# Title: An Appeal to the American People: Being an Account of the Persecutions of the Church of Latter Day Saints (2nd ed., Cincinnati: Shepard & Stearns, 1840; 1st ed. Glezen & Shepard) -- preface and main narrative only
# Date: 1840 (written 1839)
# Source: http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/1840RigA.htm | Provenance: authored by Rigdon (acknowledged as author in Times and Seasons, 1840); published under church authority. Embedded affidavits, Adam Black's note, Boggs's extermination order, the Haun's Mill eyewitness testimonies, and the entire Appendix (memorial to Missouri legislature, Gen. Clark's address, Amasa Lyman affidavit) are NOT Rigdon's words and were removed/omitted with markers. High confidence of Rigdon authorship.

PREFACE.

TO THE PUBLIC.

In presenting the following narrative, to the American people, it was the intention of the Author, to present facts,
and only facts. He does not pretend to be personally acquainted with all the things written in the following account,
nor with but few of them, except those which took place from the 4th of April, 1838; but he has documents on hand,
from those who were eye witnesses to the whole scene, from the commencement in Jackson County, until the close.

From these documents, the greater part of which, has been attested under oath; and the remainder will be, as soon as
the writers are called on for it, so that the public may rely on its truth.

It is only an extract from those documents, and a limited one too: If all the account had been detailed in full, it
would have made this a large volume.

The Author has induced to under to undertake this work, on account of the many enquries which were making, and the
many false reports which had been put in circulation, about our persecutions in Missouri.

I is now presented to the public, claiming no merit but truth; but should it disabuse the public mind, and give a
fair understanding of the matters and things therein contained; and gratify the enquirer; the Author will have
accomplished his object.

The work is, therefore, submitted to the public, by their humble servant,

THE AUTHOR.
AN APPEAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

_______________________

The "Latter Day Saints" commenced their settlements in Missouri, in the August of 1831. The first settlement was
made in Jackson County, on the west line of the State; not far from the missionary station of the Rev. Isaac McCoy
Baptist missionary among the Indians. At this time, Jackson County was very thinly settled; the quarter part of it,
the settlers were what is called in the western country, "squatters;" that is, persons who settle on the public
lands without purchasing them. Some considerable part of Jackson County had not come into market. On these lands
considerable settlements had been made; cabins built, and some land cleared.

When the "Latter Day Saints" began to immigrate into the country, there was a good deal of uneasiness manifested by
a certain portion of the settlers at first; principally by those who had settled on the public lands, lest the new
settlers should be disposed to purchase at the land sales, which were expected to take place that season, the lands
on which they had made improvements; or enter such lands as might be subject to entry, that had been taken possession
of. But this uneasiness gradually lessened until it finally died away. The sales came on, purchases were made by
every man as suited him; and no difficulty occurred: every man went to building on, and improving his land, as seemed
good to himself.

Shortly after the first settlement was made, a considerable tide of immigration set in, which continued to increase
until the summer of 1833; by this time, the immigration of the saints was far greater than that of all others. This
began to create great uneasiness; murmurings, and complainings were heard continually about it; and about the rapid
improvements which were making in that country. From murmurings they went to holding public meetings, to take
measures to put a stop to the immigration, and not only put

a stop to the immmigration, but drive those out of the country who were settled there.

These meetings were public things, called and held in the face of the government, published in the public papers.
At these meetings, the publicly declared that they would put the laws of the country at defiance, in order to
accomplish their object, as well as justice and humanity, which finally they did.

In order to justify themselves in violating the laws of both God and man, the laws, both of the State of Missouri
and the United States, they had recourse to fabricating, and circulating the most foolish and senseless lies, that
mortals could invent; thinking, by that means, to justify themselves before the public. Such as, the saints were
building strong fortifications; bringing cannon and other military implements into the country; that wagons loaded
with coffins were coming in great numbers, and that these coffins were full of ammunition and military stores -- that
the saints are conniving with the Indians, and stirring up the negroes to rebel against their masters, with a
multitude of things of a similar character: which all tens to establish the ignorance and corruption of their authors.
To such low and mean subterfuges, were the principal men of Jackson County and vicinity, driven to accomplish an
object at which humanity to the latest ages must recoil. We shall give the names of the principal actors in this
scene of abomination, that the American people may hereafter know them.

After having, as they supposed, made a sufficient preparation to accomplish their object, and fabricated and
circulated through the medium of their public papers, a necessary quantity of lies to blind the public mind, (for
they verily supposed, that all the American people were as destitute of truth and humanity, as themselves) they
commenced their operations.

These things transpired, between the first of July and the middle of November, 1833. The mob made their
attack, by tearing down houses and destroying property. A printing office was torn down, the press
broken, the type scattered through the streets; all the book work, papers, and materials that were
in the office were destroyed, in all

amounting to several thousand dollars. A store was broken open, the goods thrown into the street
and trampled under foot. Mr. Edward Partridge, one of the Bishops of the church, was taken from his
house, with another man, into the public square, and there the mob attempted to strip him naked;
to this he objected, and finally they agreed to let him keep on his shirt and pantaloons, and they
tarred and feathered him, and the other man whose name was Allen. Burrill Hicks, a lawyer, was the
leader of this business; and on that occasion boasted that his word was the law of the County, and
that the saints should leave it, or be put to death. So much for a would be honorable lawyer.
A prosecution was entered against one of the men, who was taken in the very act of taking the goods
and trampling them under foot. The writ was obtained at the office of a man by name of Western, who
was a justice of the Peace, or called so. When the man was brought for trial, though it was proven
that he was taken in the very act of destroying the goods; he was acquitted, and no cause of action
was found; but shortly afterwards there was a writ issued from the same office, against those who
prosecuted the said McCarty, for destroying the goods, for false imprisonment, and they were holden
to bail for their appearance at the County court; and for the want of bail they were thrown into jail.
This, is a correct sample of the way the laws were administered in Jackson County.

Before this banditti commenced the destruction of property, they appointed committees to go and wait
on the saints, and order them out of the county under pain of death. The object of those warnings was,
to make them go and leave all their property prey to the mob. At which all the authorities of Missouri,
from the Governor down, winked, as will appear hereafter. While those committies were threatening
the saints with death, if they did not leave the county forthwith, and leave all their property as
a prey to them; they kept the public papers teeming with lies, and they found many papers in the
country ready to aid them in their abomination, by giving circulation to their lies and slanders.
This, I must say, to the shame and disgrace of the editors who have devoted their papers

to so foul a business. The scheme of lying so readily supported by the papers of the country,
generally was invented for the purpose of plundering, robbing, stealing, and driving a people from
their homes and taking their property as a prey to the freebooters who were ready to seize upon it,
when the public papers had sufficiently aided them, to enable them to obtain their object without
being punished for it.

After the mob had gotten all things sufficiently prepared and the public mind, as they supposed,
completely blinded, having been so well assisted by the public prints of the day, they commenced
their operations in earnest, in every part of the County. Tearing down houses; men were dragged
out and whipped in the most shocking manner, without regard to age: Of this number were four
revolutionary soldiers, over the age of seventy years, who had offered their lives for the liberty
that their oppressors were enjoying; but they now, with sorrow, beheld the liberty for which they
fought, torn from them by the violence of those who were enjoying freedom at the expense of their
blood and treasure. Widows also, from sixty to eighty years of age, whose husbands were among the
number of the revolutionary patriots, were driven violently from their houses in that inclement
season, by this ruthless banditti of wretches, worse than savages, and their property made common
plunder, to gratify their rapacity; and those females at that advanced age, and at an inclement
season of the year, had to wander in the open prairie, to seek a cover under the rocks, without a
house to shelter, or a blanket to cover them, and all this, because they dared to differ from their
oppressors in matters of religion, and for no other cause. The county was full of armed men, riding
in large companies, from house to house, in every place where the saints were settled, abusing,
driving and whipping in a most unmerciful manner, and insulting women brutally. After much abuse
and destruction of property, and finding that there was to be no end to these outrages, the saints
at last, had recourse to arms; but it was not till after they had petitioned the Governor and
authorities of the State for aid and protection. Daniel Dunklin was Governor and Lilburn W.

Boggs, Lieutenant Governor; the latter lived in Independence, the seat of the mob, and County seat
of Jackson County. But no aid or protection could be had.

Having sought protection of the authorities of the State and obtained none, the saints at last had
recourse to arms. After they took up arms in their own defence, several battles were fought, in which
one of the saints was killed and a number wounded. Two of the mob were killed, and several wounded.
At last a number of them under the command of Lyman Wight marched to Independence, where a great
multitude of the mob was collected for the purpose of giving them battle. L. W. Boggs, hearing of
their intentions to give battle to the mob, organized the mob, and called them the Militia under the
command of Lieutenant Col. Pitcher. On the arrival of Mr. Wight, he was commanded to surrender his
arms and those who were with him. This order, was given by the said Colonel Pitcher; this, they
refused to do until he, Pitcher, gave the strongest assurances to Mr. Wight and company that if
they would they should be protected, and return home in peace, and none should disturb them. After
these assurances were given, they gave up their arms. But now, reader for the sequel!

Did these high minded and honorable men comply with their covenant? no, indeed, but something very
different! They seized on the guns and other arms as a prey; and have kept them as plunder to this
day; and having the saints disarmed, they carried their violence to all kinds of shameful lengths;
men, women and children, were driven from their houses in the night, barefoot and nearly naked. This
was about the middle of November. The men were whipped and abused beyond all description. A man by
the name of Benjamin Putnam, was whipped to death; his body was taken up a day or two afterwards and
buried. Others were whipped until they had to tie handkerchiefs round them to keep their bowels from
falling out. A man by the name of Leonard was knocked down in his house with a chair, and was beat
on the head, and other parts of the body, until the blood was running from him on the floor. His wife
fearing lest they should kill him, ran and threw herself on him; begging for his life; but the

brutal monsters instead of regarding her tears and supplications, beat her with the same weapon,
with which they were beating her husband, and they barely escaped with their lives. The women
fled in all directions into the prairies and woods, and a greater part barefoot, and with but
little clothing, being driven out in the night, many of them torn from their beds. In a short time,
you could track them by the blood which ran from their feet. Wives were weeping and wailing, not
knowing but their husbands were murdered; their children with their lacerated and bleeding feet,
were mourning and crying, asking for food but could get none! In this deplorable condition they had
to travel and sleep in the open prairies or under the rocks, in the month of November, without food
or covering; and there ask and see what a kind Providence would do for them, while their robbers
and plunderers were glutting themselves upon the food they had left in their houses; and gratifying
their brutality, by throwing it to the beasts, and carrying it home for their own use, and that of
their families, and by destroying the household stuff, or rather stealing it while the little ones
whose fathers had laid it up carefully for their sustenance, were bewailing their condition in
the open prairie without a morsel to comfort or a blanket to cover them.

