in Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory.
J. M. GRANT,
Mayor of Great Salt Lake City.
_Affidavit:--Orrin P. Rockwell--Gov. Ford in Nauvoo_.
Personally appeared before me, Thomas Bullock, County Recorder in
and for Great Salt Lake County, in the Territory of Utah, Orrin P.
Rockwell, who being first duly sworn, deposeth and saith that about
the hour of 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the 27th day of June,
one thousand eight hundred forty-four, a short time only before
Governor Ford addressed the citizens of Nauvoo, he (Ford) and his
suit occupied an upper room in the mansion of Joseph Smith, in the
city of Nauvoo, when he, the said Rockwell, had of necessity to
enter said upper room for his hat, and as he entered the door, all
were sitting silent except one man, who was standing behind a chair
making a speech, and while in the act of dropping his right hand
from an uplifted position, said. "The {589} deed is done before
this time," which were the only words I heard while in the room,
for on seeing me they all hushed in silence. At that time I could
not comprehend the meaning of the words, but in a few hours after
I understood them as referring to the murder of Joseph and Hyrum
Smith in Carthage jail.
ORRIN P. ROCKWELL,
Subscribed and sworn to before me, the fourteenth day of April,
1856.
THOMAS BULLOCK.
Recorder of Great Salt Lake County.
_Affidavit:--Wm. G. Sterrett--Conduct of Gov. Ford and Posse While
in Nauvoo_.
STATE OF DESERET, GREAT SALT LAKE COUNTY.
Personally appeared before me, Thomas Bullock, Recorder in and for
Great Salt Lake County, this third day of October, one thousand
eight hundred and fifty, William G. Sterrett, who being first duly
sworn, deposeth and saith that on the twenty-seventh day of June,
one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, in the city of Nauvoo,
county of Hancock, and State of Illinois, I heard Thomas Ford,
Governor of Illinois, address an assembly of several thousand
citizens, gathered around the frame of a building situated at the
corner of Water and Main streets. He reproached the people in
severe terms for the course they had taken in resisting the _posse
comitatus,_ and among other things, "The retribution thereof will
be terrible, and you must make up your minds for it. I hope you
will not make any more trouble, but be a law-abiding people, for if
I have to come again it will be worse for you."
And your deponent further saith, that about half-past five in the
afternoon the said Governor Thomas Ford and his guard visited the
Temple and the workshops on the Temple block,
Mr. Alpheus Cutler, one of the building committee of the Temple,
sent me to watch them in and about the Temple. I was close to the
Governor when one of his men called him to look at one of the oxen
of the font in the basement of the Temple, that had part of one
horn broken off. The Governor stepped up to it, and laying his hand
on it remarked, "This is the cow with the crumply horn, that we
read of." One of the staff continued, "That tossed the maiden all
forlorn," and they all had a laugh about it.
Several of the horns were broken off the oxen by the Governor's
attendants. A man who stood behind me said, "I'll be damned but I
should like to take one of those horns home with me, to show as a
curiosity, but it is a pity to break them off."
{590} After they had passed round the font, one of them remarked,
"This temple is a curious piece of workmanship, and it was a damned
shame that they did not let Joe Smith finish it, so that we could
have seen what sort of a finish he would have put on it, for it
is altogether a different style of architecture from any building
I have ever seen or read about." Another said, "But he is dead by
this time, and he will never see this temple again."
I replied, "They cannot kill him until he has finished his work."
The Governor thereupon gave a very significant grin, when one of
his suit who stood next to me said, "Whether he has finished his
work or not by God he will not see this place again, for he's
finished before this time."
Another of his suit pulled out his watch and said, "Governor, it's
time we were off, we have been here too long already. Whether
you go or not, I'm going to leave, and that damned quick." The
Governor said, "Yes, it's time for us to be going." They then all
left the stone shop, mounted their horses, which were hitched
near the temple, and went out of the city towards Carthage by way
of Mulholland Street, taking with them one of the horns that the
company had knocked off. Further this deponent saith not.
WM. G. STERRETT.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this day and year first above
written.
THOMAS BULLOCK,
Great Salt Lake County Recorder.
While Joseph was writing at the jailor's desk, William Wall stepped up,
wanting to deliver a verbal message to him from his uncle John Smith.
He turned round to speak to Wall, but the guard refused to allow them
any communication.
At noon Joseph wrote to Judge Thomas as follows:
_Letter: Joseph Smith to Judge Thomas--Engaging Thomas as Legal
Counsel_.
CARTHAGE JAIL, June 26, 1844.
_His Hon. Judge Thomas_.
DEAR SIR,--You will perceive by my date that I am in prison. Myself
and brother Hyrum were arrested yesterday on charge of treason
without bringing us before the magistrate; last evening we were
committed {591} on a mittimus from Justice Robert F. Smith, stating
that we had been before the magistrate, which is _utterly false;_
but from the appearance of the case at present, we can have no
reasonable prospect of anything but partial decisions of law, and
all the prospect we have of justice being done is to get our case
on _habeas corpus_ before an impartial judge; the excitement and
prejudice is such in this place, testimony is of little avail.
Therefore, sir, I earnestly request your honor to repair to
Nauvoo without delay, and make yourself at home at my house until
the papers can be in readiness for you to bring us on _habeas
corpus._ Our witnesses are all at Nauvoo, and there you can easily
investigate the whole matter, and I will be responsible to you for
all the trouble and expense.
Footnotes:
1. This report of the Prophet's interview with Governor Ford, it is
only proper to say, was not written until a number of years after the
interview took place. (See ms. Statement, Feb. 22, 1847, on Atlantic
Ocean; also in _Taylor's Journal_, kept at Nauvoo, c. f. with "The
Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, opening paragraphs, published in
Tyler's "Mormon Battalion.") The extract above quoted is taken from
"Taylor's Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith," written at the request
of George A. Smith and Wilford Woodruff "Church Historian," hence no
earlier than 1854-1856, since Geo. A. Smith did not become Historian
until the year first given, and Wilford Woodruff, assistant Historian
in the second. The interview therefore, though given in dialogue form,
can only be Elder Taylor's recollection of it, and could not be a
_verbatum_ report.
2. Thomas Gregg, author of the History of Hancock County, page 372,
gives the following statement of Col. Thomas Geddes mentioned in the
above interview as the companion of Governor Ford. If true, and it is
quite in keeping with all the circumstances and with both the character
and subsequent actions of the Governor, then it is a very important
statement as showing the double dealing of which Governor Ford was
always suspected in relation to his course with reference to the
difficulties between the citizens of Nauvoo and their enemies. And now
Col. Geddes as reported by Gregg:
"While the Smiths were in jail, I went to the jail in company with
Governor Ford, and there we conversed with them for some time,
the burden of Smith's talk being that they were only acting in
self-defense, and only wanted to be let alone. After leaving the jail,
and while returning from it, the Governor and I had still further
conversation about the subject matter. After some time the Governor
exclaimed, "O, it's all nonsense; you will have to drive these Mormons
out yet!" I then said: "If we undertake that, Governor, when the proper
time comes, will you interfere?" "No, I will not," said he; then, after
a pause, adding, "until you are through!"
{592}
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE PROPHET IN CARTHAGE PRISON--THE UNION OF JUDICIAL, EXECUTIVE, AND
MILITARY AUTHORITY IN DEALING WITH THE PRISONERS--THE LAST NIGHT IN
PRISON.
_Wednesday, June 26, 1844.--(Noon)--_Willard Richards made copies of
the orders of Joseph Smith as Mayor to Marshal John P. Greene, and as
Lieut.-General to Major-General Jonathan Dunham.
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Anxiety for His own Safety.]
Joseph remarked, "I have had a good deal of anxiety about my safety
since I left Nauvoo, which I never had before when I was under arrest.
I could not help those feelings, and they have depressed me." Most of
the forenoon was spent by Dan Jones and Col. Stephen Markham in hewing
with a penknife a warped door to get it on the latch, thus preparing to
fortify the place against any attack.
The Prophet, Patriarch, and their friends took turns preaching to
the guards, several of whom were relieved before their time was out,
because they admitted they were convinced of the innocence of the
prisoners. They frequently admitted they had been imposed upon, and
more than once it was heard, "Let us go home, boys, for I will not
fight any longer against these men."
[Sidenote: Hyrum as Comforter.]
During the day Hyrum encouraged Joseph to think that the Lord, for his
Church's sake, would release him from prison. Joseph replied, "Could my
brother, Hyrum but be liberated, it would not matter so much about me.
Poor Rigdon, I am glad he is gone to Pittsburgh out of the way; were he
to preside he {593} would lead the Church to destruction in less than
five years."
Dr. Richards was busily engaged writing as dictated by the Prophet,
and Elder Taylor amused him by singing. Joseph related his dream about
William and Wilson Law, also his dream about trying to save a steamboat
in a storm.
[Sidenote: Status of Prisoners Under the Law.]
One of the counsel for the prosecution expressed a wish to Esq. Reid,
that the prisoners should be brought out of jail for examination on the
charge of treason. He was answered that the prisoners had already been
committed "until discharged by due course of law," and therefore the
justice and constable had no further control of the prisoners, and that
if the prosecutors wished the prisoners brought out of jail, they might
bring them out on a writ of_ habeas corpus,_ or some other "due course
of law," when we would appear and defend.
_12:30, noon--_Dr. Bernhisel arrived at the jail.
Mr. Reid came with the following letter from General Deming.
_Letter--Gen. Miner R. Deming to Joseph Smith--Protection and
Admission to Presence of the Prophet_.
_Messrs. Smith,--_I was requested by the governor to order you
such protection as circumstances might require. The guard have
been acting upon the supposition that your protection excluded all
persons but those admitted by a pass. I have caused the officer of
the guard to be correctly instructed of his duties, so that you
need suffer no further inconvenience.
M. R. DEMING, Brig.-Gen'l.
Headquarters,
Carthage, June 26, 1844.
[Sidenote: Effect of a False Commitment.]
Counselor Reid said that he had got the magistrate on a pin hook, for
the magistrate had committed them without examination, and had no
further jurisdiction in the case, {594} and he would not agree to a
trial unless (Captain) Justice Smith would consent to go to Nauvoo for
examination, where witnesses could be had.
Reid said that a week ago, Harmon T. Wilson and another, had concocted
a scheme for a writ to take Joseph, and when he was apprehended, to
take him to Missouri; and Harmon T. Wilson returned from Missouri the
night before the burning of the press.
_1 p.m.--_Willard Richards wrote to his wife, and sent the letter by
Cyrus C. Canfield.
[Sidenote: Threats in Governor's Presence.]
It was common conversation on the camp ground and in the dining-room of
the hotel, in the presence of Governor Ford, "The law is too short for
these men, but they must not be suffered to go at large;" and, "if the
law will not reach them, powder and ball must."
[Sidenote: Loyalty of Mr. Stigall to His Prisoners.]
_Half past 2--_Constable Bettisworth came with Alexander Simpson, and
wanted to come in, with an order to the jailor demanding the prisoners;
but as Mr. Stigall, the jailor, could find no law authorizing a justice
of the peace to demand prisoners committed to his charge, he refused to
give them up until discharged from his custody by due course of the law.
[Sidenote: Conference of Gov. Ford and Justice Smith.]
Justice Robert F. Smith then inquired what he must do. Governor Ford
replied, "We have plenty of troops; there are the Carthage Greys under
your command bring them out." Joseph sent Lorenzo D. Wasson to inform
the Governor of what had just taken place, and also to inform his
counsel, Messrs. Reid and Woods.
_Twenty minutes to 3--_Dr. Bernhisel returned from the Governor, and
said apparently the Governor was doing all he could.
