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Show EXODUS FROM ILLINOIS. 125 sacrifice exchanging such property as they could dispose of for animals, wagons, and breadstuffs; and in the beginning of February, 1846, a large proportion of the community crossed the Mississippi from Nauvoo, and formed a rendezvous near Montrose, in Iowa. Here they remained, exposed to intense cold and deep Bnows, until March, when, being joined by several hundred wagons and a large number of women and children, they organized their company under the guidance of Brigham Young, president of the church, and successor of Joseph Smith their founder and seer. In their progress westward, through the northern part of Missouri, they were again driven from that State, by violent threats, into the southern borders of Iowa, whence, ftfter much hardship and suffering, they reached, in the course of the summer, the banks of the Missouri, beyond the limits of the States. Here they enclosed land and planted crops, leaving some of their number to reap the fruits, which were to be applied to the sustenance of other companies, that were to follow as soon as they should be able to provide the means. They were about crossing the river to pursue their journey westward, when an officer of the United States Government presented himself, with a requisition for five hundred men to serve in the war with Mexico. This demand, though sudden and unexpected, was promptly and patriotically complied with; but in consequence, the expedition waa broken up for the season. Those that remained, being principally old men, women, and children, prepared to pass the winter in the wilds of an Indian country, by cutting hay and erecting log and sod huts, and digging as many caves as time allowed and their strength enabled them* During this winter, owing to the great privations incident to such a life, and to the want, in many instances, of the most common necessaries, great numbers sickened and died: their cattle, too, were stolen by the Indians, or perished by starvation. In the succeeding spring of 1847, the people were again organized for their journey; and on the 8th of April, a pioneer company, consisting of one hundred and forty- three men, seventy- two wagons, and one hundred and seventy- five head of horses, mules, and oxen, with rations for six months, agricultural implements and seed- grain, manfully set out in search of a home beyond the Rocky Mountains. Pursuing their route up the left bank of the Platte, crossing at Fort Laramie, and passing over the mountains at the South Pass, the advanced guard at length reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake, on the 21st of July. On the 24th, the presidency and the |