History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 3Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 3
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
About eight o'clock a flag of truce was sent from the enemy, which was
met by several of our people, and it was hoped that matters would be
satisfactorily arranged after the officers had heard a true statement
of all the circumstances. Colonel Hinkle went to meet the flag, and
secretly made the following engagement: First, to give up their
[the Church's] leaders to be tried and punished; second, to make an
appropriation of the property of all who had taken up arms, for the
payment of their debts, and indemnify for the damage done by them;
third, that the remainder of the Saints should leave the state, and be
protected while doing so by the militia; but they were to be permitted
to remain under protection until further orders were received from the
commander-in-chief; fourth, to give up their arms of every description,
which would be receipted for.
[Sidenote: Reinforcement of the Mob.]
The enemy was reinforced by about one thousand five hundred men today,
and news of the destruction of property by the mob reached us from
every quarter.
[Sidenote: Betrayal of the Prophet _et al_.]
Towards evening I was waited upon by Colonel Hinkle, who stated that
the officers of the militia desired to have an interview with me and
some others, hoping that the difficulties might be settled without
having occasion to carry into effect the exterminating orders which
they had received from the governor. I immediately complied with the
request, and in {189} company with Elders Sidney Rigdon and Parley P.
Pratt, Colonel Wight and George W. Robinson, went into the camp of
the militia. But judge of my surprise, when, instead of being treated
with that respect which is due from one citizen to another, we were
taken as prisoners of war, and treated with the utmost contempt. [1]
The officers would not converse with us, and the soldiers, almost to a
man, insulted us as much as they felt disposed, breathing out threats
against me and my companions. I {190} cannot begin to tell the scene
which I there witnessed. The loud cries and yells of more than one
thousand voices, which rent the air and could be heard for miles,
and the horrid and blasphemous threats and curses which were poured
upon us in torrents, were enough to appall the stoutest heart. In the
evening we had to lie down on the cold ground, surrounded by a strong
guard, who were only kept back by the power of God from depriving us
of life. We petitioned the officers to know why we were thus treated,
but they utterly refused to give us any answer, or to converse with us.
After we arrived in the camp, Brother Stephen Winchester and eleven
other brethren who were prisoners, volunteered, with permission of the
officers, to carry Brother Carey into the city to his family, he having
lain exposed to the weather for a show to the inhuman wretches, without
having his wound dressed or being nourished in any manner. He died soon
after he reached home.
[Sidenote: The Prophet and Companions Condemned to be Shot.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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