July 16, 1847, all of the battalion at Los Angeles were mustered out of service by Captain Smith. The time of their enlistment had expired and the prophecy of President Brigham Young that they would not be called upon to fight, had been fulfilled. Some of the men, at the request of Colonel Stevenson, of the New York Volunteers, re-enlisted for six months. Others might have done so, but he insulted them by saying: “Your patriotism and obedience to your officers have done much towards removing the prejudice of the government and the community at large, and I am satisfied that another year’s service would place you on a level with other communities.”
The Journey to Salt Lake Valley
On the 20th of July most of the members of the battalion, who did not enlist, organized preparatory to going to the Rocky Mountains to the gathering place of the Saints. They went by way of Sutter’s Fort and the Sacramento River, intending to follow Fremont’s trail across the Sierras. Near Lake Tahoe, they met Samuel Brannan and Captain Brown of the Pueblo detachment who were on the way to California, and learned that the pioneers had entered the Salt Lake Valley. Captain Brown carried with him an epistle from the apostles advising all members of the battalion who had no means, to remain in California for the winter, and journey to the Salt Lake Valley in the spring. Acting on this advice about one half of the members obtained employment at Sutter’s Fort, where they were employed at the time of the discovery of gold. The others pushed on to the Salt Lake Valley where they arrived October 16, 1847.
Notes
[1. ] The five companies of the battalion were commanded respectively as follows: Company A, Jefferson Hunt; Company B, Jesse D. Hunter; Company C, James Brown; Company D, Nelson Higgins; Company E, Daniel C. Davis. Before they left Winter Quarters, a farewell ball was given them in “Father Taylor’s Bowery,” where the afternoon was spent in dancing and such merriment as the sadness of the approaching parting would admit.
[2. ] Conquest of New Mexico and California, by P. St. George Cooke, p. 91–2.
Chapter 39
The Pioneers
1847