WELCOME TO THE JAMES REED Diary 1847
The original James Reed Diary is written in pencil,
7 1/2 X 6 1/2 inches, with 12 leaves, and portions are
considerable smudged.
James Reed and Family James Reed's Children
In California In California
Feby 7 1847
Sund left Francisco1 half past one o'clock
Mo 8 on Sunday in a Launch for Sonoma and arrived on Tuesday morning.
Tus 9 Remained at Sonoma today got from (?) Lieut.
Miles Maurey2 every assistance required and ten govrment horses 4 saddles & Bridles.
18.10 left this morning for Nappa with 5 (?) men for
Weds. the Mountains. Sutter's Fort-Cira 1840"
11 Remained at Mr. George Yonts3 on acct of
Thus Greenwood4 here I engaged (?) three (?) men more and brought two horses.
10.12 left Nappa and arrvd at Mr. Childs5 where I
Frd brought i horse & 1 mule also (?) 2 waggon covers for Tents.
9.13 this day very Rough road we encamped (?) near
Sat Berrissas6
15.14 left and had as usual a bad road
Sun encaped about 15 miles west of Mr. Gordons7 up Cach8 (?) River.
15 had a good Road and encamped
Mo about 1 o'clock opposit Mr. Gordons (?) on account of high water (?) (Cach River?)
4.16 Crossed Cach river water up to th backs of our
Tues horses I went to Wm. (?) Gordons and bought 5 horses, returned to the men and traveled about 4 miles Up the Trail in the Snow
24.17 left Camp early I left the Caravan and went
Wed ahead to Mr. (?) Nights9 where I found the water was high in the Sacramento and the sliews (?) swimming left here and proceeded to Mr. Hardys10 at the mouth of Feather river where we encamped for the night the boys shot two elk out of a band of about 100-here I hoped to meet our spplies (?) with Comdr Woodworth11 in a Launch sent from Yerba buena, but unfortunately the head winds prevented his arrival F Riv was our (place?) of rendezvous
25.18 We broke camp this morning intending to cross
Thus the Sacramento at the mouth ofr Feather River in Skin Boats, for which purpose I intended to use elk hides, we were relieved the trouble in the morning* by Mr. McCoon12 who had his Launch at Mr. Hardy's, and kindly offered her to cross our Bagage (?) when I found our Supplies (?) had not arrived I crossed my horse and proceeded to Mr. Johnsons13, 25 miles distant for the purpose of having prepared flour and Beef.
19 I was at Mr. Johnsons today the boys had not
Frd arrived being detained in crossing on acct of the high winds which arose when I landed on the East side
20 Still at Mr. Johnsons preparing Beef by drying and keeping his Indians at work night & day (--?) in a small hand mill Up the Trail in the Snow
Sunday this morning the men arrived with out any
21 accident excepting one horse that run back I got him from Mr. Combs14 at Mr. Gordons. I kept fire under the Beef all night which I had
10.22 on the scafold and next morning by sun rise I had
Mond about 200 lbs dryed and baged we packed our horses and started with addition of (?) men and one Indian*, our supplies 700 lbs flour including what Greenwood had (dried Sunday) 4 1/2 Beeves 25 horses in all 17 men in my party* and Mr. Greenwood had 2 men* 3 men including himself-& 2 boys* traveled this days about
` 10 miles
20.23 left camp early this morning and (----?) today
Tues and encamped early on acct grass tomorrow we will reach the snow Donner Lake-Sierra
(?)24 encamped at the Mule Spring this evening made
Weds preparations to take the snow in the morning here we left at camp our saddles Bridles etc
(?)25 started with 11 horses & mules lightly packed
Thus (average pack?) about 80 lbs. traveled about 2 miles and left one mule, and pack, made this day with hard labour for the horses, in the snow...about 6 miles Our start was late
15.26 left our encampment early (?) thinking the
Frid snow would bare the horses. proceeded 200 yard with difficulty when we were compelled to unpack the horses and take the provision on out backs here for a few minutes (?) (there was ?) silence with the men when the packs were ready to sling (?) on the back the hilarity commenced as usual made the head of Bear Valley a distance of 15 miles we met in the valley about 3 miles below the camp Messrs Glover15 & Road16 (?) belonging to the party that went to the lake for the people who informed me they had started with 21 persons 2 of whom had died John Denton of Springfield....(?) & a child of Keesberger (?) Mr. Glover sent 2 men back to the (?) party with fresh provisions they (illegible). I here lightened our packs with suficiency of provisions to do the people when (they should?) arrive, and
