The Missouri PersecutionsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Missouri Persecutions
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Missouri -- History -- 19th century
It will be a necessity that you hold a military court of inquiry in
Daviess County, and arrest the "Mormons," who have been guilty of
the late outrages committed towards the inhabitants of said county.
My instructions to you are to settle this whole matter completely if
possible before you disband your forces; if the "Mormons" are disposed
voluntarily to leave the State, of course it would be advisable in you
to promote that object in any way deemed proper. _The ring-leaders
ought by no means to be permitted to escape the punishment they merit._
As if inspired to new zeal by the receipt of this message, Clark
ordered General Wilson, who, in the meantime, had returned from Jackson
County, to go to Diahman and take charge of all the prisoners at that
place, and ascertain those who had committed "crimes," put them under
close guard, and when he moved to take them to Keytesville, the county
seat of Chariton County, and between seventy and eighty miles from
Diahman. A number of the brethren were taken prisoners at Diahman and
were examined before Judge Adam Black, one of the ringleaders of the
mob in bringing about the whole trouble. But even he was obliged to
acquit the brethren brought before him, as they were innocent of the
charges made against them. At the close of their examination, General
Wilson ordered all the saints to leave Diahman within ten days, with
permission to move into Caldwell County, and remain until spring, when
they were to leave the State.
A committee of twelve men were granted the privilege of moving about
freely between Far West and Diahman, with permission to move the corn
and household goods from the latter to the former place. The stock,
or the most of it, was taken possession of by the mob-militia. The
committee of twelve were to wear white badges on their hats in order
that they might be easily recognized by the forces that would be
detailed to watch the movements of the "Mormon" people.
By this arrangement the saints at Diahman were driven from their
comfortable homes to camp out through a long, dreary and severe winter
in their wagons and tents, by reason of which exposure many perished,
among whom were a number of delicate women and children.
CHAPTER XLIII.
A PROPHET'S REBUKE.
It is time now that we turn our attention to what befell Joseph Smith
and his fellow-prisoners. The first day from Far West they made twelve
miles, camping at night on Crooked River. A strong guard was placed
around the prisoners, who watched them closely.
The next morning the Prophet Joseph had a word of comfort for his
brethren. He spoke to each one quietly saying: "Be of good cheer,
brethren, the word of the Lord came to me last night that our lives
should be given us; and that whatever we might suffer during this
captivity, not one of our lives should be taken." [A]
[Footnote A: Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, page 210.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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