Religious – The History of Zion's Camp [R-71]

The history and travels of Zions
Camp, led by the prophet Joseph
Smith from Kirtland Ohio to Clay
County Missouri in the Spring of 1834.
Written by Wilford Woodruff Assistant
Historian, who was a member of Zions Camp

The Saints of God were driven from
Jackson County into Clay County
about the 13^th of November 1833 on which
night were the signs in the Heavens of the
falling of the Stars, see History of the Church,
Millennial Star Vol. 18 Page 583. After the Saints were
driven to Clay County, they were scattered on the
banks of the of the Missouri river and in the
woods around. Bishop Partridge called a council
of the Authorities of the Church in Zion and who
called for volunteers of two men to go to Kirtland
to see the Prophet Joseph and ask council about
what course to pursue; and as no one volentered
Parley P. Pratt steped forward and sayed he
would go. Bishop Partridge asked what situation
he was in to go; He sayed he had a coat in
the world, his family wife lay sick and destitute
but he was ready to go. Lyman Wight was
the next one volenter; when asked how he was
situated and if he had means to go, he said

his wife lay beside a log in the woods with a
child three days old with nothing to eat, but he
was ready to go under these strange circumstances.
The services of the two volunters were accepted, and the
Lord opened the way for both of them to get a horse,
saddle, bridle, and outfit to prepare for this tedious
journey of one thousand miles in the depth of
Winter, on horseback to visit the Prophet Joseph
at Kirtland, Ohio. On their arrival there, arrival
and laying their situation, and that of the
Saints in Zion; the Prophet inquired of the
Lord, and received that Revelation, Section 103
concerning the redemption of Zion Feb. 28 1834.
(Coppy the revelation.)

The Saints of the Lord
were required to gather up the strength of the
Lord's house. It will be seen in the Revelation
that Joseph Smith and Parley Pratt was to
travel together. Lyman Wight and Sidney
Rigdon, Hyrum Smith and Fredrick G. Williams
Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt, These brotherin
went forth according to the Revelation, to
gather up the strength of the Lords house.
Parley Pratt after traveling with Joseph
Smith a while, traveled alone and visited
Richfield, Onega County, New York; where he
found Azman and Wilford Woodruff;
and held two meetings at their home,

where he found a few saints; and Wilford
Woodruff accompanied him with Harry
Brown to Henderson County where he
visited the few saints who had been orginized
in that region of country. His object in
visiting the saints at the present time was to
get the young men and middle aged to
go to Kirtland and accompany the Prophet up
to Missouri for the redemption of Zion. But the
only ones he got to go to Kirtland from northern
New York was Wilford Woodruff and Harry Brown
Warren S. Ingllas who arrived togather in Kirtland
on the night of the 25 of April 1834, and the first
time they met with the Prophet Joseph Smith,
who invited them to make their home with him
while they stayed in Kirtland, which invertation
they gladly accepted. Orson Pratt and John
Murdock also accompanied them to Kirtland.
The brothering were arriving daily in Kirt-
land, to preprare for their journey. One
evening while Wilford Woodruff, Milton
Homes, and sevral of the brotherin were with
the Prophet in his house he sayed "I want some
money to help fit out Zion and I know that
I shall have it." In the morning Brother Joseph
Received a letter from Sister Vose of Boston,
containing $250. He took the money out of the

letter and showed it to the brotherin, present
and said, "Did I not tell you [blank] last night
that I would soon have some money and
here it is." On Sunday the 27 of April the
saints met togather and held a testamony
meeting, and many of the elders spoke and
bore their testimony, among the number
was Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young,
Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Hyrum Smith,
Oliver Cowdry, and also Joseph Smith the
Prophet who closed by saying "Brothering we
are laying the foundation of a great work
and you know it not, you comprehend it
not. The work we are engaged in will grow,
spread, and increase untill it will fill the
land: it will go from sea to sea it will
fill the Rocky Mountains: all nations will
hear it: it will fill its destiny; It is the work of
Almighty God, and he will maintain and
defend it." Wilford Woodruff sayed in his
journal it appears to me there was more light
made manifest in that meeting parta
ining ^to^ the gospel and kingdom of God
than I had ever received from the whole Secter-
rian world. The Prophet Joseph called
the men togather who were gowing up
to Zion before leaving Kirtland

and seal them up to eternal life.
According to appointment on the 1^st day
of May 1834 those who were ready left
Kirtland for New Portage, their was
but a small po[r]tion of the company
ready. The company that did
starte was composed of over twenty
men, with four baggage wagons.
Wilford Woodruff owned one of the four
teams, and baggage wagons which
he drove. The company pitched their
tents by the way. This first company
tearried with the Church at New Portage
untill the main body arrived from
Kirtland. On the 6^th day of May, we
were then fully organized. As the saints
had been robbed of nearly every thing
in Missouri, the Prophet gathered to-
gather clowthing and such nesseries
of life as could be obtained for them,
also provided for ourselves horses, wagons
guns and tents for our journey, also
all sorts of munitions of war, for
self defense as our enemies were threatening
on every side. The history of Joseph sayes,
"My company from Kirtland, amounted
to about one hundred, mostly young men

and nearly all elders, prists, teachers,
or deacons. And as our wagons were
nearly filled with baggage we had
to travil mostly on foot. On the 7 I
gathered togather all the company
and each one donated what money
he had into one general fund; and we
appointed F. G. Willams paymaster of
the company for the funds thus collect-
ed. The following is the whole list of the
names of the camp, being two hund-
red and five men and five women,
some of whom were not present at the
first organization. (Incert the list; in the
Deseret News Vol. 14 No 1 page 21. [blank])

I asked brother Woodruff for the use of
his sword to carry on the journey
which he readely granted. We now had
in our camp twenty baggage wagons.
I continued to organize the company
by appointing sutch other general
officers as were required, and gave
sutch instructions as were nessary for
the deciplin, order, comfort, and safety of
all concerned. I divided the whole camp
into companies of twelve. Each company
selecting their own captain, who severaly

arranged each man in his respective
company, and assigned his place, and
duty, which was generaly in the following
order, Two cooks. Two firemen. Two tent pitch-
ers. Two watchmen. One runner. Two wagoners
and horsmen. and one comisary. We
purchased flower; baked our own bread; coocked
our own provisions generaly, which were good
but sometimes scanty; and sometimes
we had jonny cake or corn-dodger, instead
of flour bread. Every night before retireing
to rest at the sound of the trumpet
we bowed before the Lord, in the several
tents; and presented our thank and offerings
with prayer and supplications; and at
the sound of the morning trumpet every
man was again on his knees before the Lord,
imploring his blessings for the day. Our
journey was like the ancient Jaredites
pitching our tents by the way.

May 8, 1834 ~ Thursday

May 9, 1834 ~ Friday

our journey and camped at night
near Woorster.

May 10, 1834 ~ Saturday

May 11, 1834 ~ Sunday

May 12, 1834 ~ Monday

May 13, 1834 ~ Tuesday

Brother Parley P. Pratt broke his harness;
the brotherin fastened their ropes to his
wagon and drew it about three miles
to the place of encampment on the Sci-
oto, river, while he was riding in his wagon
singing and whistling.

May 14, 1834 ~ Wednesday

May 15, 1834 ~ Thursday

May 16, 1834 ~ Friday

bloodshed in that place, and when even
a man of God is in a place where
many has been killed he will feel
lonesome and unpleasant and his spirits
will sink. About forty rods from where
I made this observation we came through
the woods; we saw a large farm, and
there was near the road on our left a mound
sixty feet high covered with apple trees, and
surrounded with oats; this mound contained
human bones. At dinner time some of the
brotherin expressed considerable fear, on
account of milk sickness with which the
people were troubled dureing our route;
many were afraid to use milk or butter,
and appealed to me, to know if it
was not dangerous; I told them to use
all they could get, untill they were told
it was sick. Some expressed fears that
it might be sold to us by our enemies
for the purpose of doing us injury; I
told them not to fear, that if they
whould follow council, and use all they
could get from friends or enemies it whould
do them good and none should be sick
in consequense of it; and although
we passed through naberhoods where

many of the people, and cattle were
infeebled, yet my words were fulfilled.
While passing through Dayton, Ohio
great anxiety was manifested; various
reports of our numbers and designs
having wgone before us; some of the
inhabidents inquired of the company
where we were goingfrom, Captin Brigham
Young replied, from every place but
this, and we will soon be from
this. Where are you gowing? To the
west. We forded the Maumee river
with our baggage wagons, and most
of the men waded through the water.
Some ten or eleven gentlemen came
over from Dayton to ascertain our
numbers, which they reported at least
six hundred. These gentlemen inquired
of many in the camp where we
were from, and where we were
gowing, and what was our business.
They returned to Dayton and reported
that every man in the company was
a gentleman, and gave a respectful
answer to every question asked, but they
could not ascertain where they were
gowing, and what their business was.

This evening a court muster was held in
camp for the trial of Moses Martin for falling
asleep, on watch. Brother Martin pleaded
his own case; sayed that he was overcome
with fetague, and so overpowered that he
could not keep awake ect., ect. I desided that
he should be acquitted, and never go to
sleep again while on watch, which was
sanctioned by the court. I took occasion
from the circumstance to give the brotherin
much useful instruction.

May 17, 1834 ~ Saturday

some extent in others, I told them they
whould meet with misfortune, difficulties,
and hinderances, and sayed, "You will
know it before you leave this place," exhorting
them to humble themselves before the Lord; and
become united, that they might not be scourg-
ed. A very singular circamstance took place
that very night, and the next day, concerning
our teams. On Sunday morning when we
arose, we found almost every horse in camp
so badly foundered that we could scarcely
lead them a few rods to water. The brotherin
then deeply realized the effects of discord. When
I learned the fact, I exclaimed to the brotherin,
that for a witness that God over rulled, and
had his eye upon them, that all thoes
who would humble themselves before the Lord
should know that the hand of God was
in this misfortune, and their horses should
be restored to health amediately; and by
twelve oclock the horses were as kninbles as ever,
with the acception of one of Sylvester Smith's
horses, which soon after died.

May 18, 1834 ~ Sunday

May 19, 1834 ~ Monday

township, Henry County, in the beech woods.

May 20, 1834 ~ Tuesday

you; who you call your captain or leader, or sup-
erior to the rest? He answered: Sometimes one
and sometimes another takes charge of the
company: so as not to throw the burden
upon anyone in particular. Their spies
who had come from the west; passed us
several times that same day, and the next.

May 21, 1834 ~ Wednesday

While others walked down differant
streets leaving the inhabtants wondering
when that big company whould come
along.

May 22, 1834 ~ Thursday

May 23, 1834 ~ Friday

May 24, 1834 ~ Saturday

May 25, 1834 ~ Sunday

May 26, 1834 ~ Monday

to bait at a slough, about six miles from
the timber. Having no water to drink, but
sutch as was filled with living animals, common-
ly called wigglers, and we did not like to swal-
low them, we strained them through our
teeth; which saved the life of many a poor
animal. This was the first prairie of any
magnitude that we came to on our
journey; and was a great curiosity to many
of the brotherin, it was so very level that
a deer miles off appeared but a shorte dis-
tance. some of the brotherin started in
pursuit, before they were apprised of their mis-
take. We continued our march, pulling
our wagons through a small creek with
ropes, and came to the house of Willam
Wayne the only settler in the vacanity,
where we found a well of water, which was
one of the gratest comforts that we could
have received, as we were almost famished,
and it was a long time before we could,
or dared to satisfy our thirst. We crossed
the Embarras river and encamped on a
small branch of the same, about one mile
west. In pitching my tent we found, three
[blank] prairie rattle snakes, which
the brothern were about to kill, I sayed, "let

them alone; dont hurt them, how will the
serpant ever loose its vermin, while the servants
of God possess the same dispasition, and con-
tinue to make war upon him. Men must become
humble before the brute creation, and when
men lose their virtuous dispasition, and seek
to destroy the animal race, the lion and the
lamb can dwell together, and the suckling
child play with the serpant in safety.["] The brother-
in took the serpants carefully on sticks, and
carried them acrossed the creek. I exhorted the
brotherin not to kill a serpant, bird, or
animal of any kind during our journey,
unless it was nessary to preserve ourselves from
hunger. I had frequently spoken upon this
subject, when on a certain occasion I came
up to the brotherin who were watching a
squrrel on a tree, and to prove them, and
to know if they whould heed my council.
I took one of their guns, shot the squrrel
and passed on, leaving the squrrel on the
ground. Br. Orson Hyde, who was just behind
came up, picked up the squrrel and said,
"We will cook this, that nothing may be
lost." I percieved that the brotherin under-
stood what I sayed it for, and in their
practice gave more heed to my percept, than

to my example, which was right. This evening
Brother Parley P. Pratt and Amasa Lyman
returned from the Eugene branch, Indiana,
where I had sent them; with a company of about
a dozen men. The report of mobs which were
continually saluting our rear, caused the brotherin
to be constantly alive to the subject, and about
eleven oclock this evening, our picketed guard
reported that they saw the fires of the mob on
the south east of us. I instantly discovered the
mistake, but wishing the brotherin to enjoy
the scene as well as myself, amediately discharged
my gun which was a signal to call all
men to arms. When the companies were all
paraded, and ready for battle, I pointed them
to the reflection of the rising moon, resting on
points of timber on the east, which gave the ap-
parence of the reflection of the light, of a number
of camp fires. The scenery was most delightful,
and was well worth the trouble of any man
arising from his coutch to witness, who had
never see the like, on the broad prairie before.
This circumstance provered that nearly every
man in the camp was ready for battle ac-
cepte Gould (who was not baptized) and cap-
tain Jezeniah B. Smith who was suddenly
taken with the chollic and did not leave

his tent. The whole scenery was very amus-
ing. Not withstanding our enemies were
continually breathing threats of vialence we
did not fear, neither did we hesitate to
prasecute our journey, for God was with us,
and his angels were before us; and the faith
of our little band was unwavering. We knew
that angels were our companions, for we seen
them.