However incredible it may appear to a civilized people, it is a fact that there were at one time,
one hundred and ninety women and children, who crossed a prairie of nine miles, aided by three men
only; the rest having been driven away by the violence of the mob. The saints being unarmed and
the mob armed, they fell an easy prey to them.

The women and children, after crossing the prairie, travelled a number of miles, in all probability
from twelve to fifteen, and then stopped and waited until their husbands and fathers found where
they were, and got to them. They there built houses to winter in; but before they had continued long,
the mob found where they were and went and drove them away, and burned their houses.

A company consisting of about two hundred, nearly all of them women and children, got to the Missouri
river, late in the afternoon, and could not get across that night.

It commenced raining and freezing most violently; in this deplorable condition, some of them took
shelter under some rocks, and the remainder of them, both small and great, had to lie out in the
open prairie with, nothing but the heavens to cover them, while the storm beat upon them with
great fury. Among the number was a Mrs. Higbee, wife of John S. Higbee, from Cincinnati, who was
very sick with a fever, and also had an infant at the breast. She was under the necessity of
spending this night of storm exposed to all its violence, having nothing but the earth to sleep
on. After spending the night in this distressed situation, early in the morning, another Mrs. Higbee,
the wife of Isaac Higbee, was delivered of a babe, without any bed but the earth, or covering but
the heavens.

There were many sick, who were thus inhumanly driven from their houses and had to endure all this
abuse and suffering and seek homes where they could be found. The result was that a number being
deprived of the comforts of life, and the necessary attendance, died; many children were left
orphans; wives, widows; and husbands widowers.

The mob, after thus abusing the people; the hundreth part of which is not told here; took possession
of the farms of those whom they had thus driven from their homes, and all their cattle, horses, sheep
and hogs; which amounted to many thousands; together with all their household stuff of every kind,
amounting to many thousand dollars worth; and have forbid, under pain of death, any of them
returning to get any of their property; and if any of them did attempt it and were discovered, they
were whipped and otherwise abused: one or two who did attempt it, were nearly killed -- they escaped
with their lives, and no more!

There were in addition to the flocks and the herds which the mob took from the saints, large fields
of corn, to the amount of many hundred acres; I might say thousands, all ready to harvest; which
they took as their own. There were also many hundred acres of wheat, which had been sown, that they
also took possession of; and keep them all to this day. After they had plundered the houses,

robbed the henroosts and carried off everything which was valuable, they burned the houses, amounting
in all to upwards of two hundred; and then commenced a general destruction of the timber on the land.
Some tracts which were well timbered, were soon stripped of every tree. Such of the farms as they
did not occupy, they took all the rails from and used them for their own purposes. There were several
thousand acres of land thus seized, on which improvements were made to a considerable extent, and
the owners utterly forbid to enjoy them, and they have been compelled to sell them for no valuable
consideration, while those usurpers are quietly enjoying the good of them. While these brutalities
were going on, the public papers were constantly employed in giving publicity to the foulest lies
that could be created.

While the mob was engaged in this course of plunder there were outrages of the most extraordinary
character committed by them, ever committed by human beings. The plans they laid in order to plunder,
were of the most extraordinary kind. They would serve writs on those whom they wished to plunder and
have them thrown into jail, and then rob them of every thing they had about them; watches, money,
and other valuables, and bear them off as plunder. In this business were employed some of the
leading, (some, did I say) better say all the leading men of the County.

Men were caught and tied to trees, and then shot at: but the heart sickens to tell the abominations
of this band of barbarians; for who but barbarians could be guilty of such deeds of cruelty? We wish
it to be distinctly understood that the Governor and all the authorities of the State were acquainted
with these cruelties and; and no effort was made to bring the offenders to justice, or to have the
property, thus taken, returned to the owners. The guns that they ordered to be given up by the
authority of the Lieutenant Governor, they keep until this day. In this the government of the State,
has identified itself in the number of the plunderers, and become one with those villains.

The following are some of the persons engaged in this robbery:

Richard Fristo, County Judge, S. D. Lucas, Judge and General of the Militia and member of the
Presbyterian church; Moses Wilson; Samuel Hale; _____ Weston Esq.; Jones Flournoy; John Smith;
_____ Hensley, Esq.; Burrell Hicks, Lawyer; Hugh L. Brazil, Lawyer; Samuel C. Owens. lawyer,
Reekman Childs, lawyer; Lewis Franklin; Lilburn W. Boggs, Lieut. Governor; Rev. James McCoy,
Baptist missionary, and his son-in-law Likins Lovelady, Campbellite; _____ Johnson; all of these
Reverend divines, were among this band of plunderers. Many others were in the number whose names
will be forthcoming at another time; we mention these, because they wished to be called gentlemen,
men of humanity and piety, but we leave the public to form their own judgment.

Thus, desolated and robbed, the saints were left to seek homes where they could be found; while
their enemies were pouring a flood of abuse after them, for the purpose of justifying themselves
and hiding their iniquity from the gaze of that part of the public, who abhor mobocracy. The majority
of them sought homes in Clay County, where they found rest, for a little season, and a little
season only. Very shortly after their arrival in Clay County they began to purchase lands made --
improvements -- build mills and other machinery; and in a very short time, were beginning to enjoy
the comforts of life. The immigration continued without any particular interruption, until they
began to be numerous in the County and surrounding counties. This order of things continued until
1836, three years; there was no violence offered, but there were threatenings of violence. But
in the summer of 1836, these threatenings began to assume a more serious form; from threats, public
meetings were called, resolutions passed; and affairs assumed a fearful attitude. They began to arm
themselves and prepare for violence; threatening vengeance and destruction on all who did not leave
the county forthwith. Jackson County had been successful; and seeing the authorities did not
interfere, they boasted that they would not do it in this instance; and they could drive the saints

as they pleased and take their property; for they could get no law in Missouri. They not only said
that they would drive them from the County but from the state also: and it was seriously talked of
in Clay County that the saints must leave the State; and they carried it so far as to publish their
intentions in the papers.

while these warlike preparations were going on by the mob; the saints also began to make preparations
for defence. But it was then, as before, they did not do it until they had petitioned the Governor
for protection; when, instead of receiving the protection sought for, they received for answer,
"Vox populi, Vox Dei." "The voice of the people is the voice of God." As much as to say, "If the
people say you must go, you must go." The before mentioned Daniel Dunklin was still Governor. The
saints, finding they had nothing to expect from the authorities, but a full sanction of the acts
of the mob; had no alternative left, but to have recourse to arms.

Both parties began to assume a formidable attitude, so much so that it gave alarm to some of the
other citizens, who did not join with the mob: they interfered, and tried to stop, as they said, the
effusion of blood. During this time, there was a body of armed men, from sixty to one hundred, who,
in the face of the authorities of the country and all civil law, was ranging the County, stopping
movers, driving them back, whipping and abusing the saints wherever they could be caught; and
threatening the chastity of females. Judge King, the circuit judge, was an eye witness to these base
transactions, and under the solemnities of an oath, to put a stop to them: so were all the civil
authorities of the country, yet, every man of them, regardless of his oath, either took an active
part in aiding this band, or else winked at their doings. The operations of this Clay County mob,
was from the first of May, till the last of August 1836, from three to four months. They did a
great deal of mischief; were the cause of many deaths: many persons were beaten most inhumanly; much
property also was destroyed; families that were moving into the country, were stopped, many of them
driven back, and compelled to live in their wagons until houses could be obtained; and when obtained,
they were in sickly

places; the consequences of which was that many not only sickened but died.

In Clay County, it was the same as in Jackson; the authorities refused to interfere, and let the
mob range uncontrolled, and commit all the outrages they pleased; and so far from any punishment,
they were honored and cherished for it, and that, by the Governor, the Judges and the Justices
of the Peace; many of whom, were leaders in it. An attempt was made to prosecute two men, one was by
the name of Hayden, the other by the name of Oldham; who met a young man on the road, by the name
of Charles Hubbard, and beat him in a most cruel manner! An aged man by the name of Lewis Scott,
seeing the abuse, entered a prosecution against them; but when the fellows were brought for trial,
the court acquitted them on the ground that there were only two persons engaged in it. The fact
of the abuse was never denied; but Judge King, yes reader, the worthy Judge King, decided that
there was no cause of action; because there were not more than two persons engaged in it. So much
for this righteous Judge. I give this as a sample of the manner in which the laws were executed
in Clay County, under the jurisdiction of A. A. King, and his faithful satellite and attorney,
Thomas C. Birch, who has since, for this, and like acts of Missouri legality, been appointed
Judge of a circuit court.

The matter being fairly put to the test, that the civil authorities of Missouri, were destitute
of principle -- of a sense of honor -- of regard to their oaths, and of respect for their laws;
the saints had to submit to their fate; while they were whipped and again driven from their homes.

The mediating party which had risen up, appointed a committee to correspond with a committee of
the saints in order to find a location for the saints to settle, and again remove from the midst
of their enemies. Some short time previous to this, a number of them had made considerable purchases
of lands on a stream called Shoal Creek, in the territory of Ray County. The two committees
started to seek out a place for the removal, when they came to the tract of land which had been
purchased. It was agreed that, that should be the place of settlement. So the settlement commenced
immediately. This was in August of 1836.

By this removal the saints lost nearly all they had obtained during the previous three years which
they had resided in Clay County; besides much abuse at the hand of the wretches who had risen up
in arms against them. At the succeeding session of the Legislature, there was a new county laid
off, embracing the before mentioned tract of land, called Caldwell. A town was soon laid off and
incorporated, called "Far West;" and in one year, there was one hundred and fifty houses built, --
besides nearly the whole county was entered, or at least that part of it, which could be cultivated;
as there was a great scarcity of timber in the County.

In all these operations there was no pretence to law, they openly declared that they put the law at
defiance, saying, "we are the law, and what we say is the constitution."

The saints being once more settled; they commenced improving the country, which was so great a
contrast to the general idleness and lazy habits of the Missourians, which any person with the
least discernment could readily discover. This soon began to excite the jealousies of the surrounding
Counties; for nothing can so much excite the jealousy of that people, nor awaken their indignation
so much as to have an intelligent, industrious, and enterprising people, settle any where in the
State, where they live. Threatenings were again heard from Clay, Ray, Clinton, Platt and Daviess
Counties, that they were going to raise another mob and come and drive the citizens out of
Caldwell. The emigration was so rapid, and so great, that in the space of eighteen months after the
first settlement in Caldwell, that there was not room enough for the people in that County, and
they were under the necessity of seeking habitations some where else; and a number went into
Daviess County, which was north of Caldwell. Soon after the settlements commenced in Daviess County,
a mob made its appearance, forbidding them to settle there under pain of death. However, this was
not regarded, and the settlements which were made in different parts of the County, were increasing
daily, until one or two whole townships were entered, besides large bodies of land

entered in other parts of the County, in such parts of the County as had come into market; besides
a large number of improvements were bought, under the expectation of getting pre-emption rights.
The mob spirit which first made its appearance in Daviess County, for a season seemed to sleep,
and there was no hindrance offered to the settlements, which were increasing very fast. All parties
remained quiet; many of those, who had been engaged in the first mob in Daviess, came forward and
made confession of their wrongs; and all so far as Daviess was concerned was peace: But Ray, Clay,
Clinton and Platt kept up a continual threatening, until it could not be borne any longer; and the
saints openly declared that it should cease; for they would suffer it no longer. No person should
come into the streets of Far West as they had been accustomed to do, and there threaten the people
with mobs. This had the desired effect; it ceased, and no persons ventured to do so any more. But
the before mentioned Counties kept up a continual threatening at home, whenever they saw any of the
people of Caldwell.

