Henry Bigler Witnesses and Records First Gold Discovery at Sutter's Mill

Henry Bigler, a Mormon Battalion veteran, recorded in his diary on January 24, 1848, the historic discovery of gold that sparked the California Gold Rush. He wrote: 'This date, some kind of mettle was found in the tail race of the saw mill.' Bigler's witness to this pivotal historical event demonstrated divine providence in providing resources for the Church and the pioneering of California. His accurate documentation made him one of the primary witnesses to one of history's most significant economic events.