Chapter XX. The "Mormon Wars."

The Prisoners continue their March. Events in Far West. Arraignment and Preliminary Trial of the Prophet and his Brethren. Their Commitment to Liberty Jail.

Not a little singular is it that these military persecutions of the Mormons have, from the first, been dignified by the name of " Mormon War." Thus from the beginning, so that there have already been three distinct " Mormon Wars" in America : one in the State of Missouri, one in Illinois, and one in Utah. But quite as singular is the fact that from about the date of events just recorded Joseph began to prophesy to his disciples that each State where the saints might settle would thus make war upon them; and stranger still, that finally the United States would "come up against Zion to battle." All of which has been verified to the letter, as witness the expulsion of Nauvoo, later on, and finally Buchanan's crusade, when Albert Sidney Johnson led the army of the United States against the saints in the mountain fastnesses of Utah.

But to return to the current record. The march

of the victorious troops with the " prisoners of war" is thus detailed in the Prophet's diary:

" Saturday, 3d. We continued our march and arrived at the Missouri river, which separated us from Jackson Co., where we were hurried across the ferry when but few troops had passed. The truth was, Gen. Clark had sent an express from Richmond to Gen. Lucas to have the prisoners sent to him, and thus prevent our going to Jackson Co.; both armies being competitors for the honor of possessing "the royal prisoners." Clark wanted the privilege of putting us to death himself, and Lucas and his troops were desirous of exhibiting us in the streets of Independence.

" Sunday, 4th. We were visited by some ladies and gentlemen. One of the women came up and very candidly inquired of the troops which of the prisoners was the Lord whom the Mormons worshipped. One of the guard pointed to me with a significant smile, and said, 'This is he.' The woman, then turning to me, inquired whether I professed to be the Lord and Saviour. I replied that I professed to be nothing but a man and a minister of salvation sent by Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. This answer so surprised the woman that she began to inquire into our doctrine, and I preached a discourse, both to her and her companions, and to the wondering soldiers, who listened with almost breathless attention, while I set forth the doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance, and baptism for remission of sins, with the promise of the Holy Ghost, as recorded in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The woman was satisfied, and praised

God in the hearing of the soldiers, and went away, praying that God would protect and deliver us.

" The troops having crossed the river about ten o'clock, we proceeded on and arrived at Independence, past noon, in the midst of great rain and a multitude of spectators who had assembled to see us and hear the bugles sound a blast of triumphant joy, which echoed through the camp as we were ushered into a vacant house prepared for our reception, with a floor for our beds and blocks of wood for our pillows. * * *

" Monday, 5th. We were kept under a small guard, and were treated with some degree of hospitality and politeness, while many flocked to see us. We spent most of our time in preaching and conversation, explanatory of our doctrines and practice, which removed mountains of prejudice, and enlisted the populace in our favor."

Of the departure from Far West, Parley P. Pratt, a fellow-prisoner, thus touchingly relates:

" This was the most trying scene of all. I went to my house, being guarded by two or three soldiers. The cold rain was pouring down without, and on entering my little cottage there lay my wife sick of a fever, with which she had been for some time confined. At her breast was our son Nathan, an infant of three months, and by her side a little girl of five years. On the foot of the same bed lay a woman in travail, who had been driven from her house in the night, and had taken momentary shelter in my hut of ten feet square — my larger house having been torn down. I stepped to the bed ; my wife burst

into tears; I spoke a few words of comfort, telling her to try to live for my sake and the children's, and expressing a hope that we should meet again though years might separate us. She promised to try to live. I then embraced and kissed the little babes, and departed.

" As I returned from my house towards the troops in the square, I halted with the guard at the door of Hyrum Smith, and heard the sobs and groans of his wife at his parting words. She was then near confinement, and needed more than ever the comfort and consolation of a husband's presence. As we returned to the wagon we saw Sidney Rigdon taking leave of his wife and daughters, who stood at a little distance in tears of anguish indescribable. In the wagon sat Joseph Smith, while his aged father and venerable mother came up overwhelmed with tears, and took each of the prisoners by the hand with a silence of grief too great for utterance."

Returning to the conquered city, the story continues :

" The brethren at Far West were ordered by Gen. Clark to form a line, when the names of fifty-six present were called, and they were made prisoners to await trial for something they knew not. They were kept under a close guard."

The narrative further relates that on the 6th Gen. Clark paraded the brethren at Far West, and delivered to them an address well suited to his character, and in keeping with his errand thither. A specimen passage or two will illustrate the nature of this document :

" The orders of the Governor to me were that

you should be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the State; and had your leaders not been given up, and the terms of the treaty been complied with, before this you and your families would have been destroyed and your houses in ashes. * * * As for your leaders, do not once think — do not imagine for a moment — do not let it enter your mind, that they will be delivered, or that you will see their faces again, for their fate is fixed — their die is cast — their doom is sealed." * * *

The narrative, continuing, relates that these prisoners were started off for Richmond, under a strong guard. Summary proceedings were also taken by the military mob against the settlers at Adam-ondi-ahman, the inhabitants being ordered from their homes by Gen. Wilson, — every family to be out within ten days, — with permission to tarry in Caldwell Co. until Spring, when they were to leave the State, under pain of extermination.

The compliance with this heartless order entailed a vast deal of suffering, the weather beine severe, and the saints being compelled to camp out in frost and snow.

The record of these events closes with the brief but significant summary, " About thirty of the brethren have been killed, a multitude wounded, about a hundred are missing, and about sixty are at Richmond awaiting their trial — for what they know not."

Orders having been given to that effect, the Prophet and fellow-prisoners were removed from Independence to Richmond, where they were put into an old vacant house and a guard set over them.

Of their treatment there, the very day of their arrival, Joseph says:

" Col. Sterling Price came in with two chains in his hands and a number of padlocks. The two chains he fastened together. He had with him ten men, armed, who stood at the time of these operations with a thumb upon the cock of their guns. They first nailed down the windows, then came and ordered a man by the name of John Fulkerson, whom he had with him, to chain us together with chains and padlocks, being seven in number. After that he searched us, examining our pockets to see if we had any arms. Finding nothing but pocketknives, he took them and conveyed them off."

Then, after much legal floundering on the part of the authorities, in an effort to discover some method of trying their innocent prisoners according to law, they were brought before a civil magistrate for trial, charged with no less crimes than those of high treason, murder, burglary, arson, robbery, and larceny.

The history of this trial, and the dealings of the court with the witnesses for the defence, is in itself a chapter of gross outrage and bigoted ruling. Suffice it to say the prisoners were all released or admitted to bail, except the Prophet, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin, Hyrum Smith, Alexander McRae, and Sidney Rigdon, who were sent to Liberty, Clay Co., to stand trial on the charges of treason and murder; and Parley P. Pratt, Morris Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase, and Norman Shearer, who -were put into Richmond jail for the same purpose.

" Friday, 30th. About this time," says Joseph's diary, " those of us who had been sentenced thereto, were conveyed to Liberty jail, put in close confinement, and all communication with our friends was cut off."