This order of things continued without any violence, until the Election which took place in August
of 1838. The saints had been in Caldwell County, from Aug. of 1836, making two years.

Threatenings were making that they should not vote at the election. Not only was it threatened that
they should not vote in Daviess County, but there were insinuations thrown out, that there would be
a mob in Caldwell to prevent the people there, from voting. There were no great fears however
entertained that any attempt of the kind would be made. The election at last came on; and the saints
went to discharge, what they considered, not only a privilege, but a duty also. One of the candidates
for representative in Daviess County, was by the name of William Peniston, a very ignorant, ambitious
creature, who was determined to carry his election if possible, and that at all hazards, whether the
people were willing to elect him or not. Those, who were not willing to vote for him, he
determined by the force of mob law, to prevent from voting.

It may not however be amiss here to give an account

of this said Peniston's manoeuvres during the electioneering campaign. He was, at the time, the
Colonel of the Militia in Daviess County, and had been the leader in the first mob, which had been
raised to prevent the saints from making settlements in Daviess County, in the first instance, of
which mention has been made. When the electioneering campaign had fairly commenced, great exertions
were made by the different candidates and their friends, to obtain the votes of the saints; each
man, in his turn, making application. Peniston, like the rest, made application also. Mr. Wight,
who was a man of influence among the saints, was the one to whom said Peniston made overtures. Mr.
Wight, knowing that Peniston had always been an enemy to the saints, took the liberty to ask Peniston
about his former hostilities, and his previous attempt to drive them from their homes; as well as
many abusive things which he had said. Peniston declared that he never had any intention of driving
them from their homes; he only tried to scare them, and if he could not, he intended to let them
alone: and as to the many abusive things which he had said he said; "they were very wrong; he had
been deceived by false reports, without being acquainted with the people; and, since he had become
acquainted with them, he found that they were first rate citizens." And by many such sayings, he
attempted to gain votes: but the saints all the time knowing that he was a corrupt man, and every
way disqualified for the office after which he was struggling, would not be induced to vote for him
at all. This, he fully understood before, the election and, made his arrangements accordingly: having
his satellites at the election, to aid him in executing his purpose, in preventing the saints from
voting. In the early part of the day at the election, Peniston made a speech; the object of which
was to excite the indignation of the people, to such a degree that he could get a sufficient number
to join the mob to keep the saints from voting, if they attempted it. In this speech he used the
most abusive language that he was master of; denouncing the saints in round terms, in a most
ridiculous manner. Having his party ready, at the end of the speech, they began to throw out their
threats, that none of the G_d d__n Mormons,

to use their own language, should vote. These threatenings began to assume a very serious tone,
very soon. One kept exciting another and drinking very freely, until a man by the name of Richard
Weldon attacked a man by the name of Samuel Brown, who was but just able to be about, after a very
dangerous fit of sickness. The said Weldon, began to insult Mr. Brown in a most insolent manner;
Mr. Brown, very mildly told him, that he did not wish to have any difficulty with them, or any other
person; the other swore that the Mormons were no more fit to vote than the d__d niggers, and that
he would knock him down; and made an an attempt to strike him: A man by the name of Perry Durfee,
being near them, caught Weldon's hand, and kept him from striking Brown. This was no sooner done,
than Durfee was knocked down and a number of men commenced beating him with clubs, boards, and any
thing they could get. Durfee cried for help: several men ran into the midst of the crowd, to get
Durfee out of their hands, for the cry was "kill him kill him, d__n him." The names
of those who rushed into the crowd, were Jackson Steward; Hiram Nelson; Henry Olmsted; Abram Nelson;
and one other man by the name of Nelson. They succeeded in saving the life of Durfee, but not until
they had knocked down some twelve or fifteen men. A large number of from twelve to twenty rushed
on to Steward; crying kill him, God d__n him, kill him. They had dirks and clubs, and other weapons;
one of them dirked him under the shoulder blade; he called aloud for assistance, as he fled from
them; and they were on the very eve of stabbing him. A man named John L. Butler, seized a billet
of wood, and ran furiously upon them, knocking down all he came to, until the rest fled before him,
and he rescued Steward out of their hands, having with his own hands whipped some twenty men. The
total number of the saints in this affray, did not exceed ten; that of the mob, from fifty to a
hundred.

The mob, then despatched a number of their gang to get guns and ammunition, swearing that they
would kill all the saints they could find, or drive them out of Daviess County, sparing neither
men, women, or children. The

saints left the ground, and went home few if any of them having voted.

Having in possession several affidavits concerning the election in Daviess County, we here insert
them.

[quoted document omitted -- not Rigdon's words]

After the election, threatenings were made in the most daring manner, declaring that the saints should leave
the County; that they would raise a mob and drive them out, and take all their lands and other property as
spoil. Indeed this was the secret which was working in their hearts all the time; and what they were
determined to do. It was the property of the saints, they wanted and what they were determined to have. They
boasted that the authorities of the State would not interfere to assist the Mormons, as they called them.
They said it had been fairly proven, in the case of both Jackson and Clay Counties, that the Government
would not assist them; and they said, they might as well drive them off and take their property as not; for
they could not help themselves. With such language did they provoke one another, to acts of violence.

it will be seen by the above affidavits, that Clay County had prohibited the saints from voting when they
resided there; and this circumstance tended to encourage others in their wickedness. All these things were
done in the face of the authorities; and it will be seen how far they regarded their oaths of office.

Josiah Morin, the candidate for State senator and who was elected, came to Far West, either the evening
before the election commenced or the first morning of the election. He staid that day and until the next
morning. Early the second morning of the election, he said that a gentleman who lived in Ray County, had
left Gallatin late the preceding evening, (Gallatin was the county seat of Daviess County and the place
where the election was held) and that there had been a serious affray, at the election in Gallatin; that
the mob had tried to stop the saints

from voting and in order to accomplish their object, had killed two of them, and their bodies were lying on
the ground, and that they would not let their friends have them for burial; and that one other man had fled
into the woods, badly wounded; supposed to be dead as, he had not been heard of, after he disappeared among
the bushes. This created a great feeling, and of course much excitement. A physician, who resided in Far West,
by the name of Sampson Avard, called for volunteers, declared that he would have the bodies of those persons
who had been killed, and bury them; and have the man that was lost, or die in the attempt. The report coming
from Morin, a resident of the County, and the successful candidate for the State senate, no doubt was
entertained of its truth. A company was raised consisting, if we recollect right, of about seventeen persons,
who left Far West, for the express object of getting the bodies of the dead. Through the course of the day,
there was probably to the number of fifty persons, all going to enquire after their friends, for it was
unknown to the people of Caldwell, who of their friends were killed; for no doubt was entertained, but some
of them were dead.

When the company arrived there, they found the report not true: there had been a great difficulty; but no
lives lost that was known of. But there was nothing heard but threatening -- men were passing through the
village which had been laid off by the saints, threatening them, that in three days they should all be
driven out, and the property taken as spoil. It was reported and that by themselves, too, that there was a
large mob gathering at Millport, a small village in Daviess County; and that Adam Black, formerly a Justice
of the Peace, and had at the election, been elected one of the County Judges, was at the head of it. It
was thought best, seeing he was a peace officer, to go and enquire into the affair. The said Adam Black had
a short time before this, sold his possessions to one of the saints, by the name of Vinson Knight, and had
received two hundred dollars, as part of the payment. A committee was appointed, consisting of five or
six persons; the names of three of them, were Sampson Avard, Lyman Wight, and Cornelius P. Lott; the names
of the

others not recollected. They accordingly went to the house of Mr. Black, who received them unfriendly, looked
upon their visit as a high insult, and refused to give them any satisfaction. This tended to confirm the
report that he was head of a mob -- it created some uneasiness. Quite a number of persons in the, course
of the day, went to a spring of water which was near his house, to drink and also to get water for their
horses. Dr. S. Avard, and a number of others, went into his house and again interrogated him respecting the
mob, and some angry words passed between them. Black sent for Mr. Joseph Smith, Jr., who was at the spring,
to come into the house; accordingly he came in, the matter was talked over; Black denied having any thing
to do with the mob, and said he never would have; and that as a peace officer, he felt himself bound, as much
to do justice to the saints, as to other citizens, and he would do it. Mr. Smith then asked him, if he had
any objections to signing a paper to that effect, so that it might be had for the benefit of those who
entertained fears on this matter. He said he had not, accordingly he wrote the following note. We give it
here without any alteration in orthography or composition.

[quoted document omitted -- not Rigdon's words]

After this transaction the company returned to the village where many of the saints lived, called
Adam Ondiawman, to the house of Col. L. Wight. Shortly after their return to the house of Mr. Wight,
three persons came from Millport -- the whole matter was talked over, and it was agreed that there
should be a committee chosen from among the people of Millport and vicinity; and also a committee
appointed of the inhabitants of Adam Ondiawman to meet at Adam Ondiawman, and have all the affairs
completely understood, and have peace. The committees accordingly met. On the part of the people of
Millport,

there appeared Josiah Morin, senator elect; John Williams, representative elect; James B. Turner,
clerk of the Circuit Court, and several others, names not known. 0n the part of the people of Adam
Ondiawman were Lyman Wight, Vinson Knight, John Smith, Reynold Cahoon. At this meeting, the strongest
assurances were given by both parties, that there should be no hostilities commenced on either part
-- that they all would abide the laws and support them; and that no depredations of any kind should
be committed on either part: and after the strongest, possible assurances, each party returned home.

But while these pretended negotiations were going on, a certain portion of the mob of Daviess was
running into the different Counties, telling the people, that they were driven from their houses,
with their families, and that the Mormons were destroying all their property; and calling on them
for help. Adam Black, Wm. Peniston, and some others ran to Ray County, and there made oath before
A. A. King; the precise oath as I have not a copy of it, I cannot here insert; but the substance of
it was, that he had been compelled by a body of armed men which had surrounded him, under pain of
death, to sign an instrument of writing, which was unlawful for any man to sign. He also said that
Joseph Smith, Jr., and Lyman Wight, were part of the company. The said A. A. King, immediately issued
a writ, for Messrs. Smith and Wight; it was put into the hands of the Sheriff of Daviess County to
execute, and without his ever attempting to serve it, it was reported that they had refused to be
taken; and that the Militia must be called out to take them, for the laws must be kept! But instead
of calling out the Militia, they went to raising a mob; and they were gathering into Daviess County
in multitudes, if their own report was to be credited; but without any legal authority whatever.
Seeing these unlawful transactions going on, and the pretext, all the time, that the before mentioned
persons would not be taken, Messrs. Smith and Wight, sent for King and stated to him, the matter as
it was, and requested him to come and investigate the whole case. This, King agreed to do; and
accordingly the case was investigated by him,

the reports found to be false -- the fellows themselves being witnesses.

