Chapter 6 Summary and Analysis

The group camped near Truckee Lake. They could go neither forward nor backward. The Breen family took possession of an existing cabin that had been built the previous winter by pioneers. The Kesebergs erected a lean-to against the cabin. Other families built cabins from scratch. The Donner families had been slowed and made a camp at Alder Creek about five miles back. Not possessing the younger, stronger men of the other families, George and Jacob built shabby wigwam-style dwellings instead of cabins. George suffered from infection brought about by the gash on his hand. A total of eighty-one people were trapped near the lake.

Things were desperate, and food was scarce. All remaining animals were killed for food. Nineteen people set off for help nine days before Christmas. This group became known as the Forlorn Hope. It included some of the...