TIMES THAT TRIED MEN'S SOULS--THE MOB GATHERING AGAINST FAR
WEST--BATTLE OF CROOKED RIVER--DEATH OF DAVID W. PATTEN--DAYS OF
DARKNESS AND DISASTER.
The fall and winter of 1838 was one of the darkest periods in Church
history. Mobocracy on one hand, and apostasy on the other, dealt the
cause of God cruel blows, such as no human work could hope to
withstand. The tempest of persecution, briefly lulled, burst forth
with tenfold fury; no longer a city or county--a whole state rose in
arms against God's people, bent upon their destruction. "The dogs of
war" were loosed upon the helpless Saints, and murder and rapine held
high carnival amid the smoking ruins of peaceful homes and ravaged
fields.
Then fell the mask from the face of hypocrisy. Treason betrayed
itself. Apostles, Presidents, and Elders fell from the faith and
joined hands with the robbers and murderers of their brethren. Satan
laughed! The very mouth of hell seemed opening to engulf the Kingdom
which He who cannot lie has sworn shall stand forever.
Truly, those were "times that tried men's souls."
Like a rock in mid-ocean, facing the storm, unmoved by wind or wave,
stood Heber C. Kimball; among the truest true, among the bravest
brave.
Referring to the time of his visit to Adam-ondi-Ahman, he says:
"In a few days an express came with the news that the mob was
gathering in every part of Missouri to come against the Saints in Far
West. We therefore returned to Caldwell County.
"Thomas B. Marsh left the day previous to the rest of the Twelve,
pretending there was something very urgent at home, and when we
arrived at Far West, October 22nd, we learned that he and Orson Hyde
had left the city. Brother Hyde was sick when we went to Diahman.
"The Saints, tenacious of their liberties and sacred rights, resisted
the unlawful designs of the mob, and with courage worthy of them
guarded their families and their houses from their aggressions. But
not without the loss of several lives, among whom was my much esteemed
and lamented friend David W. Patten, who fell a sacrifice to the
spirit of persecution and a martyr to the cause of truth. The
circumstances of his death I will briefly relate.
"It being ascertained that a mob had collected on Crooked River, led
by the Rev. Samuel Bogard, a Methodist preacher, a company of
sixty or seventy persons immediately volunteered in Far West to watch
their movements, and if necessary repel their attacks. They chose
Elder Patten for their leader, and commenced their march about
midnight, and came up to the mob at the dawn of October 25th. As the
brethren were marching quietly along the road near the top of the
hill, they were fired upon, when young O'Banyon reeled out of the
ranks, and fell mortally wounded. Thus the work of death commenced,
when Captain Patten ordered his men to charge the mob, who proved to
be on the creek below. It was yet so dark that little could be seen,
looking to the west; but the mob could see Captain Patten and his men
in the dawning light, when they fired a broadside and three or four of
the brethren fell. Captain Patten ordered the fire returned, giving
the watchword, 'God and Liberty.' The brethren charged the camp, when
the mob were soon put to flight and crossed the river at the ford. One
of the mob fired from behind a tree, and shot Captain Patten, who
instantly fell mortally wounded, the ball having pierced his abdomen.
"Immediately on receiving the intelligence that Brother Patten was
wounded, I hastened to see him and found him in great pain, but still
he was glad to see me; he was conveyed about four miles to the house
of Brother Stephen Winchester; during his removal his sufferings were
so excruciating that he frequently desired us to lay him down that he
might die; but being desirous to get him out of the reach of the mob,
we prevailed upon him to let us carry him among his friends. We
carried him on a kind of bier, fixed up from poles.
"Although he had medical assistance, his wound was such that there was
no hope entertained of his recovery, and this he was perfectly aware
of. In this situation, while the shades of time were lowering, and
eternity with all its realities opening to his view, he bore a strong
testimony to the truth of the work of the Lord, and the religion he
had espoused. He was perfectly sensible and collected until he
breathed his last, which occurred at about ten o'clock in the evening.
Stephen Winchester, Brother Patten's wife, Bathsheba W. Bigler, with
several of her father's family were present at David's death.
"The principles of the Gospel which were so precious to him before,
afforded him that support and consolation at the time of his
departure, which deprived death of its sting and horror. Speaking of
those who had fallen from their steadfastness he exclaimed, 'O that
they were in my situation! For I feel that I have kept the faith, I
have finished my course, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me.' Speaking to his
beloved wife, he said, 'whatever you do else, O do not deny the
faith.' He all the time expressed a great desire to depart. I said to
him 'Brother David, when you get home, I want you to remember me.' He
replied, 'I will.' At this time his sight was gone. A few minutes
before he died, he prayed as follows, 'Father, I ask Thee in the name
of Jesus Christ, that Thou wouldst release my spirit, and receive it
unto Thyself.' And he then said to those who surrounded his dying bed,
'Brethren, you have held me by your faith, but do give me up, and let
me go, I beseech you.' We accordingly committed him to God, and he
soon breathed his last, and slept in Jesus without a groan.
"This was the death of one who was an honor to the Church and a
blessing to the Saints; and whose faith, virtues and diligence in the
cause of truth will be had in remembrance by the Church of Jesus
Christ from generation to generation. It was a painful way to be
deprived of the labors of this worthy servant of Christ, and it cast a
gloom upon the Saints; yet the glorious and sealing testimony which he
bore of his acceptance with heaven and the truth of the Gospel was a
matter of joy and satisfaction, not only to his immediate friends, but
to the Saints at large.
"I took Dr. Avard with me to Far West, a distance of three miles, to
Elder Rigdon's house, where we found Brother Patrick O'Banyon, who was
wounded in nearly the same manner as Brother Patten. He also died in a
short time, firm and steadfast in the faith. He was perfectly calm and
composed, and bore a strong testimony to the truth of Mormonism.
"Gideon Carter, who was also a faithful Saint, was shot in the head,
and left dead on the ground, so defaced that the brethren did not at
first know him.
"This was a gloomy time!"