<< Go Back

Tall Tales and Timeless Stories

By Marie Sontag, Sabrina Chapman, Katie Pierce Farrier, Gary Christenson, Diane Windsor, George Bowden, Gail Armstrong, H.M. Harrison, Victoria Calder, Merrilyn Williams, William Howard, Charles V. Breakfield, B.J. Condike, M.L. Condike, Rox Burkey

Order Now!

The Donner Party's 4th of July Celebration

July 3, 1846, Unorganized Territory
Twelve-year-old Virginia Reed pulled out her pa’s book, The Emigrants' Guide to Oregon and California, as her new friend Daniel Whitcomb and his little sister Hannah swapped stories with her family around the evening’s campfire. Virginia’s family and the Donners, along with almost eighty other Donner Party members, had joined up with Daniel’s wagon train six weeks ago. The two groups encountered each other about one hundred miles west of Independence Missouri, so they combined to travel to California together. As Pa always said, there was safety in numbers.

Virginia leaned closer to the firelight and held the guidebook so both Daniel and little Hannah could see where she was pointing. “Here’s where Mr. Hastings talks about Independence Rock.” She smoothed the top of a weathered page. “Even though we won’t reach Independence Rock in time to celebrate the 4th of July, the book tells how the rock got its name. It says, ‘If pioneers reach this large, granite mound by July 4th, they have a better chance of making it through the Sierra Nevada Mountains before the autumn snowfall prevents further travel.’”

Daniel’s guardian, Jim Savage, puffed on his pipe, then exhaled a sweet-smelling smoke. “Well, I gotta say, we’re a bit behind schedule. Still got eleven days before we reach Independence Rock. Since we can’t get there by July 4, the wagon master says we’ll celebrate the holiday at Beaver Creek. We’ll camp there for two days to rest up, then prepare for the next leg of the journey.”

Virginia’s insides tickled as she recalled how she, Daniel, and Hannah had already carved their names on Chimney Rock. They took the opportunity while traveling through the Unorganized Territory a few weeks ago as they followed the trail west along the Platte River. Excitement grew in the pit of her stomach at the thought of also carving her name onto Independence Rock. As pioneers to a new land full of new possibilities, the thought of others finding her name engraved on these monoliths hundreds of years from now sent chills down her arms, even though she sat close to the fire.

The next morning, at about 11:00, the wagon train reached Beaver Creek. Virginia rushed over to Daniel as he helped Jim unyoke their oxen. “You’re all invited to join us at our wagon for lemonade at noon.” She paused to catch her breath. “Pa has a surprise he’s sharing with the men to toast Independence Day, and Mama will treat the rest of us to lemonade.”

Jim’s wife patted Virginia’s shoulder. “Tell your Ma and Pa we’d be delighted to join them. The 4th of July is always a special day for our young country.”

By noon, a crowd of family friends had gathered near the Reed’s wagon. Excited that so many had accepted her parents’ invitation to join them for a toast, Virginia stood on her toes to see if Daniel and Hannah had arrived. When she spotted them near the back, she waved them forward.

Pa clambered onto their covered wagon’s bench seat. Virginia widened her eyes and nudged Daniel as Pa stood and held up a bottle for all to see. She peered closer to study the bottle’s green-glassed ridged relief of grapes and vines. Brandy? Her father rarely drank alcohol. This truly was a special occasion!

Pa raised his rusty-brown bearded chin, removed his felt hat, and lifted the bottle even higher. “Upon our departure from Illinois, my friends in Springfield gave me this fine brandy. They suggested I use it to offer a toast at noon on the 4th of July. They said they’d offer a similar salute for us back home at the same moment.”

Cheers rose from the friends surrounding them.

As Virginia helped Ma pass out cups of lemonade to the women and children, Virginia’s face heated when Pa, after asking Jim’s permission, offered Daniel a small glass of brandy. Daniel was only thirteen. Surely not old enough for alcohol. Indeed, this was a very special day!

Ma and Mrs. Donner led their small group in singing various patriotic songs, including Hail Columbia, My Country 'Tis of Thee, and The Star Spangled Banner. Although little Hannah didn’t sing, Virginia’s heart leapt to see a faint smile touch the girl’s lips. Daniel had told her how ten-year-old Hannah stopped talking after their parents were killed in a house fire last February. That’s why Daniel and Hannah were on this wagon train. Jim Savage had become their guardian after their parents’ deaths, and the man had his heart set on making a new life for all of them in California.

The Savages joined Virginia’s family for the noonday meal, sharing venison sandwiches they had made before coming over. As the families ate together, Virginia told Daniel and Hannah about all the things she hoped to do once they reached California.

“I’m gonna ride horses, go to dances, buy fine dresses, and marry a rich man.”

Daniel, squatting on a rock with a half-eaten sandwich grasped between his hands, paused before taking another bite. “Girls.” He shook his full head of dark brown hair. “Their brains are always full of nonsense. Don’t you know, Virginia, that California’s not much of a civilized place yet? I doubt there’ll be many fine dresses, dances, or rich men.”

“Oh, many parts are civilized,” Jim said, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve. “The Spanish and Mexicans have lived there for almost a hundred years.”

Mr. Reed sipped water from his canteen and nodded. “But there’s also lots of open land where they say the Mexicans are willing to let us settle. We might have to become Mexican citizens to do it, but I hear it’ll be worth it.”

Pa met Ma’s gaze, and the loving glance that passed between them spoke volumes. “The weather’s not as harsh out there as it is in Illinois,” Pa continued, “so I’m thinkin' Ma’s health will greatly improve. As I said, it’ll be worth any sacrifices we may have to make.”

The hot July sun began to beat down on them, so Pa suggested they move to the shade of a nearby tree. By the time they finished lunch, moisture had soaked the back of Virginia’s white cotton blouse. With a dip of her head, she grinned, taking notice that sweat had also dampened the armpits of Daniel’s long-sleeved muslin shirt.

Daniel glanced up just as she pulled her gaze from his underarms. He checked himself as if curious to see what had amused her. His face reddened when he discovered the wet rings. Straightening up, he excused himself. “Think I’ll take a dip in the creek,” he said. “Hannah? Wanna come along, or stay here?”

Hannah gazed up at Daniel, then pointed to Virginia.

Raising a brow, Daniel asked Virginia, “Is it okay if Hannah stays here with you for a bit?”

Virginia stepped closer to Hannah and stroked the girl’s long blonde hair. “Sure. I don’t mind. But, Daniel…” Virginia used her well-practiced motherly tone as she planted her hands on her hips. “I hope you stay away from those Brody brothers. If you run into them down by the creek, you’ll surely get into trouble. Seems like they’ve had it out for you ever since you whopped the older one for sayin’ mean things about your pa.”

Daniel’s face darkened. “And I’ll whop him again if he calls my pa a dirty Injun lover and n-. I can’t even say what else he said Pa loved. Just ‘cause Pa believed in helpin’ slaves escape through Illinois to get to Canada, and just ‘cause he believed in treatin’ Injuns fairly—” Daniel’s face contorted and his voice tightened. “That was no call for someone to burn down our house with him and Ma in it.”

Moisture now formed not only under Daniel’s armpits, but also misted his eyes. Virginia’s heart squeezed. Why was the world so unfair? Why couldn’t people just get along? Maybe things would be different in California. If they could only reach the Sierra Nevadas before the autumn snows blocked their way.

Order Now!

<< Go Back