May 27, 1834 ~ Tuesday

We arrived at the Okaw branch of the
river Kaskaskia where we found two log canoo-
es, which we tacked together, and on which
we ferried our baggage acrost the stream. We
then swam our horses and wagons, and
when we arrived at the oppiset shore, the
brotherin fastonned ropes to the wagon
tongues and helped the teams out of the water,
and up the steep bank, some of the brother-
in felled a tall tree acrossed the river, on which they
passed over, and carried some of their baggag
on their backs. While we were passing Gorge
A. Smith discovered a spring which with a
little digging furnished us with an abund-
ant supply of excelent water, which afterwards
received the name of the mormon spring.
This afternoon elder Solomon Humphry an
aged brother of the camp, having become

exceedingly weary leaid down on the
prairie to rest himself and fell asleep. When
he awoke he saw a rattle snake which lay
between him and his hat, which he
had in his hand when he fell asleep, coiled
up within one foot of his head. The brotherin
gathered around him saying, "It is a rattle
snake let us kill it." But, Br. Humphry said
"No I'll protect him, you shant kill him, for he and
I have had a good nap together.["]

May 28, 1834 ~ Wednesday

May 29, 1834 ~ Thursday

the ground, when their blood was hot
and very likely to take diseases such as
ague, fever and fever which is perverted in this
climate, as they ought never to lie on the
ground, (which is alwase) damp) when their blood
was hot, they whould also be in danger of
being killed by our enemies, and none of
us be the wiser for it. I then proposed for a
diversion, that we divide the camp into
three parts, and have a sham battle, which
was agreed to by all. Brother Roger Orton
lead one part; Fredrick G. Willams another
division; and I remain in camp with
third division. They returned to the woods
with their divisions, and soon attacted the
camp, which we defended by various manuvers
for some time many of our Captains showed
considerable tact, and was more acquainted
with miletary matters, than I had expected.
Every thing went off with good feeling, although
captain Heber C. Kimble in receving a charge
grasped captain Lewis Zabriskie's sword and
in indeavering to take it from him had
the skin cut from the paum of his hand.
After the sham battle was over, I called the
camp together, and cautioned them to be
careful in the future, and controal their spirits

in such circumstances so as not to injur
each other. We traveled acrast the prairie, and
encamped in a strip of timber, where we
stopped to dine. I wrote a letter to the brotherin
in Missouri (dated camp of Israel) requesting
some of them to meet us as soon possiable,
and give us information of the state of things
in upper Missouri; and sent the letter to
Springfield Post-Office, by Dr Willams. At this
place I discovered that part of my company
had been served with sower bread while
I had received good sweet bread from the
same cook. I reproved Br. Zebrada Coltrin
for partiality, for I wanted my brotherin
to fair as well as I did. (The brotherin in
Clay County wrote the following letter
to his Excellency Danial Dunkin, Liberty,
Missouri May the 29^th, 1834 Sir. (copy the letter
from page 317 A. No. 2)

May 30, 1834 ~ Friday

so long pursued in very closely, changeing
their dress and horses several times a day.
Brother Eleazer Miller with others joined the
company with three horses about noon, a
little east of Rochester. This recrute was
very seasonable as many of our horses were
afflicted as they very frequently were in
changing country climate and food.
Many of the horses after eating dry corn
and prairie grass would be served with
colic cholic, and bloat very badly. Brother
Ezra Thayer administered a medacine
mixed in a great stone bottle, prepared
as follows, a three penny paper of tobbacco,
half an ounce of copperns, and two
table spoons full of cayenne pepper, and
the bottle filled with water when he could
not whisky, one half of a bottle constitutes
a dose and whould unvariably cure a
sick horse in a few minutes and is
worthy of rememberance. Br Thayer called
his medicine 18 by 24. We encamped about three
miles from Springfield on Springfield creek.
F. G. Willams and A. M. Babbet returned
to the camp with two kegs of powder, and
reported, that the people were somewhat excited,
more however from a cureosity to know

where we were gowing than from a desire to
hinder us. A brother came to see us with news
that my brother Hiram had passed on west
the day before with a company about fifty
miles north of us and saying "he has a fine company,
and they all look mighty pert." I asked him to
accompany us to Missouri, he replied "I cannot."
He went and stayed with the spies at a tavern
over night, who said they had followed us three
hundred miles on purpose to take some advan-
tage of us.

May 31, 1834 ~ Saturday

horses ect, ect, but I soon discovered that he was
more sober than drunk, and that he was probably
a spy. Near night we arrived at a small stream
of water about one mile from Jacksonvill where
we found a paw paw bush in the road,
which had been dropped as a signal for
us to camp, by Dr. F. G. Willams, whom I
had sent forward in the morning on horse-
back, to select a camp ground and watch
the movements of our enemies. Here we pitched
our tents agreeably to my instruction about
sunset. Brother Roger Norton proclaimed about,
that there whould be preaching under the trees,
within the camp at half past ten on the morrow.
There was only one stranger in the camp to
hear the appointment, Dr. Willams had
gone on to Jacksonville with his pill bags
to spend the night

June 1, 1834 ~ Sunday

and professing to be a most liberal free thinker,
spoke to the people very freely about one hour on
his particular views, his manner and style was
very unassuming, and affable; he was listened
to with great attention; and thoes present remarked
that he was one of the greatest reasoners they ever
heard. The free thinker was followed by John
S. Carter, who delivered a very elegant dis-
course on practical piety. Elder Joseph Young
spoke on the principles of free salvation, follow-
ed by Elder Brigham Young who set forth
baptism as nessary for salvation. After a
few moments resess, at two oclock P.M. the
trumpet again sounded, and a large
congregation from jacksonvill and surrounding
country appeared again in the grove, many
of whom expressed a desire to hear that metho-
dist man again. So I called Br. Joseph
Young into my tent, and told him to
preach an animated sermon on free grace, and
told him he should have the spirit. I then
went to Amasa Lyman, and said to him,
"I understand Mr. Lyman that you ar a
Prespetarian." "Yes" said he "I believe in that
doctrin" 'Well' said I, "I wish you whould
make a few remarks to the people on that subject,
after Mr. Young has done. I also sent for elder

Orson Pratt, and said to him, When these
brotherin get through speaking to the people
I wish you to make a few remarks reasoning
on the importance of a union of all the differant
sects, and denominations. These brotherin
complied with my request, and the cong-
gregation was also eddefied by elder Orson
Hyde on baptism for the remission of sins,
by Hiram Stratton exhorting the people to
obey the gospel, and Eleazar Miller gave a
powerful exortation. After the services of the
day were closed, many strangers made
remarks on the preaching they had heard,
they though[t] Joseph Young was a methodist
and were anxious he should stay in that
country and preach. They supposed Brigham
Young was a close communion baptist,
Orson Hyde a camblite, or reformed baptist,
Lyman E johnson a presbytarian, Amasa
Lyman Lyman a presbytarian, Orson Pratt
a universalest and inquired very carefully
if we all belonged to one denomination, the
brotherin replied some of us were meathodists,
some baptists, some campbelites, resirectionests ect,.
At the close of the meeting the sacrement was
administered and professing christians of
every denomination were invited to pertake,

Dr. Willams came down from Jacksonville with
the people, attended meeting and returned with
them. In the evening after supper, he left Jacksonville
and returned to camp, and reported that the
people universally (who had visited the camp)
expressed the highest satisfaction, with the treatment
and entertainment, and the good order that
prevailed in our midst, that one gentlemen said
he had vissited the camp, and presumed he
had questioned about one hundred of the
men, and had receieved polite answers to all
of his questions, but could not ascertain who
they were, where they were gowing, or what
were their business, and I believe them a fine
set of fellows or a pack of damn knaves and
I cannot tell for my life which. Another
intellagent gentlemen remarked that he did
not believe there was a collage in the United
States, that could turn out such an aloquent
set of preachers, as he had heard that day
in the camp. Dr. Willams said he had heard
hundred of such like remarks at Jacksonville,
and the most perfect good humor prevailed
throughout the town.

June 2, 1834 ~ Monday

(who stood in the door of a cabnit shop) that
he had counted a little rising of five hundred
men, and he could not tell how many there
were. This thing was attempted many times
in villages and towns, as we passed through,
and the people were never able to ascertain our
number. We traveled twenty four miles, crossed
the Illioniois river at Phillips ferry and encamped
on the west bank. This morning we sent, brother
Luke Johnson to ascertain the feelings of the
people, and report to us, the country we passed
through was one of great scarsety though little
settled. Levi Hancock repeats what ^Joseph^ said, in our tent, "I want
you to remember what I say to you, the
Lord is gowing to give us dry weather now
till we get through, he has given us rain, that
we might have water on the prairie, you will
see the mercy of God in our favor all the way through

June 3, 1834 ~ Tuesday

river, as far as our vision could extend, and the
scenery was truly delightful. On the tops of the
mounds were stones which personated the
apperance of three altars, one above the other, accord-
ing to the ancient order, and the remains of bones
were shown over the surface of the ground.
Wilford Woodruff says, "this mound was con-
sidered three hundred feet above the Illinois
river, we had a shovel and a hoe with us,
and while we were desending the mound, the
Prophet Joseph stopped suddenly and pointed
to the ground and said. "Brotherin dig in there."
And when we had dug one foot we uncovered the
skeleton of a man, which was entire, and in a
good state of perservation, and between his ribs
in the back bone was found the stone point
of a lamanitish arrow, whiched produced his
death. Milton Homes took the arrow out of
the back bone, also one of the thigh bones which
had been broken, and took it to camp, and
put it into my wagon; and at noon while
resting in camp, the Prophet Joseph, while
lying in his wagon, was rap[p]ed in vision,
and the history of this man whoes body we
discovered, was shown unto him. His name
was Zelph he was a white lamanite, a large
thick set man, and a man of God. The

curse had been taken from him because of his
righteousness. He was a warrior, and a chiefton
He fought under the prophet Onondagus, who
held domion from the east to the west sea includ-
ing the Rocky-mountains. Zelph had his thigh
bone broken from the sling of a stone, while
in battle, many years before his death. He
was killed in battle by the arrow found in
his back bone, dureing a great struggle
with the Lamenites, and I Wilford Woodruff,
carried the thigh bone to Clay County and
burried it in that country, I intended to
have burried it in Jackson County, thinking
that some prophet might have prophisied to him
that the members of Zions camp whould have
taken his bones with them to Zion and burried
them their, when they went up to redeem Zion;
But not having the privlage of gowing to
Jackson County, I buried it in Clay County.
The same day that we left this mound; at
noon while resting our teams and ourselves,
Brother Joseph called the camp togather, and after
giving them instructions, standing on a wagon
wheel, he prophesied unto the camp, and said
the Lord had proved to him, that there whould
be a scourage visit the camp in consiquince
of the fractious, and unruly spirit that

