Letter from John Christopher Armstrong and Mary Kirkbride Armstrong Wade, 28 October 1845
New Orleans
Beloved Brother Woodruf
In compliance with your request at parting
with ^you^ for the land that all the Saints are so anxiouce to be gathe[r]ed
to. aAfter encountering many hardships and Trials in crossing the Atlantic
I can Fully rejoice and say that the Saints one and all are so
overjoyed now we are landed and about to move further up the River
from the City of Joseph I need not entrer into a detail of all the
ups and downs there is to encounter in crossing the sea you having gone
so many times back and forward upon the same Errand.
I find that Paitenc is in the greatest demand upon the Voiage
but upon the whole we have had pretty good health in
Generall with the exception of one famly. Some were sick
about a fortnight and then Recoved I think there was only
another and myself that was not sick through the whole
Voyage. the famly that was sick was Brother ^Wm^ Robinsons
famly they had the English Cholelera the little girl Ellen
died upon thursday night Oct 23rd and was Burried upon the Day
following. Brothe Robinsons wife continues very poorly but the famly
are all got well. We have had a pleasent and prosperr
passage. A great deal of fine wether and we all consider a
quick Voiage we arrived here from Loiverpool in six week and
three Days. I cannot describe to you the Joy and gladness of all
hearts when we beheld the land we had left our homes for
So that we might gather together to Build ^up^ the waste places
of Zion [Doctrine and Covenants 101:18] and help to lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes
and prepare homes and shelters for all that sheuld come after us in
fullfillment of the same commands so that all things might be
gathered together in One and bring about the restitution of all things
which has been spoken by the mo^u^ths of all the holly prophets
Beloved Brother I wish I could but find Language to describe both the
feellings of the hearts of all the Brothers & Sisters there all so
