History of Joseph Smith

(CONTINUED)

The same day June 6th, we resumed our journey, and at evening of the 7th encamped in a piece of woods, near a spring of water, at Salt river, where was a branch of the church. Sunday the 8th we had preaching, and in the course of the day were joined by my brother Hyrum Smith, and Lyman Wight, with a company of volunteers which they had gathered in Michigan &c. The whole company now consisted of two hundred and five men, and twenty five baggage wagons with two or three horses each. We remained at Salt River until the 12th refreshing and re-organizing, which was done by electing Lyman Wight General of the camp. I chose twenty men for my life guards, of whom my brother Hyrum was chosen Captain: and George A. Smith was my armor bearer. The remainder of the company was organized according to the pattern at New Portage. While at Salt River General Wight marched the camp on the prairie, inspected our firelocks, ordered a discharge of the same at target by platoons, drilled us about half a day and returned to the bank of the river.

June 4th Governor Dunklin wrote to W. W. Phelps and others as follows: mailed at

"City of Jefferson, June 9th, 1834.

"Herewith you have a second order for the delivery of your arms now in the possession of the militia of Jackson county. Col. Lucas has resigned his command, he informs me if Lt. Co. Pitcher shall be arrested before you receive this, you will please hold up the order until I am informed who may be appointed to the command of the regiment.

Respectfully,

(Signed) DANIEL DUNKLIN.

The foregoing letter enclosed the following orders:

Thomas Pitcher, Lieut. Colonel commandant of the 33rd Regiment.

Sir, On the 2nd day of last May I issued an order to Col. Lucas to deliver the fifty-two guns and one pistol which you received from the Mormons on the 5th day of November last, and reported to him on the third day of the succeeding December to W. W. Phelps, E. Partridge, John Carrill [Corrill], John Whitmer, and A. S. Gilbert, or their order. On the 24th ult. Col. Lucas wrote and informed me that he had resigned his commission and left the county of Jackson; you as commandant of said Regiment are therefore commanded to collect the said arms, if they are not already in your possession, and deliver them to the aforesaid Gentlemen or their order.

Respectfully,

DANIEL DUNKLIN

Commander-in-Chief.

The day following Judge Ryland wrote the following:

"Richmond, 10th June, 1834.

Mr. A. S. Gilbert:

Sir, Deeply impressed with a desire to do all in my power to settle or allay the disturbances between the 'Mormons' and the citizens of Jackson county, I have concluded that it might have some tendency to effectuate this object by having the Mormons called together at Liberty next Monday, and there explaining to them my notions and views of their present situation, and the circumstances attendant. I therefore request you, Sir, to use all your influence with your brethren, to get them to meet me next Monday in Liberty. I much fear and dread the consequences that are yet to ensue, unless I should succeed in my wishes to restore peace. It is the duty of all good men to use all proper and laudable means to restore [restore] peace. I expect a deputation of some of the most respectable citizens of Jackson county will meet me on Monday next at Liberty. I call upon you in the name of humanity, therefore, to leave no efforts untried to collect your brethren at Liberty as requested.-Should my efforts to make peace fail of success, there can at least be no wrong, or, Sir, in the attempt, and I shall enjoy the consolation of having done my duty as a man, as well as a christian.

I hope Sir, you will duly appreciate the motive which prompts me to address this letter to you, and will aid me with all your influence with your brethren, in the prosecution of an object so much to be desired by all good men and citizens.

Yours very Respectfully,

JOHN F. RYLAND.

June 12th we left Salt River and travelled [traveled] about fourteen miles, encamping that night on the prairie. The inhabitants of Salt River manifested a great respect for us, and many of them accompanied us some distance on our journey. We continued our march daily until the 18th when we pitched our tents one mile from Richmond, Ray county.

In answer to Judge Ryland's the Elders wrote

"Near Liberty, 14th June, 1834.

Hon. J. F. Ryland,

Dear Sir, Your communication of the 9th inst. from Richmond, was duly received, and at a public meeting of our society this day its contents made known. Our brethren unanimously tender their thanks for the laudable disposition manifested on your part to effect peace between our society and the inhabitants of Jackson county, and as many as conveniently can will be present on Monday next, entertaining some fears that your honor in his zeal for peace, might unwarily recommend a sale of our lands in Jackson county, we have thought it expedient to give seasonable notice that no such proposition could possibly be acceded to by our society.

We have not heard that it was the intention of your honor to urge any such measure, but our enemies in Jackson county have long been trying to effect this object. In a letter from the Governor to us, he says 'I have been requested to advise the Mormons to sell out and move away, but believing that it could have no good effect I have withheld my advice.' We give this quotation from the Governor's letter to disprove the statement made in the "Upper Missouri Enguirer [Inquirer?]" of last Wednesday, and conclude by adding that 'home is home' and that we want possession of our homes, from which we have been wickedly expelled, and those rights which belong to us as native free born citizens of the United States.

We are respectfully,

Your friends and serv'ts

JOHN CARRILL, Chairman.

A. S. Gilbert, Secretary.

The foregoing was enclosed in the following letter to their lawyers:

Gentlemen, Will you be so good as to read the enclosed, then seal and hand to the Judge. We have given him an early hint fearing that he might be induced by the solicitations of our enemies to propose a sale of our hands, which you well know would be like selling our children into slavery, and the urging of such a measure would avail nothing, unless to produce an excitement against us in this county. As requested last Thursday, we hope you will be present on Monday.

Your friends and serv'ts

JOHN CARRILL,

A. S. GILBERT.

To Messrs. Doniphan & Atchison.

Monday, June 16th, The citizens of Clay county (to the number of eight hundred or a thousand, among whom were the brethren,) assembled at the Court House in Liberty agreeably to the request of Judge Ryland, and a deputation from Jackson who presented the following: