Some Very Old "news" From "the Mormon Camp" In Iowa

[Uncle Dale]

I came across this newspaper clipping some time ago, and preserved the text,

filing it with some family history items relating to ancestors in Nauvoo and in

Council Bluffs. The report is interesting to me, because it comes from both places

 

Uncle Dale

 

 

 

PUBLIC [ -- ] LEDGER.
--------------------------------
Philadelphia, Friday, October 9, 1846

 

THE MORMONS.

 

I was highly pleased with your remarks in relation to the expulsion of the Mormons, and for this reason will give you some information in relation to the Mormon Camp, and speak of things at Council Bluffs, as they have been referred to in the article. I have just returned from Council Bluffs, and feel myself fully prepared to give you a correct statement of the situation of the situation of the Mormons. I left Washington June 9th, and came to this city, and on the 11th of June started, company with a gentleman of this city, for the general camp of the Mormons, at Council Bluffs. We separated at St. Louis, he going direct to Fort Leavenworth, up the Missouri, and thence to Council Bluffs; I went up the Mississippi the river, and stopped at Nauvoo, the Mormon city, where I stopped two or three days. The location of Nauvoo is delightful; the temple may be seen for nearly fifteen or twenty miles on the river. Nauvoo is situated on a great bend of the river, and you are about the same distance from it for several miles as you pass. The temple is still the property of the Mormons, although they have offered to sell it for much less than it cost; it is built of white hewn stone. I think it is 128 feet long, and 88 wide. It is finished outside, and the first and upper stories inside; the basement and middle stories are not completely finished. In the basement story is a baptismal fount, resting upon twelve oxen, hewn from granite stone, with iron horns. The fount is built of stone, with stone steps to it; this, together with the whole work of the temple, is of the best order. There are many good houses in Nauvoo, some built of brick and some of stone, while there are some that are very poor. The Nauvoo House, (so called,) a building intended for a public house, is a good piece of work, although not completed, also belongs to the Mormons, which they wish to sell, together with many other houses, which the Mormons were compelled to leave last winter unsold. I found but few Mormons in Nauvoo, and the most of them were making every preparation to leave, but their extreme poverty compelled them to stay until they could get fitted out.

I got a horse and saddle and started for their camp on the 30th of June. I rode alone on the road which the camp passed. I passed wagons every day; they were perfectly civil. They have planted and sowed at a place called Garden Grove, on the east fork of the Grand River, 160 miles from Nauvoo. They have also a crop at a place they call Mount Pisgah, 200 miles from Nauvoo, at which place I arrived the eve of the fifth day, very much fatigued. After a little rest, I started for Council Bluffs, a distance of 120 miles beyond Mount Pisgah. I think we counted 1100 wagons between these two places. On my arrival I had the pleasure of meeting my friend, and also Col. James Allen, of the United States army, sent there to receive into the service of the United States a battalion of Mormons, under the direction of Gen. Kearney. I remained at Council Bluffs about four weeks. I will here give you an account of the place and its inhabitants. At this place, besides Mormons, there are but four or five white men, viz: Mr. Mitchell, the sub-Indian agent, Mr. Sarpee, a merchant; also, two other merchants, whose names I don't recollect. There am also living here a few Indians and half breeds. This constitute the people which the public journals please to call old settlers, stating that they are dissatisfied, which I pronounce a palpable falsehood, (intentional or unintentional.) In the first place, I have in my possession a duplicate of Mr. Mitchell, declaring that it is for the apparent good of both parties for the Mormons to stop there, and also a writing from ten of the chiefs and braves of the Potawatamies, obtained by Col. Allen, permitting them to stop and cultivate as much as they pleased, not interfering with their fields. And as to the merchants, every person who is not stupid must know that they would like to have them remain, and of this I will say that one of the merchants expressed to me his liking for the Mormons, and started the day I did for a large stock of goods at St. Louis. I presume they (the Mormons) have purchased at that place not less than five thousand dollars' worth of goods. Of these matters I am fully acquainted. As to the insults which they (the old settlers) have to bear with Christian fortitude, when I was them I heard not the least complaint; I received the kindest treatment from all, and saw the twelve every day, and as far as I could judge, things were moving on peacefully and quietly.

