BANCROFT 
 
 LIBRARY 
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 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
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EARLY DAYS ON 
 GRAND RIVER AND 
 THE MORMON WAR 
 
 BY 
 ROLLIN J. BRIXTON 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
 
 OF MISSOURI, COLUMBIA 
 
 1920 
 
F V3t> 
 . 13 T I 
 
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 BANCROFT 
 LIBRARY 
 
 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND THE MORMON 
 
 WAR. 
 
 ROLLIN J. BRITTON.* 
 
 FIRST ARTICLE. 
 
 *The following story of the Early Days on Grand River and the Mormon 
 War is believed by the compiler to be authentic history. In its preparation free 
 use has been made of public records and documents and of the writings of Joseph 
 Smith, Jr., Major Joseph H. McGee, Lyman Wight, Major Rebum S. Holcombe, 
 James H. Hunt, Heman O. Smith and others. 
 
 Much personal assistance has been rendered the compiler by Rev. Frank 
 R. Gillihan, formerly of Gallatin, Mo. ; W. O. Tague, Circuit Clerk of Daviess 
 County, Mo.; Heman C. Smith, historian of the Re-Organized Church of Jesus 
 Christ of Latter Day Saints; Herbert P. McDougal, litterateur; Col. Boyd 
 Dudley, of Gallatin, Mo. ; and Wm. R. Handy, of Gallatin, Mo. ; while the task 
 of putting the manuscript into shape for the printer has devolved upon 
 Mrs. Mabel Andersen of Independence, Missouri, whose faithful labor in the 
 interest of history has made this publication possible. — The Author. 
 
 The white man first entered that part of the Grand 
 River Country in Missouri now known as Daviess county 
 in 1830. The only semblance to towns that he found therein 
 were certain Indian camps, the last one of which passed 
 away in 1834, when the Indians allowed the embers to die 
 out in the great camp fire at the head of Auberry Grove, 
 north of the site of the present town of Jamesport. 
 
 In the autumn of 1831 Robert P. Peniston, Sr., moved 
 his family and slaves, among the latter being Jacob and Henry 
 Peniston, from Kentucky to Missouri; the family remained 
 in lower Ray county that winter, while William P. Peniston, 
 the eldest son, accompanied by the two slaves, Jacob and 
 Henry, and the wife of Henry, pushed on to the Grand River 
 Country and camped on Splawn's Ridge, where they builded 
 cabins for the family that came on in the spring of 1832, 
 bringing Theodore Peniston, as well, with them. 
 
 The Black Hawk war was then in progress, and at its 
 close in 1832 many of those who had been ranging the country 
 as soldiers, were so well pleased with the Grand River Country 
 that they concluded to settle in what is now Daviess county. 
 
 (1) 
 
2 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 Among these was Milford Donaho, who brought his family 
 from Ray county and settled in or near Auberry Grove. 
 Major Joseph H. McGee described Donaho as follows: "He 
 was one of those rare geniuses seldom found except in a new 
 country. As a mechanic he was confined to no one trade. 
 He was a blacksmith, gunsmith, wagon-maker, house car- 
 penter and millwright; and though he excelled in none, he 
 was good in all ; some of the best target rifles ever used in the 
 Grand River Country were of his make." 
 
 FOUNDING OF MILL PORT AND GALLATIN. 
 
 Robert P. Peniston, Sr., being the most prosperous man 
 in a financial way on Grand River was urged by the settlers 
 to build a horse mill for the grinding of corn, to which the rest 
 of the community would pay tribute and Mr. Peniston employ- 
 ed Milford Donaho to erect such a mill on the Peniston land. 
 The mill was built of logs and timbers scored and hewed by 
 Donaho and Jacob Peniston ; the latter was famous as an ax 
 man. The burs for the mill were made by Donaho from bould- 
 ers found on the prairie and were fashioned with tools that 
 Donaho made in his blacksmith shop. 
 
 That mill was a great success and it remained the center 
 of the milling industry on Grand River for twelve or fifteen 
 years. Many settlers were attracted by it and a town site 
 was surveyed and platted and Mill Port thus became the first 
 town in that part of the Grand River Country and was getting 
 along famously when Daviess county was organized in 1836. 
 Its business houses relieved the settlers from the need of 
 going to Missouri River points for supplies. Its sign boards 
 bore the names of John A. Williams, grocer; Milford Donaho, 
 blacksmith; Jacobs and Lomax, merchants; Worthington & 
 McKinney, merchants; Morin and Compton, merchants and 
 Jesse Adamson, grocer. 
 
 Theodore Peniston became the first sailor to clear the 
 port, when he took a dug-out load of honey, beeswax, skins, 
 etc., down Grand River to its junction with the Missouri, 
 where he disposed of his little cargo. William P. Peniston 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 3 
 
 built and took out the first flat boat. He sailed with his 
 flat boat load all the way to St. Louis. 
 
 Mill Port was on the east side of Grand River, at what 
 is still known, perhaps, as the Peniston Ford. In 1837 the 
 town of Gallatin was platted just three miles west of Mill 
 Port. The latter had been ambitious to become the county- 
 seat of Daviess county, but Gallatin was awarded the coveted 
 honor and with the ascendency of Gallatin, Mill Port rapidly 
 faded away and few people now in Daviess county know that 
 such a pioneer town ever existed. 
 
 FOUNDING OF ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN AND FAR WEST. 
 
 The same year that Gallatin was platted, 1837, there 
 came to Daviess County a very remarkable man in the per- 
 son of Lyman Wight, who settled upon Grand River and 
 founded a town four miles south and one-half mile west of 
 Gallatin, the town site being located on the West half (}/^) 
 of the Southwest quarter (J) of Section Thirty (30), Town- 
 ship Sixty (60), Range Twenty-seven (27). Lyman Wight 
 came originally from the City of New York, where he served 
 in the War of 1812, but his remarkable career of sufferings 
 and achievements for his religious faith commenced with 
 his baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 
 Saints at Warrensville, Ohio, by Elder Parley P. Pratt on 
 November 14, 1830. He was ordained an Elder on Novem- 
 ber 20, 1830, and in the June conference following was ordained 
 a high priest and shortly afterward entered upon the ministry 
 at Independence, Missouri. His experiences for the next 
 seven or eight years are summed up in a petition filed by him 
 in 1839 and which is still on file in the archives at Washing- 
 ton, D. C, which reads as follows: 
 
 "The petition of Lyman Wight most humbly showeth that 
 petitioner removed from the State of Ohio to the State of Mis- 
 souri, in the year 1832 (1831), where I hoped to live in peace, but 
 after toiling and undergoing all the hardships of a new country 
 for two years, and suffering many privations of the comforts of 
 life, I was assailed by a lawless mob, and was driven from my house 
 in Jackson County to Clay County; my crops and all other prop- 
 
4 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 erty I possessed were taken from me, except a small part of house- 
 hold furniture. I stayed in Clay County for upwards of two years, 
 when I was again assailed by a mob, who said I must deny my 
 sentiments of religion or move from that County, but rather than 
 deny my religion or be put to death, I disposed of my property 
 at a low rate, and removed my family to Davis (Daviess) County, 
 located myself on Grand River, made an improvement, gained 
 to myself a preemption right, on which a small town was laid off; 
 it was then worth to me at least ten thousand dollars. But some- 
 time in the month of September last I was ordered to leave my 
 possessions again, and this by a mob, which was got up by Sashel 
 Wood (a Presbyterian preacher), and Doctor Craven (who have 
 since entered my lands) without any other consideration than 
 to get me chained up in prison and drive my family from the 
 State without food and raiment to make them comfortable; 
 they kept me in prison for six months, until they succeeded 
 in driving every man, women and child (who professed the same 
 religion that I did) out of the State, except those whom they mur- 
 dered in the State, although they have never been able to sub- 
 stantiate the first accusation against me, yet my sufferings for seven 
 years have been more severe than tongue can tell, or pen write." 
 
 However, Lyman Wight was not the only party who 
 had to do with the founding and naming of the town that was 
 thus located upon his land and which town was to become 
 historic in the annals of his faith. The religious organi- 
 zation in which Lyman Wight had membership, com- 
 monly known as the Mormon Church, located its adminis- 
 tration headquarters in Caldwell county, Missouri, in 1837 
 at the town founded by it and named Far West. It was at 
 this town of Far West that Joseph Smith, Jr., the prophet, 
 declared a revelation on April 26, 1838, which revelation defi- 
 nitely fixed the name of the church and also directed the 
 prophet to do certain things that resulted in making history 
 for Lyman Wight's town. That revelation was as follows: 
 
 Revelation given at Far West, April 26, 1838, making Known 
 the Will of God Concerning the Building up of this Place, and of 
 The Lord's House, etc: 
 
 "Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant, Joseph 
 Smith, Jr., and also my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also my 
 servant Hyrum Smith, and your counselors who are and shall 
 be appointed hereafter; and also unto you my servant, Edward 
 Partridge, and his counselors, and also unto my faithful servants 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 5 
 
 who are of the High Council of my church in Zion (for thus it shall 
 be called), and unto all the Elders and people of my church of 
 Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, scattered abroad in all the 
 world; for this shall my church be called in the last days, even 
 the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Verily I say 
 unto you all, Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard 
 for the Nations, and that the gathering together upon the land of 
 Zion and upon her stakes may be for a defense, and for a refuge 
 from the storms, and from wrath when it shall be poured out with- 
 out mixture upon the whole earth. Let the city, Far West, be 
 a holy and consecrated land unto me, and it shall be called most 
 holy, for the ground upon which thou standeth is holy; 
 therefore I command you to build an house unto me, for 
 gathering together of my saints, that they may worship me; and 
 let there be a beginning of this work, and a foundation, and a pre- 
 paratory work, this following summer, and let the beginning be made 
 on the 4th day of July next and from that time forth let my peo- 
 ple labor diligently to build an house unto my name, and in one 
 year from this day let them recommence laying the foundation 
 of my house; thus let them from that time forth labor diligently 
 until it shall be finished from the corner stone thereof unto the 
 top thereof, until there shall not anything remain that is not 
 finished. 
 
 "Verily I say unto you, let not my servant Joseph, neither 
 my servant Sidney, neither my servant Hyrum, get in debt any 
 more for the building of an house unto my name; but let a house 
 be built unto my name according to the pattern which I will show 
 unto them. And if my people build it not according to the pattern 
 which I will show unto their Presidency, I will not accept it at 
 their hands; but if my people do build it according to the pattern 
 which I shall show unto their Presidency, even my servant Jo- 
 seph and his counselors, then I will accept it at the hands of my 
 people. And, again, verily I say unto you. It is my will that 
 the city of Far West should be built up speedily by the gather- 
 ing of my saints, and also that other places should be appointed 
 for stakes in the regions round about, as they shall be manifest 
 unto my servant Joseph from time to time; for behold I will be 
 with him, and I will sanctify him before the people, for unto him, 
 have I given the keys of this kingdom and ministry. Even so. 
 Amen." (Millennial Star, vol. 16, p. p. 147, 148.) 
 
 Pursuant to this revelation, the prophet proceeded 
 to the appointment of other places for stakes in the region 
 round about. His exploring trip northwards from Far West 
 as told by himself in The History of the Church is as follows : 
 
6 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "Friday, May 18th, 1838, I left Far West in company with 
 Sidney Rigdon, T. B. Marsh, D. W. Patten, Bishop Partridge, 
 E. Higbee, S. Carter, Alanson Ripley and many others for the 
 purpose of visiting the north country, and laying off a stake of 
 Zion, making locations, and laying claims to facilitate the gather- 
 ing of the Saints, and for the benefit of the poor, in upbuilding 
 the Church of God. We traveled to the mouth of Honey Creek, 
 which is a tributary of Grand River, where we camped for the 
 night. We passed a beautiful country of land, a majority of which 
 is prairie (untimbered land), and thickly covered with grass and 
 weeds, among which is plenty of game; such as deer, turkey, hen, 
 elk, etc. We discovered a large black wolf, and my dog gave him 
 chase, but he outran us. 
 
 We have nothing to fear in camping out, except the rattle- 
 snake, which is natural to this country, though not very numer- 
 ous. We turned our horses loose and let them feed on the prairie. 
 
 Saturday 19th This morning we struck our tents and formed 
 a line of march, crossing Grand River at the mouth of Honey 
 Creek and Nelson's Ferry. Grand River is a large, beautiful, 
 deep, and rapid stream during the high waters of spring, and will 
 undoubtedly admit of steam boat navigation and other water 
 craft; and at the mouth of Honey Creek are a splendid harbor and 
 good landing. We pursued our course up the river, mostly in 
 the timber, about eighteen miles, when we arrived at Colonel 
 Lyman Wight's, who lives at the foot of Tower Hill (a name I 
 gave it in consequence of the remains of an old Nephite altar or 
 tower), where we camped for the Sabbath. 
 
 In the afternoon, I went up the river about half a mile to 
 Wight's Ferry, accompanied by President Ridgon and my clerk, 
 George W. Robinson, for the purpose of selecting and laying 
 claim to a city plat near said ferry in Daviess County, Township 
 60, Ranges 27 and 28, and Sections 25, 36, 31 and 30, which the 
 brethren called Spring Hill: hut by the mouth of the Lord it was named 
 Adam-ondi-Ahman, because said he, it is the place where Adam 
 shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as 
 spoken of by Daniel the Prophet." , 
 
 Lyman Wight also wrote about this occasion as follows : 
 
 "About June, Joseph Smith, together with many others of 
 the principal men of the church, came to my house, and taking 
 a view of the large bottom in the bend of the river, and the beau- 
 tiful prairies on the bluffs, came to the conclusion, that it would 
 be a handsome situation for a town. We, therefore, commenced 
 siurveying and laying off town lots, and locating government lands 
 for many miles north of this place. This beautiful country with 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 7 
 
 its flattering prospects drew in floods of emigrants. I had not 
 less than thirty comers and goers through the day during the three 
 summer months, and up to the last mentioned date (last of Octo- 
 ber) there were upwards of two hundred houses built in this town, 
 and also about forty families living in their wagons." 
 
 On June 28, 1838 a stake was organized here of which 
 the following minutes were published: 
 
 **Adam-ondi-Ahman, Missouri, Daviess county, June 28, 1838. 
 
 A conference of Elders and members of the Church of Jesus 
 Christ of Latter Day Saints was held in this place this day, for 
 the purpose of organizing this stake of Zion, called Adam-ondi- 
 Ahman. 
 
 The meeting convened at ten o'clock A. M. in the grove near 
 the house of Elder Lyman Wight. 
 
 President Joseph Smith, Jr., was called to the chair, who 
 explained the object of the meeting which was to organize a Presi- 
 dency and High Council, to preside over this stake of Zion, and 
 attend to the affairs of the Church in Daviess County. 
 
 It was then motioned, seconded and carried by the unani- 
 mous voice of the assembly, that President John Smith should 
 act as President of the Stake of Adam-ondi-Ahman. 
 
 Reynolds Cahoon was unanimously chosen first Counselor, 
 and Lyman Wight second Counselor. 
 
 After prayer the President's ordained Elder Wight as second 
 counselor. 
 
 Vinson Knight was chosen acting bishop pro tempore, by the 
 unanimous voice of the assembly. 
 
 President John Smith then proceeded to organize the High 
 Council. 
 
 The counselors were chosen according to the following order, 
 by a unanimous vote; John Lemon, 1st; Daniel Stanton, 2nd; 
 Mayhew Hillman, 3rd; Daniel Carter, 4th; Isaac Perry, 5th; 
 Harrison Sagers, 6th; Alanson Brown, 7th; Thomas Gordon, 
 8th; Lorenzo D. Barnes, 9th; George A. Smith, 10th; Harvey 
 Olmstead, 11th; Ezra Thayer, 12th. 
 
 After the ordination of the Counselors, who had not previ- 
 ously been ordained to the high priesthood, President Joseph Smith, 
 Jr., made remarks by way of charge to the Presidents and Coun- 
 selors, instructing them in the duties of their callings, and the 
 responsibiUty of their stations, exhorting them to be cautious and 
 deliberate in all their councils, and to be careful and act in righte- 
 ousness in all things. 
 
 President John Smith, R. Cahoon, and L. Wight then made 
 some remarks. 
 
8 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 Lorenzo D. Barnes was unanimously chosen clerk of this 
 council and stake, and after singing the well-known hymn, Adam- 
 ondi-Ahman, the meeting closed by prayer by President Gaboon, 
 and a benediction by President Joseph Smith, Jr. 
 
 Lorenzo D. Barnes, 
 Isaac Perry, Clerks. 
 
 The well known hymn above referred to was perhaps 
 sung for the first time at the dedication of the temple at Kirt- 
 land, Ohio, in 1836. Its author is unknown, but the words 
 are as follows : 
 
 "This Earth was once a garden place, 
 
 With all her glories common; 
 And men did live a holy race. 
 And worship Jesus face to face. 
 
 In Adam-ondi-Ahman. 
 
 We read that Enoch walked with God, 
 
 Above the pow'r of Mammon; 
 While Zion spread herself abroad, 
 And Saints and angels sang aloud 
 
 In Adam-ondi-Ahman. 
 
 Her land was good and greatly blest. 
 
 Beyond old Israel's Canaan; 
 Her fame was known from East to West; 
 Her peace was great, and pure the rest 
 
 Of Adam-ondi-Ahman. 
 
 Hosanna to such days to come — 
 
 The savior's second coming — 
 When all the Earth in glorious bloom. 
 Affords the saints a holy home, 
 
 Like Adam-ondi-Ahman." 
 
 MORMAN TROUBLE IN DAVIESS COUNTY. 
 
 So auspiciously did the career of Adam-ondi-Ahman be- 
 gin that Joseph H. McGee informs us that it had over five 
 hundred inhabitants when Gallatin had but four houses, and 
 it threatened to rival Far West and probably would have 
 done so had not a state of civil strife ensued that resulted in 
 the expulsion of all of the members of the Church of Jesus 
 Christ of Latter Day Saints from the State of Missouri. 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 9 
 
 This state of war had its inception in a fight at the general 
 election held in Gallatin on August 6, 1838, on which occa- 
 sion an attempt was made to keep the "Mormons" from vot- 
 ing. Major Joseph H. McGee witnessed that election fight 
 and he tells the story in the following words: 
 
 "My first visit to Gallatin was in 1838, August 6th. My 
 father and I came to town to attend the general election held on 
 that day. This proved to be a historical day as the great knock 
 down between the Mormons and the Missourians took place 
 on that day. I had been with my father at many an election in 
 Ohio, but I never saw him so peaceably inclined at an election 
 before. 
 
 "There was a big pile of house logs piled up in front of the 
 little cabin where they were voting. My father and I climbed 
 to the very top of that pile of logs and witnessed the whole battle. 
 I had witnessed many knock downs in my time, but none on so 
 grand a scale. Pistols were not used. Rocks and clubs were in 
 demand, and an occasional butcher knife slipped in. Men dropped 
 on all sides. 
 
 "I saw one poor Mormon trying to make his escape from two 
 Missourians who were pursuing him. He had a butcher knife 
 sticking between his shoulders. They would no doubt have suc- 
 ceeded in capturing him had not another Mormon by the name of 
 John L. Butler seized a big club and rushing in between them 
 and their victim dealt them such blows that he felled them both 
 to the earth and allowed the Mormon, whose name was Murphy, 
 to escape. The Missourians proved victorious and the Mormons 
 had to leave. After the fight was over my father and I got into 
 our wagon and returned home. This was my first debut in Galla- 
 tin. All the Mormons who took part in this fight left the county 
 that night and moved their families to Far West in Caldwell 
 County — this being the stronghold of the Mormons." 
 
 A more complete story of this fight from the pen of 
 Joseph Smith, Jr. (The Prophet,) has been preserved to us 
 in the following words: 
 
 "Some two weeks previous to this Judge Morin, who lived 
 at Millport, informed John D. Lee and Levi Stewart that it was 
 determined by the mob to prevent the "Mormons" from voting 
 at the election on the sixth day of August, and thereby elect Colonel 
 William P. Peniston, who led the mob in Clay County. He also 
 advised them to go prepared for an attack, to stand their ground 
 and have their rights. 
 
10 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "The brethren hoping better things gave little heed to Judge 
 Morin's friendly counsel, and repaired to the polls at Gallatin, 
 the shire town of Daviess County, without weapons. About 
 eleven o'clock A. M. William P. Peniston ascended the head of 
 a barrel and harrangued the electors for the purpose of exciting 
 them against the "Mormons,*' saying that the "Mormon" leaders 
 were a set of horse thieves, liars, counterfeiters, etc., and you 
 know they profess to heal the sick, cast out devils, etc.; and you 
 know that is a d — lie; that the members of the church were dupes, 
 and not too good to take a false oath on any common occasion; 
 that they would steal, and he did not conceive property safe where 
 they were; that he was opposed to their settling there; and if they 
 suffered the "Mormons" to vote, the people would soon lose their 
 suffrage; and said he, addressing the saints, I headed a mob to 
 drive you out of Clay County, and would not prevent your being 
 mobbed now; when Richard (called Dick) Welding, the mob bully, 
 just drunk enough for the occasion, began a discussion with Bro- 
 ther Samuel Brown by saying; The Mormons were not allowed 
 to vote in Clay County, no more than the d — negroes, and at- 
 tempted to strike Brown, who gradually retreated, parrying the 
 blow with his umbrella, while Welding continued to press upon 
 
 him, calling him a liar, etc., and attempting to repeat 
 
 the blow on Brown. 
 
 "Perry Durphy attempted to suppress the difficulty by hold- 
 ing Dick's arm, when five or six of the mobbers seized Durphy 
 and commenced beating him with clubs, boards, etc., and crying 
 
 "Kill him, kill him, him, kill him." When a general 
 
 scuffle commenced with fists and clubs, the mobbers being about 
 ten to one of the saints. Abraham Nelson was knocked down and 
 had his clothes torn off and while trying to get up was attacked 
 again, when his brother Hyram Nelson, ran in amongst them 
 and knocked the mobbers down with the butt of his whip. Riley 
 Stewart struck Dick Welding on the head which brought him to 
 the ground. The mob cried out, "Dick Welding's dead, by — ; 
 who killed Dick?" And they fell upon Riley, knocked him down, 
 
 kicked him, and hallowed, "Kill him, him, kill him; shoot 
 
 him, by — ;" and would have killed him, had not John L. Butler 
 sprung in amongst them and knocked them down. During about 
 five minutes it was one continued knock down, when the mob 
 dispersed to get firearms. Very few of the brethren voted. Riley, 
 escaping across the river, had his wounds dressed and returned 
 home. Butler called the brethren together and made a speech 
 saying, "We are American Citizens; our fathers fought for their 
 liberty, and we will maintain the same principles, etc." When 
 the authorities of the county came to them and requested them to 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 11 
 
 withdraw, stating that it was a premeditated thing to prevent the 
 "Mormons" voting. 
 
 "The brethren held a council about one fourth of a mile out 
 of town where they saw mobbing recruits coming in, in small par- 
 ties from five and to twenty-five in number, armed with clubs, 
 pistols, dirks, knives, and some guns, cursing and swearing. The 
 brethren not having arms, thought it wisdom to return to their 
 farms, collect their families and hide them in a thicket of hazel 
 bush, which they did, and stood sentry around them through 
 the night, while the women and children lay on the ground in the 
 rain. 
 
 "Tuesday morning, 7th. A report came to Far West, by way 
 of those not belonging to the church, that at the elction at Gallatin 
 yesterday two or three of our brethren were killed by the Missour- 
 ians, and left upon the ground, and not suffered to be interred; 
 that the brethren were prevented from voting, and a majority of 
 the inhabitants of Daviess County were determined to drive the 
 saints from the county. 
 
 "On hearing this report I started for Gallatin to assist the 
 brethren, accompanied by President Rigdon, Brother Hyrum Smith 
 and fifteen or twenty others, who were armed for their own pro- 
 tection, and the command was given to George W. Robinson. 
 
 "On our way we were joined by the brethren from different 
 parts of the country some of whom were attacked by the mob, but 
 we found some of the brethren who had been mobbed at Gallatin, 
 with others, waiting for our counsel. Here we received the cheering 
 intelligence that none of the brethren were killed, although several 
 were badly wounded. 
 
 "From the best information about one hundred and fifty 
 Missourians warred against from six to twelve of or brethren, who 
 fought like lions. Several Missourians had their skulls cracked. 
 Blessed be the memory of those few brethren who contended so 
 strenuously for their constitutional rights and religious freedom, 
 against such an overwhelming force of desperadoes. 
 
 *' Wednesday, ^th. After spending the night in counsel at 
 Colonel Wight's I rode out with some of the brethren to view the 
 situation of affairs in the region, and, among others called on Adam 
 Black, Justice of the Peace and Judge elect of Daviess County, who 
 had some time previous sold his farm to Brother Vinson Knight, 
 and received part pay according to agreement, and afterwards 
 united himself with a band of mobbers to drive the saints from and 
 prevent their settling in Daviess County. On interrogation he 
 confessed what he had done, and in consequence of this violation of 
 his oath as magistrate we asked him to give us some satisfaction so 
 that we might know whether he was our friend or enemy, whether 
 
12 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 he would administer the law in justice; and politely requested him 
 to sign an agreement of peace. But being jealous, he would 
 not sign it, but said he would write one himself to our satisfaction, 
 and sign it, which he did ,as follows: * 
 
 *I, Adam Black, a Justice of the Peace of Daviess County, do 
 hereby Sertify to the people coled Mormin, that he is bound to sup- 
 port the constitution of this State, and of the United State, and he 
 is not attached to any mob, nor will not attach himself to any such 
 people, and so long as they will not molest me, I will not molest 
 them. This the 8th day of August, 1838. 
 
 Adam Black, J. P.' 
 
 "Hoping he would abide his own decision and support the law, 
 we left him in peace, and returned to Colonel Wight's at Adam- 
 ondi-Ahman. 
 
 "In the evening some of the citizens from Millport called on 
 us, and we agreed to meet some of the principal men of the county 
 \\x council at Adam-ondi-Ahman the next day at twelve o'clock. 
 
 "The Committee assembled at Adam-ondi-Ahman at twelve 
 according to previous appointment; viz: on the part of citizens, 
 Joseph Morin, Senator Elect; John Williams, representative elect; 
 James B. Turner, clerk of the Circuit Court, and others; on the part 
 of the saints, Lyman Wight, Vinson Knight, John Smith, Reynolds 
 Cahoon, and others. At this meeting both parties entered into a 
 covenant of peace, to preserve each other's rights, and stand in 
 their defense; that if men should do wrong, neither party should 
 uphold them or endeavor to screen them from justice, but deliver 
 up all offenders to be dealt with according to law and justice. The 
 assembly dispersed on these friendly terms, myself and friends 
 returning to Far West, where we arrived about midnight and found 
 all quiet. 
 
 "The spirit of moberacy continued to stalk abroad, notwith- 
 standing all our treaties of peace, as will be seen by the following 
 affidavit: 
 
 'State of Missouri, Ray County. 
 Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, Jlidge of the Fifth 
 Judici^ Circuit, William P. Peniston, and makes oath that he has 
 good reason to believe and that he verily does believe, that there is 
 now collected and embodied in the County of Daviess, a large body 
 of armed men, whose movements and conduct are of a highly in- 
 surrectionary and unlawful character; that they consist of about 
 five hundred men, and that they, or part of them, to the number of 
 one hundred and twenty, have committed violence against Adam 
 Black, by surrounding his house ana taking him in a violent manner 
 and subjecting him to great indignities, by forcing him under threats 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 13 
 
 of immediate death to sign a paper writing of a very disgraceful 
 character, and by threatening to do the same to all the old settlers 
 and citizens of Daviess County; and that they have, as a collected 
 and armed body, threatened to put to instant death this affiant on 
 sight; and that he verily believes they will aecompy,sh that act 
 without they are prevented; and also they have threatened the 
 same to William Bowman and others; and this affiant states that he 
 verily believes all the above facts to be true, and that the body of 
 men now assembled do intend to commit great violen«e to many of 
 the citizens of Daviess County, and that they have already done so 
 to Adam Black; and this affiant verily believes, from information of 
 others that Joseph Smith, Jr., and Lyman Wight are the leaders of 
 this body of armed men, and the names of others there combined 
 are not certainly known to the affiant and he further stated the 
 fact to be that it is his opinion, and he verily believes that it is the 
 object of this body of armed men to take vengeance for some injur- 
 ies, or imaginary injuries done to some of their friends, and to in- 
 timidate and drive from the county all the old citizens, and possess 
 themselves of their lands, or to force such as do not leave to come 
 into their measures and submit to their dictation. 
 
 William P. Peniston. 
 Sworn to and subscribed, the 10 day of August 1838. 
 
 Austin A. King. 
 
 "The above was also sworn to by William Bowman, Wilson 
 McKinney, and John Netherton, so it is that when Men's hearts 
 become so hard and corrupt as to glory in devising, robbing, plun- 
 dering, mobbing, and murdering innocent men, women, and chil- 
 dren by wholesale, they will more readily swear to lies than speak 
 the truth. 
 
 "At the time some of the brethren had removed with their 
 families from the vicinity of Gallatin, to Diahman and Far West, for 
 safety. 
 
 ''Saturday, 11th. The morning I left Far West with my 
 council and Elder Almon W. Babbitt, to visit the brethren on the 
 forks of Grand River, who had come from Canada with Elder 
 Babbitt, and settled at that place contrary to counsel. 
 
 "In the afternoon, after my departure, a committee from Ray 
 County arrived at Far West to inquire into the proceedings of our 
 society in going armed into Daviess County, complaint having been 
 entered in Ray County by Adam Black, William P. Peniston, and 
 others. The committee from Ray requested an interview with a 
 committee lof Caldwell, and a general meeting was called at the 
 City Hall at six in the evening, when it was stated that they were 
 assembled to take into consideration the doings of the citizens of 
 
14 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 Ray County, wherein they have accused the 'Mormons' of this 
 place of breaking the peace, in defending their rights and those 
 of their brethren in the county of Daviess, and the meeting or- 
 ganized by appointing Bishop E. Partridge Chairman and George 
 W. Robinson, Clerk. 
 
