Mary endured all the hardships incident to that long march, washed for sixteen men and did many hard tasks she had never done before, and was not accustumed to doing, she suffered with heat and thirst, on soldiers rations, and became footsore and weary; waited patiently in the heat or cold, in storm or blistering heat or intense cold while the men dug wells, cut down trees or undergrowth to make roads and forded streams, some of which were treacherous with quicksand. "I wasn't afraid of anything," Mary later remarked, "but the wolves."

In the Mormon Battalion Correspondence Collection found at the LDS Archives is the following letter from Mary McRee Black Brown to her former brother-in-law, Curtis Black (1820-1850):

Children of Captain James Brown and Mary McRee Black Brown

Mary McRee Black Brown - from photo where she is sitting with remainder of Mormon Battalion
at 50 Year anniversary in 1897

Published on the cover of The Pioneer Vol. 16 N. 5 Sept-Oct 1969

Right Click mouse on image - then click on view image - to see enlarged photo

FIFTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY - PIONEER JUBILEE MEDAL

MARY MCREE BLACK BROWN, WIFE OF CAPTAIN JAMES BROWN

by her son George David Black and his wife, Mary Hunt Black
and their daughter, Harriett Erminnie "Minnie" Black Garner

Among those who received the message of Mormonism in the beautiful valley of the Mississippi were George and Mary McCree (sp) Black who was born in Copiah County, Mississippi. They were baptized in 1841 by Daniel Tyler and that same year, George David Black, was born February 18th. The father died of malaria in 1845. After his death Mary lost two little girls with the same disease within two months. The shock was so great that she became very ill and the doctor told her that if she did not go to a warmer climate she, also would die.

During this time of sorrow she sent for Brigham Young. He answered her request bringing with him James Brown. They blessed her and told her to return to her home where she could be with her own people. She took with her the two remaing daughters and son, George David, and went to the home of her husband's people who had become Mormon converts. Again the angel of death visited her and took both of her little girls.

In the spring she returned with missionaries to Nauvoo. Shortly after George David was stricken with malaria and fearing that he, too, would die she sent for Brigham Young to come and administer to him. Brigham came as quickly as possible. "Mary," he said, "I will take him down to the Mississippi River and baptize him for his health." The boy recovered and was made well and strong again.

When the Saints were driven out of Illinois and companies were being formed to go west, James Brown invited Mary and her son to go with the company. This she was glad to do, joining the trains of snow-covered wagons in almost countless numbers that poured of Nauvoo. After reacing Council Bluffs, Iowa, James Brown proposed marriage to Mary.  She accepted and they were married at that place.

When James was made Captain of Company D [Company C] of the Mormon Battalion he took Mary and George David with him on the long journey where they endured untold suffering. Mary cooked and washed for the men. Little David was her joy and consolation during these trying months. Sfter reaching Santa Fe, New Mexico, Captain Brown was detailed to take the women, children and disable soldiers to Pueblo, Colorado where they wintered. In the spring of 1847, they, with other members of the company, again took up the long journey to the valley, arriving in Salt Lake City July 29, 1847.

George David and Mary went north with Captain Brown when he was called to buy and colonize a tract of land on the present site of Ogden bought from Miles Goodyear, an ole trapper with an Indian wife. Mary lived in the log cabin with a dirt floor and the only furniture was a one-legged bed nailed to the wall. When she saw her new home forty miles from a neighbor, she exclaimed, "This is a hard way to serve the Lord." In this community she later became known as an outstanding cheesemaker. She lived to be eighty-six years of age and died a faithful Latter-day Saint.

David grew to manhood and worked many hours on the land. His education was rather meger, but his mother being a cultured woman had taught him to read from the Bible and tried to instill into his young life the wound and lasting principles which would remain with him throughout his mortal exisence. He was baptized and ordained a deacon in 1851.

