We all looked, and we saw another long train of emigrants coming towards us.  They drove up near us and prepared to go into camp.  This was a mixed train.  Some came from Illinois, some from Indiana, and a few families from the state of Ohio.

Jim and I mounted our horses and rode with the Gen. down among the new emigrants.  They had heard all about the skinning of the white man and were terribly excited about it.  They asked the Gen. what was best for them to do.  A great many of them wanted to turn and go back.  Finally the Gen. said to them, “Here are two as good men as there are in the mountains.  They are thoroughly reliable and understand the Indians’ habits perfectly.  Now, my friends, the best thing you can do is to organize yourselves into company, select your captain and then make some arrangement with these men to pilot you through, for I tell you now, there will be more trouble on the plains this year than has ever been known before with the Indians.  Now gentlemen, we must leave you, but we will come back in the morning and see what decision you have come to.”

At this time two men stepped up to Jim Bridger and me and said, “Why can’t you two stay all night with us?  We’ve got plenty to eat, and you both can sleep in our tent.”

Jim answered, “We don’t want to sleep in any tent.  We’ve got our blankets, and we will sleep under that tree,” pointing to a tree near us.

The Gen. said, “Mr. Bridger, you boys had better stay here tonight, for you have lots of business to talk over.”

Jim and I dismounted, staked our horses out and went to supper.  After supper Jim said, “Now, you want to get together and elect a captain.”

One man said, “All right, I’ll go and notify the entire camp, and we will call a meeting at once.”  Which was done.  As soon as the crowd gathered, they called on Jim to tell them what to do.  Jim mounted the tongue of a wagon and said, “Now, men, the first thing to do is to elect a Captain, and we must take the name of every able-bodied man in this outfit, for you will have to put out camp guards and picket guards every night.  Now, pick out your men, and I’ll put it to a vote.”

Some called for Mr. Davis, and some for Mr. Thomas; both men came forward.  Jim said, “now, Mr. Davis, get up on this wagon tongue and I’ll make a mark, and we’ll see if the crowd wants you for their Captain.”  Jim took a stick and made a mark on the ground from the wagon tongue clear out through the crowd.  He then said, “All that want Mr. Davis for Captain will step to the right of this line, and they that favor Mr. Thomas will keep to the left of the line.”  About three fourths of the men stepped to the right of the line, which made Davis Captain.  As soon as Davis was declared Captain, he said, “Now friends, we must hire these men to escort us to California; if there is anybody here that is not in favor of this let him say so now.”

But everyone shouted, “Yes! yes!”