Missionaries Called Home to Utah Territory 1858

Martin Luther ENSIGN at age 16 drove three yoke of oxen for John Eldredge in 1847 when he initially emigrated to the Valley with the Daniel Spencer / Ira Eldredge Company (1847).

He had been called to go on a mission to England by handcart, leaving Brigham City 16 April 1856 he traveled with Eli Pierce Company. 

He crossed the plains again in 1858 when returning from  his mission to England. Elder Ensign served as chief cook in the Berry Company.  The Missionaries had been called home because of the Utah War also known as Buchanan's Blunder.  Which was an armed confrontation between Mormon settlers in the Utah territory and the armed forces of the Untied States Government.  The confrontation lasted from May 1857 to July 1858. 

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"For Utah," Weekly Council Bluffs Bugle , 7 Apr. 1858, 2.

We learn that a number of Mormons just returned from England, left this vicinity for Salt Lake one day last week. What will Col. Johnson [Johnston] do, will he let them pass on, or will he stop them? We know of several more who intend to start for the Valley in a few days. They are all confident that their bretheren will not be driven from Salt Lake Valley.

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John W. Berry Company (1858)
Departed Florence Nebraska 
Arrival: 21 June 1858

Number in Company:112

Ensign, Martin Luther, Autobiography 1897.

We landed at Omaha on 17 ^th Apr and at the Florance [Florence] five miles above the same day by stage[.] In a few days all of the Elders had arived and preperations were made to Continue our Journey to Utah. The Church furnished teams, Wagons and Provisions to bring us home[.] we had 12 Wagons[,] 50 horses[,] 8 mules. We started from Florance [Florence] May 1 ^st and Orgenised on the 4 ^th [.] Capten of Com[pany] John W. Bary [Berry,] Capten of Gard Barnerd [Bernard] Snow[.] Clirk [Clerk] Thomas Bouluck [Bollock]

There were Eight in our mess, Thomas [R.] King, Robert [Reuben M.] McBride, Eli H[arvey] Pearce [Pierce], Thomas Pearce [Pierce], Enoch Rees[e], T. [Peter] Roberson [Robinson,] Henry Herriman & M[artin] L[uther] Ensign[.]. I was cheaf [chief] Cook. their ware about 125 men in the Com[pany] as near as I can remember

We had to walk most of the way[.] I walked 9/10 of the way or more. We had a very good Journey[.] all came Safe & without any troble.

The Army that came to Utah was at Bridger 125 miles from S[alt] L[ake] City. we took a road north of them and Came into the head of Echo Canion [Canyon.] the Army Started from Bridger the Same day[.] we passed there[.] We came onto the fromt [front] guard who were reparing the road and bridges in Echo Canion. they wanted to Stop us but Peace had ben declared by the Comision Sent out for that purpos[e] So we were not disturbed, we pased them and came 60 miles that day Camping on East Canion Creek. We arived in Salt Lake City June 21^st 1858 Making the Journey in 52 days.

[Also found in Ensign, Martin Luther, Autobiography, in Utah State Historical Society Cache Valley Chapter, Historical resource materials for Cache Valley, Utah-Idaho, 1955-1956, reel 1, item 9, 6.]

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FROM: A MORMON TRAIL JOURNAL Of THOMAS BULLOCK MAY-JUNE, 1858

At Genoa Weighed the Goods of the Missionaries:  Martin Luther Ensign, 45 [lbs]

Martin L. Ensign, age 27, in Church 8 years, 15 quo 70, Travelling Elder, England, Hand Cart, residence Box Elder, Farmer

English Missionaries

Andrews James*

Beck James

Berry John W.*

Bramall Wm.*

Brown Wm.**

Browning Jas. G.**

Bullock Thomas**

Clark Ezra T.**

Craig James

Dallin Wm.*

Daniels Daniel

Davis Daniel

Doremus Henry I.

Ensign Martin Luther* 

Evans Richard G.*

Gates George**

Harriman Henry*

Higbee Isaac

Hobson Jesse

Hubbard Chas. W**.

King Thomas R.

Lavender James

Littlewood Martin*

Logan Robert*

Margetts Philip*

McBride Reuben*

Miller Robert E.*

Muir Wm. S.

Pace William

Page Daniel**

Peirce Eli Harvey*

Peirce Thomas**

Pinder John G.*

Reese Enoch*

Robinson Peter

Romney Miles

Roskelly Samuel**

Roulet Frederick*

Russell Thomas W.

Scofield Joseph

Shumway Andrew P.**

Smith John S.

Smith Samuel H.B.

Smith Wm. I.

Snow Bernard**

Stanniforth George*

Stevens James W.**

Stewart Wm. Jackson*

Taylor Amos*

Taylor George**

Taylor Jabuz*

Taylor James W.

