During the winter of 1841 a letter was sent I the Prophet from
the leading men and members of the branch church on Stone River,
Tennessee, and Creple Creek, Rutherford County, Tennessee,
desiring him to send me back to labor in that country, as it was
a wide field for preaching. They stated that I had so ingratiated
myself among the people that no other man could command the same
influence and respect among them.
This was enough. In the latter part of February I took leave of
my family and entered upon my mission. To refuse to comply with
the call of the Prophet is a bad omen. One so doing is looked
upon with distrust, renders himself unpopular, and is considered
a man not to be depended upon.
At the time I started the river was blocked with ice. I traveled
on foot, without purse or scrip, like the apostles of old,
carrying out the motto of the Church, the bee of the desert,
"Leave the hive empty-handed and return laden." In this way I, as
well as many other elders, brought in money - thousands of
dollars yearly - to the Church; and I might say hundreds of
thousands, as the people among whom I traveled were mostly
wealthy, and when they received the love of the truth their
purses as well as their hearts were opened, and they would pour
out their treasures into the lap of the bishop. All were taught
that a liberal man deviseth liberal things, and by his liberality
shall he live, and that he that soweth liberally shall reap
bountifully.
As I passed along my way I strengthened the brethren of the
various branches, reminding them of their duties, especially of
the necessity of building the Temple. That duty was more
important than all others, for in that alone, when completed,
they could attain to the highest exaltation of the Priesthood,
with all the spiritual gifts that belong thereunto.
When I arrived at my old home, the place of my childhood days, I
there found Elder John Twist, who was waiting my coming. We
stayed in that neighborhood a few days, and then started on. My
uncle was going our way with a wagon for about one hundred miles,
and we accompanied him. I passed through Kaskaskia, where I was
born, but did not preach there, for my uncle was in a hurry to
reach the point of his destination in Jackson County, where he
was establishing a woodyard on the Mississippi River. Here we
intended to take steamer for Nashville, but no steamer would
receive us on board at the landing, as it was a bad one for
boats.
While staying at that place we preached to the people, and made
our home with Mr. V. Hutcheson, and his sister Sarah, where we
were treated very kindly. Finally a flatboat came in sight. We
hailed it and went aboard. We were soon on good terms with the
captain and crew, and went with them to Memphis, Tennessee. At
this place the captain of the flatboat sold out his cargo, and
then offered to pay our fare on a steamer from Memphis to
Nashville. While we were in Memphis Gen. William Henry Harrison,
then a candidate for President, arrived, and a great political
meeting of the Whig party was held in the open air.
After my friend Wm. Springer, the captain of the flatboat, had
sold his cargo and received his money, he invited Brother Twist
and myself to go with him to a saloon. There were quite a number
of men in the saloon, fiddling, eating, drinking, and otherwise
enjoying themselves. Capt. Springer was not used to drinking. He
soon got mellow, felt rich, and commenced throwing his money
around in a careless manner.
The saloon keeper was a man with an eye to business, and became
particularly interested in friend Springer. He treated him often
and insisted on his drinking. I tried to get Springer to his
boat, and took him by the arm and started off with him, when one
of the crowd told me not to be so officious, that the man knew
his own business and was capable of attending to it. I said
nothing in reply, but I sent Brother Twist in haste to the boat
with word for the crew to come at once before Springer was robbed
of his money. They came, but not any too soon for his benefit, as
a row had commenced, with the design of going through him while
it was on.
When the crew came I started for the boat with Springer, the crew
keeping back the crowd of drunken robbers. By acting in this way
we saved him and his money too. Brother Twist and myself refused
all kinds of drinks that night. We were therefore sober and in
condition to protect the man who had favored us and been our
friend. Next morning Springer wished to reward us, but we refused
to let him do so. I told him we had done nothing but our duty.
We parted with him and his crew, and took passage in a new
steamer that was owned in Nashville, and making its first trip
from Nashville to New Orleans. The boat got into a race with the
Eclypse, another fast boat. The captain was a fine man. The crew
were all negroes. One of the firemen on our boat took sick, and
was unable to do his work. I saw that the Eclypse was crowding us
closely. I threw off my coat and took the negro's place as
fireman. There was a barrel of resin near by; I broke the head
with an ax and piled the resin on the fire. This had its effect,
and our boat soon left the Eclypse far in the rear. The steamers
parted at the mouth of the Ohio. The captain was so well pleased
with my work that he gave Elder Twist and myself a free passage.
