This turned the tide of events and Lucas and his murderous colleagues began to hesitate and finally to reconsider their action. That General Lucas was acting under Governor Lilburn W. Boggs' orders is evident by the utterances made unto us who were compelled to assemble together on the public square at Far West, where we were harangued by General Clark at considerable length. The speech was very abusive, as can be learned by reading it farther on in this pamphlet. Before introducing the speech we will state a number of interesting facts which occurred about that time. There was in existence the Fifty-third Regiment of Missouri Militia, under the command of Col. George M. Hinkle, who held a commission signed by the Governor of the state. There was times of trouble when it became necessary for Colonel Hinkle to call out the militia, consequently our movements were in accordance with the laws of Missouri. On the 30th of October, 1838, Neil Gillam was at the head of a mob who were disguised as wild Indians. They were painted, and Gillam himself was arrayed as an Indian chief. The mob had been burning houses and driving the Mormons' stock away from their owners, taking prisoners, etc. Colonel Hinkle ordered out a company of militia, about 150 in number, to endeavor to learn the intentions of Gillam and others, who were camping on Log Creek, near Far West. I was one of those under Col. Hinkle, and we all were on horseback. We soon learned that their intentions were hostile. A flag of truce in the hands of Charles C. Rich was shot at during the day, and our company was cut off from Far West by a line of battle being formed between us and our homes. Colonel Hinkle returned from the front of our line with his military coat off, saying that there were hardly enough of us to allow a mouthful apiece for the numerous hosts before us. He seemed excited and fearfully frightened, and for this and other reasons I have always believed this accounted for his conduct on that occasion. We retreated fifteen miles (instead of five miles, from where we were), to Far West, arriving about the time the troops were nearing the city. They were marching with red flags, which were interspersed and mixed up with Gillam's command of painted faces. Our company coming into Far West on the gallop, created quite a sensation, as we were mistaken for the enemy coming in from two different points. We, however, soon proved ourselves to be friends, and were just in time to extend the line already formed in defense of the city. Our adversaries were in the ratio of about ten to one of us, which looked rather serious for a little handful of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet came along after our arrival and said: "Fear them not; God is for us, and there are more for us than there are against us [meaning the hosts of heaven were on our side.] God and liberty is the watchword," said Joseph. "Fear them not, for their hearts are cold as cucumbers."