| 99 and what they left behind them, made a prey of.
Mr. Patten, at last got so near the mob, that they left their cannon and fled. He took the cannon, and returned to Diahman, and thus ended the scene of destruction. It is necessary for a proper understanding of this matter, about the destruction of property, for the reader to know that the saints had bought a heavy portion of Daviess county; for which, there are documents now to show, and were to have possession in a short time. Let it be noticed that the mob, in these burnings, had little to lose; they had got pay, for both their houses, and their lands, and their whole object was, to drive the saints from them, and keep both their lands and their pay; which by the assistance of Governor Boggs, they have been enabled to do. The mob declared, while they were selling their lands, that they would do so, and if they could not accomplish their object any other way, they would burn their houses, and report the saints had done it. This can be proven by Mr. Uriah B. Powel.
After the mob was dispersed and their cannon taken, the people from Caldwell, returned home, in hopes of having peace; but this hope proved to be vain, for C. Gilliam, who had been very active in the mob, and a commander of one of their companies, that was painted, commenced collecting his painted and scattered forces on a stream, that was called the Grindstone. After he had got as he supposed, a sufficient number of them collected and well painted he came into Caldwell County, and took cattle and horses &c.; and the people of Caldwell had to set guards, to protect their property."-See S. Rigdon's History, entitled "An Appeal to the American People"-Page 40. TO BE CONTINUED
INFORMATION WANTED
Respecting Francis Gregory who left us at Quincy in April, 1839. Any person who can give information respecting him by communicating the same by letter to the Post Master at Nauvoo, or to his parents will much aleviate [alleviate] their feelings and confer a favor on WM. GREGORY, ELECTA ANN GREGORY.
COPY OF A LETTER, WRITTEN BY J. SMITH JR. AND OTHERS, WHILE IN PRISON.
Liberty Jail, Clay Co. Mo.
To Bishop Partridge, and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Quincy Illinois, and to those scattered abroad, throughout all the regions round about.
Your humble servant Joseph Smith jr. prisoner for Christs' sake, and the saints, taken and held by the power of mobocracy under the exterminating reign of his excellency Governor Lilburn W. Boggs, in company with his fellow prisoners and beloved brethren, Caleb Baldwin, Lyman Wight, Hyrum Smith, and Alexander McRae, send unto you greeting: May the grace of God the Father, and the Lord and Saviour [Savior] Jesus Christ, rest upon you all, and abide with you for ever; and may faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly-kindness and charity dwell in you and abound, so that you may not be barren or unfruitful.
We know, that the greater part of you are acquainted with the wrongs, high toned injustice and cruelty which is practised [practiced] upon us; we have been taken prisoners, charged falsely with all kind of crimes and thrown into a prison enclosed with strong walls, and are surrounded with a strong guard who are as endefategable [indefatigable] in watching us, as their master is in laying snares for the people of God. Therefore under these circumstances, dearly beloved brethren, we are the more ready to claim your fellowship and love. Our situation is calculated to awaken our minds to a sacred remembrance of your affection, and kindness; and we think that your situation will have the same effect; therefore, we believe, that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and our fellowship one with another; and that every species of wickedness and cruelty practised [practiced] upon us, will only tend to bind our hearts and seal them together in love.
It is probably, as unnessary [unnecessary] for us to say, that we are thus treated and held in bonds without cause as it would be for you to say, that you were smitten and driven from your homes without any provocation; we mutually understand and verily know, that if the citizens of the state of Missouri, had not
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