appeared among them, and they whould die
like sheep with the rot; still if they whould repent,
and humble themselves before the Lord, the
scourage in a great measure might be lessened,
but as the Lord lived this camp will suffer by
giving away to such unruly temper. This
speach affected every soul in camp, I do not
think there was a dry eye in camp. Joseph the
Prophet says, I had a conversation with Col.
Ross, (a wealthy gentleman in the neighborhood)
who gave us a flattering account of the country,
and wished to employ one hundred men for
which he proposed to make ready payment. He
wanted brick makers, builders ect etc. Our commisary
purchased twenty five gallons of honey at twenty
five cents a gallon, and a dozzen Missouri
cured hams, which proved to have been a little
improved on the out side; there not being enough
to supply one for every company; my company
agreed to do without; our supper consisted of
mush and honey, as we had been unable
to procure flour on account of the scarcity of
mills, after the fetagues of the day, it hardly
satisfied our hunger, but when we had quite
finished, some six of the hams were brought to
our tent door, and thrown down in anger
saying, "we dont eat stinking meat." I called

on brother Zebeda Colton, (our cook) and told
him to be quick and fry some ham, as
I had not had my hunger fairly appeased
for forty eight hours; he amediately commenced
cooking the ham, and for once my company
feasted to their full satisfaction. We had just
retired to rest, when the picket guard announced,
Luke Johnson. He came into our tent, and
made his report. He had visited a number
of influential men, among the rest a
baptist minister, who expressed great anxiety
that our company should be stopped, and
went to the Magistrate to inquire if there was
not some law or pretense for stopping us. He
(the priest) said to the Magistiate, that the com-
pany marched, and had guns like an army,
they pitched their tents by the side of the road; they
set out guards, and let no body pass into their
camp at night, and they are Mormons; and
I believe they are gowing to kill the people up in
Jackson County, Missouri, and retake their
lands. The Magistrate replied, "If you were
traveling, and did not want to put up at
public houses, or there was none in that country,
whould you not camp by the roadside in a tent;
and if you were afraid that your horses, or property
whould be stolen in a strange country; whould

you not watch, and keep guard." "Why yes," said
the priest, "but these are Mormons." "Well I cant
hear but they mind their own business, and if
you, and this stranger (meaning Luke Johnson)
will mind your own business, every thing
will be right." This baptist priest, treated brother
Luke Johnson with great politeness, gave him
his dinner; his wife washed his stockings, gave
him letters of interduction to men in Jackson
County, delivered to his charge some letters that
he had received from Jackson County, which brother
Luke brought into camp; he also stated that he had
seen a man that morning, who informed
him that four hundred men were in readiness,
on the Missouri side, at ten hours notice to use up
all the camp, and he was on his way to give them
notice a little before midnight. We heard sevral
guns fired, to the west of us, which appeared to be
answered by one directly east. There was no settle-
ment west of us nearer the state of Missouri, this
appearing so much like a signal, in addition
to the many threats of our being attacted on cross-
ing the Mississippi, I considered sufficant cause
of alarm to put out a double picket guard, and
place the camp in a state of defence, so that every
man might be ready at a moments notice; it
however proved to be a false alarm.

June 4, 1834 ~ Wednesday

June 5, 1834 ~ Thursday

company, and gave vent to his feelings against
myself in particular in consequence growling
at him while he was marching the company up
to the camp, he being the last that came over
the river. The next morning I told them that
I whould desend to the spirit that was manifested
by some of the brotherin to let them see the folly of
their wickedness. I rose up and commenced speaking
by saying, "If any man insults me or abuses me
I will stand in my own defence, at the expense
of my life, and if a dog growls at me I will let
him know that I am his master." At this moment
Sylvester Smith who had just returned from here he
had just turned out his horses to feed, came up
and hearing me mak the remarks said, "If, that
dog bites me I will kill him." I turned to Sylvester
and said, "If you kill that dog I'll whip you." And
went on to show the brotherin how wicked and un-
christianlike such conduct appeared before the
eyes of truth and justice. (The elders in Clay County
wrote Governer Dunklin as follows) (if nessary to
insert in this history, this letter will be found in Book
A. No. 2 page 320.) from the Missouri Enquirer page
322 to 324)

June 6, 1834 ~ Friday

men who had previously followed, passed us sevral
times during the day, and were in search of us
this evening, the guards heard them say; ["]They have
turned aside dam 'em, we cant find 'em." Elders Seth
Johnson and A. M. Babbett who had been sent to
Bowling Green branch to gather recruits returned
to the camp on the morning of the 7^th, with a
small company two wagons and sevral spare horses

June 7, 1834 ~ Saturday

One night we camped in the middle of a prairie
without water; one man took a spade and said,
["]Who knows but I can find water here." and dug
a small hole, which soon filled with good water;
when the brotherin saw this, they said it was as
much a miracle as for Moses to bring water out
of the rock

June 8, 1834 ~ Sunday

now numbered two hundred and five men, all
armed and equiped as the law directs; it was
delightful to see the companies, for they were all
young men, except one company whom we called
the Silver Grays, and who ate at my table. We
were all in good spirits, and were taught the
sworde exercise by brother Willam Cherry (who was a
native of Ireland) an expert drill master, who had
been in the British dragoon service for upwords of twenty
years, and deservs much credit for his unwearied
exertions ^in^ importing all he knew to the brotherin.
This was our first attempt at learning the sworde
exercise; brother Hiram Stratton and Nelson Tubbs
procured a shop of Myers Mabley, and repared
every firelock that was out of order in the camp,
and David Elliot shod our horses. Here brother
James Forster was taken sick, I proposed to him
to remain behind he said, "Brother Joseph let me
go with you if I die on the road." I told him
in the name of the Lord if that was his faith, to
go on his bed in the wagon and he whould
get better every day untill he recovered, which was
literally fulfilled. We reorganized the camp, I was
acknowledged the Commander-in-chief, Lyman
Wight General; I chose twenty men for my life guard
consisting of two companies, (my brother Hiram
was chosen captain of the first ten, and Roger Orton

captain of the second, and Gorge A. Smith my
armor bearer, F. G. Willams quarter master,
Z. Snow commissary, Nathan Tanner assistant,
Sylvester Smith adjutant, the remainder of the
camp was organized into companies of ten.
While at Salt River General Wight marsheled the
camp on the prairie and inspected our fire locks
ordered the discharge of the same at targets by plat-
toons, drilled us half a day, and about this
time I dispatched Elders Orson Hyde and Parley
P. Pratt to Jefferson City with a message to
Governer Dunken, to ascertain if he was ready to
fulfill the proposition which he had previously
made to the brotherin to reinstate them on their
lands in Jackson County, and leave them there
to defend themselves. June 4^th Governer Dunken
wrote to W. W. Phelps and others, as follows; Mailed
at City of Jefferson 9^th June 1835 [1834]. Herewith you
have a second order for the delivery of your arms now
in the possession of the Milita of Jackson County.
Col. Lucus has resigned his command he informs
me; If Lut. Col. Pitcher should be arrested before
you receive this, you will please hold up the order
untill I am informed who may be appointed
to the command of the regiment,
Respectfully,
Danial Dunken,

The foregoing letter endorced the following order
City of Jefferson June 4^th 1834,

Thomas Pitcher, Lut. Col. Commandant,
of the 33^rd Regiment,

Sir,
On the 2^nd
day of last May I showed an order to Col.
Lucas to deliver the fifty two guns and one
pistol, which you received from the Mormons on
the 5^th day of November last, and reported to him
on the 3^rd day of the succeeding December to W.
W. Felps, E. Patridge, John Corrill, John Whitmer,
and A. L. Gilbert on their order; On the 24 ultimo
Col. Lucus wrote and informed me that he had
resigned his Commission, and left the County
of Jackson. You as Commandant of said regi-
ment are therefore commanded to collect the
said arms if they are not already in your posession,
and deliver them to the aforesaid gentlemen, on
their order.

Respectfully,
Danial Dunken,
Commander in Chief,

The following day Judge Ryland wrote the follo-
ing,

Richmond 10^th June 1834,

Sir,
Deeply impressed with a desire

to do all in my power to settle or allay the
difficulties between the Mormons and the Citizens
of Jackson County. I have concluded that it
might have some tendency to affectuate this
object by having the Mormons called togather
at Liberty next Monday, and there explain to
them my notions and views of their present
situation, and of the circumstances attendant,
I therefore request you to use all your influence
with your brotherin to get them to meet me on
next Monday in Liberty. I much fear and
dread the consequences that are yet to ensue unless
I should succeed in my wishes to restore peace.
It is the duty of all good men to use all proper
and laudible means to establish peace. I expect a
deputation of some of the most respectable citizens
of Jackson County will meet me on Monday next
at Libert, I call upon you in the name of hu-
manity therefore to leave no effects untried to
collect your brotherin at Liberty as requested.
Should my efforts to make peace fail of suc-
cess there can at least be no wrong Sir in
the attempt, and I [s]hall enjoy the concelation
of having done my duty as a man as
well as a christian. I hope Sir, you will
duly appricate the motive which prompts
me to address this letter to you, and will

aid me with all your influence with your
brotherin in the prosecution of an object so much
to be desired by all good men, and citizens,
Yours very respectfully,
John F. Ryland.

June 12, 1834 ~ Thursday

June 13, 1834 ~ Friday

horses, as he was one of my life guards, and it
belonged to Roger to see that the teams were
attended to, but as the team was Kimball's, and
he had taken the care of it all through, Ortons
still threw the care on him. The Silver grey company
numbering fourteen were attached to my mess
making it twenty eight in numbers.

June 14, 1834 ~ Saturday

Hon. J. F. Rayland, Near Liberty, 14 June 1835^4^
Dear Sir,
Your communication
of the 9^th I'nst, from Richmond, was duly
received, and at a public meeting of our society
this day its contents made known, our brotherin
unanimously rendered their thanks for the

laudible disposition manifested on your part
to effect peace between our society and the inhabitants
of Jackson County, and as many as can con-
veniently will be present on Monday next. Entertaining
some fears that your honor in his zeal for peace
might unwarily recommend a sale of our lands
in Jackson County we have thought it expedient
to give reasonable notice that no such proposition
could reasonable be consented to by our Society
we have not heard that it was the intention of
your honor to urge any such measure, but our
enemies in Jackson County have long been
trying to effect this object. In a letter from
the Governer he says "I have been requested to
advice the Mormons to sell out and move
away but beliving that it could have no good
effect, I have withheld my advice." We give
this quotation from the Governer's letter to
disprove the statement made in the Upper
Missouri Enquirer of last Wednsday, and
conclude by adding that home is home, and
we want possession of our homes from which
we have been wickedly expelled, and thoes
rights which belonge to us, as natural free-born
citizens of the United States.

We are respectfully your friends and servant,
A. S. Gilbert (Sect) John Corrill (Chair)
Chairman

The foregowing was inclosed in the following
letter to their Lawyers,

Gentlemen,
Will you be so good
as to read the inclosed then seal and hand to
the Judge. We have given him an early hint
fearing that he might be induced by the sol-
icitation of our enemies to prepare a sale of our
lands, which you well know whould be like
selling our children into slavery, and urging of
such a measure whould avail nothing unless to
produce an excitement against us in this country
as requested last Thursday. We hope you will
be present on Monday.

Your friends and servants,
John Corrill, A. S. Gilbert

June 15, 1834 ~ Sunday

feeling and prejudice that exhisted against
us in Missouri in all quarters, but it gave
us great satisfaction to receive intellagence from
him of the union and good feelings that
prevailed among the brotherin; as we were in
perrils and threatened all the while we were
muched troubled to get provissions, and had
to live on corn meal principly, and was glad
to get that. Here Dean Gould was baptized
by Lyman Wight.

