FAR WEST BESIEGED--JOSEPH SMITH AND BRETHREN BETRAYED BY
APOSTATES--ATROCITIES OF MOB--CONVERSATION WITH W. E.
M'LELLIN--EXTERMINATION SPEECH OF GENERAL CLARK.
Before I proceed farther with my narrative, it may perhaps be as well
to revert to some other things that transpired in Missouri:
After witnessing the death of D. W. Patten, I took Dr. Avard with
me to Far West, a distance of three miles, to Elder Rigdon's house,
where we found Brother Patrick O'Banion, who was shot in nearly the
same place as Brother Patten (he was a member of Zion's Camp in 1834).
He also died in a short time, firm and steadfast in the faith, was
perfectly calm and composed, and bore a strong testimony to the truth
of "Mormonism."
Gideon Carter, who was also a faithful Saint, was shot in the head and
left dead on the ground, so defaced that the brethren did not at first
know him.
This was a gloomy time!
On the 30th of October, 1838, we discovered several thousand of the mob
coming to Far West, under pretense of being government troops. They
passed through our corn and wheat fields, making a complete desolation
of every thing in their way.
Brother Brigham Young and I were appointed captains of fifty, in a
hurry, and commanded to take our position right in the thoroughfare on
which the mob were seen advancing to the city, momentarily anticipating
the awful tragedy of a bloody massacre. Joseph was with us, giving
counsel.
The army came up to good rifle shot distance and halted. Seeing our
temporary fortifications, which we had thrown up the night previous,
by pulling down some of our houses, and fixing up our wagon, they
dared not approach nearer, but retreated back to Goose Creek, about
three-fourths of a mile, screaming, hallooing and screeching. The mob
afterwards declared there were fifteen hundred of us stationed there
to prevent their approach, but to my certain knowledge there were only
about one hundred and fifty in that line.
The word came that Joseph Smith and several others were to be given up;
otherwise the mob would massacre every man, woman and child.
In order to prevent the execution of this threat, Joseph gave himself
up, with Elders Sidney Rigdon, P. P. Pratt, Lyman Wight and George W.
Robinson, they having been betrayed into the camp by Col. George M.
Hinkle and other apostates.
On the 1st of November, the mob, professing to be the regular militia
of the State of Missouri, numbering about seven thousand, surrounded
Far West. Our men were all taken prisoners and then marched a short
distance into a hollow, where Col. Lucas had previously pointed his
cannon in full range, so that if we failed to lay down our arms, he
could easily sweep us into eternity, which was his design. We were then
formed into a hollow square and commanded by Col. Lucas to ground arms
and deliver up our weapons of war, although they were our own private
property. After being marched back a short distance, on the public
square, we were again formed into a hollow square, near the house of
Widow Beeman.
The mob commenced plundering the citizens of their bedding, money,
wearing apparel and everything of value they could lay their hands
upon. Much property was destroyed by the burning of houses, logs,
rails, corn cribs, boards, etc., the using of corn and hay, the killing
of cattle, sheep and hogs, etc., and all this without regard to owners,
or asking leave of any one. In the meantime, men were abused, and women
insulted, and treated with violence by the troops, while the men were
kept prisoners.
We were compelled at the point of the bayonet to sign a deed of trust
for the purpose of making our individual property liable, as they said,
to pay all the debts of persons belonging to the Church, and also for
all damages the old inhabitants of Daviess County might have sustained
in consequence of the late difficulties in that County.
When General Clark arrived, the first important move made by him, was
collecting our men together on the square, and selecting about fifty of
them, whom he immediately marched into a house and confined closely.
This was done without the aid of the sheriff or any legal process.
The next day, forty-six of those taken, with the Prophet Joseph, were
driven, like a parcel of menial slaves, off to Richmond, not knowing
why they were taken.
When these troops surrounded us, and we were brought into a hollow
square, the first persons that I knew, were men who had once professed
to be our brethren. They were the men who piloted the mob into our
city, namely: William E. McLellin and Lyman E. Johnson, two of the
Twelve; John Whitmer and David Whitmer, two of the witnesses to the
Book of Mormon; William W. Phelps, and scores of others, "hail fellows,
well met."
A portion of the troops were painted like Indians, and looked horrible.
They were led by Niel Gillum, who styled himself "the Delaware chief,"
who, with many others, cocked his gun upon us and swore he would blow
our brains out, although we were disarmed and helpless.
William E. McLellin inquired where Heber C. Kimball was, and some one
pointed me out to him. I was sitting on the ground. When he came up
to me, he said, "Brother Heber, what do you think of Joseph Smith,
the fallen prophet, now? Has he not led you blindfolded long enough?
Look and see yourself poor, your family stripped and robbed, and your
brethren in the same fix. Are you not satisfied with Joseph?"