 'Resolved, 1st. That a Committee of seven be appointed to 
 confer with the Committee from Ray. 
 
 Resolved, 2nd. That this Committee with their secretary be 
 authorized to answer such questions as may be offered by the com- 
 mittee from Ray, and as are named in the document presented this 
 meeting, purporting to be the preamble and resolutions of the citizen 
 of Ray. 
 
 Resolved, 3rd. That whereas the document referred to has 
 no date or signature, our Committee judge of the fact, and act 
 accordingly. 
 
 Resolved, 4th. That our Committee report their proceedings 
 to this meeting as soon as possible. 
 
 Edward Partridge, Chairman, 
 George W. Robinson, Clerk.' 
 
 "Sunday, 12lh. I continued with the brethren at the forks of 
 Grand River, offering such counsel as their situation required. 
 
 "Monday, 13th. I returned with my council to Far West. 
 We were chased by some evil designing men, ten or twelve miles, 
 but we eluded their grasp, when within about eight miles of home 
 we met some brethren who had come to inform us that a writ had 
 been issued by Judge King for my arrest and that of Lyman Wight, 
 for attempting to defend our rights against the mob. 
 
 "Thursday, 16th. I spent principally at home. The Sheriff 
 of Daviess, accompanied by Judge Morin, called and notified me 
 that he had a writ for to take me to Daviess County on trial for 
 visiting that county on the seventh instant. 
 
 "It had been currently reported that I would not be appre- 
 hended by legal process, and that I would not submit to the laws of 
 the land; but I told the Sheriff that I calculated always to submit to 
 the laws of our country, but I wished to be tried in my own county, 
 as the citizens of Daviess County were highly exasperated at me, 
 and that the laws of the country gave me this privilege. Upon 
 hearing this the sheriff declined, serving the writ and said he would 
 go to Richmond and see Judge King on the subject. I told him I 
 would remain at home until his return. 
 
 "The sheriff returned from Richmond and found me at horn* 
 (where I had remained during his absence) and informed me very 
 gravely that I was out of his jurisdiction, and that he could not act 
 in Caldwell, and retired." {MiUenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 222, 229- 
 231.) 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 15 
 
 Shortly after the above occurred, Adam Black, Justice 
 of the Peace above referred to, executed and filed with the 
 State authorities the following affidavit; 
 
 "Stateof Missouri, 1 
 
 \ SS. 
 County of Daviess] 
 
 Before William Dryden, one of the Justices of the Peace in 
 said county, personally came Adam Black, who being duly sworn 
 according to law, deposeth and saith; That on or about the 8th day 
 of August, 1838, in the County of Daviess, there came an armed 
 force of men, said to be one hundred and fifty-four, to the best of 
 my information, and surrounded his house and family and threat- 
 ened him with instant death if he did not sign a certain instrument 
 of writing, binding himself, as a Justice of the Peace for said County 
 of Daviess, not to molest the people called Mormons; and threat- 
 ened the lives of myself and other individuals, and did say they in- 
 tended to make every citizen sign such obUgation, and further said 
 they intended to have satisfaction for abuse they had received on 
 Monday previous, and they could not submit to the laws; and fur- 
 ther saith; that from the best information and his own personal 
 knowledge, that Andrew Ripley, George A. Smith, Ephriam Owens, 
 Harvey Humstead, Hiram Nelson, A. Brown, John L. Butler, 
 CorneUus Lott, John Wood, H. Redfield, Riley Stewart, James 
 Whitaker, Andrew Thor, Amos Tubbs, Dr. Gourze and Abram 
 Kelson, was guilty of aiding and abetting in committing and per- 
 petrating the above offense. 
 
 Adam Black. 
 
 Sworn to and subscribed this the 28th day of August, 1838. 
 
 W. Dryden, Justice of the Peace of the 
 County aforesaid." 
 
 On Sunday, September 2, 1838, Joseph Smith, Jr., sent 
 for General David R. Atchison of Liberty, Missouri, who was 
 in command of a division of the Missouri State Militia with 
 the rank of Major General, and who was also one of the 
 ablest lawyers in the state, in the hopes that his presence 
 and advice at Far West would result in a cessation of the prep- 
 aration for hostilities then going on in Daviess county. At 
 the same time a letter was dispatched by Smith to Circuit 
 Judge Austin A. King praying the latter to assist in putting 
 down what "the prophet" termed "the mob" then collecting 
 in Daviess county. General Atchison arrived in Far West 
 
16 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 the next night and was employed, along with his partner 
 Alexander W. Doniphan, as legal counsel by the Mormons. 
 The first Presidency of the Church at that time consist- 
 ed of Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith, 
 and it is worthy of note that President Joseph Smith, Jr., 
 and Sidney Rigdon commenced the study of law on Sept. 
 4, 1838, and that on the same date Joseph Smith, Jr., and 
 Lyman Wight volunteered to surrender themselves for a pre- 
 liminary hearing before Judge Austin A. King in Daviess 
 county. Accordingly it was arranged that the preliminary 
 hearing was to be conducted by Judge King at the farm resi- 
 dence of a Mr. Littlefield's in the Southern part of Daviess 
 county, near the present site of Winston. On Wednesday, 
 September 5, Joseph Smith executed the following affidavit: 
 
 'STATE OF MISSOURI 
 
 \ SS. 
 
 CALDWELL COUNTY, , 
 
 "Before me, Ellas Higbee, one of the Justices of the County 
 Court, within and for the County of Caldwell aforesaid, personally 
 came Joseph Smith, Jr., who, saith: That on the seventh day of 
 August, 1838, being informed that an affray had taken place in 
 Daviess County at the election in the town of Gallatin, in which 
 two persons were killed and one person was badly wounded, and 
 had fled to the woods to save his life; all of which werersaid to be 
 persons belonging to the society of the Church of Latter Day Saints; 
 and further, said informant stated that those persons who com- 
 mitted the outrage would not suffer the bodies of those who had 
 been killed to be taken off the ground and buried. 
 
 "These reports, with others, one of which was that the saints 
 had not the privilege of voting at the polls as other citizens; another 
 was that those opposed to the saints were determined to drive them 
 from Daviess County, and also that they were arming and strength- 
 ening their forces and preparing for battle; and that the saints 
 were preparing and working ready to stand in self defense: these 
 reports having excited the feelings of the citizens of Far West and 
 vicinity, I was invited by Dr. Avard and some others to go out to 
 Daviess County to the scene of these outrages; they having pre- 
 viously determined to go out and learn the facts concerning said 
 reports. 
 
 "Accordingly some of the citizens, myself among the numbee 
 went out, two, three and four in companies, as they got rea dy. The 
 
MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 17 
 
 reports and excitement continued until several of those small com- 
 panies through the day were induced to follow the first, who were 
 all eager to learn the facts concerning this matter. We arrived in 
 the evening at the house of Lyman Wight about three miles from 
 Gallatin, the scene of the reported outrages. Here we learned the 
 truth concerning the said affray, which had been considerably 
 exaggerated, yet there had been a serious outrage committed. 
 
 "We there learned that the mob was collected at Millport, to 
 a considerable number; that Adam Black was at their head; and 
 were to attack the Saints the next day, at the place we then were, 
 called Adam-ondi-Ahman. This report we were still inclined to 
 believe might be true, as this Adam Black, who was said to be their 
 leader, had been, but a few months before engaged in endeavoring 
 to drive those of the society, who had settled in that vicinity, from 
 the county. This had become notorious from the fact that said 
 Black had personally ordered several of said society to leave the 
 county. 
 
 "The next morning we dispatched a committee to said Black's 
 to ascertain the truth of these reports, and to know what his in- 
 tentions were, and as we understood he was a peace officer, we 
 wished to know what we might expect from him. They reported 
 that Mr. Black instead of giving them any assurance of peace in- 
 sulted them and gave them no satisfaction. Being desirous of 
 knowing the feelings of Mr. Black for myself, and being in want of 
 good water, and understanding that there was none nearer than 
 Mr. Black's spring, myself with several others mounted our horses 
 and rode off to Mr. Black's fence. 
 
 "Dr. Avard, with one or two others who had rode ahead, went 
 into Mr. Black's house; myself and some others went to the spring 
 for water. I was shortly after sent for by Mr. Black and invited 
 into the house, being introduced to Mr. Black by Dr. Avard. Mr. 
 Black wished me to be seated. We then commenced a conversation 
 on the subject of the late difficulties and present excitement. I 
 found Mr. Black quite hostile in his feelings toward the Saints, but 
 he assured us he did not belong to the mob, neither would he take 
 any part with them; but said he was bound by his oath to support 
 the constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of 
 Missouri. Deponent then asked him if he would make said state- 
 ment in writing so as to refute the arguments of those who had 
 affirmed that he (Black) was one of the leaders of the mob. Mr. 
 Black answered in the affirmative. Accordingly he did so, which 
 writing is in possession of the deponent. 
 
 "The deponent further saith that no violence was offered to 
 any individual in his presence or within his knowledge; and that no 
 insulting language was given by either party, except on the part of 
 
 G R— 2 
 
18 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 
 
 Mrs. Black, who, while Mr. Black was engaged in making out the 
 above named writing (which he made with his own hand), gave to 
 the deponent and others of this society highly insulting language 
 and false accusations, which were calculated in their nature to great- 
 ly irritate, if possible, the feelings of the bystanders belonging to 
 said society, in language like this: Being asked by the deponent if 
 she knew anything in the "Mormon" people derogatory to the 
 character of gentlemen, she answered in the negative, but said she 
 did not know but that the object of their visit was to steal something 
 from them. After Mr. Black had executed the writing deponent 
 asked Mr. Black if he had any unfriendly feelings towards the de- 
 ponent, and if he had not treated him genteelly. He answered in 
 the affirmative. Deponent then took leave of said Black and 
 repaired to the house of Lyman Wight. The next day we returned 
 to Far West, and further this deponent saith not. 
 
 Joseph Smith, Jr. 
 Sworn to and subscribed this fifth day of September A. D. 1838. 
 
 Elias Higbee, J. C. C. C. C." 
 
 Judge King opened court for the preliminary hearing 
 of Smith and Wight at the Littlefield home on September 
 6, but no testimony was taken and the causes were continued 
 over till 10 o'clock the next morning. The hearings to be had 
 at a Mr. Raglins some six or eight miles further south and 
 within a half mile of the Caldwell county line. The court 
 convened at Mr. Raglin's the next morning. William P. 
 Peniston was the prosecutor, Adam Black was the sole witness 
 for the State. The defense introduced the testimony of 
 Dimick B. Huntington, Gideon Carter, Adam Lightner, and 
 George W. Robinson. The result of the matter was that 
 Joseph Smith, Jr., and Lyman Wight were bound over to 
 court in a five hundred dollar bond. 
 
 A committee of inquiry from Chariton county arrived 
 in Far West on September 8th and after listening to the 
 statements made by General Atchison and the Presidency 
 returned to their homes. 
 
 About this time it became known in Far West that a 
 wagon-load of firearms was being transported from Richmond, 
 Missouri, to Daviess county, and the Mormon Civil authori- 
 ties in Far West concluded to intercept them, a writ was placed 
 in the hands of William Allred, who with ten mounted men 
 
MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 19 
 
 surrounded the wagon and after placing John B. Comer, 
 WilHam L. McHaney and Allen Miller under arrest, brought 
 the prisoners, with their wagon-load of guns, into Far West. 
 These men were held as prisoners till Sept. 12th on which 
 date they were given a preliminary hearing in Far West 
 and bound over for their appearance at Circuit Court, — John 
 B. Comer to answer to a charge of "attempting to smuggle 
 arms to a mob;"the other men being held as his accomplices — 
 at least that is the statement made in the History of the 
 Church. 
 
 The arrest of these three men created great excitement. 
 The Saints petitioned the Governor of Missouri at once for 
 protection, while the Missourians petitioned the Governor 
 to drive all Mormons from the state. 
 
 On September 11, General Atchison in his military 
 capacity ordered the militia to march immediately to the 
 scene of excitement and insurrection. This order being 
 given by Major General Atchison to his law partner Briga- 
 dier General Doniphan. The latter acted with alacrity 
 as evidenced by the following report: 
 
 "Headquarters 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Missouri, 
 Military Camp at Grand River. 
 September 15, 1838. 
 Major General David R. Atchison, 
 
 Commanding 3rd Division Missouri Militia. 
 Sir: 
 
 "In pursuance to your order dated 11th inst. I issued orders to 
 Colonel William A. Dunn, Commanding the 28th Regiment, to 
 raise four companies of mounted riflemen, consisting of fifty men 
 each, also to Colonel Boulware commanding 70th regiment, to raise 
 two companies of mounted riflemen, consisting each of like numbers, 
 to start forthwith for service in the counties of Caldwell and Da- 
 viess. 
 
 "On the same day Colonel Dunn obtained the four companies 
 of volunteers required from the 28th regiment, and on the morning 
 of the 12th I took command in person and marched to the line of 
 Caldwell, at which point I ordered the Colonels to march the regi- 
 ments to the timber on Crooked River. I then started for Far 
 West, the county seat of Caldwell, accompanied by my aid alone. 
 
 "On arriving at that place I found Comer, Miller and Mc- 
 Haney, the prisoners mentioned in your order. I demanded of the 
 
20 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 
 
 guard who had them in confinement to deliver them over to me, 
 which he promptly done. I also found that the guns that had been 
 captured by the Sheriff and citizens of Caldwell had been distributed 
 and placed in the hands of the soldiery and scattered over the coun- 
 try; I ordered them to be immediately collected and delivered up 
 to me. 
 
 "I then sent an express to Colonel Dunn to march the regiment 
 by daylight for that place, where he arrived about seven a. m., 
 making forty miles since ten o'clock a. m. on the previous day. 
 
 "When my command arrived, the guns were delivered up, 
 amounting to forty-two stand; three stand could not be produced, as 
 they had probably gone to Daviess County. I sent these guns 
 under a guard to your command in Ray County, together with the 
 prisoner Comer; the other two being citizens of Daviess, I retained 
 and brought with me to this county, and released them on parole of 
 honor, as I conceived their detention illegal. At eight o'clock a. m. 
 we took up the line of march and proceeded through Millport in 
 Daviess County, thirty-seven miles from our former encampment, 
 and arrived at the camp of the citizens of Daviess and other ad- 
 joining Counties, which amounted to between two and three hun- 
 dred, as their commander. Dr. Austin of Carroll informed me. 
 Your order requiring them to disperse, which had been forwarded in 
 advance of my command, by your aid, James M. Hughes, was read 
 to them, and they were required to disperse. They professed that 
 their object for arming and collecting was solely for defense, but 
 they were marching and counter marching guards out; and myself 
 and others who approached the camp were taken to task and re- 
 quired to wait the approach of the sergeant of the guard. I had 
 an interview with Dr. Austin, and his professions were all pacific. 
 But they still continue in arms, marching and countermarching. 
 
 "I then proceeded with your aid, J. M. Hughes, and my aid 
 Benjamin HoUiday, to the Mormon encampment commanded by 
 Colonel Wight. We held a conference with him, and he professed 
 entire willingness to disband and surrender up to me every one of 
 the Mormons accused of crime, and required in return that the 
 hostile forces, collected by the other citizens of the county, should 
 also disband. At the camp commanded by Dr. Austin I demanded 
 the prisoner demanded in your order, who had been released on the 
 evening after my arrival in their vicinity. 
 
 "I took up line of march and encamped in the direct road be- 
 tween the hostile encampments, where I have remained since, with- 
 in about two and a half miles of Wight's Encampment, and some- 
 times, the other camp is nearer, and sometimes farther from me. I 
 intend to occupy this position until your arrival, and deem it best to 
 
MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 21 
 
 and preserve peace and prevent an engagement between the parties 
 if kept so for a few days they will doubtless disband without coer- 
 cion. I have the honor to be, 
 
 Yours with respect, 
 A. W. Doniphan, 
 Brig. General 1st. Brigade, 
 3rd Division Missouri Militia.'* 
 (Millenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 268-9.) 
 
 Subsequently Major General Atchison arrived and his 
 report to Governor Boggs, the Commander-in-Chief, will 
 show his views of the situation: 
 
 "Headquarters 3rd Division, Missouri Militia, 
 Grand River, Sept. 17, 1838. 
 To His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief: 
 Sir: 
 
 "I arrived at the County seat of this county, Daviess, on the 
 evening of the 15th instant, with the troops raised from the militia 
 of Ray County under the command of General Doniphan. In the 
 same neighborhood I found from two to three hundred men in arms, 
 principally from the counties of Livingston, Carroll, and Saline. 
 These men were embodied under the protest of defending the 
 citizens of Daviess County against the Mormons; and were operat- 
 ing under the orders of a Dr. Austin from Carroll County. The 
 citizens of Daviess, or a large portion of them, residing on each 
 side of Grand River, had left their farms and removed their families 
 either to the adjoining counties or collected them together at a 
 place called the Camp Ground. The whole county on the east 
 side of Grand River appears to be deserted, with the exception of a 
 few who are not so timid as their neighbors. The Mormons of 
 Daviess County have also left their farms, and have encamped for 
 safety at a place immediately on the east bank of Grand River, 
 called Adam-ondi-Ahman. The numbers are supposed to be about 
 two hundred and fifty men, citizens of Daviess County, and from 
 fifty to one hundred men, citizens of Caldwell County. Both 
 parties have been scouting through the country and occasionally 
 taking prisoners and threatening and insulting each other; but as 
 yet no blood has been shed. I have ordered all armed men from 
 adjoining counties to repair to their homes; the Livingston County 
 men and others to the amount of one hundred men have returned, 
 and there remain now about one hundred and fifty who will, I am 
 in hopes, return in a few days. I have been informed by the Mor- 
 mons, that all of those who have been charged with a violation of 
 the laws will be in today for trial; when that is done the troops under 
 
22 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 
 
 my command will be no longer required in this county, if the citi- 
 zens of other counties will return to their respective homes. I have 
 proposed to leave two companies of fifty men each in this county 
 and discharge the remainder of the troops; said two companies will 
 remain for the preservation of order, until peace and confidence are 
 restored. I also inclose to your Excellency the report of General 
 Doniphan and I refer you for particulars to Major Rogers. 
 
 I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 
 D. R. Atchison, 
 
 Major-General 3rd Division 
 Missouri Militia." 
 {Millenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 282-283.) 
 
 On the 18th, Governor Boggs, undoubtedly consider- 
 ing the force under Atchison too small, or considering the 
 General too pacific in his measures, ordered the fourth divi- 
 sion, under General S. D. Lucas, to the scene of trouble, 
 there to co-operate with the forces under General Atchison. 
 General Atchison again reported to the Governor as follows: 
 
 "Sir: The troops ordered out for the purpose of putting down 
 the insurrection supposed to exist in the counties of Daviess and 
 Caldwell were discharged on the 20th instant, with the exception of 
 two companies of the Ray Militia, now stationed in the County of 
 Daviess, under the command of Brigadier General Parks. It wa? 
 deemed necessary in the state of excitement in that county that 
 three companies should remain there for a short period longer, say 
 some twenty days, until confidence and tranquility should be re- 
 stored. 
 
 "All the offenders against the law in that county, against whom 
 process was taken out, were arrested and brought before a court of 
 inquiry, and recognized to appear at the Circuit Court. Mr. 
 Thomas C. Berch attended to the prosecuting on the part of the 
 State. The citizens of other counties who came in armed to the 
 assistance of the citizens of Daviess County have dipersed and re- 
 tired to their respective homes, and the Mormons have also returned 
 to their homes; so that I consider the insurrection, for the present 
 at least, at an end. From the best information I can get there are 
 about two hundred and fifty Mormon families in Daviess County, 
 nearly one-half of the population, and the whole of the Mormon 
 forces in Daviess, Caldwell and the adjoining counties is estimated 
 at from thirteen to fifteen hundred men, capable of bearing arms. 
 The Mormons of Daviess County, as I stated in a former report, 
 were encamped in a town called Adam-ondi-Ahman, and are 
 headed by Lyman Wight, a bold, brave, skillful, and, I may add, a 
 
MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 23 
 
 desperate man: they appear to be acting on the defensive, and I 
 must further add, gave up the offenders with a good deal of prompt- 
 ness. The arms taken by the Mormons, and prisoners, were also 
 given up upon demand, with seeming cheerfulness." 
 {Millenial Star, Vol. 16, p. 294.) 
 
 On September 25, General Parks, who was left in com- 
 mand wrote the Governor as follows: 
 
 "Whatever may have been the disposition of the people called 
 Mormons, before our arrival here, since we have made our appear- 
 ance they have shown no disposition to resist the laws, or of hostile 
 intentions. There has been so much prejudice and exaggeration 
 concerned in this matter, that I found things entirely different from 
 what I was prepared to expect. When we arrived here we found a 
 large body of men from the counties adjoining armed and in the 
 field for the purpose, as I learned, of assisting the people of this 
 county against the Mormons, without being called out by the proper 
 authorities. 
 
 "P. S. Since writing the above, I received information that if 
 the committee do not agree, the determination of the Daviess 
 County men is to drive the Mormons with powder and lead." 
 (Millenial Star, Vol. 16, p. 295.) 
 
 He wrote General Atchison on the same date, thus: 
 
 **I am happy to be able to state to you that the deep excite- 
 ment existing between the parties has in a great degree ceased; and 
 so far I have had no occasion to resort to force in assisting the con- 
 stables. On tomorrow a committee from Daviess County meets a 
 commitefj of the Mormons at Adam-ondi-Ahman, to propose to 
 them to buy or sell, and I expect to be there." 
 
 (Millenial Star, Vol. 16, p. 275.) 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND THE MORMON WAR. 25 
 
 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND THE 
 MORMON WAR. 
 
 RoLLiN J. Brixton. 
 
 Second Article. 
 
 The Mormons Expelled from Carroll County. 
 
 The lull of hostilities in Daviess county was followed by 
 an outbreak in Carroll county at DeWitt from whence the 
 following petition issued : 
 
 "DeWitt, Carroll County, State of Missouri, 
 
 September 22, 1838. 
 
 To His Excellency, Lilburn W. Boggs, Governor of the State of 
 Missouri: 
 
 "Your petitioners, citizens of the County of Carroll, do hereby 
 petition your Excellency, praying for rehef; That whereas, your 
 petitioners have on the 20th inst. been sorely aggrieved by being 
 beset by a lawless mob of certain inhabitants of this and other 
 counties, to the injury of the good citizens of this and adjacent 
 places; that on the aforesaid day came from one hundred to one 
 hundred and fifty armed men, and threatened with force and 
 violence to drive certain peaceable citizens from their homes in 
 defiance of all law, and threatened then to drive said citizens out of 
 the county, but on deliberation concluded to give them, said citi- 
 zens, till the first of October next to leave said county; and threat- 
 ened if not gone by that time, to exterminate them, without re- 
 gard to age or sex, and destroy their chattels by throwing them 
 in the river. 
 
 "We therefore pray you to take such steps as shall put a 
 stop to all lawless proceeding, and we, your petitioners, will ever 
 pray, etc." 
 
 This petition was signed by Benj. Kendrick and foity- 
 nine others, one of whom signed his name "D. Thomas" and 
 then after his name wrote the words (no Mormon). 
 
 On October 2nd, General Parks sent the following letter 
 to General Atchison ; 
 
2b MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "Dear Sir: I received this morning an affidavit from Carroll 
 County the following is a copy: 
 
 'Henry Root on his oath states that on the night of the first 
 of October there was collected in the vicinity of DeWitt an armed 
 force, consisting of from thirty to fifty persons and on the morning 
 of the second of October came into the town of DeWitt and fired 
 on the civil inhabitants of that place. Thirteen of said individuals 
 were seen by me in that place, and I believe there is actually an 
 insurrection in that place. 
 
 Henry Root. 
 
 Subscribed and sworn to this 3rd day of October, 1838. 
 
 William B. Morton, J. P.' 
 
 *'In consequence of which information and belief of an attack 
 being made on said place, I have ordered out the two companies 
 raised by your order, to be held in readiness under the commands 
 of Captains Bogart and Houston, to march for DeWitt, in Carroll 
 County, by eight o'clock tomorrow morning, armed and equipped 
 as the law directs, with six days' provisions and fifty rounds of 
 powder and ball. I will proceed with these troops in person, leav- 
 ing Colonel Thompson in command on Grand River. As soon as 
 I reach DeWitt I will advise you of the state of affairs more fully. 
 I will use all due precautions in the affair, and deeply regret the 
 necessity of the recourse. 
 
 H. G. Parks, 
 Brigadier General 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division." 
 
 General Lucas wrote a letter to Governor Boggs at this 
 time as follows : 
 
 "Boonville, Missouri, October 4, 1838. 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 As we passed down the Missouri River on Monday last, we 
 saw a large force of Mormons at DeWitt, in Carroll County, under 
 arms. Their commander Colonel Hinkle, formerly of Carroll 
 County, informed me that there were two hundred, and that they 
 were hourly expecting an attack from the citizens of Carroll 
 County, who, he said were then encamped only six miles from 
 there, waiting for a reinforcement from Saline County. Hinkle 
 said they had determined to fight. News had just been received 
 at the place, through Dr. Scott, of Fayette, that a fight took 
 place on yesterday, and that several persons were killed. Dr. 
 Scott informed me that he got his information from a gentleman 
 of respectability, who had heard the firing of their guns as he 
 passed down. If a fight has actually taken place, of which I 
 have no doubt, it will create excitement in the whole of upper Mis- 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 27 
 
 souri, and those base and degraded beings will be exterminated 
 from the face of the earth. If one of the citizens of Carroll should 
 be killed, before five days I believe that there will be from four to 
 five thousand volunteers in the field against the Mormons, and noth- 
 ing but their blood will satisfy them. It is an unpleasant state of 
 affairs. The remedy I do not pretend to suggest to your Excel- 
 lency. My troops of the fourth division were only dismissed, 
 subject to further orders, and can be called into the field at an 
 hour's warning. 
 
 Samual D. Lucas." 
 
 General Parks arrived at DeWitt on the 6th of October 
 and immediately sent the following letter to General Atchison : 
 
 "Sir: Immediately after my express to you by Mr. Warder 
 was sent, I proceeded to this place, which I reached yesterday, 
 with two companies of mounted men from Ray. I ordered Colonel 
 Jones to call out three companies, from this county to hold them- 
 selves in readiness to join me at Carrollton on the 5th instant, 
 which order has not been carried into effect. None of Carroll 
 regiment is with me. 
 
 "On arriving in the vicinity of DeWitt I found a body of armed 
 men under command of Dr. Austin, encamped near DeWitt, be- 
 seiging that place, to the number of two or three hundred, with a 
 piece of artillery ready to attack the town of DeWitt. On the 
 other side Hinkle has in that place three or four hundred Mormons 
 to defend it, and says he will die before he is driven from thence. 
 
 "On the 4th instant they had a skirmish — fifteen or thirty 
 guns fired on both sides, one man from Saline wounded in the hip. 
 
 "The Mormons are at this time too strong, and no attack is 
 expected before Wednesday or Thursday next, at which time Dr. 
 Austin hopes his forces will amount to five hundred men, when he 
 will make a second attempt on the town of DeWitt, with small 
 arms and cannon. In this posture of affairs, I can do nothing 
 but negotiate between the parties until further aid is sent me. 
 
 "I received your friendly letter on the 5th inst., by Mr. 
 Wardon, authorizing me to call on General Doniphan, which call 
 I have made on him for five companies from Platte, Clay and 
 Clinton, with two companies I ordered from Livingston, of which 
 I doubt whether these last will come. If they do, I think I will 
 have a force sufficient to manage these billigerents. 
 
 "Should these troops arrive here in time, I hope to be able to 
 prevent bloodshed. Nothing seems so much in demand here (to 
 hear the Carrol County men talk) as Morman scalps; as yet they 
 are scarce. I believe Hinkle with the present force and position 
 will beat Austin with five hundred of his troops. The Mormons 
 
28 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 say they will die before they will be driven out, etc. As yet they 
 have acted on the defensive as far as I can learn. It is my settled 
 opinion the Mormons will have no rest until they leave; whether 
 they will or not, time only can tell. 
 
 H. C. Parks." 
 
 The besieging force was augmented by the arrival of 
 bodies of armed men from Ray, Saline, Howard, Livingston, 
 Clinton, Clay and Platte counties, and Congrieve Jackson 
 from Howard county was chosen by them as commander in 
 chief. 
 
 The Saints were foibidden to leave DeWitt under pain of 
 death and were shot at whenever they were seen. 
 
 The supply of food in DeWitt was soon exhausted and in 
 the meantime Henry Root and David Thomas worked out a 
 settlement. Thomas advised the Mormons that they would 
 be permitted to leave the town and not be huit and that their 
 property would be appraised and paid for. 
 
 Joseph Smith, Jr., had ariived in DeWitt prioi to this, 
 and he with the resident Mormons conceded this was the best 
 settlement that could be made. Appraisers came in and 
 appraised the real estate, but it is not probable that anything 
 was every paid to the Mormons for any of their property. 
 The most of the personal propeity of the Mormons, including 
 much of their live stock, had already been taken possession of 
 by the Missourians and they never returned any of it. 
 
 About seventy wagons were gathered together, and loaded 
 with such remnants of their property as could be found, and 
 the Mormons then started from DeWitt on the afternoon of 
 Thursday, October 11, 1838, bound for Caldwell county. 
 They traveled about twelve miles that day and encamped in 
 a grove of timber near the road. That night a woman, weak- 
 ened by childbirth and exposure, died in their camp and was 
 buried in the grove without a coffin. Far West was reached 
 the next day. 
 
 At Far West on the morning of October 15, the Mormons 
 assembled on the public square and formed a company of about 
 one hundred men. This company was placed under the com- 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 29 
 
 mand of Lieutenant Colonel Hinkle, a Mormon, who held a 
 commission in the Missouri State Militia, and who acted, 
 we are told, under the ordei of General Doniphan. 
 
