"They have among them a company, considered true 'Mormons,' called the Danites, who have taken an oath to support the heads of the Church in all things that they say or do, whether right or wrong. Many, however, of this band are much dissatisfied with this oath, as being against moral and religious principles. On Saturday last, I am informed by the 'Mormons,' that they had a meeting at Far West at which they appointed a company of twelve, by the name of the 'Destruction Company,' for the purpose of burning and destroying, and that if the people of Buncombe came to do mischief upon the people of Caldwell, and committed depredations upon the 'Mormons,' they were to burn Buncombe; and if the people of Clay and Ray made any movement against them, this destroying company were to burn Liberty and Richmond. . . . The Prophet inculcates the notion, and it is believed by every true 'Mormon,' that Smith's prophecies are superior to the laws of the land. I have heard the Prophet say that he would yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies; and if he was not let alone, he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean; that like Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was, 'the Alcoran or the Sword;' so should it be eventually with us, 'Joseph Smith or the Sword.' These last statements were made during the last summer. The number of armed men at Adam-ondi-Ahman was between three and four hundred. "Thomas B. Marsh." "Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day herein written. "Henry Jacobs, J. P., "Ray County, Missouri." * * * * "Richmond, Missouri, October 24, 1838." _"Affidavit of Orson Hyde"_ "The most of the statements in the foregoing disclosure I know to be true; the remainder I believe to be true. "Orson Hyde." * * * * "Richmond, October 24, 1838." "Sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day above written. "Henry Jacobs, J. P."[4] General Atchison's Report to Boggs