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TESTIMONY ACCOMPANYING THE MESSAGE.
State of Missouri, } ss .
County of Daviess. }
Before me, William Dryden, one of the Justices of the Peace of said county, personally came Adam Black, who
being duly sworn according to law, deposith and saith: that on, or about the 8th day of August, 1838, in the county of Daviess, then came
an armed force of men, said to be 154, to the best of my information and surrounded his house and family, and threatened him with instant
death if he did not sign a certain instrument of writing, binding himself as a Justice of the Peace for said county of Daviess, not to molest
the people called Mormons, and threatened the lives of myself and other individuals, and did say they intended to make every citizen sign
such obligation, and further said they intended to have satisfaction for abuse they had received on Monday previous, and they would not
submit to the laws; and further saith, that from the best information and his own personal knowledge, that Andrew Ripley, George Smith,
Ephriam Owens, Harvey Umstead, Hiram Nelson, A. Brown, John L. Butler, Cornelius Lett, John Woods, H. Redfield, Riley Stuart, James
Whitacre, Andrew ?Thor, Amos Tubbs, Dr. Gourze and Abram Nelson was guilty of aiding and abetting in committing and perpetrating the
above offence.
Sworn to and subscribed this 28th day of August, 1838.
W. Dryden Justice of the Peace } ADAM BLACK.
of the county aforesaid. }
__________
D. Ashby and others to the Governor.
Brunswick, September 1, 1838.
His Excellency Lilburn W. Boggs:
Dear Sir: -- Our country is in a complete ferment, and our families are rendered daily unhappy in consequence of the reports which are
constantly coming in concerning the hostile intentions of the Mormons and their allies, as it is currently reported and believed that they
have ingratiated themselves with the Indians, and indeed they say so, to assist them in their diabolical career.
The fears of the people are greatly excited, and nothing is now talked of but the contemplated struggle, and plans seem to be devising all
around us for the most efficient protection against their encroachments. A deadly hostility is kept constantly alive on their borders,
and our old neighbors and friends are petitioning help from abroad to relieve them in their present difficulties. Being remote from the
immediate vicinity of the Mormon troubles, we can give but little of authentic
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data on which to act, but we are strongly of opinion that there is a deeply laid scheme existing among these fanatics, that will be
highly destructive to character and at once subversive of the rights and liberties of the, people.
We have the best authority for believing that, in their public teachings, their people are taught to believe and expect that immense
numbers of Indians, of various tribes, are only waiting the signal for a general rise, when, as they state it, the "Flying or Destroying Angel,"
will go through the land, and work the general destruction of all that are not Mormons. It is not our object at the present to trouble you
with a detail of all the reports in reference to this affair, but we will state a case within our own knowledge, coming from a man who left
this neighborhood to join the Mormons, and who has the reputation among the citizens of Chariton county, for a number of years, as being
a man of strict veracity. He has returned perfectly satisfied that their object is everything opposite to Christian feeling and principle. -- The
following statement which he makes, is given at his own request, and under his own hand: -- "I have resided among the people called
Mormons about five months, during which time I have had frequent opportunities of meeting with them, both in their public and private
associations, and have sought every possible opportunity of acquiring information. I distinctly recollect hearing Joseph Smith, the prophet,
state in a public discourse that he had fourteen thousand men, not belonging to the church, ready at a moment's warning which was
generally understood to mean Indians. It was a very common source of rejoicing among all classes, oven the women and children participating,
that the time had arrived when all the wicked should be destroyed from the face of the earth, and that the Indians should be the principal
means by which this object should be accomplished. There is a common feeling amongst them, amounting to a conspiracy to protect
one another against the civil officers of the country, even if it should be attended with death. 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 Angel" should pass through the
land, accompanied by the Indians, to accomplish the work of destruction, and furthermore stating "that they will have enough to do to
protect themselves whilst this work is going on."
NATHAN MARSH."
From the above facts, added to the general reports, we have with all due consideration thought proper to suggest to your Excellency the
propriety of issuing orders to the militia, so that in case of necessity they may be called on according to the exigency of circumstances.
Your obd't servants,
DANIEL ASHBY,
JAMES KEYTE,
STERLING PRICE.
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The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Carroll County to the Governor.
Carrollton, Missouri, September, 6, 1838.
Hon. L. W. Boggs, Governor of Missouri.
Sir: -- I am requested by the committee of safely appointed for Carroll county, to forward to your honor, a copy of an affidavit made
by John N. Sapp, the contents of which, they have every reason to believe are true; they wish your honor, it you should consider the
same advisable, to acquaint the Indian agents on our frontier with that part of the affidavit which relates to the Indians.
I have the honor to be,
With great respect, your obd't servant,
JOSEPH DICKSON.
State of Missouri,}
County of Carroll.}
I, John N. Sapp, do solemnly swear that I resided in Daviess county, State aforesaid, for about the space of five months, and was a member
of the church of the people styled Mormons, and that I left them about the 15th day of August last by stealth. When I left them they
(said people styled Mormons) were building block houses, and calculated this fall to build fortifications for the protection of themselves
and families in time of war, for which they were making every arrangement, and the understanding is, that each man has to cultivate
one acre of land, and if the produce raised on said acre is not sufficient for their maintenance, and that of their families, they are to take
the balance from the Missourians, (thereby meaning the people of other denominations:) and I do, further say there are betwixt eight and ten
hundred men, well armed and equipped, who have taken an oath to support Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight, in opposition to the laws of
the State of Missouri, or otherwise, which said men are called Danites; and I was a member of said body of Danites. and have taken the above
oath; and I do further say, I have heard Sidney Rigdon and Lyman Wight say, they had twelve men of their church among the Indians,
and that their object was to induce the Indians to join them (the said Mormons,) in making war upon the Missourians, and they expected to
be fully prepared to commence war this fall, or next spring at furthest. And I also say, the Danites aforesaid, are sworn to cowhide any person
or persons, who may say aught against Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight, and if that will not prevent them from speaking about said Smith
and Wight, then they are to assassinate them.
JOHN N. his X mark SAPP.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, Joseph Dickson, Clerk of the County Court, within and for the County of Carroll, State of Missouri,
on the 4th of September, 1838.
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In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my private seal at office, there being no official seal yet procured,
this 4th day of September, 1838.
{L. S.} JOSEPH DICKSON, Clerk.
__________
Citizens of Daviess and Livingston counties to the Governor.
Daviess County, Sept. 12, 1838.
To His Excellency, the Governor of the State of Missouri:
We, the citizens of the counties of Daviess and Livingston, represent to your honor, that a crisis has come, which we believe requires
us, as the legitimate citizens of Missouri, to call on the Executive of State for protection. For several weeks past, the Mormons have been
making formidable preparations for a civil war, and one which they are pleased to call a war of extermination. We presume, that your honor
is apprised of the attack made on Adam Black, Esq., on the 8th of August, by the Mormons, and shall not enter into a detail of it here, but
we will apprise your honor that the Mormons have and keep a lawless armed force stationed in our country, and are constantly throwing
out menaces, threats and challenges to our citizens. Influenced by fearful apprehensions of danger, we, the people of the above counties,
sent an express to Richmond last week for arms and ammunition, and on their return with their load of guns, say forty-five, several kegs of
powder and two hundred pounds of lead, they were intercepted on Sunday last, in passing through Caldwell county, by a banditti of those
fanatical enthusiasts, made prisoners of, and taken to Far West, where they, the guard and the above munitions of war, are still held in
custody. On Sunday last, an armed force of fifty Mormons left their own encampment in this county, and marched to the territory of Livingston
county, for the purpose, as they said, of removing a considerable amount of property, which was subject to a lien, held by Mr. James
Welden; they passed into the settlement secretly, and falling in with a family which they suspected would alarm the settlement, they violently
seized, and made prisoners of the whole family, which consisted of three men and two ladies, all of whom, with three others of our citizens,
we believe are still held in the custody of those rebels, and deprived of their liberties. Our country, sir, is in a distressed situation,
probably two thirds of the families of Daviess county have left, and gone to seek protection among the neighboring counties, while a few of
the old settlers are still here, and are determined only to surrender their houses with their lives. For about four weeks, we have humbly and
unceasingly been petitioning our neighboring counties for aid, but we are yet in a helpless and defenceless condition.
We, therefore, the people of the above counties, being well aware
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that your honor is well acquainted with the character of those people called Mormons, and believing that our lives, our liberties, our property
and our all, are in the most imminent danger of being sacrificed by the hands of those impostorous rebels, earnestly call on your honor for
assistance -- assistance we must have, or leave our homes and seek protection elsewhere. Most of us, sir, emigrated to these frontier counties
before there were any settlements formed; we have had to encounter, and have realized nearly all the difficulties incident to a new country --
we have foregone the pleasures and the advantages of the old and well settled counties, which we have left in anticipation of enjoying like
blessings in these -- but, alas! our anticipations are blasted, and unless we can get rid of those Canadian Refugees and emissaries of the
Prince of Darkness -- we and our families are ruined.
We are, sir, your petitioners,
The Citizens of Daviess and Livingston Counties.
I, George F. Prichard, of the county of Daviess, do solemnly swear, that I had an interview with the Mormons who arrested the family in
the territory of Livingston, above referred to, and saw three of the prisoners, and was informed by them, (the Mormons,) that they had the
rest of the family under arrest, and that they intended to keep them, until they saw their own time to release them.
GEORGE F. PRICHARD.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 12th day of September, 1838.
R. WILSON,
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Daviess county.
__________
Supposed from General Atchison to the Governor, no signature appearing.
Head Quarters, 3d Div. Mo. Mi. }
Richmond, September 12, 1838. }
Sir: -- From information received from the counties of Daviess and Caldwell, within the bounds of this Division, I am well convinced, that
an insurrection does actually exist, and upon the urgent solicitations of citizens of both counties, and also upon the petition of citizens of the
adjoining counties, I have deemed it my duty to order out an armed force to put down such insurrection, and to assist the civil officers in
the execution of the laws; also to prevent, as far as possible, the effusion of blood, and to restore quiet, if possible, to the community. This
I have done by the advice of the Judge of this circuit. I have ordered four companies, of fifty men each, from the Militia of Clay county, and
a like number, from the Militia of Ray county. I have also ordered, four hundred men in addition, to hold themselves in readiness, if required.
The troops ordered out are mounted riflemen, with the exception of one company of infantry, who are also mounted. Those troops will
proceed immediately to the scene of excitement and insurrection. The
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citizens of Daviess and Caldwell counties are under arms, so that it is deemed dangerous for peaceable citizens to pass through said counties.
Citizens of other counties are flocking in to the citizens of Daviess county, and the Mormons are flocking to the assistance of the Mormons
in those counties, so that from the best information I can attain, there cannot be less than two thousand men in arms, without any legal
authority or pretext whatever, and it is very much feared, that if a blow is once struck, there will be a general conflict, the termination of
which, God only knows. So soon as I arrive at the scene of insurrection or excitement, I will report to you forthwith by express.
I have the honor to be.
Your most obedient servant.
P. S. I have also required the services of Col. Wiley C. Williams, your aid, and much is expected from his influence and efficiency.
__________
The Governor to General Atchison.
{ORDER.}
Head Quarters of the Militia, Adjutant General's Office, }
August 30, 1838. }
Gen. David R. Atchison, 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- Indications of Indian disturbances on our immediate frontier, and the recent civil disturbances in the counties of Caldwell, Daviess
and Carroll, render it necessary, as a precautionary measure, that an effective force of the militia be held in readiness, to meet either
contingency. The Commander-in-Chief, therefore orders, that you cause to be raised immediately, within the limits of your Division, to be
held in readiness, and subject to further orders, four hundred mounted men, armed and equipped as infantry or riflemen, and formed
into companies according to law, under officers already in commission.
The Commander-in-Chief suggests the propriety of your causing the above order to be carried into effect, in a manner calculated to produce
as little excitement as possible, and report your proceedings to him through the Adjutant General.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
B. M. LISLE, Adjutant General.
(A similar letter was also addressed to Major Generals John B. Clark, Samuel D. Lucas, David Willock, Lewis Bolton, Henry W. Crowther
and Thomas D. Grant.)
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Statement of William Dryden.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs,
Governor of the State of Missouri.
Your petitioner, William Dryden, an acting justice of the peace, within and for Daviess county, would respectfully represent, that the
counties of Daviess, Caldwell and Livingston are settled, in part, by a denomination of people called Mormons. These Mormons, to the
number of about fifteen hundred men, have associated themselves together, and have resisted, and do resist with force of arms, legal process
against persons belonging to their denomination. Your petitioner further states, that on the 29th day of August last past, Adam Black
appeared before me, and made oath, that Andrew Ripley, George Smith and others, had been guilty of a high offence, known to the him,
in substance, as follows, to-wit: That on, or about the 8th day of August, 1838, in Daviess county, there came an armed force to his, (Black's
house,) in said county, among whom, the said Ripley, Smith and other persons named in said affidavit, were a part, and then and there, with
deadly weapons, made an assault upon him, (the said Black,) and then and there, threatened him (Black, who was then an acting justice of the
peace, within and for Daviess county aforesaid,) with instant death, if he did not sign a certain instrument of writing, binding himself, as a
justice of the peace of said county of Daviess, not to molest the people called Mormons, and threatened the lives of himself, (the said Black)
and others, and said they intended to make every citizen of said county sign such obligation. &c.
Your petitioner further states, that he immediately issued a writ pursuant to law, for the arrest of the said Andrew Ripley, George Smith
and others, commanding the officer, entrusted with the execution of said writ, after the arrest, to bring the bodies of the persons therein
named, forthwith before your petitioner, to answer the comlaint and further to be dealt with according to law. There being no constable
within that township of which l am justice, he having been driven from the county by, and through fear of the Mormons, and your petitioner
believing that said writ would not be executed, unless a special deputy was made for that purpose, your petitioner, then and there, appointed
Nathaniel H. Blakely a special deputy, to serve said writ, and said appointment was endorsed on said writ, and signed by myself officially,
and then and there delivered to the said Blakely. Your petitioner further states, that the said Blakely, took the said writ, and summoned a
guard, consisting of ten men, who went in search of the persons named in said writ, for the purpose of executing said writ, but the said
constable returned, that the persons named in said writ, were not found in said county, by reason of himself and guard having been driven,
by force, from the town, in said county, in which the offenders were supposed there to be. The said affidavit, writ and return, are herewith
respectfully submitted to your Excellency.
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Your petitioner further believes and represents, that the Mormons are so numerous, and so well armed, within the limits of the counties of
Caldwell and Daviess, that the judicial power of the counties is wholly unable to execute any civil or criminal process within the limits of
either of said counties, against a Mormon or Mormons, as they, each and every one of them, act in concert, and out number the other
citizens. They also declare, that they are independent, and your petitioner verily believes, that the Mormons hold in utter contempt, the
institutions of the country in which they live.
Your petitioner further represents, soaie time about the 8th of September last, that three individuals were arrested by the said Mormons,
in Caldwell county, and held in custody, and your petitioner represents, that he believes they are still in confinement, without any
warrant of law. Your petitioner further represents that he verily believes, that no civil officer of the State, could cause to be executed any
legal process within either of said counties of Caldwell or Daviess.
Your petitioner, therefore, respectfully prays your Excellency to furnish the civil officers, within and for the counties of Daviess and Caldwell,
a sufficient number of troops to enable them to execute the laws of the land, and bring the offenders, aforesaid, to justice. To this end,
your petitioner will ever pray, &c.
WILLIAM DRYDEN,
Justice of the Peace, Daviess county.
September 15th, 1838.
Executive Department, City of Jefferson, Sept. 15, 1838.
To the Adjutant General.
Sir: -- You will issue an order to Maj. Gen. Atchison, commanding the 3d Division of the Militia of this State, and direct him to cause a
sufficient force of the troops under his command, to aid the civil officers within the county of Daviess, in executing such writs of process as
may be legally within the province of their respective duties, and especially, to furnish the officers charged with the service of the writ,
mentioned in the foregoing petition of William Dryden, justice of the peace of Daviess county, with a force sufficient to enable him to
execute said process, and bring the offenders to justice.
L. W. BOGGS, Commander-in-Chief.
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The Governor to General Atchison.
{ORDER.}
Head Quarters of the Militia, Adjutant General's Office, }
City of Jefferson, Sept. 15, 1838. }
Gen. David R. Atchison, 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- Information has recently been received by the Commander-in-Chief, that the officers entrusted with the administration of the law
within and for Daviess county, are wholly unable so to do, without the presence and assistrince of an armed force.
The Commander-in-Chief, therefore orders, that without delay, you cause to be raised a sufficient force of the troops under your command,
and with said troops, aid the civil officers within and for said county, to execute all writs and other process, with the service of which, they
may be charged; and you are specially directed, with said sufficient force, to aid and assist the officer charged with the execution of a
certain writ, issued by William Dryden, a justice of the peace within and for said county, on the 29th of August last past, for the arrest of
Andrew Ripley, George Smith and others, named in said writ, to execute the same, and bring the offenders to justice.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
B. M. LISLE, Adj. Gen. Mo. Mi.
__________
The Governor to Captain Childs.
{ORDER.}
Head Quarters of the Militia, Adjutant General's Office, }
City of Jefferson, Sept. 18, 1838. }
To Capt. Childs, Commander of the Boonville Guards.
Sir: -- You will cause your company to be held in readiness and mounted, each man with ten day's provisions, and the necessary arms
and ammunition, to proceed, immediately upon the order of the Governor, with him to the scene of difficulty, in the counties of Daviess and
Caldwell. Your action upon the subject is required to be immediate and prompt.
The Commander-in-Chief hopes and calculates upon the Boonville Guards using every exertion in their power, to procure horses, and of
their being in readiness to march upon his arrival in Boonville, which will be about the end of this week.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
B. M. LISLE, Adj. Gen. Mo. Mi.
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The Governor to General Lucas.
{ORDER.}
Head Quarters of the Militia, Adjutant General's Office, }
City of Jefferson, Sept. 18, 1838. }
Maj. Gen. S. D. Lucas, 4th Div. Mo. Mi. Independence, Mo.
Sir: -- On the 30th ultimo, an order was directed to you to cause four hundred mounted men to be raised and held in readiness, subject to
further orders from the Commander-in-Chief. Information has just reached the Executive, that an insurrection actually exists in the counties of
Daviess and Caldwell. You will, therefore, march immediately with the number of men ordered from your Division, to the scene of difficulties,
and co-operate with Gen. Atchison and other others in restoring quiet to the country, and suppressing the insurrection. Each man will furnish
himself with at least ten day's provisions, and the necessary arms and ammunition. Your action on this subject is required to be prompt
and immediate. You will, of course, give the preference to volunteer companies already organized, that are subject by law to be ordered out
en masse.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
B. M. LISLE, Adj. Gen. Mo. Mi.
(A similar letter was addressed to Maj. Generals Lewis Bolton, John B. Clark and Thomas D. Grant.)
__________
General Doniphan to General Atchison.
Head Quarters, 1st Brig. 3d Div. Mo. Mi. }
Camp at Grand River, Sept. 15, 1838. }
Maj. Gen. David H. Atchison, Commanding 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- In pursuance of your orders, dated 11th inst., I issued orders to Col. Wm. A. Dunn, commanding the 28th Regiment, to raise four
companies of mounted riflemen, consisting of fifty men each, also to Col. John Boulware, commanding the 70th Regiment, to raise two
companies of mounted riflemen, consisting each of like number, to start forthwith for service in the counties of Caldwell and Daviess, on the
same day. Col. Dunn obtained the four companies of volunteers required from the 28th Regiment; on the morning of the 12th, I took the
command in person, and marched to the line of Caldwell, at which point, I ordered the Colonels to march the regiments to the timber on
Crooked River. I then started for Far West, the county seat of Caldwell, accompanied by my aid alone. On arriving at that place, I found
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Comer, Miller and McHany, the prisoners mentioned in your order. I demanded of the guard, who had them in confinement, to deliver them
over to me, which was promptly done. I also found, that the guns that had been captured by the sheriff and citizens of Caldwell had been
distributed and placed in the hands of the soldiery and scattered over the country; I ordered them to be immediately collected and delivered up
to me. I then sent an express to Col. Dunn, to march the regiment by daylight, for that place, where he arrived about 7 o'clock, A. M. making
forty miles since 10 o'clock, A. M. on the previous day. When my command arrived, the guns were delivered up, amounting to forty-two
stand, three stand could not be produced, as they had probably gone to Daviess county. I sent these guns under a guard, to your command in
Ray county, together with the prisoner Comer, the other two being citizens of Daviess, I retained and brought with me to this county, and
released them on parol of honor, as I conceived their detention illegal. At 8 o'clock, A. M. we took up the line of march and proceeded through
Mill Port, to Daviess county, thirty seven miles from our former encampment, and arrived at the camp of the citizens of Daviess and other
adjoining counties -- they amounted to between two and three hundred, as their commander. Dr. Austin of Carroll, informed me. Your order,
requiring them to disperse, which had been forwarded in advance of my command, by your aid, James M. Hughes, was read to them, and they
were required to disperse; they professed, that their object for arming and collecting was solely for defence, but they were marching and
counter-marching, guards out, and myself and others who approached the camp were taken to task, and required to wait the approach of the
sergeant of the guard. I had an interview with Dr. Austin, and his professions were all pacific, but they still continue in arms, marching and
counter-marching. I then proceeded with your aid, J. M. Hughes, and my aid, Benj. Holliday, to the Mormon encampment, commanded by
Col. Lyman Wight; we held a conference with him, and he professed entire willingness to disband and surrender up to me every one of the
Mormons accused of crime, and required in return, that the hostile forces, collected by the other citizens of the county, should also disband.