I was as disappointed in finding them so cheerful and happy. A whole city in this land of freedom and equal rights driven out upon the prairies and into the wilderness, on account of their religion, is wicked and brings a stain upon the government not easy to be blotted out. They number from fifteen to twenty thousand; they have, as near as I can judge, from three to four thousand wagons; their wagons are covered and are drawn by oxen, generally from four to six oxen to a wagon, and generally two cows, which are sometimes yoked and driven in the team. Some have horses and carriages, and many have saddle horses and mules. There is a large drove of cattle and also sheep; their cattle are the best I ever saw. The main body of the camp will remain at Council Bluffs and its vicinity this winter. When I left, they were busily engaged in cutting grain for their cattle and building log houses for the winter. They have seat two or three hundred families over the mountains this fall; others have gone to Grand Island, on the Platte River, two hundred and sixty miles from Council Bluffs, where they will build a fort to preserve themselves, cattle, &c. from the Indians, and the first of May the whole camp will start for California, besides a great many more that intend to go and join them. They are generally provided with as much as year's provision, and are not starving to death, as the papers declare. Those who have been driven out of Nauvoo, recently, must suffer, unless they find friends. On my return home I stopped one day in Nauvoo, but was glad to get away, for the mob was expected in every hour; but I saw no reason why they should be disturbed. I have hastily written you this letter, thinking it might please you to know the true facts of the case. I have a letter addressed to me from Col. Allen, and should I get time I will give you a copy of it, all of which you are at liberty to use as you please.

J. C. L.                        
Of Petersborough, New Hampshire.                        

Note 1: The original report mentioning "much dissatisfaction" prevailing in Council Bluffs' among "the old settlers" (due to the arrival of the Mormon emigrants), was published in the St. Louis New Era of Sept. 21, 1846. The relevant section of that article reads: "they [Mormons] have sent far ahead into the wilderness, and in the direction they intend to pursue, a number of their party to prepare a crop against their coming. At Council Bluffs much dissatisfaction prevails amongst the old settlers, on account of their appearance, but as the Mormons are by far the most numerous, they conceive it most prudent to say but little, and to bear with inconveniences and insults with Christian fortitude.... Should they linger about the Bluffs till the removal of the Indians, it is more than probable an attempt will be made... to concentrate their forces and to take possession of the beautiful country known as the Pottawattamie lands.... The fanaticism and delusion that keeps them together is truly deplorable."

Note 2: The New Era article was reprinted in several other newspapers, including the New York Morning Courier of Sept. 29th, the New-York Weekly Tribune of Sept. 29th and Niles' National Register of Oct. 24th. It seems unlikely that the steamboat passengers from the Bluffs, who were interviewed upon their arrival at St. Louis, knew enough about the situation in the Mormon camp to offer informed comments. Probably some of the few "old settlers" in that place welcomed the arrival of the Mormons, while others, "with Christian fortitude," merely tolerated their presence, expecting the emigrants to eventually move on to California.

[Kenngo1969]

Good to Cyber-see you again, Mon Oncle.

[omni]

Welcome back! Please stay awhile.

[USU78]

May we know who the mysterious "JCL" is, Onkel Thale?

[Uncle Dale]

May we know who the mysterious "JCL" is, Onkel Thale?

 

 

It shouldn't be too hard to track him down. Just look for guys with those initials

who came from Petersborough, N.H., who knew the recruiter for the 1846

"Mormon Batallion," and who had a reason to travel up and down the

Mississippi in those days.

 

Here's the article that caught Mr. "J.C.L.'s" attention -- from the same newspaper,

on the 7th of the same month --- This sort of reporting was about as neutral or

objective, as might be found in a non-Mormon paper of that era. The editor,

sitting comfortably in his Philadelphia office, certainly did not know all the details

concerning the conflict in Hancock County, Illinois --- but he assumed that the

"Saints" had done nothing so bad as to deserve ejection from Nauvoo...

 

 

 

THE MORMONS. One of the journals, professing to be "Democratic," in some remarks upon the expulsion of the Mormons from their homes, says, "At Council Bluffs, much dissatisfaction prevails among the old settlers, on account of their appearance, but as the Mormons are by far the most numerous, they conceive it most prudent to say but little, and to bear with inconveniences and insults with Christian fortitude."

Again it says, "The fanaticism and delusion that keep them together are truly deplorable. A set of impostor priests and false guides are leading them on to much suffering and misery, and many of them even to the loss of health and life. The proper course for them would be to repudiate the priests and pretenders, who are the cause of their misfortunes, and then separate, and each one set for himself, and have nothing further to do with that fanatical association. Public sentiment in Western Missouri will never allow them to settle in that region of country."

This is a specimen of the deceptive nonsense almost daily issued by ignorant pretenders, some to "Democracy" and some to "Conservativatism." We have no respect for the "Democracy," or "Conservativatism," or any other set of pretensions, which justify the most enormous outrages upon all human rights. These people, whom we admit to be ignorant and deluded fanatics, but not therefore the less entitled to all the natural and constitutional rights of American citizens, have been murdered, robbed, driven from their homes, by a ferocious mob, acting in defiance of all lawful authority. Why? Because "public sentiment," the sentiment of a greedy mob, coveted their property; and to excuse this foray, this plundering expedition, equal in atrocity to any of the Scottish marauders or the Buccaniers, the robbers assail their victims with every species of calumny. Plunder is the object, and calumny the pretext.

