| 484 stated, was the first who was slain. In about thirty minutes after his death Seth Hitchcock followed him; and it appeared as though we must sink under the destroyer with them.
"We were not able to obtain boards to make them coffins, but were under the necessity of rolling them up in their blankets and burying them in that manner. So we placed them on a sled, which was drawn by a horse about half a mile, where we buried them in a little bluff by the side of a small stream that emptied into Rush Creek. This we accomplished by dark, and returned back.
"Our hopes were that no more would die, but while we were uniting in a covenant to pray once more with uplifted hands to God, we looked at our beloved brother, Elder Wilcox, and he was gasping his last. At this scene my feelings were beyond expression. Those only who witnessed it can realize anything of the nature of our sufferings, and I felt to weep and pray to the Lord that he would spare my life that I might behold my dear family again. I felt to covenant with my brethren, and I felt in my heart never to commit another sin while I lived. We felt to sit and weep over our brethren, and so great was our sorrow that we could have washed them with our tears, to realize that they had traveled one thousand miles through so much fatigue to lay down their lives for our brethren. And who hath greater love than he who is willing to lay down his life for his brethren? This increased our love to them. About twelve o'clock at night we placed him on a small sled, which we drew to the place of interment, with one hand hold of the rope, and in the other we bore our firelocks for our defense. While one or two were digging the grave, the rest stood with their arms to defend them.
"This was our situation, the enemies around us, and the destroyer in our midst. Soon after we returned back another brother was taken away from our little band; thus it continued until five out of ten were taken away.
"It was truly affecting to see the love manifested among the brethren for each other, during this affliction; even Brother Joseph, seeing the sufferings of his brethren, stepped forward to rebuke the destroyer, but was immediately
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