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Sidney Rigdon,
The Real Founder of Mormonism


"Charge of the Danites" -- an old color print

by:
William H. Whitsitt

BOOK  THE  FOURTH:
THE  MORMON  PERIOD: Nov. 8, 1830 -- Sep. 8, 1844
(Part D: Sections VII and VIII, pp. 974-1265)

Contents  |   Book   I   |   Book  II   |   Book  III  |   Book  IV   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  |   Book V

 


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SECTION VII:
SECOND  MISSOURI  WAR.

Chapter I.
The Theocracy Opens the War.

The Theocracy was spoiling for a fight. Ever since the moment when on the 14th of March they were escorted into Far West, Joseph and Sidney had been gaining ground. They had grappled and conquered the dissenters of the "Pure Church;" they had observed the progress of the Danite movement, which was begun shortly after the famous epistle was issued in June which sent Phelps and the Whitmers out of town (Bennett, p. 326 ff); their cause was looking hopeful in all quarters.

About ten thousand of their fanatical adherents had been gathered within the limits of Missouri (Kimball's Journal, p. 69; Woodruff. Leaves from my Journal, p. 59). They felt their power, and were highly inclined to declare themselves "independent, above all other creatures beneath the celestial world" (Bennett, p. 312).

The prophecy of Daniel has been extremely abused at different periods by different bodies of insane sectaries, particularly by the so-called "Fifth Monarchy Men," who flourished during the English Revolution and immediately after the restoration of the Stuart dynasty. A similar madness took possession of Joseph and Sidney; the Theocracy became identified with "the little stone, spoken of by Daniel, which should roll on and crush all opposition to it, and ultimately should be established as a temporal as well as a spiritual kingdom" (Bennett, pp. 330, 335, 338).





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"Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad"; on the Fourth of July Sidney with the consent and applause of Joseph issued a challenge to a war of extermination against the state of Missouri and the entire United States; they audaciously laid a token upon their shoulder and defied any power that could come nigh, to brush it away. The effects of this challenge were sustained during the summer by the preaching of Joseph who would appear to have recently become a student of the life of Mohamed. He said:

That he should yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies; that if he was not left alone he would be a second Mohamed to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean; that like Mohamed, whose motto in treating for peace was "the Alcoran or the Sword" so it should be eventually with us. "Joseph Smith or the Sword" (Bennett, p. 321).
Besides his own fanatical followers the Indians who then resided a few miles distant just beyond the western border of Missouri were confidently expected to be the allies and supporters of the Theocracy, and they were cultivated with as much assiduity as might be convenient. During this same season, and perhaps shortly after the challenge of Sidney, Joseph remarked in a public discourse that he had fourteen thousand men not belonging to the church, who were ready at a moment's warning, which was generally understood to mean the Indians (Bennett, p. 310).





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The Lamanites or Indians were from the outset a ridiculous weakness of the Mormons. Their Indian tendencies had been mentioned as one of the chief reasons why it would be inconvenient to the hospitable and excellent people of Clay county to permit further to remain among them (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 62). The committee of nine, who were appointed on the 29th of June 1836 affirmed that their guests "were charged with keeping up a constant communication with the Indian tribes on the frontier; with declaring even from the pulpit that the Indians are a part of God's chosen people, and are destined by heaven to inherit this land in common with themselves. The best and bravest of the citizens of Missouri had now become really apprehensive on that point" (Bennett, pp. 309-310). One of the clearest reasons for his action when he called out the militia to oppose the Mormons was stated by Governor Boggs to be that "there were signs of Indian disturbances and of civil disturbances in Caldwell, Daviess and Carroll counties (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 154).

Besides his exertions to corrupt the Indians, Joseph engaged in other efforts to prepare for the onset of the state of Missouri if ever it should suit their convenience to accept the challenge which had been so wantonly exhibited on the Fourth of July. Shortly after the establishment of Caldwell county by the legislature of Missouri, on the 26th of December 1836, the militia of the county had been organized at the insistance of Mr. W. W. Phelps. A battalion was enlisted and George M. Hinkle was chosen to be Colonel, Lyman Wight,





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Lt. Col, and Reed Peck, Major. The above officers had been recognized by the constituted authorities and had received commissions from the Governor (Early Scenes, p. 88).

This arrangement was not at present agreeable to Joseph and Sidney. W. W. Phelps had been excluded from the church in April 1833, while George M. Hinkle and Reed Peck were both suspected of cultivating intimate relations with the members of the "Pure Church," otherwise designated as the "church of Christ." It was therefore every way desirable that their power as military authorities should be circumscribed and crippled as much as possible; they could not be trusted in any sore emergency.

Consequently just after the organization of the Danites, who were soon brought to embrace many of the able-bodied men at the disposal of the Theocracy (Bennett, p. 311), it was resolved to establish a new military organization under the name of the "Host of Israel" (Lee, Life and Confessions, p. 57). Mr. Lee affirms that this project was completed shortly before the election in August 1838. In harmony with the preposterous literalism of the Theocracy the "Host of Israel," which included all who were any way capable of rendering military service was organized under captains of ten, captains of fifty and captains of a hundred after the model of the ancient "Host of Israel" (Lee, p. 57; Bennett, pp. 329-330).

But while this was the case it was found convenient to diverge from the "ancient order of things," by electing three field





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officers: George W. Robinson was chosen Colonel of the "Host of Israel," for Caldwell county, Philo Dibble, Lieutenant Colonel, and Seymour Brunson, Major (Early Scenes, p. 88). In the eye of the law this was a treasonable organization; both in form and in fact it was a mob, just as truly as were the Danites.

Everything was now believed to be in prime condition for action. On the sixth of August 1838, just one month and two days after the challenge to a war of extermination had been delivered, during which time it had been published and was also commenced in the Elder's Journal, the customary election for a couple of Congressmen occurred. To all appearance the state of Missouri had given no attention to the defiance that was given by the Theocracy. The Theocracy was spoiling for a fight, and was weary of waiting upon the motions of its adversary. An election is commonly a fine opportunity to provoke a quarrel and the Theocracy were awake to everything that looked like an opportunity. Nothing of the sort befell in Caldwell county where the Mormons were in the ascendancy, although by this time a respectable minority of anti-Mormons had appeared, so that it was important if they would triumph for the faithful to act in unison even there (Early Scenes, p. 90). In Daviess county on the contrary, which had been established by the legislature just three days after Caldwell





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was founded, the situation was otherwise; there the Gentiles were by far the most numerous, but the Mormons held the balance of power between the Whig and Democratic parties (Lee, p. 56). At this period of their history they were voting with the Democrats and opposing the Whigs.

Political excitement was running high (Davis and Durrie, p. 115). Mr. Wm. P. Peniston, Colonel of the 60th Regiment of Missouri Militia was at the polls in Gallatin, the county seat of Daviess, where he resided. As a person of some degree of local prominence he was likely solicited to address the people, although he was not at the moment a candidate for any office. In the course of his remarks he assumed the position that the Mormons were no more entitled to the benefits of the electoral franchise than the colored population; for if the latter were in slavery the Mormons were likewise the slaves of the theocratic Presidency (Caswall, p. 162).

About thirty of the Saints were present to attend to the sentiments that were propounded in this harangue (Lee, p. 60). A conflict would be almost inevitable when the parties should become duly excited; neither did it signify much; election escapades of that sort were common everywhere. But this was just the kind of excuse that Sidney and Joseph were longing to obtain; in their estimation the state of Missouri had now stepped forward to brush away the token that had been resting upon the shoulder of the Theocracy ever since the Fourth of July. The Theocracy were intent upon making the most of a trifling opportunity.





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Tidings of the affair at Gallatin reached Far West with the usual accompaniments of exaggeration. It was reported that several of the Mormons had been killed, and that their bodies were denied the benefits of burial by reason of the wrath of their adversaries (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 137). No report could have been more welcome; immediately Joseph, Hyrum and Sidney the members of the First Presidency were at the head of a mob of a hundred men, and on their way to the Mormon settlement at Adam-ondi-Ahman (Bennett, p. 325; Juv. Inst., 12, p. 137). In the ride of twenty-five miles that intervened between Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 111), many visions of glory must have passed before this precious trio. Joseph had embraced an opportunity to declare in his public addresses that "he could revolutionize the United States, and that if provoked he would do it" (Bennett, p. 317). His prediction relating to the "one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean" would often cross his thoughts. The Theocracy was marching forth to its conquest, which would not be arrested until all nations should acknowledge its authority.

The 7th of August 1838 was an era in the history of Mormonism; the Theocracy crossed the Rubicon and took up arms against the world. Joseph's mob did not set its course towards Gallatin, where it would have been possible to undertake an investigation; it laid its way for Adam-ondi-Ahman where it might increase its numbers. Many of the faithful are said to have joined themselves to the ranks before Adam-ondi-Ahman was reached (Juv. Inst., vol. 12, p. 137).





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At the house of Lyman Wight, the chief man of Adam-ondi-Ahman, the trio came to their sober second thoughts. The brethren who entered the encounter at Gallatin on the preceding day had come out of it with flying colors; they had been able to take care of themselves. But it would be an exceedingly difficult business to explain the present lawless proceeding of the Theocracy in levying war against the county of Daviess and the commonwealth of Missouri. Revolving this matter in his thoughts during the night of the 7th of August Joseph fell upon a scheme which he believed would enable him to conceal his own action and that of the insolent mob which marched at his heels.

The terms of that scheme were to intimidate all the people who could be supposed to have personal knowledge of this hostile invasion of Daviess county. Adam Black, a Justice of the Peace, resided in the vicinity of Adam-ondi-Ahman (Juv. Inst., vol. 12, p. 137); he had sold to Vinson Knight, the Bishop of Adam-ondi-Ahman, the landed estate upon which that worthy resided. If Governor Boggs at Jefferson City should obtain official information such as would justify him in taking action against the prophet for his lawless movement against the county of Daviess, he reflected that it must occur by the agency of a Justice of the Peace. If however, it should be in the power of Joseph to provide that nobody should appear before Justice Black for the purpose of making affidavit touching the invasion of Daviess county the affair might pass away without ever coming to the ears of the Chief Magistrate.





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The first project that he fell upon was to deal with Black in person. Accordingly he prepared a document which he considered it would be important to compel the Justice of the Peace to subscribe. The next step befell on the morning of the 8th of August, when Joseph appeared at the house of Justice Black with an armed force said to number 154 men (Bennett, p. 309); Dr. Avard, who was present, estimates that there were from 150 to 200 men (Bennett, p. 325). Arrived at the residence of Black this fanatical mob immediately surrounded it and gave him orders to affix his name to the writing that was thrust before his eyes. As a natural consequence Mr. Black was alarmed. Avard says that if Black had not given the company some kind of satisfaction it was the common understanding that he was to be violently dealt with (Bennett, p. 325). Black declares for himself that the party threatened him with instant death (Bennett, p. 309).