At the camp, commanded by Dr. Austin, I demanded the prisoner, demanded in your order, who had been released on the evening after my
arrival in their vicinity. I took up line of march, and encamped in the direct road between the two hostile encampments, where I have remained
since, within about two and a half miles of Wight's encampment, and sometimes the other camp is nearer, and some times further
from me. I intend to occupy this position until your arrival, as I deem it best to preserve peace, and prevent an engagement between the
parties, and if kept so for a few days, they will doubtless disband without coercion.
I have the honor to be,
Yours with respect,
A. W. DONIPHAN,
Brig. Gen. 1st Brig. 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
26
General Atchison to the Governor.
Head Quarters, 3d Div. Mo. Mi. }
Grand River. Sept. 17, 1838. }
To His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief.
Sir: -- I arrived at the county seat of this county, Daviess, on the evening of the 15th inst., with the troops raised from the militia of
Ray county, when I was joined by the troops from Clay county, under the command of General Doniphan; in the same neighborhood I found
from two to three hundred men in arms, principally from the counties of Livingston, Carroll and Saline; these men were embodied under the
pretext of defending the citizens of Daviess county, against the Mormons, and were operating under the orders of a Dr. Austin, from
Carroll county. The citizens of Daviess, or a large portion of them residing on each side of the Grand River, had left their farms and removed
their families either to the adjoining counties or collected them together at a place called the Camp Ground. The whole county on the east
side of Grand River appears to be deserted, with the exception of a few who are not so timid as their neighbors.
The Mormons of Daviess county have also left their farms, and have encamped for safety at a place, immediately on the east bank of Grand
River, called Adam-on-diahmon. The numbers are supposed to be about two hundred and fifty men, citizens of Daviess county and
from fifty to one hundred men, citizens of Caldwell county; both parties have been scouting through the country, and occasionally taking
prisoners, and threatening and insulting each other, but as yet no blood has been shed. I have ordered all armed men from adjoining counties
to repair to their homes; the Livingston county men, and others to the amount of one hundred men, have returned, and there remain now
about one hundred and fifty who will. I am in hopes, return in a few days. I have been informed by the Mormons, that all of those who
have been charged with a violation of the laws, will be in to-day for trial; when that is done, the troops under my command will be no
longer required in this county, if the citizens of other counties will return to their respective homes. I have proposed to leave two
companies, of fifty men each, in this county, and discharge the remainder of the troops; said two companies will remain for the preservation
of order, until peace and confidence are restored. I also enclose to your Excellency the report of General Doniphan, and refer you for
particulars to Major Rogers.
I have the honor to be, vour obd't servant,
D. R. ATCHISON,
Maj. Gen'l. 3 Div. Mo. Mi.
27
General Atchison to the Governor.
Head Quarters, 3 Div. Mo. Mi. }
Liberty, September 20th 1838. }
To His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief of the Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- The troops ordered out for the purpose of putting down the insurrection, supposed to exist in the counties of Daviess and Caldwell,
were discharged on the 20th inst., with the exception of two companies of the Ray militia, now stationed in the county of Daviess, under
the command of Brigadier General Parks; it was deemed necessary in the state of excitement in that county, that those companies should
remain there for a short period longer, say some twenty days, until confidence and tranquility should be restored.
The reason that an officer of General Parks' rank was left in command, were, 1st. that, if necessary he might call to his assistance upon
the shortest notice, the whole force of his Brigade. 2d., the moral influence of an officer of his rank would be greater than an officer of
less grade. 3d, I could not find an officer of less grade in my Division to manage affairs of so much delicacy and importance. All the
offenders against the law, in that county, against whom process was taken out, were arrested and brought before a court of inquiry, and
recognized to appear at the Circuit Court. Mr. Thos. C. Burch attended to the prosecuting on the part of the State. The citizens of
other counties who came in armed to the assistance of the citizens of Daviess county, have despersed, and returned to their respective
homes, and the Mormons have also returned to their homes; so that I consider the insurrection for the present, at least, to be at an end, but
from the state of feeling in the county of Daviess and the adjoining counties, it is very much to be feared it will break out again, and if so, without
the interposition of the Commander-in-Chief, the consequences will be awful. From the best information I can get, there are about two hundred
and fifty Mormon families in Daviess county, nearly one half of the population, and the whole of the Mormon forces, in Daviess.
Caldwell and the adjoining counties, is estimated at from thirteen to fifteen hundred men, capable of bearing arms.
If an attack is made upon the Mormons in Daviess county, for the purpose of driving them from that county, it is very much to be feared
that the Mormons, to a man, will assist the Mormons of that county; this will be the case I have no doubt. I will further inform your Excellency,
that the Mormons are well armed, most of them being equipped with a good rifle or musket, a brace of large belt pistols, and a broad sword,
so that from their position, and their fanaticism, and their unalterable determination not to be driven, much blood will be spilt, and much
suffering endured, if a blow is once struck, without the interposition of your Excellency.
Major Rogers, I presume, has given your Excellency a history of the
28
immediate cause of the disturbance in Daviess county, and also Judge King has given a detail of facts as far as he could learn them; I send
you copies of Judge King's communication to me, upon the subject of ordering out a military force; also a petition from the citizens of Ray
county. I was also urged to take that step by the citizens of the most respectable classes in the county of Clay, and was urged to it by the
citizens of Daviess county, also of Caldwell county; from all which representations, I deemed it my duty to order out all the military
forces and I have, now no doubt of the propriety of the measure; it has prevented blood being shed, for the present, and I am in hopes for the
future; it has convinced the Mormons that the law will be inforced, and other citizens that it can be enforced, and is ample to redress all
grievances. The Mormons of Daviess county, as I stated in a former report, were encamped in a town called Adam-on-diahmon, and are headed
by Lyman Wight, a bold, brave, skillful, and, I may add, a desperate man; they appeared to be, acting on the defensive, and I must further
add, gave up the offenders with a good deal of promptness, the arms taken by the Mormons, and prisoners were also given up upon demand
with seeming cheerfulness. Your order in relation to raising five hundred mounted men, will be attended to with promptness.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
DAVID R. ATCHISON.
Maj. Gen'l. 3 Div. Mo. Mi.
__________
Hon. A. A. King to General Atchison.
Richmond, Sept. 10, 1838.
Dear Sir: -- Since my letter to you, on yesterday, I have received divers and sundry communications from Grand River, all going to show that the
people in that quarter, on both sides, need protection, and nothing but an armed force can do it.
The Mormons, named in the warrant issued by Esquire Dryden, will not be taken, and I send you a letter * from Smith and
Rigdon, which may be of service to me hereafter, and I hope you will preserve it. From that, you can learn somewhat the state of affairs. I do not know of
any authority I have to direct your movements in the matter, but I will advise you, and hope you deem it your duty to act in the matter, to send a force,
say of two hundred men or more if necessary, and from the circumstances, more may be necessary. Dispel the forces in Daviess, and all the assembled
armed forces in Caldwell, and while there, cause those Mormons who refuse to give up, to surrender and be recognized, for it will not do to
compromise the law with them. I shall inform the Governor of what I have advised, and I have no doubt but he will approve of it; to take time to send
to him before hand, will be
__________
* This letter does not appear in the testimony on file.
29
useless, for the mischief be done before he could act. Please advise me of your determination by the bearer; I will cordially co-operate with you,
when you may require it.
Respectfully,
AUSTIN A. KING.
__________
Citzens of Ray County to General Atchison.
Gen. David R. Atchison.
Dear Sir: -- The undersigned are fully impressed with a belief, that there is an insurrection on foot, in the counties of Caldwell and Daviess, in this
State, between the Mormons and other citizens of this State. The citizens of Daviess have a Mormon in custody as a prisoner, who they took as a
spy; and the Mormons in Caldwell have three men, to-wit: John Comer, Wm. McHany and Allen Miller, taken and confined as prisoners. They
were taken in passing from Ray through Caldwell to Daviess. The undersigned, therefore, earnestly request you order out the militia, to suppress
this insurrection, and to save the effusion of blood, which must speedily take place unless prevented.
H. W. Lile, G. B. Thacken, Jesse Coates,
Anderson Martin, Wade Hall, John McGee,
P. R. Wirt, Geo. Woodward, W. C. Williams,
Jas. S. Ball, J. W. Wall, A. B. Sherwood,
Isaac Manson, Lewis L. Jacoby, Joel Jacobs,
A. H. Ringo, John N. Hughes, Jacob Riffe,
Allen Ball, Meril M. White, James Johnson,
J. R. Hendley, Houston Long, W. P. Boyce,
C. R. Morehead, W. C. Pollard, Nathan Conner,
Sept. 10, 1838. S. L. D. W. Shaw.
__________
A petition from certain Mormons to the Governor.
De Witt, Carroll county, State of Missouri, Sept. 22, 1838.
To His Excellency, Lilburn W. Boggs.
Governor of the State of Missouri.
Your petitioners, citizens of the county of Carroll, do hereby petition your Excellency, praying for relief: That whereas, your petitioners have,
on the 20th inst., been sorely aggrieved, by being beset by a lawless mob, certain inhabitants of this and other counties, to the injury of the
good citizens of this and the adjacent places; that on the aforesaid day, came from one hundred to one hundred and fifty armed men, and
threatened, with force and violence, to drive certain peaceable citizens from their homes, in defiance of all law, and threatened then
30
to drive said citizens out of the county, but on deliberation, concluded to give them, said citizens, till the first of October next to leave said
county, and threatened, if not gone by that time, to exterminate them, without regard to age or sex, and destroy their chattles, by throwing
them in the river. We, therefore, pray you to take such steps, as shall put a stop to all lawless proceedings; and we, your petitioners, will ever
pray, &c. &c.
Benj. Kendrick.
Thos. Hollingshead,
Nathan Harrison,
Dudley Thomas,
Asa W. Barnes,
Elizabeth Smith,
Wm. P. Lundow,
Elijah T. Rogers,
Henry Root,
Jno. Kendrick,
John Dougherty,
A. L. Caldwell,
Thos. Dehart,
Moses Harris,
Rufus Allen,
Francis Brown,
Perry Thaver,
Ezekiel Barnes,
John Tilford,
B. R. Bartley,
D. H. Barnes,
H. G. Sherwood,
Jonathan Harris,
Wm. S. Smith,
John Murdock,
Wm. J. Hatfield,
James Hampton,
G. M. Hinkle,
Oliver Olney,
Robt. Hampton,
James Vallance,
John Thorp,
Jonathan Hampton,
Jabez Lake,
H. T. Chipman,
Geo. Peacock,
Albert Soree,
David Dixon,
Danl. Clark,
Samuel Lake,
Benj. Hensley,
John Proctor,
Asa Manchester,
Franklin N. Thayer,
James McGuin,
Wm. Winston,
H. M. Wallace,
Smith Humphrey,
John Clark,
D. Thomas, (no Mormon.)
__________
Secretary of State to the Governor.
Office of Secretary of State, }
City of Jefferson, Sept. 22, 1838, 5 o'clock P. M. }
To his Excellency L. W. Boggs, Gov. Mo.
Sir: -- The accompanying two letters, or reports, from Major General Atchison, and Brigadier General Doniphan, on the subject of the
Mormon difficulties, the former directed to your Excellency, and the latter from General Doniphan to General Atchison, have just been
received by express; deeming them of sufficient importance to justify the sending of them to you by express, I have engaged Jesse B. Barber.
Esqr., for that purpose, who will leave some time to-night, or very early in the morning.
From the tenor of these papers, it would appear there is no necessity for the troops that have been raised for this Division to march. The
commanding officer, however, does not consider that he would be justified in disbanding them, or suspending, for a few days, operations,
without express orders from the Commander-in-Chief. He has accordingly, a few moments ago, taken np the line of march for the scene of difficulties.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully, &c.,
PETER G. GLOVER.
31
General Atchison to the Governor.
Liberty, Sept. 23, 1838.
To His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief.
Sir: -- Your order through the Adjutant General of the 15th inst., was received on the 22nd inst. Your Excellency will perceive from a
former report, that an armed force was ordered out under my command, from the militia of the third Division, to put down an
insurrection, supposed to exist in the counties of Caldwell and Daviess, and to assist the civil officers in the counties to bring offenders to trial, and
otherwise enforce the laws. I now again inform your Excellency, that all offenders against the laws in these counties, against whom process
was issued, and particularly the persons in the writ named, issued by William Dryden, a Justice of the peace for the county of Daviess, were
brought before a court of inquiry, and recognized to appear at the Circuit Court; and Brigadier General Parks was left in said county of
Daviess, with two companies, of fifty men each, for the purpose of enforcing the laws, under the direction of the civil officers, and from the facts as
far as I could learn them, one hundred men were amply sufficient for all purposes of enforcing law, keeping down insurrections, &c.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
DAVID R. ATCHISON,
Maj. Gen'l. 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
__________
From the Governor to General Clark.
{ORDER.}
Head Quarters of the Militia, }
Jonesborough, Sept. 24, 1838. }
Major Gen'l John B. Clark, 1st Div. Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- The Commander-in-Chief, having this morning received information, by express, that the civil disturbances in the counties of
Daviess and Caldwell have been quieted and order restored to the community; he therefore orders that the troops under your command
destined for that service be immediately discharged.
The Commander-in-Chief avails himself of the present occasion, to tender to you, and through you to the troops under your command,
his thanks for the prompt manner in which they responded to the call of their country.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
B. M. LISLE, Adjutant General, Mo. Mi.
(A similar letter was also sent to Major Generals H. W. Crowther, S. D. Lucas, and Lewis Bolton.)
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General H. G. Parks to the Governor.
Head Quarters. 2d Brig. 3d Div. Mo. Mi. }
Mill Port, Sept, 25, 1838. }
His Excellency, Lilburn W. Boggs, Commander-in-Chief.
Sir: -- I received this morning, after my return from a tour in the upper part of this county, with a detail of the troops under my command, in
assisting the constable in bringing offenders against the laws to justice, your dispatch to Major General Atchison, which I took the liberty
to open. The Major General left here with the troops from Clay and Ray, except two companies from Ray ordered to remain under my command,
on the 18th inst.; since that time I have been employed in assisting the peace officers to execute laws, and in bringing offenders to justice.
I am happy to inform you that there is not any necessity to use a larger force here at present; that now under my command I deem amply
sufficient for the present purpose; should occasion require it, I have thought I could detach a sufficient force from the Brigade under my
command. Whatever may have been the disposition of the people called Mormons, before our arrival here, since we have made our appearance
they have shown no disposition to resist the laws, or of hostile intentions.
I deemed it my duty to visit their town in this county, and as soon as they saw the militia interpose between them and the people of
this, and some of the adjoining counties who had assembled in arms, they went to work, abandoned their hostile attitude, and at this time
peace and tranquility has every appearance of being restored. How Iong things may maintain their present attitude, I know not, but if the
Maj. General had not taken the field with a sufficient force, as promptly as he did, there is every reason to fear a dreadful conflict would have
ensued. On next Saturday there will be brought to trial some fifteen or twenty individuals, of the Mormons, before a Justice of the Peace;
a committee has been appointed in behalf of the citizens of Daviess county, to meet the Mormons on to-morrow, for the purpose of
proposing to buy or sell out to them; they will meet at Adam-on-diahmon, when l will attend with a force to insure tranquility.
There has been so much prejudice and exaggeration concerned in this matter, that I found things on my arrival here, totally different from
what I was prepared to expect. It is true that a great excitement did prevail between the parties, and I am happy to say that my exertions,
as well as those of Major General Atchison, and the officers and men under my command, have been crowned with success. When we
arrived here, we found a large body of men from the counties adjoining, armed and in the field, for the purpose, as I learned, of assisting the
people of this county against the Mormons, without being called out by the proper authorities. This force, the Major General very promptly
33
prevailed upon to return to their homes, and left directions with me to see that they had done so. I have the honor to say to you, that duty
has been promptly attended to, all of which I have advised General A. thereof. I have thought it necessary to be thus minute in detailing to
you our operations since we took the field; for further particulars I beg your Excellency may refer to the Major General, who I doubt not will
communicate to you all the information in his possession; in the mean time, I assure you that any orders, given by you, or the Major General,
relative to this matter, shall be promptly attended to.
I have the honor to remain, your obd't servant,
H. G. PARKS, Brigadier General.
P. S. Since writing the above, I received information that if the committee do not agree, the determination of the Daviess county men
is to drive the Mormons with powder and lead; should any further measures take place, of importance, I will immediately advise the
Major General of the Division thereof.
H. G. PARKS, Brig. Gen'l.
__________
General Parks to General Atchison.
Head Quarters, 2d Brig. 3d Div. }
Mill Port, Sept. 25, 1838. }
Major General Atchison.
Dear Sir: -- I received this morning a despatch from the Governor, directed to you, which I took the liberty to open and advise you thereof.
You will see by the letter of the Commander-in-Chief that he is bringing into the field a large body of troops, as I understand, under the
command of four Major Generals. I have thought it my duty to advise the Commander-in-Chief, that I deemed the forces now under my
command amply sufficient to preserve tranquility and enforce the laws. Since my last to you by Mr. Stone, I have been at this place,
employed in fulfilling the orders left by you. I am happy to be able to state to you, that the deep excitement existing between the parties
has in a great degree ceased, and so far I have had no occasion to resort to force, in assisting the constables. On to-morrow, a committee from
Daviess county meets a committee of the Mormons at Adam-on-diahmon, to propose to them to buy or sell, and I expect to be there.
On Saturday the 29th inst, there are fifteen or twenty of the Mormons cited to trial at Gallatin, where, Lyman Wight has pledged himself to
me they will attend. The officers and men are all in good health at present, and have been actively employed in the above duties. I have
this moment heard a threat, thrown out by the men of this county, that should the above measures fail, their intention is to drive the
Mormons with powder and lead from this county. How far such a measure
34
will be executed I know not, but I will exercise my utmost vigilance ia this affair, and advise you thereof, from time to time.
I remain, your obd't servant,
H. G. Parks, Brig. Gen'l.
__________
General Atchison to the Commander-in-Chief.
Liberty, September 27, 1838.
To the Commander-in-Chief.
Sir: -- I received a communication by express on the 26th inst., together with a report from Brigadier General Parks, who is in command
of the troops, left by me in Daviess county. I have made two reports to your Excellency, one sent by Maj. Rogers, and the other by mail,
neither of which I presume your Excellency has received; one dated the 17th of September, the other the 20th of September. The force
under General Parks is deemed sufficient to execute the laws and keep the peace in that county; things are not so bad in that county as
represented by rumor, and in fact from affidavits I have no doubt your Excellency has been deceived by the exaggerated statements of designing
or half crazy men. 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. I transmit a report made to me by General Parks, dated 25th of September, and from that report I learn that the General has
reported to your Excellency.
I have the honor to be, &c.
DAVID R. ATCHISON,
Maj. Gen'l. 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
__________
General Lucas to the Governor.
Boonville, Mo., October 4, 1838.
Dear Sir: -- As we passed down the Missouri River, on Monday last, we saw a large force of Mormons at De Witt in Carroll county, under
arms. Their commander, Col. Hinkle, formerly of Caldwell county, informed me that there were two hundred, and that they were hourly
expecting an attack from the citizens of Carroll county, who, he said, were then encamped only six miles from there, waiting for a reinforcement
from Saline county. Hinkle said they had determined to fight. News had just been received at this place, through Dr. Scott of Fayette,
that a fight took place on yesterday, and that several persons were killed. Dr. Scott informed me that he got his information from a
gentleman of respectability, who had heard the firing of their guns as he passed down. If a fight has actually taken place, of which I have no
35
doubt, it will create excitement in the whole upper Missouri, and those base and degraded beings will be exterminated from the face of the earth.
If one of the citizens of Carroll should be killed, before five days I believe that there will be from four to five thousand volunteers in the
field against the Mormons, and nothing but their blood will satisfy them. It is an unpleasant state of affairs. The remedy I do not pretend to
suggest to your Excellency. My troops, of the 4th Division, were only dismissed subject to further orders, and can be called into the field at
an hour's warning.
In haste, I have the honor to be,
Your most ob't serv't.
SAMUEL D. LUCAS.
__________
General Atchison to the Governor.
Boonville, Oct. 5, 1838.
To His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief of the Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- I have just received by express, a communication from Brig. Gen. Parks, a copy of which I herewith transmit. It seems, sir, that
the Mormon difficulties are not brought to a close. In Carroll county the citizens are in arms, for the purpose of driving the Mormons from
that county. I have authorized Gen. Parks, if he deems it necessary, to call for the troops raised in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, under the
order from your Excellency, or as many of them as are deemed necessary. The following is a copy of Gen. Parks' communication:
Head Quarters, 2d Brig. 3d Div. }
Richmond, Oct. 3, 1838. }
Maj. Gen. David R. Atchison.
Dear Sir: -- I received this morning an affidavit from Carroll county. The following is a copy:
"Henry Root, on his oath, states, that on the night of the 1st of October, there was collected in the vicinity of De Witt an armed force,
consisting of from thirty to fifty persons, and on the morning of the 2d of October, came into the town of De Witt and fired on the civil
inhabitants of that place. Thirteen of said individuals were seen by me in that place, and I believe there is actually an insurrection in that place.
(Signed)
HENRY ROOT."
Subscribed and sworn to this 3d day of October, 1838.
WILLIAM B. MORTON, J. P.
In consequence of which information, and belief of an attack being
36
made on said place, I have ordered out the two companies raised by your order, to be held in readiness under the commands of Capts. Bogart
and Houston, to march for De Witt, in Carroll county, by 8 o'clock to-morrow morning, armed and equipped as the law directs, with six day's
provisions and fifty rounds of powder and ball. I will proceed with these troops in person, leaving Col. Thompson in command on Grand
River. As soon as I reach De Witt I will advise you of the state of affairs more fully. I will use all due precaution in the affair, and deeply
regret the necessity of this recourse.
