| 192 as, according to the testimony of mountaineers, it froze there every month in the year, and the ground was too dry to sprout seeds without irrigation, and if irrigated with the cold mountain streams, the seeds planted would be chilled and prevented from growing, or, if they did grow, they would be sickly and fail to mature. He considered it no place for an agricultural people, and expressed his confidence that the saints would emigrate to California the next spring. On being asked if he had given his views to President Brigham Young, he answered that he had. On further inquiry as to how his views were received, he said, in substance, that the President laughed and made some rather insignificant remarks; 'but,' said Brannan, 'when he has fairly tried it, he will find that I was right and he was wrong, and will come to California.'"-Historical Record, vol. 8, p. 930.
On July 20 four companies marched from the Mormon camp for Fort Leavenworth, the fifth company following on the 22d where they all arrived on August 1. Captain (then Colonel) James Allen died at Fort Leavenworth. The command then devolved upon Captain Jefferson Hunt, and later upon Lieut. A. J. Smith. At Santa Fe, where they arrived early in October, Capt. P. St. George Cooke assumed command by order of General Kearney.
Here the battalion was divided; ninety of the sick, under command of Capt. James Brown, were sent to Pueblo, on the Arkansas River, and the remainder marched for California. Later another detachment of fifty-five sick started for Pueblo under Lieutenant W. W. Willis. The remainder of the battalion arrived, after much suffering and distress, at San Luis Rey Mission, California, on January 27, 1847, and on the 29th at San Diego; thence they were ordered back to San Luis Rey, and later to Pueblo de los Angeles, where they arrived March 23, 1847. After active service in Southern California they were honorably discharged, at Los Angeles, July l6, 1847.
Eighty-one of them reenlisted in the regular army. Others started east; some of them sought employment in California, others pressed on to meet the main body of emigrants, meeting Elder Brannan, as related above, on the Truckee River. Elder Brannan brought word from Elder Brigham Young for those who did not have means to sustain themselves to seek employment in California, hence about half of this company turned back with Mr. Brannan. Those who continued eastward arrived at Salt Lake, October 16, 1847. Thirty-two of these not finding their families in the valley continued their journey to Winter Quarters, where they arrived December 18.
Those who returned to California were employed by Capt. John A. Sutter to dig mill races and erect mills near where the city of Sacramento is now located. It was while engaged in this work they discovered gold. The search for gold was continued by them and others resulting in the great excitement of 1849. That portion of the battalion wintering at Pueblo arrived in Salt Lake City, July 29, 1846.
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