History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of , , Jonathan Grimshaw, and ; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “’s forces” at , Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop at , Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.
Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author. , , , and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.
The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in by the and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to ; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch ; the establishment of the city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo ; the expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.
<November 10.> The foregoing is a true specimen of Liberty
had spent his time since our arrival at in searching the Laws to find authority for trying us by Court Martial. Had he not been a Lawyer of eminence I should have supposed it no very difficult task to decide that quiet, peaceful, unoffending and private Citizens too, except as Ministers of the Gospel, were not amenable to a military tribunal in a Country governed by civil laws. But be this as it may wrote the that he had
< to > “detained Gen. White and his field officers here, a day or two, for the purpose of holding a Court martial if necessary. I this day made out charges against the Prisoners, and called on to try them as a Committing Court, and I am now busily engaged in procuring Witnesses, and submitting facts— There being no civil officers in , [HC 3:206] I have to use the Military to get witnesses from there, which I do without reserve— The most of the Prisoners here I consider guilty of Treason, and I believe will be convicted, and the only difficulty in law is, can they be tried in any County but ? if not they cannot be there indicted, until a change of population— In the event the latter view is taken by the civil courts, I suggest the propriety of trying Jo Smith and those leaders taken by , by a Court Martial for mutiny. This I am in favor of only as a dernier resort. I would have taken this course with Smith at any rate; but it being doubtful whether a court martial has jurisdiction or not, in the present case— that is, whether these people are to be treated as in time of war, and the mutineers as having mutinied in time of War— and I would here ask you to forward to me the Attorney General’s opinion on this point. it will not do to allow these leaders to return to their treasonable work again, on account of there not being indicted in . They have committed treason, murder, arson, burglary, robbery, larceny and perjury”
<Prisoners acquitted at > The Three days investigation having closed at every man was honorably acquitted. being judge— then ordered every family to be out of in ten days, with permission to go to , and there tarry until Spring, and then leave the under pain of extermination, the weather was very cold, more so than usual, for that season of the year; and in keeping this order of ’s they had to leave their crops and houses, and to live in tents and waggons in this inclement season of the year— As for their flocks and herds the mob had delivered them from the trouble of taking care of them, or from the pain of seeing them starve to death, by stealing them. An arrangement was made in which it was stipulated that a committee of twelve which had been previously appointed should have the privilege of going from to for the term of four weeks for the purpose of conveying their crops from to . The committee were to wear white badges on their hats for protection. [HC 3:207]
<30 killed a multitude wounded, 100 missing &c> About Thirty of the brethren have been killed, A multitude wounded, about a hundred are missing, and about Sixty at , awaiting their trial, for what they know not.
<11> Sunday 11th. While in , we were under the charge of from , who suffered all manner of abuse to be heaped upon us. During this time my afflictions were great, and our situation was truly painful— [HC 3:208] informed us that he would turn us over to the Civil authorities for trial Joseph Smith Jr., , , [p. 857]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [20]
John D. Clark, Richmond, MO, to Lilburn W. Boggs, [Jefferson City, MO], 10 Nov. 1838, in Document Containing the Correspondence, 65–68.
Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c., in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons; and the Evidence Given before the Hon. Austin A. King, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, at the Court-House in Richmond, in a Criminal Court of Inquiry, Begun November 12, 1838, on the Trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Others, for High Treason and Other Crimes against the State. Fayette, MO: Boon’s Lick Democrat, 1841.
- [21]
[Rigdon], Appeal to the American People, 46.
[Rigdon, Sidney]. An Appeal to the American People: Being an Account of the Persecutions of the Church of Latter Day Saints; and of the Barbarities Inflicted on Them by the Inhabitants of the State of Missouri. Cincinnati: Glezen and Shepard, 1840.
- [22]
See 11 Nov. 1838 entry in History Draft.
- [23]
- [24]
[Rigdon], Appeal to the American People, 65; “Evidence,” Document Containing the Correspondence, 97.
[Rigdon, Sidney]. An Appeal to the American People: Being an Account of the Persecutions of the Church of Latter Day Saints; and of the Barbarities Inflicted on Them by the Inhabitants of the State of Missouri. Cincinnati: Glezen and Shepard, 1840.
Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c., in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons; and the Evidence Given before the Hon. Austin A. King, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, at the Court-House in Richmond, in a Criminal Court of Inquiry, Begun November 12, 1838, on the Trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Others, for High Treason and Other Crimes against the State. Fayette, MO: Boon’s Lick Democrat, 1841.
Go to page