.1 i; o' • U A^ *v ^__ /.-J^^.^ .■i'^\c^/V /.•Ji^*^ .*^.: '^oV* " 4 o » NT ♦ «o .^^°^ . 0* ^ V • r. ^^ ^^ *!h ..\/ »^..^::.% iV^ iP-n^^ jp-?;,, O o *^ ^• .. o 3 vO(jq ON VO NO O Q3 £^ fi3 in:*? r-^ • w^^3 o ft> L^ <- 1-1 i-b ■q Cfq o Zb ooo C/5 O GO Eli n B ^ f^ ft) w B o h- !• P o C/2 o 3-5 3-0 ~ 3 " r-h P3* ^ P Cfl CO o •-t >" o fe •O O '< (ID o p O! CO en 00 GO O P 00 a; h- '• Ul I— !• ti QTQ o o B p p P" fD P < ^8 SB o ^ ^^^ p- CD CD O o p en? [3-' Ct) CD - 2 M. r+- h-b O o P y H^ H^ ^^^ CD p- '-i O 5^ 03 M» I-"* '-'• . tr^ o,CB ^Cfq ^ft> OQ '-< I P >.. CD CD Ch o ts O o I— « CD 00 t— I to I M 00 B o B. CO B / MORMONISM UNVEILED; DTCLTTDINO THB RBMABEABLB LIFE AND CONFESSIONS 07 THB LATB MOBMON BISHOP, JOHN D. LEE; (JFritten by himse^.) ASD COMPLBTB UXB 07 BRIGHAM TOUNG, EMBBAcnra A mSTORT OP MORMONISM FROM ITS INCEPTION DOWN TO THB PSBSENT TIME, WITH AN EXPOSITION OF THE SEOBBT mSTOEY, SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND GRIMES OF THE MORMON CHURCH. ALSO THX TBUB HISTOBY 07 THB HOBBIBLB BUTCHBBT KXOWlf AS THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE. ILLUSTRATED. ST. LOUIS: Moffat Publishing Company. C. C. WICK & CO., CLEVELAND, O. 1881. Entered according to Act o Conj^ress, in the year 1880, bj MOFFAT PUBLISHING CO., In the Office of tht Librarian of Congress, at Washington. //-^ rv PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. JOHN D. LEE'S prominent connection with the Mormon Church, and the almost universal desire on the part of the public to know the secrets that he could tell, gave a peculiar interest to the life and doings of this man, and led to a general inquiry for his Autobiography and Confessions. This has caused the publication of several pretended "Lives and Confessions of John D. Lee," the materials for which were collected from fragmentary newspaper reports, and advertised by certain un- scrupulous publishers as genuine. "We therefore deem it but simple justice to those who may read this book, to state how we obtained the true and only Lifb and Confessions or Johh D. Lee. It was stated at the time of Lee's execution that he had left the manuscripts of his Life and Confessions with his confiden- tial attorney for publication. We at once wrote to Col. Wm. Nelson, U. S. Marshal of Utah Territory, requesting him to give us the address of Lee's attorney. He replied promptly, stating that Mr. W. W. Bishop, of Pioche, Nevada, was the man. We immediately entered into correspondence with Mr. Bishop, and made a contract with him for the publication of the work. In proof of the fact that this is the genuine and only genuine Life and Confessions of John D. Lee, we refer to Col. Wnu Nelson, U. S. Marshal Utah Territory; Hon. Wm. Stokes, Deputy U. S. Marshal, U. T. ; Hon. Sumner Howard, U. S. Attorney, U. T. ; the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune; CoL Geo. M. Sabin, Pioche, Nevada ; Mr. Wm. W. Bishop, of the yi rUBLISHEBS" PBEFACE. same place, and to John D. Lee's letter to Mr. Bishop, on page 84 of this book. Lee wrote his Life and Confessions in prison, after his sen- tence to death, and subsequent to his execution his manuscripts were copied and prepared for publication by Mr. Bishop. They were at no time out of his possession or from under his imme- diate control, until they were delivered to the express company on the 17th day of May, 1877, to be forwarded to us. The Mormon leaders were so greatly alarmed at the prospect of the publication of Lee's writings, and the consequent reve- lation of their secrets and crimes, that they sent their *' Blood Atoners " to threaten the life of Mr. Bishop, and, if possible, compel him to give up the manuscripts. The danger was so great that he was compelled to have his office guarded while en- gaged in copying the papers ; and when they were ready to be forwarded to the publishers, the Wells, Fargo & Co. Express refused to receive them until they were furnished with an armed guard to protect them until they were beyond tb<) reach of the Mormons. The fears of the Mormon dignitaries were well foanded, for Lee's revelations of crimes committed by them are of the most startling character. Ths Publishkbs. PREFACE. I WAS requested by John Doyle Lee, after he had been sen- tenced to be shot for the part he took in the commission of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, to publish an account of his life apd confessions, in order to inform the world how it was that he had acted as he had, and why he was made a scape-goat by the Mormon Church. I accepted the trust, and, in giving publicity to the facts now, for the first time fully brought to light, I am only performing what I believe to be a duty — to him, and to the public. The Mountain Meadows Massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of American history. It was a crime committed without cause or justification of any kind to relieve it of its fearful character. Over one hundred and twenty men, women and children were surrounded by In- dians, and more cruel whites, and kept under constant fire, irom hundreds of unerring rifles, for five days and nights, dur- ing all of which time, the emigrants were famishing for water. When nearly exhausted from fatigue and thirst, they were ap- proached by white men, with a flag of truce, and induced to surrender their arms, under the most solemn promises of pro- tection. They were then murdered in cold blood, and left nude and mangled upon the plain. All this was done by a band of fanatics, who had no cause of complaint against the emigrants, except that the authorities of the Mormon Church had decided that all the emigrants who were old enough to talk, should die — revenge for alleged insults to Brigham Young, and the booty of the plundered train being the inciting causes of the massacre. John D. Lee was one^ and only one of fifty-eight Mormons, who there carried out the orders of the Mormon Priesthood. He has died for his crimes — shall the others escape? The entire history of this atrocious crime is given in the con- fession. How it was done, and why it was the wish of the Mor- viii PREFACE. mons that it should be done, all is fully stated. As one of the attorneys for John D. Lee, I did all that I could to save his life. My associates were, and are able men and fine lawyers, but fact and fate united to turn the verdict against us. The history of the first and second trials is familiar to most of the American people ; therefore, I will not describe them here, any more than to say, Mormonism prevented conviction at the first trial, and at the second trial Mormonism insured conviction. After Brigham Young and his worshipers had deserted Lee, and marked him as the victim that should sufler to save the Church from destruction, on account of the crimes it had or- dered ; after all chances of escape had vanished, and death was certain as the result of the life-long service he had rendered the Church, the better nature of Lee overcame his superstition and fanaticism, and he gave to me the history of his life, and his con- fession of the facts connected with the massacre, and wished me to have the same published. Why he refused to confess at an earlier day, and save his own life by placing the guilt where it of right belonged, is a question which is answered by the state- ment, that he was still a slave to his Endowment and Danite oaths, and trusted until too late to the promises of protection made to him by Brigham Young. John D. Lee was a fanatic, and as such, believed in the Mormon Church, and aided in car- rying out the orders of that Church. I believe it is my duty to publish this work, to show mankind the fruits resulting from obedience to Mormon leaders, and to show that Mormonism was as certainly the cause of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, as it is that fanaticism has been the mother of crime in all ages of the world. I also wish the American people to read the facts, as they are told by a mistaken and fanatical follower of the Mor- mon doctrines, yet, one who was a brave man, and, according to his ideas and teaching, a good man ; who did not believe he was doing wrong when obeying the commands of the Mormon Priesthood. I wish the American people to read this work, and then say, if they can, what should be the fate of those who eatised the crime to be committed. The following pages contain simply true copies of material, furnished me by John D. Lee, for the purpose of being published ; all of which was written by him while in prison, and after the jury had returned its verdict of guilty. I have QO excuses to offer for publishing the work just aa it F BE FACE. ix is. It is what it purports to be, a full history of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and also a sketch of the life of John D. Lee, embracing a revelation of the secret history of Mormonism, from its inception down to the death of Lee ; with a correct copy of liis confession as given to me for publication. If any feel in- jured by the facts, I cannot help it. If this publication shall, in any degree, aid in securing the much-needed legislation, de- manded by the American citizens of Utah, from the National Government, so that Church criminals, as well as Gentiles, can be convicted in Utah, I shall feel that I have been paid well for all the vexations I have endured in the land of the Saints, where they murder men, women and children for the glory of God, and the upbuilding of His kingdom. I also believe this publication will be an advantage to the large number of naturally good and honest people, who inhabit Utah, who joined the Church, and moved to Utah, believing it their Christian duty to do so. To that class of people I am indebted for many favors, and wish them future prosperity. Wm. W. Bishop, Confidential Att'y of John D. Let, PiocHE, Nevada, May 17, 1877. CONTENTS. PUBLISHERS' PREFACB. ... . • PREFACE. .••••••. T INTRODUCTORY. .,.,.• U CHAPTER I. A 8TORMT BKGINNTNO Early Life of Lee— Death of his Mother— Hardships and Trials- Becomes a Mall Carrier In the Wilds of Missouri at an Early Age — Is a Stage Driver — Abandons the business — Eo» flections upon the condition of the Country. • • 86 CHAPTER n. THB INDUSTRIOUS YOUNO UAJX. Bemalns on his Uncle's Farm — Volunteers in the Black Hawk War — Goes to St. Louis — Engages as Fireman on a Steamer — Cholera Experience — Finds a Friend — Goes to Galena and enters a Store as Clerk — Adventures with the Miners^ Anecdote of Ulysses Grant — Lee Marries Agathe Ann Woolsey. ..*•••• 4S CHAPTER m. LEB BECOMES ▲ MORHOIf. Ill 1838 Lee first hears the Mormon Doctrine Preached — ^Em- braces the Doctrine of Mormonism — Sells out and Removes his Family to Far West, Mo. — Is Baptized and Joins the Church— Fight at Gallatin, at the Polls— The People Conse* crate their Property to God. . • • • M CHAPTER rV. THB SAINTS ARE BESET WITH TROUBIJtS. Tb» Saints Decline to give up their Property to the Church — Troubles Between the Saints and Gentiles — Companies of Armed Men are formed for Drivine Out the Mormons — A CONTENTS. Xi Providential Warning — Conflicts between the Saints and Gentiles. ......•€§ CHAPTER V. THE MOKMON WAR IN MISSOURI. Death of Capt. Patton — Rebuke of the Prophet — Description ol the Prophet — Continued Troubles with the Gentiles — Mas* fiacre at Haaghn's Mill — Miraculous Cure of Isaac Laney, In Answer to Prayer — Cowardice of Col. Hinkle — Surrender of Joseph Smith, the Prophet — The Saints Surrender and are Disarmed — Terms of the Surrender. . . • ft CHAPTER VI. LKB LOCATES THE GARDEN OF »DEN. ▲ceonnt of the Surrender Continued — Lee refuses to Abandon hie Faith — Returns to his Home — Finds his House Burned and Property Destroyed — Temple Block — Garden of Eden — Site of the Altar Built by Adam- -Suffering during the Winter- Lee is ordained to the Priesthood — Holy Patriarchal Blessing. •...••• if CHAPTER VII. TEB SAINTS GATHER AT NAXTVOO. Lee returns to Dlinois — Goes on a Mission to Preach — ^Lively Experiences by the way — Is Strengthened of God and Re- sists Temptation — False Doctrines taught by Brigham Young, and their Degrading Tendencies — Preaches in Ten- nessee — Beholds a Vision which Is realized — Mission Is Successful — Organizes Branch Churches — Returns to Illinois. .....•• tt CHAPTER Vm. LXK CONTINUES HIS MISSIONARY WORK. Spends the Winter at Home — Foundation of the Temple laid at Nauvoo — Teachings of the Prophet— Lee builds a Home In Nauvoo— Goes on a Mission in 1841 — Resumes his Labors in Tennessee — Makes many Converts — Holds a Series of Discussions. .....•• ISM CHAPTER IX. MOBMOiasic — ^rrs doctrines and how it orioinatmd. Lee holds a Discussion with Parson Hall— Identity of the Ten Tribes of Israel with the American Indians shown— Divine Origin of the Book of Mormon — Lee holds another and final Discussion with Rev. Cantrell— Many Converts are Baptized and added to the Church. .... lit Xfl CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. UCS CASTS OUT DEVILS A^'D DO£S OTUBE WONDRRFITL WOBXA. He goes to Jackson County and holds a public Discussion — Won- derful Mauifestation of Divine Power — Lee rebukes Evil Spirits and they are still — Casts out Devils from Mark Young — Returns to Nauvoo — Visits friends — Condition of Zion — DeauDciation of Brigham Young. . , \M CHAPTER XI. ▲ TBNUIESSBB PLAJSTTER MAKES IT HOT FOR PARSON LBK. Lee returns to Tennessee to Preach — Is kindly received — Goes to Nashville — Preaches in the Country — Is assailed by a Mob —Baptizes the Wife of Col. Tucker— The Colonel Hunts him with a Loaded Rifle — Escapes from the County to avoid Arrest — Returns to Nauvoo. .... 18t CHAPTER XII. MATTERS OP PECULIAR INTEREST AT NAUVOO. ▲fhlrfl at Nauvoo — The Nauvoo Legion organized — Building of the Hall of the Seventies — The Devil Enraged — The Doc- trine of Plural or Celestial Marriage first taught — Domestic Troubles among the Saints — Joseph Smith becomes a ( an- dldate for the Presidency of the U. S. — Lee goes to Ken- tucky on an Electioneering Tour — The Assassination of the Prophet causes his return to Nauvoo. . . . 144 CHAPTER XIII. DKATH OF JOSEPH SMITH— SOME OK BRIGHAM YOUNO'S CRIMXS. Assassination of Joseph Smith and his Brother Hyrum — Causes of the Assassination — Successor of the Prophet — Brigham Young Chosen — He Steals the Inheritance of Young Joseph — Lee is appointed to various Oflices of Trust and Honor — Assassination of Erwin by orders of Brigham Young — Se- cret Murders and Robberies by the Saints — Teachings of the Church — Arrogance and Oppressions of Brigham Toung. . . . . . . . .109 CHAPTER XIV. OfSIDX VntW OW POLYGAMY AND THE DOCTRINE OF SBALINO. Oslestial Marriage taught and practiced— Lee embraces the Doc- trine and takes a number of Wives — Troubles with the Gentiles — The Saints prepare to Emigrate — Baptisms^ Washings and Anointings in the Temple. , . . 1«| CONTENTS. xiB CHAPTER XV. THB SAINTS MOVK WESTWAM). Bemlnlscences of the Prophet Joseph — His Fourth of July Toast — Lee removes his Family from Nauvoo — Great Sacrifices of Property by the Saints to get away — Brigham Young blesses Lee — The Saints move through Iowa — Lee restores a Blind Man to Sight! — Settlements established at Garden Grove and Pisgah— Arrival at Council Bluffs — The Missouri Elver Crossed. ....••• Xfh CHAPTER XVI. LKB GOES ON AN EXPEDITION TO SANTA TE. The Saints prepare to go into Winter Quarters — Lee is sent to the Mormon Battalion at Santa Fe to bring back the Sol- diers' pay — A Long and Dangerous Journey and safe Return — Follows an Invisible Guide — Miraculous Deliverance from Indians — Safe Arrival— Finds his family suffering. . 199 CHAPTER XVII. tEE IS TREATED BADLY BY THIl "BRETHREN," In camp— Angry words with Brigham Young — Gives an account of his Trip and Fays over Ww. Money — Contrast, 1847 and 1877 — Opens a Store at Winter Quarters — Is Sealed to a number of Wives — Summer Quarters laid out — Life on the Border — Bravery of Lee's Wives — Jealousy of the Brethren — Murmurings of the Saints against Lee — Ingrati- tude and Heartlessness of Brigham Young. . . IM CHAPTER XVIII. LAST CONFESSION AND STATEMENT OF JOHN D. LEE. Qoslng events of Lee's Life — Startling Revelations of Crimes and Church Secrets, implicating Brigham Young and the Mormon Leaders — The Mountain Meadows Massacre, and all the particulars thereof. . . ... 318 CHAPTER XIX. OOKFBSSION CONTINUED AND CONCLUDED, MARCH 16, 1877, SEVEN DATS PRIOR TO HIS EXECUTION. More Startling Revelations — Going " Over the Rim of the Basin" - -Brigham "goes to God " with his crimes, and is strength- eued in a "Vision" — A "bully" Warrior — A model Indian Ag«nt — Brigham preaches a "Red-hot" Sermon — The "Old Bos«" on his travels — Brigham betrays Lee — Tricks of '♦Dirty Fingered Jake Hamblin" — Some "Blood Atone- ments" — Some "Holy" men and their deeds — Exploits of Xlv CONTENTS. the "Destroying Angels" — Shocking Barbarities — ^End of Confession. ... ... M9 CHAPTER XX. ABRBST 0» JOHN D. LEB BY WM. STOKES, DEPUTT JS. S. MARSHAI.. Brigham imagines he is going to be Assassinated — Lively Adven- tures of the Deputy Marshal — Hunting Lee in his Strong- hold — Efforts of his sons to prevent his Arrest — Lee is found concealed in a pen, and Is Arrested — A pungent Toast by one of his Daughters — The journey to Beaver vity. •••••».• tTbo CHAPTER XXI. TRIAL OF LEK AT BEAVER CITY, UTAH TERRITORY, SEPTEMBER, 1876. Depositions of Brigham Young, George A. Smith, etc. — Witnesses Manufactured to order — Startling Developments — Determ- ination of the Mormon Leaders to convict Lee. • . 809 CHAPTER XXII. TRIAL OF LEE CONTINUED. Testimony of Witnesses— Getting at the bottom facts by ft circu- itous route — Model Witnesses. . • 817 CHAPTER XXIII. TRIAL OF LEE CONCLUDBD. Conclnslon of the Evidence — Conviction and Sentence cf Lee— Additional facts. ....*. 86C CHAPTER XXIV. NABTBS AND PRESENT RESIDBNCS8 Of the Mountain Meadows Assassins, as given by Lee. , STB CHAPTER XXV. KXBCUTIOX OF JOHN D. LBB. . ... 8S8 APPENDIX. LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG, . 