Arrival at the Lake
15.27 I sent back to our camp of the 26 2 men (?)
Sat to bring provisions they will return tomorrow and left one man to prepare for the people which were expected today and I left camp early on a fine hard snow and proceeded about 4 miles when we met the poor unfortunate starved people, as I met them (?) scattered along the snow trail I distributed (-----?) bread that I had backed the 2 nights previous I (-----?) in small quantities, here I met Mrs. Reed and two children two still in the mountains, I cannot describe the death look they all had Bread Bread Bread Bread was the beging of every child and grown person except my wife* I give to all what I dared and left for the scene of desolation and now I am camped within 25 miles which I hope to mak this night and tomorrow we had to camp soon on account of the softness of the snow, the men falling in to their middles. One of the party that passed us today a little boy Mrs. Murphy's son was nearly blind, when we met them. they were overjoyed when we told them there was plenty of provisions at camp I made a cach 12 miles and 15 miles encamped 3 m eastward on Juba, snow about 5 feet.
17.28 left camp about 12 o'clock at night and was
Sund compl to camp about 2 o'clock, the snow still being soft.left again about 4 all hands and made this day 14 miles in camp early snow soft. Snow her 30 feet 3 of my men Cady,17 Clark18 & Stone19 I told if they wished the might kept on
(18.28 during the night which they intended but
Sund halted within 2 miles of the cabins and
Cont'd) remained without fire during the night on acct of 10 Indians which they saw the boys not having arms and supposed they had taken the cabins and destroyed the people in the morning they started and arrived all alive in the houses give (?) provisions to Keesbergrs, Brinn, (Graves?) and two then left for Donners a distance of ten miles which they made by the middle of the day I came up with the main body of my party Depth of Snow at Donners Camp
29 (------?) the people that all who ware able
Mond should have to start day after tomorrow made
March soup (?) for the infirm washed and clothed
1st afresh Mrs Eddy & Fosters children and rendered every assistance in our power I left with Keesbergs people Mr. Stone to cook and watch the eating of Mrs Murphy Keesberg & 3 children
Tus left early this morning with 3 of the men and went to Donners where Cady & Clark had arrived on yesty found all alive (-----?) and sent Cady back for more provisions (-------?) of (?) any found here but 3 child of J Donner that could com with us at George Donner tent there was 3 stout hearty children his wife was able to travel but preferred to stay with her husband until provisions should arrive, which was confidently expected by Comd (?) Woodworth, who was at Cap Suters the day (?) before I left Mr. Johnsons, here I left two of my
Cabins at Donner Lake
(Tus men Cady & Clark one with each tent to cook
Cont'd) and as fast as possible resusitate the enfeebled (?) so that they might in a few days start, took 3 children of J Donner and the men (?) I took in and returned the same day making this 20 miles carrying 2 of the child got back to the other cabins about 8 o'ck, much worn down, as I passed Mr(s) Graves (?) told them I would be (?) of in the morning, the men that remained with him (her?) today cached the principal of his (her?) effects and got for her out of one of the waggons about 800 in gold & silver which was concealed in a slat (-----?) or (?) bracket that was nailed in the middle (?) of the bed the money being placed (?) in grooves (-----?) made for the purpose
March after leaving with Keesbergh (?) camp (----?)
2 and Mr Stone to get wood cook and take care
Wed of the helpless I left with the following persons P Brin Mrs Brin, John Brin, young man and 4 other smaller children 2 of which had to be carried in all of Brins 7-Mrs Graves-& 4 children 2 of which had to be carried in all of her family 5 Solomon Hook young man and May (?) & Issac Donner in all 3-with two children of my own one a girl of 9 (?) years the other a little boy 4 in all 2-making in all 17 souls-proceeded (?) about 2 miles and encamped on the edge of the lak(e) on a bare spot of ground
3 left camp early traveled on the lake 2 miles an
Thurs encamped under the mountain made this day about 4 miles, nothing of interest occd.