But Mrs. Black kept her head, and showed as courageous a temper as may anywhere be observed. In the teeth of the howling mob she rebuked the prophet with vigor, and told him she supposed that he had come to steal something from the house (Caswall, p. 163). Possibly it was due to her dauntless spirit that her husband was enabled to summon a sufficient amount of courage to decline to affix his signature to the paper which Joseph had brought along. On the contrary he asked the privilege of composing a paper for himself such as he should be willing to subscribe, and this privilege was conceded, by the lawbreakers who had undertaken to coerce him. The text of that paper has been preserved and reads as follows:





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"I, Adam Black, a Justice of the Peace of Daviess County do hereby sertify to the people coled Mormin, that he is bound to support the constitution of this State, and of the United States, and he is not attached to any mob, nor will 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."
The effrontery with which Joseph was enabled to denominate the people of Daviess county against whom he had now levied causeless war, as nothing better than a mob, is of a piece with others of his achievements. Mr. Black was not a distinguished master of the art of expression, but in the last clause of the above paper he is understood to engage that in case the Mormon people should leave him alone he would not molest them. This engagement he was fully persuaded to keep inviolate. He was so highly intimidated by the dangerous bearing of Joseph and his fierce mobocratic followers that it was full twenty days before he got courage enough to peep or mutter against one of the most dastardly outrages. The affidavit which he was finally induced to subscribe and forward to the Governor of the state of Missouri was not uttered until the 28th day of August (Bennett, p. 309).

But Joseph was not content merely to frighten Mr. Black so that he would abstain from fulfilling the sworn duties of his office; he likewise conceived the purpose to frighten the other citizens of Daviess county to such an extent that they would not be disposed to ask the services of a Justice of the Peace in order to





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bring the lawless proceedings of the prophet to the attention of the rightfully constituted authorities. Hyrum Smith deposes to the following intent:

Joseph also requested Mr. Black to call together the most influential men of the county the next day, that we might have an interview with them; to this he acquiesced, and accordingly the next day they assembled at the house of Colonel Wight, and entered into a mutual covenant of peace to put down mob violence, and to protect each other in the enjoyment of their rights. After this we all parted with the best of feelings, and each man returned to his own home (Lucy Smith, p. 239).
Posterity is indebted to the Mormons for tidings of this large and singular meeting of the 9th of August 1838. The Gentile citizens of Daviess county were there brought to such a disgraceful pass that ever afterward none of them was solicitous to allude to that painful occurrence in their history. In all the depositions that have been printed regarding these events no citizen of Daviess permitted himself to publish the shame of that day. It was in some sort of a disgrace to the hardy men of that region that they should have so far lost their spirit as to permit the mob that Joseph led to force them into such outrageous measures. Every one of them was as much intimidated as was his worship Mr. Adam Black. It was two thirds of a month before any of them could become aware of the shocking indignity that had been imposed upon them. When this circumstance is considered





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it will appear a matter of surprise that the mobocratic prophet accomplished so little. If instead of quietly returning to Far West on the morning of the 10th of August, he had turned the head of his column towards St. Louis, it appears to be possible that he might have entered the city in triumph.

Thus began and ended the famous campaign of four days. The military who performed it were for the most part members of the "Host of Israel," who were under the command of their recently elected Colonel George W. Robinson; Lieutenant Colonel Philo Dibble of the "Host of Israel" was left behind in command of Far West (Early Scenes, p. 88). About twenty of the Danites also went along under the command of Dr. Sampson Avard, their founder and at that period their chief leader (Bennett, p. 328). George M. Hinkle and Reed Peck, one the Colonel and the other the Major of the lawfully organized militia of Caldwell county were entirely ignored. It would not have been possible perhaps to have their services in such an outrageous breach of law and order.

After the aforesaid disgraceful delay the citizens of Daviess county began to awake and to assert the majesty of the law against the prophet who in the service of his Theocracy had ruthlessly trampled upon the law and upon themselves. Mr. Adam Black was by some process induced to screw his courage to the sticking place and on the 28th of August he made an affidavit touching the shameful breach of the peace which had been committed against him. William Dryden,





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the Justice of the Peace before whom Mr. Black made his sworn statement, shortly issued a writ for the arrest of Alanson Ripley and George A. Smith, a couple of leaders of the mob who chanced to reside at Adam-ondi-Ahman. The above writ was committed to a special deputy, for the reason that the constable had been driven from the county "by and through fear of the Mormons." Mr. Nathaniel H. Blakely, the special deputy, summoned a guard of ten men, and made his way to Adam-ondi-Ahman, but force was employed to drive them out of town, and they were constrained to return without the prisoners (Bennett, p. 312).

Judge Austin A. King of the Fifth Judicial Circuit gave his attention to the enterprise of arresting the lawless prophet. A writ that was founded upon an affidavit made by Colonel Peniston was sent to Far West by the hands of the Sheriff of Daviess county; Joseph refused to obey the summons but professed his willingness to be tried in Caldwell county. On the other hand it appears that the offense was committed in Daviess and not in Caldwell county, and also that it was an impossibility to procure a verdict against Mr. Smith for any kind of offense in Caldwell. From Mormon accounts the point is clear that the sheriff of Daviess went on two several occasions to interview Joseph on this business without success; the mob was too strong for the law (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 153).

That act of defiance on the part of the prophet and of his adherents in Daviess county created a deal of excitement. The men of Daviess being unable to execute the laws, it was not long before the citizens of other counties came forward to assist them (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 153-4).





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The Theocracy affirmed that when God speaks he must be obeyed, whether his word comes in contact with the laws of the land or not; and as the kingdom spoken of by Daniel had been set up its laws must be obeyed (Bennett, p. 338). But the whole of northwestern Missouri were at length united in the conviction that it was right to resist the insolent mobocrat, who in the name of religion was violating every bond of social order.

Historical authorities have not transmitted the exact date of the writ that was returned with dishonor by Joseph from his stronghold at Far West, but it must have been towards the close of the month of August when Governor Boggs perceived the peril of the situation. If he would prevent the embarrassments of an armed conflict between the lawless "Host of Israel" and the almost equally lawless bodies of citizens who had collected to the number of times hundred at Millport in Daviess, he must speedily summon the militia. Accordingly he issued orders to Atchison, Clark, Lucas, Wallock, Bolton, Crowther and Grant, who were Generals of Division in different portions of the state, to the effect that they should each raise some companies of cavalry and infantry for immediate service (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 154).

A portion of the troops were on the ground of action before the 6th of September 1838. Joseph who had previously carried his head in the clouds now became alarmed. It entered into his mind that it might be a prudent thing if the leader of the insolent Theocracy should condescend a trifle "to befriend that law which is the constitutional law of the land."





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With his cumstomary shrewdness he sends a messenger who should summon from Liberty his former counsel Messrs. Atchison and Doniphan (Early Scenes, p. 88). General Atchison having already succeeded in raising from his Division the quota of troops which had been required by the Governor, came in haste to inquire for what purpose his presence had been desired by Joseph (Early Scenes, p. 88). A hundred of the militia did him escort service. The prophet on his part had formed the plan of going to the trial in Daviess with all his own forces collected at his back. Atchison knew the temper of the people of Missouri too well to permit his client to improve his cause after that fashion; the only guard that was allowed was believed to have been the hundred troops whom General Atchison had brought along from Clay county (Early Scenes, p. 88).

Some of those troops under the influence of General Atchison must have been comparatively sweet upon Joseph. A scene which the garrulous old Lucy Smith describes may have been enacted in one or other form by them (Lucy Smith, pp. 233-235). It was also at this moment that Joseph and Sidney undertook the important step of becoming students of the law (Stenhouse, p. 83). For a number of years after this date it was the pride of Mr. Rigdon to be designated as an Attorney at Law (Bennett, p. 210; p. 156). He is even reported to have endeavored the task of earning a livelihood in that character shortly after he had occasion to quit Nauvoo in the year 1842.

Thursday the 6th of September was fixed as the day for the appearance of the criminals of the Theocracy at their trial in the





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county of Daviess (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 154). The scene of the occurrence was laid midway between Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman (Early Scenes, p. 88), where the troops who had been enlisted from various sections of the state under orders from the Governor had been encamped (Lee, Life and Confessions, p. 64). The prosecutor, Colonel Wm. P. Peniston, upon whose motion the writ had been issued was not ready for trial, and the brethren were compelled to return and wait upon his convenience the next day.

When Atchison declined to permit the heads of the Theocracy to be guarded to the scene of trial either by the "Host of Israel" or by the Danites, he solemnly assured Joseph that he would be equal to the task of giving him complete protection. But as the prophet entered the camp of the state troops on the morning of the 6th of September, he perceived that they were decidedly unfavorable to him; so extreme was their hostility that he conceived there was room to question whether General Atchison might be able to hold their passions in check. Consequently it occurred to the mind of Mr. Smith that it would be wise and safe for him to perfect arrangements to protect himself. This was accomplished by ordering "a company of the brethren to accompany him to the line of Caldwell county, and there remain so as to be ready at a moment's warning, if there should be any difficulty at the trial" (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 154).

No difficulty befell at the trial; Joseph and the leading conspirators against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth, were found guilty and bound over to court in the sum of Five Hundred Dollars apiece (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 154).





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But the business did not end there. The company of troops whom Joseph had collected at the borders of Caldwell county must have embraced nearly every able-bodied man within the limits of the county; the place of rendezvous could not have been more than a couple of miles from the scene of trial. The militia and the citizens were therefore greatly incensed by what in their eyes would appear to be an impudent proceeding on the part of the Theocracy. Joseph was understood to be endeavoring to intimidate themselves and the court of justice which they had been charged to protect. Instead of mending the business by submitting to be tried for his crime the prophet had only made it worse.

So much fuel was added to the flame that the men of the citizens' party were excited to the point of appearing in force before the town of Adam-ondi-Ahman on the morning of Saturday the 8th of September, for the purpose of besieging and capturing it (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 161). Their blood was thoroughly aroused; in an open issue between the Theocracy and their country they were resolved to defend the latter to the extent of their ability, although they were constrained to allow that they had no formal orders from the Chief Magistrate thus to assemble themselves against their enemies and his.

As soon as this action was announced the Mormons of Caldwell began to arrest the opponents of the Theocracy within their own county (Bennett, p. 313), it was apparently considered important to make the struggle as fierce as possible. They likewise sent troops from Caldwell to sustain





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their beleaguered brethren at Adam-ondi-Ahman; a party were dispatched thither on the 8th of September and another on Sunday the 9th (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 161). To appearance these reinforcements were under the command of Major Seymour Brunson of the "Host of Israel" (Lee, Life and Confessions, p. 69). Besides Major General Atchison there was likewise called into service his law partner, the distinguished Alexander W. Doniphan, who was commander of the First Brigade of Atchison's Division (Stenhouse, p. 83). The latter is given out to have had under his command as many as Five Hundred soldiers, who had assembled in obedience to the call of the Governor (Kidder, p. 136). These were considered enough to hold in check the opposing parties, and so it appears that orders were not sent forward to the other commanders of Division whose names were mentioned above to put in motion the forces which they had enlisted to operate in this campaign.

Only a single occurrence of moment fell out during the remainder of the month of September. The forces which were operating against Adam-ondi-Ahman, were under the control of a certain Dr. Austin of Carroll county (Kidder, p. 135). Finding that he had a party of adherents at Richmond in Ray county, Austin sent thither for a collection of public arms, with which to provide his forces. Hearing of that enterprise the Mormons of Adam-ondi-Ahman were shrewd enough to prevent its completion; the arms were captured by a scouting party that had been sent forth under the command of Captain Allred and his band of ten men (D.&C., 12, 161). After they had procured them





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the brethren were naturally afraid to employ these weapons against their enemies. They were shortly afterwards surrendered into the hands of Brigadier General Doniphan (Caswall, p. 166).

The five hundred militia under the direction of General Atchison were not required for any long season; they were disbanded on the 20th of September (Stenhouse, p. 83). Two companies of them were retained for thirty days after that date under the command of Brigadier General Parkes of Ray county, who was charged with the duty of watching the citizens and preventing them from making any assaults upon the Mormons (Caswall, p. 166). General Parkes performed his duties with so much energy that before the end of September, Daviess county was entirely at peace. Especially was the tune of Joseph and the Mormons changed. Addressing the Governor on the 27th of the month, General Atchison says: "I have found there is no cause of alarm on account of the Mormons; they are not to be feared; they are very much alarmed" (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 171).