June 16, 1834 ~ Monday

bare feet, he received a bite on his left foot, it
was communicated to me, and I took accasion
to reprove him, and exhorted the brotherin never
to trifle with the promises of God, I told them
it was presumption for any one to provoke
a serpant to bite him, but if a man of God,
was accidentaly bitten by a poisonous serpant
he might have faith or his brotherin might
have faith for him so that the Lord whould
hear his prayer, and he might be healed, but
when a man designedly provokes a serpant to
bite him the principle is the same as when a
man drinks deadly poison knowing it to be
such, in that case no man has claim on
the promises of God to be healed. The citizens of
Clay County (to the number of eight hundred
or a thousand among whom were the brotherin)
assembled at the Court-house in Liberty agree
ably to the request of Judge Rayland in his
letter of the 10^th instant, where they met Judge Raynald
and a deputation from Jackson who presented
the following propositions of the people of Jackson
County to the Mormons,

The undersigned Committee being fully
authorized by the people of Jackson County,
hereby propose to the Mormons that they will

buy all the lands that the said Mormons
own in the County of Jackson and also
all the improvements which the said Mormons
had on any of the public lands in said
County of Jackson as they exhisted before the
first disturbance between the people of Jackson
and the Mormons, and for such as they have
made since. They further more propose that the
valuation of said land and improvements shall
be ascertained by three disintrested inhabitants to
be chosen and agreed to by both parties. They
further propose that should the parties disagree
in the choice of arbitraters then ; ; ; ; is to choose
them. They further more propose that twelve
of the Mormons shall go along with the arbi-
trators to show them the land and improvements
while valueing the same, and such others of
the Mormons as the arbitrators shall want to
do so to give them information, and the people
of Jackson County garentee their entire safety
while doeing so, they further propose that
when the arbitraters report the value of the land
and improvements as afore said, the people of
Jackson County will pay the valuation with
one hundred percent added thereon, to the
Mormons within thirty days thereafter. They further
propose that the Mormons are not to make

any effort [e]verafter to settle either collectively or
individually within the limits of Jackson
County. The Mormons are to enter into bonds
to insure the conveyances of their lands in Jackson
County according to the above terms when the
payment shall be made and the committee
will enter into a like bond with such security
as may be deemed sufficient for the payment
of the money according to the above prepositions.
While the arbitrators are investigating and
deciding upon the matters preposed to
them, the Mormons are not to attempt to
enter Jackson County or to settle there except
such as are by the foregoing prepositions
permitted to go there. They further propose
that the people of Jackson County will sell all
their lands and improvements on public
lands in Jackson County to the Mormons
the valuation to be obtained in the same
manner the same percent in addition to
be paid, and the time the money is to
be paid is the same as the above set forth
re◊◊◊◊◊eth in our proposition to buy. The
Mormons to give good security for the payment
of the money, and the undersigned will to
give security that the land will
to the Mormons. They further propose that all

parties are to remain — — — — as they are till
the payment is made at which time the people
of Jackson County will give possession. Sign◊◊◊
(Signed) Samual C. Owens, John Davis,
Thomas Jeffress, Richard Frestoe, Smallwood
Noland, Thomas Hayton Sen., Robert Rickman,
Thomas Campbell, Abraham Mc Clellon. On
presentation of the foregowing Samual C Owens
made a flaming war speech, and Gen^l Doniphan
replied on the side of peace. The Rev^d Mr. Riley, a
baptist, made a hot speech against the Mormons
and said the Mormons had lived long enough in
Clay County and they must either clear out, or
be cleared out. Turnham the Moderator of the Meeting
answered in a masterly manner saying, "Let us be
republicans, let us honor our Country and not
disgrace it like Jackson County, for Gods sake
dont disfranchise or drive away the Mormons, they
are better citizens than many of the old inhabitants"
General Doniphan exclaimed, "Thats a fact, and as
the Mormons have armed themselves if they dont
fight they are cowards, I love to hear that they
have brotherin comeing to their assistance, grater
love can no man show, than he who lays down
his life for his brotherin." At this critical instant,
the cocking of pistols, the jingle of insterments of death,
[blank] desperation, one motioned "adjourn"

another "go on", and in the midst of this awful
crisis a person bawled into to doors "a man stabbed"
the mass instantly rushed to the spot, in hopes,
as some said that one damed Mormon had got
killed, but as good luck whould have it, only one
Missourian had dirked another, (one Colbert a
blacksmith had stabbed one Males, who had
previously whipped one Mormon nearly to death
and boasted of having whipped many more.) the
wound was dangerous and as the Lord was there
it seemed as though the occurance was nessary
to brake up the meeting without further bloodshed
and give the Saints a chance to consult what
whould be most advisable in such a critical
instant, and they amediately penned the following
answer to the propositions from Jackson County,
presented by Owens &c.,

Gentlemen,
Your propositions for an
adjustment of the difficulties between the Citizens
of Jackson County, and the Mormons is before
us, and as explained in the Court House this day,
we are not authorised to say to you that our
brotherin will submit to your proposel, but we
agree to spread general notice, and call a meeting
of our people in all, the present week, and lay before

you an answer as soon as Saturday or Monday
next. We can say for ourselves and in behalf of
our brotherin that peace is what we desire, and what
we dispose to cultivate with all men, and to effect
peace we feel disposed to use all our influence as
far as it whould be required at our hands, as
free common citizens of the United States, and
as fears have been expressed that we designed to
commence hostilities against the inhabitants of
Jackson County, we have pledged ourselves to
them, and to the hospitable Citizens of Clay County
that we will not, neither had designed as a people
to commence hostilities against the afore said
Citizens of Jackson County, or any other people.
Our answer shall be handed to Judge Turnham
the Chairman of the Meeting even earlier than
the time before stated if possiable.

(Signed) W. W. Felps, A. S. Gilbert, Willam E.
Lettin, John Coarill, Isaace Morley.

NB. as we are informed that a large number
of our people are on their way removing to Jackson
County, we agree to use our influence amediately
to prevent said company from entering into
Jackson County untill you shall receive an
answer to the proposition afore named.
It may be thought at first view that the
mob committee made a fair proposition

to the Saints in offering to buy their lands at
one hundred percent in thirty days and offering
their`s on the same terms, but when it is understood
that the mob held possession of a much larger quantity
of land than the Saints and that they only offered
thirty days for the payment having previously rob[b]ed
them of nearly every thing that they had, it whould
be readily seen that they were only making a sham
to cover their previous unlawful conduct, but the
tempest of an immediate conflict seemed to be checked
and the Jackson Mob to the number of about fifteen
with Samual E. Owens and James Campbell,
at their head started for Independance Jackson
County to raise an army sufficient to meet me
before I could get into Clay County. Campbell
swore as he adjusted his pistols in his holsters, "The
Eagles and Turkey buzzards shall eat my flesh if I
do not fire Joe Smith and his army so that their
skin will not hold shucks before two days are passed.
They went to the ferry and undertook to cross the
Missouri River after dark and the Angel of God
saw fit to sink the boat about the middle of the
river, and seven out of twelve that attempted to cross
were drowned. Thus suddenly and justly went
to their own place by water. Campbell was among
the missing he floated down the river some four or
five miles, and lodged upon a pile of drift wood

where the eagles, buzzards, ravens, crows and animals
ate his flesh from his bones, to fulfill his own
words, and left him a horriable looking skeleton
of God's vengeance which was discovered
about three weeks after by one Mr. Purtle.
Owens saved his life only after floating
four miles down stream where he lod-
ged upon an island, swam off to
shore, walked about daylight through
a field of settles, borrowed a mantle
from a woman to hide his shame
and slipped home rather shy of the
vengeance of God

June 17, 1834 ~ Tuesday

the prairie 8 or 10 miles. My brother Hy-
rum said he knew in the name of
the Lord that it was best to go on to
the prairie, and as he was my elder
brother, I thought best to heed his coun-
sel though some were murmuring in the
camp. We accordingly started. When Ly-
man Wight crossed the river he disap-
proved of our moving onto the prairie,
upon which Sylvester Smith placed him-
self in the road, turned back all that
he could by saying, "Are you following
your General, or some other man"? and
twenty staid behind with Lyman Wight.
We drove about 8 miles on the prairie
and encamped out of sight of timber.
The sun apparently went down and
rose again in the grass. Our company
had filled a couple of empty pow-
der kegs with water which tasted so
bad we could not drink it, and all
the water we had was out of a
slough filled with red living animals,
and was putrid. About eleven o'clock
Lyman Wight arrived with the company
that had remained with him. I
called them together and reproved them
for tarrying behind and not obeying

my counsel, and told Lyman Wight never
to do so again. He promised to stand
by me forever and never forsake me
again let the consequences be what it
would; but Sylvester Smith manifested
very refractory feelings.

June 18, 1834 ~ Wednesday

After our 10 o'clock breakfast we
passed on to within one mile of
Richmond. We encamped in a very
small prairie surrounded by a thicket
of hazel brush. When I arrived where
the camp had pitched their tents
and viewed our unsafe location con-
sidering the danger of an attack
from our enemies, I almost forgot
my sickness, went some distance in
the brush, bowed down and prayed
my heavenly father to suffer no evil
to come upon us, but keep us safely
through the night. I obtained an
assurance that we should be safe
until morning. Notwithstanding the
fact that about 50 of the Jackson
County mob crossed the Lemington Fer-
ry that evening for the purpose of
joining the Clay County mob and of
making an attack upon us, all
was quiet in the camp through the
night. While the brethren were mak-
ing their bed in Capt. Brigham Young's
tent, one of them discovered a very
musical rattle snake which they were
about to kill. Capt. Young told them
not to hurt it, but to carry it out of

the tent when Br. Carpenter took it
in his hands carried it beyond all
danger and left it to enjoy its liberty,
telling it not to return.

June 19, 1834 ~ Thursday

man that will sell milk. I could
have let you had more if I had
known that you were coming"; and
he further said; "You have many ene-
mies about here and you may meet
with some trouble and it is a dam'd
shame that every man can't come
up and enjoy his religion and
everything else without being molested."
It was near noon when we fin-
ished our breakfast and we passed
on in fine spirits determined to go
through and meet the brethren in
Clay County. We travelled but a short
distance when one wagon broke down
and the wheels ran off from others
and there seemed to be many things to
hinder our progress although we strove
with all diligence to speed our way
forward. This evening we camped
on an elevated piece of land be-
tween Little Fishing and Big Fishing
Rivers which was(?) formed by seven
small streams or branches. As we hal-
ted and were making preparations
for the night, five men armed with
guns, two of whom had swords rode
into our camp and told us we should

"See hell enough before morning"; and
their accompanying oaths partook of
all the malice of demons. They
told us that sixty men were coming
from Richmond, Ray County, and
seventy more from Clay County to
join the Jackson County mob who
had sworn our utter destruction. The
weather was pleasant.

As Jazemiah B. Smith was taking
his bedding out of the wagon he
discovered a large rattle snake which
he had carried with him all day.

During the day the Jackson Co-
unty mob to the number of about
200 made arrangements to cross the
Missouri River above the mouth of
Fishing River at William's Ferry, into
Clay County and be ready to meet
the Richmond mob near Fishing
River ford for our utter destruction.
But after the first scow load of
about forty had been taken across
the river, the scow in returning was
met by a squall and had great
difficulty in reaching the Jackson
side by dark.

Wilford Woodruff states that "when

the five men entered our camp there
was not a cloud to be seen in
the whole heavens, but as the men
left the camp there was a small
black cloud appeared in the north-
west and it began to unroll itself
like a scroll and in a few min-
utes the whole heavens were covered
with a pall as black as ink. This
indicated a sudden storm which soon
broke upon us with wind, rain, thun-
der, lightning and hail. Our beds
were soon afloat and our tents blown
down over our heads. We all fled
into the Baptist Meeting House. As the
prophet Joseph came in shaking
the water from his hat and clothing
he said, "Boys, there is some mean-
ing in this—God is in the storm."
We sang praises to God and lay
all night on the benches under cover
while our enemies were in the pelting
storm. It was reported that the
mob cavalry who fled into the school-
house tried to hold their horses by the
bridles between the logs, but when
the heavy hail struck them, they all
broke away skinning the fingers of

those who held them. The horses fled
before the storm and were not found
for several days. It was reported
that the Captain of the company in
the school house said that it was a
d—d strange thing that they could
do nothing against the d—d Mormons
but what there must be a d—d hail
storm or some other d—d thing to
hinder them from doing anything.
But they did not feel disposed to
acknowledge that God was fighting
our battles."

The storm was tre-
mendous—wind and rain, hail and
thunder met them in great wrath and
soon softened their direful courage and
frustrated all their designs "to kill Joe
Smith and his army." Instead of
continuing firing, which they commenced,
they crowded under wagons, into hol-
low trees, filled one old shanty &c. and
when the storm was over their ammu-
nition was soaked; and the party in
Clay County were extremely anxious
in the morning to return to Jackson
having experienced the pitiless peltings
of the storm all night. And as soon
as arrangements could be made this

"forlorn hope" took the "back track" for
Independence to join the main body
of the mob, fully satisfied as were
the survivors of the company who
were drowned that when Jehovah fights,
they would rather be absent. The grati-
fication is too terrible.