This journal mentions the dissatisfaction of the people at Council Buffs, where a remnant of these persecuted Mormons have gone, and the "Christian fortitude" with which they bear inconveniences and insults from the "fanatics." Christian fortitude! And the people of Council Bluffs too would assail these poor fugitives with fire and sword; but not being strong enough, they bear with Christian fortitude their reluctant abstinence from murder, robbery and devastation! Sweet, pretty Christians! We are in no hurry to suppose that a body of helpless fugitives to the wilderness, chased from their homes like wild beasts for their religious opinions, would be in any haste to inflict "inconveniences and insults" upon the "old settlers." They have been crushed too often by the heavy hand of the mob, to be very aggressive.

This journal says that they are deluded by impostor priests, the cause of all their miseries, and that their best course is separation from the fanatical association. We admit that they are deplorably deluded by impostor priests, but affirm that they are outrageously persecuted by impostor priests. The lawless violence of which they have been the victims, has been mainly stimulated by a set of ranting, roaring, bigoted, persecuting field and house preachers, resolved against all interference with their own trade. The new States are overrun by these wolves in sheep's clothing from every persecuting sect; and their howl against these poor fanatics is like the howl, proceeding from similar threats, which raised fire-brands against Churches in several cities of the Union. The authors of their miseries are far less the victims of their own impostors, than of the impostors around them, and the mobs which they excite. And dispersion is their only remedy! This is disgracefully true, for bigoted priests and greedy and ferocious mobs will not let them live together. Had they been let alone, they would have dispersed long since, for their delusion is too absurd to be fed by anything less than persecution, the most nutritious aliment of all fanaticisms.

And "public sentiment" will not permit them to reside in Western Missouri! And if they choose to reside there or any where, upon lands which they pay for, and obey the laws, what right has "public sentiment" to object? And who are "public sentiment?" Any mob who assail the rights of their neighbors. We are quite sick of these arrogant assumptions of despotic authority by mobs of ruffians. We know no "public sentiment" but the people at the polls, the legislature in session, the judiciary in their court-houses, and the executive in lawful action. "Public sentiment" would be much safer, if "public sentiment" were more frequently visited with the gallows and the State prison.

[juliann]

Long time no see!

 

Fascinating article....

[Uncle Dale]

Long time no see!

 

Fascinating article....

 

I've always been interested in the "history" (often unreliable) presented in old newspaper clippings.

Historians generally try to rely on primary documents, such as preserved correspondence, diaries,

public records, etc. -- but there are instances in which our only available glimpse at past events

comes to us via the faded yellow article, clipped by great grandma, and left forgotten between the

pages of her outdated D&C.

 

The passage of the Mormons, out of Nauvoo, into Iowa, and across the plains, has been researched,

documented, and reported upon numerous times, in all sorts of publications -- so, it is indeed very

"fascinating" to discover a previously uncited news report, written by an eye-witness observer.

 

The effect is almost (but not quite) like being there in person...

 

Cheers.

UD

[Uncle Dale]

Welcome back! Please stay awhile.

 

 

Well -- I suppose that I can hang around at least long enough to transcribe another

obscure relic of our collective past. I remarked previously that a Philadelphia newspaper.

situated many hundreds of miles away from the 1846 conflict in Hancock Co., Illinois,

could hardly be expected to understand all the details related to that event -- It was

"news," but not the sort of occurence that could be well understood by those who

attempted to view it from a great distance, relying upon stale, second-hand accounts.

 

But what about an editor who resided within a few hours' travel from Nauvoo -- a 

journalist who could have been an eye-witness to the Latter Day Saint eviction, had

he crossed the Mississippi and landed in Nauvoo itself?

 

As luck would have it, my filing cabinet held another contemporary account of things,

supplied by just such a nearby editor -- in Burlington, Iowa -- where Mormon refugees

could be seen on the streets and the noise of fighting in Illinois heard across the water.

 

The scene he painted was a sad one. The editor was outraged at events, but about

the only public figure he could find to "pin the blame" upon was the Illinois Governor,

and his political allies -- Nothing was said of the Hancock Co. non-Mormon agitators,

nor of Brigham Young, nor even of the two members of "The Twelve" who chose to

remain in the general vicinity (John E. Page and William Smith).

 

Were the Mormon emigrants starving? Yes, in some instances -- No, in many others.

Was the conflict in Illinois coming to an end? Yes, but with an uneasy peace that

allowed Emma Hale Smith and her family to continue living in Nauvoo, but which

would not tolerate a larger local "Mormon" population there for years to come.

 

Did the people of Iowa welcome the hapless Saints? Yes, some did -- but, No,

many did not. The Burlington editor sensed that their passage through his new

State of the Union would bring on further difficulties and worries. He was not

optimistic about what was happening.

