Docket Entry, 1–circa 6 July 1843 [Extradition of JS for Treason]
Source Note
Docket Entry, [, Hancock Co., IL, 1–ca. 6 July 1843], Extradition of JS for Treason (Nauvoo, IL, Municipal Court 1843); Nauvoo Municipal Court Docket Book, 55–87, 116–150; handwriting of and ; CHL.
he came on ahead & conversed with me a considerable time. The night previous to his arrival the of , was driven from her house by this ruthless mob & came into , a distance of three miles carrying two children on her hips, one of which was then rising of two years old, the other six or eight months old, the snow being over shoe-mouth deep & she having to wade , which was at this time waist deep & the mob burned the house & every thing they had in it— & passing the ruins thereof, seemed fired with indignation at their hellish conduct, & said he had hitherto thought it imprudent to call upon the militia under my command in consequence of public opinion, but he now considered it no more than justice, that I should have command of my own troops, & said to me “I therefore command you forthwith to raise your companies immediately & take such course as you may deem best, in order to disperse the mob from this ” I then called out sixty men & placed them under the command of Captain & I also took about the same number— was ordered to , where a part of the mob were located & I to where another party was located. I and formed the troops under our command & addressed them as follows:—
Gentlemen. I deplore your situation— I regret that transactions of this nature should have transpired in our once happy , your condition is certainly not an enviable one, surrounded by mobs on one side & popular opinion and prejudice on the other— gladly would I fly with to your relief with my troops, but I fear it would be worse for you— most of them have relations living in this & will not fight against them. One of my principal Captains, namely & his men have already mutinized & have refused to obey my command. I can only say to you, gentlemen follow the command of whom I have commanded to disperse all mobs found in , or to make them prisoners & bring them before the civil authorities forthwith. I wish to be distinctly understood that is vested with power & authority from me to disperse from your midst all who may be found on the side of mobocracy, into the county of . I deeply regret gentlemen (knowing as I do the vigilance & perseverance of in the cause of freedom & rights of man) that I could not even be a soldier under his command in quelling the hellish outrages I have witnessed. In conclusion gentlemen, be vigilant & persevere and allay every excitement of mobocracy. I have visited your place frequently— find you to be an industrious & thriving people, willing [p. 126]