When we reached Nashville. Elder Twist became homesick, and
returned to Nauvoo. I gave him ten dollars to pay his way home. I
was thus left alone once more. I found the branch at Nashville in
a healthy condition, and much pleased to have me with them. I
visited the branch in Putnam County, and preached to them,
advising all to go to Nauvoo. I added several new members to the
Church. By the next spring that entire branch had gone to Nauvoo.
The branch on Stone River also went to Nauvoo soon after I
returned home. A delegation, headed by Capt. John H. Redd,
invited me to preach in the settlement where Capt. Redd lived.
They said I could not preach publicly, for my life would be in
danger, as many of the citizens were hostile to the Mormons and
had run one man out of the neighborhood for practicing Mormonism,
and that Randolph Alexander had been run off for preaching
Mormonism.
Capt. Redd was formerly a sea captain; he was a native of South
Carolina. I told the delegation I would preach if they gave
general publicity to my appointment. They were startled at the
proposal, and said my life would not be safe if I undertook to
preach in public. I told them to trust that to God.
They returned home and gave general notice of when and where I
would preach. At the appointed time I started for the place of
meeting, which was twenty miles from Murfreesborough. I was met
by a guard of ten men, headed by Capt. Redd, who came to meet and
protect me.
The next day I preached to a large number of people. I spoke two
hours to them, upon the subject of our free institutions and the
constitutional rights of American citizens. I told them who I was
and what I was; that I was a free American citizen; that I
claimed the right of free speech as a free man; that I held
myself open for investigation; that if the people wished me to
set forth the tenets of our faith I would do so, otherwise I
would leave; that if they did not desire to hear the truth they
could make it manifest and I would quit their country. The vote
was unanimous for me to tarry and preach to them. I preached
there twice.
My first sermon was upon the apostasy of the Churches of the day
and the necessity of a purer gospel, proving what I said by the
Scriptures. I followed with the origin and authenticity of the
Book of Mormon. I was induced to continue my sermons. I stayed
there to do my Master's will.
After the fourth sermon I commenced to baptize members. The first
one that I baptized at that place was Parson John Holt, of the
Christian faith. Then I baptized seven of the members of his
Church; then Capt. Redd and his family. This unexpected success
of the gospel created great excitement in that section of
country.
About ten miles from where I preached lived two men, formerly
lieutenants in the militia company of Capt. Bogardus, of Missouri
infamy and disgrace. These men had strayed into this section of
the country, and were employed by two wealthy farmers as
overseers.
They circulated fearful stories about the Mormons in Missouri,
and gathered up a mob of about twenty-five men and came with
them, determined to tar and feather me if I preached again. Word
reached the settlement of what was intended. The people flocked
to me and asked what they should do. I told them to wait and let
me manage the affair.
The next day, Sunday, while I was preaching one of the ruffians
by the name of Dickey made his appearance with ten men. He
informed me of his design, and said that I must quit preaching
and leave for other parts of the country.
"Not just yet," said I.
At this he and his men made a rush for me. As they started, the
sisters next to the stand formed a circle around me. While thus
surrounded I continued my sermon. I refuted the absurd stories of
Dickey and his crew. I then told the people what had been done at
Far West by Lieut. Dickey and the members of Capt. Bogardus'
company. The mob tore down my stand, but could not get at me
because of the sisters. Then they retired to consult.
Capt. Redd appointed a meeting to be held at his place that
afternoon, and he told the people that he did not want any person
to come into his yard unless he came intending to behave; that if
any violence was used there someone would get hurt. I preached at
his house that afternoon. A fearful storm raged during most of
the time, but this was fortunate, for it kept the mob away.
While I was preaching a drunken man interrupted me and called me
a liar. Capt. Redd was sitting near me with two large pistols,
which he called his peacemakers. The insult was no more than out
of the fellow's mouth when Capt. Redd caught him by the neck and
rushed him from the house into the rain. The coward begged hard
for himself, but he was forced to go out and sit under a porch
during the rest of the sermon. Capt. Redd was a kind-hearted,
generous man, but would not stand abuse.