391 A BBMAREABLK LETTER — MORMON WIVES TAUGHT THAT ONLY THEIB HUSBANDS CAN RESURRECT THEM. Lecherous Bishops who marry whole families — Mormons living as husbands to mothers and daughters, and having children by all, 407 INTEODUCTOBY. ONE hundred and twenty men, women, and children were murdered by Mormons and Indians, at the Mountain Meadows, on Friday, September 16, 1857, or thereabouts. The victims were members of a train under command of Captain Fancher, and are generally known as the Arkansas Emigrant Company. At that time Brigham Young was Governor of Utah Territory, and also the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Acting as Governor of the Territory, he and his followers had, for a series of years, violated the laws of the United States, with insulting impunity, and then were stand- ing in hostile attitude towards the government. Brigham Young had the audacity to declare Utah under martial law, and call out his legions of fanatics to oppose the forces of the United States which had been ordered to Utah to enforce obedience to the Government. As leader an d head of the Mormon Church, he had taught his followers to believe that he was an inspired man, and as such, receiving orders and revelations direct from the God of Heaven ; that the time had arrived when Christ was to come to earth and reign a thousand years, and that all who did not accept the Book of Mormon, and the teachings ol Brigham Young, as God's holy religion, were to suffer death, and the wealth of the unbelievers to become the property of the so-called Sainis. He had also taught the doctrine that all who opposed his orders or refused obedience to his commands should die, and if they had been members of the Mormon Church their blood was to be shed in order to save their souls. At that time Brigham Young had the sole control of everything in Utah; his word was law ; his orders were given under the pretense that they emanated from God, and to disobey his orders was treason to the Church and punishable by death. The Mormon people were willing followers of their designing leader. They believed in polygamy, blood atonement, and the inspiration of the priest- 1 $ INTB OD UCTOB T. hood. Their intelligence made their fanaticism the more danger- ous. No crime was so great that it would not be ordered by Brigham Younsr, if he believed it would benefit Mormonism, and no order could be given by him but what his deluded followers considered it their bounden duty to unquestioningly obey. The oaths taken by the Mormons in their various ceremonies bound them under fearful penalties to lay aside all individuality, and become the willing tools of a cruel and treasonable priest- hood. Blind obedience to Brigham Young was the test of Christian excellence. Salvation and celestial glory were offered by the Church leaders, and confidently expected by the brethren, as the reward to be received for the most fearful crimes. Brigham Young held the keys of Heaven, so it was said, and 80 his followers believed, and certain it was he held the life of every man in the Territory of Utah in his hand. Law and jus- tice were unheard of, or at least unknown. The so-called refor- mation was then at its height. The members of the Church were confessing their sins to each other in public and being rebaptized under promise of certain salvation. Superstition, fanaticism, and satanic influences of every character had changed the dwellers in Utah from American citizens, with reasoning faculties, into blind zealots, anxious to do any act that their so- called Prophet commanded. It was while this condition of affairs existed in Utah that Captain Fancher attempted to cross the Territory, on the way to the pleasant valleys of the Golden State, where the company intended to settle and build homes for themselves and their children. In support of the charge that Brigham Young favored the shedding of blood as an atonement for sin, I quote the following compilation of extracts which were kindly furnished me by the Salt Lake Tribune, and as they speak for themselves, comment ia useless : EXTRACTS FROM BRIGHAM TOUNG'S SERMONS. '* I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain in order to atone for their sins." " But now I say, in the name of the Lord, that if this people will sin no more, but faithfully live their religion, their sins will be forgiven them without taking life." " Now, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting peo- ple off from the earth, that you consider is strong doctrine ; but it is to save them, not to destroy them." '*A11 mankind love themselves; and let these principles be IXTM OD UCTOll r. 17 known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loviug themselves even unto eternal exal- tation." " This is loving our neighbor as ourselves ; if he needs help, help him; if he wishes salvation, and it is necessary to spill his blood upon the ground in order that he be saved, spill it." " Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied or rest until your blood should be spilled, that j'ou might gain the salvation you desii'e. This is the way to love mankind." *' It is true the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet ye men can commit sins which it can never remit. As it was in the ancient days, so it is in our day ; and though the principles are taught publicly from this stand, still the people do not understand them ; yet the law is precisel}' the same." " I have known a great many men who have left this Church, for whom there is no chance whatever of exaltation ; but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid this principle being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force." / " "Will you love your brothers and sisters likewise, when they ' have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that mau or woman well enough to shed their blood ? That is what Jesus Christ meant. He never told a man or woman to love their enemies in their wickedness. He never intended any such thing. " "I have known scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance in the last resurrection if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled upon the ground as a smoking incense to the Almight}', but who are now angels to the devil, until our elder brother, Jesus Christ, raises them up, conquers death, hell, and the grave." "There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days ; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle doves cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man. That is the rea- son why men talk to you as they do from this stand ; they un- derstand the doctrine, and throw out a few words about it. You have been taught that doctrine, but you do not under- stand it." "Now, take a person in this congregation, who has a knowl- edge of being saved in the kingdom of our God and our Father, and being an exalted one, — who knows and understands the principles of «ternal life, and seen the beauty and excellency of 2 18 INTEODUCTOMY. the eternities before him, compared with the vain and foolish things of the world ; and suppose he is overtaken with a gross fault, that he has committed a fault which he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of blood ; and also knows that by having his blood shed, he will atone for that sin and be saved, and be exalted with the gods, is there a man or woman in tliis house but what would say, ' Shed my blood, that I may be saved and exalted with the gods?' " Brisham Young had also written letters to his chief men throughout the Territory, inciting them against the people of the United States. That it may be understood what kind of language he used to his bishops in these circulars, I copy the one sent to Wm. H. Dame, the man who was colonel and com- mander of t!ie militia in southern Utah, and who afterwards, and while standing upon Mountain Meadows examining the bodies of those that he had directed Haight to slaughter, said: "I would not have given the orders if I had thought there were so tnciny of them." The circular bears date two days before the masaiicre is charged to have been committed, and the supposi- tion is lliat it lia I been delivered to Dame at the lime he issued his orders for tlie massacre. It explains itself, and reads a=? follows: *' Great Salt Lake City. Sept. 14, 1857. *' Colonel William H. Dunie^ Faroioan, Iron Co. : " Herewith you will receive the Governor's Proclamation, declaring mtirtial law. You will probably not be called out this VfAi, l)ut 9ie re(piested to continue to make ready for a big fight another year. The plan of operations is supposed to be about this: In case the U. S. Government shouhl send out an over- powering force, we intend to desolate the Territory and conceal our fumilies, stock, and all of our effects in the fastnesses of the raounuiins, whore they will be safe, while the men waylay our enemies, attack them from ambush, stampede their animals, take the sur)pl\' trains, cut off detachments and parties sent to canons for wood or on other service. To lay waste everything that will burn — houses, fences, trees, fields, grass — that they cannot find a particle of an_ylhing that will be of use to them, not even sticks to make a lire for to cook their suppers. To waste away our enemies, and lose none. That will be our mode of warfare. Thus you see the necessity of preparing. First secure places in the mountains wb.ere they cannot find us, or if they do, where they cannot approach in any force, and then prepare for our families, building some cabins, caching flour and grain. Flour should be ground in the latter part of Winter, or INTBODUCTOUY. 19 early in the Spring, in order to keep. Sow grain in your fields early as possible this Fall, so that the harvest of another year may come off before they have time to get here. Conciliate the Indians^ and make them our fast friends. In regard to letting people pass or repass, or travel through the Territory, this applies to all strangers and suspected persons. Yourself and Bro. Isaac C. Haight, in your district, are authorized to give sucli permits. Examine all such persons strictly before giving them permits to pass, keep things perfectly quiet and let all things be done peace- fully, but with firmness, and let there be no excitement. Let tlie people be united in their feelings and faith, as well as works, and keep alive the spirit of the reformation ; and what we said in regard to sowing the grain and provisions, we say again, let there be no waste; save life always when it is possible — we do not wish to shed a drop of blood if it can be avoided. This course v^ill give us great influence abroad. [Signed] '^ Brigham Young. [Signed] "Daniel H. Wells." Next, take the proclamation declaring martial law in the Terri- tory, and put these facts together, and no fair-minded person can deny that the massacre was the result of the teachings of Brigham Young, and that the Mormons in church council decided that the emigrants should be killed as they were afterwards killed. I claim that Brigham Young is the real criminal, and that John D. Lee was an instrument in his hands. That Brigham Young used John D. Lee, as the assassin uses the dagger, to strike down his unsuspecting victim ; and as the assassin throws away the dagger, to avoid its bloody blade leading to his detection, /' 80 Brigham Young used John D. Lee to do his horrid work;( and when discovery becomes unavoidable, he hurls Lee from him, cuts him away from the Church, and casts him far out into the whirlpool of destruction. The assassin has no further use for his weapon. I also claim that if religious fanaticism can clear a man from crime, that John D. Lee was guiltless, for he was one of the most intensely fanatical Mormons that infested Utah in 1857. But I do not claim that the fact of his being a fanatic and blinded believer of Brigham Young's so-called reve- lations excused him — far from it. In place of excusing him, it added to his crime. Such insanity as that which religious fanat- icism breeds, can only, and should only, be treated by the exe- cutioner, and there are many thousands in Utah who are afllicted with the disease, that calls for that radical treatment which was administered to Lee. The Mormons around Cedar City, espe- 20 INTB OD UCTOB Y. cially, were insane dreamers, and to them the Danites, Destroy- ing Angels and Blood Atoners bee ame objects of ecstatic admira- tion. The Mormons had come into existence to combat the doctrines of Protestants and Catholics alike. They were infatu- ated followers of designing leaders, anxious to earn the martyr's crown by giving up life if necessary to advance the interest of the Mormon Church, or please one of the priesthood. The Templars and Knights of St. John were no more willing servants of the Cross, in its war with the Crescent, than were the deluded followers of Brigham Young to overthrow all established government, and shed the blood of all who were marked as vic- tims by the false prophet who directed their assassin-like actions. They had no law but the will of Brigham Young. No purpose but what they called the will of God. Their discipline was per- fect, and their devotion absolute. Such was the condition of affairs when the fair plains of Utah were wetted with the blood of over one hundred and twenty human beings, that had been doomed to death by the unanimous voice of the Satanic crew that claimed to be servants of the ever- living God. Since that time every force has been brought for- ward which Mormonism could wield to prevent the facts from becoming known. Brigham Young has shielded and rewarded those that he well knew were engaged in the unholy work. I cannot explain the facts connected with the Mormons and the massacre, in any other way, so fully and clearly, and yet so truly, as I can by giving extracts from the speech of Judge Cradlebaugh, which he delivered in Congress, in the year 1863. Judge Cradlebaugh was an educated, honorable gentleman, whose word no man that ever knew him can honestly dispute. He was speaking about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and calling upon Congi'ess for needed legislation for the Territory of Utah. The entire speech is one that every lover of our in- stitutions should be familiar with, as it most clearly portrays the evils of the Mormon system. I would like to publish the entire speech, but will content myself by giving only a part. In re- gard to what Mormonism is, he says : Mr. Cradlkbaugh. — "Mr. Speaker, having resided for some time among tlie Mormons, become acquainted with their eccle- siastical policy, their habits, and their crimes, I feel that I would not be discharging my duty if I tailed to impart such infor- mation as I have acquired in regard to this people in our midst, INTBODUCTOBY. 21 who are building up, consolidating, and daringly carrying out a 1 system subversive of the Constitution and laws, and fatal to \ morals and true religion. "The remoteness of Utah from the settled regions of our coun- try, and the absence of any general intercourse between the Mormons and the masses of our people, have served to keep the latter in almost complete ignorance of the character and designs of the former. That ignorance, pardonable at first, becomes criminal when the avenues to a full knowledge are open to us. "Mormonism is one of the monstrosities of the age in which we live. It seems to have been left for the model Republic of the world, for the nineteenth century, when the light of knowledge is more generally diffused than ever before, when in art, science and philosophy we have surpassed all that ages of the past can show, to produce an idle, worthless vagabond of an impostor, who heralds forth a creed repulsive to every refined mind, op- posed to every generous impulse of the human heart, and a faith which commands a violation of the rights of hospitality, sancti- fies falsehood, enforces the systematic degradation of women, not only permits, but orders, the commission of the vilest lusts, in the name of Almighty God himself, and teaches that* it is a sacred duty to commit the crimes of theft and murder. It is surprising that such faith, taught too, in the coarsest and most vulgar way, should meet with any success. Yet in less than a century it girdles the globe. Its missionaries are planted in every place. You find them all over Europe, thick through England and Wales, traversing Asia and Africa, and braving the billows of the southern oceans to seek proselytes. And, as if to crown its achievements, it establishes itself in the heart of one of the greatest and most powerful governments of the world, establishes therein a theocratic government overriding all other government, putting the laws at defiance, and now seeks to consummate and perpetuate itself by acquiring a State sovereignty, and by being placed on an equality with the other states of the Union. "Mormonism is in part a conglomeration of illy cemented creeds from other religions, and in part founded upon the eccen- tric production of one Spaulding, who, having failed as a preacher and shopkeeper, undertook to write a historic novel. He had a smattering of bibhcal knowledge, and chose for his subject 'the history of the lost tribes of Israel.' The whole was supposed to be communicated by the Indians, and the last of the series was named Mormon, representing that he had buried the book. It was a dull, tedious, interminable volume, marked by ignorance and folly. The work was so flat, stupid and insipid, that no publisher could be induced to bring it before the world. Poor Spaulding at length went to his grave, 22 I^TB OD UCTOB Y. and the manuscript remained a neglected roll in the possession of his widow. "Then arose Joe Smith, more ready to live by his wits than by the labor of his hands. Smith had, early in life, manifested a turn for pious frauds. He had figured in several wrestling matches with the devil, and had been conspicuous in giving in eventful experiences in religion at certain revivals. He an- nounced that he had dug up the book of Mormon, which taught the true religion; this was none other than poor Spaulding's manuscript, which he had purloined from the widow. In his hands the manuscript became the basis of Mormonism. Joe became a prophet; the founder of a religious sect; the president of a swindling bank ; the builder of the City of Nauvoo ; mayor of the city; general of the armies of Israel; candidate for President of the United States, and finally a martyr, as the Saints choose to call him. But the truth is that his villainies, together with the villainies of his followers, brought down upon him the just vengeance of the people of Illinois and Missouri, and his career was brought to an end by his being shot while confined in jail in Carthage. It was unfortunate that such was his end, for his followers raised the old cry of martyrdom and persecution, and, as always proved, 'the blood of the martyr was the seed of the church.