Copied from The Life of Miles Goodyear, by Wayne LeRoy Venable, Master of Science Thesis for U of U, 1966. Pg 11-12

[pg 11] As they made their way toward Fort Leavenworth, they learned they had arrived too late to catch the Mountain Men, who had already departed for Council Bluffs, farther up the river.  To make better time in catching the caravan, it was planned that William Gray and Henry Spalding would travel ahead, in haste, with the animals.  The Whitmans would lag behind with Mrs. Spalding and the baggage, catch a steamer heading up the river, and meet the group again near Council Bluffs.

On April 30, 1836, William Gray made this observation:

            “The third day, in the morning, some forty miles from Fort Leavenworth, as we were about starting, a white boy, about sixteen years old came into camp, having an old torn straw hat, an old ragged fustian coat, scarcely half a shirt, with buckskin pants, badly worn, but one moccasin, a powder-horn with no powder in it, and an old rifle.  He had light flaxen hair, light blue eyes, was thin and spare, yet appeared in good health and spirits.  He said he had started for the Rocky Mountains; he was from some place in Iowa; he had been without food for two days; he asked for some ammunition; thought he could kill some game to get along; the rain the night previous had wet him quite effectually; he was really cold, wet, nearly naked, and hungry.  He was soon supplied from our stores with all he wanted, and advised to return to his friends in Iowa.  To this he objected, and said, if we would allow him, he would go with us to Council Bluffs, and then go with the fur company to the mountains.”

                       5. Gray, op. cit., p. 112

                       6. Ibid., p. 115.

Pg. 12 –  He agreed to assist all he could in getting along.  He was furnished a horse, and made an excellent hand while he remained with the party.^7

                       7. Ibid., pp. 113-14.  Miles must have looked young to Gray, as he was twenty years of age at this time.