The next Sunday was a cloudy day, so the meeting was held within
doors. Dickey had by this time raised his mob to fifty men, and
made every arrangement to give me a warm reception. Two ruffians
who were intoxicated had been selected to start the disturbance,
or "open the ball," as they called it. I had just commenced
speaking when one of these men began to swear and use indecent
language, and made a rush for me with his fist drawn. I made a
Masonic sign of distress, when, to my relief and yet to my
surprise, a planter pushed to my aid. He was the man who employed
Dickey. He took the drunken men and led them out of the crowd,
and then sat by me during the rest of my sermon, thus giving me
full protection. That man was a stranger to me, but he was a good
man and a true Mason. His action put an end to mob rule at that
place. After the meeting I baptized ten converts.
Soon afterwards I was sent for by Col. Tucker to come a distance
of thirty miles. I attended, and delivered three lectures, which
were well received by all, the Colonel in particular. He was a
wealthy Virginian, and he pressed me warmly to make his house my
home. His wife and family were very favorably impressed. They
were of the Presbyterian order, and two of Mrs. Tucker's brothers
were ministers of that faith. I remained a few days, and made an
appointment to preach on the following Saturday and Sunday.
Before leaving I let the Colonel's lady have books on our faith,
and then went to fill some appointments that I had made at Capt.
Redd's. At the appointed time I returned to preach, as I had
promised, on Buckskin River.
Within half a mile of Col. Tucker's house was a Methodist chapel.
At this place lived a New Light preacher, an old man, who invited
me to stop with him. He informed me that Col. Tucker had become
bitter against the Mormons because his wife believed in them; and
that she wanted to be baptized. She had left word with him,
requesting me not to leave without baptizing her.
This was something I wished to avoid, so to prevent trouble I
concluded not to go to Col. Tucker's at all. I filled my
appointments, and returned to my Christian friend's house for
refreshments, intending to make my way over the mountains that
night, and thus avoid meeting Mrs. Tucker.
This, however, was not to be. I had just finished supper, and
stepped to the door to start back when I met Mrs. Tucker. She
upbraided me for not calling to see her. I said that it was
contrary to the rules of our faith for an elder to interfere in
any man's family against the wish or will of the husband or
parents; that she must keep quiet and the Lord would take the
will for the deed. The more I tried to reconcile her, the more
determined she grew to be baptized.
While I was talking with her a young man came to us and reported
that Col. Tucker had ambushed himself, with a double-barreled
shotgun, near the place of baptizing, swearing vengeance against
the man that attempted to baptize his wife. I tried to persuade
her to return, but in vain. She said to me:
"You have declared that your mission is from Heaven, that you are
a servant of God; and I believe it. Now I demand baptism at your
hands. If you are a servant of God, don't shrink from your duty."
I looked at her for a moment, and said: "Sister, if you have
faith enough to be baptized under these circumstances, I have
faith enough to try it."
Some personal friends who lived in the little village accompanied
us to the water, a short distance above the usual place of
baptizing, and were present during the performance of the
ordinance. They advised her to return home immediately, with her
two servants, and never let on that anything had happened.
For myself, I started for the house of my friend, carrying my
boots in my hand. It was now dark. As I got to the top of a high
fence and cast my eyes about me, I luckily saw a man with a
double-barreled shotgun in his hands, or what I supposed was
such. He was within ten steps of me, or nearer. I recognized Col.
Tucker.
Having heard of his threats, I was induced not to tempt him too
far. I placed my hands on the fence and leaped over it, alighting
on the other side, near a cross fence which separated the garden
from a field of corn. As quick as thought I got among the corn,
which was at full height. I was within twenty feet of Tucker and
could hear all that was said. I heard him rave, and demand with
oaths what my friends, who came up, were doing there. Had they
been baptizing his wife? I recognized the voice of the parson's
lady with whom I was stopping. She had the wet clothes of Mrs.
Tucker.
"Tell me," said Tucker, "if my wife has been baptized, or I will
blow your brains out." The reply was: "She has been baptized."
"Where is that infernal Mormon preacher?" demanded the Colonel;
"I will put a load of shot through him."
"He is in that cornfield," was the reply.
The Colonel raved the more. Finally some of his friends persuaded
him to return home, and not disgrace himself. He pretended to do
so, but it was only a feint to get me out.