 

 

BURLINGTON HAWK-EYE.

----------------------------------

Thursday, September 17, 1846.

The Mormon War.

Here we  are, within thirty miles of one of the most awful and terrific scenes that has ever occurred in this part of the country. Blood has been shed -- lives have

lost -- wives have been made widows and children have been made fatherless -- and yet there seems to be very little feeling or excitement, in view of it all. Our

people seem to act as if it was no business of theirs -- as if these terrible transactions were nothing but a mere sham fight. Our merchants supply the belligerents

with powder and lead and take the money for it, and think no more of such trade than if they were selling a piece of calico or a dozen pounds of sugar, only as it is more

lucrative and on a larger scale. There is a moral obliquity in all this which calls for rebuke. We should feel that such a state of things is awful and that, that individual

or community who can manifest no anxiety to put a stop to its progress is on the trail of wrong doing. We know that all in this region of country who have not been

personally identified with the annoyances occasioned by this Mormon excitement on one side or the other, have become fairly worried out with the various futile

attempts that have been made to remedy the evil. Their feelings have become blunted and their interest in the matter has almost died away. It is on account of these

oft repeated abortive attempts that our community manifests no more interest and exhibits no more abhorrence of the scenes that are now being transacted in the

vicinity of Nauvoo. -- They do not yet seem to realize the serious import of these transactions. Another cause of their apathy is occasioned by the contradictory

rumors they daily receive from the vicinity of these movements.

Whatever can be done, should be done speedily in bringing this civil war and bloodshed to an end. Situated as we are in the Territory we can perhaps do but little

directly in the restoration of peace. The result of the Mormon controversy -- if indeed it has reached its result -- has so far changed the whole aspect of affairs, as to

forbid our people from cooperating with either party. The controversy belongs to Illinois. On the heads of those demagogues who encouraged the settlement of Nauvoo

by the Mormons by offering them privileges that were denied others, for the sake of obtaining their votes, will rest, in a great measure, the responsibility of all the

misery and woe that must follow these bloody doings. A party that would purchase votes at such a fearful cost, will have a dreadful account to render, when inquest is

made for the blood of these slain. The loco foco party of Illinois are alone guilty in this matter and even now its weak and pusillanimous executive has taken no steps

but such as are dictated by political policy and which will never accomplish the end, in putting a stop to this civil war. He has had ample time to check these movements,

if he had possessed the desire, or the courage, or the wisdom to have done so. By taking a decisive, energetic course he might have prevented the firing of a single gun

 and the death of a single individual.

What he will now do none can tell. As a party to the agreement between the citizens and the Mormons, wherein the latter agreed to leave the State the last Spring,

he was bound, as he had the power and the authority to compel the ratification of the contract in the way pointed out. But he was too much interested in the election of

TURNER to insist upon all going before the August election. Their votes were necessary to accomplish that and they were permitted to remain. All the mischief that is

now experienced is the result of a combination between religious and political fanaticism and political fanaticism -- hypocritical and political knavery. -- These two

ingredients never could have accomplished separately what they have accomplished together.

The men now arrayed against the Mormons have given up every thing to accomplish their object. Farmers have neglected to put in their seed --

mechanics have left their shops -- and professional men have relinquished their businesses, with the determination of ridding the State of those

whom they consider their worst enemies. Their only object seems to be to get them out of the State; but do they consider that in doing so they

may be entailing upon their neighbors in Iowa a great injury? In consequence of the opposition they meet with in Illinois, the Mormons are scattering

themselves all over the Southern and South-western portions of Iowa. Lee county has more of them than it ever had before, and our own citizens in

Des Moines are becoming alarmed at the numbers, who have taken up their quarters in this vicinity. Since the hostilities in Nauvoo took place one

boat is said to have taken off about fifty Mormons from this place, who have gone to assist their brethren in Nauvoo. Their families are left behind and

may soon be cast upon the County for support. If they were honest and industrious they might be a desirable acquisition to our population in many

respects. But as no one will endorse for their good conduct, and as they come among us with a very bad name, it behooves our citizens to be on the

watch and repudiate the selfishness of the Illinoians, which has sent such a population among us. It is wrong. The Suckers _invited_ them to their

State. The Hawk-Eyes never did any such thing. -- They have no right to send them among us.

That there is much suffering among the Mormons we believe. Many of them are innocently deluded, and while we write there are a large number of women and children

in a most forlorn and destitute condition at Montrose, opposite Nauvoo, who have been sent across the Mississippi for safety. Many of these are without shelter and

without sustenance. Unless our citizens do something for them in their exposed situation, we fear that they will suffer more from the horrors of hunger and exposure

than they would from the calamity of war within the city of Nauvoo. The sympathies of our citizens should be awakened in behalf of these, and such aid afforded them

as is needed and can be rendered.

