The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901Linn, William Alexander
History
The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901
Linn, William Alexander
Latter Day Saints -- History; Utah -- History
"It [the Mormon insurrection] had for its object Dominion, the ultimate
subjugation of this State and the Union to the laws of a few men called
the Presidency. Their church was to be built up at any rate, peaceably
if they could, forcibly if necessary. These people had banded themselves
together in societies, the object of which was to first drive from their
society such as refused to join them in their unholy purposes, and then
to plunder the surrounding country, and ultimately to subject the state
to their rule."
"The whole number of the Mormons killed through the whole difficulty, so
far as I can ascertain, are about forty, and several wounded. There has
been one citizen killed, and about fifteen badly wounded."*
* "Correspondence, Orders, etc.," p. 92.
Brigadier General R. Wilson was sent with his command to settle the
Mormon question in Daviess County. Finding the town of Adamondi-Ahman
unguarded, he placed guards around it, and gathered in the Mormons of
the neighborhood, to the number of about two hundred. Most of these, he
explained in his report, were late comers from Canada and the northern
border of the United States, and were living mostly in tents, without
any adequate provision for the winter. Those against whom criminal
charges had been made were placed under arrest, and the others were
informed that General Wilson would protect them for ten days, and would
guarantee their safety to Caldwell County or out of the state. "This
appeared to me," said General Wilson, in his report to General Clark,
"to be the only course to prevent a general massacre." In this report
General Wilson presented the following picture of the situation there
as he found it: "It is perfectly impossible for me to convey to you
anything like the awful state of things which exists here--language is
inadequate to the task. The citizens of a whole county first plundered,
and then their houses and other buildings burnt to ashes; without
houses, beds, furniture, or even clothing in many instances, to meet the
inclemency of the weather. I confess that my feelings have been shocked
with the gross brutality of these Mormons, who have acted more like
demons from the infernal regions than human beings. Under these
circumstances, you will readily perceive that it would be perfectly
impossible for me to protect the Mormons against the just indignation of
the citizens.... The Mormons themselves appeared pleased with the idea
of getting away from their enemies and a justly insulted people, and I
believe all have applied and received permits to leave the county; and
I suppose about fifty families have left, and others are hourly leaving,
and at the end of ten days Mormonism will not be known in Daviess
county. This appeared to me to be the only course left to prevent a
general massacre."*
* "Correspondence, Orders, etc.," p. 78.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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