Clark’s Fitness for His Job

General John B. Clark was a resident of Jackson County. So was General Samuel D. Lucas. Both assisted in driving the “Mormons” from that county in 1833. Governor Lilburn W. Boggs was also from Jackson, and aided in that expulsion. At that time he was lieutenant governor, and worked secretly. These three men hated the Latter-day Saints with a mortal hate. General Clark was not the ranking officer in the state militia in 1838, but Boggs knew, from former experiences, whom to depend upon to execute his dastardly job. Few of the other generals, though several of them disliked the “Mormons,” could debase themselves enough to reach the level required to execute the governor’s inhuman decree. Clark, who received the command, and Lucas who assisted him, were the two most fitted to carry out the order of extermination.

The Haun’s Mill Massacre

There were a great many petty officers, and some sectarian priests, who could descend to any level. Human butchery, if “Mormons” were the victims, was to them but a recreation. Such a man was Col. William O. Jennings, of the state militia. Another was Captain Nehemiah Comstock, who served under Jennings. These “brave” men with an armed force of characters like themselves—all from the state troops —were assembled, at the close of the month of October, 1838, near a small settlement of the Saints at Haun’s Mill, on Shoal Creek, about twelve miles due east of Far West. On the 28th day of that month, a Sunday, Jennings approached the settlement and proposed a treaty of peace. The members of the Church located there, who were quietly minding their own business, knew not, when they were at peace, why they should be called on to enter into such an agreement. However, knowing the status of affairs throughout upper Missouri, they gladly entered into such a treaty, and continued with their domestic affairs, feeling perfectly secure. In the meantime Col. Ashley had informed Col. Jennings of the governor’s order of extermination. Thereupon Jennings and Nehemiah Comstock gathered their forces, about two hundred and forty men, and immediately started for Haun’s Mill.

Monday, October 29, 1838, passed in peace and quiet. Tuesday the 30th was clear and pleasant, an Indian summer day. In the afternoon, the Saints were engaged in their daily pursuits, the men in the fields and the shops; the women attending to domestic duties, and the children playing on the banks of the creek. Suddenly Jennings and his force approached at full speed, riding upon the settlement. David Evans, perceiving their evil intentions, raised his hands as a sign of peace; but they heeded him not. Continuing their advance, they commenced to fire. The stricken people fled, seeking shelter and endeavoring to escape. Some fled into the thickets near their homes, and by this means escaped. For lack of time and want of a better protection, several of the men and boys rushed into the blacksmith shop. The cracks between the logs of the shop were so wide that the fiends on the outside could see their victims within. Surrounding the place, they poured volley after volley through the cracks with deadly effect. Several intended victims rushed from the shop amidst the fire of the mob; some escaped to the thicket; others were shot. Miss Mary Steadwell, while fleeing, was shot in the hand and fainted; falling over a log she remained protected by it. After the work of destruction was over, more than twenty musket balls were discovered in the log. Yet the executioners were principally seeking for the men, and let most of the women escape.

After completing all the execution possible on the outside of the shop, the ruffians pushed through the door and finished their bloody work. The terrible scene enacted there was one of the utmost brutality. It is told in the “History of Caldwell County,” Missouri, with such excuses for the attack as the writers of such a history could employ. Nevertheless the diabolical deeds of these members of the state militia, are partly related as follows:

“Esq. Thomas McBride was an old soldier of the Revolution. He was lying wounded and helpless, his gun by his side. A militiaman named Rogers came up to him and demanded it. “Take it,” said McBride. Rogers picked up the weapon, and finding that it was loaded, deliberately discharged it into the old man’s breast. He then cut and hacked the old veteran’s body with a rude sword, or corn knife, until it was frightfully mangled. Wm. Reynolds, a Livingston County man, killed the little boy Sardius Smith, 10 years of age. The lad had run into the blacksmith shop and crawled under the bellows for safety. Upon entering the shop the cruel militiaman discovered the cowering, trembling little fellow, and without even demanding his surrender, fired upon and killed him, and afterwards boasted of the atrocious deed to Charles R. Ross and others. He described, with fiendish glee, how the poor boy struggled in his dying agony, and justified his savage and inhuman conduct in killing a mere child by saying, ‘Nits will make lice, and if he had lived he would have been a Mormon.’”