 Mormon Troubles in Daviess County. 
 
 This company started at once for the protection of Adam- 
 ondi-Ahman, and Joseph Smith, Jr., went along, and he states 
 that many depredations, such as driving off horses, sheep, 
 cattle and hogs belonging to his brethren took place at this 
 time. 
 
 Major Joseph H. McGee tells us in his memoirs, "that 
 on the morning of October 18, 1838, one hundred and fifty 
 Mormons came to Gallatin and finding but seventeen men in 
 the place they run them out and took possession of the town. 
 They removed the goods out of Stolling's Store house and 
 burned the house. They then tool^ the goods to Di-Ammon. 
 They burned my tailor shop after taking all there was in it, 
 leaving me only the suit of clothes I had on my back. They 
 took me prisoner and after keeping me about two hours they 
 turned me loose and told me to 'get.' My father was living 
 about three miles south of where Winston now is and the 
 road we traveled then made it about fifteen miles from 
 Gallatin. The snow on the ground was about six inches 
 deep. When they turned me loose and told me to go, I made 
 tracks for home, reaching there late in the evening. Not 
 knowing at what time we would be visited by the Mormons, 
 father boxed all our feather beds and table ware and hid them 
 out in the woods. There they remained until the war was 
 over. We could stand in our door yard and see houses burn- 
 ing every night for over two weeks. The Mormons com- 
 pletely gutted Daviess county. There was scarcely a Mis- 
 sourian's house left standing in the county. Nearly every one 
 was burned. Their flight from the county had been so pre- 
 cipitate that they left all they had behind, taking only their 
 famrlies and teams. The Mormons secured all their property 
 and took it to De Ammon and there placed it in what was 
 termed the Lord's Store house, to be issued out to Saints as 
 they might need." 
 
30 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 It was during this period of tiouble that General Parks 
 arrived in Daviess county and went at once to the house of 
 Lyman Wight in Adam-ondi-Ahman, arriving there on the 
 18th. On this date, Joseph Smith, Jr., tells us intelligence 
 was brought in that the mob (he always designated the oppo- 
 sition as "the mob") was burning houses, and that the women 
 and children were fleeing to town for safety, among these be- 
 ing Agnes M. Smith, wife of Don Carlos Smith (a brother of 
 Joseph's), who was absent on a mission in Tennessee, her 
 house having been plundered and burned by the mob, she 
 having traveled three miles carrying her two helpless babes, 
 and having had to wade Grand Rivei . 
 
 Continuing in the language of Joseph Smith, Jr.: 
 
 "Colonel Wight, who held a commission in the 59th Regiment 
 under his (General Parks) command, asked what was to be done. 
 He told him that he must immediately call out his men and go and 
 put them down. Accordingly a force was immediately raised for 
 the purpose of quelling the mob, and in a short time was on its 
 march with a determination to drive the mob or die in the attempt; 
 as they could bear such treatment no longer. 
 
 "The mob having learned the order of General Parks, and like- 
 wise being aware of the determination of the oppressed, broke up 
 their encampment and fled. The mob seeing that they could not 
 succeed by force now resorted to stratagem; and after removing 
 their property out of their houses, which were nothing but log 
 cabins, they fired them, and then reported to the authorities of the 
 State that the Mormons were burning and destroying all before 
 them. 
 
 "On Wednesday, October 24, 1838, Captain Bogart with some 
 thirty or forty men called on Brother Thoret Parsons, where he 
 lived at the head of the East branch of Log Creek and warned him 
 to be gone before next day at ten in the morning, declaring also 
 that he would give Far West thunder and lightning before next day 
 at noon if he had good luck in meeting Neil Gillium, who would 
 camp about six miles west of Far West that night, and that he 
 should camp on Crooked Creek, and departed towards Crooked 
 Creek. 
 
 "Brother Parsons dispatched a messenger with this news to 
 Far West, and followed after Bogart to watch his movements. 
 
 Brother Joseph Holbrook and Judith, who went out 
 
 this morning to watch the movements of the enemy, saw eight 
 armed mobbers call at the house of Brother Pinkham, where they 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 31 
 
 took three prisoners (Nathan Pinkham, Brothers William Seely 
 and Addison Green) and four horses, arms, etc., and departed 
 threatening Father Pinkham if he did not leave the State im- 
 mediately they would have his damned old scalp; and having learned 
 of Bogart's movements returned to Far West near midnight and 
 reported their proceedings and those of the mob. 
 
 *'0n hearing the report, Judge Higbee, the first Judge of the 
 County, ordered Lieutenant Colonel Hinkle, the highest officer in 
 command in Far West, to send out a company to disperse the mob 
 and retake their prisoners, whom it was reported, they intended 
 to murder that night. The trumpet sounded and the brethren 
 were assembled on the public square about midnight, when the 
 facts were stated and about seventy-five volunteered to obey the 
 Judge's order, under command of David W. Patten, who im- 
 mediately commenced their march on horseback, hoping to sur- 
 prise and scatter the camp, retake the prisoners and prevent the 
 attack threatened upon Far West without the loss of blood. 
 
 "Thursday, 25th, fifteen of the company were detached from 
 the main body, while sixty continued their march until they arrived 
 near the ford of Crooked River (or Creek) where they dismounted, 
 tied their horses, and leaving four or five men to guard them, pro- 
 ceeded towards the ford not knowing the location of the encamp- 
 ment. It was just at the dawning of light in the East when they 
 were marching quietly along the road, and near the top of the hill, 
 which descends to the river, when the report of a gun was heard, 
 and young O'Banion reeled out of the ranks and fell mortally 
 wounded. Thus the work of death commenced, when Captain Patten 
 ordered a charge and rushed down the hill on a fast trot, and when 
 within about fifty yards of the camp formed a line. The mob 
 formed a line under the bank of the river, below their tents. It 
 was j^et so dark that little could be seen by looking at the West, 
 while the mob, looking towards the dawning light, could see 
 Patten and his men, when they fired a broadside, and three or 
 four of the brethren fell. Captain Patten ordered the fire re- 
 turned, which was instantly obeyed, to great disadvantage in 
 the darkness, which yet continued. The fire was repeated by the 
 mob, and returned by Captain Patten's company, and gave the 
 watchword, 'God and Liberty' when Captain Patten ordered a 
 charge, which was instantly obeyed. The parties immediately 
 came in contact with their swords, and the mob were soon put to 
 flight, crossing the river at the ford and such places as they could 
 get a chance. In the pursuit one of the mob fled behind a tree, 
 wheeled, and shot Captain Patten, who instantly fell mortally 
 wounded, having received a large ball in his bowels. The ground 
 was soon cleared, and the brethren gathered up a wagon or two 
 and making beds therein of tents, etc., took their wounded and 
 
32 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 retreated towards Far West. Three brethren were wounded in 
 the bowels, one in the neck, one in the shoulder, one through the 
 hips, and one through both thighs, one the arms, all by musket 
 shot. One had his arm broken by a sword. 
 
 "Brother Gideon Carter was shot in the head and left dead 
 on the ground, so defaced that the brethren did not known him. 
 Bogart reported that he had lost one man. The three prisoners 
 were released and returned with the brethren to Far West. Cap- 
 tain Patten was carried some of the way in a litter, but it caused 
 so much distress he beged to be left, and was carried into Brother 
 Winchester's, three miles from the city, where he died that night. 
 O'Banion died soon after, and Brother Carter's body was also 
 brought from Crooked River, when it was discovered who he was. 
 
 "I went with my Brother Hyrum and Amasa Lyman to meet 
 the brethren on their return, near Log Creek, where I saw Captain 
 Patten in a most distressing condition. His wound was incurable. 
 
 "Brother David W. Patten was a very worthy man, beloved 
 by all good men who knew him. He was one of the twelve Apostles, 
 and died as he lived, a man of God and strong in the faith of a 
 glorious resurrection in a world where mobs will have no power 
 or place. One of his last expressions to his wife was, 'Whatever 
 you do Else, O, do not deny the faith.' 
 
 "How different his faith from that of the Apostate, Thomas 
 B. Marsh, who this day vented all the lying spleen and malice of 
 his heart toward the work of God, in a letter to Brother and Sister 
 Abbot, to which was annexed an addenda by Orson Hyde." (Mil- 
 lenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 395, 405, 408.) 
 
 On October the 26th, 1838, the following order was 
 issued by Governor Boggs : 
 
 "Friday, Headquarters of the Militia, 
 City of Jefferson. October 26, 1838. 
 General John B. Clark, 
 
 1st Division, Missouri Militia. 
 Sir: 
 
 Application has been made to the Commander in Chief, by 
 the citizens of Daviess County, in this state, for protection, and 
 to be restored to their homes and property, with intelligence that 
 the Mormons with an armed force have expelled the inhabitants of 
 that county from their homes, have pillaged and burn their dwell- 
 ings, driven off their stock, and were destroying their crops; that 
 they (the Mormons) have burnt to ashes the towns of Gallatin and 
 Millport in said county; the former being the county seat of said 
 county, and including the clerk's office and all the public records 
 of the county, and that there is not now a civil officer within said 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 33 
 
 county. The Commander in Chief therefore orders, that there be 
 raised, from the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th and 12th Divisions of the Militia 
 of this State, four hundred men each, to be mounted and armed 
 as infantry or riflemen, each man to furnish himself with at least 
 fifty rounds of ammunition and at least fifteen days' provisions. 
 The troops from the 1st, 5th, 6th and 12th will rendezvous at Fay- 
 ette, in Howard County, on Saturday, the 3rd day of next month 
 (November), at which point they will receive further instructions 
 as to their line of march. 
 
 You will therefore cause to be raised the quota of men re- 
 quired of your division (four hundred men) without delay, either 
 by volunteer or drafts, and rendezvous, at Fayette, in Howard 
 County on Saturday, the 3rd day of next month (November), and 
 there join the troops from the 5th, 6th and 12th divisions. The 
 troops from the 4th division will join you at Richmond, in Ray 
 County. You will cause the troops raised in your division to be 
 formed into companies, according to law, and proceed under 
 officers already in commission. If volunteer companies are raised 
 they shall elect their own officers. The preference should always 
 be given to volunteer companies already organized and commis- 
 sioned. You will also detail the necessary field and staff officers. 
 For the convenience of transporting the camp equipage, provisions 
 and hospital stores for the troops under your command you are 
 authorized to employ two or three baggage wagons. 
 
 By order of the Commander in Chief, 
 
 B. M. Lisle, Adj. General." 
 —(Millenial Star, Vol. 16, p. 445.) 
 
 The Exterminating Order. 
 
 On the following day the famous "Exterminating 
 Order" was issued, which is as follows: 
 
 Headquarters Militia, City of Jefferson, 
 
 October 27, 1838. 
 Sir: 
 
 Since the order of the morning to you, directing you to cause 
 four hundred mounted men to be raised within your division, I 
 have received by Amos Reese, Esq., and Wiley E. Williams, Esq., 
 one of my aids, information of the most appalling character, 
 which changes the whole face of things, and places the Mormons 
 in the attitude of open and avowed defiance of the laws and of 
 having made open war upon the people of this State. Your orders 
 are therefore, to hasten your operations and endeavor to reach 
 Richmond, in Ray County, with all possible speed. The Mor- 
 GR— » 
 
34 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 mons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated, or 
 driven from the State, if necessary, for the public good. Their 
 outrages are beyond all description. If you can increase your 
 force you are authorized to do so, to any extent you may think 
 necessary. I have just issued orders to Major General Wallock, 
 of Monroe County, to raise five hundred men and to march them 
 to the northern part of Daviess and there to unite with General 
 Doniphan, of Clay, who has been ordered with five hundred men 
 to proceed to the same point, for the purpose of intercepting the 
 retreat of the Mormons to the north. They have been directed 
 to communicate with you by express. You can also communicate 
 with them if you find it necessary. Instead, therefore, of proceed- 
 ing, as at first directed, to reinstate the citizens of Daviess in their 
 homes, you will proceed immediately to Richmond, and there 
 operate against the Mormons. Brigadier General Parks, of Ray, 
 has been ordered to have four hundred men of his brigade in readi- 
 ness to join you at Richmond. The whole force will be placed under 
 your command. 
 
 L. W. BOQGS, 
 
 Governor and Commander in Chief. 
 To General Clark. 
 
 —{Millenialt Sar, Vol. 16, p. 446.) 
 
 The author of the History of Caldwell and Livingston 
 Counties, Missouri (published by National Historical Co., St. 
 Louis, 1886, p. 133), writes: 
 
 "General Doniphan states to the writer hereof that he also 
 received an order and a letter from Governor Boggs. The order, 
 General Doniphan says, commanded him to obey the orders of 
 Gen. John B. Clark, when he should arrive and assume command, 
 as he had been ordered to do, and the letter was very denuncia- 
 tory of the Mormons and declared among other things, that they 
 must all be driven from the state or exterminated. 
 
 "It is asserted that General Atchinson's orders or directions 
 from the Governor were to the same purport as Doniphan's letter 
 from the Governor, and that thereupon General Atchison withdrew 
 from the military force, declaring that he would be no party to the 
 enforcement of such inhuman commands. On the other hand, it is 
 asserted that the Governor's orders to Atchison relieved him from 
 command, directing him to turn over his command to General 
 Lucas. 
 
 "At any rate. General Atchison left the militia at Log Creek on 
 receipt of the Governor's orders and returned to his house at 
 Liberty, and General Lucas was left in sole command." 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 35 
 
 Founding of the Danites. 
 
 The History of the Church declares that it was at this time 
 that the organization known as the Danites was formed by 
 one Doctor Sampson Avard, who formed his adherents into a 
 secret organization composed of companies of tens and fifteens, 
 appointing a captain over each company. To the captains, 
 Avard is quoted as saying: 
 
 *' 'My brethern, as you have been chosen to be our leading 
 men, our captains to rule over this last kingdom of Jesus Christ, 
 who have been organized after the ancient order, I have called 
 upon you here today to teach you and instruct you in the things that 
 pertain to your duty, and to show you what your privileges are and 
 what they soon will be. Know ye not brethern, that it soon will 
 be your privileges to take your respective companies and go out 
 on a scout on the borders of the settlements, and take to yourselves 
 spoils of the goods of the ungodly Gentiles? For it is written, the 
 riches of the Gentiles shall be consecrated to my people, the house 
 of Israel: and thus waste away the Gentiles by robbing and plunder- 
 ing them of their property; and in this way we will build up the 
 kingdom of God, and roll forth the little stone that Daniel saw cut 
 out of the mountain without hands, until it shall fill the whole earth. 
 
 ** 'For this is the very way that God destined to build up his 
 kingdom in the last days. 
 
 " 'If any of us should be recognized, who can harm us? for we 
 will stand by each other and depend one another in all things. If 
 our enemies swear against us, we can swear also. (The captains 
 were confounded at this, but Avard continued): Why do you 
 startle at this brethern? As the Lord liveth, I would swear a lie 
 to clear any of you; and if this would not do, I would put them or 
 him under the sand as Moses did the Egyptian, and in this way we 
 will consecrate much unto the Lord, and build up his kingdom, and 
 who can stand against us? And if any of us transgress, we will 
 deal with him amongst ourselves. And if any one of the Danite 
 Society reveals any of these things, I will put him where the dogs 
 cannot bite him.' 
 
 "At this juncture all of the officers revolted and said it would 
 not do, they should not go into any such measures, and it would 
 not do to name any such things, such proceedings would be in 
 open violation to the laws of our country, and would be robbing 
 our fellow citizens of their rights and are not according to the lan- 
 guage and doctrine of Christ of the Church of Latter Day Saints." 
 
36 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "This modern Sampson replied and said there were no laws 
 that were executed in justice, and he cared not for them, this being 
 a different dispensation, a dispensation of the fullness of times; in 
 this dispensation I learn from the Scriptures that the kingdom of 
 God was to put down all other kingdoms, and he himself was to 
 reign and his laws alone were the only laws that would exist. 
 
 "Avard's teachings were still manfully rejected by all, Avard 
 then said that they had better drop the subject; although he had 
 received his authority from Sidney Rigdonthe evening before. 
 
 "When a knowledge of Avard's rascality came to the Presiden- 
 cy of the Church, he was cut off from the church, and every means 
 proper used to destroy his influence, at which he was highly in- 
 censed, and went about whispering his evil insinuations but 
 finding every effort unavailing, he again turned conspirator, and 
 sought to make friends with the mob." 
 
 The Haun's Mill Massacre. 
 
 "The mob began to encamp at Richmond on the 26th and by 
 this time amounted to about two thousand five hundred,all ready to 
 join the standard of the Governor. They took up a line of March 
 for Far West, traveling but part way where they encamped for the 
 night. 
 
 "Tuesday, 30th,their advance guard were patroling the country 
 and taking many prisoners, among whom were Brother Winchester 
 and Brother Carey, whose skull they laid open by a blow from a 
 rifle barrel. In this mangled condition the mob laid him in their 
 wagon and went on their way denjdng him every comfort and there 
 he remained that afternoon and night. 
 
 "General Clark was in camp at Chariton under a forced march 
 to Richmond, with about a thousand men and the Governor's ex- 
 terminating order." {Millenial Star, Vol. 15, pp. 458, 560, 507.) 
 
 Just at this time occurred the worst battle of the war. 
 It has always been denominated Haun's Mill Massacre. 
 
 Perhaps the best account of this massacre ever written 
 came from the pen of Major Reburn S. Holcombe, one of the 
 most prolific of Missouri historical writers, and the author 
 of the best of Missouri county histories. He moved to St. 
 Paul prior to 1890, where he died in November, 1916. He 
 wrote over the name of "Burr Joyce," and his account of the 
 massacre appeared in the Sc. Louis Globe-Democrat for October 
 6, 1887, and is as follows: 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 37 
 
 **Breckenridge, Mo., Sept. 27, 1887. 
 
 "In the afternoon of Tuesday, October 30, 1838, during the 
 Mormon War in Missouri, there occurred in Caldwell county a 
 dreadful incident, generally termed 'The Haun's Mill Massacre.* 
 From official documents and other records, from affidavits of wit- 
 nesses, and from statements made by actual participants, I have 
 prepared the following account. If any newspaper publication of 
 the affair has ever before been made, I am not aware of the fact. 
 The Mormons made their first settlement in Missouri, in Jackson 
 county, in the year 1832, under the leadership of their prophet, 
 Joseph Smith. I have not the space here to describe their exper- 
 iences in that county, their expulsion therefrom, their sojourn in 
 Clay and Ray, their treaty by which they were given Caldwell 
 county as a sort of reservation, their founding of the city of Far 
 West, nor can I narrate the circumstances leading to the Mormon 
 War (so called), and finally the banishment of these unhappy people 
 from the state. All these incidents may form the subject of a 
 future paper. I may state, however, that the massacre was per- 
 petrated on the very day that the militia, under Generals Lucas 
 and Doniphan arrived at Far West, with orders from Governor 
 Boggs to expel the Mormons from the state or exterminate them. 
 
 "At Jacob Haun's mill on Shoal creek, in the eastern part of 
 Caldwell county, about eight miles South of Breckenridge, there 
 had collected about twenty Mormon families, Haun himself was a 
 Mormon and had come to the site from Wisconsin a few years be- 
 fore. He had a very good mill, and clustered around it were a 
 blacksmith shop and half a dozen small houses. 
 
 "The alarm that the troops were moving against them had 
 driven nearly all the Mormon families in the county to Far West 
 for safety. A dozen or more living in the vicinity repaired to Haun's 
 Mill, which was twenty miles to the eastward of Far West. As 
 there were not enough houses to accommodate all of the f ugitives,a 
 number were living in tents and temporary shelters. A few families, 
 perhaps four, had come in on the evening of the 29th, from Ohio, 
 and were occupying their emigrant wagons. Not one member of 
 the little community had ever been in arms against the Gentiles 
 or taken any part whatever in the preceding disturbances. Word 
 that the militia of the state had been ordered to expel them from 
 the country had reached the Mormons of the Haun's Mill settle- 
 ment, and following this intelligence came a report that a consider- 
 able number of men in Livingston county, together with some from 
 Daviess, had organized in the forks of Grand River, near Spring Hill 
 in Livingston and were preparing to attack them. Whereupon, a 
 company of about twenty-five men and boys indifferently armed 
 with shotguns and squirrel rifles, were organized at the mill, and 
 David Evans was chosen Captain. 
 
38 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 **It was resolved to defend the place against the threatened 
 assault. Some of the older men urged that no resistance should be 
 made, but that all should retreat to Far West. The day after the 
 skirmish on Crooked River (Otcober 25), Haun himself, went to 
 Far West to take Counsel of Joe Smith, 'move here by all means, 
 if you wish to save your lives,' said the prophet. Haun replied that 
 if the settlers should abandon their homes, the Gentiles would 
 burn their houses and other buildings and destroy all of the proper- 
 ty left behind. 'Better lose your property than your lives,' re- 
 joined Smith. Haun represented that he and his neighbors were 
 willing to defend themselves against what he called the mob, and 
 Smith finally gave them permission to remain. Others at the mill 
 opposed a retreat and when an old man named Myers reminded 
 them how few they were and how many the Gentiles numbered, 
 they declared that the Almighty would send his angels to their help 
 when the day of battle should come. Some of the women, too, 
 urged the men to stand firm and offered to mould bullets and pre- 
 pare patching for the rifles if necessary. North of the mill was a 
 timber half a mile in width, skirting Shoal Creek; beyond was a 
 stretch of prairie. For a day or two Capt. Evans kept a picket 
 post in the northern border of the timber, but on the 28th he en- 
 tered into a sort of truce with Capt. Nehemiah Comstock, com- 
 manding a Company of Livingston "Gentiles" from the settle- 
 ments near Mooresville and Utica, and the post was withdrawn. 
 By the terms of this truce which was effected by a messenger who 
 rode between Evans and Comstock, the Gentiles were to let the 
 Mormons alone as long as the latter were peaceable and vice versa. 
 Each party, too, was to disband its military organization. But on 
 the morning of the 29th the Mormons learned that a company of 
 Livingston militia, a few miles to the eastward, were menacing 
 them, and so they maintained their organization and that night set 
 watches. The latter company was commanded by Captain William 
 Mann, and for some days had been operating at and in the vicinity 
 of Whitney's mill, on the lower Shoal Creek (where the village of 
 Dawn now stands), stopping Mormon emigrants on their way from 
 the East to Caldwell county, turning them back in some instances, 
 taking their arms from them in others, etc. 
 
 "On the 29th at Woolsey's, northeast of Breckenridge, an 
 agreement was reached by the Gentiles for an attack upon Haun's 
 mill. There companies numbering in the aggregate about two 
 hundred men were organized. They were commanded by Captain 
 Nehemiah Comstock, William O. Jennings and William Gee. The 
 command of the battalion was given to Col. Thomas Jennings, an 
 old militia officer, then living in the Forks, nearly all of the men were 
 citizens of Livingston county. Perhaps twenty were from Daviess 
 from whence they had been driven by the Mormons, and vowed 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 39 
 
 the direct vengenee on the entire sect. It did not matter whether 
 or not the Mormons at the mill had taken any part in the disturb- 
 ances which had occurred; it was enough they were Mormons. 
 The Livingston men became thoroughly inbued with the same 
 spirit, and all were eager for the raid. 
 
 "The Livingston men had no wrongs to complain of them- 
 selves, for the Mormons had never invaded their county, or in- 
 jured them in any way; but they seemed to feel an extraordinary 
 sympathy for the outrages suffered by their neighbors. 
 
 "Setting out from Woolsey's after noon on the 30th, Col. 
 Jennings marched swiftly out of the timber northwest of the present 
 village of Mooresville, and out on the prairie stretching down south- 
 wards towards the doomed hamlet at Haun's Mill. The word was 
 passed along the column, 'Shoot at every thing wearing breeches, 
 and shoot to kill.' 
 
 "All the Gentiles were mounted, and they had with them a 
 wagon and two Mormon prisoners. Within two miles of the mill 
 the wagon and prisoners were left in charge of a squad, and the 
 remainder of the force passed rapidly on. Entering the timber 
 north of the Mill, Colonel Jennings forced through it, unobserved 
 right up to the borders of the settlement and speedily formed his 
 line for the attack. Capt. W. O. Jennings' Company had the center, 
 Capt. Comstock's the left, and Capt. Gee's the right. The Mor- 
 mon leader had somehow become apprehensive of trouble. He 
 communicated his fears to some of the men, and was about sending 
 out scouts and pickets. It had been previously agreed that in 
 case of attack the men should repair to the blacksmith shop and 
 occupy it as a fort or blockhouse. This structure was built of logs, 
 with wide cracks between them; was about eighteen feet square 
 and had a large, wide door. The greater part of the Mormons 
 were, however, unsuspicious of any imminent peril. Children 
 were playing on the banks of the creek, women were engaged in 
 their ordinary domestic duties, the newly arrived immigrants were 
 resting under the trees, which were clad in the scarlet crimson and 
 golden leaves of autumn. The scene was peaceful and Acadian. 
 It was now about four o'clock in the afternoon and the sun hung low 
 and red in a beautiful Indian summer sky. 
 
 "Suddenly, from out the timber north and west of the mill, the 
 Gentiles burst upon the hamlet. The air was filled with shouts 
 and shots, and the fight was on. It cannot be fairly called a fight. 
 Taken wholly by surprise, the Mormons were thrown into extreme 
 confusion. The women and children cried and screamed in excite- 
 ment and terror, and the greater number, directed by some of the 
 men, ran across the mill dam to the south bank of the creek and 
 sought shelter in the woods. 
 
40 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "Perhaps twenty men, Captain Evans among them, ran with 
 their guns to the blacksmith shop and began to return the fire. 
 Some were shot down in their attempts to reach the shop. 
 
 "The fire of the Mormons was wild and inaffective; that of the 
 militia was accurate and deadly. The cracks between the logs 
 of the shop were so large that it was easy to shoot through them, 
 and so thickly were the Mormons huddled together on the inside 
 that nearly every bullet which entered the shop killed or wounded a 
 man. Firing was kept up all the while on the fleeing fugitives, and 
 many were shot down as they ran. 
 
 "Realizing very soon that he was placed at a decided disad- 
 vantage. Captain Evans gave orders to rereat, directing every man 
 to take care of himself. The door of the shop was thrown open 
 and all of the able bodied survivors ran out, endeavoring to reach 
 the woods. Some were shot before reaching shelter. Captain Evans 
 was much excited and ran all the way to Mud Creek, seven miles 
 south, with his gun loaded, not having discharged it during the 
 fight. The Gentiles advanced, and began to use their rough, home- 
 made swords, or corn knives, with which some of them were armed. 
 The fugitives were fired on until they were out of range, but not 
 pursued, as the few who escaped scattered in almost every direc- 
 tion. 
 
 "Coming upon the field after it had been abandoned, the 
 Gentiles perpetrated some terrible deeds. At least three of the 
 wounded were hacked to death with the corn knives or finished 
 with a rifle bullet. William Reynolds, a Livingston County man, 
 entered the blacksmith shop and found a little boy, only ten years 
 of age, named Sardnis Smith, hiding under the bellows. Without 
 even demanding his surrender the cruel wretch drew up his rifle 
 and shot the little fellow as he lay cowering and trembling. Rey- 
 nolds afterward boasted of his exploit to persons yet living. He 
 described with fiendish glee how the poor child kicked and squealed 
 in his djing agonies, and justified his inhuman act by the old Indian 
 aphorism, *Nits will make lice.* 
 
 "Charley Merrick, another little boy only nine years old, had 
 hid under the bellows. He ran out but did not get very far until 
 he received a load of buckshot and a rifle ball, in all three wounds. 
 He did not die, however, for nearly five weeks. Esquire Thomas 
 McBride was seventy-eight years of age and had been a soldier un- 
 der Gates and Washington in the Revolution. He had started for 
 the blacksmith shop, but was shot down on the way, and lay 
 wounded and helpless, but still alive. A Daviess County man 
 named Rogers, who kept a ferry across Grand River, near Gallatin, 
 came upon him and demanded his gun. 'Take it,* said McBride. 
 Rogers picked up the weapon and finding that it was loaded de- 
 liberately discharged it into the old veteran's breast. He then 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 41 
 
 cut and hacked the body with his corn knife until it was fright- 
 fully gashed and mangled. 
 
 "After the Mormons had all been either killed, wounded or 
 driven away, the Gentiles began to loot the place. Considerable 
 property was taken, much of the spoil consisting of household 
 articles and personal effects. At least three wagons and perhaps 
 ten horses were taken. Two emigrant wagons were driven off with 
 all their contents. The Mormons claim that there was a general 
 pillage, and that even the bodies of the slain were robbed. The 
 Gentiles deny this and say that the wagons were needed to haul off 
 their three wounded men, and the bedding was taken to make them 
 comfortable, while the articles taken did not amount to much. 
 Two of the survivors have stated to me that the place was pretty 
 well cleaned out. 
 
 "Colonel Jennings did not remain at the mill more than two 
 hours. Twilight approaching, he set out on his return to his 
 former encampment. He feared a rally and return of the Mormons 
 with a large reinforcement, and doubtless he desired to reflect 
 leisurely on his course of future operations. Reaching Woolsey's, 
 he halted his battalion and prepared to pass the night. But a few 
 hours later he imagined he heard cannon and a great tumult in the 
 direction of Haun's Mill; betokening, as he thought, the advance 
 of a large Mormon force upon him. Rousing his men from their 
 sweet dreams of the victory, he broke camp, moved rapidly east- 
 ward, and never halted until he had put the West Fork of Grand 
 River between him and his annoying pursuers. He and his men 
 had won glory enough for one day and how! They had not lost a 
 man killed and only three wounded. John Renfrow had his thumb 
 
 shot off. Allen England was shot in the thigh, and Hart 
 
 in the arm. The Mormon killed and mortally wounded numbered 
 seventeen. Here are the names: 
 
 Thomas McBride Augustine Harmer 
 
 Levi N. Merrick Simon Cox 
 
 Elias Benner Hiram Abbott 
 
 Josiah Fuller John York 
 
 Benjamin Lewis John Lee 
 
 Alexander Campbell John Byers 
 
 George S. Richards Warren Smith 
 
 William Napier Charles Merrick, aged 9 
 
 Sardnis Smith, aged 10. 
 
