1864-06-23-Gen-McClellan

Journal of David L. Davis

Davis, David L., Journal, (Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum Library, Salt Lake City), pp. 1-8.

23 Sighted land and about 8 p.m. threw anchor in the capacious harbor of New York.

24 Busily engaged in keeping the luggage for landing. Slept on deck and guarded part of the time.

25th A steamer and a barge came along side to take away our luggage and a busy time followed. All our luggage was reshipped and piled on the barge by our own boys which were previously selected to act as porters myself amongst the number. We (the porters) were towed on board the barge by a steamer to the Castle Garden wharf where we gave our respective names & ages. Thence we went on board the barge again and sailed up the river for about a mile & shipped our luggage on board the St. John, a very large and beautiful steamer which sails the Hudson River.

Journal of Thomas Evans Jeremy

Jeremy, Thomas Evans. [Journal] Collection (Ms 1249) reel 1, bx. 1, fd. 4, vol. 7, pp. 88- 89, 92-95. (CHL)

... Thursday, June 23rd. Arrived at New York after a very pleasant journey. The agents of the church at New York viz. Brothers Joseph A. Young and William G. Stains [Staines] very much approved of the course I and my counselors took in leading the Saints across the sea, and blessed us. Sister Ann and her daughters from Philadelphia came to New York to meet me and it was a source of much gratification to me to meet them.

John Jeremy [-] my nephew is keeping at draper shop at New [p.94] York, and I suppose is doing a good business, himself and his wife treated me with much kindness. ...

Letter of Thomas Evans Jeremy - July 2, 1864

Jeremy, T[homas] E[vans] [Letter] Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 26:33 (August 13, 1864) pp. 524-526. (CHL)

... As we informed you therein, we arrived in New York Bay on the evening of Wednesday, the 22nd ultimate, making the passage over the sea one of thirty-two days, which, at this season of the year, may be considered an unusually short one. We were unable to disembark that evening and next day, in consequence of there being upwards of one thousand emigrants in advance of us, who, of course, occupied Castle Garden. We, therefore, could not get the Saints landed before Friday morning. On Thursday evening Elders Joseph A. Young, Brigham Young, Junior and Paul A. Schettler, went on board the ship and addressed the Saints. They, together with Elder [William C.] Staines, expressed their satisfaction with the manner in which things had been conducted on the voyage, with the pre-arrangement of the business connected with the landing of the people and their further journey toward Wyoming. They also expressed the joy and pleasure they experienced at seeing so goodly a company blessed with general health and good feelings. Notwithstanding the fact that brothers J. [Joseph] A. Young and Staines had received no communication respecting the business of this company or list of passengers, (which accident, doubtless, occurred through detention at sea of the mail steamer), we were able to settle everything with but little difficulty. There was but one obstacle that we foresaw would interfere with our immediate departure from New York, and that was, the examination of the passengers' baggage, which we anticipated would be diligently overhauled by the officers. Doubtless through the heavy demands on the United States' Government for the continued support of the expensive war now being waged upon this continent, a strict and rigid system of searching in emigrants' luggage for contraband articles, is enforced; the officers charge for almost everything beside what individuals are clothed with. This obstacle, however, was removed, and we succeeded in having everything landed without any serious difficulty arising therefrom, and particularly without the people being detained in New York more than twelve hours. We left New York in the afternoon for Albany, by the magnificent steamboat "St. John," where we arrived early on the following morning. The organization of the company remained, at Brother Joseph A. Young's desire, as it originally stood. ...

Letter of Thomas Evans Jeremy - June 19, 1864

Jeremy, T[homas] E[vans] [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 26:30 (July 23, 1864) pp. 476-479. (CHL)

... In anticipation of sundry expenses which the company may have to meet [p.477] -- such, for instance, as the passing of the baggage through the Customs, and supporting on the journey from New York to Wyoming, those who are destitute of funds, of whom we find an unusually large number--we have made collections in the various wards. Our call was cheerfully responded to by those who possessed means, and many were found to be acting too generously, for they were to some extent depriving themselves of what they would necessarily require. Again, in accordance with your instructions, the Saints have been recommended to deposit their sterling money in our hands, for the purpose of converting it into the American currency, and taking for them advantage of the market. Those who possessed gold and silver readily transferred it for that purpose into our hands. Every preparation necessary to be made for the landing of the company at New York, and everything that we could do to facilitate the business consequent on their disembarkation, have been done in view of lightening the labors of our brethren there. In these matters, as well as every other matter, we have had the cooperation of the presidents of wards, mostly all of whom have had the experience which the ministry in England affords.

