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
But even this activity did not satisfy the ultra element among the
anti-Mormons, and at a meeting in Carthage, on Saturday, June 6,
resolutions drawn by Editor Sharp of the Signal expressed the belief
that many of the Mormons intended to remain in the state, charged that
they continued to commit depredations, and declared that the time
had come for the citizens of the counties affected to arm and equip
themselves for action. The Signal headed its editorial remarks on this
meeting, "War declared in Hancock."
When the news of the gathering at Carthage reached Nauvoo it created a
panic. The Mormons, lessened in number by the many departures, and with
their goods mostly packed for moving, were in no situation to repel
an attack; and they began hurrying to the ferry until the streets were
blocked with teams. The New Citizens, although the Carthage meeting had
appointed a committee to confer with them, were almost as much alarmed,
and those who could do so sent away their families, while several
merchants packed up their goods for safety. On Friday, June 12, the
committee of New Citizens met some 600 anti-Mormons who had assembled
near Carthage, and strenuously objected to their marching into Nauvoo.
As a sort of compromise, the force consented to rendezvous at Golden
Point, five miles south of Nauvoo, and there they arrived the next
day. This force, according to the Signal's own account, was a mere mob,
three-fourths of whom went there against their own judgment, and only to
try to prevent extreme measures. A committee was at once sent to Nauvoo
to confer with the New Citizens, but it met with a decided snubbing. The
Nauvoo people then sent a committee to the camp, with a proposition that
thirty men of the Antis march into the city, and leave three of their
number there to report on the progress of the Mormon exodus.
On Sunday morning, before any such agreement was reached, word came from
Nauvoo that Sheriff Backenstos had arrived there and enrolled a posse
of some 500 men, the New Citizens uniting with the Mormons for the
protection of the place. This led to an examination of the war supplies
of the Antis, and the discovery that they had only five rounds
of ammunition to a man, and one day's provision. Thereupon they
ingloriously broke camp and made off to Carthage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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