I here give an affidavit taken during the time of this excitement.

[quoted document omitted -- not Rigdon's words]

But the case, having undergone a legal investigation, had no tendency to stop the operations of the mob; but
it tended clearly to show how much sincerity there was in their pretended zeal for the laws; for in open
and vowed violation of them, they went on to collect together and to gather into Daviess County from Ray,
Corrill, Livingston, Clinton and Platt; and some from Clay: Openly declaring that they would put the law
at defiance, and the saints should be driven out. They in the mean time took their families away from their
houses under the pretence of fear: and ran through the country, from County to County, telling how they
were driven from their homes -- got up County meetings in the surrounding Counties, particularly Jackson,
Ray, Corrill, and Livingston. At these meetings, would be seen preachers of the Gospel, as they called

themselves, drunkards, profane swearers, and all forming one company and all declaring their determination,
to aid their friends if necessary. In one of these mob meetings in Ray, County, was seen Thomas C. Birch,
States Attorney, and now one of the Missouri Judges: also Amos Reese, who would wish to be called a
respectable lawyer. At these meetings, the most slanderous resolutions would be passed, that a people, so
basely ignorant as they were, could invent. The mob, thus encouraged by judges, lawyers, priests, &c., kept
gathering in large numbers. The roads were infested with them; companies of armed men, were passing and
repassing in every direction, while a great majority of the principal men of the country, if they did not
join the mob, used no exertions to prevent its operations. Among the rest, that headed a gang of these
ruffians, was Cornelius Gilliam, who was the same season elected to the State Senate. He had but a short
time before, been converted, and united with the Baptist church.

The whole body made its way to Daviess County. On Gilliam's arrival, the saints were summoned to send a flag
into his camp, forthwith, and receive terms at his hand. They however, paid no attention to the mandate of
this new potentate. After they had, as they supposed, got sufficiently strong, they commenced taking cattle,
corn, &c., to feed their army. Cattle, horses and grain, were taken with a liberal hand; and they publicly
boasted that they "lived on Mormon beef, and Mormon corn." The saints dare not leave their homes, for if
they did, they were stopped on the road, -- they were shot at -- their horses taken from them, and to all
appearance, they would be ruined. All the time, the mob had their runners telling, that their wives and
children were driven from their homes; that their fences were thrown down and the Mormons were destroying
all they had: Their wives and children, were either in the camp, or else sent off to some of their friends
in the adjoining Counties: and all this, they pretended was through fear. But, to certain of their friends,
they said their object in so doing was to keep the public ignorant of their real design; for they did not

wish their women and children there, when they drove the Mormons out, lest they might get hurt. The saints
were all the time, making application to the authorities of the country, to put down the mob. Messengers,
after messengers, were sent to the Military officers, and to the Judge of the Court, to get them to send
to the Governor, if necessary, and put an end to the ravages of this banditti: and after much exertion,
and much labor, at last, the Judge ordered out the militia; General Atchison was ordered out as the
commander-in-chief; being a Major General. Brigadier Generals, Doniphan and Parks, were both ordered out
with their brigades. They put their forces under orders, and took up their line of march for Daviess County
-- the scene of trouble.

On their arrival, they took a position between where the mob was encamped, and Adam Ondiawman. Instead,
however, of these generals, which was their duty to have done, going and arresting this band of plunderers
and murderers, which they truly were; and having them forthwith brought to justice; they went to tampering
with them. The mob complained to them, that their property had been stolen and destroyed, by the saints. The
officers, went to their houses, which they had evacuated, and found some of them open, and all their property
in them, as they left it, and nothing disturbed. They continued the investigation, until they became
satisfied that if any of their (the mob's) property was taken, they took it themselves, to raise a false
alarm; or at least, the officers, all said so. The mob openly and fearlessly declared to them, that "they
lived on Mormon beef and Mormon corn." The saints required of the officers, that they should be arrested,
and brought to justice, for plundering their property; unlawfully assembling to drive peaceable citizens
from their homes; and for threatening their lives, and keeping them in fear; in open violation of the laws
of the country. When these things were pressed upon them, they excused the matter, by saying that their
troops were so mutinous and rebellious, they dare not venture to do it. The course they took to quell the
mob, however, was a singular one: and if those gentlemen think, that in doing as they did, they discharge
their duty and can feel as if their oath of

office required no more at their hand; we have no more to say, but will let the sovereign people give
their decision, and the God of Eternity dispose of them, and the matter; as seemeth wisdom and justice
in his eyes.

After tampering with them as we before stated, and after having the fullest evidence that could be given;
even that of their own testimony; that they were a gang of thieves and plunderers, they took Cornelius
Gilliam, the reputed leader of the gang, and united him and his company with their troops and called them
Militia, just as Boggs had done with the mob, in Jackson County: and after this maneuver, disbanded them,
and sent them home, as if they had been Militia, regularly called out.

It would take a volume larger than our present purpose will admit, to tell all the outrages, committed
by this banditti of plunderers; for it was precisely with them as it had been with the mobs of Jackson and
Clay counties. Corn fields were laid open by them to the destruction of beasts, and carried off in wagon
loads to feed their horses: cattle were killed in multitudes. There were one hundred head of cattle,
belonging to the saints, which were missing, and have never been obtained until this day, nor heard of.
Horses, also were taken, that belonged to them a great number of them, and have not been obtained since.
Some of them have since been heard of but the lives of the owners have been threatened if they offered to
take them, or even to go where they were. People passing civilly along the road, were stopped, insulted
and abused, out of all bearing; and not only insulted and abused; but plundered. Families that were moving,
were prevented from going to their places. Bodies of armed men were passing and repassing; not only through
Davies, but the adjoining Counties in open violation of the laws; committing depredations, and abusing
civil citizens, and that in the face of the authorities of the State; the governor having full knowledge
of it, yet, the transgressors went unpunished. And when the Militia, under the before mentioned generals,
went to quell them, all that was done, was to make Militia out of them, and disband them, and send them
home to enjoy the plunder which they had taken; and to gratify themselves with rehearsing to their

associates, acts of violence and plunder, and boasting of it, and that publicly. There was not the first
effort made to restore the property, they had stolen, nor pay for the cattle they had killed, though the
civil authorities were called upon, time and again to do so; and at all times, when called on to do so,
replied, that it was in vain to undertake it, for there could not be a jury found, that would do the saints
justice, and it was in vain to sue, for they would obtain nothing. Thus being put off, from time to time,
the saints had to sit down and submit to their fate.

Here, probably, would be as suitable a place as any, to notice one circumstance, which goes far, to prove
the apathy which reigned in the civil authorities, and their unwillingness to do the saints justice. The
truth is, the civil officers, were as much to blame for the outrages of the mob, as the mob was; because
they gave them lenity to do so.

There was in Ray county a quantity of United States arms, from forty to fifty stand. They were in the care
of a man by the name of Pollard, known by the title of Capt. Pollard. While this mob was collecting in
Daviess County, being scarce of arms, they went to the place where those arms were deposited, and took them,
whether with, or without the consent of Pollard, we know not, and were carrying them off to Daviess County.
In going from Ray, to Daviess County, they had to pass through a corner of Caldwell. The civil authorities
of Caldwell, hearing of the circumstance, sent the Sheriff of the County, to intercept them in passing
through the County. This the Sheriff effected: arrested the persons carrying the guns, and brought them to
Far West, for trial. The trial came on -- the facts were all proven, that the guns had been taken by one of
the men who was then in custody, and they were taking then to Daviess County, to arm the mob that was then
collecting in Daviess County: and it was also proven, that the mob was collecting for the purpose; of driving
the saint from their homes.

After the arrest and trial, a letter was sent to A. A. King, the Circuit Judge; informing him of the facts,
and asking his advice, how to dispose of both the prisoners and the guns. Accordingly, when General Doniphan's

army was on their march to Daviess County, they passed through Far West. Doniphan demanded the prisoners,
they were accordingly given up. He said he had the authority of King, to do so. They were marched off with
the troops and set at liberty, after they had been convicted at a court of inquiry, and holden to bail for
their appearance, at the Circuit Court. Thus were the laws of the land put at defiance, to save from
punishment, a mober and plunderer, and that, by the judge of the Circuit Court, who was bound by oath, to
do otherwise. -- There were three persons arrested the principal of which was John B. Comer, the others
were only hired in his service.

This arrest took place on the 9th day of Sept. 1838, on the first day of the week, and it was in the same
week that Generals Atchison, Doniphan and Parks, went with their troops to Daviess County. It was during the
operations of this mob, the saints had a fair opportunity of trying the honesty of the civil officers of
Daviess County. An old gentleman from Ohio, by the name of Hoops, was moving into Daviess County. He had
to pass through Millport, the residence of the principal leaders of the Daviess County mob. Wm. Peniston,
whose name has been mentioned before, stopped his team forcibly in the road, abused and insulted the family.
Mr. Hoops, was an entire stranger in the County: he was detained a number of hours, before he could get away
from them. The old man went to a Justice of the Peace, and got a States Warrant for him, gave it to an
officer, and had it served on him as they said, and had a day appointed for the trial. -- When the day came,
Peniston was not there, but another man was permitted to answer for him, and, after the witnesses were all
sworn, and the facts of the unlawful detention proven, the justice pronounced, no cause action: Peniston,
in the mean time, had gone to Corrill County, to join another mob, which had met, to drive out a settlement
of the saints which had settled in that County. The name of the justice was Covington. It was found that in
every County in upper Missouri, the law would not be in force against the mob. The civil officers would not
regard their oaths, but in open violation of

them, would acquit the mob, notwithstanding, the mob Would boast of their crimes in their presence. Up
till this time, there was not a military or civil officer in Missouri, who had been called upon to quell
this gang of plunderers; that would abide by his oath of office; from the Governor down. When the civil
officers were called upon, they would give decisions, the most barefaced violations of law, ever given by
mortals; so much so, that they knew they were violating their oaths, when they did it. When the Military
were called upon, instead of bringing the mob to justice; they would call them Militia; which could be for
no other purpose, but to keep them from the punishment justly due to their crimes. After the mob had been
honorably dismissed as Militia, and ordered home, they took up their line of march directly to DeWitt, in
Corrill County, to drive out a settlement of the saints in that place. The history of which settlement we
shall hereafter give.