After waiting until all was quiet I returned to the house of my
friend, and passing through the door went out on the porch. I sat
down and was slipping off my socks, to put on dry ones, when I
heard a rustling in the room behind me. The next moment Col.
Tucker had his gun leveled on me, but it flashed in the pan. He
then whirled up the butt of it to fell me to the earth.
Seeing my danger I sprang and caught him around the waist, with
one of his arms in my grasp, which left him only one arm loose.
"I have you now where I want you," he cried.
He was a strong, muscular man, and, no doubt, supposed I would be
no match for him. I ordered a young man who stood near to take
his gun. I then gripped him with an iron hug, and sent him back
into the room.
The old gentleman with whom I was stopping ordered him out of the
house unless he would behave himself. He said he had invited me
to his house, and felt it his duty to protect me. The Colonel
replied that he would go if he could; he never knew before that
when he was in the hands of a Mormon he was in a bear's clutches.
I said:
"I will take you out if it will accommodate you."
Thus saying, I stepped out on the porch with him. I saw that he
was willing to go. This gave me new courage.
"Let me go, or I will blow your brains out when I get loose," he
said.
"There is one condition on which I will let you go, which is that
you will go home and be quiet and trouble me no more," I replied.
"I will settle with you for all this," was his answer.
It was in the month of July, and very warm. I had hugged him
closely, and he was growing weak. As I was in the act of dashing
him to the ground he begged of me, saying that if I would set him
loose he would go and trouble me no more. I let him fall to the
ground, handed him his gun, and let him live. When he got a
little distance away he began threatening me, and said he would
be revenged. When all had quieted down I retired to rest in the
upper story of my friend's house.
About one o'clock in the morning I was awakened by a voice which
I recognized as the voice of Mrs. Tucker. She informed me that
her husband was bent on my destruction, and he and ten men were
then waylaying my road, and advised me not to start in that
direction. Her husband had accused her of wetting the loads in
his gun to save my life; but she told me to be of good cheer and
put my trust in God, and that she had not regretted the steps she
had taken. I thanked her for her kindness, and begged her to
return home and not see me any more; that I was in the hands of
God, and He would protect me and deliver me safe; that her visits
would only make her husband more enraged at her.
At four o'clock I awoke, dressed myself, and ordered the servant
to saddle my horse. As the servant hitched my horse to the post
Tucker and several men appeared upon the ground. Tucker told the
servant that he would shoot him in two if he saddled my horse. I
spoke to Tucker, saluting him with the time of day. His reply
was:
"I have got you now."
Thus saying, he ordered his nephew to bring Esquire Walls
immediately.
After washing, I took my seat on the porch, and got out my Bible
to read. Tucker stood about ten steps from me to guard me and my
horse.
While this was the situation my old friend, the New Light
preacher with whom I was lodging, had a fine horse saddled and
hitched on the south side of the cornfield. He advised me in a
whisper to pass down through the cornfield while I could do so
without being detected, take the horse, and thus get out of the
county before a warrant had been issued for my arrest.
Deliverance was very tempting, yet I did not like the name of
running away from trouble. It would convey the impression of
fear, if not of guilt. So I chose to face the music and abide the
consequences. A little after sunrise I saw Justice Walls coming,
and some men with him. At this my heart leaped for joy. Among so
many I was satisfied all were not against me, as some of them had
attended lectures and were favorably impressed.
After a short interview with Col. Tucker, Justice Walls informed
me that Col. Tucker demanded from him a warrant for my arrest for
having baptized his wife without his consent. I asked Col. Tucker
if he ever forbid me to baptize his wife; whether he had not
invited me to his house and asked me to stop there when I
returned. I told him I had not seen him, after this conversation,
until his wife was baptized; that I had not urged her to be
baptized - she had come to me and demanded to be baptized. I told
the Justice that I had violated no law of Tennessee. The law
allows a wife much greater privileges than being baptized without
the consent of her husband; she could sell one-third of his real
estate, and her deed would be good. The Justice said I was right,
and told the Colonel it would be useless to issue a warrant
without lawful cause.
The Colonel then demanded a warrant for my arrest on the charge
of assault and battery. He said I had abused his person, and that
he was sore and scarcely able to walk. The Justice told the
Colonel that it seemed to him that he was the one who made the
assault; for he snapped a loaded gun at me and attempted to take
my life, while what I had done was in self-defense. He told Col.