The following correspondence gives the authentic news up to Sunday evening. -- What the result was on that night we have not yet heard. The Stage may bring us the

account before our paper goes to press. The firing was heard on Sunday night as high up as this place.

_Correspondence of the Hawk-Eye._

Fort Madison, Sept. 13th, 1846.

J. G. Edwards, Esq. -- Last Friday a cannonading took place betwixt the Anti-Mormon, and Mormon, and New Settler forces. One man was killed and several wounded

on the part of the Mormons. -- Saturday a general battle took place. The Anti-Mormons marched out of their camp about 1o'clock P. M., leaving 200 men to guard their

baggage, &c., and directed their course towards the Mormons who appeared under arms in the outskirts of the city. As the forces gradually neared,  the cannon thundered

forth terrifically. Finally, coming sufficiently near, the roar of musquetry became deafening. The Mormons retired into the buildings and fired from the windows, but the

Anti-Mormons still advanced and with their cannon rooted them out of their feeble fortresses. Mixed up in the City each man to a chief extent fought on his own hook.

The contest had lasted about  1 3/4 hours and the Anti-Mormons had advanced all this time, when finding their powder was about failing, they withdrew to await a further

supply which was hourly expected. Last Sunday (Sunday) the roar of artillery which followed each other in rapid succession and which we hear distinctly in this town,

evinced that a third deadly strife was going on. The number of killed on Saturday, I suppose, did not exceed 4 or 5 on each side, with 8 or 10 wounded on each side.

We have not heard the result of last night's affair. -- Strange enough! some of our citizens go over every day to the two Armies to see their fighting exhibitions. Viewed

rightfully, it is an awful affair in both Morals and Religion, and we should rather flee from the sight than delight in such views of human butchery. Our friend Guthrie in his

anxiety to see the affair of Friday, climbed a tree just in the rear of the Anti-Mormon troops and was setting there like an old coon, calmly contemplating the contest going

on 2 or 300 yards in front. The Mormons, supposing him one of the belligerents, placed there as a spy, elevated their cannon and cracked away at him, and "hiss" went the

ball close under his feet, when he sloped down and scrambled off in double "quick time." Yours, &c.

P. S. We learn that the cannonading on Sunday night came from the Mormon camp. They knocked over a few tents, and that was all  the damage done by them.

 

[The Nehor]

Hey Uncle Dale,

Great stuff and glad to hear from you. Someone told me you were dead.....so were you translated or resurrected or was the account I heard a little off base?

[Uncle Dale]

Hey Uncle Dale,

Great stuff and glad to hear from you. Someone told me you were dead.....so were you translated or resurrected or was the account I heard a little off base?

Not quite deceased -- but working on it.

Health issues continue to present some major problems,

But I'm not inclined to discuss that sort of thing here.

My interest in Latter Day Saintism has evolved into

merely an historical hobby -- so, other than that,

I suppose I have little useful to contribute.

But, I must admit, I'm pleased to receive such a

positive reception from folks who otherwise tend

to disagree with me on much of that same "history."

UD

[Garden Girl]

Hello Uncle Dale...

It's been years since we've had any contact... but you've crossed my mind occasionally, wondering how you were doing... so I too am glad to see you here... and your posts have been fascinating reading.

 

I'm sorry you continue to have health issues, and send you all good wishes...

 

from the beach... GG

[Uncle Dale]

Hello Uncle Dale...

... I too am glad to see you here...

 

 

 

Gee -- what can I say? Everybody is being so nice here...

and I'm blushing...

 

I thought perhaps folks would enjoy another mental pilgrimage back

to the Nauvoo of the 1840s. So, here goes:

 

 

CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

-----------------------------------

Vol. XXI. Philadelphia, Friday, September 2, 1842. No. 35.

THE WESTERN MISSIONARY AT HOME.

The Rev. Mr. Badger, one of the Secretaries of the Home Missionary Society, has recently made an exploring tour in the Western States, to advance the  great interests contemplated in the operations of that Society.  The following is an extract of one of his Communications from the West....

"...

JOE SMITH AT HOME.

The fourth of July found me at Nauvoo, the city of the Mormons. I saw Joe Smith, in splendid regimentals, in the character of Lieutenant General, at the head of a thousand troops. He was attended by six of his principal officers on horseback, constituting the front rank as they moved. Directly in the rear were six ladies on horseback, with black caps and feathers, constituting the second rank; and in the rear of these were two ranks, of six each, of body guards, in white frocks with black belts. Joe carried a monstrously large tin speaking trumpet, and uttered his prophecies through that instead of giving his orders to his aids.