Part of the mob which was at Daviess County was from Corrill County. Their principal leader, was Cerciel
Woods, commonly called Sashel Woods. He was a Presbyterian Preacher. There was another Presbyterian Preacher
with the Corrill County mob, by the name of Hancock. After the mob had departed from Corrill County; the
inhabitants of Daviess that had belonged to the mob, began to make proposals to the saints, either to sell
or buy. Two committees were appointed for this purpose, one on each part: After some arrangements in
relation to the matter, the committee on the part of the saints, agreed to buy out all the possessions
which the mob had in Daviess County, and purchases were making of their lands and crops (the land consisted
in pre-emption rights, as the land in that part of the County had not as yet, come into market) every day,
and payment made, until there was some twenty-five thousand dollars worth of property bought from the mob,
in improvements and crops. While these operations were going on, the mob would occasionally boast, that
when they had got payment for their lands and crops, they would rise up, and drive the saints out and keep
both their lands and their crops. They also sold a large quantity of hogs, some

cattle and sheep and other property. These threatenings were making continually, but the saints did not
however, entertain any great fears of their doing so, but the sequel will show, that their threats were real.

While the mob was operating thus, in Daviess County, there were scattering families in other Counties which
had to suffer violence also, at the hand of their neighbors. In Livingston County, a family by the name of
Lathrop, who lived on a farm which they had purchased from a man by the name of James Weldon, was attacked,
Mr. Lathrop was driven from home; his wife and some of his family, were sick: after he was driven away, one
of his children died, and, his wife was there laying alone and very sick, and there were twenty-five, or
thirty armed men around the house, threatening her husband's' life, if he attempted to come home. In this
situation, Mrs. Lathrop lay without attendence, surrounded by a body of armed ruffians; and while in this
situation, her child died, and her husband dare not return to comfort her. Her own situation at the time
being delicate; and terrified by the mob, her condition was afflicting in the extreme. The mob took and buried
her child. A body of armed men was sent by the authorities to relieve her. They arrived at the place, and
found the mob there, the most of whom fled at their approach. They took the woman and her goods and family
which remained, and brought her off with them, with another family by the name of Jackson. Mr. Jackson had
also been driven from his family. Mrs. Lathrop, survived the abuse but a very short time. There were also
scattering families of the saints in Ray, Clay and other Counties, who were severely threatened, and some
left the country out of fear, at the sacrifice of much property.

We have already mentioned, that after the mob had been turned into Militia and disbanded as such, they went
to Corrill County to attack a settlement of the saints in that place. The mob in Corrill County, began to
assemble on the first of October 1838. We are not able to state the precise day; but it was as early as
the first week of the month. We will now leave the affairs of Daviess County, and the other Counties, to
give an account of

the settlement in Corrill: for the history of the others which remain, is identified, with the history of
this settlement, and the things which befel it.

Some time in the last week in March 1838, a man by the name of Henry Root, who was a large proprietor in
the town platt of De Witt, on the Missouri river, arrived at Far West. He was the bearer of a letter from
a Mr. David Thomas, who had been a merchant in Corrillton, the county seat of Corrill County, but at the
time he wrote this letter, was living within a few miles of De Witt, having purchased a large tract of
land at that place; say some fourteen hundreds acres. The object of Mr. Root's visit, and the letter of
which he was the bearer, was to get some of the saints, to go to De Witt, and buy a part of the town platt,
and aid in building it up. Mr. Thomas was acquainted with many of the people of Far. West. During the first
visit of Mr. Root, there was nothing done in the matter. At this time, we were on our way, with out family
to Far West; going there for the purpose of making a home. On the evening of the 2d day of April, stopped
for the night, at the house of a man by the name of Morrison. on Turkey Creek. There was the said Mr. Root,
who had also put up for the night, returning home from Far West. He found out who we were, and then told us
that he had been to Far West; and what he had been after; and also solicited our assistance; in getting some
of our people to take part in building up the town of De Witt. Sometime afterwards, Mr. Thomas, came on the
same errand, and it was not till after repeated solicitations and assurances of all the assistance that we
needed in case of any difficulty, that there was any disposition manifested on the part of the people of
Far West, to comply with their request: However, after repeated solicitations; and strong assurances given
of the advantages of the place, and the facilities which it would afford to the settlements making in the
upper Missouri, to have a town, and of course a landing place on the river; at length a man by the name of
George M. Hinkle, and one by the name of Jonn Murdock, went to examine the place. It was in June 1838, that
they went to make the purchase. After examining the place, they purchased one half of the

town platt, and agreed with Mr. Root, from whom they purchased, to move there with their families as soon as
they conveniently could, in order to commence building up the place. Accordingly in July following, they
moved to De Witt. Soon after their arrival a settlement began to be made. The saints at the time, were
immigrating into the country, in considerable numbers, and a portion of them stopt at DeWitt. Some, purchased
farms in the vicinity; others, bought property in the town, and by the middle of October, there were as
many as seventy families in the town, and the immediate neighborhood. They had bought and paid, for
considerable property, and were making arrangements to erect buildings and other conveniences for their
comfort.

Some short time after the settlement first began, there was a mob meeting called at Corrillton, the county
seat of Corrill County, and resolutions passed, of a very treasonable character. The proceedings of this
meeting, were published in the public papers. They there resolved to drive the saints out of the County,
regardless of consequences. A Committee was appointed to go and warn them of their danger; and to demand
of them, that they leave the County forthwith. All these transactions were public, and perfectly known to
the authorities of the country; but not the most distant attempt was made to bring any of them to justice.
In consequence of the a apathy of the government, the mob went on to holding meeting after meeting -- passing
resolution after resolution, and threatening the saints with death, unless they would leave their homes and
property, and go out of the County. These proceedings were all public and notorious. This mob was led by two
Presbyterian preachers; one by the name of Woods, called Sashel Woods; the other by the name of Hancock.
They did not attempt to charge the saints with crime; it was their religion, and their religion only to which
they took exception.

This banditti, went and joined the Daviess County mob, when they commenced their operations, after the
election; and when they were turned into Militia, by Atchison, Doniphan, and Parks; and disbanded as troops
regularly

called out; the whole posse, went directly from Daviess County, to attack the settlement of De Witt; as well
as the scattering families through Corrill County. It was sometime about the last of Sept. 1838, that they
left Daviess County for Corrill, threatening vengeance to the saints, without regard to sex or age.

Daviess for a little season, by this means was free from them. It was during this time, that the people of
Daviess, made sale of their lands and other property to the saints, all the time saying to their particular
friends, that they intended, as soon as they got pay for their lands and other property, to drive the saints
off, and take it by force from them. They declared that they were fools, if they did not do so, seeing that
the law could not be enforced against them for so doing.

After they had left Daviess County, and got collected at Corrill, they set guards: The roads were so infested
with them, that travellers were interrupted on the way, as they were peaceably passing along the roads. The
more effectually to accomplish their purpose, they sent to Jackson County, and got a cannon. It was said to
be a six pounder; they also got balls and ammunition with the cannon, in abundance. Bodies of armed men,
gathered in to aid them, from all the adjoining counties, particularly from Ray, Saline, Howard, Livingston,
Clinton, Clay, Platt, and other parts of the State. Among the numbers that came, was a man by the name of
Jackson, from Howard, who was appointed their leader. He was called Capt. Jackson, and was among the number
of the Missouri volunteers, that went to Florida, and cut such a figure there, as reported by Col. Taylor.

The whole band being collected, they closely invested the place: A large portion of the people there, had
just arrived, and they were forbidden to go out of the place, under pain of death. They were deprived of
getting food, or providing houses for themselves. As fast as their cattle, horses, or any other property,
got where their could hold of it, it was carried off, as spoil. If any of the people left the town', on any
occasion, they were shot at, by layers-in-wait, who were laying concealed for the purpose. By these outrages,
the families were compelled to

live in their wagons or in tents, or at least, the greater part of them. Application was made to the Judge
of the Circuit Court for deliverance; and two companies of Militia were ordered out: One of the companies
was commanded by Samuel Bogard, a Methodist preacher. The whole was put under the command of Brigadier
General Parks; but they never made the first attempt to disperse the mob. When the people of De Witt, enquired
of Parks the reason of his conduct, he always replied, that Bogard and his company were so mutinous and
mobocratic, that he dare not venture to attempt a dispersion of the mob; saying that if he did, Bogard and
his company, instead of dispersing the mob, would unite with them. A messenger was sent with a petition to
the Governor, requesting aid from him. The man who took the petition, was by the name of Caldwell. He went
and saw the Governor, and received for answer, that the Mormons had got into a scrape, and they might fight
it out; for he would have nothing to do with it. This was the return made to the citizens of De Witt.

The people finding themselves pressed on every hand with difficulties, and a mob threatening their lives, and
not only threatening, but using all their efforts to take them; for scouting parties were round in every
direction, stealing cattle, horses, and all kinds of property that they could get. They set fire to a house
owned by a man by the name of Smith Humphrey, and burnt it to ashes; and the man and his family barely
escaped with their lives. Numbers of them died for want of proper attendance in sickness; for they had been
deprived from making any provision whatever, for their families, many of whom were sick, laying in wagons
and in tents, without any other shelter. Many females, that were in delicate situations, gave birth to
children under these forbidding circumstances: and to crown all, their provisions were getting very low,
and they could see nothing but actual starvation before them, by continuing where they were. This, added to
the sickness in their midst, made their case deplorable indeed. Parents had to stand still, and witness
the death of their children, without the means, to even make them comfortable in their dying moments: and
children had to do the same

with parents. The civil authorities, as well as the military, had all refused to do their duty,
and there were many, of them, at least, as deeply engaged in the mob, as any others. In the
meantime, Henry Root and David Thomas, who had been the sole cause of the settlement being made,
solicited the saints to leave the place. Thomas said that he had assurances from the mob, that
if they would leave the place, they would not be hurt, and that thy would be paid for all losses,
which they had sustained; and that they had come as mediators to accomplish this object; and that
persons should be appointed to set value on the property which they had to leave; and that they
should be paid for it. They finally through necessity, had to comply, and leave the place.
Accordingly the committee was appointed. Judge Erickson was one of the committee, and Major Flory
of Rutsville another; the names of the others not recollected. They appraised the real estate;
that was all. When the people came to start, their horses, oxen, and cows were gone, many of them;
and could not be found: It was known at the time, and the mob boasted of it, that they had killed
the oxen, and lived on them. A great number of cows, oxen, and horses, have never been seen since,
which doubtless the mob took, and kept. Such wagons as could get off, started. It was in the
afterpart of the day, on the 11th of October, 1838, when they left De Witt, for Caldwell, and Daviess
Counties. They travelled that day about twelve miles, and encamped in a grove of timber, near the
road. That evening, a woman, who had, some short time before, given birth to a child; in consequence
of the exposure occasioned by the operations of the mob, and having to move her, before her strength
would admit, died, and was buried in the grove, without a coffin. There were a considerable number
sick, both grown persons and children, which was principally owing to their exposure, and to their
having been obliged to live in their wagons and tents so long; and to being deprived of suitable
food. No sooner had they started then Sashel Woods, called the mob together,and made a speech to
them, saying, that they must hasten to assist their fiends in Daviess County. The land sales (he
said) were coming on; and if they could get the Mormons

