Sunday, Dec. 13, 1846:

At a high council meeting at Winter Quarters, President Brigham Young announced that a house would be built several miles to the south for the Omaha Indians who had been attacked by the Iowas a few evenings previously. These wounded Indians feared to leave the protective homes of the Saints, who took them in. The house was constructed on Thursday by at least 50 men.In the evening, President Young instructed the Winter Quarters bishops in their callings. The bishops were asked to start holding weekly meetings in their wards, and to see that no one within their stewardship would suffer from hunger. All the leaders should "search this place as with a lighted candle in their hands and put down all iniquity.

Monday, Dec. 14:

About 1 inch of snow fell during the night on Winter Quarters, but it quickly melted in the warm sunshine. An Indian interpreter, Logan Fontenelle, returned to Winter Quarters from the site of the recent, tragic massacre of Omaha Indians, about 60 miles to the north. He reported finding 73 bodies - men, women, and children.

The Saints understood the importance of teaching their children. Thomas Bullock recorded: "In the evening I commenced a School for my Children, which I pray my Heavenly Father to bless me in my labors, & enable me to instruct them well, & make them useful in building up His Kingdom on the Earth."

Tuesday, Dec. 15:

A council meeting was held with the bishops. Stewardship reports were presented by several of the bishops. Brigham Young was somewhat frustrated with these long-winded reports. Willard Richards, the historian, was asked to issue a form to help the bishops create concise reports. President Young said each of the 22 bishops should be able to give their reports in two minutes. He commented, "If men who have been in the Church thirteen years cannot do business with dispatch and correctly, the Council must teach them." He also instructed the council to listen to the Spirit: "I asked my Heavenly Father what he had for me to do, and when he dictated, I performed accordingly, and I left the issue with Him, believing that it would come out all right."

The sisters in Winter Quarters always stayed busy during this cold time. On this day, Mary Richards baked a loaf of bread, wrote a letter, and spent the evening sewing. Harriet Young, with her husband, Lorenzo away, drew a barrel of water, fixed the fence, chopped the wood, tacked a comfort, and maintained her husband's journal.

The Mormon Battalion took up their march toward Tucson. They marveled as they saw for the first time the giant saguaro cactus, so plentiful in that area. William Coray complained, "We traveled this day through the most prickly, prongy, thorny country I ever saw; the Prickles were in every shape imaginable."

Wednesday, Dec. 16:

A man from Missouri visited Winter Quarters to hire brethren for a job near St. Joseph. Wilford Woodruff put the roof on his father's house and moved the family in. Many men worked on the mill race, which was finally completed in the evening.

The Mormon Battalion felt uneasy as they approached Tucson. Anticipating a confrontation with Mexican troops, Col. Cooke ordered the men to load their muskets. Soon, two Mexican citizens arrived to report that Tucson was being evacuated. All of the Mexican soldiers and several hundred citizens were fleeing to the south, fearing the approach of the Americans. When the battalion arrived at the gates of the Tucson Presidio, Col. Cooke reminded his men that they were not at war with the Mexicans in this area. The battalion must not interfere with the citizens' private property. The battalion marched impressively into the Tucson Presidio. It was almost deserted, except for about 100 frightened men, women, children, sick and elderly.

Thursday, Dec. 17:

A council meeting was held in the evening at Winter Quarters. Camp historian Willard Richards, spoke to the council on the importance of keeping a good history of the Church. He had "bushels" of papers that needed to be organized and filed safely away. Wilford Woodruff commended Elder Richards for his work. He felt that they were living in one of the most important eras of the world and that a strict history must be kept. He testified that they would be judged out of the things written in the books.

Friday, Dec. 18:

The few survivors of the massacred Omahas came into Winter Quarters. Together, with the other Omahas who had been staying in the city, they moved to a new camp to the south. Wilford Woodruff spent the day helping John S. Fowler get ready for a trading expedition to Missouri.

Saturday, Dec. 19:

In the afternoon, Brigham Young reported to the other members of the Twelve that construction on the Winter Quarters flouring mill was progressing well. The lower story was complete. At sunset, President Young went to the mill and let water flow into the mill race for the first time.

Sources: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, pp. 473-79; Journals of John D. Lee, 1846-1847 and 1859, pp. 33-43; Wilford Woodruff's Journal 3:98-9; The Diary of Hosea Stout, pp. 217-18; Philip St. George Cooke, Exploring Southwestern Trails 1846-1854, pp. 145-64; Thomas Bullock Journal; Thomas Dunn Journal, typescript, p. 16; Diary of Lorenzo Dow Young, Utah Historical Quarterly 14:152; The 1846-1848 Life Writings of Mary Haskin Parker Richards, p. 101; Journal Extracts of Henry W. Bigler, Utah Historical Quarterly 5:2:49-50; Life of a Pioneer, p. 63; John F. Yurtinus, A Ram in the Thicket: The Mormomon Battalion in the Mexican War, (Ph.D. diss., Brigham Young University, 1975O, pp 410-415.