will be thousands of horses and honey, milk and bread. I dont fear starvation, there will be no starvation. The number that was named to go on this mission is small enough in my opinion, and when they go I would approve of the idea of their sending a messenger back, that we may know where they are and how they prosper. There must be locations on the rout from place to place for this purpose. This mission may be attended with some difficulty but I dont care about the difficulty. There is a Fort above where they will probably go and about two hundred soldiers. They may interfere but they had better take care. It is necessary to be wise and discreet in establishing those places lest we be interrupted, before we accomplish the object in view.
said in addition to the remarks already made that the first thing which presents [p. [54]]
While several U.S. forts existed in the general area visited by the missionaries, this may refer to Fort Leavenworth, which Lewis Dana apparently visited on this mission. In November 1845 Dana and his wife traveled to Fort Leavenworth and noted that the American Indians there “expresed great joy on our return.” (Lewis and Mary Dana, “Indian Territory,” to Patten or James Lemon, Montrose, Iowa Territory, 16 Dec. 1845, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.)
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.