JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of , , Jonathan Grimshaw, and ; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “’s forces” at , Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop at , Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.
Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author. , , , and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.
The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in by the and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to ; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch ; the establishment of the city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo ; the expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.
<November 28 Petition to Congress> where the first disturbance had commenced, he found that the Mob had gone to another neighborhood to prosecute their acts of plunder and outrage. He marched a short distance and unexpectedly came upon the encampment of the mob. The guards of the Mob fired upon him and killed one of his men. then charged the Mob and after a few fires, the mob dispersed and fled, but was killed and another of his [HC 4:33] men. After the fight and the dispersion of the Mob, ’s company returned to . The report of the proceedings created much excitement. The Community were made to believe that the Mormons were in rebellion against the law, whereas the above facts shew they were an injured people, standing up in the defence of their persons and their property. <At this time> the of the issued an order to to raise several thousand men, and march against the Mormons, and drive them from the , or exterminate them. and collected three or four thousand men and with this formidable force commenced their March, and arrived at . In their rear marched with another formidable force. In the mean time the Mormons had heard not of these immense preparations, and so far from expecting an armed force under the orders of the to War against them, <were> daily expecting a force from the to protect their lives and their property from the Mob. When this formidable array first made its appearance; intent upon peace, the Mormons sent a white flag several miles to meet them, to ascertain the reason why an armed force was marching against them, and what we might expect at their hands, they gave us no satisfaction, but continued marching towards , immediately on their arrival, a man came bearing a white flag from their Camp, he was interrogated about his business, he answered the interrogations saying they wanted three persons out of , before they massacred the rest, those persons refused to go, and he returned back to the Camp, he was closely followed by and his whole brigade marching to the City of in line of battle. The citizens also of formed a line of battle in full front of ’s army, upon this ordered a halt, and then a retreat. Night closed upon both parties without any collision. On the next day, towards evening, the Mormons were officially informed that the of the had sent this immense force against them to massacre them or drive them from the . As soon as the Mormons learned that this order had the sanction of the of the , they determined to make no resistance, to submit themselves to the authorities of the , however tyrannical and unjust soever the exercise of that authority might be. The Commanders of the Militia before sent a Messenger into the Town requesting an interview in their Camp with five of the principal Citizens among the Mormons pledging their faith for their safe return on the following morning at eight o’clock — — — — — Invited as they [HC 4:34] supposed — — — — to propose <and receive> terms of [p. 983]