I replied, "Yes, I am more satisfied a hundred fold than I was before;
for I see you in the very position that he foretold you would be in--a
Judas to betray your brethren, if you did not forsake your adultery,
fornication, lying and abominations. Where are you? What are you
about--you, and Hinkle, and scores of others? Have you not betrayed
Joseph and his brethren into the hands of the mob, as Judas did Jesus?
Yes, verily, you have! I tell you 'Mormonism' is true, and Joseph is
a true Prophet of the living God, and you with all others that turn
therefrom will be damned and go to hell, and Judas will rule over you!"
Soon after this, when things began to be a little more quiet, I desired
to go to my home to get something to eat, many of us not having eaten
any food for twenty-four hours. I asked some of the mob standing near
if I could have the privilege of going to my house, a little distance
off. They referred me to their captain, who was Bogart, the Methodist
preacher. I went to him and told him what I wanted. He first spoke of
sending some one with me, as I would be liable to be shot if found
alone. In a short time, however, he said, "I will go with you."
He went down to my house, and my wife got some dinner and he ate with
me; then we returned, and I again took my seat on the ground with my
brethren who were under guard.
The next day I was permitted to return to my home, but told that I need
not try to leave the city as it was surrounded with a strong guard to
prohibit any one leaving the place. The mob were engaged taking every
man a prisoner who seemed to have any influence, and putting him in
chains to await a trial.
It was rumored that all the men who were in the Crooked River battle
would be taken prisoners; therefore, many of them fled to the north
before the guards were placed around the city.
The 6th of November, General Clark delivered his noted extermination
speech, and read over the names of fifty-six brethren who were made
prisoners, to await a trial for something they knew not what.
In order that the tyrant may not be forgotten, I insert a portion of
his speech:
"GENTLEMEN:--You whose names are not attached to this list of names,
will now have the privilege of going to your fields, and of providing
corn, wood, etc., for your families. Those who are now taken will go
from this to prison, be tried and receive the due demerit of their
crimes; but you, (except such as charges may hereafter be preferred
against,) are at liberty, as soon as the troops are removed that now
guard the place, which I shall cause to be done immediately. It now
devolves upon you to fulfil a treaty that you have entered into, the
leading items of which I shall now lay before you. The first requires
that your leading men be given up to be tried according to law; this
you already have complied with. The second is, that you deliver up your
arms; this has been attended to. The third stipulation is that you sign
over your properties to defray the expenses of the war. This you have
also done. Another article yet remains for you to comply with--and
that is, that you leave the State forth with. And whatever may be your
feelings concerning this, or whatever your innocence, it is nothing to
me. General Lucas (whose military rank is equal with mine,) has made
this treaty with you; I approve of it. I should have done the same
had I been here. I am therefore determined to see it executed. The
character of this State has suffered almost beyond redemption, from the
character, conduct and influence that you have exerted; and we deem
it an act of justice to restore her character to its former standing
among the States by every proper means. The orders of the governor to
me were, _that you should be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in
the State_. And had not your leaders been given up, and the terms of
the treaty complied with, before this time you and your families would
have been destroyed, and your houses in ashes. There is a discretionary
power vested in my hands, which, considering your circumstances, I
shall exercise for a season. You are indebted to me for this clemency.
I do not say that you shall go now, but you must not think of staying
here another season or of putting in crops; for the moment you do this
the citizens will be upon you; and if I am called here again in case
of non-compliance of a treaty made, do not think that I shall do as
I have done now. You need not expect any mercy, but _extermination,
for I am determined the governor's order shall be executed_. As for
your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment, do not let
it enter into your minds, that they will be delivered and restored to
you again, for _their fate is fixed, their die is cast, their doom is
sealed_. I am sorry, gentlemen, to see so many apparently intelligent
men found in the situation that you are; and oh! if I could invoke
that Great Spirit, THE UNKNOWN GOD, to rest upon and deliver you
from that awful chain of superstition, and liberate you from those
fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound--that you no longer do
homage to a man. I would advise you to scatter abroad, and never again
organize yourselves with Bishops, Presidents, etc., lest you excite the
jealousies of the people and subject yourselves to the same calamities
that have now come upon you. You have always been the aggressors--you
have brought upon yourselves these difficulties, by being disaffected,
and not being subject to rule. And my advice is, that you become as
other citizens, least by a recurrence of these events you bring upon
yourselves irretrievable ruin."
He also said, "You must not be seen as many as five together; if you
are, the citizens will be upon you and destroy you, but you should flee
immediately out of the State. There is no alternative for you but to
flee; you need not expect any redress; there is none for you."
I was present when that speech was delivered, and I can truly say that
he is a liar and the truth is not in him, for not one of us had made
any such agreement with Lucas, or any other person. What we did was by
compulsion in every sense of the word; and as for General Clark and his
unknown god, they had nothing to do with our deliverance; but it was
our Father in heaven, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob, in
whom we trust, who liveth and dwelleth in the heavens; and the day will
come when our God will hold him in derision, with all of his coadjutors.