 "The severely wounded numbered eleven men, one boy (Alma 
 Smith, aged 7), and one woman, a Miss Mary Stedwell. The 
 latter was shot through the hand and arm as she was running to 
 the woods. Dies irae! Bloody work and woeful. What a scene 
 did Colonel Jennings and his men turn their backs upon as they rode 
 
42 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 away in the gloaming from the little valley once all green and peace- 
 ful! The wounded men had been given no attention and the bodies 
 of the slain had been left to fester and putrefy in the Indian Summer 
 temperature, warm and mellowing. A large red moon rose, and a 
 fog came up from the streams and lay like a face cloth upon the 
 pallid countenances of the dead. 
 
 "Timidly and warily came forth the widows and orphans from 
 their hiding places, and as they recognized one a husband and one 
 a father, another a son, and another a brother among the slain, the 
 wailings of grief and terror were most pitiful. All that night were 
 they alone with their dead and wounded. There were no physi- 
 cians, but if there had been, many of the wounded were past all 
 surgery. Dreadful sights in the moonlight, and dreadful sounds on 
 the night winds. In the hamlet the groans of the wounded, the 
 moans and sobs of the grief stricken, the bellowing of cattle, and 
 the howling of dogs, and from the black woods the dismal hooting 
 of owls. 
 
 "By and by, when the wounded had been made as comfortable 
 as possible, the few men who had returned gathered the women and 
 children together, and all sought consolation in prayer. Then 
 they sang from the Mormon hymn book a selection entitled "Mo- 
 roni's Lamentation," a dirge-like composition lacking in poesy and 
 deficient in rhythm, but giving something of comfort, let us hope, 
 to the Choristers. And so in prayer and song and ministration 
 the remainder of the night was passed. 
 
 "The next morning the corpses had changed, and were chang- 
 ing fast. They must be buried. There were not enough men 
 left to make cofl&ns or even dig graves. It could not be determined 
 when relief would come or when the Gentiles would return. There 
 was a large unfinished well near the mill, which it was decided 
 should be used as a common sepulcher. Four men, one of whom 
 was Joseph W. Young, a brother of Brigham Young, gathered up 
 the bodies, the women assisting, and bore them, one at a time, on 
 a large plank to the well, and slid them in. Some hay was strewn 
 upon the gastly pile and then a thin layer of dirt thrown upon the 
 hay. 
 
 "The next day Captain Comstock's company returned to the 
 Mill, as they said, to bury the dead. Finding that duty had been 
 attended to, they expressed considerable satisfacton at having been 
 relieved of the job, and, after notifying the people that they must 
 leave the state or they would all be killed, they rode away. The 
 pit was subsequently filled by Mr. C. R. Ross, now a resident of 
 Black Oak, Cladwell County. 
 
 "A day or two after the massacre. Colonel Jennings started 
 with his battalion to join the state forces at Far West. He had not 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 43 
 
 proceeded far when he met a messenger who informed him that the 
 Mormons at Far West had surrendered, and gave him an order to 
 move to Daviess County and join the forces under General Robert 
 Wilson, then operating against the Mormons at Adam-ondi-Ahman. 
 The battalion was present at the surrender at Diamon as it is 
 generally called, and a day or two thereafter Captain Comstock's 
 company was ordered to Haun's Mill, where it remained in camp 
 for some weeks. Herewith I give an extract from an affidavit 
 made by Mrs. Amanda Smith, whose husband and little son were 
 killed in the massacre, and who resided at the Mill during the stay 
 of Comstock's company: 
 
 *The next day the mob came back. They told us 
 we must leave the state forthwith or be killed. It was 
 bad weather, and they had taken our teams and clothes; 
 our men were all dead or wounded. I told them they 
 might kill me and my children and welcome. They said 
 to us, from time to time, if we did not leave the state they 
 would come and kill us. We could not leave then. We 
 had little prayer meetings; they said if we did not stop 
 them they would kill every man, woman and child. We 
 had spelling schools for our little children; they pretended 
 they were "Mormon Meetings" and said if we did not 
 stop them they would kill every man, woman, and child. 
 * * * * I started the 1st of February, very cold 
 weather, for Illinois, with five small children and no money. 
 It was mob all the way. I drove the team, and we slept 
 out of doors. We suffered greatly from hunger, cold and 
 fatigue; and for what? For our religion. In this boasted 
 land of liberty. "Deny your faith or die" was the cry.' 
 
 "While in camp at the Mill, according to statements to me of 
 two of its members, Comstock's company lived off the country, as 
 did the state troops at Far West. The Mormon cattle and hogs 
 had been turned into the fields and were fine and fat. The mill 
 furnished flour and meal, and other articles of provision were to be 
 had for the taking. The Mormon men were either prisoners or 
 had been driven from the country. By the 1st of April following 
 all had left the state. Many of them had been killed, their houses 
 burned, their property taken, their fields laid waste, and the re- 
 sult was called peace. — Burr Joyce." 
 
44 missouri historical review. 
 
 Surrender of the Mormons at Far West. 
 
 The state militia ordered out by Governor Lilburn W. 
 Boggs under Generals Lucas, Wilson and Doniphan arrived 
 in the vicinity of Far West on the afternoon of October 30, 
 1838. This army, with the reinforcements that arrived on the 
 following day, constituted a force of perhaps twenty-two hun- 
 dred to three thousand men. This army went into camp 
 about a mile from Far West on the night of October 30. The 
 Mormons designated their own armed men as the militia of 
 Far West and this local force was busy all that night, build- 
 ing temporary fortifications, while the women busied them- 
 selves getting their valuables together. A battle was expected 
 in the morning. Colonel Lyman Wight was at Adam-ondi- 
 Ahman and he was sent for. He arrived with one hundred 
 and twenty men on the morning of October 3 L A flag of truce 
 was either sent from the militia camp to Far West or else was 
 sent under the advice of Colonel Wight from Far West to 
 the militia camp, it is not very clear as to which thing really 
 happened. But it is clear that undei a flag of truce at some 
 point outside the city of Far West at about eight o'clock on 
 that morning Colonel George M. Hinkle and John Corrill, 
 representing the Mormons, met certain officers of the militia 
 forces and Colonel Hinkle, who was presumed to be in com- 
 mand of the Mormon armed force, secretly entered into an 
 agreement to surrender under stipulations as follows: 
 
 1st. To give up the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ 
 of Lattei Day Saints to be tried and punished. 
 
 2nd. To make an appropriation of the property of all 
 who had taken up arms, for the payment of their debts and 
 to indemnify for damages done by them. 
 
 3rd. That the rest of the membership of the chuich 
 should leave the state under the protection of the militia, but 
 should be permitted to remain under protection until further 
 orders were received from the commander in chief. 
 
 4th. To give up the arms of every description, the same 
 to be receipted for. 
 
 Colonel Hinkle then returned to Far West and reported 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 45 
 
 that the chief officers of the enemy army desired an interview 
 with Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, George 
 W. Robinson and Lyman Wight, all of whom accompanied 
 Colonel Hinkle back to the militia camp, where they were 
 met by Generals Lucas, Wilson and Doniphan, to whom Col- 
 onel Hinkle delivered the aforesaid leaders of the church as 
 prisoners of war, much to their surprise. These prisoners 
 were placed under a strong guard and taken into camp where 
 they found a number of prisoners already, including Stephen 
 Winchester and the Brother Carey, whose skull had been 
 crushed. Winchester, with eleven other prisoners volun- 
 teered, with permission of the officers, to take Carey to his 
 home in Far West. This was granted and Carey died shortly 
 after reaching his family. 
 
 On Thursday, November 1, Hyrum Smith and Amasa 
 Lyman were brought into the militia camp as additional 
 Mormon prisoners, and placed under the guard with the other 
 church leaders. On this morning General Lucas ordered 
 Colonel Hinkle to march out his Mormon troops and cause 
 them to deliver up their arms. This was done at once. The 
 arms thus surrendered were the private property of the men 
 who marched out under Colonel Hinkle's orders. After which 
 the militia troops marched into Far West and took posses- 
 sion of the town — made a thorough search for fire arms, tore 
 up floors, overturned haystacks, carried away some valuable 
 property and compelled the real estate owners to sign deeds 
 of trust to cover the expenses of the so-called war, as pro- 
 vided for in the second stipulation of the treaty made for the 
 church by Col. Hinkle. 
 
 About eighty additional men were made prisoners. All 
 the remaining Mormons were ordered to leave the state of 
 Missouri. 
 
 While this was going on, a court martial was convened 
 at the militia camp and all of the aforesaid church leaders were 
 given some sort of a hearing before it, despite the fact that 
 none of them except Lyman Wight, was in any sense con- 
 nected with the military, and that military court sentenced 
 every man of them to be shot. 
 
46 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 General Doniphan was selected as the officer to execute 
 the findings of the court, and the following order was deliveied 
 to him: 
 
 "Brigadier General Doniphan: Sir: You will take 
 Joseph Smith and the other prisoneis into the public square 
 of Far West, and shoot them at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. 
 
 Samuel D. Lucas, 
 Major General Commanding." 
 
 To this command General Doniphan made immediate 
 reply as per the following communication : 
 
 "It is cold-blooded murder, I will not obey your order. 
 My brigade will march for Liberty tomorrow morning at 
 eight o'clock; and if you execute those men, I will hold you 
 responsible before an earthly tribunal, so help me God! 
 
 A. W. Doniphan, 
 Brigadier General." 
 
 None of the prisoners was executed nor was General 
 Doniphan ever called to account for his insubordination. 
 
 On Friday, November 2, Dr. Sampson Avard was found 
 by the militia, hidden in some hazel brush, and brought into 
 camp. Later he offered much testimony against his brethren 
 in the church. On this day the church leaders were taken into 
 Far West, and were permitted under a strong guard to see 
 their respective families. Much feeling had become manifest 
 in the church by this time against Colonel George M. Hinkle, 
 because of his action in delivering his brethren into the hands 
 of the enemy. He was expelled from the church and was 
 ever after held in contempt by his brethren, who have always 
 looked upon him as a traitor. He removed to Iowa where he 
 afterward died afar from any members of his former church. 
 Though his action no doubt saved many lives, for the militia 
 forces outnumbered his little army perhaps five to one, his 
 conduct in telling the designated Moimon leaders that Gen- 
 eral Lucas wanted to confer with them, whereas he had agreed 
 to surrender them up foi punishment, was never forgotten by 
 the Church membership, nor did the Church membership ever 
 approve of article 2 of the contract between Hinkle and Lucas, 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 47 
 
 which was afterward interpreted to hold the Church member- 
 ship liable for the payment of the debts of the war waged 
 against them, and which stripped them of their property. 
 That treaty put the Mormons in the light of being a foreign 
 nation, or of being a people in rebellion with belligerent rights 
 and therefore with power to contract a treaty whereas they 
 were certainly citizens of Missouri, subject to the laws of the 
 state, and if they violated the law should have been tried in 
 civil courts. They were expelled from the state, however, 
 without a hearing. 
 
 At this time General John B. Clark was on his way to 
 assume supreme command at Far West. He was armed with 
 a letter from Governor Boggs, that in part said : 
 
 "The case is now a very plain one. The Mormons must be 
 subdued and peace restored to the community. You will therefore 
 proceed without delay to execute the former orders. Full con- 
 fidence is reposed in your ability to do so. Your force will be amply 
 sufficient to accomplish the object. Should you need the aid of 
 artillery, I would suggest that an application be made to the com- 
 manding officer at Fort Leavenworth for such as you may need. 
 You are authorized to request the loan of it in the name of the 
 State of Missouri. 
 
 "The ringleaders of this rebellion should be made an example 
 of, and if it should become necessary for the public peace, the 
 Mormons should be exterminated or expelled from the state." 
 
 On November the 4th General Clark arrived in Far West 
 and assumed command. On the 6th he gathered the people 
 of Far West on the public square and said to them : 
 
 "Gentlemen: You, whose names are not attached to this list 
 of names will now have the privilege of going to your fields and pro- 
 viding corn, wood, etc., for your families. Those who are now 
 taken, will go from this to prison, be tried and receive the due de- 
 merit of their crimes. But you (except such as charges may here- 
 after be preferred against) are now at liberty as soon afe the troops 
 are removed that now guard the place, which I shall cause to be 
 done immediately. It now devolves upon you to fulfill the treaty 
 that you have entered into, the leading items of which I shall now 
 lay before you: 
 
 "The first requires that your leading men be given up to be 
 tried according to law; this you have already complied with. 
 
48 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "The second is that you deliver up your arms; this has been 
 attended to. 
 
 "The third stipulation is, that you sign over your properties 
 to defray the expenses of the war; this you have also done. 
 
 "Another article yet remains for you to comply with, and that 
 is, that you leave the state forthwith; and whatever may be your 
 feelings concerning this, or whatever your innocence, it is nothing 
 to me. General Lucas, who is equal in authority with me, has 
 made this tresaty with you. I approve of it. I should have done 
 the same, had I been here, I am therefore determined to see it ful- 
 filled. The character of this state has suffered almost beyond re- 
 demption from the character,conduct, and influence that you have 
 exerted; and we deem it an act of justice to restore her character to 
 its former standing among the states, by every proper means. 
 
 "The orders of the Governor to me were, that you should be 
 exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the state; and had your 
 leaders not been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied 
 with before this, you and your families would have been destroyed 
 and your houses in ashes. There is a discretionary power vested in 
 my hands which I shall exercise in your favor for a season! For 
 this lenity you are indebted to my clemency. I do not say that 
 you shall go now, but you must not think of staying here another 
 season; or of putting in crops, for the moment you do this the citi- 
 zens will be upon you. If I am called here again, in case of a non- 
 compliance of a treaty made, do not think that I shall act any more 
 as I have done — you need not expect any mercy but extermination, 
 for I am determined that the Governor's order shall be executed. 
 As for your leaders, do not once think — do not imagine for a moment 
 — do not let it enter your mind, that they will be delivered, or that 
 you will see their faces again, for their fate is fixed, their die is 
 cast — their doom is sealed! 
 
 "I am sorry gentlemen, to see so great a number of apparently 
 intelligent men found in the situation that you are; and oh! that I 
 could invoke that Great Spirit, the Unknown God, to rest upon you, 
 and make you sufficiently intelligent to break that chain of super- 
 stition, and liberate you from those fetters of fanaticism, with 
 which you are bound — that you no longer worship a man. 
 
 "I would advise you to scatter abroad, and never again or- 
 ganize yourselves with Bishops, Presidents, etc., lest you excite the 
 jealousies of the people and subject yourselves to the same calami- 
 ties that have now come upon you. 
 
 "Tou have always been the aggressors — you have brought 
 upon yourselves these difficulties by being disaffected and not being 
 subject to rule — and my advice is, that you become as other citizens, 
 lest by a recurrence of these events you bring upon yourselves irre- 
 trievable ruin." — (Millenial Star, Vol. 16, p .555.) 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 49 
 
 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND THE 
 MORMON WAR. 
 
 ROLLIN J. BRITTON. 
 THIRD ARTICLE. 
 THE MORMONS EXPELLED FROM DAVIESS COUNTY. 
 
 On November 6, 1838, the Governor wrote General Clark, 
 authorizing and directing him to hold a Military Court of 
 inquiry in Daviess county. The order read as follows: 
 
 "It will also be necessary that you hold a Military Court of 
 inquiry in Daviess county, and arrest the Mormons who have been 
 guilty of the late outrages committed towards the inhabitants of 
 said county. My instructions to you are to settle this whole matter 
 completely, if possible, before you disband your forces. If the 
 Mormons are disposed voluntarily to leave the State, of course it 
 would be advisable in you to promote that object in any way deemed 
 proper. The ringleaders of their rebellion, though ought by no 
 means to be permitted to escape the punishment they merit." 
 {Millenial Star Vol. 16, pp. 555-556.) 
 
 General Clark ordered Brigadier General Robert Wilson 
 to Adam-ondi-Ahman for the purpose of this inquiry. 
 
 General Wilson arrived at Adam-ondi-Ahman November 
 8, 1838, and immediately put a guard around the town, with 
 instructions to allow no person to pass in or out without 
 permission. He then put every man in town under guard and 
 instituted a court of inquiry with Adam Black, before men- 
 tioned, on the bench, and a soldier of General Clark's command 
 acting as Prosecuting Attorney. After three days investiga- 
 tion every man was by this court "honorably acquitted". 
 
 After this acquittal General Wilson issued an order 
 that every family must be out of town within ten days, with 
 permission to go to Caldwell county for the winter, then to 
 leave the State under pain of extermination. Here is a 
 specimen of the permits granted to men against whom a charge 
 had been sustained. 
 
50 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "I permit David Holman to remove from Daviess to Caldwell 
 County, there to remain during the winter, or to pass out of the 
 State. 
 
 R. Wilson, Brigadier General, 
 By F. G. C, Aid." 
 November 10, 1838. 
 
 There was an agreement made between the mob and the 
 saints by which the latter could obtain their stock with the 
 consent of their opponents. The agreement was as follows : 
 
 1. That the Mormon Committee be allowed to employ, 
 say twenty teamsters for the purpose of hauling of their property. 
 
 2. That the Mormon Committee collect whatever stock they 
 may have in Daviess County at some point, and some two or three 
 of the Daviess County Committee be notified to attend for the 
 purpose of examining said stock, and convey or attend the Mormon 
 Committee out of the Hmits of the county, and it is further 
 understood that the Mormon Committee is not to drive or take 
 from this county any stock of any description at any other time 
 nor under any other circumstances than these mentioned. 
 
 As witness our hands: 
 
 William P. Peniston, 
 Dr. K. Kerr, 
 Adam Black, 
 Committee. 
 The above propositions were made and agreed to by the 
 undersigned committee on the part of the Mormons. 
 
 WilUam Hunnington, 
 B. S. Wilber, 
 J. H. Hale, 
 
 Henry, Herriman, Z. Wilson. 
 {Millenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 566, 567.) 
 
 At this time a citizen of Clay county, wrote the following 
 letter to members of the legislature: 
 
 "M. Arthur, Esq., to the Representatives from Clay County: 
 
 Liberty, November 29, 1838. 
 "Respected Friends: Humanity to an injured people prompts 
 me at present to address you thus: You were aware of the treat- 
 ment (to some extent before you left home) received by that un- 
 fortunate race of beings called the Mormons, from Daviess, in the 
 form of human beings inhabiting Daviess, Livingston and a part 
 of Ray County; not being satisfied with the relinquishment of all 
 their rights as citizens and human beings, in the treaty forced upon 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 51 
 
 them by General Lucas, by giving up their arms and throwing 
 themselves upon the mercy of the State and their fellow citizens 
 generally, hoping thereby protection of their lives and property, 
 are now receiving treatment from those demons that makes human- 
 ity shudder, and the cold chills run over any man not entirely 
 destitute of any feeling of humanity. 
 
 "The demons are now constantly strolling up and down Cald- 
 well County, in small companies armed, insulting the women in any 
 and every way and plundering the poor devils of all the means of 
 subsistence (scanty as it was) left them, and driving off their horses, 
 cattle, hogs, etc., and rifling their houses and farms of everything 
 therein, taking beds, bedding, wardrobe, and all such things as 
 they see they want, leaving the poor Mormons in a starving and 
 naked condition. 
 
 "These are facts I have from authority that cannot be ques- 
 tioned, and can be maintained and substantiated at any time. 
 There is now a petition afloat in our town, signed by the citizens of 
 all parties and grades, which will be sent you in a few days praying 
 the legislature to make some speedy enactment applicable to their 
 case. They are entirely willing to leave our State as soon as this 
 inclement season is over, and a number have already left, and are 
 leaving daily, scattering themselves to the four winds of the earth. 
 
 "Now, sirs, I do not want by any means to dictate to you the 
 course to be pursued, but one fact I will merely suggest, I this day 
 was conversing with Mr. George M. Pryer, who is just from Far 
 West, relating the outrages there committed daily. I suggested 
 to him the propriety of the legislature's placing a guard to patrol 
 the lines of Caldwell County, say about twenty-five men, and give 
 them, say about a dollar or one and a half per day, each man, and 
 find their provisions, etc., until say the first day of June next; 
 these men rendering that protection necessary to the Mormons and 
 allowing them to follow and bring to justice any individuals who 
 have heretofore or will hereafter be guilty of plundering or any 
 violation of the laws. I would suggest that George M. Pryer be 
 appointed captain of said guard and that he will be allowed to 
 raise his own men, if he is willing thus to act. He is a man of correct 
 habits, and will do justice to all sides and render due satisfaction. 
 
 "Should this course not be approved of, I would recommend 
 the restoration of the arms for their own protection. One or the 
 other of these suggestions is certainly due the Mormons from the 
 State, She has now their leaders prisoners, to the number of fifty 
 or sixty, and I apprehend no danger from the remainder in any way 
 until they will leave the State. 
 
 M. Arthur." 
 
 {Millenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 565-566.) 
 
52 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 On December 10, 1838, a committee appointed by the 
 Mormons petitioned the Legislature as follows: 
 
 "To the Honorable Legislature of the State of Missouri, in Senate 
 and House of Representatives convened: 
 
 "We the undersigned, petitioners and inhabitants of Cald- 
 well county, Missouri, in consequence of the. late calamity that has 
 come upon us, taken in connection with former afflictions, feel it 
 a duty we owe to ourselves and our country to lay our case before 
 your honorable body for consideration. It is a well known fact that 
 a society of our people commenced settling in Jackson County, 
 Missouri, in the summer of 1831, where they, according to their 
 ability, purchased lands and settled upon them, with the intention 
 and expectation of becoming permanent citizens in common with 
 others. 
 
 "Soon after the settlement began, persecution began, and as 
 the society increased, persecution also increased, until the society 
 at last was compelled to leave the county, and although an account 
 of these persecutions has been published to the world, yet we feel 
 that it will not be iciproper to notice a few of the most prominent 
 items in this memorial. 
 
 "On the 20th of July, 1833, a mob convened at Independence, 
 a committee of which called upon a few of the men of our church 
 there and stated to them that the store, printing office, and indeed 
 all other mechanic shops must be closed forthwith, and the society 
 leave the county immediately. These propositions were so un- 
 expected that a certain time was asked for to consider on the sub- 
 ject before an answer should be returned, which was refused, and 
 our men being individually interrogated each one answered that 
 he could not consent to comply with their proposition. One of the 
 mob replied that he was sorry, for the work of destruction would 
 commence immediately. 
 
 "In a short time the printing office, which was a two story 
 building, was assailed by the mob and soon thrown down, and with 
 it much valuable property destroyed. Next they went to the store 
 for the same purpose, but Mr. Gilbert, one of the owners, agreeing 
 to close it, they abandoned their design. Their next move was their 
 dragging of Bishop Partridge from his house and family to the public 
 square, where, surrounded by hundreds, they partially stripped him 
 of his clothes and tarred and feathered him from head to foot. 
 A man by the name of Allen was also tarred at the same time. 
 This was Saturday and the mob agreed to meet the following 
 Tuesday to accomplish their purpose of driving or massacring the 
 society. 
 
 "Tuesday came, and the mob came also, bearing with them a 
 red flag in token of blood. Some two or three of the principal men 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 53 
 
 of the society offered their lives if that would appease the wrath 
 of the mob, so that the rest of the society might dwell in peace upon 
 their lands. The answer was, that unless the society would leave 
 enmasse, every man should die for himself. Being in a defenseless 
 situation, to save a general massacre, it was agreed that one-half 
 of the society should leave the county by the first of the next 
 January, and the remainder by the first of the following April. 
 
 "A treaty was entered into and ratified, and all things went on 
 smoothly for awhile. But sometime in October the wrath of the 
 mob began again to be kindled, insomuch that they shot at some of 
 our people, whipped others, and threw down their houses, and 
 committed many other depredations. Indeed the society of saints 
 were harrassed for some time, both day and night; their houses were 
 briekbatted and broken open — women and children insulted, etc. 
 The store house of A. S. Gilbert and Co. was broken open, ran- 
 sacked, and some of the goods strewed in the streets. 
 
 "These abuses, with many others of a very aggravated nature, 
 so stirred up the indignant feelings of our people that when a party 
 of them, say about thirty, met a company of the mob of about 
 double their number, a skirmish took place in which some two or 
 three of the mob and one of our people were killed. This raised as 
 it were the whole country in arms — and nothing would satisfy them 
 but an immediate surrender of the arms of our people and they 
 forthwith to leave the county. 
 
 "Fifty-one guns were given up, which have never been returned 
 or paid for to this day. The next day parties of the mob from 
 fifty to seventy, headed by priests, went from house to house 
 threatening women and children with death if they were not off 
 before they returned. This so alarmed them that they fled in 
 different directions; some took shelter in the woods, while others 
 wandered in the prairies till their feet bled. In the meantime, the 
 weather being very cold, their sufferings in other respects were very 
 great. 
 
 "The society made their escape to Clay County, where the 
 people received them kindly and administered to their wants. 
 After the society had left Jackson county, their buildings, amount- 
 ing to about two hundred, were either burned or otherwise de- 
 stroyed; and much of their crops, as well as furniture, stock, etc., 
 which, if properly estimated, would make a large sum, for which 
 they have not as yet received any remuneration. 
 
 "The Society remained in Clay County nearly three years; 
 when at the suggestion of the people there, they removed to that 
 section of the country now known as Caldwell County. Here the 
 people purchased out most of the former inhabitants, and also 
 entered much of the wild land. Many soon owned a number of 
 
54 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 eighties, while there was scarcely a man that did not secure to 
 himself at least a forty. Here we were permitted to enjoy peace for a 
 season; but as our society increased in numbers and settlements 
 were made in Daviess and Carroll Counties, the mob spirit spread 
 itself again. 
 
 "For months previous to our giving up our arms to General 
 Lucas' army, we heard little else than rumors of mobs collecting in 
 different places and threatening our people. 
 
 "It is well known that the people of our church, who had 
 located themselves at DeWitt, had to give up to a mob and leave 
 the place, notwithstanding the militia were called out for their 
 protection. 
 
 "From DeWitt the mob went towards Daviess County, and 
 while on their way there they took two of our men prisoners, and 
 made them ride upon the cannon, and told them that they would 
 drive the Mormons from Daviess to Caldwell, and from Caldwell 
 to hell; and that they would give them no quarter, only at the 
 Cannon's mouth. 
 
 "The threats of the mob induced some of our people to go to 
 Daviess to help to protect their brethren who had settled at Diah- 
 man on Grand River. The mob soon fled from Daviess County; 
 and after they were dispersed and the cannon taken, during which 
 times no blood was shed, the people of Caldwell retired to their 
 homes in hopes of enjoying peace and quiet; but in this they were 
 disappointed, for a large mob was soon found to be collecting on 
 the Grindstone (fork of Grand River), from ten to fifteen miles off, 
 under the command of Cornelius Gillium, a scouting party of which 
 came within four miles of Far West and drove off stock belonging 
 to our people, in open daylight. 
 
 "About this time word came to Far West that a party of the 
 mob had come to Caldwell County, to the South of Far West 
 that they were taking horses and cattle, burning houses, and 
 ordering the inhabitants to leave their homes immediately; and that 
 they had then actually in their possession three men prisoners. 
 
 "This report reached Far West in the evening and was con- 
 firmed about midnight. A company of about sixty men went forth 
 under the command of David W. Patten, to disperse the mob, as 
 they supposed. A battle was the result in which Captain Patten 
 and two of his men were killed and others wounded. Bogart, it 
 appears, had but one killed and others wounded. Notwithstanding 
 the unlawful acts committed by Captain Bogart's men previous to 
 the battle, it is now asserted and claimed that he was regularly 
 ordered out as a Militia Captain to preserve the peace along the 
 line of Ray and Caldwell Counties. 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 55 
 
 "That battle was fought four or five days previous to the 
 arrival of General Lucas and his army about the time of the battle 
 with Captain Bogart a number of our people who were living near 
 Haun's Mill, on Shoal Creek, about twenty miles below Far West, 
 together with a number of emigrants who had been stopped there in 
 consequence of the excitment, made an agreement with the mob 
 which was about there, that neither party should molest the other, 
 but dwell in peace. Shortly after this agreement was made a 
 mob party of from two to three hundred, many of whom are sup- 
 posed to be from Chariton County, some from Daviess, and also 
 those who had agreed to dwell in peace, came upon our people there, 
 whose number in men was about forty, at a time they little expected 
 any such thing, and without any ceremony, notwithstanding they 
 begged for quarter, shot them down as they would tigers or pan- 
 thers. Some few made their escape by fleeing. Eighteen were 
 killed, and a number more were severely wounded. 
 
 "This tragedy was conducted in the most brutal and savage 
 manner. An old man, after the massacre was partially over 
 threw himself into their hands and begged for quarter, when he 
 was instantly shot down; that not killing him, they took an old 
 corn-cutter and literally mangled him to pieces. A lad of ten 
 years of age, after being shot down, also begged to be spared, when 
 one of them placed the muzzle of his gun to his head and blew out 
 his brains. The slaughter of these not satisfying the mob, they 
 proceeded to rob and plunder. The scene that presented itself after 
 the massacre to the widows and orphans of the killed, is beyond 
 description. It was truly a time of weeping, of mourning, and of 
 lamentation. As yet we have not heard of any being arrested for 
 these murders, notwithstanding there are men boasting about the 
 country that they did kill on that occasion more than one "Mor- 
 mon," whereas all our people who were in the battle with Captain 
 Patton against Bogart, that can be found, have been arrested, and 
 are now confined in jail to await their trial for murder. 
 
