[ Full-text transcription of: Letter from General Samuel D. Lucas, 4th Division of Missouri Militia, at Camp near Far West, MO to Governor Boggs, Jefferson City, MO ]
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Genl Lucas
to
Governor
Nov 2, 1838
Copied
Head Quarters
Camp
near
Nov: 2nd: 1838—
His Ex: L. W. Boggs
Comr—in Chief. M. M.
Sir—On Monday 29th
Oct: the troops ordered out by Maj: Genl: Atch:
:ison & myself (as per our report to you of
said date) took up their line of march from
camp near
encamped the night of the 29th at Lin:
ville’s Creek. (a short distance from the road)
about sixteen miles from
point we received an express from Brig:
Genl: Doniphan, informing us that he was
then encamped on Log Creek, with a force
of 500 men, and that he would join us
at the crossing of said creek on the road
from
the next morning. On 30th Oct: the troops
got together at the late named point, when
we mustered about 1800 men. Whilst at
this place we received your orders of 26th.
ult. and I received an order of 27th.. ult. & a
letter from you of the same date. At this
point Maj. Genl:
when I was left in sole command. Before
leaving Log Creek, I received information
that a band of Mormons, 200 in number,
called Danites, had been seen about two hours
previous, near the rout that we had passed.
Upon receiving this intelligence, I ordered a de:
:tachment of two companies from the respec:
:tive commands of Brig: Genls: Wilson, Doniphan,
Parks, & Graham, to go on pursuit of said
band, which I placed under the command
of Genl:
& if possible, to cut off their retreat to
I then took up my line of march for Goose
Creek, one mile south of
Point we reached about one hour by sun
in the evening. Just as the troops were en:
:camping, I received intelligence from
Genl: Doniphan, from his position on the
right, that he had discovered a part of
mounted Mormons approaching Far
West from the east—and requested per:
:mission to intercept them if possible.
Leave was granted, & his Brig: started off
at nearly full speed to accomplish the order,
but the mormons succeeded in reaching the
fort. Genl: Doniphan approached within
200 yards of their fortress, when they displayed
a force of about 800 men. At this juncture
I ordered Genl: Graham Brig: (holding Genl Parks
& part of Genl:
to march at full speed to the relief of the lst.
Brig 3rd. div—but from the inequality of the
force of the first detachment (being only
250 strong at that time) & the Mormons, it
was considered provident to withdraw the troops,
& march against them in the morning. Which
was accordingly done, and they all returned,
as dark set in, to camp—At this place I es:
tablished my Head Quarters, & continued there
during the expedition against the mormons—
The detachment under Genl. Wilson returned
about 9 o’clock P.M. The next morning
31st October, I received a message from
Hinckle, the commander of the Mormon forces,
requesting an interview with me, on an emi:
:nence near
:nate, by hoisting a white flag—I sent him word
that I would meet him at 2 o’clock P.M.
being so much engaged in receiving & encamping
of fresh troops, who were hourly coming
in, that I could not attend before. Accordingly
at that time I started with my staff officers
and Brig: Genls: Wilson, Doniphan & Graham,
Genl: Parks being left in command. We
We met him and some other mormons at
the point before mentioned. He stated that
his object in asking me to meet him there
was to know if there could not be some
compromise or settlement of the difficulty
without a resort to arms. After giving him
to understand the nature of your orders,
I made him the following propositions, which
I furnished him a copy of—Also a copy of your
order: viz—
lst: To give up their leaders to be
tried & punished.
2nd. To make an appropriation of their
property, all who had taken up arms to its
payment of their debts and indemnity for
damage done by them—
3rd. That the balance should leave the
State, & be protected out by the militia, but to
be permitted to remain under protection, until
further orders were received from the Commander
in Chief—
4th. To give up their arms of every
description, to be receipted for.