_3 p.m.--_Wrote to Messrs. Woods and Reid as follows which was carried
by Elder John Taylor.
{595}
_Letter: Joseph Smith to Messrs. Woods and Reid--Anent Excitement
in Carthage_.
CARTHAGE JAIL, June 26, 3 p.m.
_Messrs. Woods and Reid_.
SIRs,--Constable Bettisworth called a little while since, and
wanted to come in, the guard would not [allow it]. We have since
learned that he wanted to take us before the magistrate, and we
have since learned that there is some excitement because we did not
go, and we wish to see you without delay.
We are informed that Dr. Foster has said that they can do nothing
with us, only by powder and ball, as we have done nothing against
the law.
Yours,
JOSEPH SMITH.
Per W. RICHARDS.
[Sidenote: Joseph and Hyrum Smith Forced from Prison.]
_Twenty minutes to 4--_Upon the refusal of the jailor to give up the
prisoners, the constable with the company of Carthage Greys, under the
command of Frank Worrell, marched to the jail, and by intimidation
and threats, compelled the jailor, against his will and conviction of
duty, to deliver Joseph and Hyrum to the Constable, who forthwith, and
contrary to their wishes, compulsorily took them.
Joseph, seeing the mob gathering and assuming a threatening aspect,
concluded it best to go with them then, and putting on his hat, walked
boldly into the midst of a hollow square of the Carthage Greys; yet
evidently expecting to be massacred in the streets before arriving at
the Court House, politely locked arms with the worst mobocrat he could
see, and Hyrum locked arms with Joseph, followed by Dr. Richards,
and escorted by a guard. Elders Taylor, Jones, Markham, and Fullmer
followed, outside the hollow square, and accompanied them to the court
room.
[Sidenote: Prisoners Before the Court.]
_4 o'clock.--_Case called by Robert F. Smith, Captain of {596} the
Carthage Greys. The counsel for the prisoners then appeared, and called
for subpoenas for witnesses on the part of the prisoners, and expressed
their wish to go into the examination as soon as the witnesses could be
brought from Nauvoo to Carthage. This was objected to most vehemently
by the opposite counsel.
_4:25.--_Took copy of order to bring prisoners from jail for trial, as
follows:--
_Copy of Order to Bring Prisoners into Court_.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
HANCOCK COUNTY. ss
To David Bettisworth, Constable of said county.
You are hereby commanded to bring the bodies of Joseph Smith and
Hyrum Smith from the jail of said county, forthwith before me at my
office, for an examination on the charge of treason, they having
been committed for safe keeping until trial could be had on such
examination, and the state now being ready for such examination.
Given under my hand and seal this 26th day of June, 1844.
(Signed) R. F. SMITH, J. P. [L. S.]
_4:30--_Made a copy of the list of witnesses.
_4:35--_C. L. Higbee, O. C. Skinner, Thos. Sharp, Sylvester Emmons and
Thos. Morrison, appeared as counsel for the State.
The writ was returned, endorsed,
"Served on June 25th," which was false.
Mr. Wood said, they were committed to jail without any examination
whatever.
Mr. Reid urged a continuance of the case till the witnesses could be
obtained from Nauvoo for the defense.
_4:45 p.m.--_Mr. Skinner suggested that the court adjourn until 12
o'clock tomorrow.
Mr. Wood proposed that the court adjourn until witnesses could be got
together, or until tomorrow at any time, and again adjourn if they are
not ready, without bringing the prisoners into court.
Mr. Reid hoped no compulsory measures would be made {597} use of by the
prosecution in this enlightened country.
Mr. Skinner: "If witnesses cannot be had after due diligence by the
defense, a continuance will be granted."
Court said this writ was served yesterday, (which was not the case,
unless it could be served without the prisoners or their counsel
knowing it).
[Sidenote: Examination Postponed.]
On motion of counsel for the prisoners, examination was postponed
till tomorrow at 12 o'clock noon, and subpoenas were granted to get
witnesses from Nauvoo, twenty miles distance, whereupon the prisoners
were remanded to prison with the following mittimus:--
_Second Mittimus Remanding Smith Brothers to Prison_.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
HANCOCK COUNTY. ss
To the keeper of the jail of Hancock County, Illinois, greeting:
Whereas Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith have been arrested and brought
before me, Robert F. Smith, a justice of the peace in and for said
county, for examination on the charge of treason against the State
of Illinois, and have applied for a continuance, which is granted
until the 27th June, 1844, at 12 o'clock, m.
These are therefore to command you to receive the said Joseph Smith
and Hyrum Smith into your custody in the jail of the county, there
to remain until they are brought before me for said examination
according to law.
Given under my hand and seal this 26th day of June, 1844.
R. F. SMITH, J. P. [L. S.]
_5:30.--_Returned to jail, and Joseph and Hyrum were thrust into close
confinement.
[Sidenote: Brave Patriarch John Smith.]
Patriarch John Smith came from Macedonia to jail to see his nephews
Joseph and Hyrum. The road was thronged with mobbers. Three of them
snapped their guns at him, and he was threatened by many others who
recognized him. The guard at the jail refused him admittance.
Joseph saw him through the prison window, and said to {598} the guard,
"Let the old gentleman come in, he is my uncle." The guard replied they
did not care who the hell he was uncle to, he should not go in.
[Sidenote: Pathetic Interview Between the Prophet and "Uncle John."]
Joseph replied, "You will not hinder so old and infirm a man as he
is from coming in," and then said, "Come in uncle;" on which, after
searching him closely the guard let him pass into the jail, where he
remained about an hour. He asked Joseph if he thought he should again
get out of the hands of his enemies, when he replied, "My brother
Hyrum thinks I shall. I wish you would tell the brethren in Macedonia
that they can see by this, that it has not been safe for me to visit
them; and tell Almon W. Babbitt I want him to come and assist me as an
attorney at my expected trial tomorrow before Captain R. F. Smith."
Father Smith then left the jail to convey this message to A. W.
Babbitt, who was at Macedonia.
_6 p.m.--_Copied witnesses' names and mittimus.
Dr. Bernhisel brought the following:--
_The Governor's Suggestions to the Jailor_.
I would advise the jailor to keep the Messrs. Smith in the room in
which I found them this morning, unless a closer confinement should
be clearly necessary to prevent an escape.
THOMAS FORD,
Governor and Commander in-Chief.
June 26th, 1844.
_6:15 p.m.--_Received the following letter from William Clayton:--
_Letter:--William Clayton to Joseph Smith--Conditions in Nauvoo_.
NAUVOO, June 26, 1844.
DEAR PRESIDENT,--
I write this line to inform you that Mr. Marsh, who lives down the
river, and of whom you have had corn, pork, etc., has sent word
if you {599} want any bail he is ready for one to any amount; and
further, that he has got some corn left which he wants you to have,
lest the mob get it. (We will endeavor to obtain it.)
They have already taken two loads, but he has charged them a dollar
a bushel for it.
The _Amaranth_ has just landed at the foot of Main Street, and
unloaded 200 bbls. flour,--95 for Mr. Kimball, and the balance for
Bryant.
Captain Singleton, who came at the head of the police this morning,
is sending a request to the Governor to call them home. He says he
finds no difficulties to settle here, but there is plenty to settle
at home. He furthermore says that while the police were at Carthage
they were treated as soldiers, but since they came to Nauvoo they
have been treated as gentlemen.
The company all got home safe and well last night.
A messenger is about to start forthwith to Judge Thomas.
All is peace in Nauvoo. Many threats keep coming that the mob are
determined to attack the city in your absence, but we have no fears.
With fervency and true friendship, I remain yours eternally,
WILLIAM CLAYTON.
This letter was sent from Nauvoo by Joel S. Miles. Joseph instructed
Cahoon to return to Nauvoo with all haste, and fetch a number of
documents for the promised trial.
_Twenty-five minutes to 7.--_Sent a message to Counselor Woods to get
subpoenas for Samuel James, Edward Hunter, and Philip B. Lewis, with
instructions to bring with them the papers that they carried to the
Governor at Springfield, and which the Governor had not seen, as he had
started for Carthage before they arrived at Springfield.
_Fifteen minutes to 8.--_Supper.
[Sidenote: Militia Council meeting at Carthage.]
_8 p.m.--_Counselors Woods and Reid called with Elder John P. Greene,
and said that the Governor and military officers had held a council
which had been called by the Governor, and they decided that the
Governor, and all the troops should march to Nauvoo at eight o'clock
to-morrow, except one company of about 50 men, in order to gratify
the troops, and return next day, the company {600} of fifty men to
be selected by the Governor from those of the troops whose fidelity
he could most rely on, to guard the prisoners, who should be left in
Carthage jail; and that their trial be deferred until Saturday, the
29th.
After the consultation, the justice, (Robert F. Smith), who was one of
the officers in command, altered the return of the subpoenas until the
29th. This was done without consulting either the prisoners or their
counsel.
_About 8:15, p.m.--_Patriarch John Smith met Lawyer Babbitt, and
delivered the message, when Babbitt replied "You are too late, I am
already engaged on the other side."
_9 p.m.--_Messrs. Woods, Reid, and Greene returned to Hamilton's Hotel.
_9:15.--_Elder John Taylor prayed. Willard Richards, John Taylor, John
S. Fullmer, Stephen Markham, and Dan Jones stayed with Joseph and Hyrum
in the front room.
[Sidenote: The Last Night in Carthage Prison.]
During the evening the Patriarch Hyrum Smith read and commented upon
extracts from the Book of Mormon, on the imprisonments and deliverance
of the servants of God for the Gospel's sake. Joseph bore a powerful
testimony to the guards of the divine authenticity of the Book of
Mormon, restoration of the Gospel, the administration of angels, and
that the kingdom of God was again established upon the earth, for the
sake of which he was then incarcerated in that prison, and not because
he had violated any law of God or man.
[Sidenote: Conversation with John S. Fullmer.]
They retired to rest late. Joseph and Hyrum occupied the only bedstead
in the room, while their friends lay side by side on the mattresses on
the floor. Dr. Richards sat up writing until his last candle left him
in the dark. The report of a gun fired close by caused Joseph to arise,
leave the bed, and lay himself on the floor, having Dan Jones on his
left, and John S. Fullmer on his right. {601} Joseph laid out his right
arm, and said to John S. Fullmer, "Lay your head on my arm for a pillow
Brother John;" and when all were quiet they conversed in a low tone
about the prospects of their deliverance. Joseph gave expression to
several presentiments that he had to die, and said "I would like to see
my family again," and "I would to God that I could preach to the Saints
in Nauvoo once more." Fullmer tried to rally his spirits, saying he
thought he would often have that privilege, when Joseph thanked him for
the remarks and good feelings expressed to him.
[Sidenote: Prophecy on the Head of Dan Jones.]
Soon after Dr. Richards retired to the bed which Joseph had left, and
when all were apparently fast asleep, Joseph whispered to Dan Jones,
"are you afraid to die?" Dan said, "Has that time come, think you?
Engaged in such a cause I do not think that death would have many
terrors." Joseph replied, "You will yet see Wales, and fulfill the
mission appointed you before you die."
{602}
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE DAY OF MARTYRDOM--THREATS--REPEATED WARNINGS OF THE PRISONERS'
DANGER GIVEN TO GOVERNOR FORD--THE CARTHAGE GREYS AS GUARDS.
_Thursday, 27, 5 a.m.--_John P. Greene and William W. Phelps called
at the jail, on their way to Nauvoo.
[Sidenote: Threats of Frank Worrell.]