Thomas Wm. G.*

Tippitts John H.**

Tomkinson Ephraim*

Ure James

Wilkin David*

Young Brigham H.*

Young Seymour B.*

Galley James*

others in company

Bodell Joseph

Bunting James

Burgess Mark

England Wm.

Fox Charles

Jones John E.

Kerswell Wm.

Louden Robert

Phillips Thomas

Vaughan Michael

Eli Wilkins

Octave Ursenbach

72

38

110 [Total]

85 M[ale] M[embers]

21 Others

01 woman

03 children

110 [total]

American Missionaries

Brinton David*

Browning Thomas*

Bull Wm. Field*

Cannon Angus M.

Carter Wm.*

Coombs Isaiah M.**

Gardner Robert*

Goddard Stephen H.*

Goddard George*

Hall Thomas*

Hill Isaac N.*

Hill Richard*

Huntsman Gabriel*

Mackintosh Daniel*

Mallett William F.*

McCrary John*

Ridout David O.** (& son)

Riter Samuel*

Shumway Charles*

Smith Wm. H.*

Snediker John F.**

Terry Joel*

Twitchell Wm. B*.

Welchman Arthur P.

Wood Lyman S.

*Hand cart Missionaries

**Went with TB

others

Ammond Thos J.

Jas. Hough

Leir G. Metcalf

John W. Brackenbary

Ira Miles

Jas. Alcott

Wm. Habgood

Robt. Pope, Wife & 2 children

Sunday 23 May 58 Sun rose in a clear sky[.] pleasant day till 4 p.m. Camp crosses many streams of clear water and halts for noon on the East side of Rattlesnake Creek in good feed[.] (T.B. carried over the wide Creek by D. Page and rides in Ezra Clark’s wagon 1½ miles) had a good bathe in the Creek in the p.m. went over mostly a soft bottom and thro several creeks[.] very hot and sultry until a sudden thunder storm threatens us, when we camp in a hurry in good grass about 5 p.m. but no wood, got water from a pool full of wiglers[.] we had scarcely pitched tents when 9 Indians of the Burley Band of Ogallallahs ride over the hill and come to camp and the rain came down on us[.] cleared up at Sundown[.] the Indians met in prayer with us[.] we put them in a tent for the night when they gave their usual singing after supper[.] 22 mi

Monday 24 strong dew[.] clear morning gave the Indians their breakfast and they went away singing[.] ...

Friday 11 June Severe frosty night[.] cold day

Camp moves up over the bluffs[.] the snow hard on the road and in some places a foot deep[.] ice in the pools about one inch thick[.] met 5 wagons with many discharged Teamsters (reported 150)[.] some of them on horseback[.] most on foot

Camp staid for breakfast about 2 miles and dry our bedding[.] commenced thawing[.] Camp again rolled round a big bend to a Spring, many waded thro cut off knee deep on rising[.] on hill met Nicholas Groesbeck, Al Hatch and about 12 other brethren with a drove of mules going to the Platte Ferry for goods[.] they gave us much information of the valley and our friends[.] I read the damnable lies of James Buchanan called the Proclamation of peace which did drive the Mormons to defend themselves[.] we could not refrain from groaning 3 times at the conclusion

after staying together about 3 hours we separated and our Camp rolled on towards the South Pass where we came to a halt a little after Sundown[.] The clouds strongly threaten another storm[.] the rheumatism in my shoulders very severe and cholic very bad[.] 25 mi...

Sunday 20 June cleared up at midnight[.] fine morning and all day[.] Camp moves down about 3 miles, down to the main Kanyon [blank space] when the roads are very muddy and heavy[.] sun came and Dr. Garland’s Co., and 2 wagons then went thro a coral of about 26 U.S. wagons and oxen[.] 4 wagons and 6 mules each were going to Weber river and make a ferry for the troops & c[.] 2 cos. were ahead of us and Col. Johnson 12 miles in the rear with 1500 Soldiers[.] thus I headed him and nearly all the command

I was miraculously guided to this place thro the troops[,] enemies and Indians for which the Lord be praised for answering the prayers of the Saints

came to a morning halt after travelled about 8 miles[.] waited 1½ hours[.] passed the U.S. troops making bridges across the creeks & c[.] then resumed our journey down the Kanyon and passed the place fortified by the Saints and could not refrain from giving 3 cheers for the boys engaged in it[.] it would have been the Slaughter house had Col. Johnson and the troops continued our journey down the Kanyon and to the ford of Weber river which we made in a fresh place the water being deep which was crossed in about 2 hours[.] 26 mi. met several apostates and camp runners[.] wrote a letter to President Young with the names of the European missionaries & c and sent same by Rob[ert] Gardner, A[ngus] M. Cannon, and E[noch] Reese on the Express and let him Camp starts for the Creek and divide leading to East Kanyon Creek[.] pass Little Soldier’s band of Indians[.] go over the divide and camp W. of Springs[.] T.B. on guard the early watch[.] 6 mi