 "When General Lucas arrived near Far West and presented 
 the Governor's order, we were greatly surprised; yet we felt willing 
 to submit to the authorities of the State. We gave up our arms 
 without reluctance. We were then made prisoners and confined 
 to the limits of the town for about a week, during which time the 
 men from the country were not permitted to go to their families, 
 many of whom were in a suffering condition for the want of food 
 and firewood, the weather being very cold and stormy. 
 
 "Much property was destroyed by the troops in town during 
 their stay there, such as burning house logs, rails, corn cribs, boards, 
 etc., the using of corn and hay, the plundering of houses, the killing 
 of cattle, sheep and hogs, and also the taking of horses, not their 
 
56 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 own; and all this without regard to owners, or asking leave of any- 
 one. In the meantime, men were abused, women Insulted, and 
 abused by the troops; and all this while we were kept prisoners. 
 
 "Whilst the town was guarded we were called together by the 
 order of General Lucas and a guard placed close around us, and in 
 that situation were compelled to sign a deed of trust for the pur- 
 pose of making our individual property all holden as they said, to 
 pay all the debts of every individual belonging to the church, and 
 also to pay for all damages the inhabitants of Daviess County may 
 have sustained in consequence of the late difficulties in that county. 
 
 "General Clark had now arrived and the first important move 
 made by him was the collecting of our men together on the square, 
 and selected out about fifty of them, whom he immediately marched 
 into a house and confined close. This was done without the aid of 
 the sheriff or any legal process. The next day forty-six of those 
 taken were driven like a parcel of menial slaves, off to Richmond, not 
 knowing why they were taken or what they were taken for. After 
 being confined in Richmond more than two weeks, about one-half 
 were liberated; the rest, after another week's confinement, were 
 most of them required to appear at court, and have since been let 
 to bail. Since General Clark withdrew his troops from Far West, 
 parties of armed men have gone through the country driving off 
 horses, sheep and cattle, and also plundering houses; the barbarity 
 of General Lucas' troops ought not to be passed over in silence. 
 They shot our cattle and hogs merely for the sake of destroying 
 them, leaving them for the ravens to eat. They took prisoner an 
 aged man by the name of Tanner, and without any reason for it, 
 he was struck over the head with a gun, which laid his skull bare. 
 Another man by the name of Carey was also taken prisoner by them, 
 and without any provocation had his brains dashed out by a gun. 
 He was laid in a wagon and there permitted to remain, for the 
 space of twenty-four hours, during which time no one was permitted 
 to administer to him, comfort or consolation; and after he was 
 removed from that situation he lived but a few hours. 
 
 "The destruction of property at and about Far West is very 
 great, many are stripped bare, as it were, and others partially so; 
 indeed, take us as a body, at this time we are a poor and afflicted 
 people; and if we are compelled to leave the State in the Spring, 
 many, yes, a large portion of our Society will have to be removed 
 at the expense of the State, as those who might have helped them 
 are now debarred that privilege in consequence of the deed of 
 trust we were compelled to sign; which deed so operated upon our 
 real estate that it will sell for little or nothing at this time. 
 
 "We have now made a brief statement of some of the most 
 prominent features of the troubles that have befallen our people 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 57 
 
 since our first settlement in the State; and we believe that these 
 persecutions have come in consequence of our religious faith, and 
 not for any immorality on our part. 
 
 "That instances have been of late, where individuals have 
 trespassed upon the rights of others, and thereby broken the laws 
 of the land, we will not pretend to deny; but yet we do believe that 
 no crime can be substantiated against any of the people who have 
 a standing in our church of an earlier date than the difficulties in 
 Daviess County. And when it is considered that the rights of this 
 people have been trampled upon from time to time with impunity, 
 and abuses heaped upon them almost innumerable, it ought in some 
 degree to palliate for any infraction of the law which may have 
 been made on the part of our people. 
 
 "The late order of Governor Boggs to drive us from this State 
 or exterminate us is a thing so novel, unlawful, tyrannical and 
 oppressive that we have been induced to draw up this memorial 
 and present this statement of our case to your honorable body, 
 praying that a law may be passed rescinding the order of the Gover- 
 nor to drive us from the State and also giving the sanction of the 
 legislature to inherit our lands in peace. We ask an expression of 
 the legislature disapproving of the conduct of those who compelled 
 us to sign a deed of trust and also disapproving of any man or set 
 of men taking our property in consequence of that deed of trust 
 and appropriating it to the payment of damage sustained in conse- 
 quence of trespasses committed by others. 
 
 "We have no common stock; our property is individual prop- 
 erty, and we feel willing to pay our debts as other individuals do; 
 but we are not willing to be bound for other people's debts also. 
 The arms which were taken from us here, which we understand to 
 be about six hundred and thirty, besides swords and pistols, we 
 care not so much about as we do the pay for them, only we are 
 bound to do military duty, which we are willing to do; and which we 
 think was sufficiently manifested by the raising of a voluntary 
 company last fall at Far West, when called upon by General Parks 
 to raise troops for the frontier. 
 
 "The arms given up by us we consider were worth between 
 twelve and fifteen thousand dollars; but we understand they have 
 been greatly damaged since taken, and at this time probably would 
 not bring near their former value. And as they were, both here 
 and in Jackson County, taken by the militia, and consequently by 
 the authority of the State, we therefore ask your honorable body 
 to cause an appropriation to be made by law whereby we may be 
 paid for them, or otherwise have them returned to uf and the dam- 
 ages made good. 
 
 "The losses sustained by our people in leaving Jackson County 
 are so situated that it is impossible to obtain any compensation for 
 
68 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 them by law, because those who have sustained them are unable to 
 prove those trespasses upon individuals. That the facts do exist 
 that the buildings, crops, stock, furniture, rails, timber, etc., of 
 the society have been destroyed in Jackson County, is not doubted 
 by those who are acquainted in this upper country; and since these 
 trespasses cannot be proven upon individuals, we ask your honorable 
 body to consider this case; and if in your liberality and wisdom you 
 can conceive it to be proper to make an appropriation by law to 
 these sufferers, many of whom are still pressed down with poverty 
 in consequence of their losses, would be able to pay their debts, 
 and also in some degree be relieved from poverty and woe; whilst 
 the widow's heart would be made to rejoice, and the orphan's 
 tear measurably dried up, and the prayers of a grateful people 
 ascend on high with thanksgiving and praise to the Author of our 
 existance for that beneficient act. 
 
 "In laying our case before your honorable body, we say that 
 we are willing and ever have been to conform to the Constitution 
 and laws of the United States and of this State. We ask in common 
 with others the protection of the laws. We ask for the privilege 
 guaranteed to all free citizens of the United States and of this State 
 to be extended to us, that we may be permitted to settle and live 
 where we please, and worship God according to the dictates of our 
 conscience without molestation. And while we ask for ourselves 
 the privilege we are willing all others should enjoy the same. 
 
 "We now lay our case at the feet of your legislature and ask 
 your honorable body to consider it, and do for us, after mature 
 deliberation, that which your wisdom, patriotism and philanthropy 
 may dictate. 
 
 "And we, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc., 
 Edward Partridge, Herbert C. Kimball, John Taylor, 
 Theodore Turley, Brigham Young, Isaac Morley, 
 
 George W. Harris, John Murdock, John M. Burk. 
 
 "A committee appointed by the citizens of Caldwell County, 
 to draft the memorial and sign it in their behalf. 
 Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, 
 
 December 10, 183S."~ {Millenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 58-589.) 
 
 By an act of the Legislature approved December 11, 
 1838, the sum of $2,000.00 was appropriated for the purpose 
 of relieving the indigent and suffering families in Caldwell 
 and Daviess counties, and the following commissioners were 
 appointed to expend the sum, and distribute food, raiment and 
 other necessaries among the deserving: 
 
 Anderson Martin, 
 
 William Thornton and 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 59 
 
 John C. Richardson of Ray County: 
 
 Elisha Cameron, 
 
 John Thornton and 
 
 Eli Casey of Clay County ; 
 
 Henry McHenry of Caldwell County and 
 
 M. T. Green of Daviess County. 
 
 It is asserted by the Mormons that none of the appro- 
 priation was expended for the benefit of Mormons, although 
 the act itself did not especially exclude them. 
 
 The same legislature prohibited the publication of the 
 orders, letters, evidences and other documents relating to 
 the Mormon disturbances, and enjoined the Secretary of State 
 from furnishing or permitting to be taken copies of the same for 
 any purpose whatsoever. Two years later, however, the 
 prohibition was rescinded. (See Ads llth General Assembly^ 
 page 334.) 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 61 
 
 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND THE 
 MORMON WAR. 
 
 ROLLIN J. BRIXTON.- 
 FOURTH ARTICLE. 
 THE MORMON LEADERS AS PRISONERS. 
 
 Returning to the Mormon leaders, who were prisoners, 
 we quote Joseph Smith, Jr., when we say that on November 2, 
 1838, he, along with Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Parley 
 P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, Amasa Lyman and George W. 
 Robinson, were started for Independence, Jackson county, 
 Missouri, and encamped at night on Crooked River, under a 
 strong guard commanded by Generals Lucas and Wilson. 
 {Millenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 510, 523, 525.) 
 Continuing he says : 
 
 "Saturday, November 3, 1838, we continued our march and 
 arrived at the Missouri River, which separated us from Jackson 
 County, where we were hurried across the ferry when but few 
 troops had passed. The truth was General Clark had sent an 
 express from Richmond to General Lucas to have the prisoners 
 sent to him and thus prevent our going to Jackson County, both 
 armies being competitors for the honor of possessing 'the royal 
 prisoners.' Clark wanted the privilege of putting us to death 
 himself, and Lucas and his troops were desirous of exhibiting us in 
 the streets of Independence. 
 
 "Sunday, 4th. We were visited by some ladies and gentle- 
 men. One of the women came up and very candidly inquired of 
 the troops which of the prisoners was the Lord whom the Mormons 
 worshiped. One of the guards pointed to me with a significant 
 smile and said, 'This is he,' The woman then turning to me 
 inquired whether I professed to be the Lord and Savior. I replied 
 that I professed to be nothing but a man and a minister of salva- 
 tion, sent by Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel. This answer so 
 surprised the woman that she began to inquire into our doctrine, 
 and I preached a discourse both to her and her companions and 
 to the wondering soldiers, who listened with almost breathless 
 attention while I set forth the doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ, 
 
62 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 and repentence, and baptism for remission of sins, with the promise 
 of the Holy Ghost, as recorded in the second chapter of the Acts 
 of the Apostles. 
 
 "The woman was satisfied and praised God in the hearing 
 of the soldiers, and went away praying that God would protect 
 and deliver us. Thus was fulfilled a prophecy which had been 
 spoken publicly by me a few months previous — that a sermon 
 should be preached in Jackson County by one of our elders before 
 the close of 1838. 
 
 •*The troops having crossed the river about ten o'clock we 
 proceeded on and arrived at Independence, past noon, in the midst 
 of great rain and a multitude of spectators, who had assembled to 
 see us and hear the bugles sound a blast of triumphant joy, which 
 echoed through the camp as we were ushered into a vacant house 
 prepared for our reception, with a floor for our beds and blocks of 
 wood for our pillows." 
 
 PERSONAL LETTER OF JOSEPH SMITH, JR., TO HIS WIFE. 
 
 The following letter written at this date by Joseph 
 Smith, Jr., the original of which is now in possession of 
 Apostle Heman C. Smith of Lamoni, la., conflicts slightly 
 with this account as regards their treatment: 
 
 "Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri, 
 November 4, 1838. 
 "My dear and beloved companion of my bosom, in tribulation 
 and affliction: I would inform you that I am well and that we 
 are all of us in good spirits as regards our own fate. We have been 
 protected by the Jackson County boys in the most genteel manner, 
 and arrived here in the midst of a splended parade, a little after 
 noon. Instead of going to gaol we have a good house provided 
 for us and the kindest treatment. I have great anxiety about you 
 and my lovely children. My heart mourns and bleeds for the 
 brethren and sisters, and for the slain of the people of God. Colonel 
 Hinkle proved to be a traitor to the Church. He is worse than a 
 Hull who betrayed the army at Detroit. He decoyed us unawares. 
 God reward him. John Corrill told General Wilson that he was 
 going to leave the Church. General Wilson says he thinks much 
 less of him now than before. Why I mention this is to have you 
 careful not to trust them. If we are permitted to stay any time here 
 we have obtained a promise that we may have our families brought 
 to us. What God may do for us I do not know, but I hope for the 
 best always in all circumstances. Although I go into death I will 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 63 
 
 trust in God. What outrages may be committed by the mob I 
 know not, but expect there will be but little or no restraint. 
 
 "Oh! May God have mercy on us. 
 
 "When we arrived at the river last night an express came to 
 General Wilson from General Clark, of Howard County, claiming 
 the right of command, ordering us back, where or what place, 
 God only knows; and there are some feelings between the officers. 
 I do not know where it will end. It is said by some that General 
 Clark is determined to exterminate. God has spared some of us 
 thus far, perhaps he will extend mercy in some degree toward us 
 yet. Some of the people of this place have told me that some of 
 the Mormons may settle in this county as other men do. I have 
 some hopes that something may turn out for good to the afflicted 
 saints. I want you to stay where you are until you hear from me 
 again. I may send for you to bring you to me. I cannot learn 
 much for certainty in the situation that I am in, and can only pray 
 for deliverance until it is meted out, and take everything as it 
 comes with patience and fortitude. I hope you will be faithful and 
 true to every trust. I can't write much in my situation. Conduct 
 all matters as your circumstances and necessities require. May 
 God give you wisdom and prudence and sobriety, which I have every 
 reason to believe you will. Those little children are subjects of 
 my mediation continually. Tell them that Father is yet alive. 
 God grant that he may see them again. Oh! Emma, for God's 
 sake do not forsake me nor the truth, but remember me. If 1 do 
 not meet you again in this life, may God grant that we may — 
 may we meet in heaven. I cannot express my feelings; my heart 
 is full. Farewell, O my kind and affectionate Emma. I am yours 
 forever. Your husband and true friend. 
 
 Joseph Smith, Jr." 
 
 CONTINUATION OF DIARY OF JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 
 
 "General Clark arrived at Far West with one thousand six 
 hundred men, and five hundred more were within eight miles of 
 the city. Thus Far West has been visited by six thousand men in 
 one week. When the Militia of the city (before any were taken 
 prisoners) amounted only to about five hundred, whose arms 
 having been secured, the mob continued to hunt the brethren like 
 wild beasts, and shot several, ravished the women, and killed one 
 near the city; no saint was permitted to go in or out of the city, 
 and they lived on parched corn. 
 
 "General Clark ordered General Lucas, who had previously 
 gone to Adam-ondi-Ahman with his troops, to take the whole of 
 
64 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 the men of the Mormons prisoners and place such a guard around 
 them and the town as will protect the prisoners and secure them 
 until they can be dealt with properly, and secure all their property, 
 till the best means could be adopted for paying the damages the 
 citizens had sustained. 
 
 "Monday, 5th. We were kept under a small guard and were 
 treated with some degree of hospitality and politeness, while many 
 flocked to see us. We spent most of our time in preaching and 
 conversation, explanatory of our doctrines and practice, which 
 removed mountains of prejudice and enlisted the populace in our 
 favor, notwithstanding their old hatred and wickedness towards 
 our society. 
 
 "The brethren at Far West were ordered by General Clark 
 to form a line, when the names of fifty-six present were called and 
 made prisoners to await their trial for something they knew not. 
 They were kept under a close guard. 
 
 "Shortly after our arrival in Jackson County, Colonel Sterling 
 Price, (afterward General Price of Confederate fame) from the 
 army of General Clark, came with orders from General Clark, 
 who was Commander-in-Chief of the expedition, to have us for- 
 warded forthwith to Richmond. Accordingly on Thursday 
 morning we started with three guards only, and they had been 
 obtained with great difficulty, after laboring all the previous day 
 to get them. Between Independence and Roy's Ferry, on the 
 Missouri River, they all got drunk, and we got possession of their 
 arms and horses. It was late in the afternoon, near the setting 
 of the sun. We traveled about half a mile after we crossed the 
 river and put up for the night. 
 
 "Friday, 9th. This morning there came a number of men, 
 some of them armed. Their threatenings and savage appearance 
 were such as to make us afraid to proceed without more guards. 
 A messenger was therefore dispatched to Richmond to obtain them. 
 We started before their arrival, but had not gone far before we 
 met Colonel Price with a guard of about seventy-four men, and 
 were conducted by them to Richmond and put into an old vacant 
 house, and a guard set. 
 
 "Some time through the course of that day General Clark 
 came and we were introduced to him. We inquired of him the 
 reason why we had been thus carried from our homes, and what 
 were the charges against us. He said that he was not then able to 
 determine, but would be in a short time; and with very little more 
 conversation, withdrew. 
 
 "Sometime after he had withdrawn Colonel Price came in with 
 two chains in his hands and a number of padlocks. The two 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 65 
 
 chains he fastened together. He had with him ten men, armed, 
 who stood at the time of these operations with a thumb upon the 
 cock of their guns. 
 
 "They first nailed down the windows, then came and ordered 
 a man by the name of John Fulkinson, whom he had with him, 
 to chain us together with chains and padlocks, being seven in 
 number. 
 
 "After that he searched us, examining our pockets to see if 
 we had any arms. Finding nothing but pocket knives, he took 
 them and conveyed them off. 
 
 "Saturday, 10th. General Clark had spent his time since our 
 arrival in Richmond in searching the laws to find authority for 
 trying us by court martial. Had he not been a lawyer of eminence 
 I should have supposed it no very difficult task to decide that quiet, 
 peaceful, unoffending, and private citizens too, except as ministers 
 of the gospel, were not amenable to military tribunal, in a country 
 governed by civil laws. But be this as it may. General Clark wrote 
 the Governor in part as follows: 
 
 " 'Detained General White and his field officers here a day or 
 two, for the purpose of holding a court martial, if necessary. I 
 this day made out charge against the prisoners and called on Judge 
 King to try them as a committing court; and I am now busily 
 engaged in procuring witnesses and submitting facts. There are 
 no civil officers in Caldwell. I have to use the military to get 
 witnesses from there, which I do without reserve. The most of 
 the prisoners here I consider guilty of treason; and I believe will be 
 convicted; and the only difficulty in law is, can they be tried in any 
 county but Caldwell. If not, they cannot be there indicted, until 
 a change of population. In the event this latter view is taken by 
 the civil courts, I suggest the propriety of trying Jo Smith and those 
 leaders taken by General Lucas, by a court martial for mutiny. 
 This I am in favor of only as a dernier resort. I would have taken 
 this course with Smith at any rate; but it being doubtful whether 
 a court martial has jurisdiction or not in the present case — that is, 
 whether these people are to be treated as in time of war, and the 
 mutineers as having mutinied in time of war — and I would here 
 ask you to forward to me the Attorney-General's opinion on this 
 point. It will not do to allow these leaders to return to their 
 treasonable work again, on account of their not being indicted in 
 Caldwell. They have committed treason, murder, arson, burglary, 
 robbery, larceny and perjury.' 
 
 "Sunday, 11th. While in Richmond we were under the charge 
 of Colonel Price from Chariton County, who suffered all manner 
 of abuse to be heaped upon us. During this time my afflictions 
 were great and our situation was truly painful. 
 
66 
 
 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "General Clark informed us that he would turn us over to the 
 civil authorities for trial, and so 
 
 Joseph Smith, Jr., 
 Hyrum Smith, 
 Sidney Rigdon, 
 Parley P. Pratt, 
 Lyman Wight, 
 Amasa Lyman, 
 George W. Robinson, 
 Caleb Baldwin, 
 Alanson Ripley, 
 Washington Voorhees, 
 Sidney Turner, 
 John Buchanan, 
 Jacob Gates, 
 Chandler Holbrook, 
 George W. Harris, 
 Jesse D. Hunter, 
 Andrew Whitlock, 
 Martin C. Allred, 
 William Allred, 
 George D. Grant, 
 Darwin Chase, 
 Elijah Newman, 
 Alvin G. Tippets, 
 Zedekiah Owens, 
 Isaac Morley, 
 Thomas Beck, 
 
 John T. Tanner, 
 Daniel Shearer 
 Alexander McRae, 
 Elisha Edwards, 
 John S, Higbee, 
 Ebenezer Page 
 Benjamin Covey, 
 Ebenezer Robinson, 
 Luman Gibbs, 
 Joseph W. Younger, 
 Henry Zabraki, 
 Allen J. Stout, 
 Sheffield Daniels, 
 Silas Maynard 
 Anthony Head, 
 Benjamin Jones, 
 Daniel Cam, 
 John T. Earl, 
 Norman Shearer, 
 James M. Henderson, 
 David Pettegrew, 
 Edward Partridge, 
 Francis Higbee, 
 David Frampton, 
 George Kimball and 
 Daniel S. Thomas. 
 
 Moses, Clawson, 
 
 were brought before Austin A. King, at Richmond, for trial, 
 charged with the several crimes of high treason against the State, 
 murder, burglary, arson, robbery and larceny. 
 
 "Monday, 12th. The first act of this court was to send 
 out a body of armed men without a civil process, to obtain wit- 
 nesses." 
 
 PERSONAL LETTER OF JOSEPH SMITH, JR., TO HIS WIFE. 
 
 At this time Joseph Smith, Jr., wrote his wife as follows: 
 
 "Richmond, Missouri, November 12, 1838. 
 My dear Emma: 
 
 We are prisoners in chains and under strong guard for Christ's 
 sake, and for no other cause, although there have been things that 
 were unbeknown to us and altogether beyond our control that might 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 67 
 
 seem to the mob to be a pretext for them to prosecute us; but on 
 examination I think that the authorities will discover our innocence 
 and set us free; but if this blessing cannot be obtained, I have this 
 consolation, that I am an innocent man, let what will befall me. 
 I received your letter, which I read over and over again; it was a 
 sweet morsel to me. O God, grant that I may have the privilege 
 of seeing once more my lovely family in the enjoyment of the 
 sweets of liberty and social life; to press them to my bosom and kiss 
 their lovely cheeks would fill my heart with unspeakable gratitude. 
 Tell the children that I am alive, and trust I shall come and see 
 them before long. Comfort their hearts all you can, and try to 
 be comforted yourself all you can. There is no possible danger 
 but what we shall be set at liberty if justice can be done, and that 
 you know as well as myself. The trial will begin today for some of 
 us. Lawyer Reese, and we expect Doniphan, will plead our cause. 
 We could get no others in time for the trial. They are able men 
 and will do well no doubt. 
 
 Brother Robinson is chained next to me, he has a true heart 
 and a firm hand. Brother Wight is next. Brother Rigdon next, 
 Hyrum next, Parley next, Amasa next, and thus we are bound 
 together in chains, as well as cords of everlasting love. We are 
 in good spirits and rejoice that we are counted worthy to be perse- 
 cuted for Christ's sake. Tell little Joseph he must be a good boy. 
 Father loves him with a perfect love; he is the eldest — must not 
 hurt those that are smaller than he, but care for them. Tell 
 little Frederick father loves him with all his heart; he is a lovely 
 boy. Julia is a lovely little girl; I love her also. She is a promising 
 child; tell her father wants her to remember him and be a good girl. 
 Tell all the rest that I think of them and pray for them all. Bro. 
 Babbit is waiting to carry our letters for us. Colonel Price is 
 inspecting them, therefore my time is short. Little Alexander is on 
 my mind continually. Oh, my affectionate Emma, I want you to 
 remember that I am a true and faithful friend to you and the chil- 
 dren forever. My heart is entwined around yours forever and ever. 
 Oh, my God, bless you all. Amen. I am your husband, and am 
 in bonds and tribulation, etc., 
 
 Joseph Smith, Jr. 
 To Emma Smith: 
 
 P. S. — Write as often as you can, and if possible come and see 
 me, and bring the children if possible. Act according to your own 
 feelings and best judgment, and endeavor to be comforted if possible, 
 and I trust that all will turn out for the best. Yours, J. S." 
 
68 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 CONTINUATION OF DIARY OF JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 
 
 "Tuesday, 13. We were placed at bar, Austin A. King presid- 
 ing and Thomas C. Bureh, State's Attorney. Witnesses were 
 called and sworn at the point of the bayonet. 
 
 "Dr. Sampson Avard was the first brought before the court. 
 He had previously told Mr. Oliver Olney that if he (Olney) wished 
 to save himself, he must swear hard against the heads of the Church 
 as they were the ones this court wanted to criminate; and if he 
 could swear hard against them, they would not (that is, neither 
 court nor mob) disturb him. 'I intend to do it' said he, 'in order 
 to escape, for if I do not, they will take my life.' 
 
 "This introduction is sufficient to show the character of his 
 testimony, and he swore just according to the statement he had 
 made, doubtless thinking it a wise course to ingratiate himself 
 into the good graces of the mob." 
 
 TESTIMONY OF SAMPSON AVARD, INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTION 
 OF THE DANITE SOCIETY AND SIDNEY RIGDON's 
 PAPER AGAINST THE DISSENTERS. 
 
 The record shows that the testimony taken was in the 
 form of depositions. The following is the testimony of 
 Sampson Avard, a witness produced, sworn and examined on 
 behalf of the State, who depose th, and saith: 
 
 "That about four months ago, a band called the Daughters 
 of Zion, since called Danite band, was formed of the members of 
 the Mormon Church, the original object of which was to drive from 
 the county of Caldwell all those who dissented from the Mormon 
 Church, in which they succeeded admirably, and to the satisfaction 
 of those concerned. 
 
 "I consider Joseph Smith, Jun., as the prime mover and organ- 
 izer of this Danite band. 
 
 "The officers of the band, according to their grades, were 
 brought before him at a school house, together with Hiram Smith 
 and Sidney Rigdon; the three composing the first presidency of 
 the whole church. Joseph Smith, Jun., blessed them, and prophe- 
 sied over them, declaring that they should be the means, in the 
 hands of God, of bringing forth the Millennial Kingdom. It was 
 stated by Joseph Smith, Jun., that it was necessary this band should 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 69 
 
 be bound together by a Covenant, that those who revealed the 
 secrets of the society should be put to death. 
 
 "The covenant taken by all the Danite band was as follows, 
 to wit: They declared, holding up their right hands, in the name of 
 Jesus Christ, the son of God, 'I do solemnly obligate myself ever 
 to conceal and never to reveal the secret purposes of this society, 
 called the Daughters of Zion; should I ever do the same, I hold my 
 life as the forfeiture.' The Prophet, Joseph Smith, Jun., together 
 with his two counsellors, Hiram Smith and Sidney Rigdon, were 
 considered as the supreme head of the Church, and the Danite 
 band felt themselves as much bound to obey them, as to obey the 
 Supreme God. 
 
 "Instruction was given to the Danite band by Joseph Smith, 
 Jun., that if any of them should get into difficulty, the rest should 
 help him out, and that they should stand by each other, right or 
 wrong; and that this instruction was given at a public address 
 delivered at a Danite meeting. As for Joseph Smith, Junior, and 
 his two counsellors, the witness does not know that they ever 
 took the Danite oath. He knows all the rest of the defendants to 
 be Danites, except Sidney Tanner, Andrew Whitlock, Zedekiah 
 Owens, Thomas Rich, John J. Tanner, Daniel S. Thomas, David 
 Pettigrew, George Kemble, Anthony Head, Benjamin Jones and 
 Norman Shearer. At the election last August a report came to 
 Far West that some of the brethren in Daviess were killed. I called 
 for twenty volunteers to accompany me to Daviess to see into the 
 matter. I went, and about one hundred and twenty Mormons 
 accompanied me to Adam-on-di-ahman, Mr. Joseph Smith, Jun., 
 in company. When we arrived there I found the report exaggerated ; 
 none were killed. We visited Mr. Adam Black; about one hundred 
 and fifty or two hundred of us armed. Joseph Smith, Jun., was 
 commander, and if Black had not signed the paper he did, it was 
 the common understanding and belief that he would have shared 
 the fate of the dissenters. Sidney Rigdon and Lyman Wight 
 were at Adam when we went to Black's, and advised the movement 
 of the prisoners. I do not recollect that Parley P. Pratt, Caleb 
 Baldwin, Washington Vories, Sidney Tanner, John Buchanan, Jacob 
 Gates, Chandler Holbrook, Goo. W. Harris, Jesse D. Hunter, 
 Andrew Whitlock, Martin C. Aired, Wm. Aired, George Grant, 
 Elizah Newman, Oliver L. Tiffets, Zedekiah Owens, Isaac Morley, 
 Thos, Rich, Moses ClaAvson, John J. Tanner, Daniel Shearer, 
 Daniel S. Thomas, Elisha Edwards, John S. Higby, Ebenezer 
 Page, Benjamin Covey, Luman Gibbs, James M. Henderson, David 
 Pettigrew, Edward Partridge, David Frampton, George Kemble, 
 Jos. W. Younger, Henry Zabrisky, Allen J. Stout, Sheffield Daniels, 
 
70 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 Silas Manard, Anthony Head, Benjamin Jones, Daniel Cam, 
 John T. Eare and Norman Shearer, were with us on the Expedition 
 to Daviess County. 
 
 "As regards the affair at DeWitt, I know little personally; 
 but I heard Mr. Sidney Rigdon say they had gone down to DeWitt, 
 where it was said a mob had collected to wage war upon the Mor- 
 mons residing in Carroll County, and that Joseph Smith, Junior, 
 with his friends, went down to DeWitt, to give aid and help to his 
 brethren. The Company was armed, as I presume. Hiram Smith 
 was one in the Company, and Geo. W. Robertson also. Amaza 
 Lyman went to see what was going on. I heard the above named 
 persons say they were in Henkle's Camp at DeWitt several days, 
 except Amaza Lyman. I know not that he was at DeWitt. When 
 the Mormons returned from DeWitt, it was rumored that a mob 
 was collecting in Daviess. Joseph Smith, Jun., the Sunday before 
 the late affair in Daviess, at a church meeting, gave notice that he 
 wished the whole county collected on the next Monday at Far 
 West, where he said (or the Sunday before, I don't recollect which,) 
 that all who did not take up arms in defense of the Mormons of 
 Daviess should be considered as tories, and should take their 
 exit from the county. At the meeting on Monday, where persons 
 met from all parts of Caldwell County, Joseph Smith, Jun., took 
 the pulpit, and delivered an address, in which he said, that we 
 had been an injured people, driven violently from Jackson County; 
 that we had appealed to the governor, magistrates, judges, and even 
 to the President of the United States, and that there had been no 
 redress for us; and that now a mob was about to destl-oy the rights 
 of our brethren in Daviess County; and that it was high time that 
 we should take measures to defend our rights. In this address he 
 related an anecdote about a captain who applied to a Dutchman to 
 purchase potatoes, who refused to sell. The Captain charged his 
 company several different times, not to touch the Dutchman's 
 potatoes. In the morning the Dutchman had not a potato left 
 in his patch. This was in reference to our touching no property 
 on our expedition to Daviess that did not belong to us; but he told 
 us that the children of God did not go to war at their own expense. 
 