_5:30 a.m.--_Arose. Joseph requested Dan Jones to descend and inquire
of the guard the cause of the disturbance in the night. Frank Worrell,
the officer of the guard, who was one of the Carthage Greys, in a very
bitter spirit said, "We have had too much trouble to bring Old Joe here
to let him ever escape alive, and unless you want to die with him you
had better leave before sundown; and you are not a damned bit better
than him for taking his part, and you'll see that I can prophesy better
than Old Joe, for neither he nor his brother, nor anyone who will
remain with them will see the sun set today."
[Sidenote: Governor Ford Warned of Worrell's Threat.]
Joseph directed Jones to go to Governor Ford and inform him what he
had been told by the officer of the guard. While Jones was going to
Governor Ford's quarters, he saw an assemblage of men, and heard one of
them, who was apparently a leader, making a speech, saying that, "Our
troops will be discharged this morning in obedience to orders, and for
a sham we will leave the town; but when the Governor and the McDonough
troops have left {603} for Nauvoo this afternoon, we will return and
kill those men, if we have to tear the jail down." This sentiment was
applauded by three cheers from the crowd.
Captain Jones went to the Governor, told him what had occurred in the
night, what the officer of the guard had said, and what he had heard
while coming to see him, and earnestly solicited him to avert the
danger.
His Excellency replied, "You are unnecessarily alarmed for the safety
of your friends, sir, the people are not that cruel."
[Sidenote: Jones' Warning to Gov. Ford.]
Irritated by such a remark, Jones urged the necessity of placing better
men to guard them than professed assassins, and said, "The Messrs.
Smith are American citizens, and have surrendered themselves to your
Excellency upon your pledging your honor for their safety; they are
also Master Masons, and as such I demand of you protection of their
lives."
Governor Ford's face turned pale, and Jones remarked, "If you do not do
this, I have but one more desire, and that is if you leave their lives
in the hands of those men to be sacrificed--"
"What is that, sir?" he asked in a hurried tone.
"It is," said Jones, "that the Almighty will preserve my life to a
proper time and place, that I may testify that you have been timely
warned of their danger."
Jones then returned to the prison, but the guard would not let him
enter. He again returned to the hotel, and found Governor Ford standing
in front of the McDonough troops, who were in line ready to escort him
to Nauvoo.
[Sidenote: Boasts of the Mob.]
The disbanded mob retired to the rear, shouting loudly that they were
only going a short distance out of town, when they would return and
kill old Joe and Hyrum as soon as the Governor was far enough out of
town.
Jones called the attention of the Governor to the threats {604}
then made, but the Governor took no notice of them, although it was
impossible for him to avoid hearing them.
Jones then requested the Governor to give him passports for himself and
friends to pass in and out of the prison, according to his promise made
to the prisoners. He refused to give them, but he told General Deming
to give one to Dr. Willard Richards, Joseph Smith's private secretary.
[Sidenote: Chauncy L. Higbee's Declared Intention to Kill the Prophet.]
While obtaining this, Jones' life was threatened, and Chauncey L.
Higbee said to him in the street, "We are determined to kill Joe and
Hyrum, and you had better go away to save yourself."
At 7 a.m., Joseph, Hyrum, Dr. Richards, Stephen Markham and John S.
Fullmer ate breakfast together. Mr. Crane ate with them, and wanted to
know if the report was true that Joseph fainted three times on Tuesday,
while being exhibited to the troops. He was told it was a false report.
_8 a.m.--_Cyrus H. Wheelock, at Joseph's request, applied to the
Governor, and obtained the following passes:
_Cyrus H. Wheelock's Passes_.
Suffer Mr. C. H. Wheelock to pass in to visit General Joseph Smith
and friends in Carthage jail unmolested.
THOMAS FORD,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
June, 27th, 1844.
Protect Mr. C. H. Wheelock in passing to and from Carthage and
Nauvoo.
THOMAS FORD,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
June 27th, 1844.
While receiving these passes he related to the Governor the numerous
threats he had heard.
John S. Fullmer went to the Governor to get a pass.
_8:20 a.m.--_Joseph wrote to Emma as follows:
{605} _Letter: Joseph Smith to Emma Smith--Prophet's Instruction as
to Reception of the Governor_.
CARTHAGE JAIL, June 27th, 1844.
20 minutes past eight a.m.
DEAR EMMA.--The Governor continues his courtesies, and permits us
to see our friends. We hear this morning that the Governor will
not go down with his troops today to Nauvoo, as we anticipated
last evening; but if he does come down with his troops you will be
protected; and I want you to tell Brother Dunham to instruct the
people to stay at home and attend to their own business, and let
there be no groups or gathering together, unless by permission of
the Governor, they are called together to receive communications
from the Governor, which would please our people, but let the
Governor direct.
Brother Dunham of course will obey the orders of the government
officers, and render them the assistance they require. There is no
danger of any extermination order. Should there be a mutiny among
the troops (which we do not anticipate, excitement is abating) a
part will remain loyal and stand for the defense of the state and
our rights.
There is one principle which is eternal; it is the duty of all men
to protect their lives and the lives of the household, whenever
necessity requires, and no power has a right to forbid it, should
the last extreme arrive, but I anticipate no such extreme, but
caution is the parent of safety.
JOSEPH SMITH.
P. S.--Dear Emma, I am very much resigned to my lot, knowing I am
justified, and have done the best that could be done. Give my love
to the children and all my friends, Mr. Brewer, and all who inquire
after me; and as for treason, I know that I have not committed any,
and they cannot prove anything of the kind, so you need not have
any fears that anything can happen to us on that account. May God
bless you all. Amen.
_8:30.--_John S. Fullmer returned to jail.
_9:40 a.m.--_Mr. Woods and Mr. Reid called. They said another
consultation of the officers had taken place, and the former orders
of the Governor for marching to Nauvoo with the whole army were
countermanded.
[Sidenote: Dr. Southwick's Report of the Carthage Meeting.]
Dr. Southwick was in the meeting, seeing what was going on. He
afterward told Stephen Markham that the purport of the meeting was to
take into consideration the best way to stop Joseph Smith's career,
as his views on {606} government were widely circulated and took like
wildfire. They said if he did not get into the Presidential chair
this election, he would be sure to the next time; and if Illinois and
Missouri would join together and kill him, they would not be brought to
justice for it. There were delegates in said meeting from every state
in the Union except three. Governor Ford and Captain Smith were also in
the meeting.
[Sidenote: Appointment of the Carthage Greys to Guard the Prisoners.]
Captain Dunn and his company were ordered to accompany the Governor
to Nauvoo. The Carthage Greys, who had but two days before been under
arrest for insulting the commanding general, and whose conduct had been
more hostile to the prisoners than that of any other company, were
selected by Governor Ford to guard the prisoners at the jail; and other
troops composed of the mob whom the Governor had found at Carthage, and
had mustered into the service of the State and who had been promised
"full satisfaction" and that they should be marched to Nauvoo, were
disbanded and discharged in Carthage; yet Governor Ford suffered two or
three hundred armed men to remain encamped about eight miles off on the
Warsaw road, [1] apparently under the control of Col. Levi Williams,
a notoriously sworn enemy to Joseph, and who had on many occasions
threatened the destruction of Nauvoo and the death of Joseph. Moreover
it was the duty of {607} the Governor to dismiss the troops into the
hands of their several officers in order to be marched home and there
disbanded, and not to have disbanded them at a distance from home,
and at a time and place when they were predisposed to acts of lawless
violence, rapine and murder.
[Sidenote: Wheelock's Remonstrance to Gov. Ford.]
Cyrus H. Wheelock, states that previous to leaving Carthage he said to
the Governor, "Sir you must be aware by this time that the prisoners
have no fears in relation to any lawful demands made against them,
but you have heard sufficient to justify you in the belief that their
enemies would destroy them if they had them in their power; and now,
sir, I am about to leave for Nauvoo, and I fear for those men; they
are safe as regards the law, but they are not safe from the hands of
traitors, and midnight assassins who thirst for their blood and have
determined to spill it; and under these circumstances I leave with a
heavy heart."
Ford replied: "I was never in such a dilemma in my life; but your
friends shall be protected, and have a fair trial by the law; in this
_pledge_ I am not alone; I have obtained the _pledge_ of the whole of
the army to sustain me."
[Sidenote: Arms Given to the Prisoners.]
After receiving these assurances, Wheelock prepared to visit the
prison. The morning being a little rainy, favored his wearing an
overcoat, in the side pocket of which he was enabled to carry a six
shooter, and he passed the guard unmolested. During his visit in the
prison he slipped the revolver into Joseph's pocket. Joseph examined
it, and asked Wheelock if he had not better retain it for his own
protection.
This was a providential circumstance, as most other persons had been
very rigidly searched. Joseph then handed the single barrel pistol
which had been given him by John S. Fullmer, to his brother Hyrum, and
said, {608} "You may have use for this." Brother Hyrum observed, "I
hate to use such things or to see them used." "So do I," said Joseph,
"but we may have to, to defend ourselves;" upon this Hyrum took the
pistol.
Wheelock was intrusted with a verbal request to the commanders of the
Legion to avoid all military display, or any other movement calculated
to produce excitement during the Governor's visit. He was especially
charged to use all the influence he possessed to have the brethren and
friends of Joseph remain perfectly calm and quiet, inasmuch as they
respected the feelings and well-being of the Prophet and Patriarch.
[Sidenote: Reflections of the Prophet on Exposing Wickedness.]
Said Joseph, "Our lives have already become jeopardized by revealing
the wicked and bloodthirsty purposes of our enemies; and for the future
we must cease to do so. All we have said about them is truth, but it is
not always wise to relate all the truth. Even Jesus, the Son of God had
to refrain from doing so, and had to restrain His feelings many times
for the safety of Himself and His followers, and had to conceal the
righteous purposes of His heart in relation to many things pertaining
to His Father's kingdom. When still a boy He had all the intelligence
necessary to enable Him to rule and govern the kingdom of the Jews,
and could reason with the wisest and most profound doctors of law and
divinity, and make their theories and practice to appear like folly
compared with the wisdom He possessed; but He was a boy only, and
lacked physical strength even to defend His own person, and was subject
to cold, to hunger and to death. So it is with the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints; we have the revelation of Jesus, and the
knowledge within us is sufficient to organize a righteous government
upon the earth, and to give universal peace to all mankind, if they
would receive it, but we lack the physical strength, as did our Savior
when a child, to defend our principles, and we have of necessity to be
afflicted, persecuted and smitten, and to {609} bear it patiently until
Jacob is of age, then he will take care of himself."
Wheelock took a list of witnesses' names that were wanted for the
expected trial on Saturday. When the list was read over, a number of
names were stricken out, among whom were Alpheus Cutler and Reynolds
Cahoon, it being deemed by Brother Hyrum unnecessary for them to
attend. Brother Joseph asked why they should not come. Hyrum answered,
"They may be very good men, but they don't know enough to answer a
question properly." Brother Joseph remarked, "That is sufficient
reason."
[Sidenote: The Prisoner's Messages to Friends in Nauvoo.]
The prisoners also sent many verbal messages to their families. They
were so numerous that Dr. Richards proposed writing them all down,
fearing Wheelock might forget, but Brother Hyrum fastened his eyes
upon him, and with a look of penetration said, "Brother Wheelock will
remember all that we tell him, and he will never forget the occurrences
of this day."
Joseph related the following dream which he had last night:
[Sidenote: The Prophet's Dream of his Kirtland Farm]
"I was back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out
by myself, and view my old farm, which I found grown up with weeds
and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and want of
culture. I went into the barn, which I found without floor or doors,
with the weather-boarding off, and was altogether in keeping with the
farm.
"While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it
might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came rushing into the
barn a company of furious men, who commenced to pick a quarrel with me.
"The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm,
stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of ever
possessing it.
"I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and {610} although I
had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not sold it,
and according to righteous principles it belonged to me or the Church.