readily, but wished to postpone the matter until
morning. I then told him that I would require
Jos. Smith jr., Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight,
Parley Pratt and Geo: W. Robinson as
hostages for his faithful compliance with
the terms, and would pledge myself and
each one of the officers present, that
in case he, after reflecting and consulting
upon the propositions during the night, de:
:clined acceding to them, that the hostages
should be returned to him in the morning,
at the same point they were received—but
it was understood, that in case they did comply,
they were to be held for trial, as part of the
leaders, called for by lst. Stipulation—I then gave
him until one hour by sun in the evening, to
produce and deliver them. We then returned to
camp, & I directed the troops to make prepa:
:rations to march to
a half by sun, with a determination, in case
the hostages were not produced, to make an
attack upon the town forthwith. I directed
Genl. Parks’ brigade to be mounted, & to form
on the right of the Division, to act as flankers,
if necessary, and, if required to pass entirely
around the town and form on the north
side, with instructions to make the attack,
at the report of the cannon, which was to
be the signal for the general attack. Genl: Gra:
:ham’s brigade was mounted & formed on the
extreme left to act as flankers, and if required
to form the line on the west side, with Sim:
:ilar instructions as to the commencement of
the attack. Genl: Doniphans Brig: was ordered
to parade on foot and to form on the left of
Genl: Parks, with instructions to form on the
East side, with similar orders relative
to attack. Genl:
parade on foot and to form on the left
of Genl. Doniphan, with instructions to form
the line of battle, on the South side, with Same
instructions, as to commencement of attack.
The artillery company, with one piece of ord:
:nance, was placed at the head of Genl: Don:
:iphan & Genl:
to occupy an eminence within 300 yards
of the Town. The army being disposed of in
this manner, at the appointed time, I took up
the line of march in the direction of
when the troops got within about 600 yards
I discovered the flag, and the hostages advan:
:cing. I immediately halted the army, and rode
out and met them, received the hostages and
placed a guard over them for their safety and
protection, and ordered the forces back to our
encampment. I cannot forbear at this
point expressing my gratification and
approbation of the good conduct & gallant
bravery evinced by all the officers and men
under my command. They marched up with
as much determination and deliberation, as
old veterans, not knowing but that the
charge would be sounded every moment for
surrounding the Town. There was no noise nor
confusion—nothing but an eager anxiety upon
the countenance of every man to get at the work.
When the hostages were received, the troops with
some slight exceptions marched back in profound
silence. 1st. Novr I ordered the whole forces
amounting to 2500 men to parade at 9 o’clock
A.M. & to take up the line of march for
prisoners & their arms. The troops marched out &
formed in the Prairie about 200 yards south
east of the town.
Genl:
the West line. Genl: Doniphan’s the east line,
Genl: Graham’s & Genl’ Parks’ the South line
with the artillery company and the cannon
in the center of the two latter, leaving one
side of the square open. The mormon army
reduced to about 600 men by desertion and
otherwise, under their commander Col. Hinckle
marched out of their town, through the space
into our square, formed a hollow square and
grounded their arms. Col. Hinckle then
rode forward & delivered up to me his sword
& pistols. I then directed a company from
the respective Brigades to form a front, rear,
and right & left flank guards, & to march
the prisoners back to
and take charge of them, until the next
morning. I then detailed a company from
Genl: Doniphan’s command to take charge
of the arms. Then in order to gratify the
army, & to let the mormons see our forces,
marched around the Town, & through the
principal streets, & back to Head quarters.
Considering the war at an end in this place,
I issued orders for Gen: Doniphan’s brigade, with
the exception of one company & Genl: Graham’s
Brig: to take up their line of march for
their respective Head Quarters, & dismiss their
men—and directed Gen:
charge of the prisoners (demanded for trial)
& arms & march them to my head Quarters
at
& to dismiss all except a guard for the
prisoners & arms. 2nd. Nov: I relieved
the guard placed over the prisoners at Far
West by 4 companies of Gen: Parks’ Brig:
and placed them under the command
of
instructions to report to Gen:
The balance of Gen: Parks’ Brigade with
Capt: Gilliam’s company of Genl Doniphan’s Brigade
Under the command of Genl: Parks, I ordered
to Adam on Diamon, a mormon town in Daviess
County, with instructions to disarm the
mormon forces at that place, and to
leave a guard of 50 men for the protec:
:tion of prisoners, & to report to Genl:
In order to carry the treaty & stipulations
into effect, I have requested your Aid:
-de-Camp
Burch & Maj: A. Reese of Ray to attend to
drawing up all the papers legally, and
directed
with a portion of his command, & to cause
all their orders and requirements consist:
:ent with the stiulations to be carried
into effect. This day about 12 O’Clock
there was a Battalion of 100 men from
Platte arrived at
:dered back, having understood that Major Genl:
:icent force to operate in Daviess and Livings:
ton, & for any service that may be requi:
:red.
I have the honor to be
most respectfully—
Saml. D. Lucas
Maj. Genl:
Commanding—