The prophet had sowed to the wind; he was now reaping the whirlwind. It signified nothing hopeful that Daviess county became quiet during the last portion of the month of September 1838. The people of the state of Missouri, were much aroused by the circumstance that they had been challenged to a war of extermination, and that this war had just now been opened upon them. They were resolved to give the Theocracy as much of that kind of entertainment as they could desire; hostilities were by no means at an end; they were only transferred to another theatre. On the first of October they broke out at the town of De Witt in Carroll county.







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Chapter II.
Campaign in Carroll County.

Though the men of the citizens' party had retired from the county of Daviess, this step was not taken because they were content; they had only given way before the presence and energy of the militia of the state. The war which the Theocracy had recklessly opened, was not easy to close. The Theocracy must abide the issue of its own folly.

At De Witt in Carroll county was a Mormon village, which Hyrum Smith asserts contained as many as seventy families (Lucy Smith, p. 240). It was situated about fifty miles south east of Far West, immediately on the banks of the Missouri River, and had been founded sometime prior to the establishment of Adam-ondi-Ahman in Davies (Handbook of Reference, p. 47). It was a convenient and desirable point for the Saints who might be making their way to Caldwell county by water, to quit the river; steamboats could likewise here discharge any cargo of freight that was intended for Far West. It is also possible that the personal interests of a couple of landed proprietors had some influence in directing the choice of the Mormons so that it might fall upon this particular spot (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 184).

It has been shown how the citizens of Clay county considered that they had solved the problem which threatened themselves and the state of Missouri, when they got the Mormons snugly packed away in the county of Caldwell. It was not in the calculation that they should transgress those limits and fix their residence in other





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portions of the Commonwealth, where the same objection was felt to their presence as in Clay county. The purpose of the Missourians, therefore, almost throughout the Second Missouri War, went no farther than to drive the Mormons back to Caldwell county, where it was conceded they belonged; it was not until the 27th day of October 1838 that the notion of driving them beyond the limits of the state was broached (Stenhouse, p. 96).

Consequently it was held that the Saints at De Witt had no just right to a position in that section, and that it was important to drive them back to Far West, whence they had come forth. At the same time a meeting was held in Saline county for the purpose of warning away a handfull of the brethren who had found their way to that place (Lyman O. Littlefield: The Martyrs, Salt Lake, 1882, p. 28).

It was considered that Dr. Austin of Carroll county had won his spurs as a leader of the citizens who recently assembled to oppose the Mormons in Daviess county. Returning to his home he shortly collected a force of two or three hundred men (Stenhouse, p. 84), and sat down before the town of De Witt on the first of October 1838 (Caswall, p. 166; Handbook of Reference, p. 48). The men of Carroll appear to have cried out lustily for help (Bennett, pp. 313-4), but it was not bestowed very generously. The people of the adjoining county of Chariton sent a committee to investigate the grievance of their neighbors and after it had reported declined to send any sort of assistance (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 171). Jackson county gave them the loan of





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a cannon and possibly a number of soldiers went along to keep it out of harm's way. Towards the close of the siege General Parkes, who had now come forward, speaks of five hundred troops who were under the command of Austin, which considering the exertions that were made does not appear to be a remarkable increase (Stenhouse, p. 84).

Shortly after information had come to hand relating to the distress of the Saints of De Witt, Joseph and Sidney went to their assistance (Kidder, p. 136; Caswall, p. 167), with about a hundred troops from Far West. Colonel Hinkle was in command of the defence of De Witt (Stenhouse, p. 84). This is an important circumstance. The members of the First Presidency had now received a wink regarding the impropriety of levying such a force as the "Host of Israel," and this excellent "Host" with its field officers was for the moment laid aside; a process by which the burdens of command were transferred to the shoulders of the rightful Colonel of the Caldwell militia. The state thereby gained a point against the Theocracy.

As soon as it was possible Joseph and Sidney sent an appeal to Governor Boggs, who is reported to have returned a very ungracious reply (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 183), which however it is believed the Mormon historians have constructed for their own uses. Instead of refusing to attend to their request, Boggs ordered General Parkes to march from Daviess to Carroll county, with the two companies that were under his command for the purpose of preserving the peace. The Mormons themselves in a contemporary document allow that the militia were on the ground (Tullidge, p. 257).





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A report which General Parkes sent to Major General Atchison his commanding officer on the 7th of October, leads one to suspect that he had then been present a sufficient length of time to become familiar with the situation. He says:

"Nothing seems so much in demand here (to hear the Carroll county men talk), as Mormon 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 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 that the Mormons will have no rest until they leave; whether they will or not, time only can tell" (Stenhouse, p. 84).
The tables were clearly turned; in Daviess county the militia of the state were of sufficient strength to overawe the party of the citizens, but now they were compelled merely to look on and play the role of spectators. Nevertheless General Parkes was not idle or unskillful. He had a settled, conviction, as appears from the above cited passage in his report, that it was out of the question for the Saints continuously to abide in De Witt; consequently he employed his exertions to procure for them the best terms of removal that lay within his reach. His diplomacy was skilful enough to enable him to engage the services of the two persons who, the Mormons declare, "had been the sole cause of the settlement of De Witt being made," to act in the character of mediators. These desired the Saints to make peace with





[998]



their assailants, and such was the confidence felt in their integrity, that the Saints acceded to the proposal.

The conditions that they offered were highly favorable; the garrison was allowed to march away with all their possessions and with the honors of war, while the brethren were to be paid for the lands and houses that were left behind, which latter were mere cabins and amounted to scarcely anything (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 184). The above favorable capitulation occurred on the 10th of October 1838; and a committee was appointed without delay for the purpose of putting a price upon the fixed estate of the Mormons (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 184). The business was speedily completed, and the whole party with Joseph, and perhaps Sidney also, at their head were prepared to set forward to Far West on the 11th of October (Juv. Inst.). For his enterprise in effecting this arrangement there can be no question that General Parkes deserved well both of his country and of the Mormons also. It was a reasonable and humane conclusion especially when it is considered that the Saints had just now been insane enough to provoke and begin a war of extermination against the people of Missouri.

On the other side the Mormons have always found a peculiar pleasure in slandering the character of General Parkes and of the troops under his command; especially Captain Bogart of Ray county, who had the honor to command one of the two companies that have been mentioned has suffered from their tongues and pens. Nothing would have been satisfactory to these haughty and insolent adherents of the Theocracy but for Parkes and his forces to join with themselves utterly in destroying the citizens of Missouri; these were esteemed to have no rights as long as the Theocracy was in existence, except to be exterminated out of hand.





[999]



Fifty wagons were in the train that quitted De Witt on the morning that has been indicated (Caswall, p. 167). Mormon authorities set down the number at seventy (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 184), but that figure would argue a larger amount of movable wealth and comfort than it is believed was in the possession of the people of the town.

Many stories are set afloat in Mormon prints to the effect that numbers of the garrison of De Witt perished of starvation, but the siege of only ten days was scarcely long or close enough for that; besides the oxen which were employed to draw the fifty wagons might have easily prevented a casualty of that color. During the march it unhappily fell out that a lady who had recently been confined by childbirth, succumbed to exposure and weariness, and was buried at the wayside without any coffin (Stenhouse, p. 85). This sad casualty has been much improved by Mormon writers, and the number of deaths has been several times multiplied (Lucy Smith, p. 242).

Fairness requires it to be added that when the war had progressed a little farther hatred against the Theocracy became so active that the people of Carroll county forgot to pay the sum that had been promised the Mormons in lieu of their real estate at De Witt (Caswall, p. 167).







[1000]



Chapter III.
Campaign in Daviess County.

The war which the Theocracy had challenged and begun was now in the full course of its crimes and violence. The surrender at De Witt had greatly exasperated the feelings of Mr. Smith and his brethren. They started home on the 11th of October; the tedious march of fifty miles supplied opportunities for them to feed their spite by personal conference. Sidney and Joseph would discuss the feasibility of making reprisals in some other quarter. Their list of grievances was truly lengthy; they never once reflected that the Theocracy had deserved them all and more.

It is not very likely that they arrived in Far West before Saturday, the 13th of October. The customary worship in Far West Hall on the next morning would afford a desired opportunity to relieve their painful emotions. The prophet entered the pulpit in great force, and as a natural consequence preached an intemperate discourse. He broke in right form with the peaceful policy which he had been wont to advocate in previous years, and informed the Saints that the time had come when they should avenge their own wrongs, and that all who were not for them to the extent of taking arms to sustain them should be considered to stand against them; that the property of such persons should be confiscated and their lives forfeited (Bennett, pp. 318-9). In conclusion "gave notice that he





[1001]



wished the whole county collected the next day (Monday) at Far West" (Bennett, p. 325). Mormon historians affirm that the ground of this warlike proceeding lay in the conduct of the citizens of Carroll county, who after the surrender of De Witt had expressed their purpose to march into Daviess county for the purpose of driving the Saints from that place also (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). No materials are at hand that will avail to settle the question whether this is a true statement or merely one of the pretexts which the Mormons exhibit uncommon deftness in producing.

On Monday the 15th of October almost the entire male population of Caldwell county had assembled at the bidding of Mr. Smith; few were bold enough to declare by remaining away that they opposed his insane project (Bennett, p. 318). Joseph again took the pulpit for another harangue (Bennett, p. 325), which however, was not of much duration, and related chiefly to the ways and means of carrying on the war. He said this enterprise must be accomplished by the taking of spoils, and intimated that it was as much in order to rob the dissenters in Caldwell county as the Gentiles in Daviess (Bennett, pp. 334-5). For the purpose of encouraging and directing his soldiers, Mr. Smith related an antidote concerning a certain fabulous Dutchman who had a supply of potatoes which he refused to sell to a captain in command of troops. After perceiving that the owner of the tubers was not to be persuaded the captain turned away and gave orders that none of his men should permit him to find them disturbing the Dutchman's potatoes. Next morning, however, the Dutchman woke





[1002]



up to the fact that not a single potato was left remaining in his patch, and yet the captain had no personal knowledge concerning the process by which they had been removed (Bennett, p. 325). The point of this anecdote consisted in the notice that was hereby supplied that Joseph did not mind how much property his people should steal in case the business was deftly performed, and without his personal knowledge (Bennett, p. 332). He even argued that our Savior was reduced to the necessity of stealing corn upon a certain occasion, when it was not possible for him otherwise to procure it.

The most important address that marked the day in question, was produced by Colonel Lyman Wight. This person appears to have introduced his observations with an inquiry of such significance that it was two several times proposed to Joseph in the presence of the entire assembly. The record says:

"Wight asked J. Smith, Jr., twice, if he had come to the point now to resist the law; that he wanted this matter now distinctly understood. He said he had succeeded in smoothing the matter over with Judge King, when he was out [September 7, 1838]; and that he defied the United States to take him; but that he had submitted to be taken (before Judge King), because he (Smith) had done so... Smith replied, the time had come when he should resist all law" (Bennett, p. 334).
The meaning and interpretation of the language have reported that the period had now arrived when the Theocracy must always and everywhere assert its right to stand above every human government,





[1003]



and that as members of the Theocracy the Mormons were not amenable to the laws of the state of Missouri, of the United States or of any other human authority. Apparently it was just after Joseph had made this insolent declaration that Colonel Wight condescended to suggest the plan which he had conceived regarding the war that they had begun. "He said that before the winter was over he thought he would be in St. Louis and take it" (Bennett, p. 325). John Corrill affirms that he expected mob after mob to arise which he would have to subdue in detail until he reached St. Louis, where Wight declared he intended to pass the winter (Kidder, p. 138).