"He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me, and
said it never did belong to me nor to the Church.
"I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about, that I
had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and if he thought
he had a better right I would not quarrel with him about it but leave;
but my assurance that I would not trouble him at present did not
seem to satisfy him, as he seemed determined to quarrel with me, and
threatened me with the destruction of my body.
"While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me, a
rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their knives, and
began to quarrel among themselves for the premises, and for a moment
forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity to walk out of the barn
about up to my ankles in mud.
"When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them screeching
and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it appeared they had
engaged in a general fight with their knives. While they were thus
engaged, the dream or vision ended."
[Sidenote: Testimony of Joseph and Hyrum to the Book of Mormon.]
Both Joseph and Hyrum bore a faithful testimony to the Latter-day
work, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and prophesied of
the triumph of the Gospel over all the earth, exhorting the brethren
present to faithfulness and persevering diligence in proclaiming the
Gospel, building up the Temple, and performing all the duties connected
with our holy religion.
Joseph dictated the following postscript to Emma:
_Letter: Postscript_.
_P. S.--20 minutes to 10.--_I just learn that the Governor is
about to disband his troops, all but a guard to protect us and the
peace, and {611} come himself to Nauvoo and deliver a speech to the
people. This is right as I suppose.
_He afterwards wrote a few lines with his own hand, which were not
copied_.
The letter was sent by Joel S. Mills and Cyrus H. Wheelock.
[Sidenote: Gov. Ford Warned of the Conspiracy Against Prisoner's Lives.]
John P. Greene, (Nauvoo city marshal) told Governor Ford that if he
went to Nauvoo, leaving only the Carthage Greys to guard the jail,
that there was a conspiracy on foot to take the lives of Joseph and
Hyrum Smith during his absence, to which the Governor replied, "Marshal
Greene, you are too enthusiastic."
Footnotes:
1. It is the record of the case, however, that Governor Ford did send
an order disbanding the regiment from Warsaw which he had ordered to
rendezvous at Golden's Point for the purpose of marching with the rest
of the Governor's troops into Nauvoo. "The Governor," remarks the
late John Hay, who is the authority for the incident of disbanding
the Warsaw troops--"the Governor, fearing he could not control the
inflammable material he had gathered together, had determined to
scatter it again" (_Atlantic Monthly,_ December, 1869). The courier of
the Governor to the Warsaw troops was Mr. David Matthews, a well-known
citizen of Warsaw. But after receiving the order for disbandment, while
most of the troops returned to their homes, about one hundred and fifty
volunteered to follow several of the militia captains--leaders on their
own responsibility--to Nauvoo; of whom about seventy-five reached that
place and participated in the murder of the Brothers Smith.
{612}
CHAPTER XXXIII.
DEPARTURE OF GOVERNOR FORD FOR NAUVOO--THE AFTERNOON IN CARTHAGE
PRISON--THE ASSAULT ON THE PRISON--THE MARTYRDOM OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM
SMITH.
_Thursday, June 27, [continued] 10:30.,--_Governor Ford went to
Nauvoo some time this forenoon, escorted by a portion of his troops,
most friendly to the prisoners, and leaving the known enemies of the
Prophet, ostensibly to guard the jail, having previously disbanded the
remainder.
Joseph sent a request to the Governor by Dan Jones for a pass for his
private secretary, Dr. Willard Richards.
_11 a.m.--_John S. Fullmer left the jail for Nauvoo, with a verbal
charge to assist Wheelock in gathering and forwarding witnesses for the
promised trial.
James W. Woods, Esq., Joseph's principal lawyer, left Carthage for
Nauvoo.
_11:20 a.m.--_Dan Jones returned with the following pass for Dr.
Richards:--
_Pass for Willard Richards_.
Permit Dr. Richards, the private secretary of Joseph Smith, to be
with him, if he desires it, and to pass and repass the guard.
THOMAS FORD,
Commander-in-Chief.
June 27th, 1844.
Jones said he could not get one for himself.
Dan Jones met Almon W. Babbitt in the street, and informed him that
Joseph wanted to see him.
{613} _11:30.--_A. W. Babbitt arrived at the jail and read a letter
from Oliver Cowdery.
Joseph, Hyrum, and Dr. Richards tried to get Jones past the guard, but
they persisted in refusing to admit him.
_12:20 noon.--_Joseph wrote for Lawyer Browning of Quincy to come up on
Saturday as his attorney, as follows:--
_Letter: Joseph Smith to O. H. Browning--Engaging Browning as Legal
Counsel_.
CARTHAGE JAIL, June 27th, 1844.
_Lawyer Browning_:--
SIR.--Myself and brother Hyrum are in jail on charge of treason,
to come up for examination on Saturday morning, 29th inst., and we
request your professional services at that time, on our defense,
without fail.
Most respectfully, your servant,
JOSEPH SMITH.
P. S.--There is no cause of action, for we have not been guilty of
any crime, neither is there any just cause of suspicion against us;
but certain circumstances make your attendance very necessary.
J. S.
[Sidenote: The Guard's False Alarm Over the Nauvoo Legion.]
Almon W. Babbitt took the letter and left the jail. He handed it to
Jones, with directions to take it to Quincy forthwith. The guard being
aware of the letter, told the mob that, "old Joe" had sent orders
to raise the Nauvoo Legion to come and rescue him. The mob gathered
around Jones, and demanded the letter; some of them wanted to take it
from him by force, and said that Jones should not get out of Carthage
alive, as a dozen men had started off with their rifles to waylay him
in the woods. Having previously ordered his horse, Jones took advantage
of their disagreement, and started off at full speed. He, by mistake,
took the Warsaw road, and so avoided the men who were lying in wait for
him. When he emerged on the prairie, he saw the Governor and his {614}
posse, whereupon he left the Warsaw road for the Nauvoo road.
Dr. Southwick called at the jail. Joseph gave him a note to Governor
Ford or General Deming, requesting them to furnish him with a pass.
_1:15 p.m.--_Joseph, Hyrum, and Willard dined in their room. Taylor and
Markham dined below.
[Sidenote: Markham Forced out of Carthage.]
_1:30 p.m.--_Dr. Richards was taken sick, when Joseph said, "Brother
Markham, as you have a pass from the Governor to go in and out of
the jail, go and get the doctor something that he needs to settle
his stomach," and Markham went out for medicine. When he had got
the remedies desired, and was returning to jail, a man by the name
of Stewart called out, "Old man, you have got to leave town in five
minutes." Markham replied, "I shall not do it." A company of Carthage
Greys gathered round him, put him on his horse, and forced him out of
the town at the point of the bayonet.
_3:15 p.m.--_The guard began to be more severe in their operations,
threatening among themselves, and telling what they would do when the
excitement was over.
Elder Taylor sang the following:--
_The Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief_.
A poor wayfaring man of grief
Had often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer, Nay.
I had not power to ask his name;
Whither he went or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love, I knew not why.
Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered--not a word he spake!
Just perishing for want of bread;
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again;
Mine was an angel's portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.
{615}
I spied him where a fountain burst,
Clear from the rock--his strength was gone,
The heedless water mocked his thirst,
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff'rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drain'd my cup,
Dipp'd, and returned it running o'er;
I drank and never thirsted more.
'Twas night, the floods were out, it blew
A winter hurricane aloof;
I heard his voice, abroad, and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed, I clothed, I cheered my guest,
I laid him on my couch to rest;
Then made the earth my bed, and seem'd
In Eden's garden while I dream'd.
Stripp'd, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side;
I rous'd his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment--he was heal'd;
I had myself a wound conceal'd;
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart,
In pris'n I saw him next--condemned
To meet a traitor's doom at morn;
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed.
And honored him 'mid shame and scorn.
My friendship's utmost zeal to try,
He asked, if I for him would die;
The flesh was weak, my blood ran chill,
But the free spirit cried, "I will!"
Then in a moment to my view,
The stranger started from disguise:
The tokens in his hands I knew,
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake--and my poor name he named--
"Of me thou hast not been asham'd;
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not thou didst them unto me."
When he got through, Joseph requested him to sing it again, which he
did.
Hyrum read extracts from Josephus.
_4 p.m.--_The guard was again changed, only eight men being stationed
at the jail, whilst the main body of {616} the Carthage Greys were in
camp about a quarter of a mile distant, on the public square.
_4:15 p.m.--_Joseph commenced conversing with the guard about Joseph H.
Jackson, William and Wilson Law, and others of his persecutors.
Hyrum and Dr. Richards conversed together until quarter past five.
_5 p.m.--_Jailor Stigall returned to the jail, and said that Stephen
Markham had been surrounded by a mob, who had driven him out of
Carthage, and he had gone to Nauvoo.
[Sidenote: Anxiety of the Jailor.]
Stigall suggested that they would be safer in the cell. Joseph said,
"After supper we will go in." Mr. Stigall went out, and Joseph said to
Dr. Richards, "If we go into the cell, will you go in with us?" The
doctor answered, "Brother Joseph you did not ask me to cross the river
with you--you did not ask me to come to Carthage--you did not ask me to
come to jail with you--and do you think I would forsake you now? But
I will tell you what I will do; if you are condemned to be hung for
treason, I will be hung in your stead, and you shall go free." Joseph
said "You cannot." The doctor replied, "I will."
[Sidenote: Wine for the Guard.]
Before the jailor came in, his boy brought in some water, and said the
guard wanted some wine. Joseph gave Dr. Richards two dollars to give
the guard; but the guard said one was enough, and would take no more.
The guard immediately sent for a bottle of wine, pipes, and two small
papers of tobacco; and one of the guards brought them into the jail
soon after the jailor went out. Dr. Richards uncorked the bottle, and
presented a glass to Joseph, who tasted, as also Brother Taylor and
the doctor, and the bottle was then given to the guard, who turned to
go out. When at the top of the stairs some one below called him two or
three times, and he went down.
[Sidenote: The Assault on the Jail.]
{617} Immediately there was a little rustling at the outer door of the
jail, and a cry of surrender, and also a discharge of three or four
firearms followed instantly. The doctor glanced an eye by the curtain
of the window, and saw about a hundred armed men around the door.
It is said that the guard elevated their firelocks, and boisterously
threatening the mob discharged their firearms over their heads. The mob
encircled the building, and some of them rushed by the guard up the
flight of stairs, burst open the door, and began the work of death,
while others fired in through the open windows.
[Sidenote: The Prisoner's Defense.]
In the meantime Joseph, Hyrum, and Elder Taylor had their coats off.
Joseph sprang to his coat for his six-shooter, Hyrum for his single
barrel, Taylor for Markham's large hickory cane, and Dr. Richards for
Taylor's cane. All sprang against the door, the balls whistled up the
stairway, and in an instant one came through the door.
Joseph Smith, John Taylor and Dr. Richards sprang to the left of the
door, and tried to knock aside the guns of the ruffians.
[Sidenote: Death of Hyrum Smith.]
Hyrum was retreating back in front of the door and snapped his pistol,
when a ball struck him in the left side of his nose, and he fell on
his back on the floor saying, "I am a dead man!" As he fell on the
floor another ball from the outside entered his left side, and passed
through his body with such force that it completely broke to pieces the
watch he wore in his vest pocket, and at the same instant another ball
from the door grazed his breast, and entered his head by the throat;
subsequently a fourth ball entered his left leg.
A shower of balls was pouring through all parts of the room, many of
which lodged in the ceiling just above the head of Hyrum.
[Sidenote: The "Handsome Fight" of Joseph Smith and John Taylor.]
