Letter to Emma Smith, 26–27 June 1844
Letter to Emma Smith, 26–27 June 1844
Source Note
Source Note
Footnotes
See History of the Reorganized Church, 2:771.
The History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 8 vols. Independence, MO: Herald Publishing House, 1896–1976.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
Footnotes
Willard Richards, Journal Excerpt, 23–27 June 1844; Ford, History of Illinois, 339. Ford had considered bringing JS and Hyrum Smith with him to Nauvoo but ultimately decided against it. He later reported: “I had determined to prevail on the justice to bring out his prisoners, and take them along. A council of officers, however, determined that this would be highly inexpedient and dangerous, and offered such substantial reasons for their opinions as induced me to change my resolution.” (Letter to Emma Smith, 25 June 1844; Willard Richards, Journal Excerpt, 23–27 June 1844; Letter to Jesse B. Thomas, 26 June 1844–B; Clayton, Journal, 26–27 June 1844; Ford, History of Illinois, 340.)
Ford, Thomas. A History of Illinois, from Its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. Containing a Full Account of the Black Hawk War, the Rise, Progress, and Fall of Mormonism, the Alton and Lovejoy Riots, and Other Important and Interesting Events. Chicago: S. C. Griggs; New York: Ivison and Phinney, 1854.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
Ford, History of Illinois, 340–342, 345.
Ford, Thomas. A History of Illinois, from Its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. Containing a Full Account of the Black Hawk War, the Rise, Progress, and Fall of Mormonism, the Alton and Lovejoy Riots, and Other Important and Interesting Events. Chicago: S. C. Griggs; New York: Ivison and Phinney, 1854.
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
Possibly James Brewer. A “Col Brewer” and his wife arrived at the Nauvoo Mansion on 21 June. “Col. J. Brewer” was also included in a list of witnesses compiled for JS and Hyrum Smith’s trial for treason that Willard Richards wrote in his journal on 26 June. This was probably the same “Col. Brewer from St Louis” with whom JS spent time in August 1842. Joseph Smith III later recalled a “Colonel Brower” in his reminiscences. Brewer had lost his lower left arm but “was an excellent horseman and a skillful swordsman and fencer.” He had possibly stolen the identity of a Seminole War veteran in order to promote broadsword instruction, and he falsely claimed the rank of colonel in the United States Army. (JS, Journal, 21 June 1844; Willard Richards, Journal Excerpt, 23–27 June 1844; JS, Journal, 4 and 6 Aug. 1842; Mary Audentia Smith Anderson, “The Memoirs of President Joseph Smith,” Saints’ Herald, 1 Jan. 1935, 15; Josephus, “Romance of Real Life,” Huron Reflector [Norwalk, OH], 9 Nov. 1841, [2]; William Medill, Washington DC, to John Bell, Washington DC, 4 Aug. 1841, U.S. War Department, Letters Received by the Office of the Adjutant General, Main Series 1822–1860.)
Saints’ Herald. Independence, MO. 1860–.
Huron Reflector. Norwalk, OH. 1830–1852.
U.S. War Department. Letters Received by the Office of the Adjutant General, Main Series 1822–1860. Letters Received, 1805–1889. Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1762–1984, Record Group 94. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington DC.
In a letter written to attorney Orville Browning later the same day, JS further explained, “There is no cause of action, for we have not been guilty of any crime, neither is there any just cause of suspicion agai[n]st us.” (Letter to Orville Browning, 27 June 1844.)
JS handwriting ends; Willard Richards begins.