Diary of H. W. Rigler in 1847 and 1848, With Notes [pp. 233-245]

1S87.]' fliary oj II W Bigler i4L i~~~ and i~~ 2~3
EVEN THERE.
A troop of babes in Summe?-Land,
At heaven's gate - the children's gate
One lifts the latch with rosy hand,
Then turns and dimpling, asks her mate,
What was the last thing that you saw?"
I lay and watched the dawn begin,
And suddenly, thro' the thatch of straw,
A great, clear morning-star laughed in."
"And you?" "Afloatingth istle-down,
Against June sky and cloud-wings white."
"And you?" "A falling blow, a frown -
It frights me yet; oh, clasp me tight
"And you?" "A face thro' tears that smiled
The trembling lips could speak no more;
The blue eyes sw~m; the lonely child
Was homesick even at heaven's door~
E. )?. Sill.
DIARY OF H. W. BIGLER IN 1847 AND 1848.
[HENRY W. BIGLER, one of the laborers in the conquest of California, and marched
employed on Sutter and Marshall's sawmill at through the Indian Territory, New Mexico,
Coloma in January, 1848, when gold was and Arizona to San Diego, during the
found there, is the person to whom we are greater portion of their service under the
indebted for our knowledge of the precise command of Lieutenant-Colonel Philip St.
date of the discovery. He was the only George Cooke, First Dragoons, U. S. A.
one who made a written record of the event The battalion, numbering five hundred
on the day of its occurrence; the only one men, crossed the Colorado River on January
present who wrote an account of the dis- ioth, 1847, and was mustered out at Los
covery (Marshall's story having been writ- Angeles on July i6th, 1848. Some re-enlistten by others); and the only person present ed, others found employment as laborers
who kept a diary with numerous entries. in California, and the remainder went to
He had previously been a pflvate soldier in Salt Lake. Among those of the second
the Mormon Battalion which enlisted in class was Bigler, who entered the service of
Miss~un in June, 1846, for one year to aid John A. Sutter of Sutter's Fort, on the