{618} Joseph reached round the door casing, and discharged his six
shooter into the passage, some barrels missing fire. Continual
discharges of musketry came into the room. Elder Taylor continued
parrying the guns until they had got them about half their length into
the room, when he found that resistance was vain, and he attempted to
jump out of the window, where a ball fired from within struck him on
his left thigh, hitting the bone, and passing through to within half an
inch of the other side. He fell on the window sill, when a ball fired
from the outside struck his watch in his vest pocket, and threw him
back into the room.
[Sidenote: Taylor Wounded and Helpless.]
After he fell into the room he was hit by two more balls, one of them
injuring his left wrist considerably, and the other entering at the
side of the bone just below the left knee. He rolled under the bed,
which was at the right of the window in the south-east corner of the
room.
While he lay under the bed he was fired at several times from the
stairway; one ball struck him on the left hip, which tore the flesh in
a shocking manner, and large quantities of blood were scattered upon
the wall and floor.
When Hyrum fell, Joseph exclaimed, "Oh dear, brother Hyrum!" and
opening the door a few inches he discharged his six shooter in the
stairway (as stated before), two or three barrels of which missed fire.
[Sidenote: The Death of the Prophet.]
Joseph, seeing there was no safety in the room, and no doubt thinking
that it would save the lives of his brethren in the room if he could
get out, turned calmly from the door, dropped his pistol on the floor
and sprang into the window when two balls pierced him from the door,
and one entered his right breast from without, and he fell outward into
the hands of his murderers, exclaiming. "O Lord, my God!"
[Sidenote: Willard Richard's Remarkable Escape.]
{619} Dr. Richards' escape was miraculous; he being a very large man,
and in the midst of a shower of balls, yet he stood unscathed, with
the exception of a ball which grazed the tip end of the lower part of
his left ear. His escape fulfilled literally a prophecy which Joseph
made over a year previously, that the time would come that the balls
would fly around him like hail, and he should see his friends fall on
the right and on the left, but that there should not be a hole in his
garment.
The following is copied from the_ Times and Seasons_:--
TWO MINUTES IN JAIL.
Possibly the following events occupied near three minutes, but I
think only about two, and have penned them for the gratification of
many friends.
CARTHAGE, June 27, 1844.
A shower of musket balls were thrown up the stairway against the
door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid
footsteps.
While Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself, who
were in the front chamber, closed the door of our room against the
entry at the head of the stairs, and placed ourselves against it,
there being no lock on the door, and no catch that was usable.
The door is a common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at the
stairs head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed between
us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes, and we must
change our position.
General Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself sprang back to
the front part of the room, and General Hyrum Smith retreated
two-thirds across the chamber directly in front of and facing the
door.
A ball was sent through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of his
nose, when he fell backwards, extended at length, without moving
his feet.
From the holes in his vest (the day was warm, and no one had his
coat on but myself), pantaloons, drawers, and shirt, it appears
evident that a ball must have been thrown from without, through
the window, {620} which entered his back on the right side, and
passing through, lodged against his watch, which was in his right
vest pocket, completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing
off the hands and mashing the whole body of the watch. At the same
instant the ball from the door entered his nose.
As he struck the floor he exclaimed emphatically, "I am a dead
man." Joseph looked towards him and responded, "Oh, dear brother
Hyrum!" and opening the door two or three inches with his left
hand, discharged one barrel of a six shooter (pistol) at random in
the entry, from whence a ball grazed Hyrum's breast, and entering
his throat passed into his head, while other muskets were aimed at
him and some balls hit him.
Joseph continued snapping his revolver round the casing of the door
into the space as before, three barrels of which missed fire, while
Mr. Taylor with a walking stick stood by his side and knocked down
the bayonets and muskets which were constantly discharging through
the doorway, while I stood by him, ready to lend any assistance,
with another stick, but could not come within striking distance
without going directly before the muzzle of the guns.
When the revolver failed, we had no more firearms, and expected an
immediate rush of the mob, and the doorway full of muskets, half
way in the room, and no hope but instant death from within.
Mr. Taylor rushed into the window, which is some fifteen or twenty
feet from the ground. When his body was nearly on a balance, a
ball from the door within entered his leg, and a ball from without
struck his watch, a patent lever, in his vest pocket near the left
breast, and smashed it into "pie," leaving the hands standing at 5
o'clock, 16 minutes, and 26 seconds, the force of which ball threw
him back on the floor, and he rolled under the bed which stood by
his side, where he lay motionless, the mob from the door continuing
to fire upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip
as large as a man's hand, and were hindered only by my knocking
down their muzzles with a stick; while they continued to reach
their guns into the room, probably left handed, and aimed their
discharge so far round as almost to reach us in the corner of the
room to where we retreated and dodged, and then I recommenced the
attack with my stick.
Joseph attempted, as the last resort, to leap the same window from
whence Mr. Taylor fell, when two balls pierced him from the door,
and one entered his right breast from without, and he fell outward,
exclaiming, "Oh Lord, my God!" As his feet went out of the window
my head went in, the balls whistling all around. He fell on his
left side a dead man.
{621} At this instant the cry was raised. "He's leaped the window!"
and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out.
I withdrew from the window, thinking it of no use to leap out on a
hundred bayonets, then around General Joseph Smith's body.
Not satisfied with this I again reached my head out of the window,
and watched some seconds to see if there were any signs of life,
regardless of my own, determined to see the end of him I loved.
Being fully satisfied that he was dead, with a hundred men near the
body and more coming round the corner of the jail, and expecting a
return to our room, I rushed towards the prison door, at the head
of the stairs, and through the entry from whence the firing had
proceeded, to learn if the doors into the prison were open.
When near the entry, Mr. Taylor called out, "Take me." I pressed my
way until I found all doors unbarred, returning instantly, caught
Mr. Taylor under my arm and rushed by the stairs into the dungeon,
or inner prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a
bed in such a manner as not likely to be perceived, expecting an
immediate return of the mob.
I said to Mr. Taylor, "This is a hard case to lay you on the floor,
but if your wounds are not fatal, I want you to live to tell the
story." I expected to be shot the next moment, and stood before the
door awaiting the onset.
WILLARD RICHARDS.
While Willard Richards and John Taylor were in the cell, a company
of the mob again rushed up stairs, but finding only the dead body
of Hyrum, they were again descending the stairs, when a loud cry
was heard, "The Mormons are coming!" which caused the whole band of
murderers to flee precipitately to the woods.
The following communication was written and sent to Nauvoo:--
_First Message to Nauvoo_.
CARTHAGE JAIL, 8:05 o'clock, p.m., June 27th, 1844.
Joseph and Hyrum are dead. Taylor wounded, not very badly. [1] I am
well. Our guard was forced, as we believe, by a band of Missourians
{622} from 100 to 200. The job was done in an instant, and the
party fled towards Nauvoo instantly. This is as I believe it. The
citizens here are afraid of the Mormons attacking them. I promise
them no!
W. RICHARDS,
JOHN TAYLOR.
N. B.--The citizens promise us protection. Alarm guns have been
fired.
The above note was addressed to Governor Ford, Gen. Dunham, Col.
Markham, Emma Smith, Nauvoo.
This letter was given to William and John Barnes, two mobocrats, who
were afraid to go to Nauvoo, fearing that the Mormons would kill them
and lay everything waste about Carthage; they therefore carried it
to Arza Adams, who was sick with the ague and fever, about two and a
half miles north of Carthage. He was afraid to go on the main road;
and after two hours persuasion Mr. Benjamin Leyland consented to
pilot Adams by "a blind road," and about midnight they started, and
arrived in Nauvoo a little after sunrise. They found the news had
arrived before them, for about a dozen men were talking about it at
the Mansion, but not knowing what to believe until Adams handed in the
above official letter.
Footnotes:
1. This statement was made at Elder Taylor's request, that he might not
alarm his family he was, however, severely wounded, as the narrative in
the text bears witness. When the note above was being prepared, Elder
Taylor said, "Brother Richards, say I am _slightly_ wounded;" and when
it was brought to him he signed his name as quickly as he could, lest
the tremor of his hand should be noticed and the fears of his family
aroused (_The Life of John Taylor,_ pp. 144-5).
{623}
CHAPTER XXXIV.
GOVERNOR FORD IN NAUVOO--NEWS OF THE MARTYRDOM--MESSAGES TO
NAUVOO--ARRIVAL OF THE BODIES--SORROWFUL SCENES--THE BURIAL.
[Sidenote: Governor Ford in Nauvoo.]
_Thursday, June 27th (continued).--_In the meantime the Governor was
making to the Saints in Nauvoo one of the most infamous and insulting
speeches that ever fell from the lips of an executive. Among other
things he said, "A great crime has been done by destroying the
_Expositor_ press and placing the city under martial law, and a severe
atonement must be made, so prepare your minds for the emergency.
Another cause of excitement is the fact of your having so many
firearms. The public are afraid that you are going to use them against
government. I know there is a great prejudice against you on account
of your peculiar religion, but you ought to be praying Saints, not
military Saints. Depend upon it, a little more misbehavior from the
citizens, and the torch, which is already lighted, will be applied, and
the city may be reduced to ashes, and extermination would inevitably
follow; and it gives me great pain to think that there is danger of so
many innocent women and children being exterminated. If anything of a
serious character should befall the lives or property of the persons
who are prosecuting your leaders, you will be held responsible."
[Sidenote: Military Display.]
The Governor was solicited to stay until morning, but he declined,
and left Nauvoo at about 6:30 p.m.; and in passing up Main Street his
escort performed the sword exercise, giving all the passes, guards,
cuts and thrusts, taking up the entire width of {624} the street, and
making as imposing a show as they could, until they passed Lyon's
store, near the Masonic Hall. This was apparently done to intimidate
the people, as the Governor had remarked in his speech that they need
not expect to set themselves up against such "well disciplined troops."
Soon after Captain Singleton and his company left for home.
[Sidenote: Gov. Ford's Interception of Grant ant Bettisworth.]
When the Governor and his party had proceeded about three miles from
Nauvoo, they met two messengers (George D. Grant and David Bettisworth)
hastening with the sad news to Nauvoo. The Governor took them back to
Grant's house, one and one-half miles east of Carthage, with him in
order to prevent their carrying the news until he and the authorities
had removed the county records and public documents, and until most of
the inhabitants had left Carthage. The Governor then proceeded towards
Carthage, when Grant took another horse and rode into Nauvoo with the
news that night.
_Second Message to Nauvoo_.
12 o'clock at night, 27th June,
CARTHAGE, HAMILTON'S TAVERN.
_To Mrs. Emma Smith and Major General Dunham, &c_.:
The Governor has just arrived; says all things shall be inquired
into, and all right measures taken.
I say to all the citizens of Nauvoo, my brethren, be still, and
know that _God reigns. Don't rush out of the city_--don't rush to
Carthage--stay at home, and be prepared for an attack from Missouri
mobbers. The Governor will render every assistance possible--has
sent out orders for troops. Joseph and Hyrum are dead. We will
prepare to move the bodies as soon as possible.
The people of the county are greatly excited, and fear the Mormons
will come out and take vengeance. I have pledged my word the
Mormons will stay at home as soon as they can be informed, and no
violence will be on their part, and say to my brethren in Nauvoo,
in the {625} name of the Lord, be still, be patient, only let such
friends as choose come here to see the bodies. Mr. Taylor's wounds
are dressed and not serious. I am sound.
WILLARD RICHARDS,
JOHN TAYLOR,
SAMUEL H. SMITH.
Defend yourselves until protection can be furnished necessary. June
27th, 1844.
THOMAS FORD,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
_Mr. Orson Spencer_:
DEAR SIR:--Please deliberate on this matter--prudence may obviate
material destruction. I was at my residence when this horrible
crime was committed. It will be condemned by three-fourths of the
citizens of the county. Be quiet, or you will be attacked from
Missouri.