Church History in the Family - Utah War

Language of the Mormon pioneers, by George w. Givens

dugway - n. slang term for a simple dug-out road.
"Martin Luther Ensign, a missionary returning to Utah from a mission remembered seeking out his family after their move south to escape Johnston's invading army. He found them as they were returning home.' Started for home on July 4th. we met the Army on 6th in the narrows of the Jordon river and were Delade for a half day because we could not pass them on the dugway. It was very hot & we suffered for water for our selves & teems continued our Journey in the afternoon arrived at our home in Brigham City July 10th 1858.' " (BYU Studies, Journal Vol. 29, No. 4, category: Pioneer Period, "The Move South," by Richard d. Poll.)

I [Susanna DUNN HUNSACKER] went with my father [Simeaon Adams DUNN] in the move south in January 1858, after my second mother died and left me at the age of fifteen with my father and his little ones. I remember, before we moved south, we filled our homes with straw so if the soldiers came to take possession, we could fire them, and they could not take them as they had done in Nauvoo. When we moved south, I met Heber C. Kimball and he asked me if I thought we would ever get back to Brigham City. I told him I did not know but I hoped so. He said, “I promise you that you will get back, and soon, and no harm will come to you.” We moved back to Brigham City in July. (Personal history of Susannah Dunn Hunsacker.)

The Dunn Family--My grandparents, Simeon Adams Dunn and Harriett Atwood Silver were married at Winter Quarters, January 3, 1847, by President Brigham Young. They arrived in Utah September 28, 1848, and established their home in Brigham City. On December 31, 1857, to their family were added twin babies, Harriett and Henry Silver. The tiny girl died shortly after birth, and two days later, on January 2, 1858, the mother, Harriett, closed her eyes in death, having given her life for her family and the religion she had espoused. Twice before, this good husband and father had been called upon to lay away a devoted wife and .companion. This time his heart was almost broken as he placed the form of his lovely young wife in the crude, home-made casket and laid her lifeless baby daughter in her arms.

Three months later, in April 1858, the call came for all Saints to leave their homes in northern Utah, and journey southward. Simeon Adams Dunn loaded a few provisions and household effects into his covered wagon, assisted his motherless children to their place in the wagon box, and cracking his long whip over the backs of his oxen, commenced his journey. He had also provided a wagon for his eldest daughter [Mary DUNN ENSIGN] and her three little girls [Mary Adaline, Georgianna, Emma Lovinia], and they traveled together. The husband and father of this little family, Martin Luther Ensign, at that time was serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [in England].

As they proceeded on their way, baby Henry became very ill. They camped on Kay's Creek, (now Kaysville) and there they saw the life depart from their lovely three-months-old baby son and brother. The father made his little family as safe and comfortable as possible in this temporary camp, and with a sad and heavy heart slowly wended his way back to the lonely grave in the Brigham City Cemetery. Very near to it he dug a very small, new grave, and in it tenderly laid the remains of his baby boy.

He found the town empty, except for a few men who had remained behind, ready at a moment's notice to touch a match to the homes and buildings if the enemy should enter the city. He went into his house, expecting to spend the night there, but it was so quiet and lonely it was more than he could endure, so he went to the stable, laid down by his faithful oxen, and spent the night near them. Early the next morning he was on his way to rejoin his family. He found them safe and well and they continued their journey as far south as Payson, where they made their camp and remained until the Saints were counseled by the Church leader, to return to their homes.

From the diary of my father, Charles Oscar Dunn, who was four years old at the time of the move, I quote: "On our return home we passed the soldiers at the point of the mountain. It was a great sight to see them march by us. As we watched them pass, the wind blew my hat off and it rolled down a steep dugway and into the Jordan River, so I had to go on home without a hat, which made me very sad. We reached home alright but found all of our possessions gone, and our house empty."--Eva Dunn Snow. (Heart Throbs of the West, Kate B. Carter, Vol.10, p.259-260.)

Samuel SMITH family
When Jennett Maria Smith first baby was two weeks old, the United States armies were expected to wipe this people (Mormons) off the earth and the people were told by church leaders to move south to Utah County. She was too ill to travel so was left behind with one or two other women who were also too ill. Only one man, the sheriff, was left to guard the town. After a week or so, her husband, Samuel returned, being so worried about her, and moved her south on her bed.

Francis HAWKES went to the mountains and serve as a baker for the Mormon defenders. It was around this time Francis' first wife Georgina Maria Maddsen and their child Georgina Mary Hawkes died.