The names of those killed are as follows: Thomas McBride, Levi N. Merrick, Elias Benner, Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, Warren Smith, George S. Richards, William Napier, Austin Hammer, Simeon Cox, Hiram Abbott, John York, John Lee, John Byers, Sardius Smith and Charles Merrick. Some of these were mere children. Many others were severely wounded but managed to escape with their lives, among them a boy, Alma Smith, who had the flesh of his hip shot away. He had the presence of mind to lie perfectly still and the fiends thought he was dead. Alma was miraculously healed through prayer and faith.

After this terrible work the murderers proceeded to rob the houses, wagons and tents, and left the widows and children who escaped destitute of the necessities of life. They even stripped the bodies of the slain, and carried off their booty, shouting in fiendish glee and boasting of their deeds of blood, as though they were deeds of valor, worthy of the greatest praise and honor.

Gathering of the Mob-Militia

The same day of the massacre at Haun’s Mill, General Samuel D. Lucas, in command of two thousand men, arrived at Far West. With him were Brigadier Generals Doniphan, Parks, Graham and Wilson, the latter another ruffian. General Clark was at Chariton, under a forced march, with the governor’s exterminating order and a force of about one thousand men.

As the troops approached Far West towards the evening of that day, they formed in double file about one half mile from the city. With a flag of truce they sent messengers to the city. They were met by Captain Morey, with a few other individuals, who desired to know what the gathering of the large armed force could mean, for as yet the “Mormon” people had not learned of the Boggs exterminating order. To their horror they were told that the body of troops were state militia, ordered there by the governor, to exterminate the people and burn the place. They demanded three persons in Far West, Adam Lightner, a non-“Mormon,” John Cleminson, who had lost the faith, and his wife, to be brought to them. When these three came out, the messengers told them to leave Far West at once and save their lives, for they would be protected. The determination of the force of militia was to destroy Far West and kill the inhabitants. All three nobly said if the people were to be destroyed they would return and die with them. The officers immediately returned to the camp.

Charles C. Rich was then dispatched with a flag of truce toward the camp of militia to have an interview with Generals Atchison and Doniphan, who in the past had shown some sympathy for the “Mormons.” On his way he was fired at by Captain Bogart. Nevertheless, he continued on his way and was granted the interview with Doniphan, who informed him that General Atchison had been “dismounted” a few miles back, by order of the governor, for being too merciful to the “Mormons.” He then plead with Doniphan to use his influence to protect the city from an attack, at least until the following morning. Doniphan replied that the governor had ordered the extermination of the “Mormons,” but his order had not arrived, and until it did there would be no attack upon the Saints. However, he could not vouch for the action of Cornelius Gilliam’s company, which had just arrived, painted and decorated as Indians; their commander styling himself the “Delaware Chief.” These savages spent the night in making hideous yells and other disturbances. When Charles C. Rich returned to Far West and reported, Col. George M. Hinkle, who commanded the forces at Far West, sent another messenger to the mob-militia to plead for the lives of the people. He returned without a satisfactory answer and reported that he had learned that several members of the Church had been captured by some of the troops, and had been brutally murdered, with no one to raise a voice in protest.

During the night the Saints made such temporary fortification as they were able and with grim determination prepared to fight the best they could to the last, being outnumbered more than five to one. Recruits were hourly joining the forces of their enemies. Among these came Col. Jennings and his band, fresh from the great “victory” at Haun’s Mill. The Saints spent an anxious night in solemn supplication to the Lord. The women gathered such few loose articles as might be carried, and prepared for flight if the chance was offered them. Lyman Wight, with a small force, came from Adam-ondi-Ahman and succeeded in gaining Far West during the night.

The Siege of Far West

Early on the morning of the 31st, Col. Hinkle sent another messenger to General Doniphan. When he returned he stated that Doniphan had said that the governor’s order had arrived and Lucas was preparing to carry it out. “He would be damned, if he would obey the order,” was the report, “but Lucas could do as he pleased.”

The army, while encamped, permitted no person to go out or come in the city. Those who attempted it were shot at. Corn fields were destroyed and cattle, sheep and hogs wantonly killed by members of the mob-militia.

