--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1840 to 1841. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 2 number: 14 published: 1841-05-15 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“General Orders,” *Times and Seasons* 2, no. 14 (May 15, 1841): 417–419." printed_title: General Orders. source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-05-15_2_14 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v2n14.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-05-15_2_14 start_page: 417 end_page: 419 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1841 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-05-15_2_14 publication_year: 1841 --- # General Orders Pursuant to an act of the Court Martial, the troops attached or belonging to the Legion, will parade at the place of general rendezvous, in the City of Nauvoo, for drill, review, and inspection, on Saturday, the 3rd day of July proximo, at half past 9 o'clock, A. M. armed and equipped according to law. At 10 o'clock the line will be formed, and the general officers conducted to their posts, under a fire of artillery. The commandants of the 1st and 2nd companies, 2nd Battallion [Battalion] , 1st Regiment, 2nd Cohort, are directed to enroll every man residing within the bounds of their respective commands, and not attached to any other company of the Legion, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, and notify them of their attachment to the service, and their legal liabilities. As will be seen by the following legal opinion of Judge Douglass, of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, than whom no man stands more deservedly high in the public estimation, as an able and profound jurist, politician, and statesman; the officers and privates, belonging to the Legion are exempt from all military duty not required by the legally constituted authorities thereof; they are therefore expressly inhibited from performing any military services not ordered by the general officers, or directed by the Court Martial. City of Nauvoo, Ill.,} May 3rd, A. D. 1841} General Bennett:- Dear Sir: In reply to your request, I have examined so much of the Nauvoo City Charter, and legislative acts, as relate to the "Nauvoo Legion," and am clearly of opinion that "any citizen of Hancock County who may attach himself to the 'Nauvoo Legion,' has all the privileges which appertain to that independent military body," and is "exempt from all other military duty," as provided in the 25th section of the City-charter; and cannot, therefore, be fined by any military or civil court, for neglecting or refusing to parade with any other military body, or under the command of any officers who are not attached to said Legion. The language of the laws upon this subject is so plain and specific as to admit of no doubt at to its true meaning and intent. I do not consider it necessary, therefore, to enter into an argument to prove a position which is evident from an inspection of the laws themselves. I am, very respectfully, your friend, S. A. Douglass. The Legion is not, as has been falsely represented by its enemies, exclusively a Mormon military association, but a body of citizen-soldiers organized (without regard to political preferences or religious sentiments) for the public defence [defense], the general good, and the preservation of law and order‚ to save the innocent, unoffending citizen from the iron grasp of the oppressor, and perpetuate and sustain our free institutions against misrule, anarchy, and mob violence-no other views are entertained or tolerated. The general parades of the Legion will be in the city of Nauvoo, but all other musters will be within the bounds of the respective Companies, Battalions, Regiments, and Cohorts. The 8th Sec. of "An Act for the organization and government of the Militia of this State" in force July 2nd, 1833, provides that "when any person shall enroll himself in a volunteer company, he shall forthwith give notice in writing to the commanding officer of the company in which he was enrolled," &c., and that the commanding officer of a regiment, or battalion, may in a certain contingency, 'dissolve such company;' and some of the petty, ignorant and impudent militia officers maintain that such is till the law: but those blind leaders of the blind are informed that 11th Sec., of 'An act encouraging volunteer companies,' approved March 2nd, 1837, reads as follows: 'So much of the 8th Section of an act entitled an act for the organization and government of the militia of this State, in force July 2nd, 1833, as requires a volunteer to give notice in writing to the commanding officer of the company in which he was enrolled, and authorizes commandants of Regiments to disband Independent Companies, be, and the same is hereby repealed.' If officers act upon the obsolete laws of the 'little book,' which have been repealed years since, it will be sweet to the taste, but 'make the belly bitter;' and should any civil or military officer attempt to enforce the collection of any military fines upon the members of the Legion, excepting when such fines are assessed by the Court Martial of the Legion, such persons are directed to apply to the Master in Chancery, for Hancock county, for an injunction to stay the illegal proceedings. The militia companies of Hancock county, and citizens generally, are respectfully invited to unite with the Legion, and partake of its privileges. Persons holding enrolling orders are directed to act with energy, consummate their trust, and make prompt returns to the office of the Major General. The Lieutenant General desires that all his friends should attach themselves to some company either in the 1st or 2nd Cohort. This will enable them to receive correct military instruction under the teachings of experienced officers, according to the drill and discipline of the United States Army-and qualify them for efficient service in the cause of their beloved country, and State, in the hour of peril. The eleven companies of minute men will at all times hold themselves in readiness to execute the laws, as originally instructed by the general officers. The officers and troops of the Legion are directed to treat with proper respect and decorum, all other officers and troops in the service of this State, or of the United States. The 2nd Company, (Light Infantry,) 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 2nd Cohort; and the 1st Company, (Lancers,) 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 2nd Cohort, of the Legion, will act as an escort for the reception of such visiting companies from Illinois, and Iowa, as may be present. Should the Governor be present, it will be announced by a fire of artillery by the 1st and 2nd Companies, 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Cohort; and the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 2nd Cohort, when he will be received by the entire legion with the honors due so conspicuous a personage as the Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the state. Officers receiving copies of these orders, will promulgate the same without delay throughout the bounds of their respective commands. Joseph Smith, Lieutenant General. John C. Bennett, Major General. Editors throughout the State of Illinois, who are favorable to the effective organization of the Militia, are respectfully requested to copy the following: State of Illinois, City of Nauvoo,} Quarter Master General's Office,} May 8th, A. D. 1841} To The Militia of Illinois:- Having an intimate acquaintance with your present organization, and supply of public arms, I am clearly of the opinion that the public service, and the best interests of the State, require that all new Independent Companies to be enrolled, and organized, during the present year, should be riflemen, either mounted or foot, (the State being pretty well supplied with swords, pistols, muskets and cannon,) and have determined, therefore, to make the designation and requisition on the Ordnance Department of the General Government, accordingly. You would do well, therefore, to organize in view of receiving arms of that description, and file your bonds, duly authenticated, with the Governor of the State, as all applications will be filled in order of date, until the distribution is consummated. I have finished the distribution for 1838, '39, and '40, excepting a few six pounder cannon which are ready for delivery to first applicants. John C. Bennett, Quarter Master General of Ill.