While the mothers cooked meals over campfires during the sojourn with the Battalion, David often played with Mary, daughter of Captain Charles Jefferson Hunt. After the Mormon Battalion was mustered out and Captain Hunt returned to Utah, he and others, were called to colonize the San Bernardino Valley in California. Thus the children were separated until May was about fourteen years of age when her father and his family were called back to Utah on account of Johnston's Army. The Hunt family located in Ogden. Mary was then a beautiful blue-eyed, dark-haired girl. During all the years, David had retained a love for his childhood sweetheart. When he met her again he vowed that no other man should call her wife. Mary returned his love and they were married September 16, 1861 at the home of Captain Hunt, the ceremony was performed by Joseph A. West, the first bishop of Ogden. Later they were sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.

The young couple made their home in Ogden untl 1871, where four chlildren were born to them: Nancy Jane, George David, Charles Jefferson, and William Jesse. During this time the father took care of large herds of cattle out on Promontory. John Henry Smith also herded cattle in this vicinity and they became staunch friends. George David was a member of the first martial band of Ogden, playing snare drum and he was also a good violinist, playing for the town dances. He was honored as the official cannon shooter of the city. During a 4th of July celebration, while shooting the cannon, he did not get away quickly enough and received a shock which impaired his hearing for the rest of his life.

In the fall of 1871, George David moved his family to Huntsville.  The snow fell so deep that winter it covered the little dugouts in which many of the people lived. David and Mary lived in a one-room log cabin and here on April 21, 1872, Harriet Erminnie was born. In March of the next year they were on the move again, settling in Oxford, Idaho, and here they stayed for eleven years. During this time five more children, Joseph Warren Black, John Franklin Black, Mary Abigail Black, Grace Black, and Henry Harrison Black came to bless their home. In 1874, George David was ordained an Elder by John Boice and, in 1875, was made Presiding Elder over the Oxford Branch, Cache Stake of Zion. He held that position for three years and then was chosen first counselor to William F. Fisher who was called from Richmond to be Bishop of the Oxford Ward. The Black family lived in Oxford until the Upper Snake River Valley was being colonized by the Mormons. George David was called by the President of the Stake, William B. Preston, to go and help build up the valley.

So once more they traveled over mountains and through deep sand, through the Bannock Indian Reservation, then a barren desert with only an Indian agency at Fort Hall. "As we drove through Portneuf we children expected every moment a band of Indians would come rushing out of some of those ravines. Finally we reached the great Snake RIver, and crossed the old toll bridge at Eagle Rock, then on to Market Lake. How the old wagon jolted over the lava beds. There were no roads, just a trail to follow. Again we reached the river north of Rexbury. When we found out we must ford the wide deep stream, our hearts almost failed us, but we had come to build a new home and knew that was the only way we could get to it. Father told us not to be afraid. We offered up a prayer to our Heavenly Father, then fater drove into the stream following the sand bar. How happy we were when we reached the opposite side of the mighty river, and reached our lone log cabin near the banks of the north Teton River, November 6, 1883.

"The snow fell that night and we never saw the bare ground again until the first of May. It was a long hard winter. There were no amusements of any kind. Neighbors had to travel back and forth on snowshoes. The older people visited with each other and read a few books they had brought with them, while the children played games and amused themselves as only children can. In March Thomas E. Ricks came from Rexburg and partly organized a Sunday School so we might have something of a spiritual nature."

As Christmas time came near, the younger children began to talk of Santa Claus which made George David and Mary very sad as seventy-five cents was the total sum of money in the house. They talked it over and decided that the children would have a little candy at least. He would drive to Rexburg, a distance of seven and one-half miles. The day before Christmas a raging blizzard came, but David hitched his horses onto an old homemade sleigh and started out. He had to ford two rivers before he reached Rexburg. At the first, the Teton, the horses broke through the ice, plunging into the icy water.  David somehow got hold of the horses bridles and got them back on the bank. It was several hours later when he reached home nearly frozen. Mary, although disappointed that the children would not receive even the candy, was truly thankful that her husband was safe at home again and late that night she made a little candy of the precious sugar on hand and parched som corn. With the help of the older daughter, Minnie, she made rag dolls for the little girls using charcoal to make the hair and eyes and fruit juices to paint their cheeks. The children were overjoyed with their gifts and it can truly be said that this was one of the happiest Christmases spent by the family, for every heart in that humble home was in tune.

The spring found George David busy plowing and planting his precious seed. Along with his other duties he became superintendent of the Wilford Sunday School. He was also presiding Elder of the Wilford Branch. When the bannock Stake of Zion was organized he was chosen a member of the First High Council, and was the senior member. He often walked a distance of twelve miles to attend quorum meetings.

George David was a true friend of the Indians and learned their language. They taught him to hunt and fish and were often amazed when he caught the biggest fish. They named him "Pigga Panguitch" meaning "big fish". After forty years he went to Salt Lake City to attend the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Saints arrival in the Valley. Heree he saw an old Indian woman he had known as the young mother of one of his playmates. He stepped up to her and said, "Loanna" in her language. She was now almost blind. When she recognixed him she cried, "Pigga Panguitch", tears streaming down her face. Members of her tribe had been fed in his home and many would have given their life for him.

George David and Mary passed through all the trials and hardships incident to pioneering a new country. He filled many positions of trust, helped build new meetinghouses and schoolhouses as he was a carpenter and plasterer by trade. While living in Wilford three more children were born to them, Celia Margaret Black, Wallace Edwin Black, and Maudeline Black, the latter dying [March 28, 1899] when she was eight and a half years of age.

In 1903, George David moved his family to Grande Ronde Valley, settling in LaGrande, Oregon, where his son Jefferson Black was bishop, but they did not stay long for they wanted to be with their loved ones in their old Idaho home. When they returned he built a home at Sugar City but again they moved to Oregon to Mount Glen. They eventually moved back to Wilford where he bought another, and as he said "his last home". On April 2, 1912, while riding home from St. Anthony on a heavily loaded wagon of wheat, he was knocked off by some boys who were scuffling, between the wheels of the wagon and was so badly crushed, he died five days later.
------Minnie Black Garner

Found in "Our Pioneer Heritage -- Women and Children of the Mormon Battalion", pages 481-485.
Submitted to this site by Erold C. Wiscombe

WITH THE CAMP FIRES OF THE MORMON BATTALION

By Minnie Moore Brown

Who can describe her appearance now? We can tell of the whitened head bowed by the years; of the toil worn patient hands; the sweet tremulous mouth; the bright eyes; but we cannot express the impression of her which we receive when taling to her or sitting in her presence. She is such a cheery little body--has such nimble fingers, and so very much to talk about. Wherever she goes, she is a welcome guest and every child who knows her loves her. It is a pleasant sight to see her surrounded by four or five of her little grandsons--she as patient and resourceful as she was forty years ago, and they so happy to be with "Gra'm."

Mary Brown was born October 28th, 1816 in Copiah County, Mississippi, her forefathers being Americans for generation back. Her father was a physician of some note in his locality and here she received the early training which prpared her to so nobly live a life of varied experiences.

She grew into womanhood, characterized by indefatigable industry and pureness of heart. While still quite young she married George Black, and together with her husband she was converted and baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder Daniel Tyler. In 1843, Mr. Black moved his family to Nauvoo, where they lived in peace and happiness until his death in 1845.

His widow was left with a little son David, who was her chief comfort and pride. Shortly before the exodus from Nauvoo, [27 year old] Mary became the plural wife of James Brown, and with his family she began her westward march.

On the plains the call came for recruits for the U.S. Armny. We all know how cheerfully the Pioneers responded to this demand from the Government, and how quickly five hundred of our men and boys were enrolled as soldiers of "Uncle Sam". James Brown was selected as one of the five captains, and his wife Mary was advised to accompany him on the march to Mexico. She conquered her natural shrinking from such a hard life and bravely agreed to go with him, placing her faith in the Lord. Her only condition was that she might be allowed to take her son, David Black, with her.

At Council Bluffs a great farewell feast was held, during which, the dancing and singing were enjoyed by none more heartily than Mary Brown. Her face still lights up when thinking of that time. Though many hearts were sad at the necessary partngs, all placed implicit faith in God, and in the word of His prophet that not one should fall in battle. Few doubted the safe return of the soldier boys.

We can scarcely imagine the trials Mary endured on the march to Fort Leavenworth, during the tedious stop while enlistment of the Battalion into the regular army took place, and the still harder and longer march across the desert, towards Mexico.