Colonel Hinkle’s Treachery

About eight o’clock Col. Hinkle sought another interview, this time with General Lucas, to learn if some compromise could not be arranged to avoid a battle. Lucas promised to meet him with a flag of truce at two o’clock. At the time appointed the interview was held. Hinkle, John Corrill, who had within the past few weeks become disaffected, William W. Phelps and a Captain Morrison, met with Lucas and his aids when the following propositions were presented to Col. Hinkle for acceptance in behalf of the “Mormons:”

1. “To give up their leaders to be tried and punished.

2. “To make an appropriation of their property, all who had taken up arms, to the payment of their debts and indemnity for damage done by them.

3. “That the balance should leave the state, and be protected out by the militia, but to be permitted to remain under protection until further orders were received from the Commander-in-Chief.

4. “To give up the arms of every description, to be receipted for.”

At least, these were the terms according to the report Lucas made to Governor Boggs. What else he may have said is not on record. To these terms Col. Hinkle agreed, but asked to be given until the next day to comply with them. Lucas consented to this on the condition that Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Parley P. Pratt and George W. Robinson be turned over to the camp of the militia as hostages. If in the morning Hinkle failed to comply with the terms, these men would be returned to Far West, and the attack should commence on the city. If he did comply, then these brethren, among others, should be retained as prisoners to be tried. Hinkle returned to Far West and reported to Joseph Smith that the officers of the state militia desired an interview with the brethren mentioned, hoping that the difficulties might be settled without carrying out the exterminating order. Said Parley P. Pratt: “We had no confidence in the word of a murderer and robber; but there was no alternative, but to put ourselves into the hands of such monsters, or to have the city sacked, and men, women and children massacred. We therefore commended ourselves to the Lord, and voluntarily surrendered.” As they approached the camp in compliance with this order, General Lucas, with a guard of several hundred men, rode up, and with a haughty air ordered his men to surround the brethren. Colonel Hinkle was heard to say: “General, these are the prisoners I agreed to deliver up.” The prisoners were then marched into the camp surrounded by several thousand savage looking soldiers. “These all set up a constant yell,” says Brother Pratt, “like so many bloodhounds let loose upon their prey.... If the vision of the infernal regions could suddenly be opened to the mind, with thousands of malicious fiends, all clamoring, exulting, deriding, blaspheming, mocking, railing, raging and foaming like a troubled sea, then could some idea be formed of the hell which we had entered.”

The prisoners were placed under a strong guard and forced to remain without shelter during the night in inclement winter weather. The guard blasphemed; mocked the Savior; demanded miracles and said: “Come, Smith, show us an angel; give us one of your revelations; show us a miracle; come, there is one of your brethren in camp whom we took prisoner yesterday in his own house, and knocked his brains out with his own rifle, which we found hanging over his fire place; he lies speechless and dying;¹ speak the word and heal him, and then we will all believe; or, if you are apostles or men of God deliver yourselves, and then we will be “Mormons.”²

Condemned to be Shot

Thursday morning, November 1, 1838, Hyrum Smith and Amasa Lyman were brought by Col. Hinkle into the camp. That night a court martial was held, at which, besides the commanding officers of the mob-militia, Col. Hinkle, Judge Austin A. King, District Attorney Birch, and the Reverends Sashiel Woods, Bogart and several other priests, played a part. The prisoners were sentenced to be shot on the public square in Far West, Friday morning at 9 o’clock. This was, let it be said to their honor, over the protest of Generals Doniphan and Graham, and perhaps a few others. General Doniphan was given the order to carry out the execution. It was a most fortunate thing that he was selected, for he refused to obey the command. The order given him was as follows:

“Brigadier General Doniphan:

“Sir: You will take Joseph Smith and the other prisoners into the public square of Far West, and shoot them at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning.”

“Samuel D. Lucas,”
“Major General Commanding.”

General Doniphan replied to this order by saying to his superior:

“It is cold blooded murder. I will not obey your order. My brigade shall march for Liberty tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock; and if you execute these men, I will hold you responsible before an earthly tribunal, so help me God.”

“A.W. Doniphan,”
“Brigadier General.”