H. G. PARKS, Brig. Gen. 2d Brig. 3d Div.
P. S. I will thank you to write me by Mr. Wade, and give me any advice you may deem necessary in this affair.
Yours, &c. H. G. P.
In the county of Daviess every thing is quiet at this time, and it is supposed will remain so. I have ordered Gen. Parks to discharge the
troops in that county so soon as thirty days shall have expired from the time they were mustered into service.
I have the honor to remain, &c.,
DAVID R. ATCHISON,
Maj. Gen'l. 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
__________
Report of the Committee of Chariton county.
The undersigned committee were appointed at a public meeting, by the citizens of Chariton county, on the 3d day of October, inst., for the
purpose of repairing to De Witt, in Carroll county, to inquire into the nature of the difficulties between the citizens of Carroll and the
Mormons. We arrived at the place of difficulties on the 4th of October, inst., and found a large portion of the citizens of Carroll and the
adjoining counties, assembled near De Witt well armed. We inquired into the nature of the difficulties. They said that there was a large
portion of the people called Mormons, embodied in De Witt from different parts of the world. They are unwilling tor them to remain there,
which is the cause of their waging war against them. To use the gentleman's language, they are waging a war of extermination, or to remove
them from the said county. We also went into De Witt, to see the situation of the Mormons. We found them in the act of defence,
begging for peace, and wishing for the civil authorities to repair there as early as possible, to settle the difficulties between the parties.
Hostilities have commenced, and will continue until they are stopped by the civil authorities. This we believe to be a correct statement
of both parties. This the 5th day of October, 1838.
JOHN W. PRICE,
WM. K. LOGAN.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned, one of the justices of the peace, within and for Chariton county, and State of
Missouri, this 5th day of October, 1838.
JOHN MORSE, J. P.
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General Parks to General Atchison.
Brigade Head Quarters, 5 miles from De Witt, }
Carroll county, October 7, 1838. }
Gen. David R. Atchison.
Sir: -- Immediately after my express to you, by Mr. Warder, was sent, I proceeded to this place, which I reached yesterday with two companies of
mounted men from Ray. I ordered Col. Jones to call out three companies from this county to hold themselves in readiness, to join me
at Carrollton on the 5th inst., which order has not been carried into effect. None of the Carroll regiment is with me. On arriving in the
vicinity of De Witt, I found a body of armed men, under the command of Doctor Austin, encamped near De Witt, besieging that place, to the
number of two or three hundred, with a piece of artillery, ready to attack the town of De Witt. On the other side, Hinkle has in that place
three or four hundred Mormons to defend it, and says he will die before he is driven from thence. On the 4th inst. they had a skirmish -- fifteen
or thirty guns fired on both sides -- one man from Saline wounded in the hip. The Mormons are at this time too strong, and no attack is expected
before Wednesday or Thursday next, at which time Dr. Austin hopes his forces will amount to five hundred men, when he will make
a second attempt on the town of De Witt, with small arms and cannon.
In this posture of affairs, I can do nothing but negotiate between the parties, until further aid is sent me. I received your friendly letter of
the 5th inst., by Mr. Warder, authorizing me to call on Gen. Doniphan, which call I have made on him for five companies from Platte, Clay and
Clinton, with two companies I ordered from Livingston, of which I doubt whether these last will come, if they do, I think I will have a
force sufficient to manage these belligerents. Should these troops arrive here in time, I hope to be able to prevent bloodshed. Nothing
seems so much in demand here (to hear the Carroll county men talk,) as Mormon scalps -- as yet they are scarce. I believe Hinkle, with his
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,
&c. As yet they have acted on the defensive as far as I can learn. It is my settled opinion, the Mormons will have no rest until they leave --
whether they will, or not, time only can tell. I assure you I never felt more rejoiced, than when I received your letter to call on Gen. Doniphan's
Brigade. For this mark of your confidence and friendly approval of my actions, I do feel under renewed obligations to you, and hope
to show the necessity of making the call on Gen. D's Brigade. I have also sent an express to Gen. Doniphan, to come in person if he can;
I want his aid and advice. I will keep you advised from time to time of the state of affairs here. It would relieve me much if you would
request the Governor to make his appearance here among the Carroll
38
boys; he need not order out any forces, those already ordered by me, I deem sufficient. You know a word from his Excellency would have
more power to quell this affair than a regiment. Should he come, which I hope he will, for this is no little affair, he will be able to take such
steps as may be deemed by him right and necessary to settle this matter.
I have the honor to remain,
Your obedient servant,
H. G. PARKS, Brig. Gen. Com.
__________
General Atchison to the Governor.
Boonville, Oct. 9, 1838.
To the Commander-in-Chief.
Sir: -- Enclosed you will receive a communication from Gen. Parks, which I deem my duty to forward to your Excellency. I have required
Gen. Doniphan with the troops from Clay, Clinton and the Piatte, to co-operate with Gen. Parks; I have also instructed Parks to prevent
armed Mormons from marching to De Witt, and also to send back or take into custody, all the Mormons from Caldwell county, who may be
found in arms in Carroll county; also to disperse all armed bands of citizens from other counties found in Carroll.
I have also suggested to Parks to urge it upon the Mormons in Carroll county to sell out and remove elsewhere, and also to urge the
citizens to make the proposition to buy I have no doubt but your Excellency, if you should deem it your duty to proceed to Carroll county,
could restore peace. I would have forwarded this communication by express, but was informed that you were at St. Louis. It is therefore
sent by mail. If you deem it necessary to proceed to Carroll county, I would respectfully suggest that it should be done as quick as possible.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
D. H. ATCHISON.
P. S. If your Excellency should deem it necessary to proceed to Carroll county, Boonville will be in your route, when it would give me
great pleasure to see your Excellency, at which time I will be prepared to give all information as to the difficulties between the
Mormons and citizens, as far as it could be obtained. D. R. A.
39
General Atchison to the Governor.
Booneville, Oct. 16, 1838.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs.
Sir: -- From a communication received from Gen. Parks, I learn, that the Mormons in Carroll county have sold out and left, consequently
every thing is quiet there, but Parks reports that a portion of the men from Carroll county, with one piece of artillery, are on their march for
Daviess county, where it is thought the same lawless game is to be played over, and the Mormons to be driven from that county and
probably from Caldwell county. Nothing, in my opinion, but the strongest measures within the power of the Executive, will put down this
spirit of mobocracy.
The troops ordered into the field, from Parks' report, partake, in a great degree, of the mob spirit, so that no reliance can be placed upon
them; however, in this I believe Parks to be mistaken. I would respectfully suggest to your Excellency the propriety of a visit to the scene
of excitement in person, or at all events; a strong proclamation. The state of things which have existed in the counties of Daviess and
Carroll for the last two months, has been, in a high degree, ruinous to the public, and disgraceful to the State. I would again respectfully suggest
strong measures to put down this spirit of mob and misrule, or permit them to fight it out. If your Excellency should conclude the latter
expedient best calculated to produce quiet and restore order, issue an order to the Major General, 3d Division, to discharge the troops now engaged
in that service.
I have the honor, &c.,
DAVID R. ATCHISON.
__________
General Clark to the Governor.
Booneville, Oct. 9, 1838.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs.
Sir: -- Since I wrote to you, I have received the enclosed intormation in relation to the Mormon difficulty. The names subscribed to the
enclosed paper are worthy, prudent and patriotic citizens of Howard county; and l am persuaded nothing but a case of absolute necessity
to protect their friends would induce them to engage as they have done. I regret exceedingly that your Excellency received information,
making it necessary to discharge the troops you had on the march. Nothing but some such step, in my opinion, will ever settle the affair. I
hope your Excellency will write to me on the receipt of this.
I have the honor to be,
Your obd't servant,
JOHN B. CLARK.
40
Camp near De Witt, Oct. 7, 1838.
To the citizens of Howard county.
Gentlemen; -- This county is the theatre of a civil war, and will soon be one of desolation, unless the citizens of the adjoining counties lend
immediate assistance. The infatuated Mormons have assembled in large numbers in De Witt, prepared for war, and are continually pouring is
from all quarters where these detestable fanatics reside.
The war is commenced! blood has been shed -- they shed it; they waylaid and fired upon a body of the citizens of Carroll county and
wounded some. They are the aggressors -- they have been guilty of high treason; they have violated the laws and shed the blood of our
citizens; and we think this one of the cases of emergency in which the people ought to take the execution of justice in their own hands.
Speedy action is necessary; the progress of their imposition, insult and oppression ought to be checked in the beginning. The people must act
together -- they must act energetically.
It is now 12 o'clock at night -- the Mormons are lurking around our camp, and making preparations to attack us before day. Our numbers
are much less than theirs, and we will have to act on the defensive until we procure more assistance. About two hours ago the Mormons
were re-inforced by sixty-two mounted men, well armed, from Far West; they are arriving every night; two nights ago it is thought one
hundred came to De Wilt for the purpose of making war upon the people of this county.
Under such circumstances, you cannot fail to come forward immediately. Can you not be here by Sunday or Monday at farthest? Come
by fives and tens, if you cannot come by companies; bring all you can. This is no false excitement or idle rumor -- it is the cold reality too real.
We will anticipate you immediately, and shall expect your co-operation and assistance in expelling the fanatics, who are mostly aliens by birth,
and aliens in principle from the county. We must be enemies to the common enemies of our laws, religion and country.
Your friends and fellow citizens,
Congrave Jackson,
James Jackson, Jr.
Geo. Crigler,
Larkin K. Woods,
Johnson Jackson,
Wm. L. Banks,
Thomas Jackson,
John L. Tomlin,
Whitfield Dicken.
Rolla M. Daviess,
Sidney S. Woods,
P. S. Our guard was just now fired upon by the Mormons. They have become emboldened by their recent re-inforcements, and we will
have to act on the defensive until assistance arrives.
__________
Statement of Adam C. Woods.
I, the undersigned, Adam C. Woods, a citizen of Howard county, do certify, that on the 6th day of October, 1838, in company with Capt.
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Congrave Jackson and others of Howard county, hearing of the Mormon difficulty at De Witt, concluded to go up there, and did go to
interpose our good offices, and make peace between them and the citizens. When we reached there, on last evening, we found under arms,
in a mile or thereabout of De Witt, about two hundred citizens encamped and sentinels out. I did not go into De Witt; I was advised not to
go in, fearing that I would be injured. I was informed, and believe the information to be true, that the Mormons at De Witt are between five
and six hundred, well armed. I remained on last night in the camp of the citizens, intending on this morning to go into town, and endeavor
to make peace, but about midnight the Mormons commenced firing on the sentinels placed out by the citizens, which was returned; there was
occasional firing at a distance until day. From the above occurrences we were deterred from making any attempt with the Mormons for
peace, and I left on this day about 10 o'clock in the morning.
Oct. 7, 1838.
A. C. WOODS.
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Captain Bogart to the Governor.
Elk Horn, Ray county. Mo., Oct. 13, 1838.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs.
Dear Sir: -- I avail myself of this opportunity, to inform you of the present deplorable condition of our country. I arrived home last night
from the second tour of duty to suppress insurrections. When the first campaign closed on Grand River, and the public was informed that
peace was restored, the citizens who lived in Daviess and the adjoining counties knew and expressed themselves, that the Mormons were
determined to drive the citizens from Daviess county, which the Mormons have since expressed. The lives of the people of Daviess have
been threatened; many of them have fled for safety to the adjoining counties. Whenever we meet a Mormon he is armed in the best manner,
and continually throwing out his threats.
Next we were ordered to De Witt, in Carroll county, under Gen. H. G. Parks. When we arrived at Carrollton, we were informed that the
people of Carroll and the Mormons, who were mostly Canadians, were assembled within a mile of each other, ready for battle. We were also
told the Mormons of Caldwell were on their way to De Witt -- one hundred more expected to pass down that night; I went to Gen. Parks
and requested him to permit me to move my company on that road and prevent their passing, but he refused, and we lay there that day and
until midnight, at which time W. C. Williams came to the camp and told us the Mormons were passing from Caldwell. I paraded my
company and marched to the Mormon roads, leaving Parks in Carrollton,
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[drunk] incapable of knowing what was going on. The Mormons passed before I reached the road. The next day, Parks overlook us with
the balance of the troops -- we moved down near De Witt, and encamped two days, without making one effort to disperse either party. I
visited De Witt, in company with Parks, Dr. Ellis, McGee and several others, and on the public highway, some half mile from the town, we
were met by a Mormon from Far West, who cocked his gun and presented at me, and commanded us to stop; this is a common thing with
them in this country -- the public highways are guarded. Gen. Parks returned home with his command, leaving over two hundred Mormons,
well armed, in Carroll county, who came from Caldwell, after being expressly ordered by Maj. Gen. Atchison to disperse them at all hazards.
The people of Carroll and the Mormons have made a compromise. The Mormons are moving west -- it is supposed they intend pushing the
citizens out of Daviess; that county is in a state of great agitation -- great excitement prevails there. The Daviess and Livingston county
people, and many others, are on their way to Daviess county with ?oua field piece, with the determination to prevent their settling in that
county at all hazards. If there is not some effective means taken to settle this difficulty, much blood will be spilt soon; it will require a strong
force. Too many of our officers are seeking popularity with the Mormons, supposing their votes in time would be of some service to them.
You may rest assured times grow worse and worse here. The Mormons embody themselves, keep out guards, and refuse to let any
person see their forces. Had you proceeded on to Daviess county, you could easily have convinced yourself of the state of things, which are desperate
in the extreme; you will no doubt be called on. I hope you will take steps to make a final settlement of this matter -- if it is not soon
done, our country is ruined.
Your obedient servant,
SAMUEL BOGART,
Captain in the late Volunteers.
__________
The Sheriff of Daviess county to the Governor, (affidavit.)
October 21, 1838.
I, William Morgan, sheriff of Daviess county, do certify, that on the 18th day of this instant, as I was going to Gallatin, I saw five men ride
off from the store of Jacob Stollings, and on walking fifty or sixty yards further I perceived the house was on fire; I ran to the house where the
clerk of the store boarded, say one hundred and fifty yards from the store, and found no one there. Whilst standing there, I saw two other
men ride by the store and make no stop, I then expected it was Mormons. On going home, one mile from town, I then learnt that the
Mormons had driven off the clerk and had fired the store. Since that they
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(the Mormons) have ordered almost all the citizens of the county to leave, and they, myself for one, have moved our families to Livingston
county. Our county is in a desperate situation; they are burning and driving as they go. It is reported by a prisoner that they turned loose
last night, that they were to burn Mill Port, and I have no doubt of that being the fact.
I remain, yours with respect,
WILLIAM MORGAN.
To L. W. Boggs.
__________
Affidavit of Philip Covington,
State of Missouri, }
County of Daviess. } ss.
I, Philip Covington, an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said county, do certify, that on the 18th inst., one hundred or more
Mormons marched to Gallatin and drove the citizens from said place, then robbed the store and post office, and burned said store and office.
On the 20th of this instant, twenty-five armed Mormons came to my house, and gave me orders to leave the county against next morning, or
they would be upon me and my family. Myself with many other citizens have left the county. They are now robbing and burning the
dwellings of the defenceless citizens. Given under my hand, this 22d day of September, 1838.
PHILIP COVINGTON, J. P.
__________
Col. Peniston to the Governor.
Daviess County, Mo., Oct. 21, 1838.
To His Excellency, the Governor of Missouri.
Sir: -- I deem it my duty, made so not only from the law as an officer, but also as an individual, to report and make known to your
Excellency, the unheard of and unprecedented conduct and high handed proceedings of the Mormons of this and Caldwell counties, towards
the other citizens of this county, being myself one of the sufferers.
On Monday, the 15th inst., we learned that the Mormons were collecting in Far West, for the purpose of driving what they term the mob
from this county, by which we understand the citizens that were not Mormons; and accordingly they have come, and their worst apprehensions
have been already fulfilled. They have plundered or robbed and burned every house in Gallatin, our county seal, among the rest our post
44
office; have driven almost every individual from the county, who are now flying before them with their families, many of whom have been
forced out without necessary clothing; their wives and little children wading, in many instances, through the snow without a shoe. When
the miserable families are thus forced out, their houses are plundered and burned; they are making this universal throughout the county.
They have burned for me two houses; and sir, think this not exaggeration, for all is not told; and for the truth of all and every statement here
made, I pledge the honor of an officer and gentleman.
These facts are made known to you, sir, hoping that your authority will be used to stop the course of this banditti of Canadian refugees, and
restore us to our lost homes. I neglected to state, that among the rest, our County Treasurer's Office has been also burned. I will only ask,
in conclusion, can such proceedings be submitted to in a government of laws? I think not, and must answer my interrogatory -- no,
notwithstanding the political juggling of such men as David R. Atchison and some others, whose reports and circulations, setting the conduct and
character of the Mormons favorably before the community, are believed by the people of this county to be prompted by the hope of interest or
emolument.
I am yours, sir.
With due regard,
WM. P. PENISTON,
Col. 60th Reg. 2d Brig. 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
P. S. Since writing the above, I have procured the testimony, on oath, of some six or eight persons, corroborating with my statement,
which accompanies this. W. P. P.
__________
Affidavit of Samuel Venable.
This is to certify, that I was called upon last night to wait upon a lady who was about to increase her family: she had travelled as she told
me about eight miles in labour to get from the Mormons, who were engaged in driving off the people from their homes, giving them only
about three days notice, plundering and robbing their houses. The lady alluded to above, Mrs. Smith by name, stopped on the camp
ground on the east of Daviess county, where she increased her family. There was another lady who stopped on the camp ground, whose baby
was but four days old.
I was also at Mr. White's this morning, who lives in Livingston county, who was on yesterday very much injured in property by the
Mormons. I saw a good deal of the mischief by them done, and was told by Mrs. White that, in addition to the above, she received from
them invectives; that they had plundered the house, taken cloths, and other articles; destroyed all their bee stands; taken off drawing
chains, log chains, &c. The quantity of oats, fodder and corn taken
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from White's must have been considerable, as they fed about two hundred horses, leaving on the ground where they fed a great deal of
oats, &c. Given under my hand, this 22nd. October, 1838.
SAMUEL VENABLE.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the instrument given, sworn to, and subscribed before me on 22nd of this inst. this 22nd
October, 1838.
LEVI F. GABEN, J. P.
__________
Affidavit of Jonathan J. Dryden.
Jonathan J. Dryden, after being duly sworn, deposeth and saith: that on the 21st day of October, 1838, he was taken as a prisoner by
the persons called Mormons from his own house, sick with the fever, and carried him about one mile, and released him upon the account of
his health; and while in custody, he was told by them they had applied to the Governor divers of times for protection, and he had never
sent them any assistance, and now they had taken the law in their own hands and they intended to have the thing settled, because they believe
the Governor to be as big a mob man as any of them; and the plunder which they were now taking was to pay them back for the property
which they had lost in Jackson county, when they were driven from there, and further this affiant saith not.
JONATHAN J. DRYDEN.
The above sworn and subscribed before me, this 22nd day of this instant.
ADAM BLACK. J. P.
__________
Affidavit of James Stone.
James Stone, after being duly sworn, deposeth and saith: that on the 20th day of October, 1838, the people called Mormons came to his
house, and told him if he did not leave Daviess county, against next morning, at sunrise, that they would take his head with their sword,
and drew their sword and waved it at him, and said they would take his heart's blood if he did not leave the county, and then this affiant
look them at their word, and left his house at ten o'clock in the night, he and two other men; and went back next morning and his house was
robbed; and this affiant saith, on the 21st day, inst. that he, with several other men, saw the said people called Mormons, herding a number
of cattle, the amount not known, he supposed to be about two acres of ground covered, and they looked at them, until they started them
towards Caldwell county, and further this affiant saith not.
JAMES STONE.
The above sworn to and subscribed before me, this 22nd day of this instant.
ADAM BLACK, J. P.
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Affidavit of Thomas J. Martin.
I, Thomas J. Martin, after being duly sworn, do testify upon oath; that whereas I was returning from meeting on the 21st day of October,
1838, in Livingston county, I was intercepted and taken prisoner by the body of people called Mormons, who presented their guns and told
me that I had one of two things to do, that was to relate to them all that I knew concerning the militia -- their munitions &c. or to be laid on
the sod and let birds eat me. They also took me about twelve miles, during which time I saw them rummage the house of Mr. White; I also
saw them take four others, and they had some others that had been taken before, some of whom they took to Adam-on-diahmon, and I have
not heard from them since. During the time I was a prisoner they told me that they did not intend to let any man stay in Daviess county,
that was not friendly to them, and that they were doing the same to redress the injury received in Jackson county.
THOMAS J. MARTIN.
The above sworn to and subscribed before me, this 22nd day of October, 1838.
ADAM BLACK, J. P.
__________
General Atchison to the Governor.
Liberty, October 22, 1838.
To His Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief.
Sir: -- Almost every hour I receive information of outrage and violence -- of burning and plundering in the county of Daviess. It seems
that the Mormons have become desperate, and act like mad-men; they have burned a store in Gallatin; they have burnt Millport; they have, it
is said, plundered several houses; and have taken away the arms from divers citizens of that county; a cannon that was employed in the
siege of De Witt, in Carroll county, and taken for a like purpose to Daviess county, has fallen into the hands of the Mormons. It is also
reported that the anti-Mormons have, when opportunity offered, disarmed the Mormons, and burnt several of their houses.