* " Mormonism repudiates the celibacy imposed by the Catholic religion upon its priesthood, and takes in its stead the voluptu- ous impositions of the Mohammedan Church. It preaches openly that the more wives and children its men have in this world, the purer, more influential and cons[)icuous will they be in the next ; that wives, children, and property will not only be restored, but doubled in the resurrection. It adopts the use of prayers and baptism for the dead, as a part of its creed. Mormons claim to be favored with marvelous gifts — the power of speaking in tongues, of costing out devils, of curing the sick, and of healing the lame and tlie halt. They claim that they have a living prophet, seer and revelator who holds the keys of of the Kingdom of Heaven, and through whose intercession alone access can be had. They recognize the Bible, but they interpret it for themselves, and hold that it is subject to be changed by new revelation, which, they say, supercedes old revelation. One of their doctrines is that of continued progres- sion to ultimate perfection. They say God was but a man, who went out developing and increasing until he reached his present high capacity ; and they teach tliat Mormons will be equal to him; in a word, that good Mormons will become gods. They teach the shedding of blood for remission of sins, or, in other words, that if a Mormon apostatizes, his throat shall be cut, and his blood poured out upon the ground for the remission of IXTE OD UC TOB Y. 28 his sins. They also practice other revolting doctrines, such as are only carried out in polygamous countries, which is evidenced by a number of mutilated persons in their midst. They hold thai the prophet's revelations are binding upon their consciences, and that they are bound to obey him in all things. They say that the earth and the fullness thereof is the Lord's ; that they are God's chosen people on earth ; that their mission on earth is to take charge of God's property, and, as faithful stewards, that it is their duty to obtain it, and are taught that, in obtaining it, they must not get in debt to the Lord's enemies for it; in other words, they teach that it is a duty to rob and steal from Gentiles. They have christened themselves 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.' They claim that Mormonism is to go on spreading until it over- throws all the nations of the earth, and if necessary for its accomplishment, its success shall be con sum mated by the sword; that Jackson count}'-, Missouri, is to be the seat of empire of the Mormon Church ; that here the Mormons are to be finally gathered, and that from that Zion shall proceed a power that will dethrone kings, subvert dynasties, and subjugate all the nations of the earth. " I have said that their doetrines were repulsive to every refined mind. Every other false faith which has reigned its evil time upon this ffoodly world of ours, has had some kindly and re- deeming features. Even tlie semi-theocracy of the Aztecs, as Frescott tells you, disfigured as it was by horrid and bloody riles, was not without them. Buddhism and Brahmanisra, v>rith ail their misshapen fables, still inculcated, in no small degree, a pure -code of morals. Nor is the like assertion untrue of Mo- hammedanism. It was reserved for Mormonism, far off in the bosom of our beloved land, to rear its head, naked in all its hideous deformity, and unblushingly, yes, deflaiitl}^ proclaim a creed without the least redeeming feature, and of such character that the Thugism of India cannot match it. " So at variance is the practice of polygamy with all the in- stincts of humanity, that it has to be pressed upon the people with the greatest assiduity as a part of their religious duty. It is astonishing with what pertinacity through all their ' sermons and discources' it is justified and insisted on. Threats, entreaties, persuasions, and commands, are continually brought in play to enforce its cheerful observance. So revolting is it to the women, that to aid in its enforcement they are brutalized, their modesty destroyed by low, vile, vulgar expressions, such as I could not repeat, and would not ask the clerk to read in your hearing. If, however, my conjugal friend, the Delegate from Utah, will undertake such task, I will most cheerfully fur- nish them for him ; certainly he ought not to hesitate. If they 24 INTB OD UG TOR Y. are proper to be repeated before large congregations of women and children in Salt Lake City, the representative of the Church ought not to be ashamed at reading them to this House. Will the Delegate from Utah read them? CONDITION OF THE WOMEN. *' But their teachings, officially reported by themselves, give you a better idea of their estimation of woman than anything I could say. I shall read to you from a few of their sermons on this subject, only observing that you may pick other passages inculcating similar doctrines, containing like threats, rebukes, and complaints, in pearly every sermon published in the Churct organ. "President J. M. Grant, in a sermon delivered September 21, 1856, reported in the Deseret News, (volume 6, page 235) said: "'And we have women here who like anything but the celes- tiallawofGod; and, if they could, would break asunder the cable of the Church of Christ ; there is scarcely a mother in Israel but would do it this day. And they talk it to their hus- bands, to their daughters, and to their neighbors, and say that they have not seen a week's happiness since they became ac- quainted with that law, or since their husbands took a second wife. They want to break up the Cliurch of God, and to break it from their husbands and from their family connections.' "President Brigham Young, in a sermon delivered the same day, reported in the same paper, said : "' Now, for my proposition ; it is more particularly for my sisters, as it is frequently' happening that women say that they are unhappy. Men will say, '• my wife, though a most excellent woman, has not seen a happy day since I took my second wife ; no, not a happy day for a year. " It is said that women are tied down and abused ; that they are misused, and have not the liberty they ought to have ; that many of them are wading through a perfect flood of tears, because of the conduct of some men, together with their own folly. " ' I wish my women to understand that what I am going to say is for them, as well as all others, and I want those who are here to tell their sisters, yes, all the women of this community, and then write it back to the States, and do as you please with it. I am going to give you from this time to the Gth day of October next for reflection, that you may determine whether you wish to stay with your husbands or not, and then I am going to set every woman at liberty, and say to them, "■ now go your way, my women with the rest; go your way. " And my wives have got to do one of two things ; either round up their shoulders to endure the afliictions of this world, and live their religion, or they may leave, for I will not have them about me. I will go into Heaven alone, ratner than have scratching and fighting INTB OD UCTOB T. 25 around me. I will set all at liberty. *' What, first wife too?" Yes, I will liberate you all. " ' I know what my women will say; they will say, "you can have as many women as you please, Brigham." But I want to go somewhere and do something to get rid of the whiners ; I do not want them to receive a part of the truth and spurn the rest out of doors. * « » * *' ' Let every man thustreat his wives, keeping raiment enough to clothe his body ; and say to your wives, " take all that I have and be set at liberty ; but if you stay with me you shall comply "with the law of God, and that, too, without any murmuring and ■whining. You must fulfill the law of God in every respect, and round up your shoulders to walk up to the mark without any grunting. " 'Now, recollect, that two weeks from to-morrow I am going to set you all at liberty. But the first wife will say, " it is hard, for I have lived with my husband twenty years, or thirty, and have raised a family of children for him, and it is a great trial to me for him to have more women that will bear children." If my wife had borne me all the children that she ever would bear, the celestial law would teach me to take young women that would have children. » » ♦ » " ' Sisters, I am not joking ; I do not throw out my proposition to banter your feelings, to see whether you will leave your hus- bands, all or any of you. But I do know that there is no cessa- tion to the everlasting whinings of many of the women of this Territory. And if the women will turn from the commandments of God and continue to despise the order of Heaven, I will pray that the curse of the Almighty may be close to their heels, and that it may be following them all the day long. And those that enter into it and are faithful, I will promise them that they shall be queens in heaven and rulers for all eternity.' "President Heber C, Kimball, in a discourse delivered in the Tabernacle, November 9, 1856 (^Deseret News, volume 6, page 291), said: " ' I have no wife or child that has any right to rebel against me. If they violate my laws and rebel against me, they will get into trouble just as quickly as though they transgressed the counsels and teachings of Brother Brigham. Does it give a woman a right to sin against me because she is my wife ? No ; but it is her duty to do my will as I do the will of my Father and my God. It is the duty of a woman to be obedient to her husband, and unless she is, I would not give a damn for all her queenly right and authority, Inor for her either, if she will quar- rel and lie about the work of God and the principles of plurality. A disregard of plain and correct teachings is the reason why SO many are dead and damned, and tvice plucked up 26 INTB OD UCTOB T. by the roots, and I would as soon baptize the devil as some of you. ' "October 6, 1855 (volume 5, page 274), Kimball said: " ' If you oppose any of the works of God you will cultivate a spirit of apostasy. If you oppose what is called the spiritual wife doctrines, the patriarchal order, which is of God, that course will corrode you with apostasy, and you will go overboard. Still a great many do so, and strive to justify themselves in it; but they are not justified in God. • » • ♦ • " ' The principle of plurality of wives never will be done away, although some sisters have had revelations that when this time passes away, and they go through the vale, every woman will have a husband to herself. I wish more of our young men would take to themselves wives of the daughters of Zion, and not wait for us old men to take them all. Go ahead upon the right prin- ciple, young gentlemen, and God bless you for ever and ever, and make you fruitful, that we may fill the mountains and then the earth, with righteous inhabiit.ants.' " April 2, 1854, President Heber C. Kimball said in the Taber- nacle (see Deseret Neivs, volume 4, No. 20) : " 'There are some ladies who are not happy in their present situation ; but that woman who cannot be happy with one man cannot be happy with two. You know all women are good, or ought to be. They are made for angelic beings, and I would like to see them act more angelic in their behavior. You were made more angelic, and a little weaker tUan man. Man is made of rougher material — to open the way, cut down bushes and kill the snakes — that women may walk along through life, and not soil and tear their skirts. When you see a woman with ragged skirts you may know she wears the unmentionables, for sile is doing the man's business, and has not time to cut olf the rags hanging about her. From this time henceforth you may know what woman wears her husband's pants. May the Loi'd bless you. Amen.' "President Heber C. Kimball, in a lengthened discourse, de- livered in the Tabernacle on the 4th day of April, 1857, took oc- casion to say : "'I would not be afraid to promise a man who is sixty years of age, if he will take the counsel of Brother Brigham and his brethren, he will renew his age. I have noticed that a man who has but one wife, and is inclined to that doctrine, soon begins to wither and dry up, while a man who goes into plurality looks fresh, young and sprightly. Why is this? Because God loves that man, and because he honors his work and' word. Some of you may not believe this ; but I not only believe it, but I also know it. For a man of God to be confined to one woman is a small business, for it is as much as INTB OD UCTOB T. 27 we can do to keep under the burdens we have to carry, and do not know what we should do if we only had one woman apiece.' "President Heber C. Kimball used the following language in a discourse, instructing a band of missionaries about to start on their mission : " ' I say to those who are elected to go on missions, go, if you never return, and commit what you have into the hands of God — your wives, your children, your brethren and your property. Let truth and righteousness be your motto, and don't go into the world for anything else but to preach the Gospel, build up the kingdom of God, and gather the sheep into the fold. You are sent out as sheplierds to gather the sheep together ; and re- member that they are not your sheep ; they belong to him that sends you ; then don't make a choice of any of those sheep, don't make selections before they are brought home and put into the fold. You understand that! Amen.' "Such, then, is Mormonism in regard to all that beautifies life in the conjugal relation ; such are their sentiments and com- , mands pronounced under the assumed authority of God upon ? , , the female sex. When President Kimball calls his numerous P'«v'-ij'''*''^ wives his 'cows, ' he but reflects the Mormon idea of woman in the social scale. "The view is sickening. I turn with loathing and disgust from their legalized status of systematic debauchery and lust. Before it the entire nature recoils. No wonder that it requires the whole enginery of the Mormon Church, threats and intimida- tions to compel the women to submit to it. I pity that man or woman who can for one moment look upon this organized, sys- tematic, enforced degradation and prostitution with any other feeling than that of abhorrence and disgust. In matters of afl"ection woman is a monopolist — she wants the whole heart, or she wants none. But in Utah she is compelled to take part only of the smallest of hearts — a Mormon's heart — little atten- tion and no devotion. "The church government established by the Mormons to carry into operation the teachings from which I have so copiously extracted, is one of the most complete despotisms on the face of the earth. The mind of one man permeates through the whole mass of the people, and subjects to its unrelenting tyranny the souls and bodies of all. It reigns supreme in Church and State, in morals, and even in the minutest domestic and social arrange- ments. Brigham's house is at once tabernacle, capital and harem ; and Brigham himself is king, priest, lawgiver, and chief polygamist. Is treason hatched in Utah? — Brigham is the head traitor. Is a law enacted? — Brigham's advice deter- mines it. Is an oflTending 'Gentile' or an Apostate Mor- 28 INTBODUCTOBY. mon to be assassinated? — the order emanates from Brig- ham. In addition to all this, he heals the afflicted by the laying on of hands, and comforts the widow by becoming her hus- band. It- may be asked, does he do this witbouL compensa- tion? No, his pay is both high and certain. He tiixes bis deluded followers to the extent of all surplus properly upon their arrival in the Territory. He subsequently taxes them to the extent of one-tenth of their annual productions and labor, and if reluctant to pay, he mercilessly snatches all they have. He has through the Legislature unrestricted license to tax mer- chants. By legislation, all estrays in the Territory are impound- ed and sold, and the proceeds paid over to him. By like author- ity he seizes upon the great highway between our Atlantic and Pacilic possessions, grants exclusive rights to erect bridges and ferries across all the streams in the Territory, and fixes the toll at enormous rates, ranging from five to ten dollars for a team, expressly providing in the law that a portion of tne receipts shall be paid over to iiimself, by which means, whetlier willing or unwilling, the emigrant to the Pacific coast is forced to build up the Church, and furnish money to emigrate pious sisters to Ziou to replenish the harems of the hoary-headed leaders of the Church; and as if to consummate the matter of pay, all escheats in the Territory are to him ; the property of tlie emigrant, and even the habiliments of the deceased may be sold, and the pro- ceeds paid over to him. He selects for himself the choicest spots of land in the Territory, and they jdeld him their produc- tions, none daring to interfere. "The timber in the mountains for a great distance from Salt Lake City belongs to him, and it is only by delivering each third load, as he shall order, tiiat the gat-es are opened and tlie citizen allowed to pass up City Creek canyon to obtain it. Having ap- propriated all that he desires for his own use, he has quite ex- tensive tracts of country furnished him by tbe Federal Govern- ment as capital for his Church. He sends his agents, denomi- nating them missionaries, to Europe, who represent Utah as a paradise, and go into the market offering each proselyte who will come to Zion, a homestead of a quarter of a section of land — being in return compensated by the addition of females to fill the harems, and the tithing which will in the future accrue to him. The cattle on a thousand hills exhibit his brand. He fixes his pay — pays himself. His pampered but plebeian body reposes in a palace, and scores of bright-eyed women call him husband. His deluded followers yield him implicit obedience and a Church organization known as ' Danites ' or ' Destroying An- gels,' stands ready to protect his person, or avenge his wrongs, and to execute his pleasure. INTB OB UCTOB T. 29 "The legislators of the Territory are Mormons. The endow- ment oaths bind them to yield an implicit obedience to Brigham, as the head of the Church, and political head of the Territory. His mandates are superior to all law. The Mormons are fanat- ics ; they will keep their oath to obey him. Did not their relig- ion induce, their fears would compel obedience, for the ven- geance of Brigham, though silent, is swift, and fearful as the horrors of death can make it. Mormon punishment for Mor- mon apostasy is like the old curse of former Popes, it extends from the soles of the feet to the hairs of the head. It sep- arates the husband from the wife ; it reaches from the confiscation of property to the severance of the windpipe. Armed with such power over the hearts and lives of the people, Brigham defiantly drives the barbaric chariot of Mormon rob- bery, murder, polygamy and incest over all law, in defiance of all Federal ofllcials in the Territory. Brigham not only con- trols the legislation, but he controls the courts. He uses the one to aid in accomplishing the other. "As one of the Associate Justices of the Territory of Utah, y in the month of April, 1859, I commenced and held a term of the District Court for the Second Judicial District, in the city of Provo, about sixty miles south of Salt Lake City. General A. S. Johnston, in command of the Military Department, fur- nished a small militar}'- force for the purpose of protecting the Court. A Grand Jury was impaneled, and their attention was pointedly and specifically called to the great number of crimes that had been committed in the immediate vicinity, cases of public notoriety both as to the oflTense and the persons who had perpetrated the same ; for none of these things had ' been done in a corner.' Their perpetrators had scorned alike conceal- ment or apology before the arrival of the American forces. The Jury, thus instructed, though kept in session two weeks, utterly refused to do anything, and were finally discharged as an evi- dently useless appendage to a court of justice. But the Court was determined to try a last resource to bring to light and to punish those guilty of the atrocious crimes which had been committed in the Territory, and the session continued. Bench warrants, based upon sworn information, were issued against the alleged criminals, and United States Marshal Dotson, a most excellent and reliable officer, aided by a military posse, procured on his own request, had succeeded in making a few arrests. A general stampede immediately took place among the Mormons ; and what I wish to call your attention to as particularly notice- able, is the fact that this occurred more especially among the Church officials and civil officers. Why were these classes so peculiarly urgent and hasty in flight? The law of evidence, based on the experience of ages, has but one answer. It was 50 I^TR OD UC TOli Y. the consciousness of guilt which drove them to seek a refuge from the avenging arm of the law, armed at last, as they sup- posed, with power to vindicate its injured majesty. It is a well known fact that many of the bishops and presidents of ' Stakes ' remained secreted in the mountains until the news was confirmed beyond doubt, which announced the retrograde course of the administration at "Washington. ♦ » * * * > * • » Sitting as a committing magistrate, com- plaint after complaint was made before me of murders and rob- beries. Among these I may mention as peculiarly and shock- ingly prominent, the murder of Forbes, the assassination of the Parishes and Potter, of Jones and his mother, of the Aiken parcy, of which there were six in all ; and worst and darkest in this appalling catalogue of blood, the cowardly, cold-blooded butchery and robbery at the Mountain Meadows. At that time there still lay, all ghastly under the sun of Utah, the unburied skeletons of one hundred and nineteen men, women and chil- dren, the hapless, hopeless victims of the Mormon creed." Judge Cradlebaugh then gives a full history of his visit to the scene of the massacre and of his utter failure to procure the arrest of one of the guilty parties ; and also gives the reasons why the Courts were powerless to bring offenders to justice. After giving the history of many of the crimes committed by the priestly crew, the speech closes with the following eloquent sen- tences : "There can be no doubt that the mass of the Mormon com- munity are misled in their errors by a set of heartless, fanati- cal leaders. Their success may be much attributed to their isolation. That isolation the fast filling up of the Great Basin, because of its vast mineral deposits, will soon do away with. Nevada now has a population equal to Utah. Thriving towns and cities are springing up on the Humboldt river — and in near proximity to the Mormons. Brigham sees this, and he knows and feels that he must place himself in a position to prevent the consequences to his system which will grow out of this con- tiguity of settlement. He feels that he cannot keep his women where they have a chance to get away, unless he can protect himself by legislation further than he ia able to do while his community remains under the general jurisdiction of the Gov- ernment. It is on that account that he manifests so great a desire to become an independent State. I say he desires to become a State, for under his tyrannical sway, and with the sj'stem that is now prevalent, Brigham would be the State and the State would be Brigham. "The people of Utah have nothing but ill will towards our government. The great mass know nothing of our institu- INTB OD UC TOB Y. 31 tions ; they came to Zion, not to America. They are hurried through the settled portions of our country without being allow- ed to become acquainted with our people or institutions. Upon arriving in Utah they hear nothing but abuse of our people ; the whole fountain of patriotism is polluted, and they are taught that they owe neither allegiance nor love to our government. Treason and insubordination are openly taught. God forbid that this people should be admitted into the Union as an inde- pendent State ; I protest against it in the name of humanity, which it would violate by the admission ; I protest against it on behalf of my constituents, who have a deep interest in the in- stitutions that are to prevail in the great American Basin ; 1 protest against it in the name and on behalf of the murdered victims of the cruel Mormon faith, whose mouldering bones are bleaching in almost every valley in the Territory ; I protest against it on behalf of the downtrodden and undone women of Utah, who, with their female posterity, in all time to come, will bless those that would not aid in keeping them in bondage." The foregoing is, in my judgment, sufficient to show what Mormonism was, and the influences that were brought to bear upon the citizens of Utah at the time of the commission of the massacre. The Territory was practically without courts of justice from 1857 until after the passage of the " Poland Bill," since which time the Federal officers in Utah have made great and praise- worthy exertions to enforce the laws in the Territory. ORGANIZATION OF THE COURT AT BEAVER CITT. The Second District Court convened in Beaver City, Utah Territory, on the seventh day of September, A. D. 1874, A grand jury was summoned for the 7th of September, but the panel was not completed until the 9th of September. This was the first grand jury under the Poland Bill. This was the first term of this court at which a Federal or Gentile officer had charge of the grand jury. This grand jury consisted of fifteen men, ten Gentiles, four Mormons, and one Apostate. Wm. Stokes and B. L. Duncan rendered efficient service in procuring witnesses to go before this grand jury. P This grand jury was in session from the 9th to the 25th day of ■ September, 1874. The indictment against John D. Lee and others, charging them with the crime of murder at the Moun- tain Meadows, was returned into court on the 24th day of 32 INTB DUCT OR Y. September, 1874. Twenty-eight inrlictmenta for various crimes were found and returned by this jury. D. P. Whedon, Esq., acted as deputy United States Attorney, and drew all the in- dictments presented at that term of court. Great credit is due to Judge Whedon for the able manner in which he discharged his duty while acting as deputy United States Attorney in Utah. Hon. Jacob S. Boreman was the Presiding Judge during all of the time since 1874, in that. district. General George R. Maxwell, the United States Marshal for Utah, was an efficient officer. He resigned his position after the first trial of Lee, and was succeeded by Colonel William Nelson, the present United States Marshal for Utah. James R. Wilkins, the clerk of the court, is an affable, edu- cated gentleman, in every way qualified for his position. Hon. William Carey, United Slates Attorney, who prosecuted at the first trial, was succeeded by Hon. Sumner Howard, who secured a conviction of Lee, by beating the Mormons at their own game of trickery. At the first trial, a jury was sworn to try the case on the 24th day of July, 1875. The prosecution was conducted by William Carey, United States Attornej' for Utah, D. P. Whedon, deputy United Stales Attorney, R. N. Boskin, Presley Denney, Charles H. Swift and C. M. Hawley. The defendant was represented by J. G. Sutherland, E. D. Hoge, Wells Spicer, John McFarland and Wm. W. Bishop. After several days of legal strife, the case was given to the jury, and failing to agree (nine being for Not Guilty, and three being for Guilty), the jury were discharged and the case con- tinued. At the succeeding May term of the Court, the prosecution being without money to carry on the case, or procure witnesses, and the defendant insisting upon a trial, the court admitted him to bail in the sum of ten thousand dollars, which bail was at once given, and Lee was then discharged from custody, and remain- ed at liberty until a few days before the commencement of the second trial, at which time he was surrendered to the court by his Mormon bondsmen, they having been ordered by the Church authorities to withdraw all assistance and sympathy from John D. Lee, as he had been selected as a victim to shoulder the sins of the people of the Mormon Church. Daniel H. Wells was pres- INTE OD UC TOE Y. 33 ent in person at Beaver, to see that the treachery of the Mor- mon leaders was completely carried out. September 14, 1876, a jury was empaneled to try the case '^ the second time. Twelve jurymen were found who were con- sidered safe by the Church authorities, and all other parties concerned, and the trial commenced. The attorneys for the defendant had been furnished a list of the jurymen, and the list was examined by a committee of Mormons, who marked those who would convict with a dash ( — ), those who would rather not convict with a star (*), and those who were certain to acquit John D. Lee, under all circumstances, with two stars (**). It is sufficient on that subject to simply say, all the jury- men accepted were marked with the two stars in the list, and they acted as the Church directed — they convicted ! As a matter of explanation, I may be pardoned for saying that the Mormons, who gave us the list so marked, had shown it to How- ard before they gave it to us, and informed him that he had nothing to fear! The law and evidence, and also Brigham Young and the Mormon Church, were then all against Lee, hence his conviction was a foregone conclusion. The evidence is given in full in the body of this work, and speaks for itself. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and the Court passed sentence of death upon Lee. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court of Utah Territory, and the judgment of the District Court affirmed. Lee was again taken to Beaver and sentenced to be shot. The sentence wai carried into eflfect on the 23d day of March, A. D. 1877. ' At the last trial the prosecution was conducted by Sumner Howard, U. S. Attorney for Utah, and Presley Denney, Deputy U. S. Attorney. The defendant was represented by Wells Spicer, J. 0. Foster and W. W. Bishop. After John D. Lee had been convicted, he consented to make a full confession of all that he knew concerning the Mountain Meadows Ma^acre, and at his request I assisted him in writing up the confession. He then made an assignment of all hii writings to me, and requested me to publish the same. I have over one thousand pages of his manuscripts and writings, in hii own handwriting. I have corrected the same as I have seen fit, by correcting the spelling and punctuation ; otherwise I give the writings and confessions in the exact language of John D. Lee. 84 INTB ODUG TOB T. Several persons having made claim to the possession of the true confession of Lee, I can only say that what I have published was given to me by him for the purpose of publication, and that he insisted up to the moment of his execution his statements were true. As my authority for publishing his life and confessions, I give the following letter, which he wrote to me, and which, with others that I have since received from him, and still retain, give me the sole right to publish his writings. The letter reads as follows : " Beaveb City, Utah Territory, Sept. 30, 1876. "W. W. Bishop: " Dear Sir — Having acted for me as one of my Attorneys, and having in all respects done your utmost for my acquittal and interest generally ; now that I am awaiting sentence of death on the charge of having aided in the Mountain Meadows Massa- cre, in case of my death, or final imprisonment, I wish j-ou to still continue my counsel and friend, and as such to publish to the world the history of my life and of my connection with the afiF;iir for which 1 have been tried. You are familar with the facts, and have my statements, which are true. M3' journals and private papers will be furnished you by my family, the same to be re- turned when examined. In justice to myself, and to my family, I wish you to publish the true history of my life. After the expenses are paid for the publication, I expect you to divide the profits arising therefrom with my family. Charging you with this sacred trust, and by reason of my own inability to pub- lish my life, by reason of imprisonment, I urge you to carry out this my request. "Your true friend and no mistake, ^^i ^^^ rUJ ,=^ tL^ The Mountain Meadows are situated in Washington County, Utah Territory, and between the seventh and eight parallels of south latitude, from Salt Lake meridian. If the government survey was extended over that portion of Utah Territory, then the particular portion of the Meadows where the massacre was committed, would be within the limits of township thirty-seven, south of range twelve west. The monument, erected at the place of the massacre, is three hundred and twenty miles south-west from Salt Lake City, by road measure, as the road ran in 1857. A line extended two hundred miles due south, from Salt Lake City, and then run, at right angles, seventy-five miles due l-I o 3 ■a s- o •-J sr O o a a O a o a 5" 3 o o CO 4|*iMMWW| INTB OD UC TOE T. 35 west, would terminate at the monument. The Meadows are thirty-six miles south-west of Cedar City, where the massacre was finally planned by Haight, Higby, Klingensmith and the Mormon authorities then in council. At the time of the massacre, if the evidence of the vampires who acted as Church slaves to secure the conviction of Lee are to be believed, the Meadows were covered with an abundance of rank, nutritious grasses, and was a beautiful, smiling spot of earth, inviting the beholder to rest and repose. Now it is an ai'id waste, with but little vegetation upon its plains. The springs, once furnishing a bounteous supply of wa- ter, are now comparatively dry and wasted away. The Mead- ows are such only in name ; all that gave them beauty has long since faded and gone. They lie there as one of the cursed spots of earth ; surrounded by desolation so intense that a fanatic, seeking death in order to escape from the troubles of this sin- cursed earth ; seeking death in order to obtain the Celestiaj. re- ward offered by some self-styled apostle, anxious to give up life at once, and try the realities of the hereafter, would forego his promised joys and dwell in this land of sorrow, for a season, rather than lay down the body that he was so anxious to sepa- rate from, and leave it to moulder upon the unsightly spot where so much of wrong has been done in the name of religion. Mor- mon tradition informs us that the ghosts of the slaughtered emi- grants meet nightly at the springs, and with phantom- like still- ness, but with perfectness of detail, act over in pantomime the cruelities and horrors connected with the massacre. I acknowledge myself greatly indebted to D. P. Whedon, Esq., Hon. Wm. Nelson, Wm. Stokes, Esq., John Ward Chris- tian, Esq., General George R. Maxwell, Hon. Sumner Howard, A. S. Patterson, Esq., and the Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Company for many favors extended to me by them, in furnish- ing me with valuable documents for use in the work of compil- ing this manuscript for publication. I also acknowledge myself under many obligations to Col. Geo. M. Sabin, of Pioche, Nevada, for his valuable services rendered me in the preparation of this work for the press. I have now kept faith with my unfortunate client, and feel that I have also performed a duty that I owed to myself and the country. Wm. W. Bishop. Pioche, Nevada, May 17th, 1877. \/' LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. CHAPTER I. ▲ STORMY BESINNINO. r JUSTICE to myself, my numerous family, and the public in general, I consider it my duty to write a history of my life. I shall content myself with giving /cic^s, and let the readers draw their own conclusion therefrom. By the world at large, I am called a vile criminal, and have been sentenced to be shot for deeds committed by myself and others, nearly twenty years ago. I never willingly committed a crime. 