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Redick Newton Allred

When God assigns us a place and a duty it is important that we stand fast.

In October of 1856, more than a 1000 emigrants were caught by winter snows in Wyoming, hundreds of miles from civilization. They suffered from short rations and inadequate clothing. Starvation, disease, and exposure took their toll and the emigrants died by the score.

Word reached Salt Lake City and one of the greatest rescue efforts in history was mounted to save these people from certain death. Wave after wave of rescue wagons loaded up and turned east. Redick Newton Allred was in one of those first groups under the command of Captain George D. Grant. Just out of Salt Lake City, Redick developed a painful case of pleurisy, making it agonizing to breathe. Nevertheless, he pushed on. Just east of South Pass, Wyoming he was assigned to set up a relief camp with the idea that the rescuers would continue on, find the stranded emigrants, and bring them to him and his supplies. Redick obeyed. Five days later the first company of beleaguered emigrants was discovered some 15 miles to the east. Redick took 6 wagons loaded with supplies and went to their aid. They were hunkered down in the face of a driving west wind and drifting snow. He saw to their comfort as best he could and helped them get on their way to safety.

Redick returned to his assigned station at South Pass, while Captain Grant and others continued east looking for the three remaining companies. For three weeks, Redick and his men languished in the bitter cold at one of the highest elevations on the entire overland trail. Redick was, at times, in so much pain from the pleurisy that it “was almost like taking my life,” he said.

Finally, men in his command had had enough. They urged him to give up and return to Salt Lake City. The lost emigrants, they asserted, had surely either all died or found a place for the winter. They were not coming. Redick refused to leave his post, so the men left without him.

Finally November 18, 1856, Captain Grant and the rescuers brought the Martin Handcart Company into Redick Allred’s camp. As Allred came out to meet them, Captain Grant greeted him with a cheer, “Hurrah for the bulldog. Good for hanging on.”

Over 500 starving, suffering emigrants were loaded into wagons and with handcarts left standing in the snow, they made their way to Salt Lake City and safety. Redick Allred went with them. He would lose his own toenails to bitter cold.

God bless those who faithfully man the post assigned to them, notwithstanding the obscurity of it, and are there to administer comfort when needed. I, for one, would not be here if not for such unsung heroes.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reddick_Allred

https://myallredfamily.com/front-page/what-states/utah/family-histories/redick-newton-allreds-diary/

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/MMM4-QHS