The Indiana Democrat had occasionally commented on the situation of the Latter-day Saints and their imminent removal west. In early January the newspaper reprinted a lengthy account of the indictment of several Latter-day Saints for counterfeiting but declared that “the tale is too strong for implicit belief. While some of the Mormons have doubtless committed criminal acts, and their brethren have protected and secreted them, they have also been persecuted with a malignity disgraceful to the age and to the people who participated in burning their houses and destroying their property.” (Editorial, Indiana Democrat [Indianapolis], 2 Jan. 1846, [3].)

Indiana Democrat. Indianapolis. 1845–1846.

On 9 January 1846 the St. Louis People’s Organ published an article condemning the treatment of the Latter-day Saints, noting that “however bad the Mormons are, there has still been much exaggeration as to their misdeeds; and further, that their most violent opponents have ever been of a cast of character as questionable as any thing they would represent the Mormons to be. It is notorious that the great ‘Mormon Eaters’ of Upper Missouri, were the greatest scamps in the country, and we have very good reason to believe that the same remark would apply to the tribe who are now persecuting them in Illinois.” The paper condemned the murders of JS and Hyrum Smith as “an act of atrocity unparalleled in the history of the age” and thought that the anti-Mormons’ “prime object in driving them [the Saints] forth is the spoils they may leave behind.” The article argued that because “the Saints . . . are now willing to emigrate; then, in the name of Peace, let them go, and end this disgraceful turmoil and strife” and warned that “the time will come, when the fanaticism and immorality of the Mormons will be lost in the recollection of the great barbarism of their persecutors.” (“Mormon Affairs,” People’s Organ [St. Louis], 9 Jan. 1846, [2].)

People’s Organ. St. Louis. 1842–1846.

In September 1845 Markham, an officer in the Nauvoo Legion, directed a portion of the Mormon military response to the anti-Mormon forces. (See Hosea Stout, Reminiscences and Journal, 17 and 21 Sept. 1845.)

Stout, Hosea. Reminiscences and Journals, 1845–1869. Microfilm. CHL. Originals at Utah State Historical Society, Salt Lake City. Also available as On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1844–1861, edited by Juanita Brooks, 2 vols. (1964. Reprint, Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press; Salt Lake City: Utah State Historical Society, 1982).

Thomas Grover was a member of the Nauvoo high council. (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841, in Doctrine and Covenants [103]:41, 1844 ed. [D&C 124:132].)

Foutz served as bishop of the Nauvoo Eighth Ward. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 20 Aug. 1842.)

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Probably either James S. Holman or Joshua S. Holman. (Kimball, Journal, 20 Dec. 1845 and 1 Jan. 1846.)

Kimball, Heber C. Journals, 1837–1848. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL.

Perkins, a member of the Macedonia branch, served as a liaison between church leaders and members of the branch during the September outbreaks of violence and was appointed part of the committee to settle the affairs of church members in Macedonia at the October 1845 conference of the church. (Macedonia Branch, Record, 66; Clayton, Journal, 19 Sept. 1845; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 8 Oct. 1845.)

Macedonia Branch, Record / “A Record of the Chur[c]h of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Macedonia (Also Called Ramus),” 1839–1850. CHL. LR 11808 21.

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

At the October 1845 conference of the church, Farr was appointed part of the committee to settle the affairs of church members in Nauvoo. (Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, 8 Oct. 1845.)

Historian’s Office. General Church Minutes, 1839–1877. CHL

William Clayton recorded in his journal that on the afternoon of Sunday, 25 January, he “met Captains of Companies in the Temple to receive their reports.” (Clayton, Journal, 25 Jan. 1846.)

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.