7 have acted my religion^ nothing more. I have obeyed the orders of the Church. I have acted as I was commanded to do by my superiors, and ii I have committed acts that justify my execution, I ask my readers to saj' what should be the fate of the leaders in the Church who taught me to believe that I could not and would not commit sin while obeying orders of the priesthood? My sins, if any, are the result of doing what I was commanded to do by those who were my superiors in authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will now give the facts winch relate to my own history, and leave it to others to say how I should have acted — how they would have acted if situa- ted as I was. I was born on the 6th day of September, A. D. 1812, in the town of Kaskaskia, Randolph County, Illinois. My father, Ralph Lee, was born in the State of Virginia. He was of the family of Lees of Revolutionary fame, and was a relative of General Robert E. Lee, of the late war; he served his time as an ap- prentice and learned the carpmiter's trade in the city of Balti- more. My mother was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the daughter of John Doyle, ^vho for ninny Aoars held the posi- tion of Indian Agent ovor the roving Uibes of Indians in south- eastern Illinois. lie served in the war of the Revolution, and was wounded in oue of ihf many battles in which he took part with the Sous of Liberty against the English oppressors. About e^'l-L^i r^Q f=^ e^ LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 37 the year 1796, he was appointed Indian Agent, and moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois. My mother was first married in 1799, to Oliver Reed, and lived with him until he was assassinated by a man named Jones, who entered the house when the family were asleep, and striking Reed with a seat of a loom, knocked his brains out, at the same time severely wounding my half-sister, Eliza Virginia, then six months old. The blow and the screams of the child awakened my mother, who sprang from the bed, and recognizing the assassin, said, " For God's sake, Jones, spare my husband's life!" Jones said, "You know me, G — d — n you I you shall tell no tales." With this, he caught up a sugar trough and struck my mother on the head with it. The blow rendered her senseless. Jones, believing he had completed his work of death, then left the house. My mother soon revived, called upon the neighbors for assistance, and told who had committed the murder. Jones was arrested, convicted and afterwards hung for the crime. The injuries received by my mother, from the blow struck by Jones, affected her all the rest of her life. After the death of Reed, my mother went back to Kaskaskia and lived in her father's family until she married my father in the year 1808. Isly mother had two children by my father — that is, William Oliver and myself. My brother, William Oliver, died when about two years old. At the time of my birth my father was considered one of the leading men of that section of country ; he was a master workman, sober and attentive to business, prompt and punctual to his engagements. He contracted largely and carried on a heavy business ; he erected a magnificent man- sion, for that age and country, on his land adjoining the town of Kaskaskia. This tract of land was the property of my mother when she married my father. My grandfather Doyle was a wealthy man. He died in 1809 at Kaskaskia, Illinois, and left his whole fortune to my mother and her sister Charlotte, by will. They being his only children, he divided the property equally between them. My father and mother were both Catholics, were raised in that faith ; I was christened in that Church. William Morrison and Louise Phillips stood as my representative god-father and god- mother. It is from that Church record that I could alone obtain the facts and date that referred to my birth. When about one year old, my mother being sick, I was sent 38 MORMONISM UNVEILED. to a French nurse, a negro woman. At this time my sister Eliza was eleven years old, but young as she was she had to care for my mother and do all the work of the household. To add to the misfortune, my father began to drink heavily and was soon very dissipated ; drinking and gambling was his daily occupation. The interest and care of his family was no longer a duty with him ; his presence was seldom seen to cheer and comfort his lonely, afflicted wife. The house was one mile from town, and we had no neighbors nearer than that. The neglect and indif- ference on the part of my father towards my afflicted mother, served to increase her anguish and sorrow, until death came to her relief. My mother's death left us miserable indeed ; we were (my sister and I) thrown upon the wide world, helpless, and I might say, without father or mother. My father when free from the effects of intoxicating drink, was a kind-hearted, generous, noble man, but from that time forward he was a slave to drink — seldom sober. My aunt Charlotte was a regular spit-fire ; she was married to a man by the name of James Conner, a Kentuckian by birth. They lived ten miles north of us. My sister went to live with her aunt, but the treatment she received was so brutal that the citizens complained to the county coqamissioners, and she was taken away from her aunt and hound out to Dr. Fisher, with whose family she lived until she became of age. In the mean- time the Doctor moved to the city of Vandalia, Illinois. I re- mained with my nurse until I was eight years of age, when I was taken to my aunt Charlotte's, to be educated. I had been in a family which talked French so long that I had nearly lost all knowledge of my mother tongue. The children at school called me Gumbo, and teased me so much that I became disgusted with the French language and tried to forget it — which has been a disadvantage to me since that time. My aunt was rich in her own right. My uncle Conner was poor ; he drank and gambled and wasted her fortune ; she in re- turn gave him thunder and blixen all the time. The more she scolded, the worse he acted, until they would fight like cats and dogs. Between tbem I was treated worse than an African slave. I lived in the family eight j'ears, and can safely say I got » whipping every day I was there. My life was one of misery and wretchedness ; and if it had not been for my strong religious convictions, I certainly would have committed suicide, to hav* LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 39 escaped from the miserable condition I was in, I then believed, as I do still, that for the crime of suicide there was no forgive- ness in this world, or that which is to come. My aunt was more like a savage than a civilized woman. In her anger she gener- ally took her revenge upon those around her who were the least to blame. She would strike with anything she could obtain, with which to work an injury. I have been knocked down and beaten by her until I was senseless, scores of times, and I yet carry many scars on my person, the result of my harsh usage by her. My experience in childhood made a lasting impression upon me ; the horrors of a contentious family have haunted me through life. I then resolved in my mind that I would never subject my- self to sorrow and misery as my uncle had done. I would marry for love, and not for riches. I also formed the resolution that I would never gamble after I was married, and I have kept that resolution since I was a married man. Aunt Charlotte had five children, four girls and one boy ; i. e., Minerva C, Amanda, Eliza, Maria and John Edgar. They, as well as myself, were strangers to the affections of a mother, and the pleasures of a home. When I was sixteen years old, I concluded to leave my aunt's house — I cannot call it home ; my friends advised me to do so. I walked one night to Kaskaskia; went to Robert Morrison and told him my story. He was a mail contractor. He clothed me comfortably, and sent me over the Mississippi river into Missouri, to carry the mail from St. Genevieve to Pinckney, on the north side of the Missouri River, via Potosi, a distance of one hundred and twenty-seven miles. It was a weekly mail. I was to receive seven dollars a month for my services. This was in December, 1828. It was a severe winter ; snow unusually deep, and roads bad. I was often until two o'clock at night in reaching my sta- tions. In the following Spring I came near losing my life on several occasions when swimming the streams, which were then generally over their banks. The Meramec was the worse stream I had to cross, but I escaped danger, and gave satisfac- tion to my employer. At my request, I was changed, in the Spring of 1829, to the route from Kaskaskia to Vandalia, Illinois, the then capital of the State : the route went by Covington and Carlisle. This was also a weekly route ; the distance was about one hundred miles, and I had eighteen hours in which to make 40 MOIiMOXIj::;JI UNVEILED. the trip. "While I was carrying the mail in Missouri, 1 got a let- ter from my sister, informing me of her marriage to Josiah Nichols, a nephew of Barker Berry, the sheriff of Fayette coun- ty, Illinois, and inviting me to visit them. Nichols was a wealthy man, and lived sixteen miles north of Vandalia. I had not met my sister for many years, so I concluded to visit her. This was one reason why I wished to be put on the Vandalia route. One day, when I arrived at Vandalia, I did not find the post-master in the post-office. I could not find him, so I left the mail at the post-office door, and rode up to my brother-in- law's house. I had a pleasant visit there, and returned the next morning to carry the mail back to Kaskaskia. The post-master, not knowing where I was, had sent another person with the mail, at my expense. It cost me $ 15.00 — a little over my wages for two months. I returned to Kaskaskia, where my employer re- ceived me kindly, and laughed at my mishap. I agreed to pay all damages if he would change me to another route, for I could not consent to return again to the scene of my failure. My em- ployer kindly gave me the place as stage driver from Kaskaskia to Shawneetown, on the Ohio river. The route ran by Finkney- ville and Gallatin ; and it was one hundred and twenty miles in length, through a thinly settled country. I drove on that line about one month, when I commenced driving stage from Kas- kaskia to Belleville. In traveling this route, I passed by my aunt Charlotte Conner's place. Uncle Conner had then gone to the lead mines at Galena. When my aunt and cousins saw me, they all begged me to return and live with them. They made great promises of kindness, and I was finally persuaded to agree to return, and live in the family. I soon quit the stage-driving business and returned to my aunt's. All I know of my father, after I was eight years of age, is, that he went to Texas in the year 1820, and I have never heard of him since. What his fate was I never knew. When my mother died, my uncle and aunt Conner took all the property — a large tract of land, several slaves, household and kitchen furniture, and all ; and, as I had no guardian, I never received any portion of the property ; in fact I was robbed of all. The slaves were set free by an act of the Legislature ; the land was sold for taxes, and was hardly worth redeeming when I came of age ; so I sold my interest in all the land that had be- longed to my mother, and made a quit-claim deed to it to Sidney LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 41 Breeze, a lawyer of Kaskaskia, in consideration of $200. My sister, by the kindness of Dr. Fisher, her guardian, received a much greater price for her interest in the land than I did. I was born on tlie point of land lying between and above the mouth of the Okaw or Kaskaskia river and the Mississippi river, in what is known as the Great American Bottom — the particular point I refer to was then called Zeal-no-waw, the Island of Nuts. It was nineteen miles from the point of the bluffs to the mouth - ,,, of the Okaw river; ten miles wide up at the bluffs and tapering ^-S*"**^ to a point where the rivers united. Large bands of wild horses, French ponies called "punt" horses, were to be found any day feeding on the evergreen and nutritious grasses and vegetation. Cattle and hogs were also running wild in great numbers ; every kind of game, large and small, could be had with little exertion. The streams were full of fish; the forests contained many varieties of timber ; nuts, berries, and wild fruits of every de- scription, found in the temperate zone, could be had in their season. This point of land is one of the finest on the globe ; there I spent my early years ; there I had pleasures and sorrows ; there I met the maiden that first taught me love's young dream. Near by was the Kaskaskia Reservation of the Kaskaskia Indians, Louis DuQuoin was Chief of the tribe. He had a frame house painted in bright colors, but he never would farm any, game being so plentiful he had no need to labor. Nearly all the settlers were French, and not very anxious for education or im- provement of any kind. I was quite a lad before I ever saw a wagon, carriage, set of harness, or a ring, a staple or set of bows to an ox yoke. The first wagon I ever saw was brought into that county by a Yankee peddler; his outfit created as great an excitement in the settlement as the first locomotive did in Utah; the people flocked in from every quarter to see the Yankee wagon. Every thing in use in that country was of the most simple and primitive construction. There were no saw mills or grist mills in that region ; sawed lumber was not in the country. The wagons were two-wheeled carts made entirely of wood — not a particle of iron about them — the hubs were of white elm, spokes of white oak or hickory, the felloes of black walnut, as it was soft and would bear rounding. The felloes were made six inches thick, and were strongly dowelled together with seasoned hardwood pins ; the linch pin was of hickory or ash ; the thills were wood ; in fact all of it was wood. The harness 42 MOBMONISM UNVEILED. consisted of a corn husk collar, hames cut from an ash tree root, or from an oak ; tugs were raw hide ; the lines also were raw hide ; a hackamere or halter was used in place of a bridle ; one horse was lashed between the thills by raw hide straps and pins in the thills for a hold back ; when two horses were used, the second horse was fastened ahead of the first by straps fastened on to the thills of the cart. Oxen were yoked as follows : A square stick of timber of suf- ficient length was taken and hollowed out at the ends to fit on the neck of the ox, close up to the horns, and this was fastened by raw hide straps to the horns. All other implements were made in an equally primitive manner. The people were of ne- cessity self-sustaining, for they were forced to depend upon their own resources for everything they used. Clothing was made of home manufactured cloth or the skins of wild animals. Im- ported articles were procured at heavy cost, and but few found their way to our settlements. Steamboats and railroads were then unthought of, by us at least, and the navigation of the Mis- sissippi was carried on in small boats, that could be drawn up along the river bank by means of oars, spikes, poles and hooks. The articles most in demand in the settlements were axes, hoes, cotton cards, hatchels for cleaning flax, hemp and cotton, spin- ning wheels, knives and ammunition, guns and bar shears for plows. In exchange for such goods the people traded beef, hides, furs, tallow, beeswax, honey, etc. Money was not needed or used by any one — everything was trade and barter. The people were generous and brave. Their pleasures and pastimes were those usual in frontier settlements. They were hardy, and well versed in woodcraft. They aided each other, and were all in all a noble class of people, possessing many vir- tues and few faults. The girls were educated by their mothers to work, and had to work. It was then a disgrace for a vounof woman not to know how to take the raw material — the flax and cotton — and, unaided, manufacture her own clothing. It is a -lamentable fact that such is no longer the case. CHAPTER n. THE INDUSTRIOUS YOUNG MAN. AFTER I settled up with my employer and drew my wages I had but little money left. But I had learned one good lesson: that men who will lead you into trouble will seldom stand by you to get you out of it. I then knew that a soft answer turned away wrath, and I also found out that a man should never spend money that he had not earned. So I de- termined to live within my income from that time forward, to be prompt and punctual to all my engagements ; making my word my honor and my bond. These rules I incorporated into my creed and tried hard to reduce them to practice. I formed a liking for Emily Conner, the daughter of Henry Conner, when we were quite young. Her father was Marshal of the State of Illinois, under Ninian Edwards, the Governor of the State. Emily was an orphan, and lived for about four years at my aunt Charlotte's after her mother died, and until her father married again. She had a consoling word for me at all times when I was in trouble. From being friends, we became lovers and were engaged to be married, when my circumstances would permit. The year after I quit driving stage, I raised a large crop of grain on my aunt's farm, but she did not think I was entitled to any pay for it. This, after her fine promises, was rather disheartening, but I bore it without complaining. My uncle Conner returned home that Fall, and was much pleased to see me back on the farm again, and by his influence I was well treated the remainder of the Fall and Winter. That Winter I went to a school for three months. Early in the Spring the Indian war, known as the Black Hawk war, broke out, and vol- unteers were called for. I enrolled myself at the first call, in the company of Captain Jacob Feaman, of Kaskaskia. My uncle Conner was First Lieutenant in the same company. The company was ordered to rendezvous at Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, where the troops were reorganized, and Capt. Feaman 44 MOBMONISM UNVEILED. was promoted to Colonel, and James Conner became Captain ol the company. I served until the end of the war, and was en- gaged in many skirmishes, and lastly was at the battle of Bad Axe, which I think took place on the 4th day of August, A. D. 1831, but am not certain as to the date. The soldiers were allowed to go home about the first of Sep- tember, 1831. Our company got to Kaskuskia, and were dis- charged, I think, on the first of September, 1831. I got biuk to my uncle's with a broken-down horse and woru-out clothing, and without money. During that month I concluded to seek a more genial clime, one where I could more rapidly better my financial condition. I went to see and la.