The great difficulty in settling this matter, seems to be in not being able to identify the offenders. I am convinced that nothing short of
driving the Mormons from Daviess county will satisfy the parties opposed to them; and this I have not the power to do, as I conceive,
legally. There are no troops at this time in Daviess county, nor do I deem it expedient to send any there, for I am well convinced that it would but
make matters worse; for, sir, I do not feel disposed to disgrace myself, or permit the troops under my command to disgrace the State and
themselves by acting the part of a mob. If the Mormons are to be
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driven from their homes, let it be done without any color of law, and in open defiance thereof; let it be done by volunteers acting upon their
own responsibilities.
However, I deem it my duty to submit these matters to the Commander-in-Chief, and will conclude by saying it will be my greatest pleasure
to execute any order your Excellency shall think proper to give in this matter with promptness, and to the very letter.
I have the honor to be,
Your Excellency's most ob't serv't.
DAVID H. ATCHISON.
Maj. Gen'l. 3d Div. Mo. Mi.
N. B. I herewith inclose to you a report from General Parks; also one from Capt. Bogart. D. R. A.
__________
Gen. Parks to General Atchison.
Brigade Head Quarters, 2d Brig. 3d Div. }
Richmond, October 21, 1838. }
Maj. Gen. D. R. Atchison.
Sir: -- I received yours of the 16th inst. from Boonville, which I will let remain until I see you. I have now returned from the county of
Daviess, and assure you this county is agitated by a deeper and more desperate excitement than I have yet witnessed. I left the place on
Tuesday, the 16th inst, with two companies of mounted men, having directed Col. Dunn to precede me to Daviess county, where I had
good evidence to believe the troops (militia) intended to act against Adam-on-diahmon. Intending to co-operate with Gen. Doniphan and
the remainder of the troops, I had proceeded on to the head waters of Crooked River, when a severe snow storm overtook us and we were
compelled to abandon the undertaking for the present. The troops were dismissed until further orders, and the troops under Col. Dunn
had been ordered home by Gen. Doniphan, who came as far as Far West, from whence he returned home. I, with a part of my staff,
proceeded on to Far West, which I reached on Tuesday night, and learning the Clay troops had gone home, I determined to proceed to Daviess and
examine the state of the county. On Thursday I proceeded on to the town of Adam-on-diahmon, in Daviess county, and on the way heard
the Mormons had burned a store house in Gallatin, belonging to Jacob Stollings: I sent two men to see and learn the facts, and on their
return they confirmed the news. I saw at Adam-on-diahmon about five hundred Mormons under arms, all well armed, about two hundred of
them mounted. I asked them their motive in appearing in arms -- their answer was: "they intended to defend that place; they had been driven
from De Witt and other places, and here they were determined to stand and die, rather than be driven from that place."
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I next visited Millport, and found on my way down the ridge, that the inhabitants had left their houses, and all above Pennington have
fled. That county is in a worse state than at any former period, and I believe that the Mormons are now the aggressors, as I have seen
many depredations which they have committed. I have certificates of their having taken arms from the citizens of Daviess forcibly. The
excitement in this county is more deep and full of vengeance than I have yet seen it, and I would not be surprised if some signal act of
vengeance would be taken on these fanatics. Wednesday next is fixed for a lull and general meeting of the citizens of this county, to take
into consideration the steps necessary to be taken in this state of affairs. I do not know what to do. I will remain passive until I hear
from you. I do not believe calling out the militia would avail any thing towards restoring peace, unless they were called out in such force,
as to fright the Mormons and drive them from the country. This would satisfy the people, but I cannot agree to it. I hold myself ready
to execute as far as I can go, any order from you, and wish you to advise the Commander-in-Chief as to the situation of the upper country;
perhaps a visit from him would have some effect in allaying the excitement.
I remain, your ob't serv't.
H. G. PARKS, Gen. 2d Brig. 3d Div.
__________
Captain Bogart to General Atchison.
Elk Horn, Oct., 23, 1838.
Gen. Atchison,
Dear Sir; -- The Mormons have burnt Gallatin and Mill Port, and have ravaged Daviess county, driven out the citizens, burnt the post
office, taken all kinds of property from the citizens; have gone into Livingston county, and taken the cannon from the citizens there; they
have threatened to burn Buncombe and Elk Horn, and have been seen near, and on the line between Ray and Caldwell. In consequence of
which I have ordered out my company to prevent, if possible, any outrage on the county of Ray, and to range the line between Caldwell and
Ray, and await your order and further assistance. I will camp at Field's, 12 miles north of this, to night. I learn that the people of Ray are
going to take the law into their own hands, ana put an end to the Mormon war.
In haste, your obd't serv't,
SAMUEL BOGART.
P. S. Please be explicit in your express to me as to my course. S.B.
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Citizens of Ray county to the Governor.
Richmond, Mo., October 23, 1838.
To the Governor of the State of Missouri.
Sir: -- The alarming state of Daviess county, and the panic produced by the late movements of the Mormons in that county, have produced
a degree of excitement and alarm here, that has not been heretofore witnessed. The latest accounts from Daviess county that have readied
us, say that all the inhabitants of Daviess county have left, and sought refuge in Livingston or this county. The store house of Jacob Stollings
in Gallatin was robbed and burned by the Mormons; the post office kept there was also destroyed, and we believe that the houses
of five or six of the inhabitants of Daviess have been destroyed by fire, the property taken away, and the women and children obliged to flee.
the arms of all the citizens in Daviess, they could find, have been taken by them forcibly; they have carried away the cannon from
Livingston county, and have it now in their possession.
The Mormons have robbed George Worthington, P. M. at Gallatin, of his notes and property, to the amount of nearly 2,000. In
short, the news from them reaches us hourly, that they are destroying the properly of the citizens they cannot carry away, and all that they
can carry away, they take. Blood and plunder appears to be their object, and those who do not join with them in their incendiary conduct,
are banished from Caldwell, and all those of other counties who are opposed to them, are threatened. It is the desire of the citizens that his
Excellency would visit this section of country and call out a sufficient number of troops to put a stop to the further ravages of these fanatics.
If some such measures are not taken shortly, the whole country will be overrun. We now firmly believe they are aggressors, and say they
will indemnify themselves for losses in Jackson and Carroll. We are not alarmists, and have had no fears until lately that these fanatics
would have dared to behave as they have lately. There seems to be but one opinion here on the subject, and that is, unless a military force
is brought to act against them, and that shortly, they will destroy as far as they are able. We think it our duly to advise you of these
things. Very respectfully,
R. S. Mitchell,
G. Lenhart,
George Woodward,
John N. Hughes,
John C. Richardson,
Lewis S. Jacobs,
Thos. McKinney,
M. P. Long,
Berry Huges,
Jesse Comer,
James S. Bell, Wm.
Hudgins, P. M.
T. L. D. W. Shaw,
B. J. Brown, sheriff.
We are deficient in arms, if there are any to spare, we wish them brought up here.
WM. HUDGINS.
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T. C. Burch to the Governor.
Richmond, Mo., October 25, 1838.
To His Excellency, the Governor of Missouri,
The Mormon difficulties are arising and have arisen here to an alarming height. It is said (and I believe truly,) that they have recently
robbed and burned the store house of Mr. J. Stollings, in Gallatin, Daviess county, and that they have burned several dwelling houses of the
citizens of Daviess, taken their arms from them, and have taken some provisions.
Mormon dissenters are daily flying to this county for refuge from the ferocity of the prophet Jo Smith, who, they say, threatens the lives of
all Mormons who refuse to lake up arms at his bidding or to do his commands. Those dissenters (and they are numerous) all confirm the
reports concerning the Danite Band, of which you have doubtless heard much, and say that Jo infuses into the minds of his followers a spirit of
insubordination to the laws of the land, telling them that the Kingdom of the Lord is come, which is superior to the institutions of the earth,
and encourages them to fight, and promises them the spoils of the battles.
A respectable gentleman of my acquaintance, from Livingston, is here now, who informs me that the Mormons are robbing the citizens of
Livingston, on the borders of Caldwell, of their corn and whatever else they want; that they have taken a cannon from Livingston county, and
are prowling about the country, a regularly formed banditti. That the prophet Jo Smith has persuaded his Church, that they are not, and ought
not to be amenable to the laws of the land, and is still doing it I have no doubt. The Danire Band, as I am informed by numbers of the
most respectable of the Mormons, (who are now dissenters,) binds them to support the High Council of the Mormon Church and one another
in all things, whether right or wrong, and that even by false swearing I have taken much pains to be informed correctly about this Danite
Band, and I am well satisfied that my information as above stated is correct. I have no doubt but that Jo Smith is as lawless and consummate
a scoundrel, as ever was the veiled prophet of Chovassin. I believe the criminal law in Caldwell county cannot be enforced upon a
Mormon. Grand Juries there will not indict Jo declares, in his public addresses, that he can revolutionize the United States, and that if
provoked he will do it. This declaration has been heard by Colonel Williams of this place, and other gentlemen of equal veracity. I have
hoped that the civil authorities would prove sufficient for the exigency of the case, but I am now convinced that it is not, so long as
indictments have to be found by a jury of the county in which the offence may be committed.
I do not pretend to have wisdom enough to make a suggestion as to
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what your Excellency should do. The evil is alarming, beyond all doubt. I suggest the foregoing facts for your consideration.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
THOS. C. BURCH.
P. S. Judge King will give you some information by the next mail.
T. C. B.
__________
Proceedings of a public meeting in Ray county.
At a very numerous public meeting, held at the court house, in Richmond, Ray county, on Wednesday, the 24th day of October, 1838, for
the purpose of taking into consideration the difficulties of the Mormons:
The object of the meeting having been explained by Thos. C. Burch, Esq., the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, after
reading the report of Chas. K. Morehead, Wm. Thornton and Jacob Cudgel, which is hereunto attached, to-wit:
Resolved, That the report here made, by Charles R. Morehead, Wm. Thorton and Jacob Cudgel, Esqs. be transmitted by express to the
Governor of this State, together with these resolutions
Resolved, That this meeting have the most implicit confidence in said report, as well from the known veracity of said gentlemen, as from
numerous othet facts and circumstances in our knowledge, corroborating the same.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, the time has arrived, when it is the imperious duty of the Executive, by an armed force, to
quell the insurrection put on foot by the Mormons, and that to effect the same, the civil authorities are wholly inadequate.
Resolved, That Wiley C. Williams and Amos Rees, Esqs. be requested to visit the Governor, and lay before him the proceedings of this
meeting, and urge upon him the necessity of ordering out, forthwith an armed force against the Mormons, sufficient to meet the emergency.
Resolved, That we view, with the utmost concern, the conduct of the Mormons in the counties of Daviess and Livingston, and that
immediate action is necessary for the protection of our property and homes from this lawless banditti.
Resolved, That, heretofore as citizens desiring to abide by the laws of the land, we have been disposed to see this people called Mormons, dealt
with for their offences by the civil authorities; but that in the opinion of this meeting, from their past and present lawless course, a resort to
the laws will be worse than useless, and wholly insufficient to afford the country that protection to which she is entitled.
Resolved, That we appeal to the Governor of this State, to give the people of Upper Missouri protection from this fearful body of
thieves and robbers
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Resolved, That it would, at this time, be inexpedient to take any offensive step, but that we should, at present, act on the defensive.
Resolved, That all who have, in good faith, renounced the Mormon religion should be protected, either in this county or Caldwell, during
the present excitement.
Resolved, That some men should now be raised to go to the northern border of this county, and guard it from intrusion by the Mormons, to
act entirely on the defensive for the present, and that Gen. Parks be requested to raise three companies for that purpose, or that they be
raised by volunteers.
__________
Report of Messrs. Morehead, Thornton and Gudgel.
The undersigned, having on Monday morning last learned that the Mormons had burned Millport, in Daviess county, in addition to burning
Stollings' store in Gallatin, in said county, and of their having threatened to burn the store in Buncombe settlement, in this county, and
feeling an anxiety to know the truth in relation to said reports, left this place, Richmond, on that (Monday morning,) and proceeded to Mill
Port; they, however, previously called at Judge Morin's, who lives about a quarter of a mile from Mill Port, who informed them that all they had
learned was substantially true, and that much more had been done by the Mormons than the people of this county had been informed of. He
went with us to Mill Port, where we found ail the houses in ashes, except a Grocery storehouse belonging to a Mr. Slade, and a house in
which Mr. Wilson McKinney had lived; we also found the house of Robert Peniston near Mill Port burned. The horsemill belonging to
him, Peniston, was taken down, the stones, bolting chest, &c., lying out some distance from the shed, and the shed yet standing. Mr.
Morin informed us that the burning was done on Sunday night last; that on the next day he saw Mormons there and saw them taking on beds
and other things belonging to Wilson McKinney: we also saw some furniture, which we understood from Mr. Morin, belonged to Mr.
McKinney, standing out in the commons, and which seemed to have been rifled of its contents. Mr. Morin expected, on the day that we were
there, that the Mormons would be there (at Mill Port) to move off the remaining property, and to burn the balance of the houses; he stated
to us that he considered his situation a precarious one; that he had been permitted to stay thus long owing to his having no wagons to move
with, but that he expected to get wagons that day, and intended moving into Richmond immediately. He said that the county was entirely
deserted by the inhabitants, excepting himself and a few others besides the Mormons, and expressed it as his belief, that the corn from his house to
'Diahmon would all lie gathered, and hauled into 'Diahmon by the Mormons in forty-eight hours from that time; he also stated to us, that he was
at 'Diahmon a few days previous, and saw a company of men (Mormons) come into camp with a drove of cattle, amounting to about one
hundred head, which he supposed belonged to other citizens; he also
53
saw a man in the possession of a Mormon, which he was very certain belonged to Wm. Morgan, a citizen of Daviess county. Mr. Morin
looked upon these Mormons, who were then at 'Diahmon, (amounting he supposed to about six hundred men,) as a band of robbers and
desperadoes; he advised us very strongly to go no further, not to attempt to go to 'Diahmon or Far West, that we would gather nothing by doing
so; in addition to which, we there learned that the county on the north side of Grand River and west of him was certainly deserted, except by
the Mormons, and had been for several days -- that the houses were all burned, or to use his own words, that it was a complete waste.
Mr. Morin also informed us, that the Mormons had ordered the other citizens out of the county, and that he, too, had been ordered to leave;
he appealed very anxious that we should not be seen at his house by any Mormon -- that it should not be known that he had given any
information, or expressed any thing unfavorable towards them, until he got away.
We did not visit Gallatin, but understood from Mr. Morin and others whom we met moving into this county, that all the houses in that place
were burned, except a shoemaker's shop, belonging to a Mr. Borwell.
C. R. MOREHEAD,
WM. THORNTON,
JACOB CUDGEL,
Richmond, Mo., Wednesday, October 24, 1838.
__________
Hon. A. A. King to the Governor.
Richmond, Oct. 24, 1838.
Dear Sir: -- As Mr. Williams will be to see you in reference to our Mormon difficulties, and will be able to say all to you, perhaps, that can
be said, I deem it a duty, notwithstanding, to give you such information as I have sought and obtained, and it is such that I assure you may be
relied on.
Our relations with the Mormons are such that I am perfectly satisfied the arm of the civil authority is too weak to give peace to the
country. Until lately, I thought the Mormons were disposed to act only on the defensive, but their recent conduct shows that they are the
aggressors, and that they intend to take the law into their own hands. Of their recent outrages in Daviess county, you have doubtlessly heard
much already; of their course of conduct in Daviess, I will give you the general facts, for to give particulars would far transcend the limits of a letter.
On Sunday, before they marched to Daviess, Jo Smith made known his views to the people, and declared the time had come when
they would avenge their own wrongs, and that all who was not for them, and take up arms with them, should be considered against them;
54
that their property should be confiscated, and their lives also be forfeited. With this decoration and much else said by Smith, calculated to
excite the people present, the next day was set to meet and see who was for them and who against them, and under such severe penalties
there was none that I learn who did not turn out, and about three or four hundred men, with Smith at their head, marched to Daviess; this
was on Tuesday; the next day was the snow storm, and upon Thursday they commenced their ravages upon the citizens, driving them from
their houses and taking their property. Between eighty and one hundred men went to Gallatin, pillaged houses and the store of Mr.
Stollings and the post office and then burned the houses; they carried off the spoils on horseback and in wagons, and now have them, I
understand, in a storehouse near their camp. Houses have been robbed of their contents, beds, clothing, furniture, &c., and all deposited, and they
term it a consecration to the Lord. At this time there is not a citizen in Daviess except Mormons. Many have been driven without
warning -- others have been allowed, a few hours to start. The stock of the citizens have been seized upon, killed and salted up by hundreds. From
fifty to one hundred wagons are now employed in hauling in the corn from the surrounding country. They look for a force against them, and
are consequently preparing for a siege, building block houses, &c., They have lately organized themselves into a band of what they call Danites,
and sworn to support their leading men in all they say and do, right or wrong, and further to put to instant death those who will betray them.
There is another band, of twelve, called the Destructives, whose duty it is to watch the movements of men, and of committees, and to avenge
themselves for supposed wrongful movements against them, by privately burning houses, property and even laying in ashes towns, &c.
I find I am running out my letter too much in detail; I do not deem it necessary to give you a minute detail of all the facts of which I am
possessed, but I give you the above in order that you may form some idea of the disposition of these people. The Mormons expect to settle
the affair at the point of the sword, and I am well warranted in saying to you that the people in this quarter of the State look to you for that
protection which they believe you will afford when you have learned the facts. I do not pretend to advise your course nor make any
suggestions other than what I have stated, that it is utterly useless for the civil authorities to pretend to interpose. The country is in great
commotion and I can assure you that either with or without authority, something will shortly have to be done.
I hope you will let me hear from you by the return of Mr. Williams, and if you should come up the country shortly, it will give me
pleasure to take the trouble to see you.
I am, very respectfully,
AUSTIN A. KING.
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Affidavit of Henry Marks.
Being requested by a committee of the citizens of Ray county to make a statement of such facts as are within my knowledge relative to
the Mormons, I have to say that I came to Far West the 17th of April last, and have lived there ever since. I have never been a member of
the Mormon Church, but my parents are. I am about the age of eighteen years. I have lived at the house of Sidney Rigdon the most of
the time, I have heard the prophet Smith, in a public address, say he would like to have a play spell of the whole United States in a fight
as I took it.) This was on the election day last August. I have often heard the Mormons say they would as soon shoot the dissenters that
come out and talked against them, as to shoot any thing else. I have heard divers Mormons say that they burnt the store of Mr. Stollings
in Daviess county. David W. Patten had the command of the company that went to Gallatin. The Mormons say that they did not burn
the goods, but hauled them off -- said Patten went by the name of Capt. Fearnaught. A few days ago I heard a company of Mormons, who
had been to Daviess county, say they had taken from the citizens of Daviess county about twenty-four horses and thifty-two guns, and it
was said by Mormons about there that it was done to make up for losses in Jackson county -- when the company came up who took the guns
and horses, I heard Sidney Rigdon shout three times "Hosannah to the Victors,'' and made then a speech exhorting them not to fear, and to
keep up courage.
October 24, 1838. HENRY MARKS.
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day above written.
HENRY JACOBS, J. P. of Ray county.
__________
Affidavit of Adam Black.
I, Adam Black, a citizen of Daviess county, do st.ite as follows, to wit: that, on the 11th day of October, 1838, Mr. Henry Lee was driven
from his house in said county; he stated that the Mormons came to his house and ordered him to leave immediately or he would suffer; that he
was in danger; that there was a general insurrection going to take place, and he had better get away, and Mr. Lee left home on the 15th
inst. The post rider stated to the citizens of said county, that the citizens of Caldwell were paraded in Far West for the purpose of
marching to Daviess county, to drive all of the citizens out of that county that were not friendly towards them. On the 16th, the Mormons
marched into said county, from two to five hundred, supposed to be. On the 17th, they went to several of the citizens of said county, and
took their arms and ammunition, and said they intended to drive all of the mob out of the county. On the 18th, they marched about one
hundred or more men, well armed, to Gallatin, and drove the citizens
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of said town, and robbed the store and Post Office, and burned the said storehouse and office; they went to G. Worthrington's, P. M. of said
office, and drove him out of his house, and robbed it and burned it; they went to several other citizens on the same day and ordered them to
leave the county against the next day, or they would lake their lives. On the 19th, they marched through the county and drove a number of
the citizens from said county and robbed their houses and burnt them. My house was one amongst the rest; about 12 o'clock the same night
they were seen burning down 5 houses in Gallatin, the county seat of Daviess county. On the 20th, they were seen marching three hundred
men through the county, all well armed, driving the citizens before them, robbing their houses, threatening their lives, if they did not leave.
The smoke was seen rising from several buildings by the citizens of Daviess county. On the 21st, they marched about four hundred to one
Mr. Wm. Osburn's in Daviess county; Mr. Osburn not being at home, they threatened the life of his wife, ordered her out of her house,
putting the muzzles of their guns against her, and punching her with them, and shoved her out of her house and told her to leave there, and
plundered and robbed her house. They then marched across Grand River, to the north side, to Esquire Dryden's, and took two saddles, and one
pair of saddle bags; took his son and nephew prisoners -- marched to Mr. White's in Livingston county, threatening in the presence of Mrs.
White, if her husband was at home they would take his life; plundered her house; took a quantity of their clothing, several log chains and
draw chains; took and destroyed about fifty bushels of oats; trod down the fences, rode through his field of corn, and destroyed a quantity of
corn; took five bee stands. They plundered two other houses in Livingston county, and took two prisoners, a Mr. Dryden and Mr. Martin,
as they were returning from preaching. They then marched for their city in Daviess county, Adam-on-diahmon; and on their way they took.
five other men prisoners. In marching a short distance, they discharged three of the prisoners -- they carried six others on about twelve miles,
where then passed through a large company of footmen; there they discharged some others of the prisoners, and one of the prisoners states,
when he returned, there was a company came with him to Mill Port to burn said place -- the light of the fire was seen, and next morning the
smoke was seen rising from five houses by Mr. Osburn.