Very little hail fell in our camp,
but from one half to one mile around
us the ^hail-^stones or lumps of ice cut down
the crops of corn and vegetation gen-
erally, even cutting limbs from trees
while the trees themselves were twisted
into withes by the wind. The light-
ning flashed incessantly which cau-
sed it to be so light in our camp
through the night that we could dis-
cern the most minute object. The roar-
ing of the thunder was tremendous.

The earth trembled and quaked,
the rain fell in torrents, and it
seemed as if the mandate of ven-
gence had gone forth from the God
of battles to protect his servants from
the destruction of their enemies, for
the hail fell on them and not on
us, and we suffered no harm ex-
cept the blowing down of some of

our tents and getting wet, while our
enemies had holes made in their
hats and otherwise received damage
such as the breaking of their rifle-
stocks and the fleeing of their horses
through fear and pain. Many of
my little band received shelter in an
old meeting house through this night.
In the morning the water in Big
Fishing River was about forty feet deep
where the previous evening it was no
more than to our ankles: and our
enemies swore that the water rose thirty
feet in thirty minutes in the Little Fish-
ing River.

They reported that one of their men
was killed by lightning, and that ano-
ther had his hand torn off by his
horse drawing his hand between the
logs of a corn crib while he was
holding him from the inside; and
they declared "If that was the way
God fought for the God damned Mor-
mons, they might as well go home
about their business."

June 20, 1834 ~ Friday

had near six hundred shots, very few
of which missed fire, which shows how
very careful the brethren had been in
taking care of their arms during the
storm. We went five miles on the prai-
rie where we could procure food for
ourselves and horses, and defend our-
selves from the rage of our enemies.

June 21, 1834 ~ Saturday

by our enemies for our religion, and
that we had come one thousand
miles to assist our brethren to bring
them clothing, &c and to reinstate them
upon their own lands, and that we
had no intention to molest or injure
any people, but to administer to the
wants of our afflicted friends; and
that the evil reports circulated about
us were false and got up by our
enemies to procure our destruction.
When I had closed a lengthy speech
the spirit of which melted them into
compassion they arose and offered me
their hands and said they would
use their influence to allay the excite-
ment which every where prevailed aga-
inst us, and they wept when they
heard of our afflictions and perse-
cutions and that our intentions were
good. Accordingly they went forth
among the people and made unwear-
ied exertions to allay the excitement.

Bris. Ezra Thayre and Joseph Hancock
were ^(are)^ sick with the cholera. Thomas
Hays was taken sick today (this is
fulfillment of the prophecy given June
3^rd). The brethren in Clay County wrote

the same day the following to the com-
mitte of the Jackson County mob.

Clay Co. 21^st, June, 1834.
Gentlemen: —

Your propositions
of Monday last have been generally
made known to our people, and
we are instructed to inform you
that they cannot be acceeded to.

Honorable propositions to you are
now making on our part, and we
think we shall be enable to deliver the
same to you the early part of next
week.

We are happy to have it in our
power to give you assurances that
our brethren here together with those
who have arrived from the east are
unanimously disposed to make every
sacrifice for an honorable adjustment
of our differences that could be requir-
ed of free citizens of the United States.

Negotiations at the camp are now
going on between some gentlemen of
this county and our brethren, which
are calculated to allay the great
excitement in your county. We are
informed that the citizens of Jackson

entertain fears that our brethren in-
tend to invade their territory in a
hostile manner. We assure you that
their fears are groundless,—such is
not and never was our intention

Signid
W. W. Phelps
W. E. McLellian
A. S. Gilbert
John Corrill
Isaac Morley.

To S. C. Owen and others of the
Jackson Co. Committee." ^*2nd page 70 follows this^

June 22, 1834 ~ Sunday

This is the first time that I had

been discovered or made known to my
enemies since I left Kirtland. Gil-
lium then gave us some instructions
concerning the manners, customs, and
dispositions of the people &c and what
course we ought to pursue to secure
their favor and protection, making
certain inquiries to which we replied;
these were afterward published and will
appear under date of publication.

I received the following revelation
given on Fishing River Mo., June 22^nd 1834.
^See Rev. June 22^nd 1834.^

1^st Verily I say unto you who have
assembled yourselves together that you
may learn my will concerning the
redemption of mine afflicted people.

2 Behold I say unto you were it not
for the transgressions of my people, speak-
ing concerning the Church, and not in-
dividuals, they might have been redeem-
ed even now; but behold they have not
learned to be obedient to the things
which I require at their hands but are
full of all manner of evil and do
not impart of their substance, as becom-
eth Saints, to the poor and afflicted
among them, and are not united ac-
cording to the union required by law [Doctrine and Covenants 105:1-5]

of the Celestial Kingdom and Zion
cannot be built up. [Doctrine and Covenants 105:1-5]

Previous to crossing the Mississippi,
I had called the camp together and
told them that in consequence of the
disobedience of some, who had been
unwilling to listen to my words, but
had rebelled, God had decreed that
sickness should come upon the camp
and if they did not repent and hum-
ble themselves before God, they should
die like sheep with the rot; that I
was sorry but could not help it; the
scourge must come, repentance and
humility may mitigate the chastisement
but cannot altogether avert it, as there
were some who would not give heed
to my words.

June 23, 1834 ~ Monday

Edward Partridge was called and
chosen to go to Kirtland and re-

ceive his endowments with power from
on high, and also to stand in his
office of Bishop to purchase lands
in the state of Missouri.

W^m. W. Phelps was called and
chosen to go to Kirtland and receive
his endowments with power from on
high and help carry on the printing
establishment in Kirtland until
Zion is redeemed.

Isaac Morley and John Corrill
were called and chosen, and it
was appointed unto them to receive
their endowments ^in Kirtland^ with power from
on high and assist in gathering
up the strength of the Lord's House and
preaching the Gospel.

John Whitmer and David Whitmer
were called and chosen and appoin-
ted to receive their endowments in
Kirtland and continue in their of-
fices.

Algernon S. Gilbert was called and
chosen and appointed to receive his en-
dowments in Kirtland as to assist
in gathering up the strength of the
Lords House and to proclaim the
everlasting Gospel until Zion is redeemed;

but he said he could not do it.

Peter Whitmer Jr., Simeon Carter, Newel
Knight, Parley P. Pratt, Christian Whit-
mer and Solomon Hancock were called
and chosen and it was appointed
unto them to receive their endowments
in Kirtland with power from on
high to assist in gathering up the
strength of the Lord's House, and to
preach the everlasting Gospel.

Thomas B. Marsh was called and
chosen; and it was appointed unto
him to receive his endowment in
Kirtland—his office to be made
known hereafter.

Lyman Wight was called and
chosen; and it was appointed unto
him to receive his endowments in
Kirtland with power from on high;
and to return to Zion and have
his office appointed unto him hereafter.

The same day the elders made
the following reply as before referred to,
to S. C. Owens and others, Committee
of the Jackson Mob.—

"We the undersigned committee
having full power and authority to
settle and adjust all matters and

differences existing between our people
or society and the inhabitants of Jackson
County upon honorable and constitutional
principles.

Therefore, if the said inhabitants of
Jackson County will not let us return to
our lands in peace, we are willing to
propose firstly:— That twelve disinterested
men, six to be chosen by our people and
six by the inhabitants of Jackson County,
and these twelve men shall say what
the sands [lands] of those men are worth in
that county who cannot consent to live
with us: and they shall receive their
money for the same in one year from
the time the treaty is made, and
none of our people shall enter the coun-
ty to reside till the money is paid.
The said twelve men shall have
power also to say what the damages
shall be for the injuries we have sus-
tained in the destruction of property and
in being driven from our possessions;
which amount of damages shall be
deducted from the amount for their lands.

Our object is peace, and an early
answer will be expected

(Signed) W. W. Phelps

Edward Partridge
John Corrill
Isaac Morley
John Whitmer
A. S. Gilbert

June 24, 1834 ~ Tuesday

When within five or six miles of
Liberty we were met by Gen. Atchison
and other gentlemen who desired us not
to go to Liberty because the feelings of
the people were so much enraged against
us. At their solicitations we changed
our course, wheeled to the left and cross-
ing the prairie and woodland came
to Br. A. S. Gilbert's residence and
encamped on the bank of Rush Creek
in Br. Barker's field.

^*^ This night the C^c^holera burst forth
upon us and about midnight it was
manifest in its most terrific form,—our
ears were saluted with cries and moan-
ings and lamentations on every hand.
Even those on guard fell to the earth
with their guns in their hands, so too—
sudden and powerful was the attack

of this terrible disease.

At the commencement I attempted
to lay on hands for their recovery
but I quickly learned by painful
experience that when the great Jehovah
decrees destruction upon any people
and makes known his determination,
man must not attempt to stay his
hand. The moment I attempted
to rebuke the disease, I was attacked;
it seized upon me like the talons of
a hawk, and I said to the brethren
if I had had my work done, you
would have had to tumble me into
the ground without a coffin; and had
I not desisted I must have saved the
life of my brother by the sacrifice of my
own.

June 25, 1834 ~ Wednesday

I wrote and sent by ex-
press to Messrs. Thornton, Doniphan, and
Atchison as follows:—

Rush Creek, Clay County,
June 25^th, 1834.

Gentlemen:—
Our company of men

advanced yesterday from their encamp-
ment beyond Fishing River to Rush Creek,
where their tents are again pitched. But
feeling disposed to adopt every pacific
measure that can be done without
jeopardizing our lives, to quiet the pre-
judices and fears of some part of the
citizens of this county, we have conclu-
ded that our company shall be imme-
diately dispersed, and continue so till
every effort for an adjustment of dif-
ferences between us and the people of
Jackson has been made on our part,
that would in any wise be required
of us by disinterested men of republican
principles.

I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Joseph Smith Jr.

N. B.—You are now corresponding with
the govenor, (as I am informed;) will
you do us the favor to acquaint him
of our efforts for a compromise. This in-
formation we want conveyed to the gove-
nor, inasmuch as his ears are stifled
with reports from Jackson, of our hostile
intentions, &c
J.S.

I left Rush Creek in company with
David Whitmer and two other brethren for
the western part of Clay County. While
traveling we called at the house of Mr.
Moss for a drink of water. The woman
of the house shouted from the door that
they had no water for Mormons—that
they were afraid of the Cholera &c; at
the same time throwing out her arms
as if defending herself from the cholera
in the form of a personage. We turned
and departed according to the command-
ment, and before a week had passed
the cholera entered that house and that
woman and three others of the family
were dead.

When the cholera made its appearance,
Elder John S. Carter was one of the first
who stepped forward to rebuke it, and
upon this was instantly seized, and be-
came the first victim in the camp. He
died about 6 o'clock in the afternoon; and
Seth Hitchcock died in about thirty min-
utes after. (and Erastus Rudd died about
the same moment although half a mile
distant; he was buried by Jesse Smith,
Geo. A. Smith and two or three others;
while burying him Jesse Smith was

attacked with the cholera.

As it was impossible to obtain cof-
fins, the brethren rolled the corpses in
blankets, carried them on a horse-sled
about half a mile, burrid them in the
bank of a small stream which empties
into Rush Creek, all of which was
accomplished by dark. When they had
returned from the burial, the brethren
united, covenanted and prayed, hop-
ing the disease would be staid; but
in vain, for while thus covenanting, Eber
Wilcox died; and while some were dig-
ging the grave, others stood sentry with
their fire arms, watching their enemies.

June 26, 1834 ~ Thursday

Sir,—
A company of our people
exceeding two hundred men arrived in this
county the 19^th inst. and encamped about
twelve miles from Liberty, where they were
met by several gentlemen from this and
Ray County, who went by request of the
people to ascertain the motives and de-
signs of our people in approaching this
county; and as the deputation was com-
posed of gentlemen who appeared to

possess humane and republican feelings,
our people were rejoiced at the opportu-
nity of an interchange of feelings, and
an open and frank avowal of all
their views and intentions in emigra-
ting to this country with their arms. A
full explanation having been given in a
public address by our brother Joseph Smith
Jr., which produced great satisfaction, the
same in substance was afterwards re-
duced in writing, and handed to the
aforesaid gentlemen, that it might be
made public, as the shedding of blood
is, and ever has been, foreign and
revolting to our feelings. For this reason,
we have patiently endured the greatest
indignities that freemen of this republic
have ever been called to suffer; and
we still continue to bear with heart-rend-
ings a deprivation of our rights, have
commenced negociations with the inhab-
itants of Jackson for a compromise; where-
in proposals on our part have been
made, which have been acknowledged
by every disinterested man to be highly
honorable and liberal. An answer to
our propositions has not yet been re-

ceived from Jackson.