The above scheme was very dear to Colonel Wight; it controlled the military operations of the Saints during the remainder of the war. At the close of the meeting it was considered expedient to put to the vote a series of resolutions which had been prepared in advance to embody and express the measures that Mr. Smith now proposed. It was therefore unanimously resolved that all the members of the church should take hold and help; those who had been backward in carrying on the warfare should now come forward, and their property should be consecrated, so far as might be necessary for the use of the army. If any man undertook to leave the place, and go to the enemy, he should be stopped and brought back or lose his life (Kidder, p. 137).

The business of speaking and resolving having been completed in due form the meeting was adjourned to the public square where the work of enlisting volunteers was begun. Of these Corrill, a reliable witness declares that several hundred were obtained;





[1004]



two hundred were enrolled for service in Daviess county, and others inscribed their names for the purpose of guarding Far West from attack (Kidder, p. 137). In addition to these a so-called Fur Company was raised to do service in Caldwell county. Their function was to procure provisions and to impress teams and even men (Kidder, p. 137), in accordance with the hint that had been given regarding the propriety of robbing the disenters in Caldwell.

On Tuesday the 16th of October the army marched away to Daviess county under the general supervison of Joseph and Hyrum two members of the First Presidency (Bennett, p. 320); Sidney Rigdon was left behind with two hundred men in command at Far West (Caswall, p. 169). The force which marched away to adam-ondi-Ahman, was augmented by numerous able-bodied Saints in Daviess county. John D. Lee estimates that about three hundred and seventy five persons were in line (Life and Confessions, p. 68); John Corrill who was also an eyewitness speaks of as many as four or five hundred (Bennett, p. 330).

Caswall (p. 169) affirms that Apostle D. W. Patten was placed in control of the movement in Daviess county, but recent Mormon authority affirms that Colonel Hinkle, who had commanded at De Witt was likewise in authority here (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). It would be of consequence if that question could be settled. The recognition of Hinkle would indicate that the business was going forward in some sort under the auspices of the state militia; the removal of Hinkle would suggest that the Theocracy had now laid its dependence upon the Danites and upon the "Host of Israel." The latter is the more likely conclusion. Hinkle was





[1005]



present at least for a portion of the time on this expedition into Daviess county, but apparently in no official or influential character; his authority was entirely disregarded (Bennett, pp. 334-5).

Mormon historians likewise affirm that the campaign in Daviess county was undertaken by the order of Brigadier General Doniphan (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). But General Doniphan was not at that moment engaged in the military service of the state. He had been dismissed from that service by the action of Major General Atchison, who on the 20th of August 1838 had disbanded the militia under his command. The order of the Governor by which General Doniphan was again called forth was not issued until several days after the Saints had begun their wild business in Daviess. Their invasion of Daviess was the very reason why General Doniphan was once more summoned to the field. The testimony which Hyrum Smith delivered before the court at Nauvoo a few years after these events is exceedingly confused, and in many points unreliable (Lucy Smith, p. 237-66). But there is embraced in it a single passage bearing on this business, which the historian should not pass by without notice. The prophet's brother deposes as follows:

"Soon after, we again applied for military aid, when General Doniphan came out with a force of sixty armed men to Far West; but they were in such a state of insubordination, that he said he could not control them, and it was thought advisable by Colonel Hinkle, Mr. Rigdon and others, that they should return home. General Doniphan




[1006]



ordered Colonel Hinkle to call out the militia of Caldwell, and defend the town against the mob, for, said he, you have great reason to be alarmed; for, he said, Neil Gillum, from the Platte Country, had come down with two hundred armed men, and had taken up their station at Hunter's Mill, a place distant about seventeen or eighteen miles north-west of the town of Far West... (Lucy Smith, p. 240).
The question recurs as to the precise date of the above described visit of General Doniphan. It will be observed that at the time it was performed Mr. Rigdon and Colonel Hinkle were the chief figures to be encountered in Far West. Nothing is reported concerning Joseph and Hyrum. This circumstance leads to the supposition that Doniphan with his escort came to Far West while Joseph and Hyrum were absent on the campaign in Daviess county, and conferred with Mr. Rigdon who was left behind with two hundred troops to defend the place. Further, this visit must have occurred about Saturday the 20th of October, when Colonel Hinkle, perceiving that his occupation was done in Daviess county and had returned to Far West to sulk in his tent. It is possible that the sixty armed men who provided General Doniphan the honor of supplying an escort were the company of Captain Bogart of Ray county, which had been retained after the balance of Atchison's forces were disbanded.

It will now be in order to consider the amount of General Doniphan's responsibility in precipitating the horrors of intestine war upon the commonwealth of Missouri. It is clear that the war was already in progress before General Doniphan undertook his visit to Far West, and





[1007]



the militia of Caldwell county were already under arms; two hundred of them were at that moment under the command of Rigdon at Far West. On the other hand it is possible that General Doniphan, who appears to have been a person of impulsive temper, went far enough to permit an inconsiderate expression of some sort to escape his lips; a gentleman who had long performed the functions of legal counselor for the Mormons would be liable to fall into a blunder of that color. This remark would be treasured up, improved in appearance, and employed upon every occasion when it might be desirable to fabricate a pretext for lawless conduct. There is no question but that Doniphan was able to take care of himself upon ordinary occasions, but in his entire experience he had never encountered a diplomatist of the same shrewdness, capacity and unscrupulous temper as Joseph Smith. In the hands of the wily prophet, the admirable general and lawyer became nothing better than a puppet. Instead of mending matters by conference Doniphan ordinarily made them worse, and is believed to have brought upon himself very uncomfortable suspicions on the part of his contemporaries and fellow soldiers (Bennett, p. 315). But Doniphan was no traitor; he was a true man. Generous simplicity is always fair spoil for shrewd and practiced chicanery. Few men in America could successfully try conclusions with Mr. Smith at this point. As the result of present research it is fair to affirm that the hasty utterances of General Doniphan, however much they may have encouraged the Mormons, did not occasion the devastation by their hands of the county of Daviess. That was purely the result of the folly and iniquity of the Theocracy.





[1008]



Tuesday the 16th of October was occupied by the march from Far West to Adam-ondi-Ahman. That night was improved for the purpose of another meeting like the one which had been held in Far West Hall on the morning of Monday the fifteenth. Mr. Smith put forward his customary reflections touching the importance of the Saints' protecting themselves and taking the kingdom. Here he is believed to have proposed for the first time distinctly in public the theory of the Fifth Monarchy Men, to the effect that the church was the little stone spoken of by Daniel, which should roll on and crush all opposition to it, and ultimately should be established as a temporal as well as a spiritual kingdom (Caswall, p. 169; cf. Bennett, p. 330).

Colonel Lyman Wight was also gracious enough to unfold again an outline of the military campaign which he had indicated already at Far West (Caswall, p. 169). Nothing short of the control of the entire state of Missouri would satisfy his ambition.

On Wednesday the 17th of October there was a snow storm (Bennett, p. 318), which operated to prevent the forces from immediately engaging in the scheme for which they had come into the county. The day appears to have been employed in distributing the forces into companies of different sizes from twenty men up to the number of





[1009]



eighty (Bennett, p. 332), according to the emergencies of the particular service upon which it was expected they should be engaged. A Fur Company, like that which has been mentioned at Far West was organized and specially charged with the duty of plundering the citizens (Bennett, p. 332; cf. p. 320).

During the progress of this day and storm General Parkes, who it will be remembered, had recently been employed to prevent a bloody collision at De Witt in Carroll county, arrived at Adam-ondi-Ahman, it is supposed, under special orders from Governor Boggs. He must have been charged here as heretofore to have a care that no breach of the peace should occur. This brave and efficient officer with his two companies, one of which, it is well known, was under the command of Captain Bogart, comprised all of the mobilized military force that the commonwealth just then had at its disposal, and they were by necessity sent forward wherever there was any call of duty or of danger. The march to Adam-ondi-Ahman under existing circumstances was every way a dangerous operation.

The peril of the situation occupied by Brigadier General Parkes and his faithful troops was much enhanced on the night of Wednesday the 17th by the unadvised action of some of the citizens of Daviess county. These perceiving that the Mormons had levied war and invaded the county, proceeded in their turn to unauthorized acts of violence, selecting as their victim the wife of Don Carlos Smith the youngest brother of Joseph. Hyrum Smith describes the unfortunate affair in the following terms:





[1010]



On the evening that General Parkes arrived at Diahman, the wife of the late Don Carlos Smith, my brother, came in to Colonel Wight's, about eleven o'clock at night, bringing her two children along with her, one about two years and a half old, the other a babe in her arms. She came on foot a distance of three miles, and waded Grand River, and the water was then about waist deep, and the snow about three inches deep. She stated that a party of the mob, a gang of ruffians, had turned her out of doors, had taken her household goods and burnt up her house, and she had escaped by the skin of her teeth. Her husband at that time was in Western Tennessee, and she was living alone (Lucy Smith, p. 243).

The violence of the Mormon mob had begotten this violence of the citizens on the other side, but the persons who performed the dastardly act that is here described could not have been aware of the serious straits to which they were contributing to reduce General Parkes and his people. Hyrum Smith has left some intimations of the manner in which the Saints pressed upon the unfortunate Parkes. He says:

This cruel transaction excited the feelings of the people in Diahman, especially Col. Wight, and he asked Gen. Parks, in my hearing, how long we had got to suffer such base violence? Gen. Parks said he did not know how long. Col. Wight then asked him what should be done? Gen. Parks told him, "he should take a company of men, well armed, and go and disperse the mob, wherever he should find any collected together, and take away their arms." Col. Wight did precisely according to the orders of Gen. Parks, and my brother Joseph Smith, senior, made no words about it... (Lucy Smith, p. 243).




[1011]



The customary virtuosity of the Smiths at the trade of delivering false witness it is thought may be observed in the above passage. The entire blame for the atrocities which were perpetrated by the Theocracy in Daviess county is laid down at the door of General Parkes, just as in a previous instance the invasion of the county was said to have been made under the order of General Doniphan. But General Parkes had come nigh for the special purpose of preventing these atrocities. There is nothing like the agility of Mormon chicanery, and yet Hyrum Smith enjoyed the reputation of special sanctity. Possibly General Parkes in the overwhelming embarrassment and peril of his situation may have been weak enough to say something to Wight concerning the propriety of leading a force to the house of Don Carlos Smith and dispersing the wretches who had recently looted it. It was likely this small and apparently almost indispensable concession that has been employed as a pretext for the horrible crimes that were enacted in all portions of the county. Recent Mormon publications enjoy a sufficient amount of effrontery to mend the story by representing that "Lyman Wight held a commission as Colonel in the command of Parkes, and obtained permission from him to call out his men and go and put the mob down" (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). It is however, an established fact that Colonel Peniston was the commander of the militia of Daviess county (Bennett, p. 315). Colonel Wight had been in command of the militia in Caldwell county, but after his removal to Daviess county in the spring of 1838 he had forfeited the position, and possessed no military





[1012]



footing except what he might lay claim to as the head of a mob that was designated as the "Host of Israel" in Daviess county.

Proceeding under authority this way assumed from General Parkes, on Thursday morning at sunrise were issued orders for all the citizens to be safely removed beyond the limits of the county within three days (Bennett, p. 315); the period ran out at sunrise of Sunday the 21st of October (Bennett, pp. 335-6).

