Journal of an overland trip to California and other Army assignments, 1849-1853.

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Journal of an overland trip to California and other Army assignments, 1849-1853.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702148236

Journal kept by Brevet Captain R. M. Morris from 1849 to 1853, with gaps, documenting a journey from Fort Leavenworth to San Francisco from June to November, 1849, his career in the West and Great Plains through to his account of the Gunnison massacre in Utah in 1853. The journal begins March 25, 1849, when Morris received orders to travel from Washington, D.C. to Fort Leavenworth, where he describes daily camp life, a cholera outbreak, and preparations for the journey west. Approximately 80 pages describe the journey to San Francisco made while serving as head of the escort to General John Wilson, Principal Indian Agent. Morris records events such as cholera outbreaks, encounters with Indians, stampedes, buffalo hunting, teamsters deserting, General Wilson's dismissal of his escort, and soldiers deserting upon reaching the gold fields. Morris includes a transcript of the journal of Lt. J. M. Haynes, kept on the road to California while Morris made a sidetrip to Fort Hall, Idaho to procure more mules and oxen. There is a gap in the journal from November, 1849 until March, 1850. Morris became Acting Assistant Adjutant General at Benicia, recording daily activities and several trips to Oregon City, one of them for a meeting with Governor Joseph Lane, and another trip to The Dalles, Oregon as part of an Army inquiry. The journal then has a 1 1/2 year gap, picking up in February 12, 1852, at which time Morris, back in Washington, D.C., was ordered out to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. There he helped command a march along the Arkansas River, up to Bent's Fort and Fort Laramie. The journal picks up again October 24th, 1853, describing the events surrounding the Gunnison massacre, his arrival on the scene of the massacre the same night, his trip to Fillmore and discussions there with Mormon leaders about the attack. The journal ends November 4, 1853. At the back of the volume there are fair copies of nine letters relating to his dispute with General Wilson in 1849.

1 v. (162 p.) ; 20 cm.

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8018461

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Related Entities

There are 6 Entities related to this resource.

Morris, R. M. (Robert M.), 1824-1896.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63j59pv (person)

R. M. Morris, career army officer, fought in the Mexican War, and in 1849 traveled overland from Fort Leavenworth to California while serving as escort to General John Wilson. He worked in Benicia, and later served again on the Great Plains. In 1853 he served as captain of a small company of armed riflemen serving as escort and guard to Captain J. W. Gunnison. After Gunnison divided the company to make a reconnoissance of Sevier Lake with a small party, he was killed with six others in his party...

Lane, Joseph, 1801-1881

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x64kzc (person)

Joseph Lane was born in North Carolina December 14, 1801, and moved to Kentucky when he was three years old. At age fourteen Lane moved away from his family to Indiana. At the age of twenty-one Lane married Mary Hart Polly. The couple had eight children. From 1822 to 1846, Lane served in the Indiana State Legislature. After serving in the war against Mexico, where he became a major-general in 1847, he accepted the position as Territorial Governor of Oregon. Lane was sworn in as Governor on March...

Wilson, John, General, fl. 1849.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65t5hg1 (person)

United States. Army

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6km312r (corporateBody)

The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces and performs land-based military operations. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States and is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 and United States Code, Title 10, Subtitle B, Chapter 301, Section 3001. As the largest and senior branch of the U.S. military, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which wa...

Gunnison, J. W. (John Williams), 1812-1853

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hm5swr (person)

John Williams Gunnison, army topographical engineer in charge of surveying a route to the West for the Pacific Railroad, was born in New Hampshire and graduated from West Point in 1835. He served as ordnance officer in the Seminole War in Florida and in making surveys in Georgia. After further surveying work in the Wisconsin Territory, he was assigned to Captain Howard Stansbury's party to explore the Great Salt Lake region. While leading a survey for the exploration and survey of a railroad rou...

Haynes, J. M., Lieutenant, fl. 1849.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qg0qs5 (person)