History of the Prophet Joseph, by His MotherSmith, Lucy
History
History of the Prophet Joseph, by His Mother
Smith, Lucy
Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
every law of the land, and then leave the event with God. They
immediately started with Col. Hinkle to go down into the camp. As
they were going down, about half way to the camp, they met General
Lucas with a phalanx of men, with a wing to the right and to the
left, and a four-pounder in the center. They supposed he was coming
with this strong force to guard them into the camp in safety; but,
to their surprise, when they came up to General Lucas, he ordered
his men to surround them, and Hinkle stepped up to the general and
said, "These are the prisoners I agreed to deliver up." General
Lucas drew his sword, and said, "Gentlemen, you are my prisoners,"
and about that time the main army were on their march to meet
them. They came up in two divisions, and opened to the right and
left, and my brother and his friends were marched down through
their lines, with a strong guard in front, and the cannon in the
rear, to the camp, amidst the whoopings, hollowings, yellings, and
shoutings of the army, which were so horrid and terrific, that
they frightened the inhabitants of the city. It is impossible to
describe the feelings of horror and distress of the people. After
being thus betrayed, they were placed under a strong guard of
thirty men, armed _cap-a-pie_, which were relieved every two hours.
There they were compelled to lie on the cold ground that night,
and were told in plain language that they need never to expect
their liberties again. So far for their honors pledged. However,
this was as much as could be expected from a mob under the garb
of military and executive authority in the state of Missouri. On
the next day, the soldiers were permitted to patrol the streets,
to abuse and insult the people at their leisure, and enter into
houses and pillage them, and ravish the women, taking away every
gun, and every other kind of arms or military implements. And
about twelve o'clock that day, Col. Hinkle came to my house with
an armed force, opened the door, and called me out of doors and
delivered me up as a prisoner unto that force. They surrounded me
and commanded me to march into the camp. I told them that I could
not go, my family were sick, and I was sick myself, and could not
leave home. They said they did not care for that, I must and should
go. I asked when they would permit me to return. They made me no
answer, but forced me along with the point of the bayonet into
the camp, and put me under the same guard with my brother Joseph;
and within about half an hour afterwards, Amasa Lyman was also
brought, and placed under the same guard. There we were compelled
to stay all that night, and lie on the ground; but along some time
in the same night, Col. Hinkle came to me and told me that he had
been pleading my case before the court-martial, but he was afraid
he should not succeed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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