Preservation

David H. Cannon — The Miracle of the Quail

Published September 2, 2026 at 3:29 PM

1840s · 1846
Banks of the Mississippi River, Iowa
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In 1846, at the age of eight, David H. Cannon was among the 'Poor Camps' of Latter-day Saints who had been driven from Nauvoo and were struggling to survive on the banks of the Mississippi River. He witnessed what became known as the 'miracle of the quail,' where large flocks of the birds flew directly into the camp, landing on tables and inside wagons. This allowed the starving pioneers to catch them by hand for food. Cannon later testified of this event as a clear manifestation of the power of the Lord providing for His people in their time of extreme need.

Sources & References

David H. Cannon Family Association (http://freepages.rootsweb.com); David Henry Cannon (1838-1924) - Familypedia - Fandom (https://familypedia.fandom.com) (research confidence: high)

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Questions about this account

Who was involved in this account?
The account involves David H. Cannon, George Cannon, Ann Cannon. Each person named here also has a witness page collecting the other accounts involving them.
When did this account take place?
The account is set in 1846, in the 1840s.
Where did this account take place?
It took place in Banks of the Mississippi River, Iowa.
What kind of miracle is this?
It is filed as a Preservation account reported in United States.
Where does this account come from?
David H. The full source citation appears in the Sources section below, with links to the original where available.

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