Major Warren's Proclamation Major W. B. Warren, who had been stationed in Hancock County with a small force, took up his quarters at Nauvoo by order of the governor and published a proclamation to the citizens of Hancock County attempting to quiet their opposition, in which, in part, he said: "I have been in Nauvoo with my detachment a week, and can say to you with perfect assurance, that the demonstrations made by the 'Mormon' population, are unequivocal. They are leaving the state, and preparing to leave, with every means that God and nature has placed in their hands. Five ferry boats are running at this place night and day, and many are crossing at Nashville and Fort Madison. This ought to be satisfactory. "The anti-'Mormons' desire the removal of the 'Mormons;' this is being effected peaceably, and with all possible dispatch. All aggressive movements, therefore, against them at this time, must be actuated by a wanton desire to shed blood, or to plunder. This course, I know, is deprecated by three-fourths of the anti-'Mormon' population, and must not be indulged in. I therefore exhort all good citizens to stay at home, with an assurance that they shall be duly advised of all movements which may take place, in which they feel interested. "A man near sixty years of age, living about seven miles from this place, was taken from his house a few nights since, stripped of his clothing, and his back cut to pieces with a whip, for no other reason than because he was a 'Mormon,' and too old to make successful resistance. Conduct of this kind would disgrace a horde of savages." A proclamation of this kind, issued by one who was himself none too friendly to the "Mormon" people, was without effect. At the time he wrote, John McAuley and Levi Williams--the latter a Baptist preacher, and one of the mob who took part in the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith--with a strong force were preparing to gather under arms, contrary to the proclamation of the governor to the effect that not more than four persons with arms should assemble together, other than the state troops. Though his force was small, Major Warren notified these mobbers that he had law and moral force on his side and was able to meet successfully any mob which could assemble in that county. He advised the "Mormons" to go on with their preparations to cross the river, as speedily as they could, and leave the fighting to him; if he should be overpowered, then they could recross the river and defend themselves and property. Kidnapping of Phineas H. Young and Others