 "A vote was taken whether the brethren should then embody 
 and go out to Daviess to attack the mob. This question was put 
 by the Prophet, Joe Smith, and passed unanimously, with a few 
 exceptions. 
 
 "Captains Patton and Branson were appointed Commanders 
 of the Mormons, by Joseph Smith, Jun., to go to Daviess. He 
 frequently called these men Generals. I once had a Command as 
 an officer, but he, Joseph Smith, Jun., removed me from it, and I 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 71 
 
 asked him the reason, and he assigned that he had another office 
 for me. Afterwards Mr. Rigdon told me I was to fill the office of 
 surgeon, to attend to the sick and wounded. After we arrived at 
 Diahmond, in Daviess, a council was held at night, composed of 
 Joseph Smith, Jun., Geo. W. Robertson, Hiram Smith, Captains 
 Patton and Branson, Lyman Wight, Present R. Cahoon, P. P. 
 Pratt and myself, and perhaps Mr. Kemble. President Rigdon 
 was not present; a correspondence was kept up between him and 
 Joseph Smith, Jun. I heard Rigdon read one of the letters from 
 Smith, which, as I remember, was about as follows: That he knew, 
 from prophecy and from the revelation of Jesus Christ, that the 
 enemies of the kingdom were in their hands, and that they should 
 succeed. Rigdon on reading the letter said it gave him great 
 consolation to have such authority that the kingdom of God was 
 rolling on. 
 
 "In the above-referred- to council, Mr. Smith spoke of the 
 grievances we had suffered in Jackson, Clay, Kirtland and other 
 places; declared that, in future, we must stand up for our rights as 
 citizens of the United States, and as Saints of the Most High God; 
 and that it was the will of God we should do so, and that we should 
 do so; and that we should be free and independent; and that, as 
 the State of Missouri and the United States would not protect us, 
 it was time that we should rise, as the Saints of the Most High 
 God, and protect ourselves, and take the kingdom; and Lyman 
 Wight observed that before the winter was over, he thought we would 
 be in St. Louis and take it. 
 
 "Smith charged them that they should be united in supporting 
 each other. Smith said, on some occasion, that one should chase 
 a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight; that he considered 
 the United States rotten. He compared the Mormon Church to 
 the little stone spoken of by the prophet Daniel, and that the dis- 
 senters, first, was part of the image, and the State next, that should 
 be destroyed by this little stone. The council was called on to 
 vote the above measures, and were unanimous in favor of them. 
 
 "On the next day, Captain Patton, who was called by the 
 Prophet, Captain Fearnought, took command of a body of armed 
 men, about one hundred, and told them he had a job for them to do, 
 and that the work of the Lord was rolling on, and that they must 
 be united. He then led his troops to Gallatin, saying, he was 
 going to attack the mob there. He made a rush into Gallatin, 
 dispersed the few men there, and took the goods out of StoUings 
 store, and took them to Diahmond; and I afterwards saw the store- 
 house on fire, when we returned to Diahmond, the goods were 
 deposited in the Lord's store house, under the care of Bishop 
 
72 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 Vincent Knight. Orders were given that all the goods should be put 
 in the Lord's store house. Joseph Smith, Junior, was at Diahmond, 
 giving directions about things in general connected with the war. 
 When Patton returned from Gallatin, to Adam-ondi-Ahmend, 
 the goods were divided, or apportioned out amongst those engaged; 
 and these affairs were conducted under the superintendency of the 
 First Presidency. A part of the goods was brought to Far West, 
 under the care of Captain Fearnaught. On their arrival, Presi- 
 dent Rigdon and others shouted the hosannas to the victory. 
 On the day Patton went to Gallatin, Col. Wight went vO Mill 
 Port, as I understood. I saw a great many cattle, beds, furniture, 
 etc., brought into our camps. After we returned to Far West, the 
 troops were constantly kept in motion, and there was a council 
 held at President Rigdon's house to determine who should be chiefs. 
 It was determined that Col. Wight should be commander-in-chief 
 at Diahmond; Branson, Captain of the flying horse of Daviess; 
 Col. Henckle should be commander-in-chief of the Far West 
 troops; Captain Patton, of the Cavalry of the flying horse; and that 
 the Prophet, Joseph Smith, Jun., should be commander-in-chief 
 of the whole kingdom. The council was composed of Joseph 
 Smith, Jun., Captain Fearnaught, alias Patton, Henckle, and Col. 
 Wight and President Rigdon. 
 
 "The object of that council was, in furtherance of the scheme 
 proposed in Council in Daviess county, referred to above. 
 
 "After the Council, Fearnaught disputed as to the Chief 
 Command of the Far West troops, and had a small altercation 
 about it with Henckle; but Smith proposed that they agree to 
 disagree, and go on for the good of the kingdom. The troops were 
 kept together until the militia came out lately. There were about 
 from five to eight hundred men, as I suppose, under arms. It was 
 about the time the militia came out lately to Far West under Gen. 
 Lucas, that our Prophet assembled the troops together at Far West, 
 into a hollow square and addressed them; and stated to them that 
 the kingdom of God should be set up, and should never fall, and for 
 every one that we lacked in number in amount of those who came 
 against us, the Lord would send angels who would fight for us, 
 and we should be victorious. After the militia had been near Far 
 West a while, in an address Smith said that those troops were 
 militia, and that we were militia too, and both sides clever fellows; 
 and that he advised them to know nothing of what had passed; 
 to say nothing, and to keep dark; that he. Smith, had forgotten 
 more than he then knew. After it was ascertained that the militia 
 had arrived, intelligence was immediately sent to Diahmond, to 
 Col. Wight. Next morning, Col. Wight arrived in Far West with 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 73 
 
 about one hundred mounted and armed men. The troops were 
 constantly kept prepared, and in a situation to repel attack. 
 The evening the militia arrived near Far West, it was the general 
 understanding in the Mormon camp that they were militia legally 
 called out; and, indeed, previous to the arrival of the militia, it 
 was ascertained that there were militia on their way to Far West. 
 Some months ago, I received orders to destroy the papers concern- 
 ing the Danite Society, which order was issued by the First Presi- 
 dency, and which paper, being the constitution for the Government 
 of the Danite Society, was in my custody, but which I did not 
 destroy; it is now in Gen. Clark's possession. I gave the paper up 
 to Gen. Clark after I was taken prisoner. I found it in my house, 
 where I had previously deposited it, and I believe it had never 
 been in any person's possession after I first received it. This 
 paper was taken into President Rigdon's house, and read to the 
 first presidency, Hiram Smith being absent, and was unanimously 
 adopted by them as their rule and guide in future. After it was 
 thus adopted, I was instructed by the council to destroy it, as if it 
 should be discovered, it would be considered treasonable. This 
 constitution after it was approved of by the First Presidency, was 
 read article by article, to the Danite band, and unanimously adopted 
 by them. This paper was drawn up about the time that the Danite 
 band was formed. Since the drawing of the paper against the 
 dissenters, it was, that this constitution of the Danite band was 
 drafted; but I have no minutes of the time, as we were directed 
 not to keep written minutes; which constitution above referred to, 
 is as follows: 
 
 "Whereas, in all bodies, laws are necessary for the permancy, 
 safety and well being of the society. We, the members of the So- 
 ciety of the Daughters of Zion, do agree to regulate themselves 
 under such laws as, in righteousness, shall be deemed necessary for 
 the preservation of our holy religion and of our most sacred rights 
 and the rights of our wives and children. 
 
 "But to be explicit on the subject, it is especially, our object 
 to support and defend the rights conferred on us by our venerable 
 sires, who purchased them with the pledges of their lives, their 
 fortunes and sacred honors; and now, to prove ourselves worthy 
 of liberty conferred on us by them in the providence of God, we 
 do agree to be governed by such laws as shall perpetuate these 
 high privileges, of which we know ourselves to be the rightful 
 possessors, and of which privileges, wicked and designing men have 
 tried to deprive us by all manner of evil, and that purely in conse- 
 quence of the tenacity we have manifested in the discharge of our 
 duty towards our God, who had given us those rights and privi- 
 
74 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 leges, and a right in common with others, to dwell on this land. 
 But we, not having the privileges of others allowed unto us, have 
 determined, like unto our fathers, to resist tyranny — whether it 
 be in kings or in people, it is all alike unto us, our rights we must 
 have, and our rights we shall have, in the name of Israel's God. 
 
 'Article 1. All power belongs, originally and legitimately, 
 to the people, and they have a right to dispose of it as they shall 
 deem fit. But, as it is inconvenient and impossible to convene the 
 people in all cases, the legislative powers have been given by them, 
 from time to time, into the hands of a representation, composed of 
 delegates from the people themselves. This is, and has been the 
 law, both in civil and religious bodies, and is the true principaL 
 
 'Article 2. The Executive power shall be vested in the 
 President of the whole church, and his counsellors. 
 
 'Article 3. The legislative powers shall reside in the Presi- 
 dent and his counsellors, together, and with the generals and 
 colonels of the society. By them, all laws shall be made, regulating 
 the society. 
 
 'Article 4. All officers shall be, during life and good behavior, 
 or to be regulated by the law of God. 
 
 "Article 5. The society reserves the power of electing all its 
 officers, with the exception of the aids and clerks, which the officers 
 may need, in their various stations. The nominations to go from 
 the Presidency to his second, and from the second, to the third in 
 rank, and so down through all the various grades; each branch, 
 or department, retains the power of electing its own particular 
 officers. 
 
 'Article 6. Punishments shall be administered to the guilty, 
 in accordance to the offense, and no member shall be punished 
 without law, or by any others than those appointed by law for that 
 purpose. The legislature shall have power to make such laws, 
 regulating punishments, as in their judgments shall be wisdom 
 and righteousness. 
 
 'Article 7. There shall be a secretary, whose business it shall 
 be to keep all the legislative records of the society, and also to keep 
 a register of the name of every member of the society; also, the 
 rank of the officers. He shall also communicate the laws to the 
 generals, as directed by laws made for the regulation of such busi- 
 ness by the legislature. 
 
 "Article 8. All officers shall be subject to the commands of 
 the Captain-General, given through the Secretary of War; and 
 so, all officers shall be subject to their superiors in rank, according 
 to laws made for that purpose 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 75 
 
 "In connection with the grand scheme of the Prophet, his 
 preachers and apostles were instructed to preach, and to instruct 
 their followers (who are estimated in Europe and America, at about 
 40,000) that it was their duty to come up to the stake, called Far 
 West, and to possess the kingdom; that it was the will of God that 
 they should do so, and that the Lord would give them power to 
 possess the kingdom. There was another writing, drawn up in 
 June last, which had for its object to get rid of the dissenters, and 
 which had the desired effect. Since that time, and since the intro- 
 duction of this scheme of the Prophet, made known in the above 
 constitution. I have heard the Prophet say that it was a fortunate 
 thing that we got rid of the dissenters, as they would have en- 
 dangered the rolling on of the kingdom of God, as introduced, and 
 to be carried into effect, by the Danite band; that they (the dis- 
 senters) were great obstacles in the way; and that, unless they 
 were removed, the aforesaid kingdom of God could not roll on. 
 This paper against the dissenters was drafted by Sidney Rigdon, 
 and is as follows: 
 
 'Far West, June — , 1838. 
 To Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, William W. 
 
 Phelps and Lyman E. Johnson, greeting: 
 
 'Whereas, the citizens of Caldwell county have borne with the 
 abuse received from you, at different times and on different occa- 
 sions, until it is no longer to be endured, neither will they endure 
 it any longer, having exhausted all the patience they have, and 
 conceive that to bear any longer is a vice instead of a virtue; we 
 have borne long and suffered incredibly, but we will neither bear 
 nor suffer any longer and the decree has gone forth, from our hearts, 
 and shall not return to us void; neither think, gentlemen, that in 
 so saying we are trifling with either you or ourselves, for we are 
 not. There are no threats from you — no fear of losing our lives 
 by you, or by anything you can say or do, will restrain us; for out 
 of the country you shall go, and no power shall save you; and you 
 shall have three days, after you receive this, our communication 
 to you, including twenty-four hours in each day, for you to depart, 
 with your families, peaceably; which you may do, undisturbed by 
 any person; but, in that time, if you do not depart, we will use the 
 means in our power to cause you to depart; for go you shall; we 
 will have no more promises to reform, as you have already done, 
 and in every instance violated your promise, and regarded not the 
 covenant which you had made, but put both it and us at defiance. 
 We have solemnly warned you, and that in the most determined 
 manner, that if you did not cease that course of wanton abuse of 
 the citizens of this county, that vengence would overtake you. 
 
76 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 sooner or later, and that when it did come, it would be as furious 
 as the mountain torrent, and as terrible as the beating tempest — 
 but you have affected to despise our warnings, and passed them off 
 with a sneer, or a grin, or a threat, and pursued your former course 
 and vengence sleeps not, neither does it slumber, and unless you 
 heed us this time, and attend to our request, it will overtake you at 
 an hour when you do not expect, and at a day when you do not 
 look for it; and for you there shall be no escape for there is but one 
 decree for you, which is, depart, depart, or else a more fatal calam- 
 ity shall befall you. 
 
 'After Oliver Cowdery had been taken by a States warrant for 
 stealing, and the stolen property found concealed in the house of 
 William W. Phelps, in which nefarious transaction John Whitmer 
 had also participation, Oliver Cowdery stole the property, conveyed 
 it to John Whitmer, and John Whitmer to William W. Phelps, and 
 there the officers of the law found it. While in the hands of the 
 officer, and under an arrest for this vile transaction, and, if possible, 
 to hide your shame from the world, like criminals, which indeed you 
 were, you appealed to our beloved President, Joseph Smith, Jun., 
 and Sidney Rigdon; men whose characters you had endeavon 1 to 
 destroy by every artifice you could invent, not even the basest 
 lying excepted; and did you find them revengeful? No, but not- 
 withstanding all your scandalous attacks, still such was the noble- 
 ness of their character, that even vile enemies could not i<Dpeal to 
 them in vain. They enlisted, as you well know, their inhuence to 
 save you from your just fate, and they, by their influence divered 
 you out of the hand of the officer. While you were pleuaiag with 
 them you promised reformation — you bound yourselves by the most 
 solemn promises, that you would never be employed again, in 
 abu^ng any of the citizens of Caldwell; and by such condescensions 
 did you attempt to escape the workhouse. But now, for the sequal. 
 Did you practice the promised reformation? You know you did 
 not! but, by secret efforts continued to practice your iniquity, 
 and secretly to injure their characters, notwithstanding their 
 kindness to you. Are such things to be borne? You, yourselves, 
 would answer that they are insufferable, if you were to answer 
 according to the feelings ol your own hearts. As we design this 
 paper to be published to the world, we will give an epitome of your 
 scandalous conduct and treachery for the last two years. We wish 
 to remind you that Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were 
 among the principal of those who were the means of gathering us to 
 this place, by their testimony which they gave concerning the 
 plates of the Book of Mormon — that they were shown to them by 
 an angel, which testimony we believe now, as much as before you 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 77 
 
 had so scandalously disgraced it, you commenced your wickedness 
 by heading a party to disturb the worship of the saints in the first 
 day of the week, and made the House of the Lord, in Kirtland, to 
 be a scene of abuse and slander, to destroy the reputation of those 
 whom the church had appointed to be their teachers, and for no 
 other cause, only that you were not the persons. The Saints in 
 Kirtland, having elected Oliver Cowdery to be a justice of the 
 peace, he used the power of his office to take their most sacred 
 rights from them, and that contrary to law. He supported a 
 parcel of black-legs, in disturbing the worship of the Saints, and 
 when the men whom the Church had chosen to preside over their 
 meetings, endeavored to put the house to order, he helped — and 
 by the authority of his Justices office too — those wretches to con- 
 tinue their confusion, and threatened the church with a prosecution 
 for trying to put them out of the house, and issued writs against the 
 Saints for endeavoring to sustain their rights, and bound them, 
 under heavy bonds, to appear before his honor, and required bonds 
 which were both inhuman and unlawful; and one of those was the 
 venerable father who had been appointed by the church to preside 
 — a man of upwards of seventy years of age, and notorious for his 
 peaceable habits. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Lyman E. 
 Johnson, united with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves, liars and 
 black-legs of the deepest dye, to deceive, cheat and defraud the 
 Saints of their property, by every act and stratagem which wicked- 
 ness could invent; using the influence of the vilest persecutors, to 
 bring vexatious law suits, villianous prosecutions, and even stealing 
 not excepted. In the midst of this career, for fear that the Saints 
 would seek redress at their hands, they breathed out threatenings 
 of mobs, and actually made attempts with their gang to bring mobs 
 upon them. Oliver Cowdery and his gang, such of them as be- 
 longed to the church, were called to an account by the church for 
 their iniquity. They confessed repentance, and were again re- 
 stored to the church. But the very first opportunity, they were 
 again practicing their former course. While this wickedness was 
 going on in Kirtland, Cowdery and his company were writing letters 
 to Far West, in order to destroy the character of every person that 
 they thought were standing in their way; and John Whitmer and 
 William W. Phelps were assisting to prepare the way to throw con- 
 fusion among the Saints of Far West. During the full career of 
 Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer's bogus money business, 
 information got abroad into the world that they were engaged in 
 it, and several gentlemen were preparing to commence a prosecu- 
 tion against Cowdery. He finding it out, took with him, Lyman 
 E. Johnson and fled to Far West with their families, Cowdery 
 
78 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 stealing a property, and bringing it with him, which has, within a 
 few weeks past, been obtained by the owner, by means of a search 
 warrant, and he was saved from the penitentiary by the influence 
 of two influential men of the place. He also brought notes with 
 him, upon which he had received pay, and had promised to destroy 
 them, and made an attempt to sell them to Mr. Arthur of Clay 
 county. And Lyman E. Johnson, on his arrival reported that he 
 had a note of one thousand dollars against a principal man in this 
 church, when it is a fact that it was a palpable falsehood, and he 
 had no such thing, and he did it for the purpose of injuring his 
 character. Shortly after Cowdery and Johnson left Kirtland for 
 Far West, they were followed by David Whitmer, on whose arrival 
 a general system of slander and abuse was commenced by you all, 
 for the purpose of destroying the characters of certain individuals, 
 whose influence, and strict regard for righteousness, you dreaded, 
 and not only yourselves, but your wives and children, led by 
 yourselves, were busily engaged in it. Neither were you content 
 with slandering and vilifying here, but you kept up continual 
 correspondence with your gang of marauders in Kirtland, encourag- 
 ing them to go on with their iniquity, which they did to perfection, 
 but swearing false, to injure the characters and property of inno- 
 cent men; stealing, cheating, lying, instituting vexatious lawsuits, 
 selling bogus money, and also stones and sand for bogus; in which 
 nefarious business, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Lyman 
 E. Johnson were engaged while you were there. Since you arrived 
 here, you have commenced a general system of the same kind of 
 conduct in this place. You set up a nasty, dirty, pettifoggers 
 office, pretending to be judges of the law; when it is a notorious 
 fact that you are profoundly ignorant of it, and of every other 
 thing which is calculated to do mankind good; or if you know it, 
 you take good care never to practice it; and in order to bring your- 
 selves into notice, you began to interfere with all the business of 
 the place, trying to destroy the character of our merchants, and 
 bring their creditors upon them and break them up. In addition 
 to this, you stirred up men of a weak mind to prosecute one another, 
 for the vile purpose of getting a fee for a pettifogger from them. 
 
 '* 'You have also been threatening, continually, to enter into a 
 general system of prosecuting; determined, as you said, to pick a 
 flaw in the titles of those who have bought city lots and built upon 
 them, not that you can do anything but cause vexatious law suits. 
 And amongst the most monstrous of all your abominations, we 
 have evidence, which when called upon we can produce, that letters 
 sent to the postoffice, in this place, have been opened, read and 
 destroyed, and the persons to whom they were sent never ob- 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 79 
 
 tained them; thus ruining the business of the place. We have 
 evidence of a very strong character, that you are at this very time 
 engaged with a gang of counterfeiters and coiners, and black-legs, 
 as some of those characters have lately visited our city from Kirt- 
 land, and told what they had come for, and we know assuredly, 
 that if we suffer you to continue, we may expect, and that speedily, 
 to find a general system of stealing, counterfeiting, cheating and 
 burning of property, as in Kirtland, for so are your associates carry- 
 ing on there at this time, and that encouraged by you, by means 
 of the letters you send continually to them; and to crown the whole, 
 you have had the audacity to threaten us, that if we offered to 
 disturb you, you would get up a mob from Clay and Ray counties. 
 For this insult, if nothing else, and your threatening to shoot us, 
 if we offered to molest you, we will put you from the county of 
 Caldwell — so help us God!' 
 
 (The above was signed by some eighty-four Mormons.) 
 
 "About the time the dissenters fled. President Rigdon preached 
 a sermon from the text: 'Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the 
 salt have lost its savor, wherewithal shall it be salted, etc' com- 
 monly called 'The Salt Sermon,* in which the dissenters were called 
 the salt which had lost its savor, and that they should be trampled 
 upon and driven out by the Saints, which was well understood by 
 the Danites as a part of their duty to do. When General Lucas's 
 men marched up to Far West, Smith told me (as I understood him) 
 that he had said to one of the militia captains not to come any 
 farther, as he might get into danger. Smith, after erecting his 
 bulwark, asked me if I did not think him pretty much of a general? 
 I answered in the affirmative. We were advised, all the time, to 
 fight valiantly, and that the angels of the Lord would appear in 
 our defense, and fight our battles. 
 
 "In reference to Bogart's battle, I know but little personally. 
 As to the start of troops to fight Bogart, I was called upon to go 
 along with the company, which was commanded by Patton as 
 surgeon; this was about midnight, but as I thought a little sleep 
 would do me more good than fighting, I remained at home. On 
 the morning of the fight, about six o'clock, I was called upon by a 
 Mr. Emmet, who informed me that Captain Fearnought was 
 wounded mortally, I went to Patton, about three miles, as I under- 
 stood, from the battle ground, where I found Joseph Smith, Jun., 
 present, laying hands on the wounded, and blessing them, to heal 
 them. A Mr. 0. Bannion was also there, mortally wounded. I 
 heard the following of the prisoners say he was in the fight, towit, 
 Norman Shearer. 
 
 "I never heard Hiram Smith make any inflammatory remarks, 
 but I have looked on him as one composing the first presidency; 
 
80 
 
 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 acting in concert with Joseph Smith, Jun. ; approving by his presence, 
 acts, and conversations, the unlawful schemes of the presidency. 
 I never saw Edward Partridge and Isaac Morley, two of the 
 defendants, take any active part in the above massacres testified 
 to by me; and I have heard Joseph Smith, Junior, say he considered 
 Partridge a coward, and backward, and ought to be forced out. 
 I was continually in the society or company of the presidency, 
 receiving instructions from them as to the teachings of the Danite 
 band; and I continually informed them of my teachings; and they 
 were well apprised of my course and teachings in the Danite so- 
 ciety. 
 
 "The following of the defendants were in the last expedition 
 to Daviess county: 
 
 Joseph Smith, Jun., 
 Hiram Smith, 
 P. P. Pratt, 
 Lyman Wight, 
 George W. Robertson, 
 Alison Ripley, 
 Washington Vories, 
 Jacob Gates, 
 George Grant, 
 Darwen Chase, 
 Maurice Phelps, 
 
 Moses Clawson, 
 
 Alexander McKay, 
 
 John S. Higby, 
 
 Ebenezer Page, 
 
 James M. Henderson, 
 
 Edward Partridge, 
 
 Francis Higbey, 
 
 Joseph W. Younger, 
 
 Henry Sabriskey (doubtful), 
 
 James H. Rawlins, 
 
 James Newberry (doubtful). 
 
 And further this deponent saith not. 
 
 (Signed) Samison Avard." 
 
 CONTINUATION OF DIARY OF JOSEPH SMITH, JR. 
 
 "The following witnesses were examined in behalf of the State, 
 many of whom, if we may judge from their testimony, sworn upon 
 the same principle as Avard, namely: 
 Wyatt Cravens, 
 Captain Samuel Bogart, 
 John Corrill, 
 George Walton, 
 James C. Owena, 
 Abner Scovell, 
 Reed Peck, 
 Wilborn Splawn, 
 John Raglin, 
 Jeremiah Myers, 
 Freeborn H. Gardner, 
 Elisha Camron, 
 
 Nehemiah Sale, 
 
 Morris Phelps, 
 
 Robert Snodgrass, 
 
 George M. Hinkle, 
 
 Nathaniel Carr, 
 
 John Cleminson, 
 
 James C. Owens, re-examined, 
 
 Thomas M. Odle, 
 
 Allen Rathburn, 
 
 Andrew F. Job, 
 
 Burr Riggs, 
 
 Charles Bleakley, 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 81 
 
 James Cobb, Jesse Kelly, 
 
 Addison Price, Samuel Kimball, 
 
 William W. Phelps, John Whitmer, 
 
 James B. Turner, George W. Worthington, 
 
 Joseph H. McGee, John Lockhart, 
 
 Porter Yale, Benjamin Slade, 
 
 Eyra Williams, Addison Green, 
 
 John Taylor, Timothy Lewis. 
 
 Patrick Lynch, 
 
 "We were called upon for our witnesses, and we gave the 
 names of some forty or fifty. Captain Bogart was dispatched with 
 a company of militia to procure them. Arrested all he could find, 
 thrust them into prison, and we were not allowed to see them. 
 
 "We were again called upon most tauntingly for witnesses. 
 We gave the names of some others, and they were also thrust into 
 prison, so many as were to be found. 
 
 "In the meantime, Malinda Porter, Delia F. Pine, Nancy 
 Rigdon, Jonathan W. Barlow, Thoret Parsons, Ezra Chipman 
 and Arza Judd, Jr., volunteered and were sworn on the defense, 
 but were prevented by threats from telling the truth as much as 
 possible. 
 
 "We saw a man at the window by the name of Allen, and 
 beckoned him to come in and had him sworn; but when he did not 
 testify to please the court, several rushed upon him with their 
 bayonets and he fled the place, and three men took after him with 
 loaded guns, and he barely escaped with his life. It was of no use 
 to get any more witnesses if we could have done it. Thus the mock 
 investigation continued from day to day, till Saturday, when 
 several of the brethren were discharged by Judge King, as follows: 
 
 "Defendants against whom nothing is proven, viz, : '^'^ 
 
 Amasa Lyman, John Buchanan, 
 
 Andrew Whitlock, Alvah L. Tippets, 
 
 Jedediah Owens, Isaac Morley, 
 
 John T. Tanner, Daniel S. Thomas, 
 
 Elisha Edwards, Benjamin Covey, 
 
 David Frampton, Henry Zabriski, 
 
 Allen J. Stout, Sheffield Daniels, 
 
 Silas Maynard, Anthony Head, 
 
 John T. Earl, Ebenezer Brown, 
 
 James Newberry, Sylvester Hulet, 
 
 Chandler Holbrook, Martin Allred. 
 
 William Allred, 
 
 "The above defendants were discharged by me, there being no 
 evidence against them. 
 
 Austin A. King, Judge, etc." 
 
 6 
 
82 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 November 24, 1838. 
 
 "Our church organization was converted by the testimony 
 of the appostates into a temporal kingdom which was to fill the 
 whole earth and subdue all other kingdoms. 
 
 "Much was inquired by the Judge (who by the by, was a 
 Methodist) concerning the prophecy of Daniel, *In the days of these 
 kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall break 
 in pieces all other kingdoms, and stand forever,* etc. ; 'and the king- 
 dom and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heavens, 
 shall be given to the saints of the Most High,' etc., just as though it 
 was treason to believe the Bible. 
 
 "The remaining prisoners were all released, or admitted to 
 bail, except: 
 
 Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, 
 
 Hyrum Smith, Alexander McRae, 
 
 Sidney Rigdon and myself, (Joseph Smith, Jr.), 
 
 who were sent to Liberty, Clay county, to jail, to stand our trial 
 for treason and murder — the treason for having whipped the mob 
 out of Daviess county and taking their cannon from them; and the 
 murder for the man killed in the Bogart battle; also 
 Parley P. Pratt, Morris Phelps, 
 
 Laman Gibbs, Darwin Chase, 
 
 Norman Shearer, 
 
 who were put into Richmond jail to stand their trial for the same 
 crimes. 
 
 "During the investigation, we were mostly confined in chains 
 and received much abuse. 
 
 "The matter of driving away witnesses, or casting them into 
 prison, or chasing them out of the country, was carried to such a 
 length that our lawyers. General Doniphan and Amos Reese 
 told us not to bring our witnesses there at all; for if we did there 
 would not be one of them left for final trial; for no sooner would 
 Bogart and his men know who they were than they would put 
 them out of the country. 
 
 "As to making any impression on King, if a cohort of angels 
 were to come down and declare we were clear, Doniphan said it 
 would be all the same; for he (King) had determined from the 
 beginning to cast us into prison. 
 
 "We never got the privilege of introducing our witnesses at 
 all; if we had, we could have disproved all they swore." {Millenial 
 Star, Vol. 16, pp. 539, 556, 558, 565). 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 83 
 
 EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND THE 
 MORMON WAR. 
 
