SAINTS MOVE TO CALDWELL COUNTY—PERSECUTIONS BEGIN ANEW—CAPTAIN BOGART AND HIS MOB—THE BATTLE—HAWN'S MILL MASSACRE—COLONEL HINKLE'S TREACHERY—THE BRETHREN IMPRISONED.
When the Saints were driven from Jackson county, the people of Clay county kindly permitted us an asylum in their midst and many individual acts of kindness might be recorded in their favor; but the more turbulent spirits among them began to stir up anger against us, and the smouldering embers of persecution began to show signs of blazing forth again. However, there were many gentlemen who were desirous of peace, and who tried to sooth and quell the spirit of mobocracy.
During June and July, 1836, meetings were held by our people as well as by those who desired our removal to some other locality, and it was finally decided, after due deliberation, that the Saints should again move. This time the place of refuge chosen was Caldwell Co., and immediately the exodus began.
My personal affairs were such that I could not move with the majority of the Saints but was compelled to remain until February, 1838, when I was able to leave Clay Co. entirely free of debt, and with a little means on hand. I felt much gratified, however, at being able to greet the Prophet Joseph, and several other brethren, who arrived in Far West with their families on the 14th of March following my arrival.
These brethren had come from Kirtland to shelter themselves from the heavy storm of persecution that had set in upon them there, and which was started by apostates. The mob had followed them on the road, armed, and with murder in their hearts. Frequently the brethren had to hide themselves in their wagons, their pursuers were so close upon them; and on two or three occasions they were together in the same house. Once they remained all night in the same building with only a partition between them, and the oaths and threats of their enemies could be distinctly heard. Late in the evening these fiends went into the room where the brethren were and examined them, but although they were very well acquainted with the brethren, they decided it was not them.
The Saints were not, however, destined to remain long in peace in Caldwell county. Their enemies who lived in the adjoining counties could not bear the idea of the "Mormons" becoming prosperous and they therefore began to arouse public indignation against them. Every unjust act of which wicked men could conceive was perpetrated against us in the vain hope that we would retaliate on our opposers, and thereby afford an excuse for extermination. But we calmly submitted to the numerous indignities heaped upon us, feeling that it was better to suffer wrong than to do wrong. Our people made many concessions to the mob in the hope of pacifying them, but it was useless.
In this instance, as in the Jackson county mobbings, the principal instigators were priests of various denominations. On the 24th of October, Captain Bogart, a Methodist priest, marched a company of men towards Far West with the avowed intention, to use his language, of giving our city "thunder and lightning" before noon of the next day. On receipt of this information from Brother Parson, who had watched the movements of Bogart, and seen him camp on Crooked river, a company of seventy-five volunteers went out to disperse the mob, and retake three prisoners, whom the mob had kidnapped from their homes, and to prevent the descent upon Far West.
On the following morning about daylight sixty of the brethren reached the ford on the Crooked river, and dismounting their horses left them in charge of a few brethren, and then went to look for the encampment. The enemy watched the approach of the brethren, and greeted them with a round of musketry. As soon as the brethren saw the position of the enemy Captain David W. Patten ordered a charge, and the two parties engaged in a hand to hand fight, when the enemy retreated, and while pursuing them Captain Patten was mortally wounded, two or three of the brethren were killed, and Bogart must have lost quite a number although he only reported one.
The report of this battle spread through the country and created quite an excitement. Rumors were afloat that Bogart's company had been massacred, and the whole country was in commotion. This was followed on the 27th by the infamous exterminating order of Governor Boggs. Before sufficient force could be collected to carry out Gov. Bogg's instructions, a party of men who had collected from Daviess, Ray, Livingston, Carroll, and Chariton counties, led by some of the principal men of those places, made a descent upon Hawn's Mill, where a company of our brethren and sisters were camped. The enemy numbered two hundred and forty mounted men. Immediately on riding up they poured a volley from a hundred guns into our little band who had principally taken refuge in the blacksmith shop. The massacre became general, and but few escaped the fury of those inhuman wretches. Boys, eight, nine, and twelve years old were murdered even while begging for mercy, and a young lady, while fleeing from the mob, was shot through the hand, and fell, fainting over a log, into which her would-be murderers lodged about twenty balls.
The mob now grew bolder and bolder, and committed depredations upon the settlements in Caldwell and Daviess counties, so that our people had to flee into Far West from all quarters to save themselves. Many could not get into houses, and had to take shelter in wagons, tents, and under bed-clothes, and while in this situation we had a severe snow storm, which rendered their sufferings intense.
On the 29th, the news reached the city that a large number of troops had advanced into our county, and committed great depredations. It was thought advisable to send out a company of about one hundred and fifty men to ascertain the situation of affairs. On the 30th, these troops showed themselves before the city, and immediately the brethren flew to arms, with the determination to defend their wives and children to the last extremity. The troops withdrew to about a mile from the town and camped, Those who had been sent out were on the other side of the troops but came into the city about sundown, in two parties. These brethren without going to their homes joined the ranks of the brethren, and assisted to barricade and fortify the town.
