Not long now ere Governor Boggs found the opportunity for the grand expulsion of the entire Mormon community--from twelve to fifteen thousand souls. He issued an order for some ten thousand troops to be mustered into service and marched to the field against the Mormons, giving the command to General Clark. His order was expressly to _exterminate_ the Mormons, or drive them from the State. The army of extermination marched upon the city of Far West. The little Mormon host, about five hundred strong, marched out upon the plains on the south of the city, and formed in order of battle. Its line of infantry extended near half a mile; a small company of horse was posted on the right wing on a commanding eminence, and another in the rear of the main body extended as a reserve. The army of extermination halted and formed along the borders of a stream called Goose Creek; and both sides sent out white flags, which met between the armies. "We want three persons out of the city before we massacre the rest!" was the voice of the white flag from the governor's army. Small need this, for the flag of mercy! But it was as good as the mercy of Haun's Mill, which was given on the very same day. That night Major-General Lucas encamped near the city. The brethren continued under arms, and spent the night throwing up temporary breastworks. They were determined to defend their homes, wives and children to the last. Both armies were considerably reinforced during the night, the army of extermination being reinforced with the monsters from the Haun's Mill massacre. But the prophet and brethren were on the next day betrayed by the traitor Colonel George M. Hinkle, who was in command of the defence of Far West. Joseph was now a prisoner of war; Parley and others were prisoners also; Brigham was at Far West, but even he could not save the prophet and the saints from this formidable army, nor lessen the blow which a traitor had dealt. The treachery of Colonel Hinkle had, however, perhaps saved the lives of hundreds of women and children, and prevented brave men from fighting in a just cause. It was November, now, and Major-General Clark was also at Far West with _his_ army of extermination. No book of the persecutions could be properly written without his speech to the Mormons, especially a book of the sisters, whom it so much concerned: "GENTLEMEN: You, whose names are not on this list, will now have the privilege of going to your fields to obtain grain for your families--wood, etc. Those that compose the list will go hence to prison, to be tried, and receive the due demerits of their crimes. But you are now at liberty, all but such as charges may hereafter be preferred against. It now devolves upon you to fulfill the treaty that you have entered into--the leading items of which I now lay before you.