 ROLLIN J. BRIXTON. 
 FIFTH ARTICLE. 
 
 On November 30th the prisoners were started from 
 Richmond for Liberty, as ordered in the following mittemus: 
 
 "State of Missouri, Ray County. 
 To the Keeper of the Jail of Clay County, Greeting: 
 
 Whereas, Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, 
 Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwin, as also Sidney Rigdon 
 have been brought before me, Austin A. King, judge of the fifth 
 judicial circuit in the State of Missouri, and charged with the 
 offense of treason against the State of Missouri, and the said de- 
 fendants, on their examination before me, being held to answer 
 further to said charge, the said Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, 
 Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin to answer 
 in the County of Daviess, and the said Sydney Rigdon to answer 
 further in the county of Caldwell, for said charge of treason, and 
 there being no jail in said counties: These are therefore to com- 
 mand that you receive the said Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, 
 Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, Caleb Baldwin, and Sidney 
 Rigdon into your custody in the jail of the said county of Clay, 
 there to remain until they be delivered therefrom by due course 
 of law. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal the 29th day of November, 
 1838, 
 
 Austin A. King. 
 
 State of Missouri, County of Clay, 
 
 I, Samuel Hadley, Sheriff of Clay County, do hereby certify 
 that the above is a true copy of the mittimus to me, directed in 
 the cases therein named. 
 
 Samuel Hadley, Jailer, 
 By, Samuel Tillery, Deputy Jailer, 
 Clay County, Missouri." (Millenial Star, vol. 16, p. 566.) 
 
84 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 LYMAN wight's JOURNAL. 
 
 Lyman Wight's account as recorded in his journal is as 
 follows: 
 
 "November 1st. This morning we were ordered by General 
 Wilson to make ready to go to Jackson County, and informed by 
 him that we were delivered into his charge, that he had three 
 hundred good soldiers, and that he would guarantee that we should 
 be well treated; which promise he fulfilled to the very letter. We 
 were then placed in a wagon, marched seventeen miles to Crooked 
 River, and camped for the night. 
 
 "2nd. Today we marched on and crossed the Missouri River 
 at William's Ferry and camped on the other side for the night. 
 
 "3rd. We now found ourselves in Jackson County, from which 
 we were driven in 1833, about thirteen miles from Independence. 
 Several times in the course of the day we were exhibited as a public 
 show, having been carried in a covered wagon. But I have it to 
 say that with one exception we were treated in the most genteel 
 manner. We landed at Independence about three o'clock P. M. 
 and were placed in a huge log house on the north side of the public 
 square, with a small guard about us. We had many respectable 
 visitors this evening, together with some few of the offscouring 
 of the earth. We had food prepared for and brought to us. We 
 rested very comfortably through the night. 
 
 "4th. This day we were at liberty to go where we pleased 
 about through the town. We walked down to the Temple Lot, 
 in company with a gentleman by the name of Collins. He said 
 he presumed the place did not look as it would had we been per- 
 mitted to have remained in this County. We spent (the day) 
 in walking about, retired in the evening to the same place and 
 tarried for night. 
 
 "5th. This day we were invited to dine with General Wilson, 
 by the request of his wife and family, where we were treated in 
 the most genteel style. When the blessing was asked at the table, 
 his wife shed tears freely. We retired after dinner to our place 
 of residence for the night. 
 
 "November 6th. This morning General Wilson ordered us 
 to be moved to Knowlton's Hotel, where we were treated in a gen- 
 teel manner. We spent the day walking about through town, and 
 traded some and returned to Knowlton's for the night. 
 
 7th. On this day we were invited to dine at a hotel in the 
 lower part of the town. We returned to Knowlton's in the evening, 
 and were introduced to Colonel Price, who gave us to understand 
 that he had been sent by General Clark, who had just arrived in 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 85 
 
 Richmond with five thousand troops, and who, by the order of 
 the Governor, was Commander in Chief of all the mob militia in 
 the State, ordered us forthwith to Richmond for a new trial, as 
 he claims the highest authority of martial law on the occasion. He 
 also informed us that General Clark had with him an express order 
 from the Governor, to either exterminate or drive from the State 
 every Mormon within its borders. We now returned to rest and 
 to wait the result of another day. 
 
 8th. This morning we made every necessary preparation to 
 repair to Richmond as quick as possible. Colonel Arnat and two 
 other men attended us as guards. We started and crossed the 
 Missouri River fifteen miles from this place about the setting of 
 the sun, and camped in an old house on the opposite bank. 
 
 "9th. This morning, about ten miles from Richmond, we 
 were met by about fifty men, who guarded us into Richmond, 
 where we were thrust into an old log house. Some little provisions 
 were brought in, which we took in our hands and ate. We were 
 strongly guarded through the night. This evening we were in- 
 formed that General Clark had been to Far West and had dis- 
 armed every Mormon that he could find, and had taken about 
 sixty prisoners and brought them to this place, and placed them in 
 the court house about twenty rods from where we now are, which 
 has neither floor nor door-shutter, and the weather is very incle- 
 ment. The remainder of the Mormons he said could remain until 
 the opening of the spring season; but if they should then be found 
 attempting to put in a crop or stay longer, they should most as- 
 suredly be exterminated without mercy. 
 
 "General Clark came in between the hours of seven and eight 
 o'clock this evening, who, on being interrogated, what our crimes 
 were, said he would inform us in the morning, and with a frown 
 passed out of the room. After receiving many insults and much 
 abuse from the people, we were left to await the result of the 
 morning. 
 
 "10th. This morning General Clark came and with a look 
 of awe and disdain said: Gentlemen, you are charged with having 
 committed treason, murder, arson, burglary, larceny, and stealing, 
 and various other crimes, too numerous to mention, and in great 
 haste left the room. He had not more than passed the door when 
 Colonel Price with sixteen men stepped in at the door, each having 
 his gun presented with his thumb on the cock. They were quickly 
 followed by a Mr. Fulkerson, the overseer of the penitentiary, 
 with three trace chains and seven padlocks in his hands, and com- 
 menced chaining us by our legs, one by one, until we were all 
 chained together about two feet apart. We were then informed 
 that we were delivered over to the civil law, and that General Clark, 
 after arriving at this place, had held a court martial and sentenced 
 
86 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 US to be shot, but fearing this might not be correct he had sent to 
 Fort Leavenworth to the United States officer, whose answer, on 
 the subject was that it would be nothing more nor nothing less 
 than cold-blooded murder (Colonel Richard B. Mason, First 
 Dragoon, made this reply). 
 
 '* During this whole time there had not been a process served 
 on us, neither civil or uncivil. We spent this day in chains for 
 the first time, ruminating from present prospects to what the future 
 might be. You may well calculate the day passed off with gloomy 
 aspect. 
 
 "11th. A. King, Circuit Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, 
 called for us at the court house (at Richmond) today, and informed 
 us that we were put on trial for the above mentioned charges, 
 stated by General Clark. (This was of course merely a preliminary 
 hearing.) Court was called and adjourned for want of testimony. 
 We retired to our chains and couches of straw and spent the night. 
 
 •'November 12th. Court opened this morning and Samson 
 Avard was sworn. He was a man whose character was perfectly 
 run down in all classes of society, and he being a stranger palmed 
 himself upon the Mormon Church, and in order to raise himself 
 in the estimation of the church invented schemes and plans to go 
 against mobocracy, which were perfectly derogatory to the laws 
 of this State and of the United States, and frequently endeavored 
 to enforce them upon members of the church, and when repulsed 
 by Joseph Smith he would frequently become chagrined. At one 
 time he told me that the reason why he could not carry his plans 
 into effect was that the First Presidency of the Church feared that 
 he would have too much influence, and gain the honor which the 
 First Presidency desired for themselves. At one time he said to 
 me that he would be damned if he did not carry his plans through. 
 More than once did he raise a conspiracy against them (the Presi- 
 dency) in order to take their lives, thinking that he might then rule 
 the church. Now when he was brought before the court he swore, 
 that all these treasonable purposes (which he had sworn in his 
 heart to perform) originated with us." 
 
 P. P. pratt's account. 
 
 p. p. Pratt writes concerning their treatment at Inde- 
 pendence : 
 
 *'We were soon at liberty to walk the streets without a guard; 
 and soon we were removed from our house of confinement to a 
 hotel, where we were entertained in the best style of which the 
 place was capable, which was lodging on the floor and a block of 
 wood for a pillow. We had no longer any guard — we went out 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 87 
 
 and came in when we pleased. A certain keeper being appointed 
 merely to look to us; with him we walked out of town and visited 
 the desolate lands which belonged to our society, and the place 
 which seven years before, we had dedicated and consecrated for 
 the building of a temple, it being a beautiful rise of ground about 
 half a mile west of Independence. When we saw it last it was a 
 wilderness, but now our enemies had robbed it of every stick of 
 timber and it presented a beautiful rolling field of pasture being 
 covered with grass. 
 
 **0h, how many feelings did this spot awaken in our bosoms! 
 Here we had often bowed the knee in prayer to Jehovah in bygone 
 years; and here we had assembled with hundreds of happy saints, 
 in the solemn meeting, and offered our prayers, and songs, and 
 sacraments, in our humble dwellings; but now all was solemn and 
 lonely desolation; not a vestige remained to mark the place where 
 stood our former dwellings; they had long since been consumed by 
 fire, or removed to the village and converted to the use of our en- 
 emies. While at Independence we were once or twice invited to 
 dine with General Wilson, and others, which we did with much 
 apparent politeness and attention on their part, and much cheer- 
 fulness on our own. 
 
 "After about a week spent in this way, during which I was 
 at one time alone in the wilderness more than a mile from town, 
 we were at length (after repeated demands) sent to General Clark, 
 at Richmond. This place was on the same side of Missouri that 
 Far West was, and about thirty miles distant. 
 
 "Generals Lucas and Wilson had tried in vain to get a guard 
 to accompany us; none would volunteer, and when drafted they 
 would not obey orders; for in truth, they wished us to go at liberty. 
 
 "At last a Colonel and two or three oflScers started with us, 
 with their swords and pistols, which was more to protect us than 
 to keep us from escaping. On this journey some of us rode in car- 
 riages and some on horseback. Sometimes we were sixty or 
 eighty rods in front or rear of our guard, who, by the by, were three 
 sheets in the wind in the whiskey line, having a bottle in their 
 pockets; but knowing we were not guilty of any crime we did not 
 wish to escape by flight. At night having crossed the ferry, we 
 put up at a private house. Here our guards all went to bed and 
 to sleep, leaving us their pistols to defend ourselves in case of 
 any attack from without, as we were in a very hostile neighbi)r- 
 hood." {Persecutions oj the Saints, pp. 92-95.) 
 
 One touching incident we relate here as given by Mr. 
 Pratt, as occurring at the preliminary at Richmond : 
 
 "The Court of inquiry now commenced before Judge A. A. 
 
88 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 King. This continued from the 11th to the 28th of November, 
 during which we were kept most of the time in chains, and our 
 brethren, some fifty in number, were penned up in the open, un- 
 finished court house. 
 
 **It was a very severe spell of snow and winter weather, and 
 we suffered much. During this time Elder Rigdon was taken very 
 sick from hardship and exposure, and finally lost his reason; but 
 still he was kept in a miserable, noisy, and cold room, and compelled 
 to sleep on the floor with a chain and padlock round his ankle, and 
 fastened to six others; and here he endured the constant noise and 
 confusion of an unruly guard who were changed every few hours, 
 and who were frequently composed of the most noisy, foul-mouthed, 
 vulgar, disgraceful, indecent rabble that ever defiled the earth. 
 While we lay in this situation, his son-in-law, George Robinson, 
 the only male member of his numerous family, was chained by 
 his side; and thus Mrs. Rigdon and her daughters were left entirely 
 destitute and unprotected. One of his daughters, Mrs. Robinson, 
 a young and delicate female, with her little infant, came down to 
 see her husband and to comfort and take care of her father in his 
 sickness. When she first entered the room, amid the clank of 
 chains and the bristle of weapons, and cast her eyes on her sick 
 and dejected parent and sorrow-worn husband, she was speechless, 
 and only gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. This faithful 
 lady with her little infant continued by the bed of her father till 
 he recovered from his sickness and till his fevered and disordered 
 mind assumed its wonted powers of intellect. 
 
 **In this mock court of inquiry the judge could not be pre- 
 vailed on to examine the conduct of the murderers, robbers, and 
 plunderers, who had desolated our society. Nor would he receive 
 testimony except against us. And by the dissenters and apostates 
 who wished to save their own lives and secure their propertj'^ at 
 the expense of others; and by those who had murdered and plun- 
 dered us from time to time, he obtained abundance of testimony, 
 much of which was entirely false." (Persecution oj the Saints, 
 pp. 102-104.) 
 
 FOUR OF THE MORMON LEADERS SENT AS PRISONERS TO 
 BOONE COUNTY. 
 
 Of the prisoners left at Richmond when Joseph and his 
 companions were taken to Liberty, all were finally released 
 but four, and they were sent to Columbia, in Boone County. 
 Of this, Mr. Pratt writes as follows: 
 
 "On the 24th day of April our eases were laid before the grand 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 89 
 
 jury of the County of Ray; and Darwin Chase and Norman. 
 Shearer were dismissed after being imprisoned near six months. 
 This release happened just as Mr. Shearer came to visit his son 
 for the last time before he left the country. He came into the 
 prison to see us, and not knowing of the intended release, he took 
 an affectionate leave of us and of his son, who seemed to weep with 
 heartbroken anguish. But while he yet lingered in town, his son 
 was called before the court, and with Mr. Chase was told that 
 they might go at liberty. The father and son then embraced 
 each other almost overcome with joy, and departed. At the same 
 time, my brother Orson Pratt, whom I had not before seen for a 
 year, came from Illinois to see me, but was only permitted to visit 
 me for a few moments, and then was ordered to depart. Mrs. 
 Phelps, who had waited in prison for some days in hopes that the 
 court would release her husband, now parted without him, over- 
 whelmed with sorrow and tears, and with her infant moved slowly 
 away to remove to IlUnois and leave her husband behind. Thus 
 our families wander in a strange land, without our protection, 
 being robbed of house and home. Oh, God, who can endure the 
 thought! Come out in justice, O, Lord, and restore us to our 
 mourning families! 
 
 "Our number in prison were reduced to four, one having been 
 added about the middle of April. His name was King FoUet; he 
 was dragged from his distressed family just as they were leaving 
 the state. Thus of all the prisoners which were taken at an 
 expense of two hundred thousand dollars, only two of the original 
 ones, who belonged to the church, now remained. Mr. Gibbs, 
 having denied the faith, to try to save his life. These were Morris 
 Phelps and myself. All who were let to bail were banished from 
 the State, together with those who bailed them. Thus none are 
 like to have a trial by law except ourselves, and we are without 
 friends or witnesses in the State. After the grand jury had found 
 a bill against us for defending ourselves in the battle with Bogart's 
 Company, we were kept in prison at Richmond for about a month. 
 We then took a change of venue and were ordered to be sent to 
 Columbia, Boone County, for trial. 
 
 "On the 22nd day of May we were handcuffed together, two 
 and two with irons round the wrist of each and in this fix we were 
 taken from prison and placed in a carriage. 
 
 "The people of Richmond gathered around to see us depart; 
 but none seemed to feel for us except two persons. One of these 
 (General Park's lady) bowed to us through the window, and looked 
 as if touched with pity. 
 
 "The other was a Mr. Huggins, merchant of Richmond, who 
 bowed with some feeling as we passed. We now took leave of 
 
90 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 Richmond, accompanied by Sheriff Brown, and four guards with 
 drawn pistols, and moved on towards Columbia. No tongue can 
 describe our sensations as we came forth from a most filthy dungeon, 
 where we had been confined for near seven months, and began to 
 breathe the free air, and to change the scenery and look abroad 
 upon the face of the earth. There was a sweetness in the air and 
 a perfume from the earth which none could fully realize except such 
 as have been for a long time confined in tainted air. It had been 
 thundering and raining for some days and the thunderstorm lasted 
 with but short cessations from the time we started till we arrived 
 at the place of destination, which was five days. 
 
 "The small streams were swollen so as to be very difficult 
 crossing them. On the second day we came to a creek which was 
 several rods over, with a strong current, and very deep. It was 
 towards evening and far from any house, and we had received 
 no refreshment through the day. Here we halted, and knew not 
 what to do. We waited awhile for the water to fall but it fell 
 slowly. All hands were hungry and impatient, and a lowery night 
 seemed to threaten that the creek would rise before morning by 
 the falling of additional rains. In this dilemma some counseled 
 one thing and some another. Some said, go back some miles to 
 a house and tarry till morning. Others said, camp here for the 
 night. Others said, swim the river and leave the carriage and 
 baggage till morning; and some advised to attempt to drive some 
 miles around the head of the stream. At last I proposed to the 
 Sheriff that if he would take off my irons I would go into the water 
 to bathe and by that means ascertain the depth and bottom; this 
 he consented to do, after some hesitation. I then plunged into 
 the stream and swam across, and attempted to wade back; I 
 found it to be a hard bottom, and the water about up to my chin; 
 but a very stiff current. After this, Mr. Brown, the sheriff, 
 undertook to cross on his horse; but just as his horse neared the 
 opposite shore he sprang sidewise to gain a bank, and Mr. Brown 
 was thrown off his horse and buried in the stream. He could 
 not swim, but sprang out, hollowing and flouncing in a manner 
 that caused much merriment to the company. This accident 
 decided the fate of the day. Being now completely wet, he re- 
 solved to effect the crossing of the whole company, bag and baggage. 
 Accordingly, several stripped off their clothes and mounted on the 
 barebacks of the horses; and, taking their clothing, saddles, and 
 arms, together with our trunk and bedding upon their shoulders, 
 they bore them across in safety, without wetting. 
 
 "This was done by riding backwards and forwards across the 
 •tream several times. In this sport and labor, prisoners, guards, 
 and all mingled in mutual exertion. All was now safe but the car- 
 riage. Mr. Phelps then proposed to swim that across by hitching 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 91 
 
 two horses before it; and he mounted on one of their backs, while 
 myself and one of the guards swam by the side of the carriage to 
 keep it from upsetting by the force of the current. And thus, 
 Paul like, we all got safe to land. Everything was soon replaced 
 and ourselves in the carriage, and the suite on horseback, we moved 
 swiftly on, and at dark arrived at a house of entertainment, amid 
 a terrible thunderstorm. Next morning we proceeded on and in 
 a few miles came to another swimming stream; but after some 
 consultation it was thought best to go around the head of the 
 stream. We accordingly took our back track for a half mile, 
 and then striking to the north in the open prairie, without any 
 track, we rode some seven miles around, crossed the head of the 
 stream, and returned to the road which we had left; this day we 
 crossed the Missouri at a place called Arrow Rock, being named 
 from the circumstance of the natives coming there from all quarters 
 to get a kind of hard rock from the bluff to make arrow points. 
 In this journey we had slept each night on our backs on the floor, 
 being all four of us bound together, with hand and ankle irons 
 made for the purpose. 
 
 "This being done, the windows and doors were all fastened, 
 and then five guards with their loaded pistols staid in the room, 
 and one at a time sat up and watched during the night. This 
 cruelty was inflicted on us more to gratify a wicked disposition than 
 anything else; for it was in vain for us to have tried to escape, 
 without any irons being put on us; and had we wished to escape, 
 we had a tolerable good opportunity at the creek. 
 
 "When we arrived within four miles of Columbia, the bridge 
 had been destroyed from over a large and rapid river; and here we 
 were some hours in crossing over in a tottlish canoe, having to 
 leave our carriage together with our bedding, clothing, our trunk 
 of clothing, books, papers, etc., but all came to us in safety after 
 two days. 
 
 "After we had crossed the river, our guards having swam their 
 horses, mounted them, and we proceeded toward Columbia, the 
 prisoners walking on foot, two being fastened together two and 
 two by the wrists. 
 
 "After walking two or three miles, Mr. Brown hired a carriage, 
 and we rode into Columbia. It was about sunset on Sunday 
 evening, and as the carriage and our armed attendants drove 
 through the streets we were gazed upon with astonishment by 
 hundreds of spectators, who thronged the streets and looked out 
 at the windows, doors, etc., anxious to get a glimpse of the strange 
 beings called Mormons. On our arrival we were immediately 
 hurried to the prison without going to a tavern for refreshment, 
 although we had traveled a long distance without anything to eat. 
 
92 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 When unloosened from our fetters we were ushered immediately 
 from the carriage into the jail, and the next moment a huge trap 
 door was opened, and down we went into a most dismal dungeon, 
 which was full of cobwebs and filth above, below, and all around 
 the walls, having stood empty for near two years. Here was 
 neither beds, nor chairs, nor water, nor food, nor friends, nor anyone 
 whom we might call, even for a drink of cold water; for Brown and 
 all others had withdrawn to go where they could refresh themselves. 
 When thrust into this dungeon, we were nearly ready to faint with 
 hunger, and thirst, and weariness. We walked the room for a 
 few moments, and then sank down upon the floor in despondency, 
 and wished to die, for, like Elijah of old, if the Lord had inquired, 
 'What dost thou here?' we could have replied, 'Lord, they have 
 killed the prophets, and thrown down thine altars, and have driven 
 out all thy saints from the land, and we only are left to tell thee; 
 and they seek our lives, to take them away; and now, therefore, 
 let us die.' 
 
 "Our feelings were the more melancholy because here we had 
 hoped to see our families from Illinois or some kind friend from 
 thence, as we had not heard from them for some time and were 
 now within one hundred miles of them: but we neither saw nor 
 heard of any one who knew us or cared for us. We now sent to 
 the post office, but got no letters. Our families and friends, it 
 seemed, had even neglected to write us — this seemed the more 
 unaccountable, as they had long expected us at Columbia. When 
 we had been in the dungeon for some time, our new jailer handed 
 down some provisions, but by this time I was too faint to eat; 
 I tasted a few mouthfuls, and then suddenly the trap door opened, 
 and some chairs were handed to us, and the new sheriff, Mr. 
 Martin, and his deputy, Mr. Hamilton, entered our dungeon and 
 talked so kindly to us that our spirits again revived in some measure. 
 This night we slept cold and uncomfortable; having but little 
 bedding. Next morning, we were suffered to come out of the 
 dungeon, and the liberty of the upper room was given us through 
 the day ever afterwards." {Persecution of the Saints, pp. 114-124.) 
 
 ESCAPE OF THE MORMONS FROM THE BOONE COUNTY JAIL. 
 
 P. P. Pratt and Morris Phelps escaped from the Boone 
 County jail on July 4, 1839, and finally made their way to 
 their families in Illinois. Mr. Follet broke jail with them, 
 but was recaptured. Mr. Luman Gibbs, the other one of 
 the four, apostatized, and was acquitted on trial. Mr. Follet 
 was retained several months and dismissed. 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 93 
 
 The following is Mr. Pratt's account of their thrilling 
 escape : 
 
 "The author of the foregoing narrative is now at liberty and 
 some account of his narrow escape from prison and from the State 
 of Missouri is due to the public. On the 1st of July the special 
 term of the court was held at Columbia for our trials but was 
 adjourned for nearly three months because all our witnesses were 
 banished from the state. Under these circumstances we were un- 
 willing to be tried in a state where all law and justice were at an 
 end. We accordingly thought it justifiable to make our escape. 
 In the meantime we were visited by Mrs. Phelps, the wife of one 
 of the prisoners, and also by my brother, Orson Pratt, and Mrs. 
 Phelps' brother. 
 
 "These all came from Illinois or Iowa on horseback, and visited 
 with us for several days. On the 4th of July we felt desirous as 
 usual to celebrate an anniversary of American liberty. We ac- 
 cordingly manufactured a white flag consisting of the half of a 
 shirt, on which we inscribed the word 'Liberty' in large letters, 
 and also a large American eagle was put on in red. We then 
 obtained a pole from our jailer, and on the morning of the 4th 
 this flag was suspended from the front window of our prison, over- 
 hanging the public square, and floating triumphantly in the air 
 to the full view of the citizens who assembled by hundreds to 
 celebrate the National jubilee. With this the citizens seemed 
 highly pleased, and sent a portion of the public dinner to us and 
 our friends, who partook with us in prison with merry hearts, as 
 we intended to gain our liberties or be in paradise before the close 
 of that eventful day. While we were thus employed in prison, 
 the town was alive with troops parading, guns firing, and shouts 
 of joy, resounding on every side. In the meantime we wrote the 
 following toast, which was read at their public dinner, with many 
 and long cheers: 
 
 'The patriotic and hospitable citizens of Boone 
 County; opposed to tyranny and oppression, and firm 
 to the original principles of repubUcan liberty — may they 
 in common with every part of our wide-spreading country, 
 long enjoy the blessings which flow from the fountain 
 of American Independence.' 
 
 "Our dinner being ended, our two brethren took leave of us 
 and started for Illinois (leaving Mrs. Phelps to still visit with her 
 husband). They had proceeded a mile or two on the road and 
 then took into the woods, and finally placed their three horses 
 in a thicket within one-third of a mile of the prison, and there 
 they waited in anxious suspense till sundown. In the meantime 
 
94 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 we put on our coats and hats and waited for the setting sun, with 
 prayer and supplication for deliverance from this long and tedious 
 bondage; and for a restoration to the society of our friends and 
 families, we then sang the following lines: 
 
 'Lord cause their foolish plans to fail. 
 
 And let them faint or die, 
 Our souls would quit this loathsome jail, 
 
 And fly to Illinois, 
 
 'To join with the embodied saints. 
 
 Who are with freedom blessed, 
 That only bliss for which we pant. 
 With them awhile to rest. 
 
 'Give joy for grief — give ease for pain, 
 
 Take all our foes away, 
 But let us find our friends again, 
 In this eventful day.' 
 
 "This ended the celebration of our National liberty, but the 
 gaining of our own was the grand achievement now before us. 
 
 "In the meantime the sun was setting. The moment arrived, 
 the footsteps of the jailer were heard on the stairs. Every man 
 flew to his feet, and stood near the door. The great door was 
 opened, and our supper handed in through a small hole in the 
 inner door, which still remained locked; but at length the key was 
 turned in order to hand in the pot of coffee. No sooner was the 
 key turned than the door was jerked open, and in a moment all 
 three of us were out and rushing down the stairs. The foremost, 
 Mr. Phelps, was clinched by the jailer; both tumbled down the 
 stairs, through the entry and out into the dooryard, when Phelps 
 cleared himself without injuring the jailer, and all of us leaped 
 several fences, ran through the fields towards the thicket, where 
 we expected to find our friends and horses. In the meantime the 
 town was alarmed and many were seen rushing after us, some on 
 horseback and some on foot, prepared with dogs, guns, and what- 
 ever came to hand. But the flag of liberty with its eagle still 
 floated on high in the distance and under its banner our nerves 
 seemed to strengthen at every step. We gained the horses, 
 mounted, and dashed into the wilderness, each his own way. 
 After a few jumps of my horse I was hailed by an armed man at 
 pistol shot distance, crying, 'D n you, stop, or I'll shoot you.' 
 
 "I rushed onward deeper in the forest, while the cry was 
 
 repeated in close pursuit, crying, 'D n you, stop, or I'll shoot 
 
 you,' at every step, till at length it died away in the distance. 
 
 "I plunged a mile into the forest, came to a halt, tied my 
 horse in a thicket, went a distance and climbed a tree to await 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 95 
 
 the approaching darkness. Being so little used to exercise, I 
 fainted through over-exertion, and remained so faint for nearly 
 an hour that I could not get down from the tree. But, calling on 
 the Lord, he strengthened me, and I came down from the tree. 
 But, my horse had got loose and gone. I then made my way on 
 foot for several days and nights, principally without food, and 
 scarcely suffering myself to be seen. After five days of dreadful 
 suffering with fatigue and hunger, I crossed the Mississippi and 
 found myself once more in a land of freedom. Hundreds of my 
 friends crowded around me, and many of the citizens of Illinois, 
 although strangers to me, received and welcomed me as one who 
 had escaped from a persecution almost unparalelled in modern 
 history. 
 
 **I was everywhere invited to preach the Gospel and gave 
 many public addresses, but no attempt has been made to retake 
 myself and fellow prisoners." (Persecution oj the Saints, pp. 
 164-169.) 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 97 
 
 Early Days on Grand River and the 
 Mormon War 
 
 ROLLIN J. BRITTON 
 SIXTH ARTICLE. 
 
 Returning to Joseph Smith, Jun, and his companions, we 
 find -that they reached Liberty jail on December 1, 1838, 
 where they were visited by their families and numerous friends, 
 including General Doniphan, during the month of December. 
 
 On January 16, 1839, Mr. Turner from the joint select 
 committee, introduced a bill in the Missouri Senate to provide 
 for the investigation of the late disturbances in this State. 
 This bill provided for a joint committee to investigate the 
 causes of the disturbances between the people called Mormons 
 and other inhabitants of this State, and conduct of the mili- 
 tary operations in repressing them, which committee shall 
 consist of two senators to be elected by the Senate and of three 
 representatives to be elected by the House of Representatives. 
 The bill further provided that the committee should meet 
 at Richmond, Ray County, on the first Monday in May 
 and thereafter at such times and places as they should ap- 
 point, and made provision for organization and clothed the 
 committee with the power of a court. This bill was passed 
 by the Senate on January 31; but on February 4, the House 
 laid it on the table until July 4, 1839, which made it too late 
 to benefit the Mormons. 
 
 On Thursday, January 24, 1839, Joseph Smith wrote a 
 letter as follows: 
 
 "To the Honorable the Legislature of Missouri: 
 
 Your memorialists, having a few days since solicited your 
 attention to the same subject, would now respectfully submit to 
 your honorable body a few additional facts in support of their 
 prayer. 
 
 They are now imprisoned under a charge of treason against the 
 State of Missouri and their lives and fortunes and characters being 
 
98 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 suspended upon the result of the criminal charges preferred against 
 them. 
 