If we fail in this attempt, we
intend to make another effort and go
all lengths that would be required by
human or divine law. As our propo-
sals and correspondence with the inha-
bitants of Jackson, will doubtless hereafter
be published, we think it unnecessary to
detail the same in this communication.
Our right to our soil in Jackson County
we shall forever claim, and to obtain
peaceful possession we are willing to
make great sacrifices. To allay excite-
ment in the county, the aforesaid com-
pany of emigrants have dispersed to
await the final end of all negotia-
tions that can be made with the said
county of Jackson.

Within the last week one of our
men being near the ferry, was seized
by some Jackson citizens, while in this
county, threatened with death if he
made resistance, and carried over the
river, prisoner to Independence, where
he was put under guard one day,
and after hearing many threats, was
liberated. The houses of several of our

brethren in this county have been forci-
bly entered by some of the inhabitants
of Jackson, and a number of guns
and small arms taken therefrom. Where
the men were absent from their houses,
loaded guns were presented to the fe-
males, and their lives threatened if they
made resistance, and ^as^ we have been
informed, and have no doubt of the
fact.
[rest of page blank]

Your second order for the restoration of
our arms was received last mail; we have
not yet done any thing with it. Hoping
that the influence of the inhabitants of Jack-
son County will materially lessen in the
surrounding counties and the pepoople be-
come more tranquil, we think it wisdom
to defer petitioning for a guard while
there exists a hope of a compromise, &c.

We believe that the President would ren-
der us assistance in obtaining possession of
our lands if aided by the executive of this
Stakte in a petition, and thereby put an
end to serious evils that are growing
out of the Jackson outrage. In a letter from
your Excellency of April 20^th, we had a word
on the subject of petitioning.

We should be pleased to hear further, and
would here observe that no communication
from the Executive, giving his opinion or ad-
vice, will be made public if requested not to
do so. We are Respectfully and with great
regard your Obt. Servants,

A. S. Gilbert,
W. W. Phelps.
John Corrill.

The drafting and signing of the above
was the last public act of that keeper of the

Lord's Store-House, Algernon S. Gilbert, for he
was attacked with the cholera the same day
and died about the 29^th, according to his
own words, that he would rather die, than
go forth to preach the gospel to the gentiles.

The following is from the chairman of
the committee of the Jackson Mob to our Lawyer.

Independence, Mo. June 26^th, 1834.

Mr. Amos Rees— Dear Sir:—
Since my return
from Liberty, I have been busily engaged
in conversing with the most influential men
of our county endeavoring to find out if
possible what kind of a compromise will
suit with the Mormons on their part. The people
here en masse I find out will do nothing
like acceeding to their last proposition. We will
have a meeting if possible on Monday next,
at which time the proposals of the Mormons
will be answered. In the mean time, I would
be glad that they, the Mormons would cast an
eye back of Clinton and see if that is not a
country calculated for them. Yours Respectfully,
S. C. Owens.

The cholera continued its ravages about
four days when a remedy for purging, vom-
iting and cramping was discovered; name-
ly: dipping the person afflicted in cold water

or pouring it upon them, and giving
them whiskey thickened with flour to the
consistence of starch. (Whiskey was the only
kind of spirits that could be procured at
this place). About sixty-eight of the saints
suffered from this disease, of which number
fourteen died, viz: John S. Carter, Eber Wilcox,
Seth Hitchcock, Erastus Rudd, Algernon Sidney
Gilbert, Alfred Jesse J. Smith, Warren Ingalls
Fisk, Edward Ives, Noah Johnson, Jesse B. Law-
son, Robert McDord, Elial Strong, Jesse J. Smith,
Warren Ingalls and Betsey Parrish. Among the
most active of those that were engaged in
taking care of the sick at the camp, burying
the dead, &c were John D. Parker, John Tanner,
Nathan Tanner, Joseph B. Nobles, Brigham Young,
Joseph Young, Heber C. Kimball, Luke Johnson,
and Eleazer Miller.

I sent Hiram Page with instructions to bring
Jesse J. Smith and Geo. A. Smith to me at all
hazards to the west part of the country, having
had intimations that they were sick, he found
that Jesse had been severely racked with the
cholera all day, Geo. A. Smith had taken care
of him for upwards of thirty hours. Dr. Wil-
liams decided that the cholera had left him
and would recover if not moved, on the
morning of the 28^th, Geo. A. Smith was attack-

ed and was immediately mounted on a
hard riding horse, rode 15 miles and came
to me.

The last days of June I spent with my
old Jackson County friends in the western part
of Clay County.

July 1, 1834 ~ Tuesday

covenanted with uplifted hands to Heaven
that they would humble themselves the Lord
and keep his commandments and obey the
counsel of the Prophet, the power of God rested
upon them and we were all bathed in tears.
There was not another case of cholera among
the saints from that hour."

This day the "Enquirer" published the cor-
respondence between the Sheriff and the Camp,
of the 22^nd of June, as follows:

"Being a citizen of Clay County and knowing
that there is considerable excitement amongst
the people thereof; and also knowing that
different reports are arriving almost hourly,
and being requested by the Hon. J. F. Ryland
to meet the Mormons under arms, and ob-
tain from the leaders thereof the correctness of
the various reports in circulation, the true in-
tent and meaning of their present movemen-
ts, and their views generally regarding the
difficulties existing between them and Jackson
County, I did in company with other gentle-
men call upon the said leaders of the
Mormons at their camp in Clay County,—and
now give to the people of Clay County their
written statement containing the substance of
what passed between us. (Signed) Cornelius Gillium.

Propositions &c of the Mormons.

Being called upon by the above named
gentlemen at our camp in Clay County to
ascertain from the leaders of our men, our
intentions, views and designs in approaching
this county in the manner that we have; we
therefore the more cheerfully comply with their
request because we are called upon by gentle-
men of good feelings and who are disposed
for peace and an amicable adjustment of
the difficulties existing between us and the
people of Jackson County. The reports of our
intentions are various and have gone abroad
in a light calculated to arouse the feelings
of almost every man. For instance, one re-
port is that we intend to demolish the prin-
ting office in Liberty: another report is that
we intend crossing the Missouri River on Sun-
day next, and falling upon women and
children and slaying them: another is
that our men were employed to perform
this expedition being taken from manufac-
turing establishments in the East that had
closed business: another^lso^ that we carried a
flag bearing peace on one side and war or
blood on the other: and various others too nu-
merous to mention, all of which a plain

declaration of our intentions from under our
own hands will show are not correct.

In the first place it is not our intention
to commit hostilities against any man or
set of men. It is not our intention to in-
jure any mans person or property except
in defending ourselves. Our flag has been
exhibited to the above gentlemen who will be
able to describe it. Our men were not taken
from any manufacturing establishment. It
is our intention go back upon our Lands
in Jackson County by order of the Executive of
the State, if possible. We have brought our
arms with us for the purpose of self defence, as
it is well known to almost every man of
the State that we have every reason to put
ourselves in an attitude of defence, consider-
ing the abuse we have suffered in Jackson
County. We are anxious for a settlement
of the difficulties existing between us upon hon-
orable and Constitutional principles.

We are willing for twelve disinterested
men, six to be chosen by each party, and
these men shall say what the possessions
of those men are worth who cannot live
with us in the County; and they shall have
their money in one year; and none of

the Mormons shall enter that county to re-
side until the money is paid. The damages
that we have sustained in consequence
of being driven away, shall also be left to
the above twelve men; or they may all live
in the county if they choose and we will
never molest them if they will let us alone
and permit us to enjoy our rights. We want
to live in peace with all men; and equal
rights is all we ask. We wish to become
permanent citizens of this state and wish to
bear our proportion in support of the govern-
ment and to be protected by its laws. If the
above propositions are complied with, we are
willing to give security on our part; and
we shall want the same of the people of
Jackson County for the performance of this
agreement. We do not wish to settle down in
a body except where we can purchase the
lands with money; for to take possession by
conquest, or the shedding of blood, is entirely
foreign to our feelings. The shedding of blood
we shall not be guilty of until all just
and honorable means among men prove
insufficient to restore peace. (Signed) Joseph Smith
Jr. F. G. Williams, Lyman Wight, Roger Orton,
Orson Hyde, John S. Carter, June 21^st
(over)

To John Lincoln, Geo. R. Morehead }
John Sconce, James H. Long, James Collins }

July 3, 1834 ~ Thursday

David Whitmer was elected President and William
W. Phelps and John Whitmer assistant presidents.

The following High Priests namely, Christian
Whitmer, Newel Knight, Lyman Wight, Calvin
Beebe, William E. McLellin, Solomon Hancock,
Thomas B. Marsh, Simeon Carter, Parley P. Pratt,
Orson Pratt, John Murdock and Levi Jackman
were appointed counsellors and the Council ad-
journed to Monday. Frederick G. Williams was
clerk of the meeting.

I authorized General Lyman Wight to give
a discharge to every man of the camp who
had proved himself faithful, certifying that
fact, and giving him leave to return home.

From this time I continued to give instructions
to the members of the High Council, Elders, those

who had traveled in the Camp with me, and
such others as desired information, until the
7^th when the Council assembled according to ad-
journment at the house of Elder Lyman Wight,
present fifteen High Priests, eight elders, four Priests,
eight Teachers, three deacons and - - members.
After singing and prayer, I gave the Council
such instructions in relation to their high cal-
ling, as would enable them to proceed to min-
ister in their office, agreeable to the pattern here-
tofore given; read the revelation on the subject,
and told them that if I should now be taken
away, I had accomplished the great work
the Lord had laid upon me, and that which
I had desired of the Lord; and that I had
done my duty in organizing the High Council,
through which council the will of the Lord might
be known on all important occasions, in the
building up of Zion, and establishing truth in
the earth.

It was voted that those who were appoin-
ted on the third, should be confirmed in their
appointments. I then ordained David Whitmer
President, and W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer
assistants; and their twelve counsellors. The twelve
counselors then proceeded to cast lots to know
who should speak first, and the order of speaking

which resulted as follows, namely:
Simeon Carter No. 1 Parley P. Pratt No. 2
William McLellin " 3 Calvin Beebe " 4
Levi Jackman " 5 Solomon Hancock " 6
Christian Whitmer " 7 Newel Knight " 8
Orson Pratt " 9 Lyman Wight " 10
Thomas B. Marsh " 11 John Murdock " 12

Father Whitmer came forward and blessed
his three sons, namely: David, John and Cristian
Whitmer in the name of the Lord. Also Father
Knight blessed his son Newel. Bishop Partridge
stated to the council, that a greater responsibi-
lity rested upon him than before their organi-
zation, as it was not his privilege to counsel
with any of them except the council and his
own counsellors, and desired their prayers
that he might be enabled to act in righteous-
ness. I next presented the case of W. W. Phelps
to the Council to have their decision whether
he should take his family to Kirtland, and
if so, when he shall start, as it had been
deemed necessary for him to assist in the prin-
ting establishment. It was motioned and
carried that four of the counsellors speak on
the subject, two on each side, namely; Sime-
on Carter and William E. McLellin for the Plain-
tiff; and Parley Pratt and Calvin Beebe for the

Church. After hearing the pleas, the President
decided that it was the duty of W. W. Phelps to
go to Kirtland to assist in printing and that
his family remain in the region where they were,
and that he have an honorable discharge from
his station in Zion for a season. (as soon as he
can accomplish his business) signed by the Pres-
ident and Clerk.

It was then proposed by W. W. Phelps that
David Whitmer, the President of the Church in Zion,
should go to Kirtland and assist in promoting
the cause of Christ, as being one of the three Wit-
nesses. This case was argued by Levi Jackman
and Christian Whitmer in behalf of the plain-
tiff, and Solomon Hancock and Newel Knight
for the Church; after which it was decided, as
before, that Brother David Whitmer go to the
East and assist in the great work of the gath-
ering, and be his own judge as to leaving
his family or taking them with him. It was
also decided that John Whitmer and William
E. McLellin go east as soon as convenient. The
High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers, Deacons and
members present then covenanted with hands
uplifted to Heaven, that they would uphold
Brother David Whitmer as President in Zion
in my absence, and John Whitmer and

W. W. Phelps as assistant presidents or coun-
sellors, and myself as first President of the
Church; and to uphold one another by faith
and prayer.