In all the wards meetings are held every morning and evening, devoted to singing, prayer and testimonies from the Saints. Councils, composed of the presidents of wards, are held whenever circumstances require them, and it is there that the business of the company is arranged and transacted.

We have found it necessary, with this company, to be very strict and rigid in reference to cleanliness. Our reason for this is, the largeness of the number on board, and the proneness of some few, notwithstanding the repeated instructions given to them upon the subject, to neglect the regulations which are invariably adopted by our people when crossing the sea. This few, we are pleased to say, are confined to a few indeed; but the practice of uncleanly habits of even a few, in a large company like this, may prove very disastrous to the whole. Altogether, however, we can boast of a clean and orderly body of people, and the fact that none have been afflicted with any other complaint than seasickness, is sufficient to justify our statement. The people are willing to do what is demanded of them, in a general way; and we have experienced, in no way whatever, any disposition on the part of the Saints to complain at the instructions given to them from time to time.

Tuesday, 21st, 3 o'clock, p.m.-- Within the last half hour there has been a terrific commotion on board, in consequence of the appearance, in prospect, of a pilot boat. "The pilot! the pilot!" was cried aloud, and the cry was taken up between decks, followed by a tumultuous rush up the hatchway, and folks lined the bulwarks immediately, to await the pilot's arrival. Dinners were abandoned for the time, and a general holiday all over the ship appeared to be in full enjoyment, the excitement being intense. He has just arrived amidst "thunders of applause." Our distance from New York is now about 130 miles, and we are running at about 11 knots per hour.

Wednesday, 4 o'clock, p.m. - Sandy Hook in sight. Expect to anchor for the night as soon as we get to the Quarantine. We have just presented the testimonial above-named to Captain Trask; which was read by Brother Graham; after which the captain read a reply, which he handed in writing to us. The reply is as follows: --

"Gentlemen,- You will please accept and convey to the passengers my thanks for the very handsome testimonial which you have presented me with.

I am happy that my endeavors to make your passage pleasant and agreeable have been successful, and acknowledge the pride I feel in so flattering an approval of my course and conduct.

The gratitude evinced, the regard conveyed, and the thorough feeling of kindness and respect manifested by them, are both appreciated and reciprocated, and will be long treasured. And I trust this favorable passage is a foreshadowing of the remainder of your journey - not only to Utah, but through life - and that you and they may be richly blessed. The enjoyments a good people are deserving of.

G. D. T. Trask

To Messrs. Jeremy, Bull, Bywater and Graham, ship General McClellan.

9 o'clock, p.m. - Just anchored in the bay. The people passed the medical [p.478] officer without any difficulty. Captain Trask handed brother Graham a couple of sovereigns, one to be given to each of the parents of the two children born on the voyage, accompanied by his best wishes for the children's welfare. May the Lord bless him for his kindness to the people.

Thursday morning. - We are now waiting for our landing at Castle Garden, so we will bring this letter to a close, and pray that God may bless you and all whom we have left behind, with the choicest of his blessings.

Your ever faithful brethren,

T. E. Jeremy, President

Joseph Bull, Counselor

G. G. Bywater, Counselor

J. C. Graham, Clerk

Reminiscences of Mary Roberts Roskelley

Roskelley, Mary Roberts. [Reminiscences], Our Pioneer Heritage, comp. by Kate B. Carter, vol. 12 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1969) pp. 484-85. (CHL)

... We reached New York on the 21st of June. When we sighted the hills of America a great shout of "America, America" went up from the eager throng and there was singing and rejoicing all day. The ship was anchored for the night and the next morning we were put on a small steamboat and carried to shore. We were taken into a large inspection room. Father went first, the children next and mother brought up the rear. The inspector looked at father and asked him where his wife was. "Sick," he said "back there." He looked us all over and said, "You'll do" and passed us.

In a day or two we embarked on a boat and sailed up the Hudson River to Albany. ...