Tucker he would talk with him again. He then beckoned me to
follow him, and I did so. We went into a room by ourselves, when
he said to me,
"Parson Lee, you have warm friends here. I have been much
interested in your lectures. I believe you to be honest and firm
in your faith, and will do all I can for your benefit. Col.
Tucker is a desperate man when aroused. As a matter of policy, to
humor him, I will give him a writ; but I will manage to delay the
time, so as to enable you to get out of the county. I will send
for my law books, with instructions to delay in getting them
here, and will argue with the Colonel that I must have my books
to examine the law. It is only four miles to the county line,
where you will be all right. Take the trail over the mountain,
and they will not know which way you have gone. When you get into
your own county, remember me on election day. This county and
Rutherford County send three members to the Legislature. I am a
candidate, and the vote of your friends in these counties will
secure my election. When I send for my books appear and bid us
good-by, as though you were not afraid of any man. Col. Tucker
has promised that he will use no violence if I give him a writ."
The Justice then gave me a token of the Brotherhood, and walked
out to confer with Col. Tucker. He sent his nephew back for his
books, instructing him in whispers to delay in getting them, so
as to give me time to get out of the county before an officer
could overtake me.
After the boy started, the Justice told the Colonel to keep cool
and he would soon have a writ for me. I went into the dining-room
and sat down to breakfast, and ate a little as a blind. Then
taking up my saddlebags, I bade them all good-by. I walked to my
horse, that stood hitched where the servant had left him.
As I left the house Justice Walls followed me as though he was
much surprised, and said:
"Parson Lee, I hope you will tarry until this matter can be
settled amicably."
Again I told him that I had violated no law; that my ministerial
engagements compelled me to leave, and I should have done so
before had not this unpleasant affair detained me; that I chose
to serve God rather than fear the ire of man.
Thus saying, I placed my saddle upon my horse. Col. Tucker
leveled his gun on me, and said:
"I knew you would run."
At this I turned and eyed him and told him to put up his gun;
that I had borne all I intended to from him; that if he attempted
violence he would never trouble another man. At the same time the
Justice exhorted him to be careful, saying that he had made
himself liable already. I mounted my horse and turned to the
Colonel and told him he might guard that woodpile until the day
of judgment, for all I cared. He again raised his gun, but was
prevented by the by-standers from shooting. I rode off leisurely,
and when about seventy-five yards away I stopped and watered my
horse. Tucker again drew his gun on me, and I expected him to
shoot every moment, but I dared not show fear.
My road lay along the mountain for two miles. When I passed a
house I would walk my horse, and sing and seem to be wholly
unconcerned; but when I was out of sight I put my horse on the
keen jump, and was soon out of Marshall County. Finding an out-
of-the-way place, with good blue grass and plenty of shade, I
swung down from my horse and returned thanks to my Father in
heaven for my deliverance.
In the afternoon I arrived at the house of Capt. Redd, where,
when in that county, I generally made my home. The brethren all
came to welcome me back, and I related to them my experience and
deliverance. A short time after this James K. Polk and Col.
Jones, both candidates for the office of Governor of Tennessee,
and the candidates for the Legislature, including my friend
Walls, met at Murfreesborough and held a political meeting. Walls
gave me the sequel of what happened with Col. Tucker.
When Justice Walls' nephew went for the law books he permitted
his horse to run away, and it was nearly ruined in the brush and
grapevines. Col. Tucker did not blame the Justice at all, but
rather sympathized with him in his misfortune. Mrs. Tucker to the
end remained firm in her faith.
The kindness of Justice Walls in my hour of peril was not
forgotten. I spoke of it in all my meetings, and to my friends in
private. And to this act of justice and humanity he owed his
election, as he was elected by a majority of only five votes.
Next I visited the branch on Stone River and made arrangements to
return to my family at Nauvoo, the City of Joseph. The two
branches now numbered about sixty members. I organized a branch
west of Murfreesborough, and ordained Brother John Holt to the
office of Elder. I baptized a young girl at Readysville, by the
name of Sarah C. Williams, of rich parentage. I lectured at
Murfreesborough for ten days, and about the beginning of October,
1843, I took the steamer at Nashville for my home in Nauvoo,
arriving there on the 14th of October.