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Donners and Reeds join a wagon train led by Colonel William Henry Russell
At Indian Creek, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Independence. -
The emigrants build a raft to carry their wagons across
High water stops the Russell Train at the east bank of the Big Blue River in modern-day Kansas. -
Sarah Keyes dies of tubercolosis.
She gets buried under a tree near Alcove Spring. -
The last of the wagons are ferried across the river.
At some point during the delay at the Big Blue, the Murphy family from Tennessee has joined the wagon bus. -
Tamsen Donner writes that they are now at the Platte River.
The journey has been easier than expected. -
At Independence Rock the Boggs Company encounters a letter from Hastings.
Hastings urges all emigrants now on the road to meet him at Fort Bridger, so he can guide them on his cutoff. -
Clyman advises the emigrants not to take the Hasting's cuttoff
Emigrants had just arrived at Fort Laramie. -
The Boggs Company reaches the Little Sandy River.
Here those emigrants who have decided to take Hastings's route form a new company and elect George Donner captain, thus creating the Donner Party. -
The Donner Party separates from the other wagon trains.
They takes the left-hand road to Fort Bridger. -
The Donner Party stops at the mouth of Weber Canyon.
Hastings has left a note for them, warning them that the road ahead is impassable and instructing them to send someone ahead to get instructions. James Reed and two others set out following the wagon tracks of Hastings's group. -
The Donner Party enters the Salt Lake Valley.
With summer drawing to a close, there are still 600 miles (966 kilometers) to go. -
The Donner Party reaches Redlum Spring
They have their last source of water before the dry drive begins, then sets out to cross the Great Salt Lake Desert. -
On the third day in the desert, the water runs out.
That night, the Reeds' thirsty oxen run off, never to be found; the Reeds take a few things and set out on foot. -
The party arrives at the Humboldt River
Where the cutoff meets the standard trail, which is actually 125 miles (200 kilometers) shorter than Hastings Cutoff. -
Reed stabs John Snyder in the chest with a hunting knife.
The emigrants decide to banish Reed, who at first refuses to leave but then agrees. -
At night, Paiute Amerindians kill 21 of the Donner Party's oxen.
Shortly thereafter the Indians steal another 18 oxen and wound several others. More than 100 of the party's cattle are now gone. -
The Donner Party arrives at the Truckee River.
It will lead them into the Sierra Nevada. -
James Reed arrives at Sutter's Fort.
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The Donners are left behind.
The snow was feet (1.5 m) deep. -
The two sections of the Donner Party camp for the winter
All families take cover in different places. -
Baylis Williams, one of the Reeds' hired men, dies.
It was most likely of malnutrition. -
The snowshoers reach Yuba Bottoms.
Patrick Breen's diary: "Night clear. Froze a little. Now clear & pleasant. Wind N.W. Thawing a little. Mrs Reid here. No account of Milt. Yet Dutch Charley started for Donners; turned back, not able to proceed. Tough times, but not discouraged. Our hopes are in God. Amen." -
The snowshoers' rations run out
Charles Stanton, too weak to leave camp in the morning, sits in the snow, smoking his pipe, and tells the rest of the Hope to go on. -
Discussion of killing one of their number for food and draw lots.
No one can bear to kill Patrick Dolan, the man who lost the draw. -
The snowshoers resort to cannibalism.
They would avert their faces from one another and weep. -
Charles Burger dies in Keseberg's lean-to.
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The Forlorn Hope's human meat is gone.
William Foster suggests that Luis and Salvador be killed for food; William Eddy disagrees, and tells Foster's idea to the Indians, who initially are incredulous, then vanish into the woods. -
William Eddy kills a deer to save Jay Fosdick.
However it was too late. -
The surviving snowshoers come upon Luis and Salvador, lying exhausted and near death
William Foster shoots them; their bodies provide food for their erstwhile companions. -
The snowshoers reaches an Indian village.
The inhabitants share their meager supplies, chiefly acorn bread. -
Eddy gives an Indian a pouch of tobacco to half carry him to the nearest settlement
The settlers are aghast at the sight of the emaciated wreck of a man; they follow his bloody footprints back to the village and bring in his companions. -
Harriet McCutchen dies.
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Margaret Eddy, whose father left with the snowshoers, dies.
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While the inhabitants of San Francisco are getting organized, a rescue party, called the First Relief, leaves Johnson's ranch.
At the lake, Patrick Breen records: "Peggy very uneasy for fear we shall all perish with hunger. We have but a little meat left & only part of 3 hides has to support Mrs. Reid. She has nothing left but one hide & it is on Graves's shanty. Milt is living there & likely will keep that hide." -
Selim E. Woodworth was put in charge of the relief operations.
James F. Reed is to lead the rescue party, called the Second Relief. Both men set out from San Francisco on this day, Woodworth to sail for Sutter's Fort, Reed to cross San Francisco Bay and recruit men and horses in the Sonoma and Napa areas. -
Augustus Spitzer dies.
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The First Relief reaches Mule Springs.
Patrick Breen's diary: "Fine morning. Wind W. Froze hard last night. Some clouds lying in the E. Looks like thaw. John Denton here last night; very delicate. John & Mrs. Reid went to Graves this morning." -
First Relief: three of the men turn back, seven continue on towards the Donner camps.
Patrick Breen's diary: "Mrs Graves refused to give Mrs Reid any hides. Put Suitor's pack hides on her shanty. Would not let her have them. Says [that,] if I say it will thaw, it then will not; she is a case." -
Woodworth's launch arrives at Sutters Fort.
It took him 11 days, fighting against the wind and the strong current of the swollen Sacramento River. He leaves the same day for Johnson's Ranch, the staging point of the rescue effort. -
Louis Keseberg, arrives at Sutter's Fort.
The last member of the Donner Party