It is also stated by Col. Peniston, it (the town) is burnt into ashes. It is stated by Mr. Stone and two other men, that on the 21st, they
saw the Mormons driving a large drove of cattle from Daviess county towards Caldwell county -- Mr. Osburn states he has lost forty-one or
forty-two head of cattle -- they have taken several horses from the citizens the amount not known -- they have also taken a quantity of pork
hogs, the amount not known. It is supposed from the best information there is about eight hundred or upwards, well armed, embodied in
said county, and near about all the citizens of said county have left their homes, and moved their families to Livingston county. There is
not a single officer left in said county to execute the laws of our land;
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and in behalf of the citizens of said county, and in my own behalf, I ask of the Executive of the State to be reinstated in our homes, and
the necessary and legal steps be taken to recover our property, and bring the offenders to justice.
ADAM BLACK.
__________
Affidavit of Thomas B. March.
At the request of a committee of the citizens of Ray county, I made the following statement in relation to the recent movements, plans,
and intentions of the Mormons in the counties of Caldwell and Daviess:
Shortly after the settlement of the difficulties at De Witt, in Carroll county, a call was made by the Mormons at Far West, in Caldwell county,
for volunteers to go to Daviess county to disperse the mob, as they said. On the day before this, Joseph Smith, the prophet, had preached,
in which he said, that all the Mormons who refused to take up arms, if necessary in difficulties with the citizens, should be shot or otherwise
put to death; and as I was there with my family, I thought it most prudent to go, and did go with my wagon as the driver. We marched to
Adam-on-diahmon, and found no troops or mob in Daviess county. Scouting parties frequently went cut and brought in intelligence that
they had seen from three to five hundred men. We got to Diahmon on Tuesday evening, and on the next day a company of about eighty of
the Mormons, commanded by a man fictitiously named Capt. Fearnaught, marched to Gallatin. They returned and said they had run off
from Gallatin twenty or thirty men, and had taken Gallatin -- had taken one prisoner, and another had joined the company. I afterwards learned
from the Mormons that they had burnt Gallatin, and that it was done by the aforesaid company that marched there. The Mormons informed
me that they had hauled away all the goods from the store in Gallatin, and deposited them at the Bishop's store houses at Diahmon.
On the same day, Lyman Wight marched about eighty horsemen for Mill Port. He returned before night and called for Joseph Smith and
Hiram Smith, to report to them (said Hiram being counsellor of said Joseph the prophet) and said Wight reported that he had been in sight
of Mill Port -- saw no one to fight -- but that the people generally had gone and left their houses and property. The prophet, on hearing that
property was left, commenced a reply, and said: "we had better see to it," when Wight stopped him by saying "never mind, we will have a
private council," and Smith replied "very well." The private council I did not hear. The men were determined to go to their camps. The
same evening a number of footmen came up from the direction of Mill Port laden with property which I was informed consisted of beds,
clocks and other household furniture. The same night I think about three wagons were despatched for about forty bee gums, and the next
day I law several gums, when they were splitting them up and taking
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the honey and burning the gums, in which business of taking out the honey, but few were engaged, for fear us they said, they would be
called on as witnesses against them. When Wight returned from Mill Port and informed Smith that the people were gone and the property
left, Smith asked him if they had left any of the negroes for them, and Wight replied, no; upon which some one laughed, and said to Smith
"you have lost your negro then." During the same time, a company called the Fur Company, were sent out to bring in fat hogs and cattle,
calling the hogs, bears, and the cattle buffaloes. They brought in at one time seven cattle and at another time four or five belonging to the
people of Daviess. Hogs were brought in dead, but I know not how many, I saw only two. They have among them a company consisting
of all that are considered true Mormons, called the Danites, who have taken an oath to support the heads of the church in all things that they
say or do, whether right or wrong; many however of this band are much dissatisfied with this oath, as being against moral and religious
principles. On Saturday last, I am informed by the Mormons that they had a meeting at Far West, at which they appointed a company of
twelve, by the name of the Destruction Company, for the purpose of burning and destroying; and that if the people of Buncombe came to
do mischief upon the people of Caldwell, and committed depredations upon the Mormons, they were to burn Buncombe, and if the people of
Clay and Ray made any movements against them, this destroying company were to burn Liberty and Richmond. This burning was to be
done secretly, by going as incendiaries. At the same meeting, I was informed, they passed a decree that no Mormon dissenter should leave
Caldwell county alive; and that such as attempted to do it, should be shot down, and sent to tell their tale in eternity. In a conversation
between Dr. Avard and other Mormons, said Avard proposed to start a pestilence among the Gentiles, as he called them, by poisoning their
corn, fruit &c, and saying it was the work of the Lord; and said Avard advocated lying for the support of their religion, and said it was no
harm to lie for the Lord. The plan of said Smith, the prophet, is to take this State, and he professes to his people to intend taking the
United States, and ultimately the whole world. This is the belief of the church, and my own opinion of the prophet's plans and intentions. It
is my opinion that neither said Joseph Smith, the prophet, nor any one of the principal men, who is firm in the faith, could be indicted for any
offence in the county of Caldwell. The prophet inculcates the notion, and it is believed by every true Mormon, that Smith's prophecies are
superior to the law of the land. I have heard the prophet say that he should yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies;
that if he was not let alone he would be a second Mahomet to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the
Rocky-Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean; that like Mahomet, whose motto, in treating for peace, was "the Alcoran, or the Sword," so should
it be eventually with us, "Joseph Smith or the Sword." These last statements
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were made during the last summer. The number of armed men at Adam-on-diahmon was between three and four hundred.
THOMAS B. MARCH.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day herein written.
HENRY JACOBS, J. P. Ray county Mo.
Richmond Mo. Oct. 24, 1838.
Affidavit of Orson Hyde.
The most of the statements in the foregoing disclosure of Thomas B. March, I know to be true, the remainder I believe to be true.
ORSON HYDE.
Richmond, Oct. 24, 1838.
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day above written.
HENRY JACOBS, J. P.
The undersigned committee, on the part of the citizens of Ray county, have no doubt, but Thomas B. March and Orson Hyde, whose
names are signed to the foregoing certificates, have been members of the Mormon Church in full fellowship until very recently, when they
voluntarily abandoned the Mormon Church and faith, and that said March was at the time of his dissenting the president of the twelve
Apostles, and president of the Church at Far West, and that said Hyde was at that time one of the twelve Apostles, and that they left the
Church and abandoned the faith of the Mormons from a conviction of their immorality and impiety.
Thos. C. Burch, George Woodward, C. R. Morehead, William Hudgins,
J. R. Hendley, O. H. Searcy, Henry Jacobs,
Richmond, October 24, 1838.
__________
Messers, Williams and Rees to General Clark.
Demoss's, Midnight. Oct. 25, 1838.
Maj. Gen. John B. Clark.
We write you a hasty letter from this point to give you authentic information as to the appalling situation of the county in the neighborhood of the
Mormons. We are on our way as expresses to the Governor conveying the following information: that these wretched fanatics have thrown off all
restraints, and are destroying all before them -- they have burned Gallatin the county seat of Daviess -- taken the goods from J. Stollings' store,
and burned the house -- they have burned the village of Mill Port in Daviess, and have burned almost every house from Gallatin and Mill Port
north, with many others in other
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parts of the county, and plundered the whole country of the property of the inhabitants -- they say themselves that they have taken thirty
thousand dollars worth of property. We have this moment received an express informing us that they, this morning at day light, attacked
Capt. Bogart's company of fifty men, with three hundred Mormons, and defeated him, killing some ten men, wounding many others and
taken most of the remainder prisoners. Many of the Mormons having been killed in the fight as is supposed. We have but little hope
from these wretched desperadoes, but that they will kill all those prisoners. This attack was made in Ray county. Capt. Bogart had been
stationed on the northern line of the county to patrol and guard it, the Mormons having threatened to invade that county. They have determined
to attack and burn Richmond to night, and we have but little doubt but that they will attempt it. The women and children have all left Richmond,
and are leaving the county, flying for protection to Livingston and elsewhere. These creatures will never stop until they are stopped by the
strong hand of force, and something must be done and that speedily. There is no kind of doubt but that all the alarm, with much more that we
have not time to write is true and you may act accordingly.
Yours respectfully.
WILEY C. WILLIAMS,
AMOS REES.
__________
Letter from Woods and Dickson.
Carrollton, Mo., Oct. 24, 1838.
Sir: -- We were informed last night by an express from Ray county, that Capt. Bogart and all his company amounting to between fifty and
sixty men, were massacred by the Mormons at Buncombe, twelve miles north of Richmond, except three. This statement you may rely on
as being true, and last night they expected Richmond to be laid in ashes this morning. We could distinctly hear cannon, and we know the
Mormons had one in their possession. Richmond is about twenty-five miles west of this place on a straight line. We know not the hour or
minute we will be laid in ashes -- our county is ruined; for God sake give us assistance as quick as possible.
Yours, &c.
SARSHEL WOODS,
JOSEPH DICKSON.
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The Governor to General Clark.
Head Quarters of the Militia, }
City of Jefferson, Oct. 27, 1838. }
Gen. John B. Clark.
Sir: -- Since the order of this morning to you, directing you to cause four hundred mounted men to be raised within your Division, I have
received by Amos Rees Esq. of Ray county and Wiley C. Williams, Esq. one of my aids, infoimation of the most appalling character,
which entirely changes the face of things, and places the Mormons in the attitude of an open and avowed defiance of the laws, and of having
made war upon the people of this State. Your orders are, therefore, to hasten your operations with all possible speed. The Mormons
must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace -- their outrages are beyond
all description. If you can increase your force, you are authorized to do so to any extent you may consider necessary. I have just issued
orders to Maj. Gen. Willock, of Marion county, to raise five hundred men, and to march them to the northern part of Daviess, and, there
unite with Gen. Doniphan, of Clay, who has been ordered with five hundred men to proceed to the same point for the purpose of
intercepting the retreat of the Mormons to the north. They have been directed to communicate with you by express, you can also communicate
with them if you find it necessary. Instead therefore of proceeding as at first directed to reinstate the citizens of Daviess in their homes, you
will proceed immediately to Richmond and then operate against the Mormons. Brig. Gen. Parks, of Ray, has been ordered to have four
hundred of his Brigade in readiness to join you at Richmond. The whole force will be placed under your command.
I am very respectfully,
your ob't. serv't,
L. W. BOGGS, Commander-in-Chief,
__________
E. M. Ryland to Messrs. Rees and Williams.
Lexington, 6 o'clock, p. m. Oct. 25, 1838.
To Messrs. Amos Rees and Wiley C. Williams.
Gentlemen: -- This letter is sent on after you on express, by Mr. Bryant of Ray county, since you left this morning. Mr. C. R. Morehead
came here on express for men to assist in repelling a threatened attack upon Richmond to-night. He brought news that the Mormon armed
force had attacked Capt. Bogart this morning at daylight, and had cut off his whole company of fifty men. Since Mr. Morehead left
Richmond, one of the company (Bogart's) had come in and reported that
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there were ten of his comrades killed, and the remainder were taken prisoners, after many of them had been severely wounded; he stated
further, that Richmond would be sacked and burned by the Mormon banditti to-night. Nothing can exceed the consternation which this
news gives rise to. The women and children are flying from Richmond in every direction. A number of them have repaired to Lexington,
amongst whom is Mrs. Rees; we will have sent from this county since 1 o'clock this evening, about one hundred well armed and daring men,
perhaps the most effective our country can boast of. They will certainly give them (the Mormons) a warm reception at Richmond
to-night. You will see the necessity of hurrying on to the City of Jefferson, and also of imparting correct information to the public as you
go along. My impression is, that you had better send one of your number to Howard, Cooper and Boone counties, in order that volunteers
may be getting ready, and flocking to the scene of trouble as fast as possible. They must make haste and put a stop to the devastation
which is menaced by these infuriated fanatics, and they must go prepared and with the full determination to exterminate or expel them from
the State en masse. Nothing but this can give tranquility to the public mind, and re-establish the supremacy of the laws. There must be no
further delaying with this question any where. The Mormons must leave the State, or we will -- one and all. And to this complexion it
must come at last. We have great reliance upon your ability, discretion and fitness for the task you have undertaken, and we have only
time to say God speed you. Yours truly,
E. M. RYLAND.
__________
Commander-in-Chief to Gen. John B. Clark.
Head Quarters of the Militia, }
City of Jefferson, Oct. 26, 1838. }
Gen. John B. Clark, 1st Div. Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- Application has been made to the Commander-in-Chief by the citizens of Daviess county, in this State, for protection, and to be
restored to their homes and property: with intelligence that the Mormons, with an armed force, have expelled the inhabitants of that
county from their homes, have pillaged and burnt their dwellings, driven off their stock, and were destroying their crops. That they (the Mormons)
have burnt to ashes the towns of Gallatin and Mill Port in said county, the former being the county seat of said county, including the clerk's
office, and all the public records of the county, and that there is not now a civil officer within said county.
The Commander-in-Chief, therefore orders, that there be raised from the 1st, 4th, 6th, 6th and 12th Divisions of the Militia of this State,
four hundred men, each to be mounted and armed as infantry or riflemen, each man to furnish htmself with at least fifty rounds of ammunition
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and at least fifteen days' provisions. The troops from the 1st, 5th, 6th and 12th Divisions will rendezvous at Fayette, in Howard county,
on Saturday, the 3d day of next month, (November,) at which point they will receive further instructions as to their line of March. You
will, therefore cause to be raised, the quota of men required of your Division (four hundred men.) without delay, either by volunteers or
drafts, and rendezvous at Fayette, in Howard county, on Saturday, the 3d day of next month, (November,) and there join the troops from the
5th, 6th and 12th Divisions.
The troops from the 4th Division will join you at Richmond, in Ray county. You will cause the troops raised in your Division to be formed
into companies according to law, and placed under officers already in commission. If volunteer companies are raised they shall elect their
own officers. The preference should always be given to volunteer companies already organized and commissioned. You will also detail
the necessary field and staff officers. For the convenience of transporting the camp equippage, provisions and hospital stores for the troops
under your command, you are authorized to employ two or three baggage wagons.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief.
B. M. LISLE, Adj. Gen.
(An Order corresponding with the above was issued at the same time of the foregoing, directed to the Major Generals commanding the 4th.
5th, 6th and 12th Divisions of the militia of this State. An order was also issued to Gen. Willock of the 14th Division, ordering him to raise
five hundred men, and march them to the north of Caldwell county. Orders were also issued to Brig. Gens. Doniphan and Parks, directing them
to raise five hundred men each. But understanding that no men were raised under these orders, it is thought a copy is unnecessary.
B. M. L. Adj. Gen.
__________
Major General Lucas to the Commander-in-Chief.
Independence, Nov. 11, 1838.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs, Commander-in Chief.
Sir: -- Your communication of Nov. 6, 1838, through B. M. Lisle, Esq. Adjt. Gen., has just been received. The prisoners have been sent
to Richmond, subject to the order of General Clark, and the arms will be sent as soon as the weather will permit. I have also furnished Gen.
Clark a copy of my report to you -- all of which proceedings have been transmitted to you by mail; but which, I presume, did not reach
you previous to the date of your orders. I have the honor to be,
Your most obedient servant,
SAMUEL D. LUCAS,
Maj. Gen. 4 Div. M. M.
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P. S. I refer you to my report and two other communications, since my return from Far West, ior further particulars as to the prisoners
and arms. Col. S. V. Noland, one of your Aid-de-camps, who accompanied the expedition under my command, will leave this evening
for Jefferson City, and will communicate further on this subject.
S. D. L., Maj. Gen., &c.
P. S. The first communication received from Gen. Clark was under date October 30, in which he directs Gen. Atchison and myself to act
as we think best, according to circumstances. This letter was received either on the day, or the day before the surrender, by Captain Long,
one of the persons Gen. Atchison and myself had started, to you with our reports. The second communication of Gen. Clark was dated
November 1st. In this he directs us to remain in some secure position, and not to make any attack until he arrived; which, together with
the third communication, (the one you sent a copy of in your communication per Mr. Dorris,) was only received at Williams' Ferry,
Missouri River, two days after I had disbanded the army, as per my report to you of November 2d. I never had any idea of trying any of
the prisoners by a Court Martial; but only ordered them to my Head Quarters, to await your further orders.
S. D. L., Maj. Gen., &c.
__________
Major General John B. Clark to the Governor.
Head Quarters, Richmond, Nov. 11, 1838.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs.
Sir: -- In as much as the Commissary General of the State could not follow the movements of the army under my command, and it
becoming absolutely necessary for the preservation of the stores and munitions of war to have an acting Commissary, I appointed to that
office Alfred W. Morrison, and desire your Excellency to ratify that appointment, and have forwarded to me or Mr. Morrison, at Fayette,
a commission to that effect. It is desirable, if possible, to have it before my final report of the expedition is made.
I have the honor to be.
Your obedient, humble servant,
JOHN B. CLARK,
Maj. Gen. 1 Div. Mo. Mi.
(Let the commission be dated October 29, 1838.)
J. B. C.
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General Clark to the Governor.
Head Quarters of the Militia employed against the Mormons. }
Richmond, November 10, 1838. }
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs.
Sir: -- A day or two before I received your first order, I had, upon information from a letter from Mr. Rees and Col. Williams on their
way to you, issued an order to have raised in my Division one thousand men, ready to march on Monday, the 29th day of October last --
all of which I communicated to you by express, -- the one, however, carrying my communication, met one from your Excellency and returned.
On the 29th, according to my order, the First Brigade rendezvoused at Fayette -- proposed to march, and did, on that evening, take up the
line of march, and reached Chariton on that evening. At Chariton I received an express from Messrs. Atchison and Lucas to you, which I
forwarded, and then I despatched an order to Gens. Atchison and Lucas, with a copy of your several orders to me, all of which you
have been informed of by me. The next day, October thirtieth, we reached Keytesville, where we met the Second Brigade, commanded
by General Robert Wilson, who had been ordered to join me at that place. The next morning, October 31st, I organized the two
Brigades into a Division, officered the same, and took up the line of march for Richmond. On the day we reached Carrollton, November
2d, I heard a report that General Lucas had invested Far West, and effected a capitulation, the terms of which I sent you from here on my
way out. I then sent another express to Gen. Lucas, to hold fast to all he had (supposing be had the prisoners and arms) until I arrived, to
make no final capitulation or treaty until I did arrive; when I would communicate to him my plans of settling the difficulty, and also
requesting him to report to me forthwith his acts, strength, &c. The express was directed to bring back to me, at Richmond, any
communication the General might desire to make. The next day I reached Crooked River, in the neighborhood of Richmond. At this place I
learned that Gen. Lucas had disbanded his forces, and marched the prisoners to Independence. I immediately sent an express to intercept
him, with orders to march the prisoners and arms back to Richmond, for reasons contained in my letter to you. From Richmond I continued
my march to Far West, where I arrived on Sunday, the 4th inst. When I reached there, I encamped in the vicinity of town -- at night I went
into town with all my field officers, and commenced ferreting out the guilty amongst the Mormons who were there -- this business employed
my time for two days and nights. After I had obtained all the information I could by disclosures of the dissenters from Jo, the prophet
(and there are not a few at this time.) I caused the whole of the Mormons to be paraded, and look out of their ranks such of those I conceived
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guilty, as could be found, and put them into a room. A deep snow falling on this evening, and there being no chance to obtain fuel or
provender, I was compelled to march back to Richmond with the prisoners, forty six in number. I, however, the day before I left Far
West, despatched Lieut. Col. Price from the 2d Brigade to Richmond with two companies, to receive the prisoners and arms; but, on his
arrival, not finding them there, he went to Gen. Lucas, at Independence, and informed him of his mission. The General then sent them, and
they reached here on last evening, and they are now here under a guard. On the day I left Far West, I ordered General Wilson with
his Brigade (except the two companies with Colonel Price) to Adam-on-diahmon, a town in Daviess, which had a few days since
surrendered and given up their arms, with instructions to take possession of the town and disarm all the Mormons, and act in that quarter in
accordance to your instructions to me, a copy of which was furnished him. He was also instructed to take out from the mass
of Mormons, such as probably could be convicted of crime, and have them committed, and then carry them to Keytesville, and have them
placed in jail and guarded; but he was instructed not to leave that quarter until he had reinstated the citizens in their property and homes,
as far as practicable, and if necessary leave a small force there to protect the citizens. I also ordered Capt. Comstock, with his company in
Livingston, to continue there, disarming the Mormons, wherever found, and report to General Wilson, at 'Diahmon for further orders.
This business done, I proposed to march back to Richmond. The morning before I left Far West, I called the whole of the Mormons together,
about five hundred, (a great number having run away between the surrender and my arrival,) and informed them that the prisoners I had,
together with those taken by Gen. Lucas, would be taken to Richmond, tried, and punished if found guilty; that they must comply with the
terms of the capitulation with Gen. Lucas.
The situation of their women and children, and the inclemency of the weather, induced me to modify the terms, and not require them to
remove forthwith: That they could remain until their convenience suited them in the spring -- that no military guard would go with them,
but I would pledge the honor of the State, they should not be hurt, and that their arms should be given up to them whenever they left the
State, and not before. This they readily agreed to, so far as I could judge from their expressions.