Although this was an act of insubordination, it frightened the criminal general and his willing aids. No charge was ever made against Doniphan, for they dared not make one.

Plundering of the Militia

Col. Hinkle, according to his agreement, marched the militia companies at Far West out of the city and grounded their arms, which were the private property of the men who held them. Then the mob force was let loose. They entered the city without restraint, on pretext of searching the homes for additional arms. They tore up floors; ruined furniture; destroyed property; whipped the men and forced them to sign deeds to their property at the point of the bayonet; and violated the chastity of women, until their victims died. About eighty men were taken prisoners and the people were ordered to leave the state, and were forbidden, under threat of death, to assemble more than three in a place. Notwithstanding all this, General Lucas reported to the governor how orderly and decorous were his troops.

Prisoners Taken to Independence

The prisoners after an earnest appeal, were permitted to visit their homes, under a strong guard, to obtain a change of clothing. They were, however, given strict command not to speak, or enter into conversation with the members of their families. When the Prophet visited his home the children clung to his garments. He requested the privilege of a private interview with his family, which was denied him. Hyrum Smith, whose wife less than two weeks later was confined,³ drew attention to the condition in his home; but received in answer only gibes and insults. Parley P. Pratt underwent a similar scene, and in the anguish of his soul appealed to General Moses Wilson, who answered him with an exultant laugh, and a taunting reproach.

After these painful scenes, the prisoners were started for Independence, under a strong guard commanded by Generals Lucas and Wilson. On the way orders came from General Clark to have the prisoners sent to him, but this General Lucas was not willing to do. Clark, without question, wanted the honor of putting the prisoners to death. Through his vanity, Lucas wanted to exhibit them before their enemies in Jackson County, and pose as a great hero in triumph. Between the rivalry of the two, not forgetting the hand of the Lord which was over them, their lives were spared.⁴

Prisoners in Richmond

On the 3rd of November, 1838, the prisoners arrived in Jackson County and the next day were taken by order of General Lucas, to Independence. General Clark, however, would not permit them to stay, desiring to gain possession of them himself. Therefore, he sent Col. Sterling Price with instructions to have them removed immediately to Richmond, Ray County. They arrived in Richmond on the 9th, and were imprisoned in a vacant house. On their way they met General Clark, and asked him why they had been carried from their homes and what the charges were against them. Clark said he was not then able to determine, but would be prepared to tell in a short time. When they were confined Clark sent Price with two chains and padlocks and had the prisoners fastened together. The windows were then nailed down; the prisoners were searched and the only weapons they had (their pocket knives) were taken away. While this was going on armed guards stood with cocked guns pointed at them. Here the brethren were kept many days awaiting trial.

Rebuking the Guards

While incarcerated in this prison, the brethren were guarded by some of the vilest wretches that could be found, who spent their time in the presence of their prisoners relating their horrible deeds of wickedness. This thing continued for some time, when the Prophet, unable to stand it any longer, arose and rebuked them. The occurrence is graphically related by Elder Parley P. Pratt in the following words:

“During this time Elder Rigdon was taken very sick, from hardship and exposure, and finally lost his reason; but still he was kept in a miserable, noisy and cold room, and compelled to sleep on the floor with a chain and padlock round his ankle, and fastened to six others. Here he endured the constant noise and confusion of an unruly guard, the officer of which was Colonel Sterling Price, since governor of the State.

“These guards were composed generally of the most noisy, foul-mouthed, vulgar, disgraceful rabble that ever defiled the earth.... Mrs. Robinson, a young and delicate female, with her infant, came down to see her husband [George W. Robinson], and to comfort and take care of her father [Sidney Rigdon] in his sickness. When she first entered the room, amid the clank of chains and the rattle of weapons, and cast her eyes on her sick and dejected parent and sorrow-worn husband, she was speechless, and only gave vent to her feelings in a flood of tears. This faithful lady, with her little infant, continued by the side of her father till he recovered from his sickness, and till his fevered and disordered mind resumed its wonted powers.

