The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and ChildrenWaite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
History
The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and Children
Waite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
Latter Day Saint churches; Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
"By virtue of the authority thus vested in me, I have issued
and forwarded you a copy of my proclamation, forbidding the
entrance of armed forces into this Territory. This you have
disregarded. I now further direct that you retire forthwith
from the Territory by the same route you entered. Should you
deem this impracticable, and prefer to remain until spring in
the vicinity of your present encampment, Black Fork, or Green
River, you can do so in peace, and unmolested, on condition
that you deposit your arms and ammunition with Lewis Robinson,
Quartermaster-General of the Territory, and leave in the
spring, as soon as the condition of the roads will permit you
to march. And should you fall short of provisions, they can be
furnished you by making the proper applications therefor.
"Gen. D. H. Wells will forward this, and receive any
communications you may have to make.
"Very respectfully,
"BRIGHAM YOUNG;
"_Governor and Superintendent of
Indian Affairs, Utah Territory_
"To the Officer commanding the Forces
now invading Utah Territory."
The legitimate result of this violent and treasonable proclamation, as
might be supposed, was to incite the people to revenge and bloodshed.
Every man who could bear arms was at once taken from his usual avocation
and trained in the art of war. Clothing was at this time very scarce, as
no trains of goods had arrived from the States. The "sisters" were
called upon to make up every article which they could possibly spare
into uniforms for the troops. Accordingly the "brethren" appeared
arrayed in pieces of bed-quilts, carpets, and old clo' made over, and
presented to the eye as motley and miserable a crew as those of "the
right valiant Sir John Falstaff." If we look at the leaders of these
classical armies, however, the parallel fails. The chivalric Jack had at
least the courage to march at the head of his soldiers; while Brigham,
who acknowledges himself to be a natural coward, preferred to remain
snugly ensconced among his numerous wives and children. The Lion of the
Lord, though seemingly aroused, only shook himself and roared loudly
several times. He then quietly lay down, and remained thenceforth
_couchant_ during the war. With all the assurance and assumption of
Joseph Smith, he lacked his personal courage and manly daring.
But the rank and file of these "warriors of the Lord" lacked neither
courage nor enthusiasm. Their Zion was threatened,--their institutions
in danger,--and with the fire of revenge burning in their hearts, at the
remembrance of former injuries, they rushed forth, to conquer or to die.
Many joined their brethren in Echo Canyon, without even shoes to their
feet, wading through snows several feet deep. Such devotion and heroism
were worthy of a better cause.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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