In the next place Wight collected the troops and made them a splendid address of which the following account has been transmitted by an eye-witness: "Colonel Wight called together every man and boy that could carry arms. When the forces were assembled Col. Wight made a war speech. As he spoke he stood by his fine brown horse. There was a bear skin on his saddle. He had a red handkerchief about his head, regular Indian fashion, with the knot in front; bareheaded, in his shirt sleeves, with collar open, showing his naked breast. He held a large cutlass in his right hand. His manner of address struck terror to his enemies, while it charged his brethren with enthusiastic zeal, and forced them to believe that they were invincible and bullet proof. We were three hundred and seventy-five strong. I stood near Col. Wight while he was speaking, and I judge of its effect upon others by the way it affected me" (Lee, Life and Confessions, p. 68).

While this burst of oratory was performing, General Parkes, it would appear, was moving off with all speed for the laudable purpose of leading his small force beyond the reach of an explosion that might have been very bloody and unfortunate (Lee, p. 69).





[1013]



Possibly it was the merit of Parkes to have conveyed to the Governor the earliest authentic accounts of the existing posture of affairs in Daviess county. The military history of the state of Missouri has not yet been composed; and many things must therefore be left without the advantages of definite date and detail, but upon the basis of the report which the commander of the above two faithful companies of militia, it would become clear to the executive that it was necessary once more to summon the forces of the commonwealth to arms.

On looking about them in the county of Daviess the Mormons were unable to discover anything like an armed force to resist them. A change of policy was therefore indispensable; as no armed force appeared it was conceived to be of good uses to destroy the places where they had formerly harbored (Kidder, p. 137). Of these Gallatin and Millport were the most prominent, though as a matter of course there would be numbers of private houses in different sections of the district which would be known as the residences of men who were more or less unfriendly to the church. Patten was sent to Gallatin with eighty men (Bennett, p. 319), who are believed to have been chiefly Danites. Lyman Wight with a like number of soldiers marched against Millport (Bennett, p. 320). The few citizens that chanced to be in either place upon their daily occasions were dispersed without any conflict. All of the houses in both places appear to have been plundered; some of the houses in each were likewise burned. Two other companies also went forth in other directions (Caswall, p. 170). The Fur Company was kept in active service in many quarters.





[1014]



The work so favorably begun on Thursday the 18th, was pressed forward under the best of auspices on Friday and Saturday. Revenge was very sweet and the Saints of the Lord were enjoying it almost to their hearts' content. More hardships were likely inflicted upon the citizens of Daviess than had ever been experienced by the Mormons. The customary casualties of such wholesale measures was duly supplied by a woman in labor and by another woman who was compelled to fly when her infant was only four days old (Bennett, p. 315). It is impossible to clear a large and populous territory without some sorrows of that nature. Moreover, many were compelled to enter upon their flight without necessary clothing; their wives and little children wading in many instances through the snow without a shoe (Bennett, p. 315).

On Sunday, October the 21st a raiding party of two hundred went into the adjoining county of Livingston to plunder and misuse the people (Bennett, p. 315). Here they were also successful in laying hands upon the cannon which the citizens of Jackson had loaned to the citizens of Carroll for the purpose of reducing the town of De Witt (Kidder, p. 138; cf. Bennett, pp. 316 and 317).

After sunrise on Sunday morning the 21st, when the three days of grace were exhaused, the work of arresting those who had not yet been fortunate enough to quit the limits of the county, was apparently begun. One of the citizens who was arrested on Sunday night by Apostle Patten, reports that "while they were getting me into Diahman about midnight, I passed on between Millport and that place, and





[1015]



counted ten houses on fire" (Bennett, p. 337). The whole number of houses that were destroyed during this raid is variously estimated at from eighty to one hundred and fifty (Kidder, p. 138). Hyrum Smith reports that the people left their houses and set them in flames merely for the sake of procuring an accusation of arson to be laid down against the much abused Mormons (Lucy Smith, pp. 243-4). It will hardly be required to give any attention to this lame explanation.

By Sunday the 21st of October nearly every Gentile had quitted the county (Bennett, pp. 314-5). On the 24th of October it was said they were all gone (Bennett, p. 318). Before that time it is likely that Apostle Patten had safely conveyed his forces back to Far West in Caldwell. It would have been an interesting spectacle to witness the three Hosannas with which Mr. Rigdon welcomed the conquerors at their triumphal entry (Caswall, p. 171).

These magnificent successes produced a marked effect upon the temper of Joseph; his schemes speedily reached to infinity. Suspecting that the cohesive power of plunder was superior to that of religion he even proposed to change his tactics, and become a temporal prince. George M. Hinkle deposes as follows with reference to this point:

After we came in from Diahman to Far West, from the last expedition to Daviess, Joseph Smith, Jr., said he intended to hoist a war flag, or standard, on the square in Far West, on which he intended to write "Religion aside, and free Toleration to all Religions and to all People that would flock to it," and that he believed thousands




[1016]



in the surrounding country would flock to it, and give him force sufficient to accomplish his designs in maintaining his flag and carrying on the war (Bennett, p. 335).










[1017]



Chapter IV.
Disaster in Ray County.

It has been suggested in the preceding chapter that Joseph was flushed with triumph by his achievements in Daviess county. He is believed to have returned to Far West with the warriors of Caldwell county on Monday the 22d or at latest on Tuesday the 23d of October. Truth is often stranger than fiction; Hyrum Smith deposes that immediately after their arrival at Far West himself and his brother Joseph had the effrontery to dispatch a messenger to General Atchison, with documents containing a written account of the atrocities that had just been enacted in their name, and even praying for assistance, if it were possible to be obtained. These documents were presented for publication to the editor of the newspaper entitled the "Far West," but it would seem that his sense of decency compelled him to decline to insert them (Lucy Smith, p. 244).

Apostle Patten the commander of the Danites was exulting in his newly won bombastic military title; in one of his paroxysms of delight Joseph had bestowed upon him the designation of "Captain Fearnaught," and his ambition rose to a promising height. Colonel Wight's plan of campaign, by means of which the mob should be whipped in detail, was apparently adopted without considering whether the silly mob would sit still and consent to be whipped in detail. But in case they were stupid enough to concede that point haste was still important if the Saints expected to carry the work to such a point that it would be feasible for them to winter quietly in St. Louis. On the contrary,





[1018]



while Mr. Smith was not indifferent to the benefits of military renown he was chiefly solicitous to finger the spoils that should thereby accrue. He enjoyed to tell the brethren "that as they had commenced consecrating in Daviess county, that he intended to have the surrounding counties consecrated to him; that the time had come when the riches of the Gentiles should be consecrated to the Saints (Bennett, p. 331).

During the absence of the army in Daviess a new invention that was expected to promote its efficiency was established at Far West. The Mormon penchant for literalizing the Scriptures has often been remarked upon. They read in the Book of Exodus concerning the work of the Lord in smiting all the firstborn of the land of Egypt, while the children of his own people were graciously passed over (Exodus, chapter 12), and considered that it would be desirable if a process of that kind might be carried forward in the state of Missouri. Consequently for months before the war began there were hints regarding the organization of such a process. In order to achieve success that way it was thought to be important to have the aid of the Indians, and an eyewitness declares that he heard Lyman Wight affirm that "they had twelve men (the Destroying Angels) of their church among the Indians, and that their object was to induce the Indians to join them in making war upon the Missourians" (Bennett, p. 311). Another eyewitness declares how "the public teachers have recently been very urgent in soliciting the people to fly to their towns for protection, as the time had arrived when the 'Flying





[1019]



Angel' should pass through the land accompanied by the Indians" (Bennett, p. 310). Apparently an arrangement was meditated by which parties of Indians should accomplish the work of destruction under the guidance of Mormon elders who should inform them which houses to spare and which to consume.

In the existing exigency, however, the Indians had left the Saints to themselves. Therefore, on the night of Saturday, October 20th 1838, a special corps of twelve was formed under "the name of the Destruction Company for the purpose of burning and destroying... This burning was to be done secretly by going as incendiaries" (Bennett, p. 320).

Being now reinforced by this new branch of the military service, the policy was pursued of massing all the available forces at Far West, for the purpose of striking a blow at any point that it might be considered important to touch. In keeping with this warlike policy, Lyman Wight reached Far West on the evening of October the 24th with 300 soldiers from Daviess county (Lee, p. 73; Fragments of Experience, p. 50). Before this date the entire militia of Caldwell county had also been ordered to duty by the command of Higbee, the County Judge (Lucy Smith, p. 244; Stenhouse, p. 94). This hostile array was intended for nothing but speedy conquest.

The only hostile force within sight was encamped at a place called Buncombe in Ray county, about twelve miles north of Richmond the county seat (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). It was composed of 30 or 40 men (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200), under the command of Bogart, who is well known as one





[1020]



of the two captains that were doing duty under the command of Brigadier General Parkes. Having retired before the superior force of the Mormons in Daviess on Thrusday the 18th of October these gentlemen had resorted to their own county of Ray for the purpose of affording what protection they might to their alarmed fellow citizens until such time as the Governor should find occasion to summon the militia of the entire state.

Captain Bogart was a Methodist preacher who had figured as a Major of Cavalry in the Black Hawk war of the year 1832 in Illinois, having commanded there a battallion of rangers which accomplished satisfactory service (Ford's History of Illinois, p. 125). Though he had subsequently quitted that state in ill odor (Ford, p. 260), he was yet a good soldier, and at the present instant was acting in the line of duty.

To all appearance, Apostle Patten as a rising military genius, had become a trifle jealous of Colonel Wight, and was solicitous to strike a decisive blow in which the latter should have no sort of share. In pursuance of this purpose he is believed to have kept his spies actively employed throughout the day of October the 24th in observing the movements of Captain Bogart. Two of them came to Far West as late as 11 o'clock in the evening in order to inform him where the enemy had established his camp at nightfall (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). The plan for a complete surprise of Bogart and his comrades was believed to be securely laid.

At the hour just now indicated Patten summoned his force consisting of about sixty or seventy men (Kimball, p. 54), under the pretext that eight of Bogart's





[1021]



people had taken three of the Mormons, and carried off a number of horses and other property (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). The followers of Patten in this ride were nearly all, if not every one of them, Danites (Lee, p. 73). Their project was a lawless invasion of the county of Ray, for while it might have been within the province of County Judge Higbee, to command the lawful militia to defend the citizens of Caldwell, he yet had no authority to send anybody across the border.

The distance of twenty miles to a ford of Crooked River that lay just miles inside of Ray county was accomplished by daylight of the 25th of October (Fragments, pp. 50-1). By the instructions he had obtained from his spies it appears that Patten expected to find Bogart encamped at the house of one Fields (Kidder, p. 139), but he was disappointed. Possibly Bogart was aware that spies were on his track; to deceive them his camp might have been altered after nightfall to avoid a surprise. The combat is believed to have befallen on the farm of a certain Mr. McDaniel (Bennett, p. 329).

It chanced in the end that instead of Patten surprising Bogart, the triumph was on the other side; Bogart was fortunate enough to surprise Patten. The Mormons have never forgiven Captain Bogart, the skill and courage he displayed on this trying occasion; it would not be amiss if the people of Missouri should take some kind of care to honor his memory for the distinguised feat he accomplished on their behalf.

The Danites were severly punished in the encounter at Crooked River. Gideon Carter fell dead at the first fire; he was so much disfigured





[1022]



that the brethren at first did not recognize him (Kimball's Journal, p. 57). Eleven others were wounded, among the number Apostle Patten and Mr. Patrick O'Banion, both fatally (Handbook of Reference, p. 48). James Holbrook and another Danite fell to fighting in the dark and did not perceive that they were fellow soldiers until they had done important injury each to the other (Lee, p. 73).

A wagon was procured in which six of those most seriously wounded were carried from the field (Fragments, p. 52). Of these Apostle Patten being in desperate straits was left at the house of a Saint named Winchester, who resided four miles from the scene of the action and perhaps within the limits of Caldwell county. He desired the friends who bore him away to stop earlier but they were apparently afraid to risk either the patient or themselves within the precincts of Ray county (Kimball's Journal, p. 54). Under the roof of the said Winchester, Patten made a pious end surrounded by the chief names of the hierarchy (Kimball's Journal, pp. 54-5).

O'Banion, who was carried to the house of President Rigdon in Far West, passed away shortly after the departure of his commander (Kimball, p. 57). By the representations of H. C. Kimball both of these brethren enjoyed the advantages of medical assistance, which was contrary to the requirements of strict Mormon orthodoxy.

Though Patten and his Danites were so severely punished they were yet sufficiently resolute to drive Captain Bogart and his men from the field (Kimball, p. 54); they also took plunder and about thirty horses belonging to the enemy (Kidder, p. 139). On the contrary it cannot





[1023]



be called in question that the victory remained with the men of Ray county. They were fighting on their own soil; the Mormons were fighting in the character of invaders. It was confidently believed that one Danite could chase a thousand and two could put ten thousand to flight; that no Danite could be hurt by Gentile hands (Lee, p. 75). But the Danite prestige and faith were now destroyed; their confidence in the Lord, for the moment, was quite upset. John D. Lee declares, "I was thunderstruck to hear Joseph Smith, the apostle, say at the funeral of Capt. Patten, that the Mormons fell by the missiles of death the same as other men" (p. 75). With the leader of the Danites in his grave the corps had no more spirit; it is believed to have been immediately dissolved. A vivid impression of the gloom that rested over the camp of Israel is conveyed by the narrative of Mr. Heber C. Kimball, who with important significance remarks, "This was a gloomy time!" (Journal, p. 57).

On the other hand the people of Ray were not aware how fortunate was their situation. They perceived that Bogart their only defender and hope had been driven away with the loss of one man by death and several others by wounding (Kidder, p. 139); but they were not informed relating to the severe and final check he had imposed upon the scheme of the Theocracy. Their consternation was very painful; it was given out that Richmond would be burned without delay (Stenhouse, p. 95), perhaps by the agency of the corps of Destruction under command of the Destroying Angel of whom Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde, two of the apostles who recently escaped from Far West had brought





[1024]



particular information (Bennett, pp. 319-20). Captain Bogart appears to have had self-command enough to dispatch one of his troopers to Lexington for the purpose of conveying official information to the Governor; the courier reported, possibly by authority, that ten of his comrades were killed and the balance were captured (Stenhouse, p. 95).

There was no longer any real occasion to fear the Mormons. Under the most favorable conditions it would require several days for them to recover from their depression; if these were employed with discretion and vigor the Governor and his people might hope to be ready when the insolent Theocracy once more should venture forth to battle. Apostle Patten and the chief strength of the Danites were alike interred at Far West on the 27th of October, with great lamentation. The brethren had obtained a lesson which showed them how perilous a thing it may be to tinker with secret organizations and with firearms.

The excuse which the Mormons invented to cover up their blame in this transaction was that they were not aware that they were attacking the militia of the state when they fell upon Bogart and his company (Kidder, p. 139). It is perfectly useless to set forward this pretense. Captain Bogart had been in service since the beginning of September 1838; he had been well known in the character of a Captain of militia under Brigadier General Parkes, first in Daviess county, then in Carroll county, and again in Daviess; the Mormons had kept spies on his track throughout the entire day of October the 24th, and taken accurate notice of his encampment at nightfall and there can be no question





[1025]



that they understood exactly the nature of the party with whom they were dealing. The spies who reported his movements are conceded to have had no kind of doubt that it was Captain Bogart whom they were following (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 200). Consequently it is clear that the very reason why the Theocracy elected to assault Bogart must be sought in the circumstance that he was in command of a body of troops that stood in the service of the state of Missouri. It is a custom of the Theocracy that has been previously mentioned, to designate all those who do not belong to themselves by the title of mobs and mobocrats. They appear to conceive that no other government than the Theocracy has any lawful right to existence.









[1026]



Chapter V.
Massacre at Haun's Mills.

The Saints gave their consent to a removal from Clay county in the month of July 1836; the work of removal was formally begun in September 1836 (Juv. Inst., 12. p. 62). The first place where they established themselves was on Shoal Creek in Ray county (Remy and Brenchley vol. 1, p. 306). On the 26th of December 1836 the legislature created the new county of Caldwell, thus segregating the Mormon settlers from the inhabitants of Ray county. The lands on Shoal creek, which passes through the centre of Caldwell county, are considered the most desirable (Davis and Durrie, p. 330). At one point on the stream, which is said to have been "about twenty miles below Far West" (Tullidge, p. 259), an industrious Mormon named Haun had established a settlement which is described as being "a little town of eight or ten houses with a grist and a saw mill" (Heroines of Mormondom, p. 88). Common fame declared that it was a community of considerable wealth (Lee, p. 78); as a natural consequence it would not be likely to possess any considerable amount of fanaticism.

John D. Lee reports that the dwellers about the Mills were rendered uneasy by the battle that had just transpired with Captain Bogart and his men: The morning after the battle of Crooked River, Haun came to Far West to consult with the prophet, concerning the policy of removing the settlers to the fortified camps. Colonel Wight and myself were standing by when the prophet said to him, "move in by all means if you wish to save your lives." Haun replied that if the settlers left their homes all their property would be





[1027]



lost, and the Gentiles would burn their houses and other buildings. The prophet said, "you had much better lose your property than your lives; one can be replaced, the other cannot be restored; but there is no need of your losing either if you will only do as you are commanded." Haun said that he considered that the best plan was for all of the settlers to move into and around the mill, and use the blacksmith shop and other buildings as a fort in case of attack in this way he thought they would be perfectly safe. "You are at liberty to do so if you think best," said the prophet. Haun then departed well satisfied that he had carried his point (Lee, p. 78).

Accordingly the dwellers in the vicinity were assembled at the Mills; tents were brought into requisition for the purpose of sheltering some of them (Stenhouse, p. 101). Besides the inhabitants of the neighboring community several families of the brethren who had just now arrived in the country were sojourning for a brief season at the place (Tullidge, p. 259). This was the case of Warren Smith and his family (Heroines of Mormondom, p. 88), as likewise of Joseph Young and family (Stenhouse, p. 100). Altogether there were about thirty families collected at the hamlet (Stenhouse, p. 101), among which were numbered about forty men (Tullidge, p. 259). It is possible that as many as two hundred persons were upon the ground, some of them employed in guarding the Mills and others in gathering their crops (Stenhouse, p. 101). It was apparent to all parties that their situation was exposed and perilous.





[1028]



With a view to provide against every casualty that lay within sight the Saints at Haun's Mills were at pains to confer with their Gentile neighbors; they "made an agreement with the mob which was about there that neither party should molest the other, but dwell in peace" (Tullidge, p. 259).

On the 26th of October Governor Boggs, having been duly informed of the atrocities that had been practiced by the Saints in driving from their homes the people of Daviess county is said to have issued an order by means of which two thousand troops were summoned to arms (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 206). This order was directed to five of the military Divisions in that portion of the state where the troubles were going forward, and it provided that four hundred men should be raised from each of them (Stenhouse, p. 96).

Apparently the Governor was embarrassed to obtain a suitable commander for this force. Major General Atchison of the Third Division was not even summoned to the war (Bennett, p. 323), but General Doniphan of Clay and General Parkes of Ray, each of whom commanded a brigade in Atchison's Division received orders (Stenhouse, p. 99). Neither was General Samuel D. Lucas of Jackson, who commanded another Division, called into service, "except that General Lucas was directed to raise four hundred men in his Division, and to place them under the command of a Brigadier General. The privilege was offered him of commanding the troops from his own Division," but not in the character of a ranking officer (Bennett, p. 323).





[1029]



It is hardly possible in the present state of research to affirm with certainty what might have been the occasion of the Governor's aversion to Atchison and Lucas. Mormon authorities declare that his Excellency had been offended by the friendship which Atchison displayed towards the Saints, particularly at the period when the latter had command of the forces in Daviess during the month of September 1838. Possibly there is a moiety of truth in this conclusion; but there is no positive proof relating to the business. It is likewise related that Atchison was chagrined by the neglect of the Governor, and improved the occasion to give a public dinner to his friends at Liberty in the progress of which he was free to denounce his Excellency (Early Scenes, p. 89). Whether this incident really fell out in the fashion described is exceedingly questionable.





[1029a]



If it be true as reported that Atchison was suspected of treason in favor of the Mormons, it is more than likely that no charges of that quality could be laid down at the door of Major General Lucas of Jackson county. Why was he not called to the burdens and honors of supreme command? There is need of additional information touching this portion of the subject; the history of Missouri appears to be up to this time a too little explored field of research.

Possibly Governor Boggs, who was at the head of a Democratic administration, may have been sensible of the existence of good reason why the Whig party should be prominently enlisted in the enterprise of expelling the Mormons from the state; it was clearly not to be desired that the Democrats should render themselves offensively prominent in the prosecution of this labor. It must have been well known to Governor Boggs that General John B. Clark of Fayette, Howard county, who commanded the First Division of state militia was a prominent Whig leader; he was the candidate of that party for the office of Governor in the year 1840, and received 22,212 votes, against Thomas Reynolds the Democratic candidate who was honored by 29,625 votes (Davis and Durrie, p. 118).

But that suggestion will be reserved for the consideration of students who have leisure to bestow minuter attention upon the history of the Commonwealth of Missouri than would be appropriate in the present connection.





[1030]



When he had gotten quit of the two ranking officers by the process of neglect Governor Boggs on the morning of the 27th of October, sent an order to John B. Clark, Major General in command of the First Division of Missouri State Militia, instructing him to enlist four hundred troops within the limits of his Division (Stenhouse, p. 99), and to take charge of all the troops that had been raised or should be raised in the state. In his character of controlling General he was required to proceed to the county of Daviess and there operate to restore to their homes the citizens who had been driven beyond the limits of the county by the victorious Mormons during the campaign which they had waged there from the 15th to the 23d of October (Stenhouse, p. 99).

The City of Jefferson where his Excellency composed the above order on behalf of the good people of Daviess county is removed at least as much as one hundred and twenty miles from the scene of the combat with Captain Bogart on Crooked River. It therefore required a trifle more than two days for tidings of the latest Mormon encroachment to be conveyed to his ears. After the order which has been cited just above had been sent forward couriers arrived bearing advices concerning the grave occurrence that had transpired in the early morning of October the 25th. Amos Rees, Esq., of Clay county, well known as a former legal adviser of the Mormons, and Wiley S. Williams, Esquire, one of the Governor's aides, who is believed to have been a resident of Richmond in Ray county (Bennett, pp. 318-9), had each sent dispatches to the Chief Magistrate (Stenhouse, p. 96).





[1031]



Boggs was highly affected by this new movement of the insolent Theocracy; it is believed to have brought to his memory the autrocious sentiments of Mr. Rigdon's Oration for the Fourth of July, that had been put to press and scattered broadcast about the country. Sidney had there pronounced in favor of a "war of extermination" and given assurance to the people of Missouri that his Mormons "would follow them till the last drop of blood is spilled, or else they will have to exterminate us; for we will carry the seat of war to their own houses, and their own families, and one part or the other shall be utterly destroyed" (Stenhouse, p. 78).