driven out; they could get all the lands, entitled to pre-emptions; and that they must hasten to
Daviess, in order to accomplish their object -- that, if they would join, and drive them out,
they could get all the lands back again, as well as all the pay they had received for them. He
assured the mob, that they had nothing to fear from the authorities in so doing; for they had now,
full proof, that the authorities would not assist the Mormons, and that they might as well take
their property from them as not. His request was complied with, and accordingly the whole banditti
started taking with them, their cannon, for Daviess County. In the mean time, Cornelius Gilliam,
was busily engaged in raising a mob, in Platt, and Clinton Counties; to aid Woods in his effort,
to drive peaceable citizens, from their homes, and take their property. After the mob had left
Corrill County, there was ordered out, a part of two brigades of Militia, to check their movements.
Generals Doniphan and Parks, were in command of them, as it was part of their brigades that were
ordered out. The first knowledge that the people of Caldwell or Daviess, had of the mob, coming
against them, was the arrival of a body of troops under the command of Col. Dun, of Clay County,
in Far West. As the people of Caldwell, had no knowledge of any troops, designed to come into the
place, their appearance caused some excitement. Both the military and civil officers, immediately
met them, and enquired into the cause of their sudden appearance in the place, without giving
previous notice. Their commander gave for answer, that "they had been ordered out, by General
Doniphan; to repair to Daviess County, to operate against a mob, which was on its march from
Corrill County, to Daviess." This was on the first day of the week. We have not the precise date,
but it was in October. The evening following which was Monday, Gen. Doniphan arrived in Far West.
In consequence of these hostile movements on the part of the mob, the people of Caldwell had
assembled together, to take such measures as the emergency of the case might require.

After the arrival of Doniphan, the authorities made enquiry of him, concerning the matter, and
the operations

of the mob he stated that the mob had gone from Carroll county with their cannon, for the express
purpose of driving the Saints from Daviess county, and that he was going to operate against them;
but he said his troops were so mutinous that there was but little reliance to be placed in them.
He then advised the authorities of Caldwell county to send out two or three hundred men to Daviess
county to defend the people against the violence intended by the mob, until such time as effectual
measures could be taken by the authorities to put a stop to their operations. And he also told them
that Gilliam was collecting a mob in Platt and other places for the purpose of attacking Far West;
and said that it was absolutely necessary that there should be a strong guard kept at Far West to
defend the place. In accordance with his representation the authorities of the county had the militia
regularly called out, and a number went to Daviess county as he had recommended to await the
movement and operations of the mob, and to act accordingly.

The troops that had been ordered out by Doniphan went only about a mile and a half from Far West,
and there encamped until he should arrive. After his arrival, and giving the instruction he did,
he went and ordered his troops home instead of sending them to Daviess county.

Immediately after his departure, Gen. Parks of Ray county arrived, and reported that he had sent
on a number of troops to Daviess from Ray county, for the express purpose of stopping the operations
of the mob -- "part of them," he said, "were to be relied on, and part of them were not." All the
officers said that Bogard and his company, which in all their expeditions had formed a part of their
army, were not to be depended on, for he was as lawless, if not more so, and as mobocratic as the
worst of the mob.

Parks on his arrival, expressed some disappointment at not finding Doniphan there as he expected,
and also at his having ordered his troops home. It commenced snowing and storming, vehemently;
after which Parks also sent his troops home, and they returned; but Parks himself went on to
Daviess county. The mob by this

time, felt themselves sufficiently strong, and declaring themselves four hundred in number, and
knowing that the troops had returned; they felt all-sufficient to commence their operations;
and accordingly, the very night of Parks' arrival in Daviess county, the mob commenced their
operations. The first attack, was made on the house of a man by the name of Smith, who had gone
on business to Ohio. His wife, was there alone with two little children, neither of them able to
walk, and withal, Mrs. Smith, a very delicate woman. They drove her out of her house; there was a
heavy snow on the ground -- it was about the last of October or the first of November. She took
her two children in her arms, and walked three miles through the snow, and waded Grand river,
to Diawman. During the night, they burnt out seven families, and took all their goods and carried
them off. They swore vengeance against the Mormons, as they called them, that they should leave
Daviess County or they would sacrifice them all, and that they would make no terms of peace, but
at the cannon's mouth.

The next morning after his driving out and burning, Mr. Lyman Wight, who was an officer in the
militia, asked Gen. Parks, what they should do, he now saw the designs and purposes of the mob;
and he wanted to know how to proceed.

Here just let us remark, that the saints had borne the abuse of the people of Missouri, without
cause or provocation on their part, except their religion, from the summer of 1831, until this
time, which was the first of November 1838, during which time, their crops had been destroyed,
their goods and chattels plundered, their houses burned, and they, driven off their farms, in
the face of the government, and appeal after appeal, made to the authorities for redress; but none
could be had, and they had never, in one instance retaliated; but submitted to be thus robbed and
plundered; and now they were not disposed to move, until the authorities of the country said so:
and seeing Gen. Parks was there, they appealed to him. Parks replied, with an oath, "go and give
them a complete dressing, for you will never have any peace with them,

until you do it; and I will stand between you and all difficulty."

Having the orders of their General, a man by the name of David W. Patten, took one hundred men,
and went to give them battle, though they reported themselves four hundred strong, and had a
cannon. As Mr. Patten gave chase, the mob fled before him. The pursuit lasted for two day or
three days, during which time, a general destruction of property took place, burning houses &c.
The saints fled into Diawman with what they could carry with them, and the rest of their property
was all destroyed. They drove in, such of their cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep as they could get
in, as also their geese, chickens &c. Their houses were soon wrapped in flames, and what they had
left behind them, made a prey of.

Mr. Patten, at last got so near the mob, that they left their cannon and fled. He took the cannon,
and returned to Diawman, and thus ended the scene of destruction. It is necessary for a proper
understanding of this matter, about the destruction of property, for the reader to know that the
saints had bought a heavy portion of Daviess county; for which, there are documents now to show,
and were to have possession in a short time. Let it be noticed that the mob, in these burnings,
had little to lose; they had got pay, for both their houses, and their lands, and their whole object
was, to drive the saints from them, and keep both their lands and their pay; which by the assistance
of Governor Boggs, they have been enabled to do. The mob declared, while they were selling their
lands, that they would do so, and if they could not accomplish their object any other way, they
would burn their houses, and report the saints had done it. This can be proven by Mr. Uriah B. Powel.

After the mob was dispersed and their cannon taken, the people from Caldwell, returned home, in
hopes of having peace; but this hope proved to be vain, for Cornelius Gilliam, who had been very
active in the mob, and a commander of one of their companies, that was painted, commenced collecting
his painted and scattered forces on a stream, that was called the Grindstone. After he had got as
he supposed, a sufficient number of them collected

and well painted he came into Caldwell County, and took cattle and horses &c.; and the people of
Caldwell had to set guards, to protect their property.

Some short time after Gilliam commenced his operations, messengers came to Far West, reporting that
in the south part of Caldwell there was a body of armed men, threatening the lives of the people
and ordering them out of the County by 11 o'clock the next morning under pain of death, unless they
would renounce their religion: that they had burned and were burning houses -- had set fire to a
wagon load of goods, which a man had not unloaded at his door -- that they were breaking into houses
-- taking their guns and they had actually taken three prisoners. The same report reached, again
about midnight. On the arrival of the second report, the before mentioned Mr. Patten took about
sixty men and went to enquire into the affair. When he got to the place, the mob had moved: he went
in pursuit and unexpectedly fell in with their guards. The guard fired and killed one of his men.
Patten, then ordered a rush: they immediately fell on them; the company fled very soon, but not
until Mr. Patten was killed, and a man by the name of Gideon Carter; the name of one killed by the
guard, was Patterson C. Banian. Bogard reported one killed and a number wounded.

After this affray, the men returned home. But all peace had fled away; mobbing parties were in
every direction: It was dangerous for a man to go any distance from his house; if he did and was
on horseback, a gang of mobbers would take hiss horse from him; or if with a wagon and team, the
wagon and team would both be taken, and this would be the last of them. These parties were throwing
down fences and turning creatures into the cornfields, turnip and potatoe patches, &c. Some who
were considered first in the county, were engaged in this foul business. Such as Cornelius Gilliam,
state senator; Judge Smith, a judge in the Daviess County Court; and men of this stamp were not
only there, but leaders, and excited others to acts of wickedness.

Matters continued thus, until the 29th of October. On this day, a large army came and halted in a
little skirt of

woods about a mile from Far West. Shortly before they reached their place of encampment, they
passed by the house of a man by the name of Carey; he was a stranger in the country. One of the
army, or rather mob, for such they truly were, walked up to him and beat his brains out with
his gun. They took him up and threw him into a wagon, and took him off with them, and refused to
let his family see him or administer to him. After keeping him for a length of time they finally
let his family have him. He expired shortly after.

This cool blooded murder was passed by as a matter of no consequence; though it was known to all
the officers. The man who committed the murder was, by the name of Donihue.

Who they were, or what they were after, no one knew. It was rumored that such an army had crossed
the Caldwell line; and the authorities sent out men, to enquire who they were; and what they
were after; but no information could be obtained, until the army arrived. Shortly after their
arrival, a man by the name of Pomeroy, came to the town bearing a white flag; and said he wanted
three persons out of the town, before it was massacred, and the rest would all be put to the sword.

The persons they called for, refused to go, saying that if their friends had to be slaughtered,
they would die with them. The messenger shed a few crockadile tears, and went back to their camp.

shortly after he returned, behold! here comes General Doniphan, with his brigade; marching towards
the town, in line of battle. To this brigade, was presented a line also, in battle order, consisting
of two hundred and fifty persons. The General gazed upon them, and thought best to order a halt.
He paused and looked, and then ordered a retreat, and went back to the camp.

During these maneuvres, of General Lucas' army, for such the army proved to be, Cornelius Gilliam
with his banditti of painted plunderers, was prowling around the county plundering all things that
they could get their hands on and, carrying them off.

After the before mentioned maneuvering, General Lucas sent word to the town, that there should not
be any

harm done to it, that night; but still there were marauding parties, which were threatening to
burn it and in consequence it, was thought best to throw up a little breastwork, around the town
and set guards to watch their movements. This done, it was composed of rails, house logs, empty
wagons, &c.

As their custom had been from the beginning, so it was now; Cornelius Gilliam with his banditti
of painted ruffians, were incorporated with the army and called Militia; and this was an atonement
for all the thefts, robberies, and other outrages, which they had committed against the public peace.