4 this morning after Breakfast I had 2 scanty
Fri meals left for all hands, which would do to the night following (?) I sent ahead 3 men J Jondrou20 M Dofar21 & Turner22 who war (?) of my best men for the ocasion, to push to our first cach and if not disturbed to bring it up while the other two proceed on and bring up our second, and if they should meet our supplies (?) which we all had a right* expected close (?) at hand to hurry them on, but to our misfortune there was none nigher than 65 miles and at this juncture no prospect of starting which I learned afterwards, to be the fact from Comd (?) Wodworth himself. I moaved (?) camp and after a great* fatiguing day arrived at the praire (?) now Starved Camp at the head of Juba it was made by the other Compy. who had passed (?) in but a few days previous. here the men began to fail being for several days on half allowance, or 1 1/2 pints of gruel or sizing (?) per day. the sky look like snow and everything indicates a storm god forbid wood being got for the night & Bows for the beds of all, and night closing fast, the clouds still thicking (?) terror (?) dare not communicate my mind to any, death to all if provisions (?) do not come, in a day or two and a storm should fall on us, very cold, a great lamentation about the cold. Snowy Sierra
5 Still in camp the last if our provisions gone
Saturdaylooking anxiously for our supplies (?) none. My dreaded Storm is now on us commcd (?) a perfect hurricane and with the parents praying (?) crying and lamentatuions on acct of the cold and the dread of death from the Howling storm the men up nearly all night making fires, some of the men began to pray several became blind I could not see even (?) the light of the fire when it was blazing before me I continued so to the next day then my signt returned Young Brinn
(?) fell of his feet into the pit the heat of the fire had made in the snow to the depth of 15 feet. it has snowed already 12 inches, still the storm continues the light of Heaven, is as it ware shut in from us the snow blows so thick that we cannot see 20 feet looking against the wind I dread the coming night 3 of my men only able to get wood the rest give out for the present. After some time wood being secured we had a great dificulty in fixing a foundation for our fire the snow having melted to a great depth I think now 15 feet-and no earth in sight it must from 6 to 10 feet snow snow before the earth is seen in the fire pit, the manner of making our fires on the snow are as follows, we lay 2 pcs (?) of timber or saplin (?) about 10 feet apart-then Roll close together large green logs on the two pcs (?) in a transverse (?) position these form a bed for the dry logs to lie on so as to prevent the coals of the dry wood
(5 which we lay on from falling through into this
Saturdaydeep Pit which has melted below. Still storming
Cont'd.)verry cold so much so that the few now (?) employed in cutting the dry trees down have to come and warm about every 10 minutes, hunger hunger is the cry with the children and nothing to give them freesing (?) was the cry of the mothers with (---?) to their little starving freezing children night closing fast and with it the Hurricane increases-not quite so much snow falling as before night.
Patty Reed Early and Later Life
6th thank God day has once more appeared although
Sunday though (?) darkened by the storm snowing as fast as ever and the Hurricane has (?) never ceased for ten minutes at a time during one of the most dismal nights I ever witnessed and I hope I never shall witness such in a similar situation (?) of all the praying and crying I ever heard nothing ever equaled it several times I expected to see the people perish by the extreme (?) cold at one time our fire was nearly gone and had it not been for Mr McCutchen's23 excertions (?) it would have entirely dispeared had the fire been lost two thirds of the camp would have been out of their misery before morning but a God would have it we soon got it blazing in comfortable order and the sufferings of the people became less-At this time hope began to animate the bosoms of many young and old when the cheering blaze rose through the dry pine logs we had piled together one would say thank god for this fire another how good it is The Doll
(6th the little half starved half frozen poor children
Sunday would say I'm glad I'm glad we have got some fire
Cont'd.)oh how good it feels, it is good our fire didn't go out At day light I discovered the storm to slack by hushing (?) as it were entirely for a few minutes and then it would burst forth with such fury that I felt often alarmed for the safety of the people on acct of the tall timber that surrounded us-the storm continues to lull snow now nearly ceased, the location of our camp a bleak point under the summit of the great California Range about 1000 feet consequently our altitude about 8300 above the sea with a small Prairie on our south and west about 3 miles in length & one in breadth here the snow and wind had full sweep this camp was used by the other party that had passed out of the mountain the under or bed logs for the fire having remained it saved (?) the men from considerable labor (?) in cutting and rolling green logs together I estimate the snow in this valley about 20 feet and at the cabins on the east side of the mountains about 10 feet on the average the storm did not rage with such fury on the east side of the great chain as with us as I learned by two of my party that left the cabins the day after the storm was over News Article On Donner Party *Crossed out in the Orignal End Of Diary