M. R. DEMING.
It was near midnight before Dr. Richards could obtain any help or
refreshment for John Taylor, who was badly wounded, nearly all the
inhabitants of Carthage having fled in terror.
[Sidenote: Departure of the Governor from the Danger Zone.]
_Friday, 28.--1 a.m._ The Governor said the matter should be
investigated, and that there was a great responsibility resting upon
him. He also said he would send a messenger with an express for Dr.
Richards, and wrote an order for the citizens of Nauvoo to defend
themselves.
He then went to the public square, and advised all who were present
to disperse, as he expected the Mormons would be so exasperated that
they would come and burn the town, whereupon the citizens of Carthage
fled in all directions, and the Governor and his _posse_ fled towards
Quincy, and did not consider themselves safe until they had reached
Augusta, eighteen miles distant from Carthage.
Captain Singleton, of Brown county arrived in Carthage from Nauvoo with
his troops.
[Sidenote: The Start for Nauvoo with the Bodies of the Martyrs.]
{626} About 8 a.m. Dr. Richards started for Nauvoo with the bodies of
Joseph and Hyrum on two wagons, accompanied by their brother Samuel
M. Smith, Mr. Hamilton, and a guard of eight soldiers who had been
detached for that purpose by General Deming. The bodies were covered
with bushes to keep them from the hot sun. They were met by a great
assemblage of citizens of Nauvoo, on Mulholland Street, about a mile
east of the Temple, about three p.m. under direction of the city
marshal.
The City Council, the Lieut.-General's staff, Major. General Jonathan
Dunham and staff, the acting Brigadier-General Hosea Stout and staff,
commanders and officers of the Legion, and several thousands of the
citizens were there amid the most solemn lamentations and wailings that
ever ascended into the ears of the Lord of Hosts to be avenged of their
enemies.
When the procession arrived, the bodies were both taken into the Nauvoo
Mansion. The scene there cannot be described.
[Sidenote: The Address of Dr. Richards _et. al_.]
About eight or ten thousand persons were addressed by Dr. Willard
Richards, William W. Phelps, Esquires Woods and Reid of Iowa, and Col.
Stephen Markham. Dr. Richards admonished the people to keep the peace,
stating that he had pledged his honor, and his life for their good
conduct, when the people with one united voice resolved to trust to the
law for a remedy of such a high-handed assassination, and when that
failed, to call upon God to avenge them of their wrongs.
O, Americans, weep, for the glory of freedom has departed!
When the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum arrived at the Mansion, the doors
were closed immediately. The people were told to go quietly home, and
the bodies would be viewed the next morning at eight o'clock.
{627}
[Sidenote: Preparation of the Bodies for Burial.]
Dimick B. Huntington, with the assistance of William Marks and William
D. Huntington, washed the bodies from head to foot. Joseph was shot in
the right breast, also under the heart, in the lower part of his bowels
and the right side, and on the back part of the right hip. One ball had
come out at the right shoulder-blade. Cotton soaked in camphor was put
into each wound, and the bodies laid out with fine plain drawers and
shirt, white neckerchiefs, white cotton stockings and white shrouds.
(Gilbert Goldsmith was doorkeeper at the time).
After this was done, Emma (who at the time was pregnant) also Mary
(Hyrum's wife) with the children of the martyred Prophet and Patriarch,
were admitted to see the bodies. On first seeing the corpse of her
husband, Emma screamed and fell back, but was caught and supported
by Dimick B. Huntington. She then fell forward to the Prophet's face
and kissed him, calling him by name, and begged him to speak to her
once. Mary, (the Patriarch's wife) manifested calmness and composure
throughout the trying scene, which was affecting in the extreme.
Relatives and particular friends were also permitted to view the
remains during the evening.
_Saturday 29.--_At 7 a.m. the bodies were put into the coffins which
were covered with black velvet fastened with brass nails. Over the
face of each corpse a lid was hung with brass hinges, under which was
a square of glass to protect the face, and the coffin was lined with
white cambric. The coffins were then each put into a rough pine box.
[Sidenote: Lying in State.]
At 8 a.m. the room was thrown open for the Saints to view the bodies of
their martyred Prophet and Patriarch, and it is estimated that over ten
thousand persons visited the remains that day, as there was a perfect
living stream of people entering in at the west door of the Mansion and
out at the north door from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at which hour a request
was made {628} that the Mansion should be cleared, so that the family
could take their farewell look at the remains.
The coffins were then taken out of the boxes into the little bedroom in
the northeast corner of the Mansion, and there concealed and the doors
locked. Bags of sand were then placed in each end of the boxes, which
were nailed up, and a mock funeral took place, the boxes being put into
a hearse and driven to the graveyard by William D. Huntington, and
there deposited in a grave with the usual ceremonies.
This was done to prevent enemies of the martyred Prophet and Patriarch
getting possession of the bodies, as they threatened they would do. As
the hearse passed the meeting ground accompanied by a few men, William
W. Phelps was preaching the funeral sermon.
[Sidenote: The Real Burial.]
About midnight the coffins containing the bodies were taken from the
Mansion by Dimick B. Huntington, Edward Hunter, William D. Huntington,
William Marks, Jonathan H. Holmes, Gilbert Goldsmith, Alpheus Cutler,
Lorenzo D. Wasson, and Philip B. Lewis, preceded by James Emmett as
guard with his musket.
They went through the garden, round by the pump, and were conveyed
to the Nauvoo house, which was then built to the first joists of the
basement, and buried in the basement story.
After the bodies were interred, and the ground smoothed off as it was
before, and chips of wood and stone and other rubbish thrown over, so
as to make it appear like the rest of the ground around the graves, a
most terrific shower of rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning,
occurred, and obliterated all traces of the fact that the earth had
been newly dug.
The bodies remained in the cellar of the Nauvoo House where they were
buried, until the fall, when they were removed by Dimick B. Huntington,
William D. Huntington, Jonathan H. Holmes, and Gilbert Goldsmith, at
Emma's request, to near the Mansion, and buried side by {629} side, and
the bee house then moved and placed over their graves.
The deceased children of Joseph were afterwards removed and interred in
the same place. It was found at this time that two of Hyrum's teeth had
fallen into the inside of his mouth, supposed to have been done by a
ball at the time of the martyrdom, but which was not discovered at the
time he was laid out, in consequence of his jaws being tied up. * * * *
* * *
[It is thought proper that this volume, which brings the HISTORY OF
THE CHURCH to close of its first Period--the administration of its
First President, and, by way of pre-eminence _the_ Prophet of the New
Dispensation of the Gospel, should close with the official statement of
the Martyrdom of the Prophet and the Patriarch. A statement so true,
and conservative, and excellent that now for a long time it has been
published in the "Doctrine and Covenants."]
MARTYRDOM OF JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET, AND HIS BROTHER HYRUM.
_(From the Doctrine and Covenants)_.
To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we
announce the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum
Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th
of June, 1844, about 5 o'clock p.m., by an armed mob, painted
black--of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell
calmly, exclaiming,_ "I am a dead man!"_ Joseph leaped from the
window and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming, _"O Lord, my
God!"_ They were both shot after they were dead in a brutal manner,
and both received four balls.
John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only
persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage
manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter through
the providence of God, escaped, "without even a hole in his robe."
Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more (save
Jesus only) for the salvation of men in this world, than any {630}
other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years
he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by
the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing
it on two continents; has sent the fullness of the everlasting
Gospel which it contained to the four quarters of the earth; has
brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this
Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and
instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many
thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city; and left
a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died
great in the eyes of God and his people, and like most of the
Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his
works with his own blood--and so has his brother Hyrum. In life
they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!
When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended
requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his
assassination, he said:
_"I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a
summer's morning; I have a conscience void of offense toward God
and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said
of me--he was murdered in cold blood_."
The same morning after Hyrum had made ready to go--shall it be
said to the slaughter? Yes, for so it was,--he read the following
paragraph near the close of the fifth chapter of Ether, in the Book
of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:
_"And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that He would
give unto the Gentiles grace that they might have charity. And it
came to pass that the Lord said unto me, if they have not charity,
it mattereth not unto you, thou hast been faithful: wherefore thy
garments are clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou
shall be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which
I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I . . . bid
farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I
love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ where
all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your
blood_."
The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.
Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old, February, 1844, and Joseph
Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843: and henceforward their
names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader
in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon and this
Book of Doctrine and Covenants of the Church, cost the best blood
of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation
of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a _green tree_
for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the "dry trees" to
purify the vineyard of corruption. {631} They lived for glory, they
died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age
shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.
They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved
before, and were only confined in the jail by the conspiracy of
traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of
Carthage jail, is a broad seal affixed to "Mormonism" that cannot
be rejected by any court on earth; and their_ innocent blood_ on
the escutcheon of the State of Illinois with the broken faith of
the State, as pledged by the Governor, is a witness to the truth
of the everlasting gospel, that all the world cannot impeach; and
their _innocent blood_ on the banner of liberty, and on the _magna
charta_ of the United States is an ambassador for the religion of
Jesus Christ that will touch the heart of honest men among all
nations; and their_ innocent blood_ with _the innocent blood_ of
all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the
Lord of Hosts, till He avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.
(END OF PERIOD I.)
{633}
INDEX TO VOLUME VI.
A
Affidavits of Delmore Chapman, 100; of Richards and Lewis, 103; Sission
Chase, Avery Case, 109; of Willard Richards, Nauvoo in danger, 119;
of Amos Chase, Elliott affair, 121; of Philander Avery, 122; of the
Hamiltons, 123; of Orson Hyde, 145; of Daniel Avery, 145-148; of
Abiathar B. Williams, on conspiracy, 278; of M. G. Eaton on conspiracy,
279-280; of Aaron Johnson, 350; Margaret J. Nyman _et al_. against
Chauncey L. Higbee, 407; H. T. Hugins, Nauvoo threatened, 423; Thomas
G. Wilson, on mob movements, 480-481; of Stephen Markham, Nauvoo to be
attacked, 492; of Truman Gillett, 500; of Canfield & Belknap, 502; Call
_et al_., 505-506; Carlos W. Lyman, 507; Mount and Cunningham, 508; of
Allen T. Wait, 509; Morley _et al_., 510; Solomon Hancock _et al_.,
511; James Guyman, 511-512; Obediah Bowen, 512-513; of Alvah Tippetts,
514; Greene & Bernhisel, 516; John P. Greene, Jackson's threats, 522;
of Joseph Smith, on conspiracy, 523; of Joseph Jackson, threats against
the Prophet, 524; of Edward Robinson, threats against Nauvoo, 528;
James Olive, mob movements, 529; George G. Johnstone, move on Nauvoo,
530; Gideon Gibbs, on mob, 530; Luman Calkins, on conspiracy, 531-532;
of Alfred Randall, threats against the Prophet's life, 586; of Jonathan
C. Wright, on conspiracy against Prophet, 587; of O. P. Rockwell on
Ford in Nauvoo, 588; of William G. Sterrett, on Ford in Nauvoo, 589-590.
Apostles in conference, 11; return of to Nauvoo, 60; epistles of to
Elders and Churches abroad, 63-64; action of on publications, 66;
minutes of council meeting of, 223; instructed to send delegation to
California, 222-224; minutes of meeting of, 230; Appoint conferences in
U.S., 334-335; called home, 519.
Apostates in Nauvoo, excommunication of, 341; Plans for organization of
new Church, 346-347; collection of at Carthage, 560; reported intention
to plunder, 564.
Arms, public, for Legion, 31.
Avery, Daniel, held as prisoner in Missouri, 108; escape of from
Missouri, 143; affidavit of treatment in Missouri, 145.
Avery, Philander, affidavit of, 122.
Address of the Mayor to Nauvoo police, 150-152.