This being done, I took up the line of march with the prisoners, and got here on yesterday. On my arrival here I discharged the whole of
the 1st Brigade. I will here state, that on my way to Far West, while at Richmond, I wrote to Gen. Grant, and ordered him to countermarch,
and discharge his forces. The same order I sent to Gen. Willock from Far West, also Gen. zzzCrowther's Division was discharged at Richmond,
on their way, except the Boonville Guards, who were taken on to Far West, and discharged here this morning. Gen. White, learning of the
Estate of affairs; left his men at the river near Lexington, and came on to
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meet me with his staff at Far West. I then ordered him to counter-march his Brigade, except the cavalry commanded by Capt. Parsons,
which company is now here guarding the prisoners. All the forces in this quarter are now discharged, except two companies commanded by
Captains Parsons and Bogart. I detained Lieut. Col. Price to superintend the guard of the prisoners, and I also detained Gen. White and
his field officers here a day or two, for the purpose of holding a court martial if necessary. I this day made out charges against the prisoners,
and called on Judge King to try them as a committing court, and I am now busily engaged in procuring witnesses, and submitting facts.
There being no civil officers in Caldwell, I have to use the military to get witnesses from there, which I do without reserve.
Gen. Wilson's Brigade is still in service, in Daviess county, under the instructions above stated. They will be discharged as fast as
possible. The most of the prisoners here I consider guilty of Treason, and I believe will be convicted, and the only difficulty in law is, can they
be tried in any county but Caldwell? if not they cannot be there indicted, until a change of population. In the event the latter view is taken
by the civil courts, I suggest the propriety of trying Jo Smith and those leaders taken by Gen. Lucas, by a court martial for mutiny. This I am
in favor of only as a dernier resort. I would have taken this course with Smith at any rate; but it being doubtful whether a court martial
has jurisdiction or not, in the present case -- that is, whether these people are to be treated as in time of war, and the mutineers as
having mutinied in time of war -- and I would here ask you to forward to me the Attorney General's opinion on this point. My
whole object is to obey your orders, and settle this matter so as to have the best effect upon the people, and at the same time not compromise the
character of the State. But it will not do to allow these leaders to return to their treasonable work again, on account of their not being
indicted in Caldwell. I find by inquiry, that with all the enormities we have heard charged against these people, many of which charges we
looked upon as the offspring of prejudice on the part of our citizens, the half has not yet been told. There is no crime, from treason down
to the most petty larceny, but these people or a majority of them have been guilty of, all too under the counsel of Joseph Smith, Jr., the
prophet. They have committed treason, murder, arson, burglary, robbery larceny, and perjury. They have societies formed under the most
binding covenants in form, and the most horrid oaths to circumvent the laws, and put them at defiance, and to plunder and burn and
murder, and divide the spoils for the use of the church. This is what they call the Danite Club or Society. These facts I gather from some
persons I have seen who have disclosed them. Under this horrid system many of the citizens of Daviess county, who went to that frontier poor,
and who by their industry and economy had acquired a good living. have been robbed of every article of property they have -- their houses
burnt before their eyes, and them and their wives and children driven out of the county, without any kind of shelter. In one instance I have
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been informed that a family was ordered off, and their houses burnt in their sight, and a woman driven out while it was snowing, with a child
only four days old; in another case, I was informed the family was driven away, and the woman was compelled to ask protection in a few
miles, where she was delivered of a child a short time after she was thus treated. These, sir, are some of the offences of these people, I
do not wonder at the prejudices against them in their vicinity. I send you enclosed a copy of the constitution of one of their societies, from
which you can gather some information. I design to continue my head quarters here until the investigation of the cases of the prisoners
are closed. You shall be informed, from time to time, of the progress, as also of the movement in Daviess. These facts I now communicate
to you, supposing they would be useful to you before the meeting of the Legislature. Your communication of the 6th was received to-day by
Mr. Maupin -- its contents were duly noted and shall be attended to. I have, this evening, informed the prisoners of what is charged against
them, and ordered the leaders to be bound, so as to be sure to save them.
I am, sir.
Your obedient servant,
JOHN B. CLARK,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
__________
General Lucas to the Governor.
Independence, Nov. 7, 1838.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs,
Commander-in-Chief Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- I received from Gen. Clark last night, per the hands of Col. Price, a copy of your order of the 1st November, in which you stated
that neither General Atchison or Lucas was called, or ordered into the field by you. If your orders had reached me before I got into the
field, I would not have went; but I knew nothing of the call for men, or of the arrangements for giving the command to Gen. Clark, but
acted as I have before informed you upon a call from Brig. Gen. Parks, then in the field, (which, according to military usage and etiquette, is
equivalent to an order,) for assistance. He represented things in such a manner (which your Excellency has been apprised of by Col.
Williams and Maj. Rees) that I believed I had no alternative, but to act as I did. I have no disposition to thwart either your designs or Gen.
Clark's plans in going into the field; but after Igot there with an army of twenty-five hundred men, I could not consistently lie idle or
inactive. For the result of my proceedings I refer you to my report, sent herewith. I did not make any report to Gen. Clark, because I did not
believe it proper to do so, consistent with my grade of office.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
S. D. LUCAS,
Maj. Gen. 4 Div. Mo. Mi.
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P. S. If your Excellency should deem it proper, you can cause Gen. Clark to be furnished with a copy of the above. S. D. L.
__________
The Governor to Gen. Clark.
Executive Department, City of Jefferson, Nov. 6, 1838.
To Maj. Gen. John B. Clark, Commanding the forces against the Mormons.
Sir: -- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, under the date of the 3d inst., dated at Richmond, by the express,
Mr. G. D. Maupia. I regret very much to hear that Gen. Lucas has been guilty of disobedience of orders. On this subject, however,
I shall cause, in due time, an inquiry to be made. I thought I had been so very explicit in my orders, that it was not possible to misunderstand
them. You have placed the proper construction upon them, which was that the whole force, to be employed in this service, was to be
placed under your command. Gen. Lucas was not ordered out at all, except in the way I mentioned to you in my last communication; he
was directed to cause four hundred men of his Division to be raised, and place them under the command of a Brig. General, with the
privilege, if he thought proper, to waive his rank as a Major General, and take Brig. General's command.
Gen. Atchison was not ordered out in this last affair, for two reasons: one was, that I was aware as a member of the Legislature he would
have other duties to attend to; and another was, that there was much dissatisfaction manifested towards him by the people opposed to the
Mormons; he, though, under the Militia law, has a right within the limits of his command to order out his troops to quell insurrection, or repel
invasion. Gen. Lucas, though, could not exercise any command within Gen. Atchison's division, only so far as he may have been directed by
the Commander-in-Chief, and that only extended to the command of a Brigadier, in pursuance of the orders which I forwarded by Mr. Black,
the express from Daviess county, whose companion, Mr. Dryden, bore my first orders to you. I therefore approve of the course you have
taken in demanding the prisoners of Gen. Lucas, as well as the arms, and shall send to him instructions to deliver them over to your order in
the way you have directed him. You will see that they are securely confined within the limits of some prison, and strongly guarded. The
course you have proposed taking in relation to the other prisoners -- that is, to hold an examining court, and cause all those deemed guilty
to be confined and guarded, is the correct one.
You will proceed to 'Diahmon, and there disperse all the persons you may find embodied and under arms without authority of law; in the
mean time a detachment from jour command can, if it is deemed necessary, be employed to reinstate the people of Daviess in their
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homes. It will also be necessary that you hold a military court of inquiry in Daviess county, and arrest the Mormons who have been
guilty of the late outrages, committed towards the inhabitants of said county. My instructions to you are to settle this whole matter
completely, if possible, before you disband your forces; if the Mormons are disposed voluntarily to leave the State, of course it would be
advisable in you to promote that object, in any way deemed proper. The ringleaders of this rebellion, though, ought by no means be permitted
to escape the punishment they merit. The troops from Cole, Gasconade, and Franklin are directed to report to you. You had better
retain them in service, and discharge them, who, from fatigue or otherwise, may be disposed to return. I should be pleased to hear from you
of the final result of this matter, previous to the meeting of the Legislature. I shall forward to Gen. Lucas, by express, the necessary orders
and instructions to obey the order you have directed to him under date of the 3d inst., in relation to the arms and prisoners.
I have to request of you to embody all the facts you can collect, in relation to the commencement, progress, and termination of the recent
difficulties with the Mormons, in order that I may communicate the same to the Legislature.
I am respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
L. W. BOGGS,
Commander-in-Chief.
P. S, The prisoners will of course be delivered over to the civil, authority, when you may deem it prudent to do so. L. W. B..
__________
General Lucas to the Governor.
Independence, Mo., Nov. 5, 1838.
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs,
Commander-in-Chief of the Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- I returned yesterday with the troops of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Mo. Mi. We got to Goose Creek, in the vicinity of Far
West, on the 30th ult., and the next day the town surrendered to us under the following conditions and stipulations, viz:
1st. To give up their leaders to be tried and punished.
2d. To make an appropriation of their property, all who have taken up arms, to the payment of their debts and indemnify for damage done
by them.
3d. That the balance should leave the State, and be protected out by the militia, but to be permitted to remain until further orders from the
Commander-in-Chief.
4th. To give up their arms of every description to be receipted for.
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We took about six hundred prisoners, and received something like that number of arms. In disbanding my command, I ordered General
Wilson to take charge of the leaders who I had demanded for trial, viz: Jo Smith, jr. Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Amos Lyman, George W.
Robinson, Parley Pratt and Hiram Smith, together with the arms, and march them to my head quarters at Independence, to await your
further orders. On the 3d of November, when at Williams' Ferry, Missouri River, I received a letter from Maj. Gen. Clark by express,
ordering me to march the prisoners and arms to Richmond, to disband my forces and repair myself with my staff to his camp, wherever I could
find it between Richmond and Daviess county. This order I did not comply with, as I could not, under any circumstances, be commanded
by a junior Major General. I was thrown into the field by a call from Brig. Gen. Parks, then in the field, which, according to military etiquette
and usage, is equivalent to an order; and from your order to General Clark, he is only authorized to command Brigadier Generals, but can
make a call on Major Generals for any force that he may think necessary. I received a copy of your orders to him, and I intend to start the
prisoners and arms to Richmond in the morning, when the whole will be subject to his order. Your orders of the 26th and 27th ult.,
together with your letter to me of later date, was only received by express on the 30th ult., within six or seven miles of Far West; at this point
Maj. Gen. Atchison left me and returned home to Liberty. I was then left in the sole command of about eighteen hundred men, which I
marched that night to Goose Creek, within one mile of Far West, by sun down. The next day my forces were increased to twenty-five hundred men --
with an army of this magnitude I could not think of lying idle and inactive. I will make out a fair report and send it to you by the next
mail. We were looking for you every day for the last four or five days, or I would have sent an express to you from Far West. A communication
I received from Gen. Clark, 1st November, stated, that he had learned that you was on your way up, and would arrive in a day or two.
Learning that Gen. Clark was on his march with an army of two thousand men, I concluded that he would have force sufficient to operate in
Daviess and Livingston counties, and to make a final close without the co-operation of my troops. I deemed it proper, in order to save the
State an enormous expense, which each day was immensely heavy, to discharge my forces, which was accordingly done, with the exception
of four companies left at Far West, and five companies under General Parks sent to Daviess county. I left Col. Williams, your aid, Col.
Burch and Maj. Rees, of Reg't, at Far West, drawing up all the necessary papers; and Col. Hinkle and myself appointed five Com'ds, viz:
Wm. Collins of Jackson, G. W. Woodward of Ray, Judge Cameron of Clay, John Corrill and M. Phelps of Far West. The Mormons are to
convey their property in trust, to those Com'ds, for the benefit of creditors, and for indemnifying those that have been damaged by them.
This arrangement gave satisfaction to the whole army, and was the
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means of saving a great many valuable lives, and the effusion of immense blood.
I have the honor to be,
With great respect,
SAMUEL D. LUCAS,
Maj. Gen. 4th Div. Mo. Mi.
P. S. I sent Gen. Clark a copy of my report to you as soon as I had it made out.
__________
General Lucas to the Governor.
Head Quarters, Camp near Far West, }
November 2, 1838. }
To His Excellency, L. W. Boggs.
Commander-in-Chief Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- On Monday, October 29th, the troops ordered out by Major General Atchison and myself, (as per our report to you of said date,)
took up their line of march from camp near Richmond for Far West. We encamped the night of the 29th at Linville's Creek, (a short distance
from the road) about sixteen miles from Far West, at which point we received an express from Brig. Gen. Doniphan, informing us that
he was then encamped on Log Creek with a force of five hundred men, and that he would join us at the crossing of said creek on the road
from Richmond to Far West, by 10 o'clock, a. m., the next morning. On the 30th October, the troops got together at the last named point,
when we mustered about eighteen hundred men. Whilst at this place we received your orders of the 26th ult., and I received an order of the
27th ult., and a letter from you of same date. At this point Maj. Gen. Atchison left me for Liberty, when I was left in sole command. Before
leaving Log Creek, I received information that a body of Mormons, two hundred in number, called Danites, had been seen about two hours
previous near the route that we had passed. Upon receiving this intelligence, I ordered a detachment of two companies from the
respective commands of Brig. Genls. Wilson, Doniphan, Parks and Graham, to go in pursuit of said band, which I placed under the command of
Gen. Wilson, with instructions to intercept, and if possible to cut off their retreat to Far West. I then took up my line of match for Goose
Creek, one mile south of Far West, which point we reached about one hour by sun in the evening. Just as the troops were encamping, I
received intelligence from Gen Doniphan, from his position on the right, that he had discovered a party of mounted Mormons approaching Far
West from the east, and requested permission to intercept them if possible. Leave was granted, and his Brigade started off at nearly full
speed to accomplish the order, but the Mormons succeeded in reaching
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the fort. Gen. Doniphan approached within two hundred yards of their, fortress, when they displayed a force of about eight hundred men.
At this juncture, I ordered Gen. Graham's Brigade (holding Gen. Parks' and part of Gen. Wilson's mounted in reserve,) to march full speed
to the relief of the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, but from the inequality of the force of the first detachment, (being only two hundred and fifty
strong at that time, and the Mormons 800) it was considered prudent to withdraw the troops, and march against them in the morning, which
was accordingly done, and they all returned, as dark set in, to camp. At this place I established my head quarters, and continued there
during the expedition against the Mormons. The detachment under Gen. Wilson returned about 9 o'clock, p. m. The next morning, 31st of
October, I received a message from Col. Hinkle, the commander of the Mormon forces, requesting an interview with me, on an eminence near
Far West, which he would designate by hoisting a white flag. I sent him word I would meet him at 2 o'clock, p. m., being so much engaged
in receiving and encamping fresh troops, who were hourly coming in, that I could not attend before. Accordingly, at that time, I started with
my staff officers and Brig. Gens. Wilson, Doniphan and Graham, Gen. Parks being left in command. We met him and some other Mormons
at the point before mentioned. He stated that his object in asking me to meet him there was to know if there could not be some compromise
or settlement of the difficulty without a resort to arms. After giving him to understand the nature of your orders, I made him the following
propositions, which I furnished him a copy of, also a copy of your order, viz:
1st. To give up their leaders to be tried and punished.
2d. To make an appropriation of their property, all who had taken up arms, to the payment of their debts, and indemnify for damage done by them.
3d. That the balance should leave the State, and be protected out by the militia, but to be permitted to remain under protection until further
orders were received from the Commander-in-Chief.
4th. To give up the arms of every description to be receipted for.
Col. Hinkle agreed to the proposition readily, but wished to postpone the matter until morning. I then told him that I would require
Jos. Smith, jr., Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Parley Pratt and George W. Robinson, as hostages for his faithful compliance with the terms, and
would pledge myself and each one of the officers present, that in case he, after reflecting and consulting upon the proposition during the night,
declined acceding to them, that the hostages should be returned to him in the morning, at the same point they were received, but it was
understood, in case they did comply, they were to be held for trial as part of the leaders called for by the first stipulation; I then gave him until
one hour by sun in the evening to produce and deliver them. We then returned to camp, and I directed the troops to make preparations to
march to Far West by an hour and a half by sun, with a determination,
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in case the hostages were not produced, to make an attack upon the town forthwith. I directed Gen. Parks' Brigade to be mounted,
and to form on the right of the Division, to act as flankers it necessary, and if required to pass entirely around the town, and form on the north
side, with instructions to make the attack at the report of the cannon, which was to be the signal for the general attack. General Graham's
Brigade was mounted and formed on the extreme left to act as flankers, and if required to form the line on the west side, with similar
instructions as to the commencement of the attack. Gen. Doniphan's Brigade was ordered to parade on foot, and to form on the left of General
Parks, with instructions to form on the east side, with similar orders relative to attack. Gen. Wilson's Brigade was ordered to parade on
foot, and to form on the left of Gen. Doniphan, with instructions to form the line of battle on the south side, with same instructions as to
commencement of attack. The artillery company with one piece of ordinance was placed at the head of Gen. Doniphan's and Gen.
Wilson's Brigade, with instructions to occupy an eminence within three hundred yards of the town. The army being disposed of in this
manner, at the appointed time I took up the line of march in the direction of Far West. When the troops got within about six hundred yards I
discovered the flag and the hostages advancing. I immediately halted the army, and rode out and met them, received the hostages and placed
a guard over them for their safety and protection, and ordered the forces back to our encampment. I cannot forbear, at this point,
expressing my gratification and approbation of the good conduct and gallant bravery evinced by all the officers and men under my command. They
marched up with as much determination, and deliberation as old veterans -- not knowing but that the charge would be sounded every moment
for surrounding the towns. There was no noise or confusion, nothing but an eager anxiety upon the countenance of every man to get at the
work. When the hostages were received, the troops, with some slight exceptions, marched back in profound silence, November 1st, I
ordered the whole forces amounting to twenty-five hundred men to parade at 9 o'clock A. M., and to take up the line of march for Far West, at
half past 9 o'clock, to receive the prisoners and their arms.
The troops marched out and formed in the prairie about 200 yards south east of the town. Gen. Wilson's Brigade formed the West line.
Gen. Doniphan's the East line. Gen. Graham's and Gen. Parks the south line, with the Artillery Company and the Cannon in the centre of
the two latter, leaving one side of the square open. The Mormon army, reduced to about 600 men by desertion and otherwise, under their
Commander, Col. Hinkle, marched out of their town, through the space into our square, formed a hollow square, and grounded their arms.
Col. Hinkle, then rode forward and delivered up to me his sword and pistols. I then directed a company from the respective Brigades, to
form a front, rear, right and left, plank guards, and to march the prisoners back to Far West, and protect and take charge of them until the
next morning, I then detailed a company from Gen. Doniphan's command,
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to take charge of the Arms. Then, in order to gratify the army and to let the Mormons see our forces, marched around the town, and
through the principal streets, and back to head quarters. Considering the war at an end in this place, I issued orders for Gen. Doniphan's
Brigade, with the exception of one Company and Gen. Graham's Brigade, to take up their line of March for their respective head
quarters, and dismiss their men -- and directed Gen. Wilson to take charge of the prisoners (demanded for trial) and arms, and to march them to
my Head Quarters at Independence, to await further orders, and to dismiss all except a guard for the prisoners and arms. Nov. 2nd, I
relieved the guard placed over the prisoners at Far West by 4 Companies of Gen. Parks' Brigade, and placed them under the command of Col.
Thompson, 2 Brig. 3 Div. with instructions to report to Gen. Clark. The balance of Gen. Parks' Brigade with Capt. Gilliam's Company, of
Gen. Doniphan's Brigade under the command of Gen. Parks, I ordered to Adam-on-diahmon, a Mormon town in Daviess county, with
instructions to disarm the Mormon forces at that place, and to leave a guard of 50 men for the protection of prisoners, and to report to Gen. Clark. In
order to carry the treaty and stipulation, into effect, I have required your Aid-de-Camp, Col. Williams, together with Col. Burch and Maj. A.
Rees, of Ray, to attend to drawing up all the papers legally, and directed Col. Thompson to wait on them with a portion of his command, and
to cause all their orders and requirements, consistent with the stipulations to be carried into effect. This day about 12 o'clock there was a
Battalion of 100 men from Platte arrived at Far West, which I ordered back, having understood that Maj. Gen. Clark would be on in a day or
two, with sufficient force to operate in Daviess and Livingston, and for any service that may be required.
I have the honor to be
Most respectfully,
SAMUEL D. LUCAS,
Major General,
Commanding,
__________
General Clark to the Governor.
Chariton, Oct. 30, 1838.
His Excellency, Gov. Boggs.
Sir: -- I have ordered one thousand men from this Division, and now have five hundred this far under march, and five hundred from the 2nd
Brigade will join me to day at Keytesville, from whence I will proceed to Richmond without delay. Your two orders were both received on
day before yesterday, at the same time. On this moment I received, per Capt. Long, the enclosed express from Gen. Atchison and Lucas, then
at Richmond -- it was met by Col. Williams, your aid, and opened, and sent to me, supposing that the powers conferred on me were sufficient.
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This may be so, but I would give your Excellency my decided opinion that it would be best for you to be there, and hope you will, if practicable.
In the mean time I will endeavour to act out your orders in letter and spirit, however great the responsibility. I have this moment
despatched to Gen. Atchison and Lucas, a copy of your two orders to me, with instructions to act for the best until I can arrive. All the
additional information that I nave from the scene of disturbances, is worse and worse.
I have the honor to be.
Your obedient servant,
JOHN B. CLARK,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
__________
Gens. Atchison & Lucas to the Governor.
Head Quarters of the 3d and 4th Div. Mo. Mi. }
Richmond, October 28, 1838. }
To the Commander-in-Chief, Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- 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. We have about two thousand men under arms, to keep them in check. The presence of the Commander-in-Chief is
deemed absolutely necessary, and we most respectfully urge that your Excellency be at the seat of war, as soon as possible.