 Your honorable body will excuse them for manifesting the 
 deep concern they feel in relation to their trials for a crime so 
 enormous as that of treason. 
 
 It is not our object to complain — to asperse anyone. All we 
 ask is a fair and impartial trial. We ask the sympathies of no one. 
 We ask sheer justice; 'tis all we expect, and all we merit, but we 
 merit that. We know the people of no county in this state to 
 which we would ask our final trials to be sent are prejudiced in our 
 favor. But they beheve that the state of excitement existing in 
 most of the upper counties is such that a jury would be im- 
 properly influenced by it. But that excitement and the prejudice 
 against us in the counties comprising the fifth judicial Circuit are 
 not the only obstacles we are compelled to meet. We know that 
 much of that prejudice against us is not so much to be attributed 
 to a want of honest motives amongst the citizens as it is to wrong 
 information. 
 
 But it is a difficult task to change opinions once formed. The 
 other obstacle which we candidly consider one of the most weighty 
 is the feeling which we believe is entertained by the Hon. A. A. King 
 against us, and the consequent incapacity to do us impartial 
 justice. It is from no disposition to speak disrespectfully of that 
 high officer that we lay before your honorable body the facts we 
 do; but simply that the legislature may be apprised of our real 
 conditions. We look upon Judge King as like all other mere men, 
 liable to be influenced by his feelings, his prejudices, and his pre- 
 viously formed opinions. We consider his reputation as being 
 partially if not entirely committed against us. He has written 
 much upon the subject of our late difficulties, in which he has 
 placed us in the wrong. These letters have been published to the 
 world. 
 
 He has also presided at an excited public meeting, as chairman, 
 and no doubt sanctioned all the proceedings. We do not com- 
 plain of the citizens who held that meeting, they were entitled to 
 that privilege. But for the judge before whom the very men were 
 to be tried for a capital ofiFense to participate in an expression of 
 condemnation of these same individuals is to us at least apparently 
 wrong; and we cannot think that we should after such a course on 
 the part of the Judge, have the same chance of a fair and impartial 
 trial as all admit we ought to have. 
 
 We believe that the foundation of the feeling against us which 
 we have reason to think Judge King entertains may be traced to 
 the unfortunate troubles which occurred in Jackson County some 
 few years ago. In a battle between the "Mormons" and a portion 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 99 
 
 of the citizens of that county, Mr. Brazeale, the brother-in-law 
 of Judge King, was killed. 
 
 It is natural that the Judge should have some feeling against 
 us, whether we were right or wrong in that controversy. 
 
 We mention these facts, not to disparage Judge King; we 
 believe that from the relations he bears to us he would himself pre- 
 fer that our trials should be had in a different circuit and before a 
 different court. Many other reasons we might mention, but we 
 forbear." 
 
 The letter was directed to James M. Hughes, Esq., Member of 
 the House of Representatives, Jefferson City. 
 
 (Millenial Star, Vol. 16, pp. 7709-11.) 
 
 On Saturday, January 26, 1839, the Mormon citizens of 
 Caldwell County met at Far West and appointed a committee 
 of seven, to- wit: John Taylor, Alanson Ripley, Brigham 
 Young, Theodore Turley, H. C. Kimball, John Smith, and 
 D. C. Smith to draft resolutions respecting their removal from 
 the State according to the Governor's order, and to devise 
 means for removing the destitute.' This Committee reported 
 to the reassembled meeting on the 29th, when John Taylor, as 
 chairman, read the following covenant which was adopted, 
 to- wit : 
 
 "We, whose names are hereunder written, do for ourselves, 
 individually, hereby covenant to stand by and assist each other to 
 the utmost of our abilities in removing from the State in compliance 
 with the authority of the State, and we do hereby acknowledge 
 ourselves firmly bound to the extent of all our available property, 
 to be disposed of by a committee who shall be appointed for that 
 purpose, for providing means for the removing of the poor and 
 destitute who shall be considered worthy from this county till 
 there shall not be one left who desires to remove from the State; 
 with this proviso, that no individual shall be deprived of the right 
 of the disposal of his own property for the above purpose, or of 
 having the control of it, or so much of it as shall be necessary for 
 the removing of his own family, and to be entitled to the overplus, 
 after the work is effected; and furthermore, said committee shall 
 give receipts for all property, and an account of the expenditure of 
 the same." {Millenial Star, Vol. 16, p. 730.) 
 
 The committee on removal provided for were: William 
 Huntington, Charles Bird, Alanson Ripley, Theodore Turley, 
 Daniel Shearer, Shadrach Roundy, and J. H. Hale, the first 
 named being chairman. The above covenant was then signed 
 
100 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 by two hundred and fourteen persons — later on February 1st, 
 the Committee on removal was increased to eleven by adding 
 the names of: Elias Smith, Erastus Bingham, Stephen Mark- 
 ham, and James Newberry; Daniel Shearer became treasurer, 
 and Elias Smith, clerk of this Committee. 
 
 On January 31, 1839, the bill of Mr. Turner, heretofore 
 referred to, passed the State Senate but it was laid on the table 
 of the House on February 4th, till July 4th, by a majority of 
 seven and therefore availed the Mormons nothing. 
 
 Charles Bird was sent in advance to buy and store corn 
 on the way, and to make contracts for ferriage across the 
 Mississippi River. 
 
 On January 22nd a writ was served on the prisoners and 
 they were taken to the Clay County Court House and their 
 preliminary trial set for the 25th. The court convened on this 
 latter date but this cause was continued till the 26th, and then 
 adjourned until Monday, January 28th, 1839; by noon of that 
 date the evidence was all in. This hearing was before Judge 
 Turnham. A day and a half was devoted to the argument, the 
 State being represented by a lawyer by the name of Wood, 
 while speeches for the defense were made by Alexander W. 
 Doniphan, Sidney Rigdon, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Ly- 
 man Wight and Calib Baldwin. The result of it all was that 
 Sidney Rigdon was admitted to bail and the others were all 
 remanded to jail without bail. Rigdon gave bail and was 
 released from jail on February 5th. 
 
 On February 7th, Alanson Ripley, David Holman, Watson 
 Barlow, William Huntington, Jr., Erastus Snow and Cyrus 
 Daniels were visitors at the jail and they remained till supper 
 time. As Cyrus Daniels was being let out by the jailer 
 Hyrum Smith made an effort to slip out behind Daniels but 
 the jailer caught him and returned him to the jail, where the 
 five remaining visitors were also locked in with the prisoners, 
 and charged with being accessory to an attempted jail break. 
 Erastus Snow was acquitted of the charge but the other four 
 were held to bail in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars 
 each. They were kept in jail till the 13th on which day they 
 gave bail and were permitted to go home. 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR 101 
 
 On March 1st the prisoners made an ineffectual attempt 
 to bore holes through the walls of the log jail — ^just how they 
 obtained augers for the purpose does not appear, but the logs 
 were too hard for them and this effort to make a breach failed. 
 On March 15th the prisoners prepared petitions to the Su- 
 preme Court praying writs of habeas corpus. These petitions 
 were carried to Jefferson City, but it does not appear that any 
 action was taken on them. 
 
 On April 6, 1839, Judge Austin A. King ordered the 
 prisoners taken to Daviess County and they left jail at Liberty 
 under a guard of about ten men commanded by Samuel Tillery, 
 deputy jailer of Clay County. On Monday, April 8th, the 
 party reached a point in Daviess County about a mile from 
 Gallatin, where the prisoners were delivered into the hands of 
 William Morgan, sheriff of Daviess County. The grand jury 
 was in session in Daviess County at that time, it being the 
 regular April term of Circuit Court and that day the said 
 grand jury returned a true bill for treason against all of the 
 prisoners along with many others. The text of the indict- 
 ment being as follows : 
 
 "In Daviess Circuit Court, April Term, 
 Eighteen hundred and thirty-nine. 
 State of Missouri, 
 County of Daviess. 
 
 Daviess County, towit: 
 
 The Grand Jurors, for the State of Missouri, for the body of 
 the County of Daviess, aforesaid, upon their oath, present that 
 Jacob Gales, Hiram Smith, Thomas Rich, Joseph Smith, Jr., 
 Lyman Wight, E. Robertson, William Whiteman, Lemuel Bent, 
 Joseph W. Younger, David Petigrew, Edward Patridge, George 
 W. Robertson, Washington Voorhies, Jesse D. Hunter, James H. 
 Rollins, Sidney Tanner, David Cams, Alonson Ripley, James 
 Worthington, George W. Harris, Alexander MeCrary, Tenor 
 Brunston, Thomas D. March, James Durphy, Perry Durhpy, 
 George Hinkle, Arthur Morrison, Chas. Higby, Parley P. Pratt, 
 Reynolds Calhoon, Vincent Knight, George Morry, Daniel Cams, 
 Caleb Baldwin, Ebenezer Page, Parley Page, Roswell Stephens, 
 Jabes Durphy, Moses Daily, Benj. Durphee, James Whitaker, late 
 
 of the County of being citizens of our said state, not having 
 
 the fear of God in their hearts nor weighing their allegiance, but 
 being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil as false 
 
102 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 traitors against the laws of our said state, and wholly withdrawing 
 the cordial love and true and due obedience which every true and 
 faithful citizen of our said state should and of right ought to bear 
 towards the laws of our said state and contriving with all their 
 strength intending traitorously, to break and disturb the peace and 
 common tranquility of this said State of Missouri, and to stir and 
 move and excite insurrection, rebellion and war against our said 
 State within this State and to subvert and alter the legislature, 
 rule, and government now duly and happily established in this 
 
 state on the day of in the year of our Lord, eighteen 
 
 hundred and thirty-eight, and on divers other days and times as 
 well as before as after at the county of Daviess, aforesaid. Mali- 
 ciously, with force and arms and of their malice and aforethought 
 did amongst themselves and with divers other false traitors whose 
 names are to the said Jurors unknown, conspire, compass, imagine, 
 and intend to stir up and excite insurrection, rebellion and war 
 against our said state within this state of Missouri to subvert and 
 alter the legislature, rule and government now duly and happily 
 established within this state, and to fulfil, perfect and bring to 
 effect their most evil and wicked treason and treasonable compass- 
 ings and imaginations aforesaid the said defendants as such false 
 
 traitors as aforesaid with force and arms on the said day of 
 
 in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, 
 
 and on divers and other days and times as well before as after, at 
 the County of Daviess, aforesaid, maliciously and traitorously did 
 meet, conspire, consult and agree among themselves and together 
 with divers other false traitors whose names are to the said Jurors 
 unknown, to cause and procure a convention and meeting of divers 
 citizens of this state to be assembled and held within this state 
 with intent and in order that the persons to be assembled at such 
 meeting should and might wickedly and traitorously without 
 authority and in defiance of the laws of this state, levy war against 
 our said state and subvert and cause to be subverted and altered 
 the legislature, rule and government of this state now duly and 
 happily established in this state. And further, to fulfil, perfect and 
 bring to effect their most evil and wicked treason and treasonable 
 Gompassings and imaginations aforesaid and in order the more 
 readily and effectually to assemble such convention and meeting 
 as aforesaid for the traitorous purposes aforesaid and thereby to 
 acomplish the said purposes, the said defendants as such false 
 traitors as aforesaid, together with divers false traitors whose 
 names are to the Jurors aforesaid unknown, the said defendants as 
 
 such false traitors as aforesaid with force and arms on the day 
 
 of in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty- 
 eight, and on divers other days and times as well before as after at 
 the County of Daviess, aforesaid, maliciously and traitorously did 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 103 
 
 compose and write and did then and there, maliciously and traitor- 
 ously cause to be composed and written, divers pamphlets, letters, 
 instructions, resolutions, orders, declarations, addresses and wrti- 
 ings and did there and then, maliciously and traitorously publish 
 and did there and then maliciously and traitorously cause to be 
 published, divers other pamphlets, letters, instructions, resolutions, 
 orders, declarations, addresses and writings, the said pamphletji, 
 letters, instructions, resolutions, orders, declarations, addresses 
 and writings so respectively composed, written, published and 
 caused to be composed, written and published, purporting and 
 containing therein among other things, incitements, encourage- 
 ments and exortations, to move, induce and pursuade the citizens 
 of our said state to levy war against our said state and to adhere, 
 to the enemies of our said state and to give them aid and comfort 
 in time of war and further fulfil, perfect and bring to effect their 
 most evil and wicked treason and treasonable compassings and 
 imaginations aforesaid and in order the more readily and effectually 
 to assemble such convention and meeting as aforesaid for the 
 traitorous purposes aforesaid and thereby to accomplish the same 
 purpose the said defendants as such false traitors as aforesaid, on 
 
 the day of in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred 
 
 and thirty-eight, aforesaid and on divers other days and times as 
 well before as after, with force and arms at the County of Daviess, 
 aforesaid, did meet, consult and deliberate among themselves and 
 together with other false traitors whose names are to Jurors 
 aforesaid unknown of and concerning the calling and assem- 
 bling such convention and meeting as aforesaid for the trait- 
 orous purposes aforesaid and how, when and where such con- 
 vention and meeting should be assembled and held and by 
 what means the citizens of our said state should and might be in- 
 duced and moved to convene and meet in said convention and 
 meeting. And further to fulfil — perfect and bring to effect their 
 most evil and wicked treason and treasonable compassings and 
 imaginations aforesaid and in order the more readily and effectually 
 to assemble such convention and meeting as aforesaid for the traitor- 
 ous purposes aforesaid, and thereby to accomplish the same pur- 
 poses, the said defendants as such false traitors as aforesaid, together 
 with divers other false traitors whose names are to the said Jurors 
 
 unknown on the said day of in the year of our Lord, 
 
 eighteen hundred and thirty-eight and on divers other days and 
 times as well before as after with force and arms, at the County of 
 Daviess, aforesaid, maliciously and traitorously did consent and 
 co-operate among themselves and together with divers other false 
 traitors whose names are to the said Jurors unknown for and to- 
 wards the calling and assembling such convention and meeting as 
 aforesaid for the traitorous purposes of aforesaid. And further, to 
 
104 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 fulfil, perfect, bring to effect their most evil and wicked treason 
 and treasonable practices compassings and imaginations aforesaid 
 the said defendants as such false traitors as aforesaid, together 
 with divers other false traitors whose names are to the said Jurors 
 
 unknown on the said day of in the year of our Lord 
 
 eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, with force and arms, at the 
 County of Daviess, aforesaid, maliciously and traitorously did 
 cause and procure to be made and provided and did then and 
 there, maliciously and traitorously consent and agree to the mak- 
 ing and providing of divers arms and offensive weapons — towit : guns, 
 muskets, pikes and axes for the purposes of arming divers citizens of 
 our said state in order and to the intent that same citizens should 
 and might unlawfully, forcibly and traitorously oppose and with- 
 stand the oflBcers of our said state in the due and lawful exercise of 
 their power and authority in the due execution of the laws and 
 statutes of this state and should and might unlawfully, forcibly 
 and traitorously subvert, and alter and aid and assist in subvert- 
 ing and altering, without and in defiance of authority and against 
 the will of the people of this state, the legislature, rule and govern- 
 ment now duly and happily established in this state. And to 
 fulfil, perfect and bring to effect their most evil and wicked treason 
 and treasonable compassings and imaginations aforesaid, the said 
 defendants as such false traitors as aforesaid, with force and arms 
 on the said first day of November in the year of our Lord, eighteen 
 hundred and thirty-eight, and on divers other days and times as 
 well as before as after, at the County of Daviess, aforesaid, 
 maliciously did meet, conspire, consult and agree among themselves 
 and with divers other false traitors whose names are to the said 
 Jurors unknown, to raise and levy and make insurrection, rebellion 
 and war within this state against our said State of Missouri. And 
 further, to fulfil, perfect and bring to effect, their most evil and 
 wicked treason and treasonable compassings and imaginations 
 aforesaid, the said defendants as such false traitors as aforesaid, 
 
 on the said day of in the year of our Lord, eighteen 
 
 hundred and thirty-eight, and on divers other days and times, as 
 well before as after, at the County of Daviess aforesaid, with force 
 and arms, maliciously and traitorously did meet, conspire, consult 
 and agree together amongst themselves and together with divers 
 other false traitors whose names to the Jurors aforesaid unknown, 
 unlawfully, wicked and traitorously to subvert and alter and cause 
 to be subverted and altered, the legislature, rule and government 
 now duly and happily established in this state of Missouri. And 
 further to fulfil, perfect and bring to effect their most evil and 
 wicked treason and treasonable compassings and imaginations as 
 aforesaid and in order the more readily and eflfectually to bring 
 such subversion and alteration last aforesaid, the said defendants 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 105 
 
 as such false traitors as aforesaid, together with divers other false 
 traitors, whose names are to the said Jurors unknown on the said 
 
 day of in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and 
 
 thirty-eight, and on divers days and times as well before as after, 
 with force and arms, at the county aforesaid, maliciously and 
 traitorously did prepare and compose and did then and there 
 maliciously and traitorously cause to be prepared and composed 
 divers books, pamphlets, letters, declarations, instructions, resolu- 
 tions, orders, addresses and writings and did then and there mali- 
 ciously and traitorously publish and disperse and did then and 
 there, maliciously and traitorously cause and procure to be pub- 
 lished and dispersed, divers other books, pamphlets, letters, 
 declarations, instructions, resolutions, orders, addresses, and writ- 
 ings so respectively prepared, composed, published dispersed as 
 last aforesaid, purporting and containing therein amongst other 
 things, incitements, encouragements and exhortations to move, 
 induce and persuade the citizens of our said state of Missouri to 
 aid and assist in carrying into effect such traitorous subversion 
 and alteration as last aforesaid and also containing therein, amongst 
 other things, information, instructions and directions to the citi- 
 zens of our said state, how, when and upon what occasion the 
 traitorous purpose last aforesaid should and might be carried into 
 effect. And further, to fulfil, perfect and bring to effect their 
 most wicked treason and treasonable compassings and imaginations 
 aforesaid, the said defendants as such false traitors, as aforesaid, 
 together with divers other false traitors whose names are to the 
 
 said Jurors unknown, on the day of in the year of our Lord, 
 
 eighteen hundred and thirty-eight and on divers other days and 
 times as well before as after at the county of Daviess, aforesaid, 
 with force and arms maliciously and traitorously aid, procure and 
 provide and did and then and there, maliciously and traitorously 
 did cause and procure to be provided and did then and there, 
 maliciously and traitorously consent and agree to the procuring 
 and providing arms and offensive weapons, towit: guns, muskets, 
 pikes and axes, therewith to levy war, insurrection and rebellion 
 against our said state within this State of Missouri, against the 
 duty of the allegiance of the said defendants and further, to fulfil, 
 perfect and bring to effect their most wicked treason and treason- 
 able compassings and imaginations aforesaid. The said defendant 
 as such false traitors, as aforesaid, on the first day of November, 
 the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, and on 
 divers other days and times as well before as after, at the county 
 aforesaid, with force and arms, maliciously and traitorously did 
 meet and collect and together armed with guns, muskets, pikes and 
 axes and did then and there agree amongst themselves and together 
 with divers other false traitors, whose names are to the said Jurors 
 
 BANCROFT 
 
106 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 unknown, wickedly and traitorously, to subvert and alter and 
 cause to be subverted and altered the laws, legislature, rule and 
 government of our said state now duly and happily established 
 in this state did meet and converse and collect together a large 
 armed force and then and there did levy war against our said state 
 and did then and there levy war against the people of this state — 
 against the allegiance of the said defendants — against form of the 
 statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and 
 dignity of the state. 
 
 J. A. CLARK, Circuit Attorney. 
 
 On which was indorsed the following: 
 
 State 
 
 vs. 
 Joseph Smith 
 Lyman Wight 
 Hiram Smith 
 Caleb Baldwin and others. 
 
 A true bill. 
 
 Treason. 
 
 Robert P. Peniston, 
 
 Foreman of the Grand Jury. 
 
 Sampson Avard 
 Waterman Philips 
 Adam Blaxer 
 Josiah Morin 
 John Corril 
 J. L. Rodgers 
 Francis McGuire 
 Labum Morrin 
 Henry McHenry 
 John Edwards 
 John Brown 
 Robert McGaw 
 John B. Comer 
 Jackson Job 
 Ira Glaze." 
 
 There were numerous other indictments returned by this 
 Grand Jury against the said Joseph Smith, Jr., Lyman Wight, 
 Alexander McRae, Caleb Baldwin and Hiram Smith, charging 
 murder, treason, burglary, larceny, theft and receiving stolen 
 goods, one of the other indictments being as follows: 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 107 
 
 "State of Missouri 1 In the Circuit Court 
 
 County of Daviess. Jss. April Term, 1839. 
 
 Daviess County, to wit: 
 
 The Grand Jurors for the State of Missouri for the body of the 
 county aforesaid, upon their oaths present that Joseph Smith, Jr., 
 late of said county, on the first day of October in the year of our 
 Lord 1838, with force and arms, at the county aforesaid, of and from 
 one Cornelius P. Lott, one saddle of the value of twenty dollars of 
 the goods and chattels of George Worthington feloniously did 
 receive and have, he, the said Joseph Smith, Jr., then and there well 
 knowing the said saddle to have been taken, stolen and carried 
 away, against the form of the statute in such case made and pro- 
 vided and against the peace and dignity of the state. 
 
 J. A. Clark, Circuit Attorney. 
 
 (Endorsements on back.) 
 
 State 
 
 vs. 
 Joseph Smith, Jr. 
 
 Receiving Stolen Goods. 
 
 A True Bill. 
 
 Robert P. Peniston, 
 
 Foreman of Grand Jury. 
 Witnesses : 
 Sampson Avard." 
 
 The prisoners were arraigned before the Honorable 
 Thomas C. Burch, Judge of Circuit Court of Daviess County 
 and pleaded not guilty. The prisoners then took a change of 
 venue from the Circuit Court of Daviess County on the ground 
 that the Judge had been of counsel in the cause — and the 
 court sent the various causes to the Circuit Court of Boone 
 County, Missouri, and commanded the removal of the prison- 
 ers to the jail of said Boone County. 
 
 The proceedings are fully set out in the order made in the 
 cause for receiving stolen goods heretofore cited, which order, 
 with the sheriff's return thereon, made after the prisoners had 
 escaped from him, while being transferred from Daviess 
 County to Boone County, being as follows : 
 
 "At the April Term, 1839, of the Circuit Court held at and for 
 the County of Daviess, in the State of Missouri, on the eighth day 
 of April, 1839, at the house of Elisha B. Creekmore in said county, 
 
108 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 being the temporary place of holding the court for said county. 
 Present the Honorable Thomas C. Burch, Judge, the following 
 proceedings were had, to wit: 
 The State of Missouri, 
 
 vs. 
 Joseph Smith, Jr., 
 Lyman Wight and others, 
 
 Indictment for Larceny. 
 
 The judge of this court having been counsel in this cause and 
 the parties therein not consenting to a trial thereof in this court, 
 but the said defendants Joseph Smith, Jr. and Lyman Wight object- 
 ing thereto for the reasons that the judge of this court has been of 
 counsel in this cause, it is ordered by the court here that said cause 
 as to the said Joseph Smith, Jr. and Lyman Wight be removed to 
 the Circuit Court of the County of Boone in the Second Judicial 
 Circuit in this state. It is further ordered by the court here that the 
 Sheriff of the county of Daviess do and he is commanded to remove 
 the bodies of Joseph Smith, Jr. and Lyman Wight to the jail of the 
 County of Boone and there deliver them to the keeper of said jail, 
 together with the warrant or process by which they are imprisoned 
 and held. 
 
 State of Missouri, 1 
 County of Daviess. J 
 
 I, Robert Wilson, Clerk of the Circuit Court within and for the 
 county of Daviess aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing is a true, 
 full and perfect copy from the records of said court in the above 
 cause. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
 my private seal, there being no official seal provided at office 11th 
 day of April, 1839. 
 
 Robert Wilson, Clerk. 
 
 This is to certify that I executed the within order by taking the 
 bodies of the within names Joseph Smith, Jr. and Lyman Wight 
 into my custody and that I summoned a guard of four men, to wit: 
 William Bowman, Wilson McKinney, John Brassfield and John 
 Page to assist me in taking the Smith, Wight and others from E. B. 
 Creekmore's, the place of holding court in the county of Daviess, 
 to the town of Columbia in the county of Boone, State of Missouri, 
 as commanded by said order and that on the way from E. B. Creek- 
 more's in the county of Daviess aforesaid on the 16th day of April, 
 1839, the said Smith and others made their escape without the 
 connivance, consent or negligence of myself or said guard. 
 
 July 6th, 1839. 
 
 William Morgan, 
 
 Sheriff of Daviess County.*' 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. 109 
 
 It was the 15th day of April, 1839, that William Morgan 
 with his four guards started from Daviess County with the 
 prisoners, Joseph Smith, Caleb Baldwin, Hyrum Smith, 
 Lyman Wight and Alexander McRae, to deliver the said 
 prisoners into the care and custody of the sheriff of Boone 
 County, Missouri, at Columbia. That night they staid with 
 a man by the name of Cox, and on the 16th they traveled about, 
 twenty miles and camped ; that night all the prisoners escaped 
 and the sheriff and guard returned to Gallatin and made the 
 return heretofore shown. Major Joseph H. McGee in refer- 
 ring to the matter in his "Memoirs" says: 
 
 "One of the guard, John Brassfield, owned the horses on which 
 the prisoners were conveyed ; as he was on duty the night they made 
 their escape, and his horses were missing in the morning, it was 
 always thought he got pay for his horses as well as allowing them 
 to escape. Morgan, the Sheriff, left the country shortly after. Wm. 
 Bowman, another one of the guards, was treated to a ride through 
 the streets of Gallatin by the infuriated citizens of the county on a 
 bar of steel, which probably caused his death. He never recovered 
 from the shock and died shortly after." 
 
 Another account of this escape is told in the Mormon pub- 
 lication, "Joseph Smith the Prophet and His Progenitors," 
 page 264, where it quotes Hyrum Smith as testifying before 
 the Municipal Court of Nauvoo, as follows: 
 
 "There we bought a jug of whiskey, with which we treated the 
 company, and while the Sheriff showed us the mittimus before 
 referred to, without date or signature, and said Judge Burch told 
 him never to carry us to Boone County and never to show the 
 mittimus; and said he, "I shall take a good drink of grog and go 
 to bed; you can do as you have a mind to." Three others of the 
 guard drank pretty freely of whiskey, sweetened with honey; they 
 also went to bed, and were soon asleep, and the other guard went 
 along with us and helped to saddle the horses. Two of us mounted 
 the horses, and the other three started on foot, and we took our 
 change of venue for the State of Illinois; and in the course of nine 
 or ten daj'^s we arrived in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, where 
 we found our families in a state of poverty, although in good health 
 they having been driven out of the State previously by the murder- 
 ous militia, under the exterminating order of the Executive of 
 Missouri." 
 
 In his summary of expenditures, Joseph Smith states: 
 
110 MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW. 
 
 "Before leaving Missouri I had paid the lawyers at Richmond 
 thirty-four thousand dollars in cash, lands, etc., one lot which I let 
 them have, in Jackson County, for seven thousand dollars they were 
 soon offered ten thousand dollars for it, but would not accept 
 it. For other vexatious suits which I had to contend against the 
 few months I was in the State, I paid lawyers' fees to the amount of 
 about sixteen thousand dollars, making in all about fifty thousand 
 dollars, for which I received very little in return; for sometimes they 
 were afraid to act on account of the mob, and sometimes they were 
 so drunk as to incapacitate them for business. But there were few 
 honorable exceptions." 
 
 A Final Word. 
 
 Practically all of the surviving followers of Joseph Smith, 
 Jr., succeeded, after many hardships, in reaching Illinois before 
 the close of the Spring of 1839, where more tribulations were 
 awaiting them, but here our story should end, though we feel 
 it incumbent to gaze once more over the site of Adam-ondi- 
 Ahman. 
 
 The same beautiful green bluff, surmounted by some of 
 the same great trees overlook the same Grand River at the same 
 spot still. The log cabin of Lyman Wight alone remains of all 
 the buildings that once occupied the townsite. Above where 
 stood the village is the same picturesque elevation warmed by 
 the strata of linestone that compose it, adown the sides ot 
 which grow the wild cactus luxuriant, with its beautiful yellow 
 bloom, and on the top of which stands a giant hackberry, at 
 the foot of which is a little pile of limestone, loosened in the 
 making of a shallow excavation in the top of the hill. 
 
 It was of this elevation surmounted by the great forest 
 tree and limestone rock that Joseph Smith, Jr., made reference 
 when he wrote: 
 
 "We arrived at Tower Hill (a name I gave it in conse- 
 quence of the remains of an old Nephite altar or tower)," and 
 out of this has grown a legend cherished by thousands of 
 people, most of whom are not friendly to the Mormons, the pur- 
 port of which is that Joseph Smith, Jr., declared that particular 
 spot to be the burial place of Adam. Joseph Smith, Jr., never 
 made such an utterance, no follower of his cherishes such a 
 
EARLY DAYS ON GRAND RIVER AND MORMON WAR. Ill 
 
 notion. What Joseph Smith, Jr., did say about Adam-ondi- 
 Ahman, was said with reference to his visit to the spot on 
 Friday, May 18, 1838, of which he wrote: 
 
 "In the afternoon, I went up the river about half a mile to 
 Wight's Ferry, accompanied by President Rigdon and my clerk 
 George W. Robinson for the purpose of selecting and laying claim 
 to a city plat near said ferry in Daviess County, Township 60, 
 Ranges 27 and 28 and Sections 25, 36, 31 and 30, which the brethren 
 called Spring Hill; but by the mouth oj the Lord it was named Adam- 
 ondi'Ahman, because said he, it is the place where Adam shall come 
 to visit his people, or the Ancient o/ Days shall sit, as spoken oJ by 
 Daniel the Prophet.'' 
 
 That spot will always be a Mecca for Mormon Mission- 
 aries and tourists. 
 
 — The End. 
 
3i( 
 
 i 1, 
 
 
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