Andrews, Benjamin, appeal of to the state of Maine, 178.
B
Bagby, Walter, injustice of to the Prophet, 4.
Babbitt, Almon W., preaches at Nauvoo, 34; refuses to obey orders,
514-515; engaged as council against the Prophet, 600; visits {634}
Prophet in prison, 612-613.
Backenstos, W., marriage of to Miss Wasson, 43.
Badham, Richard, assaulted, 110.
Bennett, James Arlington, nominated for Vice-President U.S.,
231-233-244.
Bettisworth, Constable David, arrests Prophet for treason, 561-562.
Botswick, Orsimus F., slanders of, 225.
C
Cahoon, Reynolds, urges Prophet to return to Nauvoo, 549, 552.
Carthage, Anti-Mormon meeting at, 4; and note, 43; disgraceful affair
at, 171-173; complaints of citizens against Nauvoo ordinances, 173-174;
Anti-Mormon convention at, 221; citizens of, call for "wolf-hunt," 222.
Cartwright, Thomas and wife, baptism of, 160-162.
Chism, negro, case of, 281, 284.
Chase, Amos, affidavit of, 121.
Clay, Henry, letter of to the Prophet, 376; Joseph Smith's answer to,
376-377.
Clayton, William, attends court at Dixon, 350; report of procedure of
court, 380-384.
Cole, Mr., school teacher, 65-66.
Convention, Anti-Mormon, Carthage, 221; presidential at Nauvoo, 386-397.
Communications, (see letters).
Conference, minutes of, at Manchester, England, 2; and (note); in
Alexander, New York, 98; Brownstown, Michigan, 175; general at
Liverpool, England, 326-330; of the Twelve, Ralston Hall, Boston,
11-30; special at Nauvoo, 47-52; in New York, 286; general of the
Church, April, 1844, 287-300; Kalamazoo, Michigan, 425; Glasgow,
Scotland, 426; at Cypry, Alabama, 331; list of appointed in U.S.,
334-335; presidents of appointed in U.S., 335-340; at Pleasant Vallet,
Michigan, 431.
Copeland Colonel Solomon, of Tennessee, invited to be candidate for
vice-president, 248.
Co-operation, plans of for store, 263.
Court, Municipal, petitioned for trial by Joseph Smith, 357-361, _et
seq_.; case of Jeremiah Smith before, 379, 418-420; minutes of in case
of Jeremiah Smith, 420-423; petition of Prophet before, _Expositor_
case, 454-456; hearing before, on _Expositor_ case, 456-458; members of
city council before, 460-461.
Council special at Nauvoo, 39.
D
Dayton, Hyrum and Son, before mayor's court, 155.
Data, compilation of by historians, (note) 547.
Dunn, Captain, sent to demand state arms from Legion, 554-555.
Discourses, on sealing powers, 183-184; Elias, Elijah, Messiah, 249,
354; on Conspiracies in Nauvoo, 272-274; on Prophetic Calling and
Fullness of Ordinances for Living and Dead, 363-367; Dissenters at
Nauvoo, 408-412; the Godhead, Plurality of Gods, 473-479.
Drama in Nauvoo, 349-350.
Dunham, Jonathan, on mission to Governor Ford, 61; made wharf-master,
229.
E
Elliott, John, arrest and trial of, 117-118.
Election, Presidential, 1844, who shall be candidate for, 187-188;
_Times and Seasons_ editorial on, 214-217.
{635} Excommunications of apostates, 341.
_Expositor, Nauvoo_, first and only number of, 430; declared a nuisance
and destroyed, 448; proceedings in city council against, 434-448;
Francis M. Higbee on destruction of, 451-452; comment of _Neighbor_ on,
460.
F
_Fanny_, barque, arrives in New Orleans, 244.
Female Relief Society, Voice of Innocence from, 248.
Folsom, William H., clerk of New York conference, biography (note) 1.
Follett, King, death of, 248; biography, 249.
Ford, Governor Thomas, arrival of at Carthage, and accepts mob
as militia, 542; interview of with Taylor an Bernhisel, 543-545;
perplexity of, 552; pacifies mob, 560; pledges faith of the state for
fair trial of the Smiths, 561; presents Joseph Smith to militia, 564;
refuses to prevent false imprisonment, 570-571; directs Justice R. F.
Smith to use Carthage Greys, 598; holds militia council on visit to
Nauvoo, 599-600; visit of to Nauvoo, 623; intercepts messengers with
news of martyrdom, 624; course of at Carthage, 625; flees from danger
zone, 625.
Foster, Dr. R. D., misunderstanding of with Prophet, 332-333, 344-345;
seeks private interview with Prophet, 430.
Fielding, Amos, credentials of, 263.
Frierson, Colonel, represents John C. Calhoun, 81 (and note); drafts
memorial to Congress in behalf of Saints, 83, _et seq_. (and note.)
Fullmer, John S., with Prophet in Carthage prison, 600-601.
G
Geddes, Col. Thomas, with Governor at interview, Carthage prison, 576;
report of Governor Ford's statement on leaving prison, 585 (and note).
Greene, John P., returns from New York mission, 60; report of Foster
Higbee embroilment, 348-349.
Grant, Jedediah M., preaches at mansion, 356.
Greys, Carthage, boisterous conduct of, 559-560; revolt of, 564; left
as guard to Prophet and Patriarch, 606-607.
H
Hanks, Knowlton F., missionary, death of, 64.
Harris, Dennison, L. reveals conspiracy against Prophet, 280-281 (note).
Hedlock, Reuben, president of the British mission, 65-66; presides at
conference in England, 327-330.
Higbee, Francis M., charges Prophet with slander, 174; threatens
Prophet with bonds, 176; before Municipal Court, 178; before Esquire
Wells for assaulting police, 285; before Municipal Court, 357-361.
Higbee, Chauncey L., before Esq. Wells for assaulting police, 285;
affidavits against, 407.
Hodge, Abraham C., reports Prophet's determination to go West, 545;
sent on special mission to Carthage, 557.
Hunter, Edward, sent as special messenger to Governor Ford, 492.
I
Indians, Sacs and Foxes, visit of to Nauvoo, 401-402.
{636} J
Jackson, Joseph, H., conversation of with Prophet; character of, 149
(and note); attempt to arrest, 521; threats against Prophets, 569.
Johnson, Benjamin F., instructions of the Prophet to, 60.
Judd, Nelson, assault upon, 179-180.
Journals, importance to elders of keeping, 186.
Jones, Elder Dan, Prophecy upon head of, 601; with the Prophet in
prison, 601, 621; sent by the Prophet with messenger to Gov. Ford, 602,
604.
K
Kay, William, in charge of immigrants from England, 244; arrives with
company at Nauvoo, 333.
Kimball, Heber C., address of at April conference, 324.
L
Legion, Nauvoo, muster of, 34; aid of applied for, 119.
Law, Wilson, doggerel written by, 210; cashiered from Legion, 362;
seeks to get warrant against the Prophet, 568.
Law, William, difficulty of with police, 162-165; reconciliation
of with the Prophet, 165; second trouble with police, 166-170;
excommunication of, 341.
Letters: Governor Ford to the Prophet, 35; Reuben Hedlock to the First
Presidency, 44; H. R. Hotchkiss to Joseph Smith, 55; Heywood to Joseph
Smith, 62; Joseph Smith to the Saints in England, 69-70; James A.
Bennett to Joseph Smith, 71-73; Joseph Smith to Bennett, 73-78; Brigham
Young to John Page, 81-83; Ewing, state auditor, to Major John Bills,
95; Lamborn, attorney-general Ill., Legion affairs, 95; McDougall, to
state auditor on Legion affairs, 96; Joseph Smith to Governor Ford,
100; Wilson Law to Joseph Smith, 108; Joseph Smith, to Governor Ford,
109; Joseph Smith to John Smith, 110; Governor Ford to Joseph Smith,
113; W. W. Phelps to John White, 132; Joseph Smith to Governor Ford,
affidavits, 153; Calhoun to Joseph Smith, 155; J. Smith to Calhoun,
156-160; Twelve Apostles to Saints at Morley, 176-177; Ford to citizens
of Hancock county--warning, 189; Joseph Smith to Haywood--visit to
Quincy, 213; Joseph Smith to editor of _Neighbor_, 221; High Council
to Saints in Nauvoo, 228-229; Willard Richards to James A. Bennett,
231-233; Lyman Wight _et al_., to First Presidency, 255-257; ditto to
President Smith, 257-260; Young and Richards to Hedlock, England, 351;
P. P. Pratt to Joseph Smith _et al_., 354; Charles C. Rich to Alanson
Ripley, 355; Hyde's report to President Smith--Western Movement,
369-376; Henry Clay to Joseph Smith, 376; Prophet's answer to same,
376-377; William Clayton, reporting court procedure at Dixon, 380-384;
George A. Smith to _Times and Seasons_, 399-401; Richards _et al_. to
Central Election Committee, 404; Willard Richards to Orson Hyde--Western
Movement, 405-407; D.S. Hollister to Joseph Smith, election matters,
416-418; Joseph Smith to Judge Pope, 422; Joel H. Walker to Joseph
Smith--Western Movement, 424-425; Joseph Smith's answer, 425; "Horace"
to Joseph Smith, {637} 426; Joseph and Hyrum Smith to Tewkesbury,
427; Joseph Smith to I. Daniel Rupp, 428; Hickok to Joseph Smith,
450; Hugins to Joseph Smith, 451; Washington Tucker to Joseph Smith,
458-459; Prophet's answer to Tucker, 459; Joseph Smith to Governor
Ford--defense to _Expositor_ case, 466; Bernhisel to Governor Ford,
467-468; Wakefield to Governor Ford, 469; Sidney Rigdon to Gov. Ford,
469; Ladd to Joseph Smith, 472; Joseph Smith to Gov. Ford--urges
Governor to come to Nauvoo, 480; Morley to Joseph Smith--mob threats,
481-482; John Smith to the Prophet, 485; the Prophet's answer, 485-486;
Hyrum Smith to Brigham Young--calling home to Twelve, 486-487; Hugins
to Joseph Smith, 494; Joseph Smith to H. F. Hugins, 501; Joseph Smith
to Ballantyne and Slater, 515; Richards to James A. Bennett, 516-518;
Foster to John Procter, 520; Governor Ford to Mayor of Nauvoo, 521;
Joseph Smith to Gov. Ford--urging latter to come to Nauvoo, 525-527;
Gov. Ford to Mayor and City Council of Nauvoo--on _Expositor_ affair,
533-537; Joseph Smith in answer to above, 538-541; Joseph and Hyrum
Smith to Gov. Ford, 550; Joseph Smith to Hugins, 551; Joseph Smith to
J. R. Wakefield, 551; Johnston to Joseph Smith, 553; Joseph Smith to
Gov. Ford, 556; Reid and Woods to Joseph Smith, 558-559; the Prophet to
Emma Smith, 565; Joseph Smith to Gov. Ford, 575; Joseph Smith to Judge
Thomas, 590; Miner R. Deming to Joseph Smith, 593; Joseph Smith to
Messrs. Woods and Reid, 595; William Clayton to Joseph Smith, 598-599;
Joseph Smith to Emma Smith, 605; P. S., 605; Richards, _et al_. to
Saints at Nauvoo--second message announcing martyrdom, 624-625.
Lytle, Andrew and John, trial of, before Municipal Court, 286.
Lyne, Thomas A., a tragedian, 349.
Loveland, Chester, threats of violence against, 504-505.
M
_Maid of Iowa_, arrives at Nauvoo with England passengers, 333.
Markham, Col. Stephen, attends court at Dixon, 350; with the Prophet in
Carthage prison, 592, 614; forced out of Carthage, 614.