The city is a city of log houses and mud cabins, scattered over an area of three miles square, said to contain ten thousand people, a motley, rag-a-muffin crew. Many of them are, I doubt not, poor, deluded creatures, and all of them are destined inevitably, for aught I can see, to great suffering, for there is not land enough under cultivation any where around to feed a tenth part of them.

I visited the temple. It stands on an elevation a mile back from the river. The walls are up just above the basement story, some six or eight feet from the ground, built of hewn lime stone the length perhaps 120 feet, and the bread th 90. Every man is required to work on it every tenth day. Every man who comes among them is required to give one tenth of all the property he has at the time, and one tenth of all he may earn afterwards, and to hold the remainder subject to the prophet's order, as God shall reveal. If all evangelical Christians, thought I, were willing to make the sacrifices in the cause of Christ which these poor creatures are making to a false prophet, how soon, with the ordinary blessng of God, might the earth be filled with his glory!

In the basement of the temple is a great laver, or baptistry, standing on twelve oxen, wrought out of wood, their heads facing four ways. They baptize here, not only for the living, but for the dead. Individuals are instructed that they can get their friends out of perdition by being baptized on their account. I saw one old man who had been baptized 13 times for his deceased children, because they were not Mormons; and heard of another, about 80 years old, who was baptized for George Washington and La Fayette, then for Thomas Jefferson, and then applied in behalf of Andrew Jackson! but they told him the General was not dead yet, and so he waits a while."

 

-------------------

 

So, you might ask -- what's so unique about that particular report?

 

Well, for one thing, it became the origin for one of the most famous (?)

depictions of Joseph Smith at Nauvoo. The illustration was entitled:

"Lieutenant General Joseph Smith Reviewing the Nauvoo Legion"

And historian Glen M. Leonard was a bit irked by the engraving, as he

said in his "Picturing the Nauvoo Legion" (BYU Studies XXXV:2, 1995)

 

"The unnamed artist skillfully presents his anti-Mormon message. Surrounded by a bevy of young women on prancing white horses Lieutenant General Smith directs his well-trained, formally uniformed troops on the flats below the city of Nauvoo. A Massachussetts lecturer who had visited Nauvoo in 1843 reported seeing at a military parade "six ladies on horses with white feathers or plumes waving over black velvet riding up and down in front of the regiment."

 

This might give the reader the false impression of the engraving

being a bogus attempt at defaming President Smith -- but during

his lifetime a reference (somewhat mixed up and faulty) was printed

in the Times & Seasons of June 15, 1843 -- the event thus alluded

to was also mentioned by Smith (complete with lady riders) in his

1842 diary.

 

But -- the story doesn't end there. Writers Smith, McGavin, Hill,

Leonard, and others misunderstood where the information for the

engraving came from. It was not first presented in Salem, Mass.,

in some traveler's lecture -- nor did it come from a Mormon missionary.

 

The original reference was published in "The Home Missionary" of

July, 1842, as an excerpt from a letter submitted by traveling eastern

minister,  who just happened to be in Nauvoo on the 4th of July, 1842.

So, the Sept. 1842 "Christian Observer" reprint I started off with, was

simply one of many contemporary re-tellings of that fellow's experience

in witnessing Smith's review of the Nauvoo Legion on that date (and

thus corresponding with Smith's own journal record).

 

Because a certain Mr. John B. Newhall lectured on the "Western

Country" at Salem (March 21, 1843) and in Boston (April 12 & 13),

and mentioned in passing the "six ladies on horses with white

feathers or plumes waving over black velvet riding up and down in

front of the regiment" -- because of a misunderstanding of his source

for that little depiction -- a chain of reactions and mis-reporting has

continued down, all the way from 1843 to the present day.

 

The "Times & Seasons" reprinted a short review, from Salem, of

Newhall's lecture -- and then, in England in 1850, a publisher of

popular books commissioned an artist to engrave the scene

portrayed in the Nauvoo newspaper of 1843.

 

And thus, c. 1851-52, copies of that engraving (and many others

of a similar nature) began circulating in America. People forgot

all about the illustration's actual American, LDS historical events

source, and began to speculate that the wicked Gentiles in England

were thus attacking polygamy; by making a phoney, not-to-subtle

allusion to that LDS practice in a totally fanciful drawing.

 

As I said, he original letter mentioning the review of the Nauvoo Legion,

was written from somewhere in the "West" by the Rev. Milton Badger

(1800-1873). He subsequently returned to his association with the

Home Missionary folks, and there continued his initial interest in the

city of Nauvoo and the Mormons. He himself received a letter from

Rev. James A. Clark, written at Fort Madison, across the river from

the Mormon captial, on Dec. 6, 1842.

