This is another in a weekly series of day-by-day summaries of what transpired during the Saints' 1846-47 trek from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley. The compiler, David Crockett, is a member of the Church Pioneer Sesquicentennial Committee.

Sunday, Sept. 13, 1846:

A Sabbath meeting was held in Camp of Israel located at Cutler's Park. President Brigham Young testified: "Heaven and all of God's creations are governed by law. . . . We must begin to be governed by law here before we are prepared to receive those blessings. The whole law has not been given and you cannot abide the whole law as yet."

Monday, Sept. 14:

In the morning, five men started with teams for Nauvoo to help bring the poor to Winter Quarters. Orrin Porter Rockwell left on horseback for Mount Pisgah with a package of letters. Brigham Young and others continued to survey and plan the Winter Quarters settlement.

Tuesday, Sept. 15:

Brigham Young rode with Willard Richards to Winter Quarters. They surveyed the Winter Quarter's cemetery, located on a hill to the west. About 600 pioneers would be buried there between 1846-53.

The Mormon Battalion marched for 12 miles and then crossed over the Arkansas River into what was then called Texas Territory. Lt. Smith ordered several of the battalion families to head toward Pueblo, Colo., for the winter where the Mississippi Saints were located.

At Nauvoo, members of a committee from Quincy met with both sides to negotiate a treaty. Daniel H. Wells pleaded with the defenders to accept a treaty and no longer try to defend the city that they would eventually have to give up. Their lives were in danger and it seemed pointless to hold out much longer.

Wednesday, Sept. 16:

It was a rainy morning at Cutler's Park. A council meeting was held at which Albert P. Rockwood reported that more than $1,000 had been collected within the camp to buy goods in St. Louis. The council decided that the brethren could start moving to Winter Quarters to start building homes on their assigned lots.

At Nauvoo, both sides agreed to sign a treaty. The Saints would surrender to the mob forces, who would take possession of the city on the following day. All arms would be delivered to the Quincy committee and later returned after the Saints crossed the river. The mob promised that there would be no violence or property damage.

Thursday, Sept. 17:

During a council meeting, an alarming report was received that a U.S. marshal from Missouri was heading toward Council Bluffs to arrest the Twelve. Wilford Woodruff would later write, "O Missouri when will thou cease seeking for the blood of the Twelve Apostles and the Saints of God?" It was decided to have Hosea Stout send two brethren over to Council Bluffs to find out more information. Brigham Young also expressed his wish to have the Nauvoo Legion put into operation as soon as possible.

The Mormon Battalion set off for a long 90-mile march across the Cimarron Desert in today's Kansas. Soon they were overtaken by John D. Lee and Howard Egan who were on their mission to obtain the pay from the battalion members. Brother Lee became outraged when he learned of the terrible treatment of the sick. He approached Lt. Smith, informed him that he was representing Brigham Young, and gave him a tongue-lashing.

The treaty for the surrender of Nauvoo was formally signed this day. The remaining Saints fled across the river before the arrival of the mob. They knew that these lawless individuals would not honor the terms of the treaty. Gov. Ford's official observer, Mason Brayman, reported, "In every part of the city scenes of destitution, misery and woe met the eye." Families were leaving their homes without shelter and without many provisions. The sick were carried in their beds."

At 3 p.m., the mob forces numbering 1,500-2,000 marched into the city yelling, hooting and howling. Brother Thomas Bullock recorded, "I never heard [such howling] from men, or even the wild savages of the forest . . . terror and dismay surely for once overcame the sick, the poor women and children. . . . We expected that an indiscriminate massacre was commencing."

As expected, the mob did ignore the terms of the treaty.

Friday, Sept. 18:

Members of the Twelve and others went to Winter Quarters to lay out the city. They considered that it might be wiser to establish the settlement closer to the Missouri River. The original layout was on prairie ridges. After some discussion they agreed to move the settlement to a table of land nearer to the river. This location, sheltered by high bluffs, would be protected from the high winds, Indians and the mob.

Saturday, Sept. 19:

It was a very windy day by the Missouri River, at Cutler's Park. Many tents were taken down in order to protect them from damage. Some of the wagon covers were blown off and several tents that remained up were badly damaged. Members of the Twelve arose early and went to the new location for Winter Quarters, where they surveyed enough lots to settle about 150 families.

On the banks of the Mississippi River, in Iowa, across from Nauvoo, the last of the Saints sadly viewed their beloved city for the final time. Wandle Mace wrote, "Farewell Nauvoo the Beautiful, The City of Joseph! The home of so much joy and happy contentment, and also of the most exquisite sorrow and anguish."

Sources: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, pp. 383-90; Comprehensive History of the Church 3:15; Wilford Woodruff's Journal 3:77-83, 89; Ensign to the Nations, pp. 42-5; Wandle Mace Autobiography, Typescript, pp. 203, 207; Life Writings of Mary Richards, pp. 90, 92; A Ram in the Thicket: The Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, pp. 136-48; Journal of Henry Standage in The March of the Mormon Battalion, pp. 164-66; Louise Lyman Nielson and Dora Dutson Flack, The Dutson Family History; Autobiography of Christopher Layton; John Doyle Lee, pp. 98-99; The Diary of Hosea Stout, p. 194; Our Pioneer Heritage, 8:234-35; Joseph Fielding Diary in BYU Studies 19:165-66.