| OCR Text |
Show 138 was becoming over-crowded with refugees living in uncertainty and poverty. The population of the county, normally about twelve thousand, would triple in two months. It was doubtless this concern that led Brigham Young to call on William H. Dame to head up a second expedition to the White Mountains. Dame, a Parowan resident, was in Salt Lake City to receive instruction at the eneral onference when he received his orders. He was an old acquaintance of Young from Bauvoo days.' In I85I the prophet had called him to settle southern Utah, and in 1857 he was a member of Young's entourage on his tour of the Salmon River country. In the last few days, he had accompanied Young on his removal from Salt Lake. It may have been then that Brigham Young first discussed the expedition to Dame. Nevertheless, it was on April 7, the day after conference, that Dame was called into the president's office and given his written orders, a copy of which is given below: G.S.L. April 1, 1858 Col. Wm. H. Dame, Dear Brother, you are instructed to raise from your Mil. District a company of 60 or 70 men with sufficient horsemen to act as patrolling & exploring purposes; the remainder with wagon, seed grain of all kinds and proceed from painter Creek westerly & North across the desert and seek for & make such locations as may be suitable to raise grain, keep stock, and secret families in case of necessities. You will be careful to conciliate the Indians and instruct your men to learn their language and seek to gain & exercise a salutary influence over them. If there should be any man with you who will not pursue that course you must dismiss him from the Mission and send him home. Your Bro. in the Gospel Brigham Young3 |
