Provisions
Provisions
4 Fri this morning [after Breakfast I had 2 Scanty meals left for all hands, which would do to the night following] I sent ahead 3 men J Jandrou M Dofar & [John] Turner whoe ware of my best men for the ocasion, to push to our first Cach and if not disturbed to bring it up while the other Two proceed on and bring up our Second and if they should meet our Supplies which we all had aright expected clace at hand to hurrey them on, (but to our misfortune there was none nigher than 65 miles and at this Juncture no prospect of Starting which I learned afterwards) to be the fact from Comd Wodworth himself. I mouved camp and after a great fatiguing day arrivd at the praire now Starved Camp at the head of Juba it was made by the other Compy who had passed in but a few days previous.
here the men began to fail being for several days on half allowance, or 1 1/2 pints of gruel or sizing per day. the Sky look like snow and everything indicates a storm god for bid wood being got for the night & Bows for the beds of all, and night closing fast, the clouds still thicking terror terror to many, my hartte I feel a terrible foreboding but dare not Communicate my mind to any, death to all if provisions do not Come, in a day or two and a storm should fall on us. Very cold, a great lamentation about the Cold.
James F. Reed
March 4th 1847
Music © Peter Callister 2010
Photo by Thanos Spanopoulos at SXC.hu
Words by James F. Reed, March 4th 1847. Transcription from Dale Morgan’s “Overland in 1846: Volume 1” p. 347
Many thanks to Nancy Jenner for confirming this transcription from the original document held at Sutter’s Fort