\k with Emily, the friend of my childhood, and the girl that taught me first to love. I informed her of my intentions. "We pledged mutual and last- ing fidelity to each other, and I bid farewell to the old farm, and went to St. Louis to seek employment. When I lauded on the wharf at St. Louis, I met a negro by the name of liarton, who had formerly been a slave to my mother. He iiitbnned me that he was a fireman on the steamboat Warrior, running the Upper Mississippi, between St. Louis, Mo., and Galena, Illinois. I told him I wanted work. He said he could get me a berth on the Warrior as fireman, at $25.00 a month; but he considered the work more than I could endure, as it was a hard, hot boat to fire on. I insisted on making the etfort, and was emploj^ed as fireman on the Warrior, at $25.00 per month. I foimd the work was very hard. The first two or three times that I was on watch, I feared I would be forced to give it up ; but my proud spirit bore me up, and I managed to do my work until we reached the lower rapids near Keokuk. At this place the War- rior transferred its freight, in light boats, over the rapids to the Henry Clay, a steamer belonging to the same line. The Henry Clay then lay at Commerce, now knowu as Nauvoo. I was detailed with two others to take a skifi" with four passen- gers over the rapids. The passengers were Mrs. Bogges and her mother, and a lady whose name I have forgotten, and Mi. Bogges. The distance to the Henry Clay from where the War- rior lay, was twelve miles. A large portion of the cargo of the Warrior belonged to the firm of Bogges & Co. When we had gone nearly half-way over the rapids my two assistants got drunk and could no longer assist rae ; they lay down in the skiff and went to sleep. Night was fast approaching, and there was no LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 45 chance for sleep or refreshment, until we could reach Com- merce or the Henry Clay. The whole labor fell on me, to take that skiff and its load of passengers to the steamer. Mr. Bogges aided me when he could do so, but much of the distance I had to wade in the water and push the skiff as was most convenient. I had on a pair of new calf-skin boots when we started, but they were cut out by the rocks in the river long before we reached the end of the journey. After a great deal of hardship I succeeded in getting my pas- sengers to the steamer just as it became dark. 1 was wet, cold, hungry and nearly exhausted. I had strained every nerve to accompUsh my task, and save those ladies from a night of suffering in an open skiff on the river. Yet when we boarded the boat I was forgotten ; no one paid any attention to me. I was among strangers. I expected that the passengers that I had so faithtuUy served would see to my wants, but in this I was mistaken ; no one paid any attention to me. I sat down by the engine in my wet clothing and soon fell asleep, without bedding or food. I slept from exhaustion until near midnight, when I was seized with fearful crampings, accompanied by a cold and deathlike numbness. I tried to rise up, but could not. Every time I made an effort to rise, the pains increased. I thought my time had come, and that I would perish without aid or assistance. When all hope had left me, I heard a foot- step approaching, and a man came and bent over me and asked if I was ill. I recognized the voice as that of Mr. Boofsjes. I said I was in the agonies of death, and a stranger without a friend on the boat. He felt my pulse, and haste ned awa}^, say- ing as he left me, "Do not despair, young man, you are not without friends, I will return at once." He soon came to me bringing a lantern and a bottle of cholera medicine, and gave me a large dose of the medicine, then he brought the Captain and others to me. I was soon comfortably placed in bed, and from that time I had every attention paid me, and all the medi- cal care that was necessary. Mr. Bogges sat by me a long time and rubbed my hands and limbs until the cramping gave way. He told me by way of apology for his seeming neglect, that he had supposed I was one of the regular crew of the Henry Clay, and was among friends. That his wife and mother- in-law had noticed that I appeared to be a stranger, and they had seen me when I sat down by the engine alone ; that after they 46 ' MOIiJIOmSM UNVEILED. retired, his wife was restless and insisted on his getting up and finding me; this was the occasion of his assistance coming as it did. He then asked me why I was there and for a history of my former career. I gave him a brief history of my life, which seemed to interest him very much. He told me he had formed a slight acquaintance with my uncle Conner, at Galena, the year before, and considered him rather a hard case. So the conver- sation dropped for that night. I recovered rapidly, and by noon next day was up, and reported myself to the Captain for duty, informing him why I was there, and what I came for. I was set to work loading the steamer. In the meantime, Mr. Bodges had contracted for freighting his goods to Galena, where he resided ; and had provided for the passage of himself, wife and mother-in- law. They would go by land from Commerce, as he dreaded the passage of the upper rapids in time of low water, as it then was. After finishing the loading of the steamer, I again began to tire up to get ready for a start. While so engaged, Mr. Bogges came to me, and talked to me for some time. He said steam- boating was a hard life at best, that I would be constantly wet, cold, and broken of my rest, and would soon drift into bad hab- its ; that he considered me an honorable j'oung man, and felt an interest in me like a father should feel for a son ; that he admired my grit and courage, and said I had manly principles, which was more than the average, that his wife was interested in my welfare, and that, at the suggestion of her and her mother, and of his own wish, he now offered to employ me, and wished me to go to Galena with him, and act as his clerk that winter ; that he was doing business as a provision and groceryman, that in the Spring he would furnish me with tools, and every thing I needed, and I coi\ld go to mining, if I wished to do so, and he would then srive me the half that we could make. He asked me then what wages I was getting. I told him $25. j"I will give you $50," said he. I said, "You are very kind, indeed, sir. I should not charge you more than I am getting here, ex- cept my expenses from Galena to Saint Louis, as I may have that to pay, for I may not suit you ; for I have had very little expe- rience in selling goods, though I have traded and trafficked con- siderably with the people where I have lived. And the services that I rendered you, as we came up the river, was simply my duty. It was what I had been employed to do, and I did it and no more." He said, " I know what you have done, and if you will LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. ' 47 only go with me, I will pay you double what you are getting here, and perhaps three times as much." "But," said I, "you know I am already employed, and have no right to break my contract, and leave my employer." He said he would arrange that with the Captain, if I would go with him. I consented, and after settling with the Captain of the Henry Clay, who bid me good bye and good luck, I started for Galena, Illinois, with Mr. Bogges and his family, to take charge of a business then almost new to me. We reached Galena in safety, and good health. Now a new era in my life commenced. Mr. William Bogges introduced me to John D. Mulligan, his partner. I at once commenced my duties as salesman and bar-tender at the store, and general out- side man for Mr. Wm. Bogges ; who placed me in charge of every thing in which he was interested. The business was such that I found it more than play. Many a time I did not get rest or sleep for forty-eight hours at a time. I have frequently taken in $100 in twenty-four hours for drinks, at five cents a drink. The receipts, for provisions sold, would average $1000 a day. During the winter, Mr. Mulli- gan was taken sick, and I had the whole business to attend to for three weeks. I found out that the clerks in stores have as hard work to do, and put in more hours during the day and night than the farm hand has to labor. I paid strict attention to business, making the interest of my employers my interest. On account of my faithful services, I was permitted to prepare hot lunches during the night, to sell to gamblers. What I made was my own. In this way I made from $50 to $100 a month extra. One day while I was absent from the store, looking after the farming interests of Mr. Bogges, a French half-breed, by the name of Shaunce, got on a drunken spree and cleared out the store, and saloon, too ; he broke considerable furniture, glass- ware, and made himself generally troublesome. When I re- turned at night, Mr. Bogges told me of all the troubles that Shaunce had occasioned, and said if he repeated it, I must give him a good drubbing. I said I would rather have nothing to do with him. Things were quiet for a few days, then the miners got on a spree, and a large number of them came to where I was working. Shaunce was in the crowd. I was then out at dinner. They attacked Mulligan, beat him up badly, and ran him out of the building ; then the drunken crowd set things up generally. 48 M0IiM0m6'2I UNVEILED. Hearing the disturbance, I ran to the store. I entered by the back door, and went behind the counter. As I did so Shaunce ran to the counter and grabbed up a large number of tumblers, and threw them over the house, breaking them all. I said, "Mr. Sliaunce, you must cither behave, or go out of the house." As I said so, he jumped over the counter, caught me by the throat, and shoved me back against the counter, saying, "You d — d little pup, how dare you insult me! " There was no time to swap knives. I must either receive a severe beating, or do something to prevent it. I remembered the advice that my uncle Conner had given me about fighting. He said, "John, if you ever get in a fight with a man that over-matches you, take one of his hands in both of yours, and let him strike as he may, but get one of his fingers in your mouth and then bite it, and hold on until he gives up." Acting on this advice, I succeeded in getting one of his thumbs in my mouth. I held to it until I dislocated the thumb joint, when he yelled, "Take him off I " This little affair made a quiet man of Shaunce, and my employ- ers were more pleased with me than ever before. They made me a present of S50 for what I had done. I formed a slight acquaintance with the father of General Grant while in Galena. He was a steady, orderly man. U. S. Grant was then about seventeen years of age. I remember a story that was told at that time about the Grant family by John L. Dickerson, who resided near Galena. Dickcrson had a horse that he wanted to sell, and young Grant took a fancy to it and insisted that his father should buy it for him. The father sent young Grant to buy the horse, but directed him to give no more than $60, and said, "You offer him $50, and if he refuses that, offer $55 ; if he still refuses, you can give $60, but that is as much as I will pay, for he has offered it for that price." Young Grant went to Dickerson and commenced to talk about buying the horse. Dickerson said, "Tell me just what your father said about your trading with me." This made Grant think a few minutes, when he said, " Mr. Dickerson, I expect it is best to tell the truth." Then he informed him what his father had said. Dickerson was so pleased at it that he let Grant have the horse for $55, saying he deducted $5 on account of the lad being so honest. I made money while with Bogges & Co., and was saving of what I earned. I did not gamble. I took good care of myself, L1F3 OF JOILY D LEE. 49 and, haying the respect of every person, I admit I was quite vain and proud. I was accused by the gamblers of being stingy with my money. So I thought I would do as others did, and commenced to give money to others as a stake to gamble with on shares. Soon I began to play. I won and lost, but did not play to any great extent. Mr. Bogges took me to task for gambling, gave me good advice, and showed me how utterly impossible it was for me to be a successful business man if I gambled. He also showed me many of the tricks of the gam- blers, and I promised him to quit the practice as soon as I got married, and also not, to gamble any more while in his employ. I kept these promises. In the early part of 1832 I received an affectionate letter from my Emily, desiring me to return to her, and settle down before I had acquired a desire for a rambling life. I then had $oOO in money and two suits of broad-cloth clothing. J was anxious to see Emily, so I settled up with Bogges & Co., and started for home. Emily was then living at her sister's house in Prairie de Roache ; her brother-in-law, Thos. Blay, kept the tavern there. I boarded with them about two weeks, daring which time I play- ed cards with the Frenchmen there, and dealt vantune, or twenty- one, for them to bet at. I was lucky, but I lived fast, and spent my money freely, and soon found that half of it was gone. I soon discovered that Emily was dissatisfied with my con- duct. I proposed immediate marriage ; Emily proposed to wait until the next fall, during which time we were to prepare for housekeeping. Her suggestions were well intended, and she wished to see if I would not reform, for she had serious doubts about the propriety of marrying a gambler. She asked me to quit gambling, and if I had made that promise all would have been well, but I was stubborn and proud and refused to make any promise ; I thought it was beneath my dignity. I really in- tended to never gamble after my wedding, but I would not tell her so ; my vanity overruled my judgment. I said to her that if she had not confidence enough in me to take me as I was, with- out requiring me to give such a promise, I would never see her again until I came to ask her to my wedding. This was cruel, and deeply wounded her ; she burst into tears and turned from me. I never saw her again until I went to ask her to attend my wedding. I went up into the country and stopped with my cousins ; while there I met the bride of my youth ; she was the i 50 MOBMONISM UNVEILED. daughter of Joseph "Woolsey and Abigail his wife ; they had four daughters, all grown. I attended church, went to parties, pic- nics, etc., with the girls, and fell in love with Agathe Ann, the eldest girl. The old folks were opposed to my marrying their daughter, but after suffering the tortures and overcoming the obstacles usual in such cases, I obtained the consent of the girl's parents, and was married to Agathe Ann "Woolsey on the 24th day of July, A. D. 1833. The expenses of the wedding ended all my money, and I was ready to start the world new and fresh. I had about 850 to procure things to keep house on, but it was soon gone ; yet it procured about all we then thought we needed. I commenced housekeeping near my wife's father's, and had good success in all that I undertook. I made money, or rather I obtained considerable property, and was soon com- fortably fixed. I followed trading everything, and for every- thing that was in the country. My wife was born January 18, 1814; our first child was born on the 3rd day of July, 1834 ; we named him William Oliver. In October, 1834, I moved to Fayette county, Illinois, and settled north of Vandalia, near my sister's, and lived there some two 3eais ; during that time our oldest child died. I next pur- chased a farm on Luck Creek, in Fayette county, Illinois, and lived on it until I went to Missouri to join the Mormon Church. CHAPTER in. LEE BKC03I£S A MORMON. IN 1836 my second child, Elizabeth Adaline, was born. After 1 moved to Luck Creek I was a fortunate man and accumu- lated property very fast. I look back to those days with pleas- ure. I was blest with everything that an honest heart could wish. I had a large house and I gave permission to all sorts of peo- ple to come there and preach. Methodists, Baptists, Campbell- ites and Mormons all preached there when they desired to do so. In 1837 a man by the name of lung, from Indiana, passed by, or came to my place, on his way to Missouri, to join the Mor- LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 51 mons. He had been a New Light, or Campbeilite preacher, I invited him to stay at my place until the next Spring. I gave him provisions for his family, and he consented to and did stay with me some time. Soou after that there was a Methodist meeting at my house. After the Methodist senices were through I invited King to speak. He talked about half an hour on the first principles of the gospel as taught by Christ and his apostles, denouncing all other doctrines as spurious. This put an end to all other denominations preaching in my house. That was the first sermon I ever heard concerning Mormonism. The Winter before two elders, Durphy and Peter Dustan, stayed a few days with Hanford Stewart, a cousin of Levi Stewart, the bishop of Kanab. They preached in the neighborhood, but I did not at- tend or hear them preach. My wife and her mother went to hear them, and were much pleased with their doctrine. I was not a member of any church, and considered the religion of the day as merely the opinions of men who preached for hire and worldly gain. I believed in God and in Christ, but I did not see any denomination that taught the apostolic doctrine as set forth in the New Testament. I read in the New Testament where the apostle Paul recom- mended his people to prove all things, then hold fast to that which is good ; also that he taught that though an angel from heaven should preach any other gospel than this which ye have received, let him be accursed. This forbid me believing any doctrine that differed from that taught by Christ and his apos- tles. I wanted to belong to the true Church or none. "When King began to preach at my house I noticed that every other denomination opposed him. I was surprised at