History draft; handwriting of , John L. Smith, Jonathan Grimshaw, Robert L. Campbell, , , and ; 101 numbered pages plus several inserted pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 1 March 1843 to 31 December 1843.
<Friday> <June 29 <30>> <see page 6 . 7> The <a> messenger <started from my Company in the night &> arrived in <early in the morning> <saying> that I and the Company would be in <the City> about noon. <Dr. & arranged the Seats in the Court Room preparatory to my arrival>
noon at 10<½> oclock the <Nauvoo Brass> Band <and martial music <Band>> started, also a number <Train> of Carriages containing a number of the principal Inhabitants <with> & my brother <to meet me> followed the band on horseback.
at 8 a m we <the company with me> again started; arrived at the Big Mound, about 10½ where <the brethren placed flowers in <decorated> the bridles of their horses, & with the flowers of the Prairies> we <&> were met by a number of the Citizens. continued our journey about 1½ miles <East> from <& at 11:25 a m> I was gladdened <when opposite <my brother> ’s farm about 1½ mile East of <the> > with seeing the train approaching towards us, havingwith them the Nauvoo Brass Band. and I directed to place Josephs <my> life guards in their appropriate position in the procession—
I was in a buggy with <> a gentleman from <Lee Co>— & <with <my> 3 Lawyers , & > were in the stage <with the Stage proprieter> & a large <Mr. [James] Campbell the Sheriff of Dixon <> & a> company of about 140 were with me on horseback <I was a prisoner in the hands of the Agent of ; & his Assistant; they were prisoners in the hands of Sheriff Campbell of ;who were ace <who had delivered the whole of> them <us> into the hands of ◊ who was guarded<and was surrounded><who was> <guarded> by my friends; so that none of us could escape out of their hands.> When the Company from the came up, I said I thought I would now ride a little easier, got out of the buggy, and after embracing & my brother <who wept tears of joy at my return, as did also most of the great company that <who> surrounded us, it was a solemn silent meeting—> I mounted <my favorite horse> “Old Charley”, when the Band struck up “Hail Columbia”, & proceeded to march slowly towards the < riding by my side into Town.> The Carriages having formed in line, the Company with me following next, & the Citizens fell in the rear. As we approached the , the scene continued to grow more interesting. The Streets were generally lined on both sides with the brethren & sisters, whose countenances were joyous & full of satisfaction to see me once more safe; I was greeted with the cheers of the people & firing of guns & cannon, <we were obliged to have detail <appoint> a number of men to keep the Streets open for the procession to pass,> & arrived at my house about one o clock, where my aged was at the door to embrace me, with her tears of joy rolling down her cheeks, & my children clung around me with feelings of enthusiastic & enraptured pleasure; Little exclaimed “Pa the Missourians wont take you away again, will they?” the friends from , gazed with astonishment & rapture to see the enthusiastic attachment of my family & the Saints towards me. The multitude seemed unwilling to dispense until after I had arisen on the fence & told them “I am out of the hands of the Missourians again, thank God. <I thank you all for your kindness & love to me,> I bless you all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen & I shall address you at the < near the> at 4 o’clock”— this afternoon. [p. 50]