When these flaming words were circulated about the various offices of the state government throughout the summer of 1838 it is likely that the Chief Magistrate had persued them with a chuckle of contempt. He could not believe that the Saints would ever be mad enough in sober earnest to undertake a programme of that color. But in the light of this last movement, Boggs perceived that Sidney and the Saints were in earnest. They were already carrying the war to the homes of their adversaries, and none could predict where it might end. Self-preservation is the first law of life; it was natural for the Governor to consider a scheme for self-preservation. Since the Mormons were waging what they had proclaimed should be a "war of extermination" there was no other resource but that they must be met with a "war of extermination."

Consequently in the afternoon of the 27th of October, Governor Boggs altered the plan which he had communicated to Major General Clark in the forenoon. It was no longer expected that he should give





[1032]



his cares to the enterprise of restoring the people of Daviess to their pillaged homes; something more urgent was required; General Clark must "hasten his operations, and endeavor to reach Richmond in Ray county with all possible speed" (Stenhouse, p. 99). So far from re-instating the citizens of Daviess county; the Governor would now be content if he could prevent Ray county from being devastated and Richmond from being burned (Stenhouse, p. 99). And because of Mr. Rigdon's announcement that it should be a war to the knife, his Excellency was moved to add in special time that "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state, if necessary for the public good" (Stenhouse, p. 96).

Great complaints have been urged against Governor Boggs on the score of the above order; but the Saints always find it convenient to forget that it was issued for no other reason than that they had previously issued a challenge to a war of extermination, and that they were at that moment pressing what Governor Boggs very naturally concluded was intended to be a war of extermination. Nobody is to be chastised for the prosecution of the above "exterminating order" half so severely as the insolent Theocracy, who are directly and chiefly responsible that it should have been set forth. If they had been strong enough to carry out the plan that was before them, they would have imposed "Joseph Smith or the Sword" upon every inhabitant of Missouri, and the state would have been shortly drenched in blood.

It was easy to enlist soldiers in those days, especially in the counties of Clay and Jackson, against each of which the





[1033]



Theocracy that was now marching forth to join battle, entertained a grievance if not an active grudge. They felt that their only safety was to be sought under the shadow of a military standard. Consequently it is given out by Mormon authorities that the mob from all parts of the country crowded about this standard and certainly it behooved them to do so. If the assault that was made upon Ray county on the morning of the 25th of October had fallen out with moderate success, it would not have been more than a week before the "Host of Israel" and the Danites would have been knocking at the doors of Liberty and of Independence. Everybody occupied the point of view that was held by Judge King, who remarked to the Governor that whether "with or without authority, something will shortly have to be done" (Bennett, p. 319).

Clay and Jackson counties conceived themselves to be in such extreme peril that they could not afford to wait for authority from Governor Boggs; it was their duty to defend themselves even if no order had been as yet issued from Jefferson City to that effect. Before the Governor had lifted a finger Major Generals Atchison and Lucas had set themselves to work and raised as many as two thousand troops within their two Divisions-as large a number as his Excellency later considered it necessary to summon from five of the Divisions of the State (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 206). On Sunday the 28th of October, having been made aware that the Governor had appointed Major General Clark to be the chief commander of the forces they addressed a letter to him in which they gave notice of the fact that they had enlisted





[1034]



about two thousand men for the purpose of holding the Saints in check until adequate forces might be provided and suggesting that the matter was of such grave issues that it would be seemly for the Governor in person to enter the field. Evidently these gentlemen thought it would be appropriate for every citizen of the commonwealth to be called into service.

If anybody had suspected that General Atchison was at heart a traitor to the people of Missouri, this letter of the 28th of October was calculated to correct that kind of impression. In the course of it he declared that, from late outrages committed by the Mormons, civil war is inevitable. They have set the laws of the country at defiance, and are in open rebellion (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 206). General Clark embraced the earliest opportunity to send forward this epistle by the hands of a courier; it was by that means placed before the Governor as early as the first of November (Bennett, p. 322), and possibly was a source of gratification to him. When the Mormons were made acquainted with the contents of it their feelings were much estranged. Joseph expressed the common sentiment when he wrote, "I would just name also that General Atchison has proved himself as contemptible as any of them" (Remy and Brenchley, 1, p. 326).

The change of policy on the part of the Governor, by which Daviess county was for the moment left to its fate, and every exertion was concentrated to deliver the county of Ray, operated shortly to crowd Ray county with troops; it was but a brief season in fact until they quite overflowed the boundaries of Ray and invaded the sacred





[1035]



precincts of the Mormon kingdom of Caldwell. The Theocracy had left its own territory for the purpose of carrying war and plunder to the homes of the people of Missouri; the people of Missouri now in turn entered the boundaries of the Theocracy bent upon a like cruel enterprise. It chanced that a regiment from the county of Chariton, which is said to have been under the command of Colonel Daniel Ashley sent a detachment composed of three companies under the command of Captain Nehemiah Comstock to form an encampment in the vicinity of Haun's Mills, perhaps with a view to observe the movements of the inhabitants of the hamlet and prevent them from making their way into the town of Far West, where the Mormons were as numerous as was considered to be desirable under existing circumstances.

It is likely that Captain Comstock settled down in the vicinity of Haun's Mills on Monday the 29th of October; the Saints paid him a visit on that day in order to learn what his instructions and designs might be and Captain Comstock in good faith gave them assurances of protection, which were doubtless of much comfort to their minds (Stenhouse, p. 100). The Governor's order of the evening of the 27th had not yet arrived, and Captain Comstock was not yet aware that the authorities of Missouri meditated anything of the nature of a war of extermination. On the night of the 29th, or more likely on the forenoon of the 30th a copy of that order is believed to have found its way to the retired camp of Comstock, and he appears to have set himself to work to execute it to the letter. He began the





[1036]



bloody business about four o'clock of the afternoon of October the 30th (Stenhouse, p. 101), and completed it about sunset (Heroines of Mormondom, p. 89).

The poor victims took refuge in the blacksmith shop, according to the plan which Mr. Haun had already laid down for their observance in case they were attacked, and perhaps most of those who were found there were ruthlessly cut down. Amanda Smith reports that fifteen were killed and ten wounded, two of whom died the next day (Heroines of Mormondom, p. 90). Among the killed are mentioned the names of Messrs. Merrick, McBride, a solder of the American Revolutionary War, York, Cox of Indiana, Warren Smith and his son Sardius Smith. As persons who were severely wounded, are mentioned the names of Isaac Laney, Mr. Yocum, Miss Mary Stedwell, the boy Alma Smith, and another boy whose name is unknown.

Mormon accounts have contributed what they might to heighten the effect of this cruel affair by representing that Sardius Smith was murdered while begging for mercy (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 218), but his mother, Amanda Smith, knows nothing of that occurrence (Heroines of Mormondom, pp. 90-3).





[1037]



If the militia of Chariton had been as bloody minded as such an act would indicate, it is likely that they would have murdered Alma L. Smith, and the other little boy whose name is not given, who were both hidden away with Sardius Smith under the bellows of the blacksmith (Heroines of Mormondom, p. 89). They would likewise have killed Willard Smith, who to appearance was in the shop and escaped without a scratch (Heroines of Mormondom,. pp. 90-1). Mormon writers have an excellent gift for dressing up a story; this story needs no dressing up; it is ill enough as it stands. Here the insolent Theocracy obtained a solemn answer to the bloody challenge of extermination which they had issued on the Fourth Day of July. They had also recklessly opened a war of extermination, and it was to be anticipated that they should encounter the chances of a war of extermination. This incident proved to them that the people of Missouri were as deeply in earnest as themselves, and filled their minds with terror. It was a pity that such means should have been employed for their instruction; but they required nothing half so urgently as a sound, strong lesson.













[1038]



Chapter VI.
The War Closes at Far West in Caldwell County.

Serious depression was occasioned by the disaster which befell the Danites at the ford of Crooked river on the morning of the 25th of October; it defaced beyond any recognition the fine plan which Lyman Wight had conceived as appropriate for the purpose of conducting hostilities. On Saturday the 27th of October Apostle Patten was carried to his grave at Far West (Handbook of Reference, p. 48). Mr. Smith officiated at the funeral ceremonies, and gave the brethren instruction regarding the fact that Mormons and even Danites might fall by means of missiles of death, precisely as in the case of ordinary mortals (Lee, p. 75).

On Sunday the 28th however, the spirits of the prophet had rallied to a considerable degree. The following account is supplied by Mr. Lee of an occurrence that befell at Far West on the day in question, although he erroneously transposes it to Sunday the 21st of October at Adam-ondi-Ahman. It could not have fallen out at that place and time because Mr. Rigdon who figures in it was not present at Adam-ondi-Ahman on the date suggested. He relates:

It had rained heavily the night before and the air was cold. The men were shivering over a few firebrands, feeling out of sorts and quite cast down. The prophet came up while the brethren were moping around, and caught first one and then another, and shook them up, and said, "Get out of here and wrestle, jump, run, do anything but mope around; warm yourselves up; this inactivity will




[1039]



not do for soldiers." The words of the prophet put life and energy into the men. A ring was formed according to the custom of the people. The prophet stepped into the ring ready for a tussle with any comer...While the sport was at its height Sidney Rigdon, the mouthpiece of the prophet, rushed into the ring, sword in hand and said that he would not suffer a lot of men to break the Sabbath day in that manner (Lee, pp. 76-7).

The town of Far West was by this time becoming a crowded centre (Scraps of Biography, p. 98). Lyman Wight had come nigh with three hundred soldiers from Daviess; as many more had previously been driven away from Carroll county, and the faithful in the remoter sections of Caldwell were now sufficiently disturbed to leave their homes in search of safety at the county seat. On Monday the 29th of October tidings went abroad that the enemy had actually had the audacity to enter the boundaries of Caldwell; special reference was had in this instance to the regiment of Colonel Ashley from the county of Chariton, a portion of whom had established their quarters in the vicinity of Haun's Mills on Shoal creek.

It is likely that General Doniphan, was still operating in the northern portion of Daviess county, whither he had been sent by the Governor on a wild goose chase to intercept the retreat of the Mormons (Stenhouse, p. 99). No troops were actually in sight of Far West, however large the number that might be in sound of the place. Consequently on the morning of Thursday the 30th of October it was still in the power of Joseph to whistle to keep his





[1040]



courage awake. He delivered an address in which he allowed himself to affirm that he did not care anything about the coming of the troops, nor about the laws, and that he did not intend to try to keep the laws, or please them any longer; that they were a d----d set, and God would damn them, so help him Jesus Christ; that he meant to go on them as he had begun, and take his own course, and kill and destroy, and told the men to fight like angels; that heretofore he had told them to fight like devils, but now he told them to fight like angels; that angels could whip devils (Bennett, p. 331).

Nevertheless before this oration was pronounced Mr. Smith had been at pains to send for Colonel Hinkle, the only lawful commander of the militia of Caldwell county, whose services had been discarded during the campaign in Daviess county, in favor of the leaders of the mob of Danites and of the "Host of Israel." Hinkle had marched into Far West in the early morning and was present in time to hear the above harangue; he was summoned that he might serve the prophet by "meeting the militia to confer with them" (Bennett, p. 335). Joseph had an idea that as Doniphan was drawing nigh, if it should be in his power to hold communication with him it might be comparatively easy for so accomplished a diplomatist to make a fool of the bluff and honest soldier.