Previous to entering into this covenant, and
in pursuance of the revelation to the Saints to
sue for, and proclaim peace to the ends of the
earth, the following appeal was written and san-
ctioned by the High Council and first Presiden-
cy of the Church at the foregoing sitting. Presi-
dent Whitmer closed the Council by prayer. F.
G. Williams was clerk.

An Appeal.

Whereas the Church of Christ, recently styled the
Church - - - - - of the Latter-Day Saints con-
tumeliously called "Mormons" or "Mormonites" has
suffered many privations, afflictions, persecutions
and losses on account of the religious belief and
faith of its members, which belief and faith
are founded in the revealed word of God, as
recorded in the holy Bible, or the Book of Mormon,
the revelations and commandments of our
Savior Jesus Christ; and whereas the said church
by revelation commenced removing to the wes-
tern boundaries of the State of Missouri, where
lands were purchased of the government, and

where it was caluculated to purchase of those
who were unwilling to reside with the Church
as a society, all lands that could be bought for
the purpose of building up a holy city unto God,
a New Jerusalem — a place which we were desirous
to call Zion, as we believe a place of refuge
from the scourge and plagues which are so
often mentioned in the Bible by the prophets
and apostles, that should be poured out upon
the earth in the last days; and whereas the
inhabitants of Jackson County, Missouri, have
leagued and combined against said church,
and have driven the Saints from their lands,
and taken their arms from them, and burn-
ed down many of their houses without any
provocation; and whereas we have petitioned
the Governor of this State, and the President
of the United States for the redress of wrongs,
(the law being put at defiance in Jackson Coun-
ty) and for redemption of rights, that we
might be legally repossessed of our lands and
property: and whereas the said inhabitants of
Jackson County, have not only bound them-
selves to keep us out of that county, but have
armed themselves cap a pie and even with can-
non for war: and whereas our people resi-
ding in the upper Missouri, have recently armed

themselves for military duty and self defence,
seeing their arms taken from them by the in-
habitants of Jackson County were purposely kept
from them; and whereas a number of the
members of the Church in the east have emi-
grated to this region of country to settle and
join their Brethren, with arms to answer the
military law, which has created some excite-
ment among the inhabitants of the upper
counties of this State, whereupon to show that
our object was only the peaceable possession of
our rights and property, and to purchase
more land in the regions round about, we met
a committee from Jackson County for compromise;
and our emigrating brethren met some gentle-
men from Clay and other counties to satisfy
them that their motives were good and their
object peace, which they did. and whereas the
propositions of the Jackson Committee could not
be accepted on our part because they proposed
to "buy or sell" and to sell our land would
amount to a denial of our faith, as that
land is the place where the Zion of God shall
stand according to our faith and belief in
the revelations of God, and upon which Is-
rael shall be gathered according to the Prophets:
and secondly the propositions were unfair

not withstanding they offered double price for our
lands, in thirty days, or sell theirs at the
same rate; for this plain reason that the
whole large county of Jackson would be as
thirty to one, or nearly so, in comparison with
the matter in question and in supposition, for
one thousand dollars, two thousand dollars
to our people, was asking for three hundred
thousand dollars, the exhorbitant sum of six
hundred thousand dollars, taking the land
rich and poor, in thirty days! with the reproach-
able, vicious, unamerican and unconstitutional
proviso that the committee on our part bind
themselves "That no Mormon should ever settle
in Jackson County": and whereas our committee
proposed to the said Jackson Committee (if they
would not grant us our rights otherwise) that
our people would buy the land of those that
were unwilling to live among our people in
that county, and pay them in one year; they
allowing the damage we have sustained in
the loss of a printing office, apparatus and
book work, houses, property, &c to come out of
the purchase money, but no answer returned:
and whereas to show our honest intentions
and awaken the friends of virtue, human-
ity and equal rights, it becomes our duty

to lay our case before the world to be weighed
in the balances of public opinion.

Now, therefore, as citizens of the United
States and leading Elders in the Church of
the Latter-Day Saints residing in the state
of Missouri, in behalf of the Church we the
undersigned do make this solemn appeal
to the people and constituted authorities of
this nation and to the ends of the earth,
for Peace; that we may have the privilege
of enjoying our religious rights and immu-
nities and worship God according to the
dictates of our own consciences as guaran-
teed to every citizen by the constitutions of the
national and State governments. That although
the laws have been broken arend are defied
in Jackson County, we may be enabled to re-
gain and enjoy our rights and property agree-
able to law in this boasted land of liberty.

Since the disgraceful combination of the
inhabitants of Jackson County has set the
law at defiance and put all hopes of
criminal prosecution against them in that
vicinage beyond the reach of judge and
jury, and left us but a distant expectation
of civil remuneration for the great amount
of damage we have sustained, necessity

compels us to complain to the world. And if
our cause and calamity are not sufficient to
excite the commisseration of the humane, and
open the hearts of the generous, and fire the
spirits of the patriotic, then has sympathy
lost herself in the wilderness and justice fled
from power; then has the dignity of the ermine
shrunk at the gigantic front of a mob, and
the sacred mantle of freedom been caught up
to Heaven where the weary are at rest and the
wicked cannot come.

To be obedient to the commandments of our
Lord and Savior, some of the leaders of the
Church commenced purchasing lands in the
western boundaries of the State of Missouri ac-
cording to the revelations of God, for the city of
Zion: in doing which no law was evaded,
no rights infringed nor no principle of reli-
gion neglected but the laudable foundation of
a glorious work begun for the salvation of
mankind in the last days agreeable to our
faith and according to the promises in the
sacred Scriptures of God.

We verily bielieve, knowing that the Nation-
al and State Constitutions, and the statute
laws of the land and the commandments
of the Lord allowed all men to worship as they

pleased, that we should be protected, not only
by all the laws of a free Republic, but by
every republican throughout the realms of
freedom.

The holy prophets had declared, "That it
should come to pass in the last days that
the mountain of the Lord's House should be
established in the top of the mountains and
should be exalted above the hills, and all na-
tions should flow unto it [Isaiah 2:2]. And many people
should go and say, come ye and let us go
up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house
of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of
his ways and we will walk in his paths;
for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem[Isaiah 2:3]." And
again it was said by Joel seemingly to
strengthen the faith of the Latter-Day Saints
in the above "That whosoever should call non
the name of the Lord, should be delivered, for
in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be de-
liverance as the Lord hath said, and in the
remnant whom the Lord shall call [Joel 2:32]." The
Book of Mormon which we hold equally sa-
cred with the Bible, says "That a new Jerusa-
lem shall be built upon this land unto the
remnant of the seed of Joseph, for the which

things there has been a type. [Ether 13:6]" In fact, all
the prophets from Moses to John the Revelator,
have spoken concerning these things, and
in all good faith, by direct revelation from
the Lord, as in days of old, we commenced
the glorious work, that a holy city — a new
Jerusalem, even Zion might be built up, and
a temple reared in this generation, where-
unto, as saith the Lord, all nations should be
invited. Firstly the rich and the learned, the
wise and the noble; and after that cometh
the day of his power. [Doctrine and Covenants 10-11] But the inhabitants of
Jackson County arrayed themselves against
us because of our faith and belief and des-
troyed our printing establishment, to prevent
the spread of the work, and drove men wom-
en and children from their lands, houses
and homes, to perish in the approaching
winter, while every blast carried the wailings
of women and the shrieks of children across
the wide spread prairie, sufficiently horrible
to draw tears from the savage or melt a heart
of stone!

Now that the world may know that our
faith in the work and word of the Lord is
firm and unshaken, and to show all nations,
kindreds, tongues and people that our object

is good, for the good of all, we come before the
great family of mankind for peace and ask
their hospitality and assistance for our comfort
and the preservation of our persons and property,
and solicit their charity for the great cause
of gGod. We are well aware that many slan-
derous reports and ridiculous stories are in cir-
culation against our religion and society, but
as wise men will hear both sides, and then
judge, we sincerely hope and trust that the
still, small voice of truth, will be heard and our
great revelations read and candidly compared
with the prophecies of the Bible, that the great
cause of our redeemer may be supported by
a liberal share of public opinion as well as the
unseen power of God. It will be seen by a
reference to the Book of Commandments, page
135, that the Lord has said to the Church, and
we meant to live by his words, "Let no man
break the law of the land, for he that keepeth the
Laws of God, hath no need to break the laws
of the land;"[Doctrine and Covenants 58:21] therefore as the people of God, we come
before the world and claim protection by law from
the common officers of justice in every neighborhood
where our people may be; we claim the same
at the hands of the governors of the several States
and of the President of the United States, and of

the friends of humanity and justice in every
clime and country on the globe.

By the desperate acts of the inhabitants of
Jackson County, many hundreds of American
Citizens are deprived of their lands and rights; and
it is reported that we mean to regain our posses-
sions, and even Jackson County "by the shedding of
blood"; but if any man will take the pains to
read the 1353^rd page of the Book of Commandments
he will find it there said, "Wherefore the land of
Zion shall not be obtained but by purchase, or by
blood, otherwise there is none inheritance for you.
And if by purchase behold you are blessed; and
if by blood, as you are forbidden to shed blood lo! your
enemies are upon you and you shall be scourged
from city to city and from synagogue to syna-
gogue, and but few shall stand to receive an
inheritance."[Doctrine and Covenants 63:29-31] So we declare that we have even
meant, and now mean to purchase the land
of our inheritance like all other honest men
of the government and of those who would
rather sell their farms than live in our society.
And as thousands have done before us, we
solicit the aid of the children of men, and
of government to help us obtain our rights in
Jackson County and the land whereon the Zion
of God, according to our faith, shall stand in

the last days, for the salvation and gathering
of Israel.

Let no man be alarmed because our soci-
ety has commenced gathering to build a city
and a house for the Lord as a refuge from
present evils and coming calamities. Our fore-
fathers came to the goodly land of America
to shun persecution and enjory their religious
opinions and rights as they thought proper;
and the Lord after much tribulation blessed
them and has said that we should continue
to importune for redress and redemption by the
hands of those who are placed as ruler and
are in authority over us, according to the laws
and constitution of the people, which he has suf-
fered to be establish and should be maintain-
ed for the rights and protection of all flesh
according to just and holy principles; that
every man act in doctrine and in principle
pertaining to futurity according to the moral
agency which the has given unto them; that
every man may be accountable for his own
sins in the day of Judgment; and for this
purpose he has established the constitution of
this land by the hands of wise men whom he
raised up unto this very purpose, and re-
deemed the land by the shedding of blood. [Doctrine and Covenants 101:76-78, 80]

Now we seek peace, and ask our rights
even regress and redemption at the hands of
the rulers of this nation; not only our lands
and property in Jackson County but for free
trade with all men and unmolested emigra-
tion to any part of the Union, and for our
inherent right to worship God as we please.

We ask the rights because they have been
taken from us, or abridged by the violence and
usurpation of the inhabitants of Jackson County.
As a people we hold ourselves amenable to
the laws of the land, and while the government
remains as it is, the right to emigrate from
State to State: from Territory to Territory: from
county to county, and from vicinity to vicinity,
is open to all men of whatsoever trade or creed,
without hindrance or molestation; and as
long as we are justifiable and honest in the
eyes of the law, we claim it, whether we remove
by single families or in bodies of hundreds, with
that of carrying the necessary arms and accou-
trements for military duty; and we believe
that all honest men who love their country
and their country's glory and have a wish to
see the law magnified and made honorable,
will not only help perpetuate the great legacy
of freedom that came unimparired from the

July 1834.

hands of our venerable fathers, to us, but they
will also protect us from insult and injury,
and aid the work of God, that they may
reap a reward in the regions of bliss, when
all men receive according to their works.

In relation to our distress, from the want
of our lands in Jackson County, and for the
want of the property destroyed by fire and waste,
rather than do any act contrary to law, we
solemnly appeal to the people with whom we
tarry, for protection from insult and harm;, and
for the comforts of life by labor, or otherwise, while
we seek peace and satisfaction of our enemies
through every possible and honorable means
which humanity can dictate or philanthrophy
urge, or religion require.

We are citizens of this republic, and we ask
our rights as republicans, not merely in our
restoration to our lands and property in Jackson
County, Missouri, but it being considered honest in
our faith, honest in our deal, and honest before
God, till by due course of law. We may be proved
otherwise, reserving the right of every man's be-
ing held amenable to the proper authority for
his own crimes and sins.