Marks, William, police difficulties of, 166-170.
Marriage, plural, 46.
_Metoka_, sailing of, with Saints, 4.
Mansion, Nauvoo, made a hotel, 33; party and dinner at, 42.
Mormon, Book of, evidence of in ruins in America, 53-54; presented to
Queen Victoria--poem on, 181-183.
Miller, Bishop George, returns from mission, 61.
Mormonism, publications _pro-et-con_. for 1843, 154.
Mormons, improvements of, 195-196.
Misrepresentations, corrected, 67.
Missouri, peace proposals to, 218-220; "Friendly Hint" to, 245-247.
Mittimus, false, 569; second remanding Smith Brothers to prison, 597.
Memorial to U.S. Congress, 84, _et seq_; action of meeting on, 88;
officially signed by Mayor and city council, 116; of the city council
to Congress, 125-132; origin of Joseph Smith's Western Memorial,
270; memorial to Congress, Joseph Smith's, 275; before House of
Representative, 282 (note); Joseph Smith's to {638} President John
Tyler, 281-282.
Meetings, public, at Nauvoo, 101; at Nauvoo--appeal to government on
local affairs, 107; at Nauvoo--aggressions of Missouri, 111-113; mass,
at Warsaw, 462-466; public at Nauvoo--to correct false reports, 483.
N
Nauvoo, prosperity of, 9; special session of city council of, 234-236;
status of, 1844, 265-267, destructive wind at, 267; status of at close
of 1843, 377-378; declaration of martial law in, 497.
New Orleans, branch organized in, 176; _Neighbor, Nauvoo_, on
destruction of _Expositor_, 460, 496.
O
Orders to city marshal, 103; reply, 104; Mayor's to Legion, 104;
to Nauvoo Legion, 119; to Wilson Law calling out Legion, 120; to
Major-General to Legion, 493; to A. P. Rockwood to notify guard, 494;
general to Legion, 532; Joseph Smith to General Dunham--surrender of
state arms, 556; to bring prisoners into court, 596.
Ordinances, special in Prophet's case, 105; for erection of a dam in
Mississippi, 106; enlarging police force, 110; on sale of liquors,
111; to prevent unlawful arrests by "foreign" process, 124; for the
protection of the Church of Latter-day Saints, 130-132; complaint of
Carthage citizens against, 173-174; on sale of liquors, 178-179; on
witnesses and jurors' fees, 179; for protection of U.S. citizens,
asking Congress to pass, 275-277; concerning libels and other purposes,
433-434.
_Ospray_, election on board of for President of U.S., 384-385; captain
of calls on Joseph Smith, 451.
Owen, case of in Mayor's court, 4.
P
Packard, Noah, Memorial of to Massachusetts, 236.
Pacific Island, mission to, 71.
Page, John E., appointed to a mission to Washington, 81.
Petition to hear the Prophet, 533.
Phelps, W. W., mission of to Gov. Ford, 61; reads Prophet's Views at
Nauvoo, 211.
Phenomena, strange, reported, 121.
Police, names of special, 149-150; difficulty of with William Law,
162-165.
President, U.S., who shall be our next?, 39.
Pratt, Addison, on death of Elder Hanks, 64.
Proclamation to kings, instructions to write, 80; Joseph Smith to keep
order in Nauvoo, 449; of Joseph Smith against false charges, 484-485;
of Joseph Smith to Nauvoo marshal, 493.
Pratt, Parley, attends conference, Boston, 11; enthusiastic on appeal
to "Green Mountain Boys," 93-94.
Pratt, Orson, affidavit of against Higbee, 177-178; credentials of, 262.
Pugmire, Jonathan, Sen., _et al_., released from English prison, 160.
R
Rapids, Des Moines, canal around, 80 (and note).
Rigdon, Sidney, dissatisfaction of Prophet with, 46; appeals to
Pennsylvania, addresses conference, 288-295, _et seq_., nominated for
vice-presidency, U.S., 356.
{639} Reid, John S., Prophet's lawyer in early experience, 377; address
at Nauvoo, early experience, 392-397.
Richardson, Mr., repents of part in Avery case, 133.
Richards, Dr. Levi, marriage of, 134.
Richards, Phinehas, appeals to Massachusetts, 193.
Rollasson, Mr., store robbed, 281.
Rockwell, Orrin Porter, accompanies Prophet in his start for the West,
548-550-551; warned of Prophet to stay at Nauvoo, 565.
Richards, Willard, with Prophet in Carthage, 613-614; his "Two Minutes"
in jail, 619-621; announces the martyrdom of Patriarch and Prophet,
621-622; conveys bodies of martyrs to Nauvoo, 626; addresses people at
Nauvoo, 626.
S
Scott, Robert, reveals conspiracy against Prophet, 280-281 (and note).
Smith, Joseph, the Prophet, in council with Hyrum _et al_., 2;
description of, _New York Sun_, 3; seeks public arms for Legion, 31;
prayers for sick, 31; _New Haven Herald_ on, 32-33; on Socialism,
32-33; inspects Legion, 34; appoints mission to Russia, 41; on plural
marriage, 46; remarks on the demise of James Adams, 50-52; opinion of
on mesmerism, 56; on Constitution and Bible, 56-59; visits Macedonia,
59; writes to candidates for presidency, 63, 65; poisoned, 65;
dictates appeal to "Green Mountain Boys," 80; address to, 88, _et
seq_., proposes canal around Des Moines Rapids, 80; prophesies against
oppressors, 95; views on standing of Legion, 97; suggests petition to
make Nauvoo U.S. Territory, 107; prediction on Government of U.S.,
116 (and note;) gives instructions for order in Nauvoo, 124; receives
Christmas serenade, 134; holds Christmas party at Mansion, 134;
receives letters from Cass and Calhoun, candidates for President, 144;
address of to Nauvoo police, 150-152; comments of on Marks' and Laws'
police fears, 166, 170; discourse of on Priesthood, 183-185; nominated
as candidate for president, 187-188; views of on candidacy, 210; views
on the Powers and Policy of U.S. Government, 189, 197-209; dream of
troubled waters, 194; recommends repeal of "extra" city ordinance, 212;
instruction of to Orson Pratt, 212; instructs Twelve to send delegation
to California, 222; sends views on Government to national officials,
225-226; editorial, _Neighbor_, on candidacy of, 226; sketches reply to
Casius M. Clay, 227; Friendly Hint of to Missouri, 245-247; comments on
candidacy, 268-270, 361, 367-368; interview of with Mrs. Foster, 271;
discourse of on Conspiracies, 272-274; sends memorial to U.S. Congress,
275-277; preaches King Follett's funeral sermon, 301; announces the
whole of America as Zion, 318-320; altercation with Dr. Foster _et
al_., 344; petition of for _habeas corpus_ before Municipal Court in
_Expositor_ case, 357; discourse by on prophetic calling, fullness of
ordinance for living and dead, 363-367; indictment of at Carthage,
405; goes to Carthage to face charges, 412-415; caution "Kirtland
Safety Society" script, 429; interview of with Foster, 430; address of,
current events, 449-450; arrest of by David Bittisworth, 453-454, {640}
dream of on Nauvoo apostates, 461-462; sermon on Godhead--plurality of
Gods, 473-479; interview of with gentlemen from Madison, 479; address
of to Nauvoo Legion, 497-500; takes command of Legion, 500; appeal of
to President Tyler, 508; comment on preparations for defense, 520;
desire of to have Hyrum leave him, 520; determines to go to the West,
545-546 (and note); also 547-548-549-550; is urged to return to Nauvoo,
549-550; decides to return, 550-551; starts for Carthage, "_a lamb to
the slaughter_," 554-556; return of to Nauvoo, 557; final departure
of for Carthage, 558; arrival at Carthage, 559-560; surrender of to
constable, 561; arrested for treason, 561-562; introduced to troops by
Gov. Ford, 563-564; prophecy of to gentlemen at Carthage, 566; before
Justice R. F. Smith, 567-568; committed to Prison on false mittimus,
569-570; interview of with Gov. Ford--Carthage jail, 576-585; anxiety
of for safety, 592; comments on reproofs to the wicked, 608; dream of
struggle with enemy, 609-610; testifies of Book of Mormon to guards,
510; "handsome fights," of, 617-618; death of, 618-621; arrival of body
at Nauvoo, 626; burial of, 628-629; official account of martyrdom of,
629-31.
Smith, Hyrum, appointed one of Temple committee, 53; begins work, 61;
injures knee joint, 98; slander of, by Botswick, O. F., 225; address of
at April conference, 296-301, 322; remonstrance of with Prophet, 403;
denial of threats against _Warsaw Signal_ and editor, 495, 500; refuses
to leave Prophet, 546; seeks to comfort Prophet in prison, 600-601,
death of, 617; arrival of body at Nauvoo, 626; burial of, 628-629;
official account of martyrdom of, 629-631.
Smith, Emma, kindness of to husband, 165; message of to Prophet, urging
husband to return to Nauvoo, 549-552.
Smith, Uncle John, ordained Patriarch, 173; heroism of, 515; comes to
Carthage prison to see the Prophet, 598.
Smith, William, arrival of at Nauvoo with company of Saints, 342;
withdraws as candidate for legislature, 378.
Smith, Jeremiah, issues out writ of _habeas corpus_ at Nauvoo, 343;
Threats to kidnap, 412; before Municipal Court, 418-425.
Snow, Eliza R., Poem to Queen Victoria 181-183; Apostrophe of to
Missouri, 192-193.
Southwick, Dr., report of on mob movement, 507; reports officers'
meetings to the Prophet, 605-606.
Spencer, Augustine, assaults his brother, 344.
Stoddard, reproved by Prophet, 229.
Styles, George P., appointed city attorney, 331-332.
Stigall, George W., jailor at Carthage, receives Prophet _et al_., 574;
reports intention to attack Nauvoo, 575.
T
Taylor, Elder John, on Socialism, 33; purchases printing office, 185;
appointed delegate to Governor at Carthage; 522; account of interview
with Governor Ford, 543-545; remonstrance of to Governor Ford, 571-573;
report of Governor Ford's and president Smith's interview, 579-585,
sings for President Smith, "A Poor, Wayfaring Man," 614-615; wounded in
Carthage prison, 618.
Temple, plan for women's subscriptions to, 142; meeting in interest of,
236-244.
{641} Temple, Masonic, dedicated, 287.
Thieves, _Neighbor's_ editorial on, 38.
Thomas, Judge Jesse B., holds court at Carthage, 398; courtesy of to
Prophet, 413; advice of to Prophet, _Expositor_ affair, 479.
V
Van Buren, President U.S., letter and postscript to, 65.
W
Western Movement proposed, exploration for, 222, 224.
Wells, Daniel H. justice of the peace, issues writ of ejectment
from Temple block, 356-357; trial of Mayor and City Council before,
_Expositor_ affair, 487-491; call of Prophet upon _en route_ for
Carthage, 554.
Wheelock, warning of to Governor Ford, 607; leaves pistol with the
prisoners in Carthage prison, 607-608.
Weeks, William, architect of Nauvoo Temple, difference of with Prophet,
196-197.
Winchester, Benjamin, sent to preach at Warsaw, 190.
Wilkie, John, blessed by Prophet, 264.
Wolfe, Mr. De, lectures at Nauvoo, 223.
Wight, Lyman, asks Prophet's advice on preaching to Indians, 222;
letters of to First Presidency, 255; to President Smith, 257; views of,
considered in council 260-261.
Woodruff, Wilford, in railway wreck, 32.
Y
Young, Brigham, in conference, Boston, 11-30, _et seq_.; address at
April conference, 321; on whole America as Zion, 321; instructions of
to elders, 325.
Z
Zion, the whole of America is, 318-321.