this. I could not see how he could injure them if they were right. I had been brought up as a strict Catholic. I was taught to look upon all sects, except the Catholic, with disfavor, and my opin- ion was that the Mormons and all others were apostates from the true Church ; that the Mormon Church was made up of the offscourings of hell, or of apostates from the true Church. I then had not the most distant idea that the Mormons believed in the Old and New Testaments. I was astonished to hear King prove his religion from the Scriptures. I reflected. I deter- mined, as every honest man should do, to fairly investigate his doctrines, and to do so with a prayerful heart. The more I studied the question, the more interested I became. I talked 52 MORMONISM UNVEILED. of the doctrine to nearly every man I met. The excitement soon became general, and Bang was invited to preach in many places. In the meantime, Levi Stewart, one of my near neighbors, be- came interested in this religion, and went to Far "West, Missouri, to investigate the question of Mormonism at head-quarters. He joined the Church there, and when he returned he brought with him the "Book of Mormon" and a monthly periodical called the Elder's Journal. By this time my anxiety was very great, and I determined to fathom the question to the bottom. My frequent conversations with Elder King served to carry me on to a conviction, at least, that the dispensation of the fullness of time would soon usher in upon the world. If such was the case I wished to know it, for the salvation of my never- dying soul was of far more importance to me than all other earthly considerations. I regarded the heavenly boon of eternal life as a treasure of great price. I left off my frivolity and com- menced to lead a more moral life. I then began trying to lay up treasure in Heaven, in my Father's rich store-house, and wished to become an heir of righteousness, to inherit in cojnmon with the faithful children the rich legacy of our Father's Ejng- dom. A third child had been born to us, a daughter ; we called her Sarah Jane. During that year our second child, Elizabeth Adaline, died of scarlet fever. The night she lay a corpse I finished reading tlie Book of Mormon. I never closed my eyes in sleep from the time I commenced until I finished the book. I read it after asking God to give me knowledge to know if it was genuine and of Divine authority. By careful examination I found that it was in strict accord with the Bible and the gospel therein contained. That it purported to have been given to another people, who then lived on this continent, as the Old and New Testaments had been given to the Israelites in Asia. I also found many passages in the Bible in support of the forthcoming of such a work, preparatory to the gathering of the remnant of the House of Israel, and the opening glory of the Latter Day Work, and the setting up of the Kingdom of God upon the earth for the reception of the Son of Man, the millennial reign of Christ upon the earth a thousand years, etc. ; all of which, to me, was of great moment. My whole soul was absorbed in these things. My neighbor Stewart, who had just returned from Missouri, LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 53 brought the most cheering and thrilling accounts of the power and manifestations of the Holy Spirit working with that people. That the spiritual gifts of the true believers in Christ, were enjoyed by all who lived faithfully and sought them. That there was no deception about it ; that every one had a testimony for himself, and was not dependent upon another. That they had the gift of tongues, and the interpretation of those tongues. The power of healing the sick by the laying on of hands; prophesying, casting out devils and evil spirits, etc. All of which he declared, with words of soberness, to be true. Stewart had been my playmate and my companion in former years. His word was considered good by all, and it had great influence on me, and strengthened my conviction that the Book of Mormon was true — that it was a star opening the dispensation of the fullness of time. I believed the Book of Mormon was true, and if so, every- thing but my soul's salvation was a matter of secondary consid- eration to me. I had a small fortune, a nice home, kind neigh- bors, and numerous friends, but nothing could shake the deter- mination I then formed, to break up, sell out, and leave Illinois and go to the Saints at Far West, Missouri. My friends used every known argument to change my determination, but these words came into my mind, " First seek the righteousness of the king- dom of God, then all things necessary will be added unto you ; " and again, "What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" or, what could a man give in ex- change for his soul? I was here brought to the test, and my action was to decide on which I placed the most value — my earthly possessions and enjoyments, or my reward in future, the salvation of my never-dying soul. I took up my cross and chose the latter. I sold out and moved to Far West. I took leave of my friends and made my way to where the Saints had gathered in Zion. Our journey was one full of events interesting to us, but not of sufficient importance to relate to the public. While on the journey I sold most of my cattle on time to an old man, a friend of Stewart's — took his notes, and let him keep them, which, as the sequel shows, was fortunate for me. We arrived at Far West, the then headquarters of the Mor- mon Church, about the fourth day of June, 1838. The country around there for some fifteen or twenty miles, each way, wat settled by Mormons. I do not think any others lived within that 54 MORMONISM UNVEILED distance. The Mormons who had been driven from Jackson, Ray and Clay counties, in 1833, settled in Caldwell and Daviess counties. The night after our arrival at Far West, there was a meeting to be held there. Stewart said to me, " Let us go up and hear them speak with new tongues and interpret the same, and enjoy the gifts of the gospel generally, for this is to be a prayer and testimony meeting." My reply was, *'Iwant no signs; I be- lieve the gospel they preach on principle and reason, not upon signs — its consistency is all I ask. All I want are natural, logi- cal and reasonable arguments, to make up my mind from." Feeling in this way, I did not go to the meeting. The Sunday after, I attended church in Far West Hall. The hall was crowded with peopi'e, so much so that I, with others, could not gain admittance to the building. I obtained standing room in one of the windows. I saw a man enter the house without uncovering his head. The prophet ordered the Brother of Gideon to put that man out, for his presumption in daring to enter and stand in the house of God without uncovering his head. This looked to me like drawing the lines pretty snug and close ; however, I knew but little of the etiquette of high life, and much less about that of the kingdom of heaven. I looked upon Joseph Smith as a prophet of God — as one who held the kej^s of this last dispensation, and I hardly knew what to think about the rash manner in which the man was treated who had entered the house of God without taking his hat off. But this did not lessen my faith ; it served to confirm it. I was fearful that I might in some way unintentionally offend the great and good man who stood as God's prophet on the earth to point out the way of sal- vation. We remained at the house of elder Joseph Hunt, in Far West, several days. He was then a strong Mormon, and was after- wards first captain in the Mormon Battalion. He, as an elder in the Church, was a preacher of the gospel ; all of his family were firm in the faith. Elder Hunt preached to me the necessity of humility and a strict obedience to the gospel requirements through the servants of God. He informed me that the apostles and elders were our true teachers, and it was our duty to hear^ learn and obey ; that the spirit of God was very fine and deli- cate, and was easily grieved and driven from us ; that the more humble we were, the more of the Holy Spirit we would enjoy. LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 55 After staying in Far West about a week, we moved about twenty miles, and settled on a stream called Marrowbone, at a place called afterwards Ambrosia. Sunday, June 17, 1838, I attended meeting. Samuel H. Smith, a brother of the prophet, and elder Daniel Cathcart preached. After meeting, I and my wife were baptized by elder Cathcart, in Ambrosia, on Shady Grove creek, in Daviess county, Missouri. I was now a mem- ber of the Church, and expected to live in strict obedience to the requirements of the holy priesthood that ruled, governed and controlled it. I must do this in order to advance in the scale of intelligence unto thrones, kingdoms, principalities and powers, and through faithfulness and fidelity to the cause, receive eter- nal increase in the mansions that would be prepared for me in my Father's kingdom. My neighbor, Stewart, and myself each selected a place on the same stream, and near where his three brothers, Riley, Jack- son and Urban, lived. Urban Stewart is now Treasurer of Beav- er county, Utah. On my location there was a splendid spring of pure, cold water ; also a small lake fed by springs. This lake was full of fish, such as perch, bass, pickerel, mullet and cat- fish. It was surrounded by a grove of heavy timber, mostly hickory and oak, in nearly all their varieties. TVe could have fish sufficient for use every day in the year, if we desired. My home on Ambrosia creek reminded me much of the one I had left on Luck creek, Illinois ; but it was on more rolling land, and much healthier than the Illinois home had proven to us. I knew I could soon replace, by labor, all the comfort I had abandoned when I started to seek my salvation. I felt that I had greatly benefitted my condition by seeking first the king- dom of Heaven and its righteousness ; all else, I felt, would be added unto me. But still I knew I must be frugal, industrious, and use much care. I improved m}'^ farm as rapidly as I could, and was soon so fixed that we were comfortable. Meetings were held three times a week ; also prayer and testimony meetings, at the latter sacrament, was administered. In these meetings, as well as in everything I was called upon to do, I tried hard to give satisfaction. I was a devout follower from the first. What- ever duty was assigned me, I tried to discharge with a will- ing heart and ready hand. This disposition, on my part, cou- pled with my views of duty, my promptness and punctuality, soon brought me to the notice of the leading men of the Church. 56 MOBMONI^M UNVEILED. The motives of the people who composed my neighborhood, were pure ; they were all siucore in their devotions, and tried to square their actions through life by the golden rule — "Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." The word of a Mormon was then good for all it was pledged to or for. I was proud to be an associate with such an honorable people. Twenty miles north-east of my home was the settlement of Adam-on-Diamond. It was on the east baitk of Grand river, near the Three Forks. Lyman White, one of the twelve apos- tles, was president of that Stake of Ziou. In July, 1838, Levi Stewart and myself concluded to visit the settlement of Adam- on-Diamond. We remained over night at the house of Judge Mourning. He was a Democrat. He told us that, at the ap- proaching election, the Whigs were going to cast their votes, at the outside precints, early in the day, and then rush in force to the town of Gallatin, the county-seat of Daviess county, and pre- vent the Mormons from voting. The Judge requested us to in- form our people of the facts in the case, and for us to see that the Mormons went to the polls in force, and prepared to resist and overcome all violence that might be otfeved. He said the Whigii had no right to deprive the Mormons of their right of suffrage, that they had a right to cast their votes as free and independent Americans. I knew that the two political parties were about equally divided in Daviess county, and that the Mor- mons held the balance of power, and would turn the scale which ever way they desired. I had heard of Judge Mourning as a sharp political worker, and I then thought he was trying to get up and carry out an electioneering job for his party; therefore I paid but little atten- tion to what he said. We visited our friends at Adam-on-Diamond, and returned home. While on this trip I formed the acquaintance of Solomon McBrier, and purchased some cattle from him. He wished to sell me quite a number, but as I did not wish to be involved in debt, I refused to take them, for I had a perfect horror of being in debt, for I knew that when a man was in debt he was in nearly every respect a slave, and that if I got in debt it would worry me and keep ray mind from that quiet repose so necessary for comtemplating the principal beauties of nature, and com- muning with the Spirit regarding \io\y subjects. On Monday, the 6th day of August, 1838, the greater portion LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 57 of our people in the settlements near me, went to Gallatin to attend the election. In justice to truth I must state, that just before the general election of August, 1838, a general notice was given for all the brethren of Daviess county to meet at Adam-on- Diamond. Every man obeyed the call. At that meeting all the males over eighteen years of age, were organized into a military body, according to the law of the priesthood, and called "The Host of Israel." The first rank was a captain with ten men under him ; next was a captain of fifty, that is he had five com- panies of ten ; next, the captain of a hundred, or of ten captains and companies of ten. The entire membership of the Mormon Church was then organized in the same way. This, as I was then informed, was the first organization of the military force of the Church. It was so organized at that time by command of God, as revealed through the Lord's Prophet, Joseph Smith. God commanded Joseph Smith to place the Host of Israel in a situation for defense against the enemies of God and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. At the same Conference another organization was perfected, or then first formed — it was called the "Danites." The members of this order were placed under the most sacred obligations that language could invent. They were sworn to stand by and sus- tain each other. Sustain, protect, defend, and obey the leaders of the Church, under any and all circumstayices unto death; and to disobey the orders of the leaders of the Church, or divulge the name of a Danite to an outsider, or to make public any of the secrets of the order of Danites, was to be punished with death. And I can say of a truth, many have paid the penalty for failing to keep their covenants. They had signs and tokens for use and protection. The token of recognition was such that it could be readily understood, and it served as a token of dis- tress by which they could know each other from their enemies, although they were entire strangers to each other. When the sign was given it must be responded to and obeyed, even at the risk or certainty of death. The Danite that would refuse to respect the token, and comply with all its requirements, was stamped with dishonor, infamy, shame, disgrace, and his fate for cowardice and treachery was death. This sign or token of distress is made by placing the right hand on the right side of the face, with the points of the fingers 58 MOEMOmSM UNVEILED. upwards, shoving the hand upwards until the ear is snug up be- tween the thumb and fore-finger. I here pause, and ask m3'self the question, "Am I justified in making the above statement? I ask those who think lam not fully justified in telling all I know, to wait until they read the whole story ; how I have been ordered, how I have obeyed orders, and how treacherously I have been used and deserted by the Church and its leaders. It is my purpose and intention, for such is my certain duty, to free m}' mind, and bring to light some of the secret workings, some of the deeds of darkness, that have been the result of the evil teachings of aspiring men, who have tried to couple their vile acts with the Gospel of Truth ; and endeavored, alas! too successfully, to palm it off on the credulous and weaker-minded brethren, as a religious duty they owed to God, to unquestioning ly obey every order of the Priest- hood. To return to the election at Gallatin : — The brethren all at- tended the election. All things seemed to pass off quietly, un- til some of the Mormons went up to the polls to vote. I was then lying on the grass with McBrier and a number of others. As the Mormons went to the polls, a drunken brute by the name of Richard Weldon, stepped up to a little Mormon preacher, by the name of Brown, and said : "Are you a Mormon preacher, sir?" "Yes, sir, I am." "Do you Mormons believe in healing the sick by laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, and casting out devils?" "We do," said Brown. Weldon then said, "You are ad — d liar. Joseph Smith is a d — d impostor." With this, he attacked Brown, and beat him severely. Brown did not resent it, but tried to reason with him ; but without effect. At this time a Mormon, by the name of Hyrum Nelson, attempted to pull Weldon off of Brown, when he was struck by half a dozen men on the head, shoulders and face. He was soon forced to the ground. Just then, Riley Stewart struck Weldon across the back of the head with a billet of oak lumber, and broke his skull. Weldon fell nearly on me, and appeared hfe- less. The blood flowed freely from the wound. Immediately the fight became general. I— I O K H O 03 O td O o CO O H GQ LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 59 Gallatin was a new town, with about ten houses, three of which were saloons. The town was on the bank of Grand riv- er and heavy timber came near the town, which stood in a little arm of the prairie. Close to the polls, there was a lot of oak timber, which Lad been brought there to be riven into shakes or shingles, leaving the heart, taken from each shingle-block, ly- ing there on the ground. These hearts were three square, four feet long, weighed about