 

Rev. Clark told Badger:

 

" Found some twelve members [Calvinist sectarians living in Iowa?] who may be associated [into our] church. This is a very

important point. I know of none in the territory more so & that presents more flattering prospects for ministerial success. The

beast has already looked upon it with a covetous eye & Lieutenant General Prophet [&c] Joe arrogantly claims it as his. You will

remember this place [Lee Co., Iowa] as standing at the foot of the rapids where steam boats can come three or four months &

longer than at any other point in the territory..."

 

This was only one of many letters that passed from the hands of

western Protestant ministers to religious papers in the East -- but

none of the others resulted in a famous (infamous?) engraving

that supposedly maligned polygamy in its earliest days.

 

The Oct. 1842 issue of "The Home Missionary" contained a

correspondence excerpt from "a Missionary near the Mormons."

The language is similar to that used by Revs. Clark and Badger,

but this writer was Benjamin F. Morris, a "home" missionary then

serving in Warsaw, Illinois -- He said:

"Mormonism is exerting a very great and pernicious influence over this country. Here is the seat of the Beast and false Prophet. Here

are 15,000 souls deluded, and under the absolute dominion of Joe Smith. He literally leads them whithersoever he will. They have

unlimited belief in his prophecies; and no wickedness, however vile -- no swindling, however great -- no blackguardism, however

low -- no hypocrisy, however errant, and no prophesy, however absurd and preposterous, can break the force of their belief in him,

or dissipate the dreadful delusion that covers their minds. I recently heard with my own ears, these heartless leaders tell the Mormons

that they had a revelation from the Lord to tell them how they should all vote. They one and all believed it, and voted in obedience

to the pretended revelation. They now have all the offices, and the entire government of the county in their own hands.

The old citizens are under great excitement in consequence of the impudence, lawlessness and wickedness of the Mormons and

their leaders. We are on the eve of an outbreak, and I should not be surprised to see very soon the scenes of Missouri enacted anew.

It is a great calamity fastened on our county and state. They have unsettled every thing; keep the county in constant excitement, and

exert a most withering influence on morals and religion. What is to be the _finale_ of this chief of all modern humbugs, I know not.

One thing is certain, they are generally destitute of all christian character, and worse than all that has ever been said about them.

The half, hardly has been told. They are a great hindrance to the Gospel in the region."

 

Well, what else might we have expected, coming from an irate Prostestant clergyman

writing personal letters during the mid-1840s? It was the typical reporting of the day.

He did get the Nauvoo mass voting part more-or-less correct. And that was the sort

of thing which eventually led to the predicted "outbreak" in Hancock County.

 

But, I'm glad the engraving was made. It captured the spirit of the times, and I doubt

very much that it was intended to be so mean-spirited as letters like those of Rev. Clark.

 

http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/Mackay1.jpg

http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/smithpix.htm

 

 

UD

Edited December 7, 2014 by Uncle Dale

[rodheadlee]

Thanks Uncle Dale.

[Uncle Dale]

Thanks Uncle Dale.

 

 

Since this thread has more or less centered on Nauvoo of the 1840s, I'll close

out that decade with transcripts of two, rather differing opinions of it at that time.

 

The first item is a letter written from the former LDS capital, by a local resident:

 

DAILY MISSOURI REPUBLICAN.

-----------------------------------------------

St. Louis, Missouri, Monday, March 26, 1849

Correspondence of the Missouri Republican.

                        Nauvoo, Ills., March 21, 1849

Messrs. Editors: Knowing you to be friendly to the interests, the improvements and prosperity of the great West, and to the development of the vast resources of the new region of the upper Mississippi, I take the liberty of sending you the following note, which you can, if you deem proper, insert in your valuable paper.

There is no point on the upper Mississippi, or perhaps in the civilized world, which has attracted more attention than Nauvoo. Its history has been interesting, as the site of an association of fanatics, who have long since wended their way to the wild regions of the unexplored West, to find a wilderness home, where the scourge of the persecutor could never reach them. Notwithstanding the removal of this strange and deluded sect, whose peculiar habits and manners of worship have thrown a romantic interest on her history, the community still look upon the celebrated city of the Mormons with as much avidity for the marvellous, as when Jo Smith heralded the revealed truth of heaven to his credulous disciples, and when the sick were healed and the dead raised by the laying on of holy hands.

Although Nauvoo has been reduced from her proud position of an important and flourishing city -- although her population has been diminished to one fourth of what it was under the dynasty of its fantic founder, yet a new era is now dawning on the humble capital of Mormonism; a new impulse bids fair to make it far surpass, in substantial prosperity, its palmiest days of Mormon pride. Only a week since, there was an arrival at this city, of three hundred citizens of France, who were seeking that repose in the quiet of our own, well regulated Government, which they could not enjoy amid the stormy and proscriptive spirit which has so long agitated their own country. This band of emigrents, struck with the picturesque beauty of the place, and impressed with the fertility of the surrounding county and the healthfulness of the locality, have come to the conclusion that no place can be better adapted to their wants than Nauvoo. This company of emigrants is headed by the distinguished _Cabet,_ who is determined to make this place a nucleus for emigration.

 

It is said that seven hundred, who belong to the same association, are expected to meet their friends here in a short time, and that thirty thousand, who are still in France, and who are said to belong to the same brotherly fraternity, will emigrate and settle with their brethren who are already in the United States, under the flattering expectations that Nauvoo will be made the nucleus of this emigration. There is no reason why it should not rival, in prosperity and importance, the most flourishing cities of the Great West.    RAMBLER.

 

-----

 

The second item is a near contemporary letter, written by the "State of Deseret" Delegate to

Congress, who passed through Nauvoo and few months later, on his way to Washington, D. C.:

 

Nauvoo presents a most gloomy and desolate appearance. The lots and streets, with a few exceptions, are overgrown with weeds and grass. Few of the houses, comparitively speaking, are inhabited; the remainder are in a state of desolation and utter ruin. Though the walls of Temple are standing, yet they are much cracked, especially the east one; and not a vestige of the beautiful font remains. There has been nothing done to rebuild it, except clearing away some rubbish, and it is highly probable there will never be anything more done.

The temple is enclosed with a rude fence, and is used as a sheepfold and cow-pen. I was informed by a person who witnessed the conflagration of this sacred and magnificent edifice, that when the flames first burst out through the steeple, a most profound silence reigned over this devoted city, then the dogs began to bark, and the cattle to low. The Nauvoo House remains in about the same condition in which it was two years ago. The appearance of the adjacent country is in

perfect keeping with that of the city.

Though Emma received me in the kindest, and entertained me in the most hospitable manner, yet she did not make a single inquiry in relation to the Valley, or the Church, or any of its members. She has become quite corpulent. She has not united with the Methodist church.

Joseph has grown suprisingly, indeed so much so that I did not recognize him. His little brothers have also grown rapidly. Emma has employed a teacher who is residing in the house, and is instructing the children. Joseph is studying English, French, and Latin. Julia, the adopted daughter of Emma, has been joined in the silken bands of wedlock to a reformed gambler of the name of Dixon, who keeps the Mansion.

Mother Smith's health is very feeble, and in all human probability she will not survive another winter. She inquired after you and others.

[John M. Bernhisel to Brigham Young, Nauvoo, Sept. 10, 1849 -- extract in R. H. Sylvester's 1947 "John Milton Bernhisel," pp. 27-28]

 

 

As things turned out, "Mother" Lucy Mack Smith survived for almost another seven years,

before passing away near Nauvoo on May 14, 1856. She was buried the following day,

alongside her late husband, in that town.

 

I have searched in vain to locate a copy of any article published in local Hancock Co.,

newspapers, describing her funeral at Nauvoo -- and would be most thankful for any

news clipping, letter, or diary entry anybody has noticed, regarding her burial.

 

UD

[Uncle Dale]

 

But, I'm glad the engraving was made. It captured the spirit of the times...

 

 

 

I'll close off this thread with one last comment --

 

That the so-called "anti-Mormon" 1851 depiction of President Smith and six plumed

equestrian ladies was... very, very likely drawn by a noted British Mormon artist --

 

At least Apostle John Taylor implicitly provided that attribution in an 1856 editorial:

 

>this writer [of the 1851 book containing the illustration] made the acquaintance of the

>presiding Elder of the London Conference, who placed in his hands all our publications,

>and an eminent artist, a member of the Church, was engaged to furnish the sketches

>of scenes and persons for the new work.

 

http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/NY/miscNYCa.htm#092056

 

The graphic depicting a young and handsome Orson Pratt, published along

with the other engravings in the 1851 book, was reprinted from a contemporary

LDS pamphlet. It was drawn by Elder Frederick Piercy, who also furnished the

much-admired illustrations for the "Route from Liverpool" volume -- many of

which still appear as reproductions, from time to time, in official LDS publications.

 

Leonard Arrington attributed other engravings in the 1851 "anti-Mormon" book to

the same Frederick Piercy -- and it seems probable that it was Piercy who sketched

out the Nauvoo scene for the British engraver. If the original artwork could be recovered

(at this late date) the artistry behind the engraver's rendering could be better verified.

 

I'm more than half-convinced that Dr. Charles Mackay (the book's author) interviewed

Orson Pratt, in Liverpool, and received that Apostle's permission to reprint the LDS

semi-official portrait of Pratt himself. At the same time, Pratt may have also contributed

various materials for Dr. Mackay's text -- both oral and printed historical information.

 

If there is any interest here, I'll start another thread, to discuss how it happened that

an "anti-Mormon" British writer received assistance in compiling his popular book on

the Saints, and what controversial references in that text probably came from official

Mormon sources in England.

 

UD