A white flag was sent by each party, but judge our surprise, when on enquiring their designs, our flag-bearer was informed that they wanted three men out of our city, and then they designed to massacre the rest.
The day following a flag was sent by the enemy, and some of our brethren went and learned that they were commissioned by the chief executive, and that their commission authorized them to exterminate the Mormonsen masse, and they had three thousand troops to carry these orders into effect.
Col. Hinkle went out to meet a flag of truce and secretly made arrangements to deliver up the Church leaders to be tried and punished; to have the property of the Saints delivered over to pay the expenses of the expedition and the damage done to them, and arranged that the Saints should leave the state, and their arms should be delivered up to the enemy.
In the evening the first step in this base treachery was taken. Col. Hinkle represented to Brother Joseph and others that the officers of the militia desired an interview in the hope that the matter might be settled without carrying out the exterminating order. They complied with the request, and were delivered up to the mob by Hinkle, and claimed as prisoners of war. They were put into a small hollow square, and strongly guarded; and the enemy set up a most horrid yell, and continued it for hours; the noise was past description, and had there been ten thousand wolves yelling for their prey it would not have been worse.
On the morning of November 1st, Hinkle took another step to carry out his nefarious designs. The bugle sounded for the brethren to assemble, armed and equipped. Every man went out well armed and was paraded and delivered over to the enemy. The brethren were surrounded and required to surrender their arms, and were then guarded all day while the rapacious soldiery went from house to house, plundering, pillaging, and destroying, and even driving many helpless women and children from their homes, and committing deeds even worse than these in some instances.
A court martial was held by the officers and priests, and without being heard in their own defense, the brethren were sentenced to be shot on Friday morning on the public square in Far West, in the presence of their wives and families. At this imprecedented action General Doniphan objected, saying he would have nothing to do with such cold-blooded actions, and he would draw off his brigade from the army. This probably saved the lives of the prisoners, as the sentence was changed and the prisoners were taken to Independence, Jackson county.
The designs of the enemy were, without doubt, to destroy the brethren when they arrived there, but the Lord did not suffer it, for their work was not yet finished. They were thrust into prison and held until a demand was made by General Clark to have them forwarded to Richmond, where they underwent a mock trial and were remanded to Liberty jail to await a further investigation.
On November 6th, General Clark paraded the brethren at Far West and delivered a most insulting speech, requiring the fulfillment of Col. Hinkle's stipulations in full, and telling us to get out of the state as quickly as possible; also that we need not look to see our prophet or his brethren any more who were in the hands of the militia, "for," said he, "their fate is fixed, their die is cast, their doom is sealed."
Although our arms had been taken from us and treaties made that we should remain in peace until the Spring, yet small parties of armed men, were continually making incursions into Caldwell county, insulting our women, driving off our stock, and plundering wherever they could get a chance. Even life was not held sacred, and Brothers Tanner and Carey were grossly misused while prisoners, the latter having his brains dashed out with a gun.
Our persecutions did not abate in the least and it seemed as though all hell was aroused to do us injury. The brethren confined in Liberty jail after being subjected to the most terrible indignities during their six month's imprisonment, finally succeeded in making their escape and soon joined the body of the Saints.
I MOVE TO COMMERCE—NO SAFETY FOR THE SAINTS—JOHN C. BENNETT'S WICKEDNESS—THREATS OF THE MOB—WE START FOR THE WEST—DEATH OF THE AUTHOR
Again I prepared to leave my home and with my family gather to Commerce, which was the place that had been chosen for the future location of the Saints. Some few families had already gone there and a nucleus of a "Mormon" town had been formed.
I soon selected a piece of ground and commenced to build a home for myself, but before many days had passed I was advised by Brother Joseph to assist in the erection of a flouring mill, so that the Saints might thereby be benefited. I therefore ceased my own operations and began the new labor to which I had been assigned. From that time until I left Nauvoo with the Saints to find a home in the barren wilds of Western America, I was engaged more or less in the building and working of grist and saw mills for the benefit of the Saints. Sometimes I was without the necessaries of life, being bereft of the food and clothing which my family needed; sometimes I was surrounded by not only the necessaries but also the comforts of life; sometimes I rejoiced in the society of my friends, and sometimes enemies surrounded me, seeking my destruction because of my religion. But in the midst of these varied circumstances I never felt to doubt the truth of the gospel or the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission.
