| 161 TIMES AND SEASONS
"TRUTH WILL PREVAIL"
Vol. 1. Whole No. 11.] NAUVOO, ILLINOIS, SEPTEMBER, 1840 [Whole No. 11
A HISTORY, OF THE PERSECUTION, OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, OF LATTER DAY SAINTS IN MISSOURI.
CONTINUED.
We will now return to the prisoners. They had meanly betrayed us into their hands; we were kept in their camp till the third day of November; we were then started for Jackson county. Let us here observe that they increased our number baving [having] added to it Messrs. Hyrum Smith and Amasa Lyman. By our special request, they took us into Far West, to see our families, whom we found, when we got there, living on parched corn, as the town was so closely invested they could not get out. I will not attempt to describe this parting scene. I will leave every person to place themselves in our situation and then judge for themselves.
In writing this narrative it is no part of our intention to play upon the passions of the public, bnt [but] give a faithful narrative of facts and then leave it.-After we arrived at Independence, the county seat of Jackson county, we served the same purpose that a caravan of wild animals would for a show, as hundreds of people called to see us. We were put into an old house and left to sleep on some blankets we had with us. Shortly after we had started from Far West, a messenger came riding after us with a demand from Gen. Clark, to take us back. With this, Gen. Lucas would not comply. Upon the whole, we were treated at Jackson county with respect. We were boarded at a tavern house. A man was appointed to see that we had every thing we wanted. They despensed [dispensed] with their guards, and we were at liberty to go where we pleased, and return when it suited us. These priviliges [privileges] were not granted us at first, but after we had been there a few days. At first we were put into an old house and closely guarded. While we were there, Burrell Hicks, a lawyer of celebrity, and leader of the Jackson county mob, confessed in our presence, and in the presence of many others, that the Jackson county mob, was a wanton attack upon the saints without cause, and he said he presnmed [presumed] that the attack then made was of the same character.
We state this to show that the men of intelligence in Jackson, knew that they were again engaged in robbing a people of their rights. Indeed, General Wilson went so far as to say that if ever mobs attacked us again, he would fight for us. We will here leave the prisoners and relate what took place in Diahman. After General Clark's arrival at Far West, General Wilson, I think, was the General's name, that was sent to Diahman. On his arrival there, he placed guards around the town, so that no person might pass out or in without permission. All the men in the town were then taken and put under guard, and a court of inquiry was instituted, with Adam Black on the bench; the said Adam Black belonged to the mob and was one of the leaders of it from the time mobbing first commenced in Daviess county. the Attorney's name I have forgotton [forgotten], if I ever knew, but belonged to General Clark's army.
After two or three days' investigation, every man was honorably acquitted. General Wilson then ordered every family to be out of Diahman in ten days, with permission to go to Caldwell, and there tarry until spring, and then leave the state under pain of extermination. This was on the first of November, the weather was very cold, more so than usual, for that season of the year: and, in keeping this order of General Wilson's they had to leave their crops and houses, and to live in tents and wagons in this inclement season of the year. As for their flocks and herds, the mob had delivered them from the trouble of taking
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