At one time, when the men were nearly exhausted for want of water, little David Black, bravely gave the small canteenful resered for him, to relieve the sufferings of a dying soldier. His kindness of heart saved the life of the poor fellow, and shortly after, Captain Brown, who had been scouting for water, discovered a tiny spring in a great, gray rock. The water oozed out, two drips at a time, and was lost in the burning sand. With picks, the flow was enlarged to a tiny stream and for hours, the men lay or stood around it, drinking-drinking--unable to eat until their swoolen tongues were cooled.

Mary shed many bitter tears in sympathy with their sufferings, little recking of her own sorry plight. Through the darkness and the wind, the glare of the desert sun by day, and the chill of the air by night, Mary passed without a murmur. The toils of the camp fire were performed willingly, and the sick learned to bless her gentle hand. She often says now, "I wan't afraid of anything--but the wolves."

When the Battalion was mustered out at Santa Fe, and the main body of the men started for California, to Captain Brown was entrusted the care of the women, the children, and the sick. After a hurried march his company, consisting of one hundred and ten men, twenty-two women, and two small children, reached Pueblo, where immediate preparations for a long stay were commenced.

The settlement was just across a small river from a trading post, and thus supplies were obtainable. Soon the small houses built of logs roofed with dirt and with hard dirt floors, were ready for occupancy.

The weather was mild and the climate healthful. Mary very much enjoyed this calm after the storm, and was happy to nurse the sick back to strength, perform the arduous tasks of house building and housekeeping and often found time to join in the frequent merry makings the people had. God's people are always cheerful and light-hearted.

In April came the welcome command to take up the march to the Valleys of the Mountains. With earger fingers, Mary packed the belongings of the family, and once more, with her little david by her side, took her place in the heavy wagon. The journey northwards began, and again the privations of such a mode of travel had to be borne.

One night Mary dreamed that letters from Winter Quarters came to the little band. When morning dawned, she asserted her firm belief that they would that day hear from their friends. Some believed so too, influenced by their wild yearning for tidings from their long absent loved ones. Others laughed--the thing seemed too good to be true. Before the day passed, Mary, who was intently watching the horizon as the wagon swayed and creaked along, suddenly descried some dark specks bobbing and dipping like birds.

"There come the messengers," she told her husband and soon every eye was strained to see the advancing objects. Finally the messengers came riding into camp and we can imagine the welcome they received. Every man had a letter or word of some sort from his people, and excitement reigned throughout the company. Some were glad at the happy news they received--others wept at sad tidings of misfortune, death, and injustice inflicted upon helpless ones left behind. Mary's heart was especially touched by these and she says "I shall never forget that day."

The trail of the Pioneers was struck at Fort Laramie, whree the people set up a glad shout at sight of a post stuck in the ground by the road, on which was inscribed the names of Brigham Young and several others--all well known and loved.

The way-worn band reached the valley on the 28th day of July, 1847. President Young and the Twelve came out to meet them. Mary rode into the Valley on horseback, beside her husband, James Brown, and President Young greeted her with the words. "And the wolves didn't get you after all did they?"

Mary has spent her life in Utah since her first coming, watching its growth and development, earnestly working in may Church capacities.  She has never been sparing of toil for others--always happy whatever her lot has been. She has lost none of her old faith in God's goodness, and meekly endures her trials.

She has been a widow many years, living in Ogden most of the time. Her daughter, Mary Eliza Brown Critchlow, was the second child born in Utah, and she, herself, was the first white woman to make her home in Weber county. Out of the five [10] children God sent her, three [6] are now [1904] dead.  She is never content unless she is busy. Her brain is as clear and active as ever, although she is occasionally ill. On the whole, however, she is remarkably strong and active. Nothing pleases her more than to talk to an appreciative listener of the "Good old days, dear, when I was young, like you."

"But you are still afraid of the wolves, aren't you?" I teasingly asked her.

She responded with a smil, "Yes, dear, I"m still afraid of the wolves."

--From The Young Woman's Journal, July 1904, bound Vol. 14, pages 306-308.