General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 2 August 1842

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General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 2 August 1842
Source Note

JS and
Wilson Law
26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....
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, General Orders,
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, to
Nauvoo Legion
A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...
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Nauvoo
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, Hancock Co., IL, 2 Aug. 1842. Featured version published in Wasp, between 30 July and 4 August 1842, vol. 1, no. 16, [3]. For more complete source information, see the source note for Notice, 28 Apr. 1842.

Historical Introduction
As lieutenant general of the
Nauvoo Legion
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, JS issued orders on 2 August 1842 calling for the officers of the legion to convene in eleven days. The purpose of the meeting was to allow the officers to hear from the Committee of Revision and to deliberate over changes to the militia’s bylaws.
1
The Committee of Revision, which had been appointed on 4 July 1842 to revise the legion’s bylaws, consisted of Wilson Law, Charles C. Rich, Albert P. Rockwood, Hugh McFall, and Erastus Derby. (Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 4 July 1842, 21.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 1843–1844. Nauvoo Legion, Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430, fd. 1.
The assembly would also give the officers the opportunity to elect a new major general to fill the vacancy left by
John C. Bennett
3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...
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, who had been cashiered from the legion in June 1842.
2
Bennett’s cashiering likely occurred during a court-martial held 30 June 1842, in which JS gave “testimony concerning John C Bennett.” In June, the First Presidency composed a statement of “important facts relative to the conduct and character of Dr. John C. Bennett . . . that the honorable part of community may be aware of his proceedings . . . and regard him as he ought to be regarded, viz: as an impostor and base adulterer.” (JS, Journal, 30 June 1842; Letter to the Church and Others, 23 June 1842; see also Letter from Thomas Carlin, 27 July 1842.)

As was standard practice, a scribe likely prepared the orders for JS to sign, after which JS disseminated them to the officers of the Nauvoo Legion through Brevet Major General
Wilson Law
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. The orders were dated 2 August 1842 and published in the next issue of the Wasp, which was apparently delayed.
3
Although initial typesetting for the next weekly issue of the Wasp occurred on 30 July 1842, the typesetting of the entire issue was apparently not completed until 4 August. (See Nameplates, Wasp, between 30 July and 4 Aug. 1842, [1], [2].)
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
The version of the orders published in the Wasp is featured here.
4
Some previous general orders for the legion were also published in the Times and Seasons. (See General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 4 May 1841; and General Orders, Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, 2:435; 16 Aug. 1841, 2:517; 1 Jan. 1842, 3:654.)
The officers met at the appointed time and place where, as planned, they approved new laws and elected a new major general.
Footnotes
[1]
The Committee of Revision, which had been appointed on 4 July 1842 to revise the legion’s bylaws, consisted of Wilson Law, Charles C. Rich, Albert P. Rockwood, Hugh McFall, and Erastus Derby. (Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 4 July 1842, 21.)
[2]
Bennett’s cashiering likely occurred during a court-martial held 30 June 1842, in which JS gave “testimony concerning John C Bennett.” In June, the First Presidency composed a statement of “important facts relative to the conduct and character of Dr. John C. Bennett . . . that the honorable part of community may be aware of his proceedings . . . and regard him as he ought to be regarded, viz: as an impostor and base adulterer.” (JS, Journal, 30 June 1842; Letter to the Church and Others, 23 June 1842; see also Letter from Thomas Carlin, 27 July 1842.)
[3]
Although initial typesetting for the next weekly issue of the Wasp occurred on 30 July 1842, the typesetting of the entire issue was apparently not completed until 4 August. (See Nameplates, Wasp, between 30 July and 4 Aug. 1842, [1], [2].)
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
[4]
Some previous general orders for the legion were also published in the Times and Seasons. (See General Orders for Nauvoo Legion, 4 May 1841; and General Orders, Times and Seasons, 1 June 1841, 2:435; 16 Aug. 1841, 2:517; 1 Jan. 1842, 3:654.)
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Head Quarters,
Nauvoo Legion
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,
1
JS’s office, located on the southwest corner of Water Street and Main Street, likely served as the headquarters of the Nauvoo Legion. (See “Nauvoo, Illinois, 30 April 1843.”)
)

City of
Nauvoo
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, Aug. 2. 1842.)

The officers of the Nauvoo Legion are hereby ordered to assemble at the Office of Gen.
H[yrum] Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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,
2
Hyrum Smith’s office was located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Water Street and Bain Street. (See “Nauvoo, Illinois, 30 April 1843.”)
on Saturday the 13th inst., at 10 o’clock A. M., for the purpose of hearing and considering the report of the committee of revision of the laws of the Legion, and electing a Major General to fill the vacancy occasioned by the cashiering of
John C. Bennett
3 Aug. 1804–5 Aug. 1867. Physician, minister, poultry breeder. Born at Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. Son of John Bennett and Abigail Cook. Moved to Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio, 1808; to Massachusetts, 1812; and back to Marietta, 1822. Married ...
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.
3
The officers met at ten o’clock in the morning on 13 August in the office of Hyrum Smith, and the committee presented for approval a bill that outlined militia conduct and discipline. After a half-hour recess, the officers reconvened at two o’clock and held an election for the office of major general. At this meeting, Brevet Major General Wilson Law was elected to the position, with fifty-five votes, over Lyman Wight, who received forty-three votes. JS might have initially intended to appoint James Arlington Bennet, the next ranking officer, as the next major general, but Bennet resided in New York and, though commissioned, may have felt his position was an honorary one. (Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, [13] Aug. 1842, 22–29; “Late and Important from the Mormon Country,” New York Herald, 30 Aug. 1842, [2].)
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
By order of

JOSEPH SMITH,

Lieut. General.

Wilson Law
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, Brevet Major General. [p. [3]]
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Footnotes
[1]
JS’s office, located on the southwest corner of Water Street and Main Street, likely served as the headquarters of the Nauvoo Legion. (See “Nauvoo, Illinois, 30 April 1843.”)
[2]
Hyrum Smith’s office was located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Water Street and Bain Street. (See “Nauvoo, Illinois, 30 April 1843.”)
[3]
The officers met at ten o’clock in the morning on 13 August in the office of Hyrum Smith, and the committee presented for approval a bill that outlined militia conduct and discipline. After a half-hour recess, the officers reconvened at two o’clock and held an election for the office of major general. At this meeting, Brevet Major General Wilson Law was elected to the position, with fifty-five votes, over Lyman Wight, who received forty-three votes. JS might have initially intended to appoint James Arlington Bennet, the next ranking officer, as the next major general, but Bennet resided in New York and, though commissioned, may have felt his position was an honorary one. (Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, [13] Aug. 1842, 22–29; “Late and Important from the Mormon Country,” New York Herald, 30 Aug. 1842, [2].)
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.