| 259 and were also kept prisoners for show for several days. In the mean time, a General Clark had been sent by Governor Boggs, with an additional force of six thousand men, from the lower country, to join General Lucas in his operations against the Mormons. He soon arrived before Far West with his army, and confirmed all Lucas had done, and highly commended them for their virtue, forbearance and other deeds in bringing about so peaceable and amicable an adjustment of affairs. He kept up the same scene of ravage, plunder, ravishment and depredation, for the support and enrichment of his army-even burning the houses and fences for fuel. He also insisted that every man, woman and child of the Mormon society should leave the State, except such as he detained as prisoners; stating that the Governor had sent him to exterminate them, but that he would, as a mercy, spare their lives, and give them until the first of April following, to get out of the State. He also compelled them, at the point of the bayonet, to sign a deed of trust of all their real estate, to defray the expenses of what he called "THE MORMON WAR." After arranging all these matters to his satisfaction, he returned to Richmond, thirty miles distant, taking about sixty heads of families with him, and marching them through a severe snow storm, on foot, as prisoners, leaving their families in a perishing condition.
Having established his head-quarters at Richmond, Ray county, he sent to General Lucas and demanded us to be given up to him. We were accordingly transported over some thirty or forty miles, delivered over to him, and put in close confinement, in chains, under a strong guard. At length we obtained an interview with him, and enquired [inquired] why we were detained as prisoners. I said to him, Sir, we have now been prisoners under the most aggravating circumstances for two or three weeks, during which time we have received no information as to why we are prisoners, or for what object, as no writ has been served upon us. We are not detained by the civil law, and as ministers of the gospel in times of peace, who never bear arms, we cannot be considered prisoners of war, especially as there has been no war. And from present appearance, we can hardly be considered prisoners of hope. Why then these bonds? Said he, You were taken to be tried. Tried by what authority? said I. By court martial, replied he. By court martial? said I. Yes, said he.-How, says I, can men, who are not military men, but ministers of the gospel, be tried by court martial, in this country where every man has a right to be tried by a jury? He replied it was according to the treaty with General Lucas, on the part of the State of Missouri, and Colonel Hinkle, the commanding officer of the Fortress of Far West, on the part of the Mormons, and in accordance with the Governor's order. And, said he, I approve of all that Lucas has done, and am determined to see it fulfilled. Said I, Colonel Hinkle was but a Colonel of the Caldwell county militia, and commissioned by the Governor, and the Mormons had no Fortress; but were, in common with others, citizens of Missouri, and therefore we recognise [recognize] no authority in Colonel Hinkle, to sell our liberties or make treaties for us.
Several days afterwards, General Clark again entered our prison and said he had concluded to deliver us over to the civil authorities. Accordingly we were soon brought before Austin A. King Judge of the Fifth circuit, where an examination commenced, and witnesses sworn at the point of the bayonet, and threatened on pain of death if they did not swear to that which would suit the court. During this examination, I heard Judge King ask one of the witnesses, who was a Mormon, if he and his friends intended to live on their lands any longer than April, and to plant crops? Witness replied, why not? The Judge replied, If you once think to plant crops or to occupy your lands any longer than the first of April, the citizens will be upon you; they will kill you every one, men, women and children, and leave you to manure the ground without a burial. They have been mercifully withheld from doing this on the present occasion, but will not be restrained for the future. On examining a Mormon witness for the purpose of substantiating the charge of Treason against Mr. Smith. He questioned him concerning our religious faith:
First. Do the Mormons send missionaries to foreign nations? The witness answered in the affirmative.
Secondly. Do the Mormons believe a certain passage in the Book of Daniel? naming the passage, which reads as follows: 'And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him' Dan. vii: 27. On being answered in the affirmative, the judge ordered the scribe to put it down as a strong point for treason; but this was too much for even a Missouri lawyer to bear; he remonstrated against such a course of procedure, but in vain. Said he, judge you had better make the bible treason. After an examination of this kind, for many days, some were set at liberty, others admitted out on bail, and themselves and
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