congratulations to the Battalion on their safe arrival on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and the conclusion of their march of over 2,000 miles. History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry. Half of it had been through wilderness where nothing but savages and wild beasts are found, over deserts where, for want of water, there is no living creature. There with almost hopeless labor we have dug deep wells which the future traveler will enjoy. Without a guide who had traveled before we have ventured into the trackless tableland where water was not found for several marches. With crowbar and pick and ax in hand we worked our way over mountains which seemed to defy ought save the wild goat and hewed a pass through a chasm of living rock more narrow than our wagons.
"Thus marching half naked and half fed and living upon wild animals, we have discovered and made a road of great value to our country. Arrived at the first settlement of California, after a single days rest, you cheerfully turned off from the route to the point of promised repose, to enter upon a campaign and meet as we supposed the approach of an enemy and this too without even salt to season your sole existence of fresh meat.
Thus volunteers, you have exhibited some high essentials qualities of veterans. On Jan 31 1847, the Battalion remained in camp at San Diego and in the evening orders were issued for them to return to the San Luis Rey Mission. Feb. 1 they marched for San Luis Rey where they arrived about noon on the 3rd. Here they remained until the 19th of Feb. drilling, cleaning, and keeping in readiness for call. On the 18th of Feb., Company A, C, D, and E were ordered to Pueblo de Los Angeles 126 miles from San Diego. These companies took up their line of march on the 19th and arrived about noon on the 23rd. Here they found the lowest type of degraded civilization. At this place the Battalion cleaned up the streets and beautified their campground on the shores of the Pacific, were drilled and disciplined every day until the 11th of April when this order was received; "(1) Co. C. Mormon Battalion, will march tomorrow and take post in the canyon pass of the mountains, about forty-five miles eastward of this town. Lt. Rosecrans, its commander, will select a spot as the convenience of water, feed and grass will admit of and, If necessary, effectually to prevent a passage of hostile Indians with or without horses. He will erect a sufficient cover of logs or earth. It will be his duty to guard the pass effectually, and if necessary to send out armed parties, either on foot or mounted to defend the ranches in the vicinity, or to attack wandering parties of wild Indians. (2) The assistant commissary of substance will take means to provision this post until further orders," Lt. Col. Commanding, George Cook.
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