About one-fourth of the Willie Company left from Copenhagen, Denmark. They sailed south and west to Kiel, Germany, where they took the train to Hamburg (Altona), Germany. They then sailed to Grimsby (Hull), England, where they again took the train to Liverpool, England to meet the rest of the Saints.

The entire Willie Company was assembled in Liverpool. They sailed south and west around Ireland and directly to New York City, New York. From New York City they sailed up the Hudson River to Pier Mount, New York, where they took the train to Dunkirk, New York, on Lake Erie. They sailed around the edge of Lake Erie, landing at Cleveland, Sandusky, and Toledo, Ohio. From Toledo they took the train to Iowa City, stopping to change trains at Chicago, and Rock Island, Illinois. They went by handcart to Florence, Nebraska Territory and then on to Great Salt Lake City. In Nebraska Territory, major events occurred when they had the buffalo stampede, when the rations were reduced near Fort Laramie, when they ran out of food at the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater River, and when thirteen people died at Rock Creek Hollow.