The persecutions of the Saints in Missouri soon began to be re-enacted in Illinois, where large numbers of our people had settled and built up the beautiful city of Nauvoo. Our enemies of the former place would not allow us to enjoy peace in the latter, but did everything in their power to arouse public indignation against us. Men who professed to be members of the Church also turned away from the truth and sought to injure the work. Notable among this latter class was John C. Bennett. He came to Nauvoo and joined the Church; with considerable ostentation he brought himself before the people, and seemed to enter into the work with a whole-heartedness which was quite commendable. He was instrumental in obtaining the charter for Nauvoo, the legion and the university; was elected mayor of the city, major general of the legion, and chancelor of the university. He defended the Prophet Joseph by writing over thenon de plumeof "Joab, general in Israel," and was altogether a popular man, and run a rapid race. But he was only an adventurer, and his deeds of evil were eventually brought to light; for no sooner had he attained to these responsible positions than he sought to use the influence they gave him to accomplish his evil designs, and gave himself up to practices, not only diabolical in themselves but ruinous to the souls of those he entrapped. Thus he brought great scandal upon the Church, by seeking to destroy the innocent and virtuous; and when his acts were questioned by his intended victims he asserted that Joseph taught and sanctioned such doings. If his own assertions were not sufficient then he called on some of his tools—men he had in league with him—to bear testimony to his base lies. In this manner his deeds were brought to light, and then he used all his power to injure those whom he had before defended, and sought to bring about a renewal of the persecutions.
Through the instrumentality of persons of this class, the sufferings of the Saints were renewed. Many of the brethren were kidnapped from their homes and were abused in a most shameful manner, while others suffered imprisonment on trumped up charges that could not be sustained in court. One day the arrest of an apostate—Augustine Spencer—for an assault on his brother, Orson, was attempted in the neighborhood of Brother Joseph's home. Some trouble ensued and in the same Charles Foster attempted to shoot the prophet, who was near at hand. Both he and Higbee said they would consider themselves the favored of God if they could but kill "Joe Smith." Thus was our leader in constant danger for the sake of his religion, and from this time until his death, the horrors of which are known to all, on the 27th of June, 1844, his life was one continued scene of trial, hardship and persecution. His followers found no rest from their oppressors; they had no rights, according to popular judgment, that should be respected, and after we had agreed to leave Nauvoo and go to the Rocky Mountains, the mob would not leave us unmolested so that we could arrange our business. One man by the name of Bostwick came to the city to warn Amos Davis and others living there, but who did not belong to us, to move their stores out of the place if they wanted to save them, "for," said he, "this city shall be laid in ashes; and Brigham Young shall be taken if I have to go to hell to raise troops enough to take him." In this affair the Lord overruled in behalf of His people, for as this wicked man was returning to Madison he fell through the ice and was drowned; and as he was the leading man among our enemies around Madison it put an end to their operations.
The troops of Carthage, with the United States marshall at their head, were almost constantly in our city, with warrants for the apprehension of the twelve and others of the brethren. These warrants had been sworn out under false pretention, being nothing else but malicious and vexatious proceedings. But in vain did they search, for the Lord was our shield and our protector.
At one time these men attempted to search the temple, but the glory of God was there, and came upon them insomuch that they were glad to get out again.
Surrounded by such circumstances the Saints were glad to flee from their homes, feeling that it was much better to be at the mercy of the elements than that of a ruthless mob. Those therefore, who were able soon fitted themselves out and started to traverse the barren prairies in the west. I was blessed of the Lord insomuch that I was among the first to leave Illinois in search of another home.
We had, however, scarcely got beyond the reach of our enemies before an improper spirit began to manifest itself among the Saints caused by the actions of Wm. Miller who was a bishop in the Church. His conduct finally became so improper that he was called up before the high council and was censured for his unrighteous deeds, but this had scarcely any effect upon him, and he did not heed the counsels of his brethren at all. He finally returned to the companies that were behind us. He shortly afterwards apostatized.
We were, at this time, in a country which was claimed by the Indians, and where law and restraints were unknown. It was therefore necessary for us to use the utmost caution, so as not to enrage the owners of the soil. The Pawnees, Poneas, Sioux and other Indian tribes permitted us to pass through the country almost unmolested. We sought their friendship and they gave it, and many friendly meetings were held with our Lamanite brethren.
Brother Knight's journal ends here, his wife, Lydia, adding the following:
"On Monday morning, January 4th, 1847, Brother Knight, whose health had been failing for some time, did not arise as usual, and, on my going to him, he said, 'Lydia, I believe I shall go to rest this winter.' The next night he awoke with a severe pain in his right side, a fever had also set in, and he expressed himself to me that he did not expect to recover. From this time until the 10th of the month, the Elders came frequently and prayed for my husband. After each administration he would rally and be at case for a short time and then relapse again into suffering. I felt at last as if I could not endure his sufferings any longer, and that I ought not to hold him here. I knelt by his bed side, and with my hand upon his pale forehead asked my Heavenly Father to forgive my sins, and that the sufferings of my companion might cease, and if he was appointed unto death, and could not remain with us, that he might be quickly eased from pain and fall asleep in peace. Almost immediately all pain left him, and in a short time he sweetly fell asleep in death, without a struggle or a groan, at half past six on the morning of the 11th of January, 1847. His remains were interred at sun-set on the evening of the day he died.
"It was the 3rd of October, 1850, before I had the privilege of entering the valley, but my joy in arriving here has been unbounded."
Some apparent errors in punctuation (e.g. missing quotation marks) have been corrected as seemed appropriate.