Your most ob't serv't,
DAVID R. ATCHISON, M. G. 3d Div.
SAM'L D. LUCAS, M.G. 4th Div.
__________
Governor to General Clark.
Executive Department, City of Jefferson, Nov. 1st, 1838.
Maj. Gen. John B. Clark.
Sir: -- Your communication, by express, of Oct. 30th, enclosing one from Maj. Gen. Atchison and Lucas, of the 30th Oct. has been received.
It is impossible for me to leave here; the near approach of the meeting of the Legislature, renders it necessary that every moment of my
time be employed in preparation to meet them. It was considered by me that full and ample powers were vested in you to carry into effect
my former orders. The ease is now a very plain one -- the Mormons must be subdued and peace restored to the community. You will
therefore proceed without delay to execute the former orders. Full confidence is reposed in your ability to do so; your force will be amply
sufficient to accomplish the object. Should you need the aid of artillery, I would suggest that an application be made to the commanding
officer of Fort Leavenworth, for such as you may need. You are authorized
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to request the loan of it in the name of the State of Missouri. My presence then could effect nothing. I therefore again repeat that
you are authorized, and full power is given you to take whatever steps you deem necessary and such as the circumstances of the case may
seem to demand to subdue the insurgents and give peace and quiet to the country. The ringleaders of this rebellion should be made an example
of; and, if it should become necessary for the public peace, the Mormons should be exterminated or expelled from the State. In order
that no difficulty may arise in relation to the command, I must inform you that neither General Atchison or Lucas have been called into service
under the late order (except Geo. 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 (rom his own Division, though subject to your orders. All
the troops now under arms, and those that may arrive at the seat of war are placed under your command.
You will report to me by express, and keep me regularly informed of any thing of importance which may occur. The near approach of
winter requires that your operations should be hastened. After having restored quiet, you will cause the people of Daviess county, who
have been driven from their homes, to be reinstated.
I am respectfully.
Your ob't serv't,
L. W. BOGGS, Commander-in-Chief.
__________
General Wilson to General Clark.
Head Quarters, 2nd Brig. 1st Div. Mo. Mi. }
Adam-on-diahmon, November 12th, 1838. }
Maj. Gen. Clark.
Sir: -- In pursuance of your order of the 7th, at Far West, I took up the line of march with my command, and arrived here on the 8th. We
suffered much from the inclemency of the weather, which still continues. On my arrival here I found the troops had left. I met Col.
Burges some two miles from this place, lie being the last, I immediately placed a guard around the town, and ordered the Mormons to parade,
which order was promptly obeyed, and about two hundred men entered their names. I then proceeded to the investigation, as you required
by your order. Justice Black and other citizens being present, I caused such of the Mormons as were supposed to be guilty of crimes,
arrested, and handed them over to the civil authorities for trial. It however appears that the most guilty had escaped, they having ample
opportunity, as I am informed. The town had not been under guard up to the time of our arrival. The investigation is still progressing, but
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with but little hope of effecting much, as the citizens seem to be unable to identify but few.
It is perfectly impossible for me to convey to you any thing like the awful state of things which exist here -- language is inadequate to the
task. The citizens of a whole county, first plundered, and then their houses and other buildings burnt to ashes, without houses, beds,
furniture or even clothing in many instances, to meet the inclemency of the weather. I confess that my feelings have been shocked with the gross
brutality of these Mormons, who have acted more like demons from the infernal regions than human beings. Under these circumstances
you will readily perceive that it would be perfectly impossible for me to protect the Mormons against the just indignation of the citizens.
I therefore promptly informed the Mormons, in a short address, of all the facts that had then come to my knowledge -- told them I should
remain in Daviess county ten days, and would endeavor to protect them during that time -- at the end of ten days I would leave and was not
authorized to promise them further protection in Daviess county -- that you had promised protection in Caldwell county -- that such of them
as wished to remove to Caldwell, or out of the State, I would give a permit to that purpose, and would guaranty their safety on the route.
The Mormons themselves appeared pleased with the idea of getting away from their enemies and a justly insulted people, and I believe all
have applied and received permits to leave the county, and I suppose about fifty families have left, and others pre hourly leaving, and at the
end of ten days, Mormonism will not be known in Daviess county. This appeared to me to be the only course left to prevent a general
massacre, and I hope my course in this matter may meet your approbation, as it has been your pleasure to commit to my charge a most
important command, without special instructions. I feel the more bound, not only to return you my sincere thanks for the honor thus done, but
to give you a full account of all of my acts. Nothing has been left undone on my part to justify that confidence. The citizens of Daviess
have co-operated heartily with me, and to their praise be it said, have shown a degree of compassion and charity unparalleled, under the
circumstances, to their enemies, and have cheerfully obeyed every order I have found it proper to give in this matter, and I now confidently
believe I shall be able to close this most shocking insurrection without further bloodshed.
I had previously to receiving your order discharged all the troops under my command, except one company under Capt. Newbold. This
company will be retained until I close my business here. I expect, without otherwise ordered, to remain here until to morrow week, and
then set out for home. If, therefore, it is your pleasure to give me further orders before leaving, I would suggest that they be forwarded in
time to reach here before that time.
It would astonish you to see the immense piles of stolen property, which has been brought in, and deposited by the Mormons, consisting
of almost every thing to be found at a farm house, and much remaining
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yet concealed. Large quantities have been found buried in and near town. I have been making all possible exertions to collect and
preserve this property for the owners, but I find it hard to do, as these dirty thieves are more skilful in the pilfering line, than any I have yet
seen. The citizens inform me that much of their property has been taken to Far West. I suggest that you order them to return it here at
their own expense.
I write in a miserable shanty, called "The Lord's Storehouse," late at night, after having been well soaked in the rain during the day, and
much fatigued. I may have omitted some things, but when I am more comfortable. I will write you more fully.
I have the honor to be,
With unfeigned good will,
Your obedient servant,
R. WILSON. Brig. Gen.
Commanding 2d Brig. Mo. Mi.
__________
General Clark to the Governor.
Head Quarters, Richmond, Nov. 13, 1838.
His Excellency, Gov. Boggs.
Sir: -- In my last communication, I informed you of all the important incidents of the expedition, up to that time. On Tuesday last we
commenced the examination of the alleged crimes, being treason, murder, burglary, arson and larceny, against Jo Smith and his co-leaders, and
also forty-six others, who occupy less space amongst their people, but many of whom are equally guilty. The defendants have employed
Messrs. Rees and Doniphan to defend them, who are both present. The inquiry, as you may well imagine, takes a very extensive range, and
involves many important legal principles, not often adverted to in our practice, and being, as I consider, too important to be made out against
the prisoners. I, at the suggestion of Mr. Burch, the Circuit Attorney, spoke to Col. W. T. Wood, to assist in the prosecution, promising
him to lay the matter before your Excellency, not doubting but what some provision would be made by which he would have paid to him a
reasonable fee.
This was not done because I doubted Mr. Burch's ability in the least, for he is a good lawyer, and enters into this matter with his whole
energy, but there are so many points stirred, and so much labour to arrange the facts, so as to make them bear on the various defendants
that I did not wonder he should ask assistance, and for the good of the State I spoke to Col. Wood as above stated, and he very willingly
engaged with Mr. Burch. We progress slowly, but thus far the disclosures indicate certain conviction of treason against Smith, Wight,
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Pratt, Rigdon and some one or two more; and of murder against some five or six; burglary against several; arson against a number; and
larceny against others. How it will all result, I cannot yet tell, but that the leaders will all be convicted of treason or murder, I think is
reasonably certain, and many others of felony. You shall be informed as we progress.
I received this evening a communication from General Wilson, who had been despatched to Daviess county, a copy of which I enclose you,
from which you will discover, that things are becoming as well settled there as can be under the circumstances, though they would have been
much better settled if your orders had been complied with before my arrival. It seems to me if proper steps had been taken to save the
active leaders, they could ail have been captured. The protection Gen. Wilson alludes to my giving the Mormons in Caldwell, I explained to
you in my last communication. I regret exceedingly to learn that any acts of yours should create any heart burnings, or collision with your
Excellency and any general officer, and particularly to such an extent as I understand existswilh Gen. Atchison, Your motives doubtless
were good; your orders were undoubtedly right as to the Mormons and my command, and I have no doubt the whole country will sustain
you. Business of a very urgent nature compels me to leave here on to-morrow for Fayette, where I will arrive on Sunday, leaving Lieut.
Col. Price, a competent officer, here until my return. I will only remain in Fayette until Tuesday or Wednesday next, when I shall
return here to remain until this whole prosecution is settled, or put in such a condition that a Military force is unnecessary. It is though
that the investigation will last for two or three weeks.
I am sir, your ob't. servant,
JOHN B. CLARK,
Maj. Gen'l. Com'd.
__________
The Governor to Gen. Willock.
Executive Department, City of Jefferson, Nov. 12, 1838.
To Maj. Gen. D. Willock, Commanding detachment at Huntsville.
Sir: -- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 10th inst. from Huntsville. From information received
from Gen. Clark, who was placed in command of all the troops raised in pursuance of the late orders of the Executive, there will not be any
necessity for your proceeding any further; you will therefore return with your troops and discharge them. The Quarter Master of the
Detachment will purchase, and grant certificates to the persons of whom he purchases, such provision as you may need. You will,
however, endeavor to make out with as small a quantity as possible.
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You will please present my thanks to the troops under your command. for their promptness in marching to the call of their country.
Respectfully,
L. W. BOGGS, Commander-in-Chief.
__________
Governor to General Clark.
Executive Department, City of Jefferson, Nov. l5, 1838.
Maj. Gen. John B. Clark.
Sir: -- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communications of the 10th and 11th inst., by Mr. Maupin, the express.
Upon an examination of the law, I find I have no power to appoint a Commissary General, there being one already in commission. The
duties you speak of as having been performed by A. W. Morrison, Esq., might have been performed by your Division Quarter Master.
Your certificate of his appointment, however, to discharge certain duties, as for instance, as acting Commissary for the detachment under
your command, I presume would be altogether sufficient. You will oblige me by sending at your earliest convenience, a copy of my
second order to you. as forwarded by Mr. Rees. In the hurry of business, I neglected to retain a copy, and it is necessary to have one, as
this whole matter will probably undergo an investigation by the Legislature. Your report will be expected at your earliest convenience.
You will hasten your operations, and discharge all the troops as soon as the circumstances of the case will permit.
I have the honor to be.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
L. W. BOGGS.
__________
The Governor to Gen. Clark.
Executive Department, City of Jefferson, Nov. 19, 1838.
To Gen. John B. Clark.
Sir: -- You will take immediate steps to discharge all the troops you have retained in service as a guard, and deliver the prisoners over to
the civil authorities. You will not attempt to try them by court martial, the civil law must govern. Should the Judge of the Circuit Court
deem a guard necessary, he has the authority to call on the militia of the county for that purpose. In the absence of the Attorney General,
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I am unable to furnish you with his opinion on the points requested. One thing, however, is certain, that so soon as an insurrection is quelled
and peace restored, the military authority ceases; but the crime of treason, whether it can be tried out of the county where the act was
committed, we have no precedent, only that of the case of Aaron Burr, who was charged with the commission of that offence against the
United States, at Blannerhassett's Island, in the State of Virginia, and he was tried at Richmond, Va. This, however, is a matter which the
Judiciary will have to determine. I wish you distinctly to understand, that if you have accomplished the object of the expedition, which was
to restore peace to the community, and to cause the offenders to be brought to justice, that you will discharge all your forces, and report
to me your proceedings in the manner heretofore requested. The officers retained to serve on court martial, will also be discharged. Should
you have left Richmond before you receive this communication, you will forward by express to the officer you have left in command, orders
to the foregoing effect.
I should be happy to see you at this place, as you would perhaps be able to explain many things in relation to this perplexing subject, which
I cannot at present understand.
I am, very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
LILBURN W. BOGGS, Commander-in-Chief.
__________
D. Ashby's statement of the Battle at the Mill.
Senate Chamber, Nov. 28, 1836.
Gen. J. B. Clark.
Dear Sir: -- In answer to your note of this morning requesting me to give you such information as was in my knowledge relative to the
battle fought on the 30th of October, at the Mills, on Shoal Creek, between the citizens and Mormons, I will state that the company I
belonged to was stationed in the rear as a reserve, at a distance of about forty yards from the line of battle: as soon as the line of battle was
formed, and before all the troops in the line had dismounted, the fire commenced, (by the Mormons as I was told by them in front.) The
position I occupied prevented me from seeing the commencement; as soon as the firing commenced the company I belonged to dismounted
and run in the line in front. When I got sight of the position of the Mormons, they were all in the house, or under the bank of the creek,
and the smoke of their guns from both places, appeared to me to be continual. Our men look a few fires at a crack in the house, when I
heard the order to charge the house, which order was promptly obeyed, -- the men run to the house -- as we approached it I saw one man have
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out his gun in front of me, and I stepped to one side, and the man in front of me squatted down and pitched under the muzzle, lay still until
the gun fired, he then rose and as the Mormon drew back his gun, our man shoved his gun in the house and fired. By this time our men got
possession of all the port holes, cracks, &c., and kept up such a constant fire, that the Mormons could not get their guns out to shoot.
They then broke out of the house and ran towards the creek, but many fell in their flight. About that time I heard the cry of quarters among;
our own men. I recollect distinctly of hearing one of our men say, "they called for quarters.'' I then hallooed "quarters," "quarters,'' as
loud as I could, which was re-echoed by all around me. The firing then ceased on our part, at which time a volley came from the creek. I
then thought they had heard us calling for quarters, and thought we were whipped -- the firing then renewed on our part and continued as
long as there was a Mormon in sight, except the wounded. After the battle was near a close, I saw some of the Mormons that had reached
the base of the hill, south of the creek, about three hundred yards from us, stop, turn round, and shot back at us, and then ran on. After the
battle had subsided, I saw some of our men carry our wounded man into a house, and laid him on a bed. The men, in counting the dead, found
one man in the house not hurt, who had fallen down in the early part of the action, and was covered with the slain. I saw him and talked with
him the moment he was taken prisoner. Those who counted said thirty-one was killed of the Mormons, and seven of our men was
wounded. We then got a wagon and horses, and such of our wounded as was unable to ride, was put in the wagon and we left the place.
The above is an outline of that affair, as my recollection serves me.
I am, respectfully.
DANIEL ASHBY.
__________
Gen. Clark to Gens. Lucas & Atchison.
Camp at Chariton, October 30, 1838, }
10 o'clock, A. M. }
Maj. Gens. Lucas & Atchison.
Gentlemen: -- I am now here with nearly one thousand men, under a force march to Richmond, in pursuance of an order from the
Commander-in-Chief, copies of which are herewith enclosed to you for the use only of your confidents. You will discover by them the power
vested in me, and for this purpose I enclose them to you.
Capt. Long this moment arrived with an express from you to the Governor, which had been met and opened by Col. Williams, one of
the Governor's aids, and sent tome; I have forwarded it to the Governor. You will both act with your respective commands for the best.
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according to circumstances, until I arrive, when some plan of action will be settled upon. If the Governor should not come, I will reach
Richmond as soon as I can. Capt. Long returns with this to you, and Mr. Fristoe goes on to the Governor.
Respectfully, yours,
JOHN B. CLARK, Maj. Gen. &c.
__________
Gen. Clark to Gens. Lucas & Atchison.
Camp near Carrollton, midnight, Nov. 1, 1838.
Gens. Atchison & Lucas.
Gentlemen: -- Understanding two days since, while at Chariton or, my march, that you were at Richmond, and was only holding the
Mormons in check, until further orders, which you sought from the Commander-in-Chief, and having before then received orders from the
Commander-in-Chief with plenary powers to settle this whole difficulty and call to my aid such force as I might deem necessary, a copy of which I
sent you by express, per Capt. Long; but learning at this place that you have proceeded to Far West, and hearing a report (not officially)
that some of the Mormons have already surrendered to you; therefore, under my orders, and in pursuance of the power assigned me, I
send you respectively the following orders, viz: You are to remain at some secure position in the vicinity of Far West, protecting the
citizens and their property from the aggressions of the Mormons until I arrive with my force, which will be to-morrow night, amounting to two
thousand men, but you are not to make any attack or operate offensively until I arrive, when the plan of adjustment suggested by the
Commander-in-Chief and proposed by myself will be communicated. You must take steps, if you have not, and if it be necessary, to provision
your forces by foraging or otherwise. If you have any prisoners, you will make no terms with them by which they are to be discharged until
my arrival, but preserve them from injury as prisoners. The Governor, I have learned this evening, is on his way up, and will join us
perhaps to-morrow.
I will be able reach Far West in three more days. If Gen. Willock has arrived at the place he was ordered, you will direct him, and also
Gen. Doniphan, to remain there until my arrival, for further orders, observing their original orders, to prevent the retreat of the Mormons to
the north.
The express leaves immediately, and I cannot be more specific. You will both report to me immediately your head quarters, strength and
position, and such other matters as tend to further the service in which we are engaged. My express, Messrs, Scott, Turner and Engart, you
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will furnish with such necessaries as they may need, and much oblige me.
I have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN B. CLARK,
Maj. Gen. 1st Div. Mo. Mi.
__________
General Clark to General Lucas.
Head Quarters of the forces against the Mormons, }
Richmond, November 3, 1838. }
Gen. Samuel D. Lucas, Maj. Gen. 4th Div. Mo. Mi.
Sir: -- I have heretofore directed you to report to me of your movements in your operations against the Mormons, but you have not done
so. or even sent me a line, except a pencil scrawl, accidentally found in the bar-room of the tavern at Richmond. I know nothing officially
of what has been done, and shall therefore move on to Far West. You are ordered to have all the prisoners and arms taken from the
Mormons, to be brought forthwith to this place, and the prisoners put in the Richmond jail and guarded, and the arms put in some secure place
and guarded also, and you are also ordered to discharge your forces, except a sufficient guard for the arms and prisoners as above. You will
then repair in person to my camp between here and Daviess county, with your suit, and also communicate to me a complete report in
detail of what you have done in this expedition. These orders I make under orders to me from the Governor.
I have the honor to be,
Your ob't serv't,
JOHN B. CLARK, Com'd. Gen.
__________
General Clark to General Parks.
Head Quarters of all the forces against the Mormons, }
Far West, November 4. 1838. }
Maj. Gen. Parks
Sir: -- I received your communication of this day per express, and can only say, you did right in obeying the orders of Gen. Lucas,
although they were without authority so far as he was concerned. You have, I suppose, taken the whole of the men of the Mormons
prisoners; if not, you will do so, and place such a guard around them and the town as will protect the prisoners and secure them until they can
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he dealt with properly; also the property must be protected from plunder and waste as far as practicable. In relation to the
property of the citizens, you will give notice that as soon as I get things settled here, I will repair to that place with a sufficient force to place
the citizens back on their homes, and that then all their property that can be found will be delivered up to them, and also the best means
adopted to have them paid for the damages they have sustained, till which time (my arrival) all their property, as well as the Mormons,
must be held in custody. This is done in order that justice may be done in its distribution. All the citizens who have moved can now
move back with perfect safety, as my forces will not be discharged until they, who choose to, have moved. If you think sixty men or one
company enough, without doubt, to leave at that place to secure the prisoners and afford protection, &c., you are at liberty to do as you
have suggested, but you must select a company in whom you can confide to execute your orders, and charge them to be strict that no
outrages are committed. The prisoners must be protected. If you move your forces here, all but one company, you had better do so immediately.
I will wait here until you have time to come, before I make any further order about Adam-on-diahmon.
l am, sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN B. CLARK, Maj. Gen. &c.
__________
General Clark to General Wilson.
{GENERAL ORDER.}
Head Quarters, Far West, Nov. 7, 1838.
Brig. Gen. Robert Wilson will take up the line of march with his Brigade on this morning, for Adamon-diahmon, in Daviess county, and
take possession of the prisoners at that place, and proceed to ascertain those who committed crimes, and when done to put them under close
guard, and when he moves, take them to Keytesville, after having them recognized by the proper authority. He will then endeavor to restore
the citizens of Daviess to their homes. After things have been restored as far as may be, he will march for home and discharge his force, and
report to me. I send a copy of the order of the Governor to me, in which are transferred all things for that particular service; you will
therefore do all things which you may deem necessary under said order.
JOHN B. CLARK, Maj. Gen. Com'd.
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Certificate of Mormons as to the conduct of Gen, Clark and his troops.
Richmond, November 23, 1838.
Understanding that Maj. Gen. Clark is about to return with the whole of his command from the scene of difficulty, we avail ourselves
of this occasion to state that we were present when the Mormons surrendered to Maj. Gen. Lucas at Far West, and remained there until
Maj. Gen. Clark arrived; and we are happy to have an opportunity as well as the satisfaction of stating that the course of him and his
troops while at Far West was of the most respectful kind and obliging character towards the said Mormons; and that the destitute among
that people are much indebted to him for sustenance during his stay. The modification of the terms upon which the Mormons surrendered,
by permitting them to remain until they could safely go in the spring, was also an act that gave general satisfaction to the Mormons. We
have no hesitation in saying that the course taken by Gen Clark with the Mormons was necessary for the public peace, and that the
Mormons are generally satisfied with his course, and feel in duty bound to say that the conduct of the General, his staff officers and troops, was
highly honorable as soldiers and citizens, so far as our knowledge extends; and we have heard of nothing derogatory to the dignity of the
State in the treatment of the prisoners.
Respectfully, &c.
