Picturing history: Wagon Bed Springs

By Kenneth Mays, For the Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 17 2012 5:00 a.m. MDT

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After marching for many miles through ?one of the most dreary deserts that man ever saw,? members of the Mormon Battalion arrived at Wagon Bed Springs in Kansas on Sept. 19, 1846. Desperately needing water, the battalion was able to find sufficient water under the sands of the dry creek bed. With the water and grass for the teams, the battalion men and women, along with the animals, were able to rest and refresh somewhat before continuing their march to San Diego. This site marked about a third of the distance from Council Bluffs, Iowa. to the lower coast of California.

Kenneth Mays,

Summary

After marching for many miles through "one of the most dreary deserts that man ever saw," members of the Mormon Battalion arrived at Wagon Bed Springs in Kansas on Sept. 19, 1846.

Desperately needing water, the battalion was able to find sufficient water under the sands of the dry creek bed. With the water and grass for the teams, the battalion men and women, along with the animals, were able to rest and refresh somewhat before continuing their march to San Diego.

This site marked about a third of the distance from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to the lower coast of California.

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About the Author

Kenneth Mays

Kenny Mays is a teacher at the Salt Lake University Institute adjacent to the University of Utah and a board member of the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation. For decades he has been studying and photographing LDS Church more ..

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