seven pounds, and made a very dangerous, yet handy weapon ; and when used by an enraged man they were truly a class of instrument to be dreaded. When Stewart fell, the Mormons sprang to the pile of oak hearts, and each man, taking one for use, rushed into the crowd. The Mormons were yelling, "Save him!" and the settlers yelled, "Kill him; d — n him!" The sign of distress was given by the Danites, and all rushed forward, determined to save Stewart, or die with him. One of the mob stabbed Stewart in the shoulder. He rose and ran, trying to escape, but was again surrounded and attacked by a large number of foes. The Danite sign of distress was again given by John L. Butler, one of the captains of the Host of Israel. Butler was a brave, true man, and a lead- er that it was a pleasure to follow where dutj' called. Seeing the sign, I sprang to my feet and armed myself with one of the oak sticks. I did this because I was a Danite, and my oaths that I had taken required immediate action on my part, in sup- port of the one giving the sign. I ran into the crowd. As I reached it, I saw Nelson down on the ground fighting for life. He was surrounded by a large number, who were seeking to murder him, but he had a loaded whip, the lash wrapped around his hand, and using the handle, which was loaded with several pounds of lead, as a weapon of defense. He was using it with effect, for he had men piled around him in all shapes. As I ap- proached, a man sprang to his feet. He had just been knocked down by Nelson. As the man was rising. Nelson gave him a blow across the loins with the handle of his whip, which had the eflfect of straitening out the villain on the grass, and rendered him an inoffensive spectator during the remainder of the play. Captain Butler was then a stranger to me, and until I saw him give the Danite sign of distress, I had believed him to be one of the Missouri ruffians, who were our enemies. In this contest I came near committing a serious mistake. I had raised my club to strike a man, when a Missourian rushed at him, and struck 60 MOIiMONISM UJSVEILED. Mm with a loaded whip, and called him a d — d Mormon. The man then gave tlie sign, and I knew how to act. Capt. Butler was attacked from all skies, but, being a power- ful man, lie used his oak club with effect and knocked a man down at each blow that he struck, and each man that felt the weight of liis weapon was out of the fight for that day at least. Many of those that he came in contact with had to be carried from the iiuld for surgical aid. In the battle, which was spir- ited, but short in duration, nine men had their skulls broken, and many others were seriously injured in other ways. The severe treatment of the mob by the Danites, soon ended the battle. Three hundred men were present at this difficulty, only thirty of wliom were Mormons, and only eight Mormons took part in the light. 1 was an entire stranger to all who were engaged in the affray, except Stevvart, but I had seen the sir/n^ and, like Sampson, when leaning against the jjillar, I felt the power of God nerve my arm for tlie fray. It helps a man a great deal in a light to know that God is on his side. After the violence had ceased, Captain Butler called the Mormons to him, and as he stood on a pile of building timber, he made a speech to the brethren. He said that his ancestors had served in the war of the lievolution to establish a free and independent government — one in which all men had equal rights and privileges ; that he professed to be half white and free born, and claimed a right to enjoy his con- stitutional privileges, and would have his rights as a citizen, if he had to fight for them ; that as to his religion, it was a matter between his God and himself, and was no man's business ; that he would vote, and would die before he would be driven from the polls. Several of the Gentile leaders then requested us to lay down our clubs and go and vote. This Captain Butler re- fused, saying, "We will not molest any one who lets us alone, but we will not risk ourselves again in that crowd without our clubs." The result was, the Mormons oil voted. It is surpris- ing what a few resolute men can do when united. After voting, the Mormons returned home, fearing additional violence if they remained. It may be well for purposes of explanation to refer back to the celebration of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July, 1838, at Far West. That day Joseph Smith made known to the people the substance of a revelation he had before receiv- LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 61 ed from God. It was to the effect that all the Saints throughout the land were required to sell their possessions, gather all their money together, and send an agent to buy up aU the land in the region round about Far West, and get a patent for the land from the Government, then deed it over to the Church ; then every man should come up there to the land of their promised inheri- tance and consecrate what they had to the Lord. In return the Prophet would set apart a tract of land for each Saint — the amount to correspond with the number of the Saint's family — and this land should be for each Saint an everlasting inheritance. In this way the people could, in time, redeem Zion (Jackson County) without the shedding of blood. It was also revealed that unless this was done, in accordance with God's demand, as required by Him in the Revelation then given to the people through his Prophet, Joseph Smith, the Saints would be driven from State to State, from city to city, from one abiding place to another, until the members would die and waste away, leaving but a remnant of the Saints to return and receive their inheri- tance in Zion (Jackson County) in the Last Days. Sidney Rigdon was then the mouth-piece of Joseph Smith, as Aaron was of Moses in olden time. Rigdon told the Saints that day that if they did not come up as true Saints and consecrate their prop- erty to the Lord, by laying it down at the feet of the apostles, they would in a short time be compelled to consecrate and yield it up to the Gentiles. That if the Saints would be united as one man, in this consecration of their entire wealth to the God of Heaven, by giving it up to the control of the Apostolic Priest- hood, then there would be no further danger to the Saints; they would no more be driven from their homes on account of their faith and holy works, for the Lord had revealed to Joseph Smith that He would then fight the battles of His children, and save them from all their enemies. That the Mormon people would never be accepted as the children of God unless they were united as one man, in temporal as well as spiritual affairs, for Jesus had said unless ye are one, ye are not mine ; that oneness must exist to make the Saints the accepted children of God. That if the Saints would yield obedience to the commands of the Lord all would be well, for the Lord had confirmed these promises by a revelation which He had given to Joseph Smith, in which it was said: "I, the Lord, will fight the battles of my people, and if your enemies shall come up against you, spare 62 MOBMONISM UNVEILED. them, and if they shall come up against you again, then shall ye spare them also ; even unto the third time shall ye spare them ; but if they come up against you the fourth time, I, the Lord, will deliver them into your hands, to do with them as seemeth good unto you ; but if you will then spare them it shall be ac- counted unto you for righteousness." The words of the apostle, and the promises of God, as then revealed to me, made a deep impression on my mind, as it did upon all who heard the same. We that had given up all else for the sake of the gospel, felt willing to do anything on earth that it was possible to do, to obtain the protection of God, and have and receive His smile of approbation. Those who, like me, had full faith in the teachings of God, as revealed by Joseph Smith, His Prophet, were willing to comply with every order, and to obey every wish of the priesthood. The majority of the people felt like Ananias and Sapphira, they dare not trust all to God and His Prophet. They felt that their money was as safe in their own possession as it was when held by the Church authorities. A vote of the people was then had to determine the question whether they would consecrate their wealth to the Church or not. The vote was taken and was unanimous for the consecra- tion. I soon found out that the people had voted as I have often known them to do in Mormon meetings since then, they vote to please the priesthood, then act to suit themselves. I never thought that was right or honest; men should vote their senti- ments, but they do not at all times do so. I have been the vic- tim of such hyprocrites, as the sequel will show. The vote, as I said, was taken. It was done by a show of hands, but not a show of hearts. By the readiness with which ail hands went up in favor of consecration, it was declared that the people were of a truth God's children, and as such, would be protected by him. The Prophet and all his priesthood were ju- bilant, and could hardly contain themselves ; they were so hap- py to see the people such dutiful Saints. Sidney Kigdon, on that day, deUvered an oration, in which he said the Mormons were, as a people, loyal to the government, and obedient to the laws, and as such, they were entitled to the protection of the government, in common with all other denom- inanations, and were justified in claiming as full protection, in their religious matters, as the people of any other sect. That the Mormons had long suffered from mob rule and violence, but LIFE OF JOHN D. LEE. 63 would no longer submit to the mob or unjust treatment that had so long followed them. Now and forever more would they meet force with force. " We have been driven from Kirkland, Ohio, from Jackson County, the true Zion, and now we will maintain our rights, defend our homes, our wives and children, and our property from mob rule and violence. If the Saints are again attacked, we will carry on a war of extermination against our enemies, even to their homes and firesides ; until we despoil those who have despoiled us, and give no quarter un- til our enemies are wasted away. We will unfurl to the breeze the flag of our nation, and under that banner of freedom we will maintain our rights, or die in the attempt." At the end of each sentence Eigdon was loudly cheered ; and when he closed his oration, I believed the Mormons could successfully resist the world. But this feeling of confidence faded away as soon as a second thought entered my mind. I then feared that the days of liberty for our people had been numbered. First, I feared the people would not give up all their worldly possessions, to be disposed of by and at the will and pleasure of three men. In the second place, I doubted the people being so fully regenerated as to entitle them to the full and unconditional support and fav- or of God, that had been promised through the Revelation to Joseph Smith, in favor of the Latter Day Saints. I knew that God was able and willing to do all He had promised, but I feared that the people still loved worldly pleasures so well that God's mercy would be rejected by them, and all would be lost. About three days after the proclamation of Eigdon had been made, there was a storm of rain, during which the thunder and lightnings were constant and terrible. The liberty pole in the town was struck by lightning, and shivered to atoms. This evidence from the God of nature also convinced me that the Mormon people's liberties, in that section of the country, were not to be of long duration. CHAPTER rV. THE SAINTS ARE BESET WITH TROUBLES. THE Saints did not consecrate their possessions as they had so recently voted they would do ; they began to reflect, and the final determination was that they could manage their worldly effects better than any one of the apostles ; in fact better than the Prophet and the priesthood combined. Individual Saints entered large tracts of land in their own names, and thereby se- cured all of the most desirable land round about Far West. These landed proprietors became the worst kind of extortionists, and forced the poor Saints to pay them large advances for every acre of land that was settled, and nothing could be called free from the control of the money power of the rich and head-strong Mormons who had defied the revelations and wishes of God. So things went from bad to worse, until the August election at Gallatin. The difficulty on that day had brought the Church and Saints to a stand-still ; business was paralyzed ; alarm seized the stoutest hearts, and dismay was visible in every countenance. The prophet soon issued an order to gather all the people at Far West and Adam-on-Diamond, under the leadership of Col. Ly- man White, for the purpose of protecting the people from mob violence, and to save the property from lawless thieves who were roaming the country in armed bands. The Gentiles and Mormons hastened to the executive of the State. The Gentiles asked for a military force to protect the settlers from Mormon violence. The Mormons requested an in- vestigating committee to inquire into the whole subject and sug- gest means necessary for future safety to each party. Also they demanded military protection from the mobs and outlaws that infested the country. The Governor sent som'^ troops to keep order. They were stationed about midway Do- tween Far West and Adam-on-Diamond. A committee was also appointed and sent to Gallatin to inquire into the receir disturbances. This committee had full power to send for wi*- LIFE OF JOHN B. LEE. 65 nesses, make arrests of persons accused of crime, and generally to do all things necessar}'' for a full and complete investigation of the entire affair. Many arrests were made at the request of the commmittee. The persons so arrested were taken before Justice Black, of Daviess County, and examined ; witnesses were examined for both parties, and much hard and false swearing was done on both sides. After a long and fruitless examination the committee adjourned, leaving the military to look after mat- ters until something would turn up to change the feeling of dan- ger then existing. It was thought by the committee that all would soon become quiet and that peace would soon be re- stored. The Gentiles of the country were dissatisfied with the action of the committee, and were in no way disposed to accept peace on any terms ; they determined that, come what would, the Mormons should be driven from the Stale of Missouri. Let- ters were written by the Gentiles around Far West to ail parts of the State, and elsewhei'e, giving the most fearful accounts of Mormon atrocities. Some of the writers said it was useless to send less than three or four men for each Mormon, because the Mormons felt sure of Heaven if they fell fighting, hence they did not fear death ; that they fought with the desperation of devils. Such reports spread like wild-fire throughout Northern Missouri, and thence all over the States of the Mississippi Val- ley, and resulted in creating a feeling of the most intense hatred in the breasts of all the Gentiles against the Mormons. Com- panies of .volunteers were raised and armed in every town through Northern Missouri, and commenced concentrating: in the vicinity of the Mormon settlements. The troops sent by the Governor to guard the settlers and preserve order soon took part with the mob, and all show for legal protection was gone, so far as Mormons were concerned. I had built a cabin in the valley of Adara-on-Diamond, at the point where the Prophet said Adam blessed his posterity after being driven from the Garden of Eden. The condition of the country being such that we could not labor on our farms, I concluded to go and hunt for wild honey. Several of my neighbors agreed to join me in my bee hunt, and we started with our teams, and traveled northeasterly until we reached the heavy timber at the three forks of Grand River. We camped on the middle fork of Grand River, and had fine success in securing honey. We had been out at camp only two or three days when we dis- 5 ^6 MOBMONISM UNVEILED. covered signs of armed men rushing through the country. On the 3rd of October, 1838, we saw a large number of men that we knew were enemies to the Mormons, and on their way, as we supposed, to attack our people at the settlements. I concluded to go and meet them, and find out for certain what they were really intending to do. I was forced to act with caution, for, if they discovered that we were Mormons, our lires would be taken by the desperate men composing the mob who called themselves State volunteers. I took my gun and carried a bucket on my arm and started out to meet the people, to learn their intentions. I met them soon after they had broken camp on Sunday morning. As soon as I saw them I was certain they were out hunting for Mormons. I concluded to pass myself ofl' as an outsider, the better to learn their history. My plan worked admirably. I stood my ground until a company of eighteen men rode up to me, and said : " You move early." " Not so d — d early, gentlemen; I am not moving any sooner than you are. What are you all doing in this part of the coun- try, armed to the teeth as you are? Are you hunting for In- dians?" *' No," said they, " but we wish to know where you are from, and what you are doing." "I am from Illinois ; there are four of us who have come out here to look up a good location to settle. We stopped on Mar- rowbone, and did think of staying there, until the settlers and Mormons got into a row at Gallatin, on election day. After that we concluded to strike out and see what this country looked like. I am now going to cut a bee tree that I found yesterday evening, and I brought my gun along so that if I met an old buck I could secure some venison, to eat with my honey- comb." As I got through my statement, they all huddled around me, and commenced to relate the horrors of Mormonism. They advised me to have nothing to do with the Mormons, for said they, "As old Joe Smith votes, so will every Mormon in the country vote, and when they get into a fight, they are just the same way, they stick together; when you attack one of the crew you bring every one of them after you like a nest of hornets." K to U O