September 18, 2008
Re: The Awful March of the Saints Posted by American Heritage Staff at 07:00 AM EST I am disappointed that American Heritage has published such an undocumented, prejudicial and inaccurate account of a tragic episodic event that occurred years ago. It was indeed a tragedy and did concern the lives of a group of innocent people who were fleeing from religious intolerance to the New World, but this biased retelling dishonors the names of those who gave their lives in seeking for the promise. I point with pride to my little Danish grandmother, who though not of this ill-fated company, nevertheless at the tender age of 15, as a member of an earlier group, helped push and pull the carts and walked the entire distance. I am also aware that there were and are today former members of the church who, for some reason or another, have left the church. However, I am not aware of a single member of the Martin Handcart Company to have denied their faith nor even complained. Furthermore, in their zeal to gather with their people in the Great Basin, the Martin Handcart pioneers disregarded the counsel of well-seasoned leaders, who cautioned them about the lateness of the season. At that time of year the only lumber available to build their carts was green and not well seasoned. Of course the axles and other working parts broke down, further delaying the travelers and resulting in great loss of life. But as for President Brigham Young trading dollars for the lives of people, we should remember that the handcart pioneers came of their own free will to the West Max H. Rammell
Bountiful, UT
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