Part One 1866 somewhere in the Wyoming Territory
Thomas Edward Cottle or TE as everyone calls him is having a horrible day. It is hot and dusty and the team of oxen he is assigned to drive are slow and always stopping to eat along the way. When TE tries to use the long rawhide bullwhip to get the team moving again it gets tangled in the wagon canvas, just about pulling him off the seat and does little to move the oxen. He is almost on the verge of tears, but then a sixteen year old –almost a man – does not cry. And furthermore, if the other “bull whackers” spot tears they will tease him endlessly. So TE sucks it up and tries to think of pleasant memories to cheer him up. He remembers the missionaries, with their funny looking stove pipe hats and strange accents coming to their home in Dudley, Stafford England and talking about a group of people called the “Mormons” that live in this far off place referred to as “Zion” or sometimes, Utah Territory. It seems a little strange to TE but he likes the Missionaries- they make him feel good inside, and he joins the rest of the family in being “baptized” into this religion (although Thomas Edward is not baptized until after the family immigrates to Utah). It is almost a blur after the family decides to “go to Zion”, but he does remember the long ocean voyage – and how sick he got when a storm buffets the ship - Of landing in New York, the biggest city he had ever seen! Then after a brief stop in the big city making their way by train (and some walking) to Winter Quarters, Nebraska where his dad (Henry) joins up with Captain Duncan’s wagon train for the long trip across the American Plains to Zion. By this time their meager savings are exhausted and Cap Duncan wants “cash up front.” So, Henry makes a deal. His oldest son will drive a freight wagon across the plains and in exchange allow the Cottle wagon to join the train. TE does not necessarily want to drive a wagon but his Dad will book no argument. Now that the journey is almost half over TE admits, to himself, that there could be worse things than driving a yoke of oxen to Utah. And maybe being an experienced teamster will come in handy when looking for a job in Utah.
A big bump stops his day dreaming and the oxen’s forward progress. So TE gets down and looks around to see if the wagon has sustained any permanent damage. He can see no problems but just as he is about to climb back in the driver’s seat he hears shouting coming from the rear of the train.
“Indians, Indian attack, Indian attack!”
TC’s first thought is to find cover and his second thought is about his family. He is glad his family (Father Henry, Mother Elizabeth, little brother George, bratty little sister Anne, and his Grandmother and Grandfather Brittle [or Bartel]) is not with the company at this time and therefore cannot be part of the Indian attack. The reason: It seems Captain Duncan would not pay the required $2.00 per wagon to cross the Platte River earlier this morning. Instead the Captain orders the entire company, including TE, to travel some 10 miles north to a place where the company can ford the river, thus avoiding the ferry toll. However, the Henry Cottle wagon is experiencing wheel axle problems, so Henry said he will fix the wagon, and then pay the ferry toll, although he could ill afford the $2, and catch up with the main company that evening.
Thomas Edward immediately circles his team inward to repel the attack, just as he has been taught. However, no one else is moving; all the drivers are just sitting on their wagons looking around.
“Quick,” TE calls, “Let us get these wagons in a circle, there is not a moment to lose – the Indians will be here any second.”
Still, no one moves.
“Now that’s strange, not only is no one moving but it looks like the Captain and some of the men are coming toward my wagon, did I do something wrong?” TE puzzles to himself.
“Captain, shouldn't we be circling the wagons to guard against the attack?”
Still no one moves, and the usually jovial Captain Duncan has a somber look as he wends his way through the assorted wagons toward the spotted oxen pulling TE’s unit.
In his mind TE thinks, “What is going on! What IS GOING ON?”
…TO BE CONTINUED