19^th Is a day long to Be remembered by me &
others in consequence of the interesting scenes
transpir^e^d with the Saints of God in the South. Isaiah &
others of the Ancient Prophets testify to us of the
great events of the last days esspecially of the literal
gathering of Israel. They say the Saints shall
gather from the East & from the West & that that
the North shall give up & the South Keep not back [Isaiah 43:5-6]
This interesting day had now arived yea the 19^th of Sept
1836 when some of the Saints of God in the South
began to take their families, their charriots waggons

their Oxen, their Horses their Tents their armour and
moove towards Zion as the children of Israel accordi-
ng to the command of God As follows Arose in the
morning at Br Camps & breakfasted at his house
after which we repaired to the bank of a stream
whare Prayers were offer'd up unto God when
President Marsh led a young man into the waters
of Baptism & he was confirmed upon the bank
of the stream under the hands of Presidents Marsh
Patten & Grooves then we all stood upon our feet
& receieved great Blessings confirmed upon our heads
with uplifted hands of the three above named Brethren
President Marsh being speaker We then all took the
parting hand with these Beloved servents of God &
with Sister Patten also these four friends took their
seat in a waggon & set their faces as a flint towards
Zion, not waiting for those that on the same day ware
to follow their example but with Ox teams. Soon after
the above named brethren left us Br Albert Petty came
to us from Cyprus branch with his waggon & family
to join those of the Taropen Branch who ware going to
Zion. After spending a short time in aranging the waggons
& teems the company were prepared to move forward
the company consisted of four families with three
Elders as follows Lewis Clapp & his family, John Camp
& his family, AlBert Petty & his family & Elder
Benjamin Clapp & his family. Also Elders Boydstun &
Cathcart. This company chose Elder Benjamin Boydstun
as their leader on the road to Zion this company of
the South were principly the first fruits of my ministry
some were Baptized by Elder Parrish. They numbered
six male members & five female & 10 children & one
servant making 22 in all. This company of faithful Saints
after taking the parting hand with their friends on Taro
pen moved forward on their journey in good spirits & with joy

{with the exception of Sister Mary Barker who desired to return back thinking it after all too great to leave her friends I immediately
set before her the danger of returning to Babylon and encouraged her and she became reconciled and continued her journey|shorthand}
I rode with them this first days travel as far as the
south fork of Mayfield whare we all camped for the
night. After pitching our tents & taking supper I
assembled this small camp of Israel together at Br
Albert Pettys tent to address them for the last time
& after they were assembled I arose to address them
& although the rain desended in torrents so that we wer
e wet through a good tent yet my soul was vibrated
& fired with emotions & feeling of no ordinary nature
I endeavor'd to lay before them the worth & value of
the cause they were ingaged in & that they were the
first in fullfiling the Prophets who spake of the South
keeping not back [Isaiah 43:6] & that it would be recorded upon
the Archives of heaven to be read in the day of eternity
that they were the first fruits of the South who
had spread their tents for Zion I also instructed
them about travling by the way they all covenanted
to give heed to Elder Boydstuns precepts as they
had chosen him as their leader when I closed I was
followed By Elders Boydstun, Cathcart, & Clapp who
spake in the spirit of God & with feeling of the deepest
interest When this edifying interview closed by our
kneeling & I addressed a throne of grace & implored
the mercy of God to rest upon the camp that they
might all reach Zion in Peace distance of the day 8 miles