“In one of those tedious nights we had lain as if in sleep till the hour of midnight had passed, and our ears and hearts had been pained, while we had listened for hours to the obscene jests, the horrid oaths, the dreadful blasphemies and filthy language of our guards, Colonel Price at their head, as they recounted to each other their deeds of rapine, murder, robbery, etc., which they had committed among the ‘Mormons’ while at Far West and vicinity. They even boasted of defiling by force wives, daughters, and virgins, and of shooting or dashing out the brains of men, women and children.

“I had listened till I became so disgusted, shocked, horrified, and so filled with the spirit of indignant justice that I could scarcely refrain from rising upon my feet and rebuking the guards; but had said nothing to Joseph, or any one else, although I lay next to him and knew he was awake. On a sudden he arose to his feet, and spoke in a voice of thunder, or as the roaring lion, uttering, as near as I can recollect, the following words:

“SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit. In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still. I will not live another minute and hear such language. Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!

Majesty in Chains

“He ceased to speak. He stood erect in terrible majesty. Chained, and without a weapon; calm, unruffled and dignified as an angel, he looked upon the quailing guards; whose weapons were lowered or dropped to the ground, whose knees smote together, and who, shrinking into a corner, or crouching at his feet, begged his pardon, and remained quiet till a change of guards.

“I have seen the ministers of justice, clothed in magisterial robes, and criminals arraigned before them, while life was suspended on a breath, in the courts of England; I have witnessed a Congress in solemn session to give laws to nations; I have tried to conceive of kings, of royal courts, of thrones and crowns; and of emperors assembled to decide the fate of kingdoms; but dignity and majesty have I seen but once, as it stood in chains, at midnight, in a dungeon in an obscure village of Missouri.”⁵

General Clark at Far West

In the meantime (November 4), General Clark arrived at Far West with 1600 men, and 500 more on the outskirts of the city. He ordered General Lucas to send to Adam-ondi-Ahman and there take all the “Mormon” men prisoners and secure their property, till the best means could be adopted for paying damages due to the mob troubles. On the 5th, Clark ordered all the men at Far West to form in line, when the names of fifty-six were called and they were made prisoners to await trial for something which was not defined. On the 6th, he again gathered the male portion of the population and read to them a written address which he had prepared.

His Harangue

Feeling safe in the presence of so many helpless men, and flanked by his troops, he made bold to impress upon the brethren the enormity of their crimes. He read to them a number of stipulations to which they must comply. The first, second and third, to the effect that they must surrender their leading men, deliver their arms, and sign over their properties to defray expenses of the “war.” This, he said, they had done. The fourth is here repeated:

“Another article yet remains for you to comply with, and that is, that you leave the state forthwith; and whatever may be your feelings concerning this, or whatever your innocence, it is nothing to me; General Lucas, who is equal in authority with me, has made this treaty with you—I approve of it—I should have done the same had I been here. I am therefore determined to see it fulfilled. The character of this state has suffered almost beyond redemption, from the character, conduct and influence that you have exerted, and we deem it an act of justice to restore her character to its former standing among the states, by every proper means.

“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 complied with, before this, you and your families would have been destroyed and your houses in ashes.

“There is a discretionary power vested in my hands which I shall exercise in your favor for a season; for this lenity you are indebted to my clemency. I do not say that you shall go now, but you must not think of staying here another season or of putting in crops, for the moment you do this the citizens will be upon you. If I am called here again, in case of a non-compliance of a treaty made, do not think that I shall act any more as I have done—you need not expect any mercy, but extermination, for I am determined the governor’s order shall be executed. 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.”

He then very graciously pleaded with them, and invoked the “Great Spirit, the unknown God,” to make them sufficiently intelligent to break the chains of superstition, that they no longer worship man, and never again organize with bishops, presidents, etc., but to become like other men.

Trial in Daviess County

About this time Governor Boggs wrote General Clark to hold a military court in Daviess County, and try those “guilty of the late outrages, committed towards the inhabitants of said county.” He was desirous of having the whole matter “settled completely, if possible” before the forces should be disbanded. “If the ‘Mormons’ are disposed,” said Boggs, “voluntarily to leave the state, of course it would be advisable in you to promote that object, in any way deemed proper. The ringleaders of this rebellion, though, ought by no means to be permitted to escape the punishment they merit.” General Robert Wilson was detailed to Daviess County to take possession of the prisoners. All the men in the town of Adam-ondi-Ahman were placed under arrest, and a court of inquiry instituted with the mobber Adam Black on the bench. Notwithstanding this, after three days of examination, Black acquitted them all. No one knew better than he of their innocence.

