[ Full-text transcription of: Letter from General John B. Clark, 1st Division of Missouri Militia in Boonville, MO to Governor Boggs, Jefferson City, MO ]
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State [ ] of Adam
C. Wm for –
Belongs to letter S
Genl Clark
to
Govr enclosing memo
sent to citizens of How
ard cty
copied
Boonville 9th. Oct,r [sic] 1838.
His Excellency L. W. Boggs,
Sir, since I wrote to you
I have received the inclosed information in relation
to the Mormon difficulty. The names subscribed
to the inclosed paper are worthy prudent & patriotic
citizens of
nothing but a case of absolute necessity to protect
their friend would induce them to engage as they
have done.
I regret exceedingly that your Excellency
received information making it necessary to
discharge the troops you had on the march.
Nothing but some such step in my
opinion will ever settle the affair. –
I hope your Excellency will write
to me on the receipt of this.
I have the honor to be
Your Obt. Serv,t
John B. Clark.
Camp Near De Witt
To the Citizens
of
Gentlemen,
This county is the theatre of a civil
war, and will soon be one of desolation, unless
the citizens of the adjoining counties lend immediate
assistance. The infatuated Mormons have assembled
in large numbers in De Witt, prepared for war,
and are continually pouring in from all quarters
where these detestable fanatics reside.
The war is commenced: blood has been shed
they shed it; they waylayed and fired upon a
body of the Citizens of Carroll County, & wounded
some. They are the aggressors, they have been
guilty of high treason; they have violated the laws,
and shed the blood of our citizens, and we think
this one of the cases of emergency in which the
people ought to take the execution of justice in their
own hands. Speedy action is necessary, the progress
of their imposition, insult and oppression [“opposition” crossed out] Ought to be-
checked in the beginning. The people must act &
together, they must act energetically.
It is now twelve O,Clock at night, the Mormons
are lurking round our camp, and making preparations
to attack us before day. Our number is much
less than theirs, and we will have to act on the
defensive until we procure more assistance.
About two hours ago the Mormons were re=inforced
by 62 mounted men well armed from
they are arriving every night; two nights ago it
is thought one hundred came to De wit, for the
purpose of making war upon the people of this
County. Under such circumstances, you cannot
fail to come forward immediately, can you not
be here by Sunday or Monday at farthest?
Come by fives and tens, if you cannot come
in companies, bring all you can; this is no false
excitement, or idle rumor; it is the cold reality
too real. We will anticipate you immediately,
and shall expect your co=operation & assistance
in expelling the fanatics, who are mostly aliens
by birth and aliens in principle from the
county we must be enemies to the common
enemies of our laws, religion & country.
Your friends & fellow Citizens,
P.S.
Our guard was just now fired upon
by the Mormons, they have became emboldened
by their recent re=inforcements, and we will
have to act on the defensive; until assistance
arrives
Yr,s &c
Congrave Jackson,
Larkin K. Woods,
Thomas Jackson,
Rollo M. Davis,
James Jackson Junr,
Johnson Jackson,
John L. Tomlin,
Sidney S. Woods,
George [Crigler],
William L. Banks,
Whitfield Dickens.
[ 1838]
[Belongs to letter S]
I the undersigned Adam C. Woods a Citizen of
of October 1838. In company with Captain Congrave
Jackson, and Others of Howard County, hearing of
the Mormon difficulty at De wit, concluded to
go up there, and did go to interpose our good
Officer and make peace between them and the
Citizens, when we reached there on last evening
we found under arms in a mile or thereabouts
of De wit, about two hundred Citizens encamped
and Sentinels out, I did not go into De wit. I
was advised not to go in, fearing that I would
be injured I was informed and believe the
information to be true, that the Mormons at
De wit, are between five and six hundred
well armed. I remained on last night
in the Camp of the Citizens, intending on this
morning to go in Town, and indeavor to
make peace; but about
commenced fireing on the Sentinels placed out
by the Citizens, which was returned, there was
occasional fireing at a distance until day.
From the above occurences we were detered
from making any attempt with the Mormons
for peace, and I left on this day about 10. O,clock
in the morning.
A.C. Woods.
Octr 7th. 1838