Sometime in the course of the next day, after the arrival of General Lucas' army, we were made
acquainted with the fact, that they were there, by the orders of the Governor. Until this
time, we supposed that they were a mob. Here follows the Governor's order

[quoted document omitted -- not Rigdon's words]

This order of Bogg's, was given, as he, and the whole band of them pretended,
in consequence of the Bogard battle: pretending that he had been sent there, by legal authority.
Now for this legal business. Bogard came into Caldwell, without any legal authority whatever, and
committed all his outrages: but after he had committed them, he sends a messenger to General
Atchison, for authority. Atchison sets down and sends him a writing, authorizing him to guard the
line, between the counties of Ray and Caldwell. General Atchison's order to Bogard, was copied by
Samuel Tillary after dark, on the evening before the battle was fought, and that was fought before
day light the next morning, and the letter had to be carried some thirty or forty miles. Here was
another piece of legerdemain. Bogard was turned into militia to hide up his wickedness. We had this
account from the mouth of Samuel Tillary; he is Clerk of the Circuit Court in Clay County and acts
as clerk for General Atchison.

Let the reader particularly notice, that this L. W. Boggs, was well acquainted with the operations
of the mob, for the space of five years; having been the leader of it, once, himself, at the time
it raged in Jackson County; and had been petitioned, again and again, after he was Governor; to
stop its ravages: and in every instance refused to do it. He now perfectly knew that the whole
difficulty, had originated in consequence of its violence

and plunder: yet no withstanding this, he issued the above order. Boggs, said, that if it had not
been for the vote, which the Mormons gave at the late election, he would have exterminated them before.

After the citizens of Caldwell were made acquainted with the fact, that General Lucas, was there,
by the Governor's order, they ceased to take any measures for defence; but submitted immediately.

In the meantime, the army employed itself in destroying the cornfields, potatoes and turnips, and
in taking horses, and plundering houses. Houses were searched by them, as closely to find money,
as a man would be searched by a set of Arabs, after a shipwreck. Every dollar was carried off,
that could be found, while the lives of the owners were threatened, if they offered the least
resistance. Cattle, hogs and sheep, were shot down and, left on the ground to rot. Men, women, and
children, were insulted and abused, in a brutal manner!

We return again to the maneuvering of the Officers. In the evening of the second day after their
arrival, they sent a messenger to a number of persons, informing them, that they wanted them to
come into their camp; as they wished to have a consultation with them: and they pledged their sacred
honors, that they should be at liberty to return to the town, by eight o'clock, the next morning.
The persons, called for, were Lyman Wight, George W. Robinson; Parley P. Pratt, Joseph Smith Jr.,
and Sidney Rigdon. It was supposed that confidence might be placed in the word of Major and Brigadier
Generals; and accordingly, the persons called for, went into their camp.

When they started to go, instead of meeting a white flag, as was expected to conduct them in safety,
alone to the camp; here comes the whole army, with a cannon with it, and Lucas, at its head! The
persons before mentioned were immediately taken as prisoners of war. The cannon guard, was commanded
to take them, and guard them into the camp, as such; and a loaded cannon, drove close behind them.

But to describe this scene, would defy the pen of a

Scott. Guns, were snapping jn, every quarter. The yellings, the howlings, the screamings, we think,
were never equalled! We thought at the time, that we, might perhaps, hear something like it, if we
were at the gates of perdition; hearing the howlings of the miserable; but we think, except that
could exceed it, it never was equalled. After they got into the camp, there was a strong guard
placed round them. It will be seen by this, how much reliance could be placed in the sacred honor
of these Generals. We generally expect to find men of so high office, abide by their word, even at
the risk of life. General Doniphan, confessed, that the persons thus betrayed, were to be let return,
the next morning. Let so much suffice, for their word and their sacred honor.

The next day after we were betrayed into camp, Lucas, ordered all the persons in the county of
Caldwell, to give up their arms. After the arms were given up, the men were kept under guard; and
all property holders, compelled to sign a Deed of Trust, signing away all their property, to defray
the expenses of the war; and then they were all commanded to leave the State under pain of
extermination, between that and corn-planting the next spring.

At the time of giving up the arms, there again followed another scene of brutality. The troops ran
from house to house, taking all the arms they could find, from old men, that never thought of going
into a field of battle; but there must not be left a single gun in the County; so the troops ran as
before described, like a parcel of ravenous wolves; but their great object, in the pursuit of guns,
was, to find plunder. They wanted to get into the houses, to see if there was not something they
could carry off. Thus they plundered houses until they got satisfied. To secret their property from
their ravages, the people had to go and hide it in the bushes, or any where they could find a place
of concealment. The troops found some of the property that had been hid. This produced another savage
operation. Those wild creatures, tearing like man men through the bushes, ran from place to place,
searching under hay stacks -- tearing up floors, hunting pretendedly after arms; but the abundance
of property plundered, testifies that they had another object in view.

While the troops were thus engaged, the officers were busily employed in forming some plan to
dispose of those, whom they had betrayed into their camp. Seventeen preachers, and nineteen
Commissioned officers, met with Generals Lucas and Wilson, and held a court martial. The prisoners,
were never admitted into it at all: they were not allowed to plead, introduce evidence, or any
thing else. Finally, the august body came to a decision; and that was, that at eight o'clock the
next morning, they should be taken into the public square, in the presence of their families, and
shot. Who among the military characters of the day, will not say that Samuel D. Lucas is fit to
command an army, when he was at the head of such a court martial as this?

At these high handed and lawless measures Gen. Doniphan demurred. He told them, that there was not
one of them, in the least degree, acquainted with the Military law, and understood nothing about
court Martials; and for his part, if they were going to pursue that course, his hand should
be clear of it; and he forthwith ordered his brigade to prepare; and he marched them off. This
deterred the others, seeing Doniphan, was the only lawyer in their number. We presume they would
have carried their design into effect, had it not been for Doniphan's leaving them. We had this
account from the lips of Doniphan himself.

Our families had been apprised of their intentions, and were waiting in awful suspense, the arrival
of the fatal hour. However, they changed their purpose, and it was decreed that we should be
carried to Jackson county.

While these things were carrying on, in and about Far West, scenes still more horrid and soul
thrilling, were going on, in another part of the County, at a place called Haun's Mill, because a
man of that name built a mill there. We will give it from the testimony of eye witnesses. We will
give it from the testimony of three, who have testified to it; that is, Joseph Young and his wife;
and David Lewis. We also, have the testimony of Mrs. A. Smith, whose husband, and a little son of
nine years of age, were killed, and also a younger boy wounded.

But wishing to bring our account into as narrow limits as possible, we omit inserting it.

Here follows the testimony of Joseph Young, and his wife, transcribed from their own hand writing.

[quoted document omitted -- not Rigdon's words]

We will now return to the prisoners. They had meanly betrayed us into their hands; we were kept in their
camp till the third day of November; we were then started for Jackson county. Let us here observe that they
increased our number having added to it Messrs. Hyrum D. Smith and Amasa Lyman. By our special request, they
took us into Far West, to see our families, whom we

found, when we got there, living on parched corn, as the town was so closely invested they could not get out.
I will not attempt to describe this parting scene. I will leave every person to place themselves in our
situation and then judge for themselves.

In writing this narrative it is no part of our intention to play upon the passions of the public, but give
a faithful narrative of facts and then leave it. After we arrived at Independence, the county seat of
Jackson County, we served the same purpose that a caravan of wild animals would for a show, as hundreds of
people called to see us. We were put into an old house and left to sleep on some blankets we had with us.
Shortly after we had started from Far West, a messenger came riding after us with a demand from Gen. Clark,
to take us back. With this, Gen. Lucas would not comply. Upon the whole, we were treated at Jackson County
with respect. We were boarded at a tavern house. A man was appointed to see that we had every thing we wanted.
They dispensed with their guards, and we were at liberty to go where we pleased, and return when it suited us.
These privileges were not granted us at first, but after we had been there a few days. At first we were put
into an old house and closely guarded. While we were there, Burrell Hicks, a lawyer of celebrity, and leader
of the Jackson County mob, confessed in our presence, and in the presence of many others, that the Jackson
County mob, was a wanton attack upon the saints without cause, and he said he presumed that the attack then
made was of the same character.

We state this to show that the men of intelligence in Jackson, knew that they were again engaged in robbing
a people of their rights. Indeed, General Wilson went so far as to say that if ever mobs attacked us again,
he would fight for us. We will here leave the prisoners and relate what took place in Diawman. After General
Clark's arrival at Far West, General Wilson, I think, was the General's name, that was sent to Diawman. On
his arrival there, he placed guards around the town, so that no person might pass out or in without permission.
All the men in the town were then taken and put under guard, and a

court of inquiry was instituted, with Adam Black on the bench; the said Adam Black belonged to the mob and
was one of the leaders of it from the time mobbing first commenced in Daviess county. the Attorney's name
I have forgotten, if I ever knew, but belonged to General Clark's army.

After two or three days' investigation, every man was honorably acquitted. General Wilson then ordered every
family to be out of Diawman in ten days, with permission to go to Caldwell, and there tarry until spring,
and then leave the state under pain of extermination. This was on the first of November, the weather was very
cold, more so than usual, for that season of the year: and, in keeping this order of General Wilson's they
had to leave their crops and houses, and to live in tents and wagons in this inclement season of the year.
As for their flocks and herds, the mob had delivered them from the trouble of taking care of them, or from
the pain of seeing them starve to death, by stealing them. An arrangement was made in which it was stipulated
that a committee of twelve, which had been previously appointed, should have the privilege of going from Far
West to Daviess County for the term of four weeks, for the purpose of conveying their crops from Daviess to
Caldwell. The committee were to wear white badges on their hats for their protection.

But in a short time after this arrangement was made, Gen. Wilson withdrew with his army, and the mob rose up
as soon as the army had gone, and forbid the Committee from coming again into Daviess county under pain of
death. By this the mob secured unto themselves several hundred thousand bushels of corn, besides large
quantities of oats, and the saints were left to seek their bread and shelter where they could find it.

We will now return to the prisoners in Jackson county. Shortly after our arrival in Jackson county, Colonel
Sterling Price from the army of Gen. Clark, came with orders from Gen. Clark who was commander-in-chief of
the expedition, to have us forwarded forthwith to Richmond. Accordingly, on Thursday morning, November 8th,
with three guards only, and they had been obtained with great difficulty, after laboring all the previous day

to get them. Between Independence and Roy's ferry, on the Missouri river, they all got drunk, and we got
possession of their arms and horses. It was late in the afternoon, near the setting of the sun. We travelled
about half a mile after we crossed the river, and put up for the night. The next morning there came a number
of men, some of them armed, their threatenings and savage appearance were such as to make us afraid to
proceed without more guards. A messenger was therefore despached to Richmond to obtain them. We started before
their arrival, but had not gone far before we met Col. Price with a guard, if we recollect right of seventy
four men. As to the number, however, we are not certain: and were conducted by them to Richmond and put into
an old vacant house, and a guard set. Sometime through the course of that day, Gen. Clark came in and we
were introduced to him. We enquired of him the reason why we had been thus carried from our homes and what
were the charges against us. He said that he was not then able to determine, but would be in a short time,
and with very little more conversation withdrew. Some short time after he had withdrawn, Col. Price came in
with two chains in his hands, and a number of padlocks. The two chains he fastened together. He had with him
ten men armed, who stood at the time of these operations with a thumb upon the cock of their guns. They
first nailed down the windows, then came and ordered a man by the name of John Fulkerson whom he had with him,
to chain us together with chains and padlocks, being seven in number. After that, he searched us, examining
our pockets to see if we had any arms; finding nothing but pocket knives, he took them and conveyed them off.

General Clark spent several days in searching the statutes of Missouri to find some authority to hold a Court
Martial. (The troops said that he had promised when they left, that there were two or three that they should
have the privilege of shooting before they returned.) But he could find none, and after a fruitless search
of a number of days he came again to see us and informed us that he would turn us over to the civil authorities
for trial.

Accordingly, the trial commenced; Austin A. King on the bench, and Thomas C. [Birch], attorney. This was surely
a new kind of Court: it was not an inquisition nor yet a criminal court, but a compound between. A looker
on would be convinced that both the judge and attorney were not satisfied that some or all of the prisoners
had been guilty of some criminal act or acts, but on the contrary that their object was to try by all means
in their power to get some person to swear some criminal thing against us, though they were innocent.

The first act of the court was to send out a body of armed men, to obtain witnesses without any civil process
whatever; and after witnesses were brought before the court, they were sworn at bayonet point. Dr. Sampson
Avard was the first brought before the Court. He had previously told Mr. Oliver Olney, that if he (Olney)
wished to save himself, he must swear hard against the heads of the Church, as they were the ones, the court
wanted to criminate, and if he could swear hard against them, they would, that is neither court nor mob,
disturb him. I intend to do it, said he, in order to escape, for if I do not, they will take my life. To aid
him in this work, there was standing a body of armed men; a part of this armed body stood in the presence
of the court to see that the witnesses swore right, and another part was scouring he county to drive out of
it every witness that they could hear of, whose testimony would be favorable to the defendants. This course
was kept up during the whole time of the court. If a witness did not swear to please the court, he or she
would be threatened to be cast into prison. They never pleased the Court when their testimony was favorable
to the defendants. One instance is all the proof that need be adduced on this head. A man by the name of
Allen was called on, he began to tell the story about Bogart's burning houses in the south part of Caldwell,
he was kicked out of the house and three men took after him with loaded guns, and he hardly escaped with his
life. Every witness that the defendants had, (that these creatures knew of, and they made diligent search to
find all they could) were either arrested under pretension of some charge, or else driven off. When a

witness did not swear to please the attorney, Birch he would order them to be taken into custody and they
were immediately cast into prison and the next morning they would be brought forward and tried again. Such
was the course the Court and their armed body pursued during their settings till they got through; by such
means they got men to swear for them , and
to swear to most unhallowed falsehoods .
It was indeed suborning witnesses to swear, to promise a man's life if he would swear, and death or
imprisonment if he did not swear, and not only to swear, but swear to please them.

This matter of driving away witnesses or casting them into prison or chasing them out of the county, was
carried to such a length that our lawyers, Gen. Doniphan and Amos Rees, told us not to bring our witnesses
there at all, for if we did there would not be one of them left for the final trial, for no sooner would
Bogart and his men know who they were, than they would put them out of the County; as to making any impression
on King, if a cohort of angels were to come down and declare we were clear, Doniphan said it would all be
the same, for he (King) had determined from the beginning to cast us into prison; we never got the privilege
of introducing our witnesses at all; if we had we could have disproved all they swore.

We here must rather go back a little, for after Clark arrived at Far West, he arrested a great many persons,
an account of which will be found in the memorial of the citizens of Far West, to the Legislature of Missouri.
Their trials also went on at the same time. One thing in relation to Clark's proceeding, we forgot to
mention -- we will insert it here. After he had arrived, some persons made application for a privilege to
go and plunder houses for goods; this was readily granted, and under this authority, houses were plundered,
locks broken, and property taken at pleasure; and all this without any civil process whatever.

We will here give a specimen or two, of their swearing. We will first introduce William W. Phelps. This
said Phelps was angry at one of the prisoners -- George W. Robinson, in consequence of a law suit existing
between them. Phelps, we suppose, thought he had a fair opportunity

now, to take vengeance, in swearing against him; so he swore that in Daviess county he saw George W.
Robinson have a clock, in his arms, There had been a clock found in some hazel bushes, somewhere in the
neighborhood of Far West. This clock, a man in Daviess county, swore to be his; it was presented to Phelps,
and Phelps swore positively that, that was the clock, he saw George W. Robinson have in Daviess county.
Now the truth is, that the clock which said Robinson had, belonged to another man; who had it at that time,
and has it at this, if he has not sold it; and it is now in Illinois. This Mr. Robinson could have proven
if he could have introduced his witnesses. For this, he was bound over to appear at the County Court, in
the sum of one thousand dollars. Another, by the name of Job, whose mother had gone to the house of Mr. Wight,
and swore a feather bed which was in his house was her's: After she got away, she said she never had a bed
since she lived in Daviess county; but she wanted one of "old Wight's" beds. Her son came to the court, to
swear against Mr. Wight for stealing; and accordingly swore that his mother's bed was found in his house.
The question was asked, how he knew it was his mother's bed? He said he had slept upon it and he felt the
stripes with his feet: His mother's bed, had a striped tick, and the stripes went two ways, and he felt them
with his feet, while lying in the bed. He was then asked if there was not a sheet on the bed under him? He
said there was, but still he felt the stripes in the tick, through the sheet, so distinctly that he knew that
they went two ways, and that it was his mother's bed, and that was the way they found out, his mother's bed
was there. Mr. Wight proved, in the mean time, that, that same bed had been in his house for many years. We
give these as specimens of men's swearing. We might multiply them to a great number, but it would swell this
narrative beyond the limits allowed it. Let so much suffice.

The court at last closed, on the 29th of November, after a session of two weeks, and three days, and during
most of the time we were closely confined in chains. At the close of the court, and some few days before it
closed,

there were a considerable number of those who had been arrested by Gen. Clark released. Out of that number
was Amasa Lyman, Esq. who was one of the seven, who had been carried to Jackson County, and from thence
to Ray. They were either all released, or admitted to bail, except Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, Hyrum Smith,
Alexander McRay, Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon; who were sent to Liberty, Clay County, to jail, to stand
their trial for treason and murder. The treason, for having whipped the mob out of Daviess County, and taking
their cannon from them; and the murder, for the man killed in the Bogart battle. Also Parly P Pratt, Morris
Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase, and Norman Shearer; who were put into Richmond jail, to stand their trial,
for the same crimes. At this time the Legislature had commenced its session, and a Memorial * was presented
to the Senate and house of Representatives; to obtain a committee to investigate the whole affair pertaining
to the Governor's Order -- the operations of the mob, and the conduct and operations of the Militia, while
at Far West.

After much legislation, disputation, and controversy, and angry speechifying; as the papers of Missouri,
published at the time, abundantly testify, the Petition and Memorial, were laid on the table, until the July
following; thus utterly refusing to grant the memorialists, their request; thereby refusing to investigate
the subject; and thus it stands until this day, uninvestigated by any legal authority.

After we were cast into prison, we heard nothing but threatenings, that if any Judge or Jury, or court of
any kind, should clear any of us, that we should never get out of the state alive. This soon determined our
course; and that was, to escape out of their hands as soon as we could; and by any means we could. After we
had been some length of time in prison, we demanded a Habeas Corpus of Judge Turnham, one the County Judges;
which with some considerable reluctance, was granted. Great threatenings were made at this time by the mob,

__________

* See Appendix .

that if any of were liberated we should never get out of the County alive. After the investigation one of
our number was released from prison by the decision of the Judge; the remainder were committed to jail.
He also returned with them until a favorable opportunity offered which through the friendship of the Sheriff,
Mr. Samuel Hadley, and the Jailor, Mr. Samuel Tillery, he was let out of the jail secretly, in the night,
and being solemnly warned by them to be out of the state with as little delay as possible, he made his escape.
Being pursued by a body of armed men, it was through the direction of a kind providence that he escaped out
of their hands and safely arrived in Quincy, Illinois. This was February, A. D. 1839.

In the May following, the remainder that were in the Liberty Jail, were taken to Daviess county to be tried
by a grand jury of the principal mobbers, in order to see if a bill of indictment, could be found as could be
expected from the characters of the jury. Bills were found, they obtained a change of venue to Boon County,
accordingly the Sheriff of Daviess county, with guards, started to take them from Daviess to Boon County.
On their way after journeying a day or two, one evening the guard got drunk, they left them, and also made
their escape to Quincy, Illinois.

Those that were in Ray County Jail were brought to trial, but no bill of indictment was found against Darwin
Chase and Norman Shearer, and they were released and sent home. A bill was found against Parley P. Pratt,
Morris Phelps, and Luman Gibbs for murder, and also a man by the name of King Follett for robbery. They also
obtained a change of venue to Boon County, and were carried thither and put into jail and there remained
until the fourth of July. At this time the town was all hilarity and mirth at the celebration. They also made
a flag and had it placed over the jail doors. In the evening when the Jailor brought in their suppers,
they walked out at the door: that is, Parley P. Pratt, Morris Phelps, and King Follett; Luman Gibbs continued,
the others were closely pursued and Follett was retaken and carried back; but the other two effected their
escape to the state of Illinois.

Some time afterwards King Follett had his trial and was acquitted. Luman Gibbs remains in prison unto this
day, 26th October, 1839.

As to those that were left in the Counties of Caldwell and Daviess, they were making all possible exertions
to get away all winter, contrary to the stipulations of Gen. Clark and Lucas, granting them the privilege of
staying until spring. Bodies of armed men were riding through the town of Far West in the County of Caldwell,
threatening death to them if they were not out in the month of February, and otherwise insulting them. They
continued however to exert themselves with all possible means in their power; many of them were sick, large
numbers of them had no teams nor wagons. Having been robbed, yes completely robbed of all they had, great
exertions therefore had to be made by those who had means. Through great exertions and timely perseverance
they succeeded in getting them safely into the State of Illinois, where we all are now and where we have met
with a kind reception.

Public meetings were held in Quincy; contributions raised to assist the suffering, and every exertion which
humanity dictated was made for our relief. But still we are, as a people, poor and destitute. We have been
robbed of our all and many of us are without houses, living in tents and wagons. In consequence of our
exposure, we have suffered this summer much sickness and numbers have died, and our prospects for the ensuing
winter are gloomy. But gloomy as they are, still we are not discouraged. A large majority of us are farmers,
but our teams, as well as our flocks and herds and all our farming materials were taken from us. Many who
were independent, are now working by days works, to maintain their families, numbers of them old men, sixty
years and upwards. Such is our true situation, and as such we make our Appeal to the American People.