The Charges Against Joseph Smith and Companions

General Clark spent some time searching the laws to find some authority by which the Prophet and companions could be tried for treason by court martial. He even sent to Fort Leavenworth seeking such information, which could not be found. It caused him extreme annoyance that no law could be invoked to try private citizens by military code when there was no war. He knew some charges would have to be preferred against the accused, so he wrote the governor saying he had, on November 10, 1838, made out charges against the prisoners and had called Judge Austin A. King to try them as a committing court. He also suggested that they be tried by court martial, especially, said he, should Joseph Smith be so tried, but he could not discover authority for such procedure, and requested the opinion of the attorney general on that point. “There being no civil officers in Caldwell,” he said, “I have to use the military to get witnesses from there, which I do without reserve.” The civil officers in Caldwell, being “Mormons” had all been cast into jail, and of course were not available. He closed his epistle by saying the accused brethren were guilty of “treason, murder, arson, burglary, robbery, larceny, and perjury.” The reply he received was to turn the prisoners over to the civil law, which order hurt him very much, for he hoped to have the pleasure of attending to their execution, after a military trial. In fact, he and Lucas had on several occasions set the date of execution, but the hand of the Lord was always over the afflicted brethren.

The Trial

Monday, November 12, 1838, Judge King sent out armed men to obtain witnesses, some of whom came and testified willingly to falsehoods; others came reluctantly. Among the witnesses who testified against the brethren were: Dr. Sampson Avard, originator of the “Danites,” who, later, was excommunicated from the Church for the offense; John Corrill, George M. Hinkle, Reed Peck, John Cleminson, Burr Riggs, William W. Phelps, John Whitmer, and others who formerly belonged to the Church. The testimony of the prosecution continued until the 18th. Then the court called for witnesses for the defense; forty or more names were given, and the Reverend-Captain Rogart was dispatched with a company of militia to get them. He got them and brought them, not to the court, but to prison, and confined them there. During the week, the judge taunted the brethren because no witnesses appeared in their defense. Other names were given, and the same reverend-captain was sent for them. He did not find many, for the witnesses, learning what had happened to their fellows, could not be found. The few he did discover he also brought and cast behind the bars. In this manner the mock trial proceeded from day to day. On the 24th, twenty-three of the defendants were released, and by the 28th all the others were acquitted or admitted to bail, excepting the following: Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Caleb Baldwin and Alexander McRae, who were ordered to be taken to Liberty, Clay County, and there committed to stand trial on the various charges named; Parley P. Pratt, Morris Phelps, Luman Gibbs, Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer, who were taken to Richmond Jail, there also to await trial for the same “crimes.”

Nature of the Testimony

Some of the witnesses testified that the Church was a temporal kingdom, which would, according to the teachings of its leaders, eventually “fill the whole earth and subdue all other kingdoms.” The seventh chapter of Daniel was referred to several times. The brethren were asked by the judge if they believed in Daniel’s prophecy and when they answered in the affirmative, Judge King turning to his clerk said: “Write that down; it is a strong point for treason.” The defendants’ attorneys, Doniphan and Rees, protested saying, “Judge, you had better make the Bible treason.” These attorneys advised their clients not to make any defense or attempt to furnish other witnesses, for it was useless. Doniphan observed that if a cohort of angels were to come down, and declare the prisoners innocent, it would all be the same, for Judge King had determined from the beginning to cast them into prison.

Malinda Porter, Delia F. Pine, Nancy Rigdon, Jonathan W. Barlow, Thoret Parson, Ezra Chipman and Arza Judd, Jr., volunteered to testify for the defense, but were prevented from giving testimony favorable to the accused at the point of the bayonet.

November 29, 1838, Joseph Smith and fellow prisoners were committed to the keeping of the sheriff of Clay County, who took them to Liberty and cast them in prison. Parley P. Pratt and fellows were likewise retained in Richmond, and thus ended this “trial” before Judge King.

Notes