W. W. PHELPS.
GEO. WALTER,
JOHN CLEMINSON.
G. M. HINKLE.
JOHN CORRILL.
__________
General Wilson to General Clark.
Gen. Clark.
Sir: -- In pursuance of your order, dated at Far West, Nov. 7, I marched with the troops under my command for Adam-on-diahmon.
in the county of Daviess, where I arrived on the 8th. Immediately after my arrival, I had called together all the Mormons then residing in
Daviess county, and distinctly informed them of the nature of the order of the Commander-in-Chief, and that you had transferred the
same to the undersigned to be executed in the county of Daviess. I also informed them that they would be permitted to remain in Daviess
county during the winter, or that they, at their option, should be permitted peaceably to remove themselves and property to Caldwell
county, if they desired so to do; that I would remain ten days with a sufficient force for their protection, and that I would give to such as
desired it, a written permit to remove to Caldwell or out of the State. So soon as this was made known to them, they unanimously made
application and received the permit above alluded to, and in the course of ten days all the Mormons residing at that point, with a few exceptions,
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had removed in peace and safety. I would here give it as my opinion, that, owing to the hostility these people had produced against
themselves by their excesses and depredations upon the property and lives of the citizens, they would not have been permitted to remain here in
safety, and of this the Mormons seemed to be well satisfied. I found the greater portion of these people to be late emigrants to this place from
Canada and the Northern part of the U. States, encamped mostly in tents, unprovided with provisions for the winter. I was told, upon
inquiry, that the prisoners had not been guarded since their surrender, and that such as knew they could be identified by the citizens had
mostly absconded. Such of the Mormons as could be identified were placed on trial before a justice of the peace. The Mormons have
done immense injury to the citizens of this county, first by robbing them of all their moveable property, and then burning their houses.
A part of this property was found at Adam-on-diahmon, but the greater portion is still missing. The people of Daviess county, during
my stay among them, conducted themselves towards the Mormons with great propriety and even generosity. I am fully satisfied for
myself that no people having any claims to honesty would permit such a band of robbers, as these Mormons have proved themselves to be, to
reside among them. It is useless for me here to recapitulate the evidence upon which this opinion is founded, as you must be fully in
possession of the same, from the inquiry now going forward at Richmond.
I have great pleasure in being able to certify to you of the good conduct of the troops under my command; both officers and privates
discharged their duty to my entire satisfaction, and without a murmur. So far as I am informed, no Mormon was injured in person or property,
by any person under my command.
Finding the civil authorities of Daviess county in a situation to discharge all the duties required of them by law, I referred to their decision
all matters in dispute in relation to property between citizens and Mormons under the belief that an exercise of military authority,
under the circumstances, would have been improper. The extent of the injury sustained by the citizens could not be fully ascertained, but as
far as my observation and information extended the whole county is laid waste, and I fear many will suffer during the winter. It is impossible
to witness these scenes of distress, without feeling the deepest indignation against the leaders of these people, who under the sacred name
of religion have caused their followers to commit the most horrid crimes ever perpetrated in any country, and that too, as they allege, for
the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ.
The troops under my command have all returned home, and I am this far on the route, subject to your further orders.
I have the honor to be,
With great respect.
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT WILSON,
Brig. Gen. 2d Brig. 1st. Div. Mo. Mi.
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Report of Gen. Clark.
City of Jefferson, Nov. 29, 1838.
The Governor of the State of Missouri.
Sir: -- The whole of the forces placed under my command, for the purpose specified in your orders of the 26th and 27th of last month,
(copies of which are" here attached, marked A and B.) being discharged, I now, in pursuance of your orders, proceed to report to you my
movements; as well as to submit to you such facts as I have been able to embody, showing the commencement, progress and termination of
this perplexing difficulty. One or two days before I received your orders, above referred to, I had, upon information received from Messrs.
Rees, Williams, Dickson, and Woods, in writing (copies of which are here attached, marked C,) issued ordets to have raised in my division
1,000 mounted men, to be ready to march on Monday the 29th of last month, all of which I immediately communicated to you by express.
The express, however, conveying my communication, met one from your Excellency, conveying to me your orders, and returned. On the
29th, according to my order, the first Brigade rendezvouzed at Fayette, prepared to march and did on that evening take up the line of march
and reach Chariton. On the next morning, the 30th, I received an express from Gens. Atchison & Lucas to you, but which had been sent to
me by Col. Williams, your aid. After examining it I enclosed it to you. This letter stated war was inevitable, and that they would hold
the enemy in check, until you could arrive. Supposing from previous information that the forces under the command of Gens. Atchison and
Lucas would only be employed as stated, I wrote to them, telling them to act for the best, according to circumstances, until my arrival,
in which letter I enclosed copies of your two orders to me, (this letter is here attached, marked D.) On this evening we reached Keytesyille,
when we met the second Brigade, commanded by Brig. Gen. Wilson, who had been ordered to join me at this place. Here I organized the
division, giving Col. J. W. Redman the command of the first Brigade, in the absence of the Brig. Gen. The next day we took up the line of
march for Richmond, making forced marches. On the day we reached Carrollton, Nov. 2., I heard that Gen. Lucas had invested Far West,
and affected a capitulation, the terms of which was that the Mormons were, 1st, to give up their leaders to be tried and punished. 2nd, All
who had taken up arms to make an appropriation of their property, to pay their debts, and the damages they had done. 3rd, The balance
should leave the State forthwith, and "be protected out of the State by the Militia. 4th To give up all their arms. These propositions seem
to have been proposed in writing by Gen. Lucasi and accepted to by the Mormons, as I afterwards learned. I here sent another express to
Gen. Lucas, ordering him to hold to the prisoners, and make no final treaty until I arrived; when I would communicate to him my views,
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&c. (A copy of this order is herewith attached, marked E.) This order, however, did not reach Gen. Lucas, as I am informed, until after he
had left Far West with the prisoners. The next day I reached Crooked River. Learning here that Gen. Lucas had disbanded his forces, and
marched the prisoners to Independence, I immediately sent an express to intercept him, with orders for him to march the prisoners and arms
back to Richmond, (a copy of which order is here attached, marked F.) I continued my march to Far West, where the troops arrived on
Sunday, the 4th of this month. Hearing at Richmond that some of the guard, left by Gen. Lucas at Far West, were killing prisoners and
committing other excesses, I left my troops and went in advance, riding all night, in order to check such things, but when I reached there, on
examination, I found the guard had been misrepresented greatly, and injustice done them in this matter, as well as Gen. Lucas' troops in many
respects. When the troops reached Far West they were encamped in the vicinity of town, a guard placed around the army, to
keep the men from going in on that evening. I went into town with all the field officers, and instituted a Military Court of Inquiry, to
ascertain who were the most, guilty and ought to be put on their trial in the Civil Courts. The business employed my time for two days and
nights. I will here remark, but for the capture of Sampson Avard, a leading Mormon (by Col. Hall from the Platte, who is a fine officer,) I
do not believe I could have obtained any useful facts. No one disclosed any useful matter until he was captured and brought in. I
instructed every one who did disclose or give testimony, that they were not bound to criminate themselves, and that no steps would be taken
to compel them. We progressed with this investigation until all had disclosed, who would willingly. I then caused the whole of the
Mormons to be paraded, and selected such as I thought ought to be put on their trial before a committing Magistrate, and put them in a room
until the next morning, when I took up the line of march for Richmond, with the whole forces and prisoners, 46 in number. I, however, the day
before I left Far West, despatched Lieut. Col. Price with two companies from the 2nd Brigade to Richmond, to receive the prisoners and
arms Gen. Lucas had been ordered to have there. On his arrival, not binding them there, he went to Independence, and informed the Gen.
of the nature of his mission. They were then started and arrived the next day. The arms, however, I did not succeed in getting before my
departure from Richmond, but suppose they could not be crossed for the ice. On the day I left Far West, I directed Brig. Gen. Robert
Wilson, with his Brigade, except the two companies Col. Price had at Adam-on-diahmon, a town in Daviess county, to settle matters in that
quarter. He had furnished him a copy of your several orders to me. Gen. Wilson is a good officer, and also Lawyer, and I thought
therefore particularly fitted for that command. The manner in which he discharged his duty, will be seen by his final report to me, with my
order to him, (a copy of which is here attached, marked G.) The Gen. and his troops suffered very much by the inclemency of the weather,
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but they acted kindly and humanely to the prisoners, and deserve great credit. While at Far West, Brig. Gen. Parks reported to me his acts
at 'Diahmon, under the order of Gen. Lucas, and I sent to him an order, to keep the prisoners guarded until my arrival, charging him not to
permit the property or person of the prisoners to be injured in any way, (a copy of which order is attached, marked H.) Gen. Parks
fulfilled my orders to my satisfaction. While in Far West, I was applied to by a considerable number, who informed me that they were out of
provisions in town, but had plenty on their farms. Not wishing to release any until I had closed the inquiry, I caused provisions to be dealt
out to such as were destitute until they were discharged. There was at Far West about 600 Mormons, (several hundred having run off with
their arms before my arrival,) and at Adam-on-diahman about 150 or 200, making in all about 1,200 armed inen, when all together, as well as
I can ascertain. There is now collected in the hands of my Quarter Master, and I presume Gen. Lucas's, about 700 guns, a great many
pistols, swords, and spears, but I have not now in my possession any means to ascertain the exact number, but they have been receipted for,
and will be reported in due time by the proper officer. Before I left Far West, I had the Mormons called together and addressed them, in
substance, that they had capitulated with Gen. Lucas, and made their own agreement, and they would be expected to comply, and must comply,
deeming it necessary for the public peace, but that they would not be expected to go until their convenience in the spring. That no military
guard would go with them -- that none was necessary, as I would pledge the honor of the State they should not be hurt: that their arms should
be given up to them. I did not see what else I could do under the circumstances, without setting at naught what had been done by Gen.
Lucas, which I thought would have produced another difficulty with these people, of perhaps more danger than the one that was then settled.
This being done, I marched to Richmond with the prisoners, and applied to the Hon. A. A. King to try them. He commenced the examination
immediately after the defendants obtained counsel. Before their trial commenced, they were informed what was alleged against them.
I spoke to Col. Wood to assist the Circuit Attorney in the prosecution, in the reasons given in my last communication. The inquiry, as you
may well imagine, took a wide range, embracing the crimes of Treason, Murder, Burglary, Robbery, Arson, and Larceny. Gens. White, Grant,
and Willock were directed to discharge their troops, as soon as I learned of the surrender, and that they were on their march: also the troops
from the 5th Div. under the command of Gen. Woodward, except the Boonville guards, commanded by Capt. Chiles, and the company
of Cavalry commanded by Capt. Parsons -- both of those companies were kept to guard the prisoners -- the guards to bring them to
Richmond, and the Cavalry to guard them after they got there. The whole of the troops are now out of service, and were discharged as
early as possible, according to your orders. Brig. Gen. Wilson, who was sent to Daviess county, to settle matters in that quarter, made a
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report of his acts and opinions of the commencement of the difficulty, which is dated the 25th, and it is so replete with information that I
have appended it to this report as heretofore stated. I can bear testimony to the good conduct of my whole immediate command, both
officers and men. They all conducted themselves on the march, and while with the Mormons, as honorable citizen soldiers; and I state to
you, sir, that none of my Division at any time, nor any of the forces after I arrived at Far West, committed any violence, either upon the
property or persons of the Mormons, of either sex; any statement or insinuation to the contrary is false and a slander upon my command
and our citizens. I am led to make this statement to your Excellency on account of strictures I have seen in some of the public Journals of the
country, about the troops generally, and consequently embracing my command, I cannot vouch for the troops before my arrival, but I do
afterwards, and in justice to the officers commanding before I will state, that I believe that great injustice has been done them also. I have the
testimony of the most intelligent Mormons as to the subject, (which I attach, marked L.) It is humiliating to the Militia, who are citizens
generally of a high order, to see the public Journals of the country publishing every report that is put out, without knowing whether it be
true or false, for the purpose of casting reproach upon our arms and country. I make this statement to rescue my command from such
unmerited censure, which' I know to be false as far as they are concerned, and leave other general officers, having the command before my
arrival, to act as they please in the premises. I have not been able to satisfy myself as well as I would desire of the causes of this difficulty,
but enough is shown by the evidence I here attach, (marked J.) to enable the country to appreciate your prompt movement in ordering out
the Militia to put down an insurrection of no ordinary character. It had for its object Dominion, the ultimate subjugation of this State and
the Union to the laws of a few men called the Presidency. Their church was to be built up at any rate, peaceably if they could, forcibly
if necessary. These people had banded themselves together in Societies, the object of which was to first drive from their Society such as
refused to join them in their unholy purposes, and then to plunder the surrounding country, and ultimately to subject the State to their rule.
They have committed great injury to the country by burning, robbing, &c. These things, however, their leaders say, was done to punish the
citizens of our State, for past violence to them. How this is, you can determine from the evidence herewith sent. In their incursions they
have robbed, murdered, stole and burnt, and committed many inhuman acts on helpless families. I have no doubt but what we have many
citizens who have very much mistreated these people, but never to such an extent as to create the idea in a rational mind, who loved his
country, that the Government ought to be subverted and the laws put at defiance. The whole number of the Mormons killed through the
whole difficulty, as far as lean ascertain, are about 40, and several wounded. There has been one citizen killed, and about 15 badly
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wounded. I give it as my decided opinion that much more blood would have been shed than was, it there had been only troops enough ordered
out by your Excellency to conquer the insurgents in a battle, than by having a larger number. This influence awed them into submission to
the first troops that appeared before their town. This I am authorized to say by intelligent Mormons. Much has been said to the prejudice of
those engaged in the battle of Hann's Mills; not having received before my departure from Richmond, an official account of that battle from
the officer commanding, since my arrival here, I addressed a note to Maj. Ashby, a Senator from Chariton, who was there, for information.
His answer is here appended, and (marked K.) to which I refer you. I would inform your Excellency that I have been informed by the
Mormons, that there are now about 100 females, the wives of those who were killed and run off, who are destitute and depend on their friends
for support. I do not know how many of the prisoners will be committed, not having heard the evidence in defence. When I left Richmond,
I obtained copies of all the evidence that had been given in, that I could procure, and engaged a gentleman to copy the balance on both
sides, and forward it to me at this place by each mail. The evidence I have is not certified, but I heard it delivered, and know it is
substantially copied. That part of S. Avard's evidence, giving a list of those persons engaged in crime, is by accident omitted. As fast as the
balance arrives it shall be transmitted. Every facility was afforded the prisoners in getting their witnesses, &c. that could be, and as far as I
could observe the investigation was conducted upon legal grounds. They have all counsel, who are vigilant in their defence. No pay rolls
have yet been made to me, but they will be very soon, when I will forward them in due form. There is some public property which my
Quarter Master was ordered to report to the Quarter Master General. Having now submitted to your Excellency the course taken by me
under your several orders, in every material step, as well as such information as I possess, permit me to assure your Excellency that I
entered on my duties with fearful apprehensions that my experience and ability to command had been overrated by you, and it would have
given me pleasure if such an important trust, involving so much, had been committed to other more competent hands. But in the discharge
of my duty I have endeavored to comply with your orders as I understood and construed them, making the restoration and preservation of
the public peace the great object to be attained all -- which I respectfully submit to your Excellency, hoping that my acts may be satisfactory to
you, and yours to the country,
I am, sir, with consideration of high respect,
Your obedient servant.
JOHN B. CLARK,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
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M. Arthur, Esq. to the Representatives from Clay County.
Liberty, Nov. 29, 1838.
Respected Friends: -- Humanity to an injured people prompts me at present to address you thus. You were aware of the treatment (to
some extent before you left home,) deceived by that unfortunate race of beings called the Mormons, from Daviess, in the form of human
beings inhabiting Daviess, Livingston, and a part of Ray county; not being satisfied with the relinquishments of all their rights as citizens and
human beings, in the treaty forced upon them by General Lucas, by giving up their arms, and throwing themselves upon the mercy of the
State, and their fellow-citizens generally, hoping thereby protection of their lives and property, are now receiving treatment from those
demons, that makes humanity shudder, and the cold chills run over any man, not entirely destitute of any feeling of humanity. Those demons
are now constantly strolling up and down Caldwell county, in small companies armed, insulting the women in any and every way, and
plundering the poor devils of all the means of subsistence (scanty as it was) left them, and driving off their horses, cattle, hogs, &c., and rifling their
houses and farms of every thing therein, taking beds, bedding, wardrobe and all such things as they see they want, leaving the poor
Mormons in a starving and naked condition.
These are facts I have from authority that cannot be questioned, and can be maintained and substantiated at any time. There is now a
petition afloat in our town, signed by the citizens of all parties and grades, which will be sent you in a few days, praying the Legislature to make
some speedy enactment applicable to their case -- they are entirely willing to leave our State, so soon as this inclement season is over, and
a number have already left and are leaving daily, scattering themselves to the four winds of the earth.
Now, sirs, I do not want by any means to dictate to you the course to be pursued, but one fact I will merely suggest. I this day was
conversing with Mr. George M. Pryer, who is just from Far West, relating the outrages there committed daily. I suggested to him the propriety
of the Legislature's placing a guard to patrol on the lines of Caldwell county, say of about twenty-five men, and give them, say, about
one dollar or one and a half per day. each man, and find their provisions, &c., until, say, the first day of June next. Those men rendering
that protection necessary to the Mormons, and allowing them to follow, and bring to justice any individual who has heretofore, or will
hereafter be guilty of plundering or any violation of the laws.
I would suggest that George M. Pryer be appointed captain of said guard, and that he will be allowed to raise his own men -- he is willing
thus to act. He is a man of correct habits, and will do justice to all sides, and render due satisfaction.
Should this course not be approved of, I would recommend the restoration of their arms, for their own protection. One or the other of
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these suggestions is certainly due the Mormons from the State. She has now their leaders prisoners to the number of fifty or sixty, and I
apprehend no danger from the remainder in any way, until they will leave the State. M. ARTHUR.
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Hon. A. A. King to the Governor.
Richmond, Dec. 23, 1838.
Dear Sir: -- I have recently seen Col. Price, who made known to me the object of his mission to this part of the State. In reference to the
lawless depredations said to be practised on the Mormons, I have no doubt that the charges are, to a certain extent, true, and I have as
little doubt that the perpetrators of them can be effectually brought to justice by the civil authorities. If, instead of writing those inflammatory
letters to members of the Legislature, these same men would come before me, and give such information as the law requires against these
lawless characters, I should bring them to an immediate account, and I am satisfied there is virtue enough in this community to aid and
sustain me in so laudable an undertaking. I have heard frequent complaints, and have uniformly invited them to institute a legal
investigation, but no person has thought proper to do so.
In most of the cases of outrage against the property of the Mormons, it has been by persons who pretend, and perhaps truly, that the
Mormons owe them, or by persons who say that the Mormons, in their late outrages upon then, have destroyed their property, and they take
this means to indemnify themselves. This certainly is an unlawful, and highly objectionable course. But I think it is very ungracious in Mr.
Arthur to charge it upon the citizens of the surrounding counties exempting his own county of Clay. If rumor be true, he himself has
been extensively engaged in collecting his Mormon debts, in property chiefly, and at prices less than half what would be asked or given in
ordinary cases. This with me is only rumor, but there are men who say so, who are equally respectable with Mr. Arthur. As it regards
the military fine recommended by him, I should look upon it as a direct imputation upon the power and efficacy of the civil authorities to
maintain the law in ordinary cases, and would, in effect, be reversing that salutary constitutional principle which renders the military
subordinate to the civil authority.
I cannot but express a regret that the time, in my opinion, is not very distant when we shall have the same scene to go through with the
Mormons that we have lately witnessed. If the Mormons would disperse, and not gather into exclusive communities of their own, I think,
with the exception of a few of their leaders, the people might be reconciled to them, but this they utterly refuse to do. They tell me that
it would amount to an abandonment of their creed and religion, for they
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believe, you know, in the gathering together of the Saints, and that they shall come out from the world. Suggest the matter to them as I
have done, for the sake of their peace and safety, and they will give you many scriptural reasons why they should not do so.
The Mormons appear lately to have taken new courage, and to be determined not to move. The citizens are equally determined they
shall; for nothing but expulsion or the Other alternative will satisfy this community, that is, if the Mormons hold out under their former
principles and practices. This I know, is strong doctrine for some of the members, and such as I have not encouraged, occupying the station I do,
either by act or expression, yet I can easily find men in this community, noted for their good moral character and correct deportment, who
are determined the Mornions shall not reside among them. The alternative is presented, the expulsion of the Mormons,
or the virtual relinquishment of their own homes.
There have been, from parts of this State, as weil as from other States, highly respectable gentlemen, who came among us, with all
their sympathies and prejudices enlisted in favor of the Mormons, but after travelling through the country, hearing and seeing what they did.
they undergo an entire change of opinion, such as has frequently astonished me.
I have written to you, in conformity with the request made by you through Col. Price, in reference to the necessity of a military force to
sustain and uphold the laws.
I am, very respectfully,
AUSTIN A. KING.
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Executive Department, City of Jefferson, Feb. 18, 1839.
The Governor to Col. Wiley C. Williams.
To Col. Wiley O. Williams, aid to the Commander-in-Chief.
Sir: -- You will take measures, as soon as practicable, to cause the arms, surrendered by the Mormons, to be delivered to the proper
owners, upon their producing satisfactory evidence of their claims. If in any case, you think an improper use would be made of them, you can
retain such, using a sound discretion in the matter. You will call upon Capt. Pollard or any other person who may have arms in possession.
and take charge of them, and this will be your authority for so doing.
I am respectfully your obedient servant,
LILBURN W. BOGGS.
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