Fragments of Experience: Sixth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day SaintsVarious
Religion
Fragments of Experience: Sixth Book of the Faith-Promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints
Various
Latter Day Saints -- History; Young, Lorenzo Dow, 1807-1895
The man who shot Brother Obanion was a picket guard of the mob, who was
secreted in ambush by the roadside. Captain Patten was ahead of the
company.
As we neared the river the firing was somewhat lively. Captain Patten
turned to the left of the road, with a part of the command; Captain
Green and others turned to the right.
We were ordered to charge, which we did, to the bank of the river, when
the enemy broke and fled.
I snapped my gun twice at a man in a white blanket coat. While engaged
in repriming my gun, he got out of range.
A tall, powerful, Missourian sprang from under the bank of the river,
and, with a heavy sword in hand, rushed towards one of the brethren,
crying out, "Run, you devils, or die!"
The man he was making for was also armed with a sword, but was small
and poorly calculated to withstand the heavy blows of the Missourian.
He, however, succeeded in defend-himself until I ran to his aid, and
leveled my gun within two feet of his enemy, but it missed fire.
The Missourian turned on me. With nothing but the muzzle end of my
rifle to parry his rapid blows, my situation was perilous. The man
whom I had relieved, for some reason, did not come to the rescue. I
succeeded in parrying the blows of my enemy until he backed me to
the bank of the river. I could back no farther without going off the
perpendicular bank, eight or ten feet above the water. In a moment I
realized that my chances were very desperate. At this juncture the
Missourian raised his sword, apparently throwing all his strength and
energy into the act, as if intending to crush me with one desperate
blow.
As his arm extended I saw a hand pass down the back of his head and
between his shoulders. There was no other person visible, and I have
always believed that I saw the hand of the angel of the Lord interposed
for my deliverance. The arm of my enemy was paralyzed, and I had time
to extricate myself from the perilous situation I was in.
As soon as I had time to think, I felt that the inspiration of my
mother's promise had been again verified. The appearance of the hand,
to me, was real. I do not see how I could have been saved in the way I
was, without a providential interference.
As soon as I was out of danger, my attention was drawn to brother David
W. Patten, who lay on the ground a short distance from me, mortally
wounded. We hitched a pair of horses to a wagon, put brother Patten and
six other wounded men into it, and started for Far West.
A few miles from the battle ground we met the Prophet Joseph, with a
carriage and a company of horsemen. The wounded were taken to their
homes, and such care given them as circumstances would allow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account