The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
When the brethren from Far West were within two or three miles of this
encampment they dismounted, and, leaving their horses in the care of
a part of their company, the rest proceeded on foot to the brow of
the hill under which the mob was encamped. It must be remembered that
Captain Patten did not know the exact locality of the mob, but supposed
they had camped somewhere about the ford of the river. Near the brow of
the hill the companies separated, Patten's division going to the right,
Rich's to the left, and Durphy's between them. They were proceeding
along silently when suddenly the stillness was broken by some one
exclaiming, "Who comes there?" followed instantly by the sharp report
of a rifle, and a young man of the name of Patrick O'Banion reeled from
the ranks and fell, mortally wounded. Captain Patten ordered a charge
down the hillside upon the mob below, which was promptly obeyed. The
mob left their encampment and formed in a line under the bank of the
river. Patten's men formed in a line facing them, and the mob opened
fire, which was promptly answered by the brethren and then followed a
moment's silence, which was broken by C. C. Rich calling the watchwords:
_"God and Liberty."_
Patten ordered a second charge upon the enemy and then the fight was
hand to hand. The fight, however, was but of short duration; the mob
soon began leaping into the stream and making for the other side.
The late Judge Holbrook of Davis County, Utah, was struck at by a
fierce Missourian with a sword, but by throwing up his left arm he
saved his head, and before the mobber could recover himself the judge
had cut him down. Two of the hindmost men of the mob were pursued by
Captains Patten and Rich. The one followed by Patten suddenly wheeled
round and shot him in the bowels, and he fell mortally wounded. Gideon
Carter's face was so literally shot to pieces that he was almost
beyond recognition. Several others were wounded in this engagement,
about nine, I think, but they recovered. The mob had the advantage of
position in the engagement, as they formed under the bank of the river,
which answered all the purposes of a breastwork. It will be remembered
too that it was not yet daylight--the dawn was only just breaking in
the east when the fight began. The mob in their flight left their
horses and all their camp utensils. These the victors took charge of,
and making litters on which to carry their wounded and dying, they
started on the return to Far West. Several miles from Far West the
mournful train was met by a number of the brethren, among whom was the
Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum and the wife of Captain Patten.
Tender hands had carried him on a litter from the battle field, but he
suffered excruciating pains and asked to be laid down by the wayside
that he might die. He was taken to the house of a Brother Winchester
about three miles from Far West, where he died that night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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