Accordingly he ordered 160 troops with flag of truce, to go in search of Doniphan, and to all appearances went himself in the company (Caswall, p. 174). But unhappily for his project Mr. Smith failed to encounter the force of Doniphan. That officer





[1041]



on his march towards Far West is believed to have traveled a road leading farther to the southward than was anticipated by Joseph. This was likely occasioned by his desire to co-operate with the command of General Lucas. Therefore instead of approaching Far West from the north, as he was expected to do, General Doniphan approached it from the east (Lucy Smith, p. 245). He arrived in advance of the hundred and sixty Mormon troops who had been searching him out under a flag of truce (Caswall, p. 174). Hyrum Smith reports that Doniphan appeared half an hour before sunset on the evening of October the 30th.

Colonel Hinkle must have been made aware that his services were only required when it was important to communicate with the enemy. It was not considered prudent to excite them to further prejudice by sending to confer with them an officer of the "Host of Israel," but that organization appears to have been still maintained and entrusted with the chief business of the campaign. H. C. Kimball mentions the circumstance that Brigham Young and himself were both appointed to be captains of fifty on the evening of Doniphan's advent (Journal, pp. 57-8).

Instead of the five hundred men whom the Governor supposed him to possess (Stenhouse, p. 99), there were fifteen hundred men in line when Doniphan sat down before Far West; in such a period of peril everybody who offered was accepted for service (Caswall, p. 174).

Whatever may have been said or fancied regarding his





[1042]



attitude on previous occasions there can be no question that General Doniphan was thoroughly resolved against the Mormons on this occasion. The moment his troops arrived a flag of truce was sent, not to summon the city to surrender, but to notify them of the intention of the commanding general to massacre them. The bearer of the flag was instructed to say that John Cleminson, who was clerk of the Circuit Court of Caldwell county (Kidder, p. 146), and his wife, and a certain Adam Lightner, were offered their lives; but that the balance of the people could expect nothing but death (Lucy Smith, p. 245). It is not easy to reconcile this sanguinary suggestion with the conduct that is attributed by Mormon historians to General Doniphan on the two or three following days.

Joseph affirms that up to the evening of the 30th of October General Doniphan had not yet received the Governor's order of extermination (Tullidge, p. 243), but it is difficult to believe in the correctness of that statement. The order was well known at Haun's Mills, where at that moment Captain Comstock was employing his exertions to execute it: if General Doniphan had received no account of it, the proceeding by which he instructed the people of Far West to prepare for immediate destruction is certainly remarkable. General Doniphan must have been in possession of the Governor's order as early as the evening of the 30th October.

The anxiety of the Mormons naturally rose to so high a pitch that they were willing to adopt every sort of expedient to assuage it. They had captured a couple of officers of militia





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and fell upon the notion of returning them to their friends by the hands of Mr. C. C. Rich under a flag of truce (Stenhouse, p. 95). The voluntary delivery of a couple of prisoners, it was hoped would operate as a kind of reproach to the militia who did not propose to give any quarter in their assault upon Far West. Hyrum Smith is authority for the statement that this flag of truce was sent by the Colonel of Militia (Lucy Smith, p. 246); Hinkle now perceived his good offices were much in demand. Hyrum Smith also declares that as the messenger approached the camp with the purpose of requesting an interview with Generals Atchison and Doniphan he was fired upon by Bogart the Methodist preacher (Lucy Smith, p. 246). Owing to the darkness which must have prevailed at the hour when this business was performed a blunder of that sort was every way likely: the only wonder is how Mormon historians should have become aware that it was Captain Bogart who did the act of which they complain. Stenhouse, however, has improved upon the story as told by Hyrum Smith, and represents that Bogart fired upon Mr. Rich as the latter was returning to Far West after having delivered the prisoners (Stenhouse, p. 95). A later Mormon version does not differ from the assertion of Hyrum Smith (Juv. Inst., 12, p. 218).

The only result of this second flag of truce was the discovery that Atchison was not in camp, that Captain Cornellius Gilliam at the head of a force from the Platte Country, which had been operating as a corps of observation at Hunter's Hills for some length of time had now effected a junction with the command of Doniphan. The





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latter was kind enough to promise that he would not proceed with the massacre of the people of Far West during the night which had now set in, but he distinctly forbore to make any promise regarding the action of the corps that was under the direction of Gillium (Lucy Smith, p. 246).

The aforesaid Colonel of the Caldwell Militia was still unable to bring his mind to repose, and according to Hyrum Smith, he "immediately dispatched a second messenger with a white flag, to request another interview with General Doniphan, in order to touch his sympathy and compassion, and if it were possible, for him to use his best endeavors to preserave the lives of the people" (Lucy Smith, pp. 246-7). This was a sad plight for the Theocracy which had recently been insolent enough to challenge and then recklessly to begin a war of extermination.

The messenger who went out on this occasion brought tidings of the fact that General Samuel D. Lucas of Jackson county had arrived and united his forces with those of Doniphan (Lucy Smith, p. 247). This was a doleful message enough; Lucas was a General of Division, and although he had not been summoned to the field in that character, yet it appears that when they met at Far West he took rank above Doniphan, and had supreme command of the troops, which are said to have numbered as many as three thousand men (Caswall, p. 176; Scraps of Biography, p. 99). The Mormons considered that they were made aware of the temper of General Lucas by means of certain acts of violence that had been performed by members of his force upon the persons of Elder John Tanner and a certain Mr. Carey (Lucy Smith, p. 247).





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The situation now put on a serious aspect; the people of Far West occupied their energies in the labor of preparation throughout the night of October the 30th; the men casting up a temporary fortification on the south side of the town, where the bulk of the militia were assembled, and the women collecting their most valuable effects against the terrible battle that it was anticipated the morning would produce (Tullidge, pp. 243-4). The messengers who went forth under the last flag of truce were permitted by General Lucas to peruse the so-called "exterminating order" of Governor Boggs (Caswall, pp. 176-6), and it was clearly in order for the Saints to prepare for the worst.

Consternation prevailed in every quarter; the Theocracy had now obtained what they asked for-a war of extermination. Joseph it is well known was an arrant coward; he could scarcely wait for the hour to arrive on the morning of the 31st of October, when it should be in order to send forth Colonel Hinkle himself into the camp of the enemy (Lucy Smith, p. 248; cf. Tullidge, p. 244). John Corrill as cited by Caswall (p. 175), affirms that Hinkle on this occasion received instructions from Joseph to "beg like a dog for peace." It was the custom of the Mormons to put on their most pious behavior when they chanced to be discovered in any act of peculiarly flagrant iniquity; for example, after the total failure of Zion's Camp, which entered Missouri for the purpose of carrying fire and sword to the inhabitants of Jackson county the brethren in the month of July 1834, issued a pathetic and





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stirring appeal to the people and the constituted authorities of the nation, and to all men of the earth, for peace (Juv. Inst., 11, p. 286).

The terror of Joseph and his followers must have been by this time greatly increased by tidings of the massacre at Haun's Mills. Messengers from that portion of the county could hardly fail to appear in Far West before daylight of October 31; these would give the Saints to understand the precise nature of the interpretation which the militia were disposed to place upon the instructions of Governor Boggs. Hinkle entered the camp of General Lucas at 8 o'clock on the morning of October 31st "to beg for peace like a dog" (Tullidge, p. 244). Any conditions were considered to be good enough, provided the Colonel should be able to deliver the town of Far West from the fate that had just now fallen upon the brethren at Haun's Mills.

The highest thanks of the Mormons and of all friends of humanity are due to Colonel Hinkle for the manner in which he conducted the business that was entrusted to his hands. He pleaded his cause with General Lucas from 8 o'clock in the morning until a somewhat late hour of the afternoon. Possibly he was aided in his enterprise by the favor of General Doniphan (Lucy Smith, p. 248); especial mention is given to the authority of General Graham in that direction (Lucy Smith, p. 250).

Two hours before sunset Colonel Hinkle returned to Far West (Caswall, p. 176), bringing the most favorable conditions upon which it was possible that peace could be procured. The Mormons were allowed





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one hour in which to consider these conditions, during which period General Lucas would occupy his skill and energy in so disposing his troops as to make an effective assault in case the terms were rejected (Stenhouse, p. 104). Total extermination was the only alternative in case of refusal (Caswall, p. 176). The terms of surrender were as follows:

1. That the Saints should deliver up their leading men to be tried according to law.

2. That they should deliver up their arms of every kind.

3. That owners of property should sign a deed of trust by which their property should be conveyed to five commissioners in trust for the benefit of the people whom they had plundered and of the state which they had assaulted with a war of extermination, for the purpose of paying the expenses of the war; to pay the debts of the members of the church, and particularly to make compensation for losses inflicted by the hands of the Danites.

4. That they should quit the state of Missouri without delay (Caswall, p. 180; cf. pp. 177-8, and especially p. 176).

These conditions appear to be severe, but they were so much more favorable than the now defeated Theocracy felt they had any reason to expect that they were received with a degree of gratification. A sense of relief must have prevailed when they perceived that the fate of the Saints at Haun's Mills had been averted by the agency of Colonel Hinkle. For the [nonce] he must have





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been regarded and even hailed as the savior of his people. He had exhibited forethought enough to remember that it might be possible his brethren should desire to discuss these conditions for a longer period than the single hour which General Lucas had conceded; it was provided that in case such an arrangement were demanded it might be obtained; by delivering the leaders of the church as hostages the brethren would be permitted to consult about the terms until the morning of November 1st (Stenhouse, p. 104). If the conditions of peace were declined by the church then it was agreed that General Lucas should return the hostages and as shortly thereafter as convenient give himself to the labor of exterminating the entire church (Stenhouse, p. 104).

But Mr. Smith was too well content with the terms which Colonel Hinkle had brought to desire any longer period than one hour to consult about them; there was no occasion to deliver any hostages. Joseph called the brethren together and made them a parting address. John D. Lee says he, "told them they were a good lot of fellows, but they were not perfect enough to withstand so large an army as the one now before them; that they had stood by him, and were willing to die for and with him, for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven; that he wished them to be comforted for God had accepted their offering; that he intended to and was going to offer himself up as a sacrifice, to save their lives and to save the church. He wished them all to be of good cheer and pray for him, and to pray that he and the brethren that went with him might be delivered from their enemies."





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He then blessed his people in the name of the Lord. After this he and the leading men six in number went with him direct to the camp of the enemy (Lee, p. 82).

Nobody in the entire camp of the Saints misunderstood the nature of the act which the prophet was here performing. John Corrill as reported by Caswall says that Joseph declared "he would go to prison for twenty years, or suffer death itself, if he could by either means preserve his people from extermination (Caswall, p. 175).

It was impossible that Joseph or anybody else could have supposed that Hinkle was leading them into the camp of General Lucas upon any other occasion whatever than that the leaders of the church should surrender themselves as prisoners to be tried according to law, as was distinctly stipulated in the first article of capitulation. There was no kind of deception anywhere; it is a gross slander to accuse Hinkle of having acted the part of a traitor. Joseph had ordered those of the Danites who had taken part in the battle at Crooked River to decamp, with the special understanding that himself and the balance of the Saints should submit to be imprisoned (Lee, p. 82). Every act was performed with deliberation and aboveboard; Joseph gave his formal assent to the terms that were brought and exhibited by Colonel Hinkle.

The prisoners who were required by the first article of capitulation were Joseph Smith, jr., Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Parley P. Pratt and George W. Robinson. Hyrum Smith rightly belonged in the number, but he was not taken into custody until the next day (Lucy Smith, p. 251). Lyman Wight and George W. Robinson were demanded for