"Crowns won by blood, by blood must be main-
tained," and to avoid blood and strife, and

more fully satisfy the world that our object
is peace and good will to all mankind, we
hereby appeal for peace to the ends of the earth,
and ask the protection of all people while we
use every fair means in our power to obtain
our rights and immunities without force; set-
ting an example for all true believers that we
will not yield our faith and principles, for
any earthly considerations whereby a precedent
might be established, that a majority may
crush any religious sect with impunity; know-
ing that if we give up our rights in Jackson
County, farewell to society! farewell to religion!
farewell to right! farewell to property! farewell to
life! the fate of our church now, might become
the fate of the Methodist next week, the Catholics
next month, and the overthrow of all societies
next year; leaving nation after nation a wide
waste where reason and friendship once were!
Another and the great object which we mean
to help accomplish is the salvation of the
souls of men; and to bring to pass such a
glorious work, like many other religious denomi-
nations in all ages, we shall license Elders
to preach the everlasting Gospel to all nations
according to the great commandment of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as recorded in

St. Mathew: "Go ye therefore and teach all na-
tions, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Suon and of the Holy Ghost, teach-
ing them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and lo I am with you
always, even unto the end of the world."

Thus we shall send laborers into the Lord's
vineyard to gather wheat and prepare the earth
against the day when desolation shall be
poured out without measure; and as it now
is and ever has been considered one of the
most honorable and glorious employments of
men to carry good tidings to the nations,
so we shall expect the clemency of all men,
while we go forth for the last time to gather
Israel for the glory of God, that he may
suddenly come to his temple; that all na-
tions may come and worship in his pres-
ence, when there shall be none to molest or
make afraid, but the earth shall be filled
with his knowledge and glory. We live in
an age of fearful imagination, with all the
sincerity that common men are endowed with,
the Saints have labored without pay to instruct
the United States that the gathering had
commenced in the western boundaries of
Missouri, to build a holy city, where, as may

be seen in the 18^th chapter of Isaiah: "The present
should be brough[t] unto the Lord of Hosts of a
people scattered and peeled and from a people
terrible from their beginning hitherto; - - - - - - a
nation meeted out and trodden under foot;
whose land the rivers have spoiled;, to the peace
of the name of the Lord of Hosts the Mount
Zion." And how few have come forth rejoicing
that the hour of redemption! and some that
came have turned away, which may cause
thousands to exclaim amid the general confu-
sion and fright of the times, "Remember Lot's
Wife.[Luke 17:32]"

It would be a work of supercerogation to
labor to show the truth of the gathering of the
Children of Israel in these last days: For the
prophet told us long ago that it should no
more be said, "The Lord liveth that brought up
the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt,
but the Lord liveth that brought up the Chil-
dren of Israel from the land of the north
and from all the lands whither he had
driven them[Jeremiah 16:15];" and so it must be for the hon-
or and glory of God.

The faith and religion of the Latter-Day
Saints, are founded upon the old Scriptures,
the Book of Mormon, and direct revelation

from God, and while every event that transpires
around us, in evidence of the truth of them,
and an index that the great and terrible day
of the Lord is near, we intreat the philanthro-
pist, the moralist and the honorable men of
all creeds, and sects, to read our publications,
to examine the Bible, the Book of Mormon and
the Commandments, and listen to the fulness
of the gospel, and judge whether we are enti-
tled to the credit of the world, for honest motives
and true principles.

A cloud of bad omen seems to hang
over this generation. Men start up at the im-
pulse of the moment and defy and outstrip all
law, while the destroyer is also abroad in the
earth wasting flesh without measure and
none can stay his course. In the midst
of such portentious times, we feel an anxious
desire to prepare, and help others prepare for
coming events; and we candidly believe
that no honest man will put forth his
hand to stop the work of the Lord, or persecute
the Saints.

In the name of Jesus, we entreat the peo-
ple of this nation to pause before they reject
the words of the Lord, or his servants: These,
like all flesh, may be imperfect "But God is

pure hear ye him!

While we ask peace and protection for the
Saints, wherever they may be, we also solicit
the charity and benevolence of all the worthy
on earth, to purchase the righteous a holy
home, a place of rest and a land of peace,
believing that no man who knows he has
a soul will keep back his mite, but cast it in
for the benefit of Zion; thus when time is no
longer, he with all the ransomed of the Lord
may stand in the fulness of joy, and view
the grand pillar of Heaven, which was built
by the faith and charity of the Saints, beginning
at Adam with this motto in the base "Repent
and live" surrounded with a beautiful circle
sign supported by a cross, about midway up
its lofty column, staring the world in letters of
blood "The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand" and finished
with a plain top, towering up in the midst
of the celestial world, around which is written
by the finger of Jehovah: "Eternal Life is the great-
est gift of God."

Although we may fail to show all men
the truth of the fulness of the Gospel, yet we
hope to be able to convince some that we are
neither deluded nor fanatics, but like other
men have a claim on the world for land

and for a living, as good and as great
as our venerable fathers had for indepen-
dence and liberty: that though the world has
been made to believe by false reports and
vague stories, that the Saints (called Mormons)
were meaner than the savages, still God has
been our help in time of trouble and has
provided for us in due season; and to use
the language of Pope, he has let the work
"Spread undivided" and "operate unspent."

For the honor of our beloved country and
the continuation of its free government, we appeal
for peace; for an example of forbearance, and
the diffusion of the everlasting Gospel, we appeal
to the humanity of all nations; and for the
glory of God, before whom we must all answer
for the deeds done in life, and for the hope
of holiness hereafter, we mean to remain faith-
ful to the end, continuing to pray to the Lord
to spare us and the people from whatever is
evil and not calculated to humble us, and
prepare us for His presence and glory: at the
same time beseeching Him in the name of
Jesus to extend His blessings to whom he will,
and his mercy to all, till, by righteousness
the kingdoms of this world become fair as
the sun and clear as the moon. [Doctrine and Covenants 105:31] (over)

Missouri, United States}
July 1834.}

(Signed) W. W. Phelps.
David Whitmer
John Whitmer.
Edward Partridge
John Corrill
Isaac Morley
Parley P. Pratt.
Lyman Wight
Newel Knight
Thomas B. Marsh
Simeon Carter
Calvin Bebee.
[rest of page blank]

July 8, 1834 ~ Tuesday

July 9, 1834 ~ Wednesday

July 10, 1834 ~ Thursday

"Samuel C. Owens Esquire,
Sir:—
The last time I saw you
in Liberty you said that an answer to our
proposals, you thought, would be forwarded soon,
but it has not been done.

We are anxiously waiting to have a com-
promise effected if possible. Respecting our wheat
in Jackson County, can it be secured so that
we can receive the avails of it or not, seeing
we are at present prohibited the privilege.
John Corrill.
P.S. Please hand the following to Colonel Pitcher"

"Col. Thomas Pitcher. Liberty, July 10^th, 1834.
Sir:—
The following is a true copy of
and order from the Governor for our arms.

Have the goodness to return an answer

as soon as possible, that we may know whether
we can have the arms upon said order, or
not, also when. Send where we can receive them
and we will appoint an agent to receive and
receipt the same. Be assured that we do not
wish to obtain them from any hostile inten-
tions, but merely because the right of property
is ours. If I remember right, there is one gun
and a sword more then the order clalls for.
John Corrill."

There followed a copy of the Governor's order,
similar to that of the Governor to Col. Lucas of the
2^nd of May.

July 12, 1834 ~ Sunday

It was decided that Amasa Lyman as-
sist Lyman Wight in his mission of gathering the
strength of the Lord's House as I had appoin-
ted him.

July 31, 1834 ~ Thursday

and heard the report of Edward Partridge, Orson
Pratt, Zebedee Coltrin and Isaac Morley, concer-
ning the mission appointed them at the previous
council.

President David Whitmer gave the council
some good instruction; that it was their duty
to transact all business in order, and when
any case is brought forward for investigation
every member should be attentive and patient to
what is passing in all cases and avoid con-
fusion and contention, which is offensive in the
sight of the Lord. He also addressed the Elders
and said that it is not pleasing in the sight
of the Lord for any man to go forth to preach
the gospel of peace unless he is qualified to set
forth its principles in plainness to those he en-
deavors to instruct, and also the rules and regu-
lations of the Church of Latter Day Saints: for
just as a man is and as he teaches and
acts, so will his followers be, let them be ever
so full of notions and whims. He also ad-
dressed the congregation and told them that
it was not wisdom for the brethren to vote at
the approaching election, and the Council ac-
quiesced in the instruction of the President.

William W. Phelps proposed to the Council
to appoint a certain number of Elders to

hold public meetings in that section of coun-
try as often as should be deemed necessary to
teach the disciples how to escape the indigna-
tion of their enemies and keep in favor with
those who were friendly disposed and Simeon
Carter, John Corrill, Parley P. Pratt and Orson Pratt
were appointed by the unanimous voice of the
Council and congregation to fill the mission.

Elder Nathan West preferred charges against
Samuel Brown, High Priest, for teaching contrary
to counsel, namely; encouraging the brethren
in practicing gifts (speaking in tongues); in or-
daining Sylvester Hulet, High Priest, (without coun-
sel) in a clandestine manner; asserting that
he had obtained a witness of the Lord which
was a promise of performing the same, in
receiving the gift of tongues, which gift he had
never before received, but afterwards said that
he had been in possession of that gift for the
space of a year; and in seeming to under-
value the authority or righteousness of the High
Council by charging Elder West not to say
anything that would tend to prejudice
their minds that they might not judge
righteously. These charges were sustained by the
testimony of Leonard Rich, Charles English, Brother
Bruce, Edward Partridge, Hiram Page, Roxa Slade

Caleb Baldwin, and Silvester Hulet; and Pres-
ident David Whitmer gave the following decision
which was sanctioned by the Council.

According to testimony and the voice of the
Holy Spirit which is in us, we say unto you
that God in his infinite mercy doth yet grant
you a space for repentance, therefore if you
confess all the charges which have been alleged
against you, to be just and in a spirit that
we can receive it, then you can stand as
a private member in this Church; otherwise
we have no fellowship for you: and also that
the ordination of Sylvester Hulet by Samuel
Brown is illegal and not acknowledged by
us to be of God, therefore it is void and
of none effect." Brother Brown confessed the char-
ges and gave up his licences but retained his
membership. Council adjourned on the evening
of the first of August, but previous to adjourn-
ing the council gave the following letter to
the Elders appointed to visit the churches in
Clay Co. &c.

To the Latter Day Saints who have been
driven from the land of their inheritance and
also those who are gathering in the regions
round about in the western boundaries of
Missouri, the High Council established according

to the pattern given by our beloved Savior Jesus
Christ, send greeting:

Dear Brethren:—
We have appointed our
beloved brother and companion in tribulation,
John Corrill to meet you in the name of the
Lord Jesus. He in connection with others duly
appointed also, will visit you alternately for
the purpose of instructing you in the necessary
qualifications of the Latter Day Saints: that
they may be perfected, that the officers and
members of the body of Christ may become
very prayerful and very faithful, strictly keep-
ing all the commandments and walking
in holiness before the Lord continually. That
all that mean to have the "destroyer pass
over them as the children of Israel and not
slay them," [Doctrine and Covenants 89:21] may live according to the "Word
of Wisdom"; that the Saints by industry, dili-
gence and faithfulness and the prayer of faith,
may become purified, and enter upon their
inheritance to build up Zion according to the
word of the Lord.

We are sure if the Saints are very humble,
very watchful, and very prayerful, that few will
be deceived by those who have not authority
to teach, or who have not the spirit to teach

according to the power of the Holy Ghost, in
the Scriptures, lest any man's blood should
be required at your hands, we beseech you
as you value the salvation of souls, and
are within, to set an example worthy to be fol-
lowed by those without the Kingdom of our God
and His Christ, that peace by grace, and bles-
sings by righteousness may attend you till
you are sanctified and redeemed."

(Signed) Clay County, August 1^st, 1834.

About this time I arrived at Kirtland,
after a tedious journey in the midst of enemies,
mobs, cholera and excessively hot weather, hav-
ing parted from those whom I started with
on the 9^th ult. at different points of the journey.
[rest of page blank]

[page upside down]
HISTORIAN'S OFFICE.
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints.
[rest of page blank]