Footnotes
JS, Journal, 29 June 1842; “Clayton, William,” in Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:718.
Jenson, Andrew. Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History Co., 1901–1936.
Email, 5 June 2017, copy in editors’ possession.
Footnotes
Bacheler had previously published a book opposing the church titled Mormonism Exposed, Internally and Externally. (See Givens and Grow, Parley P. Pratt, 120.)
Givens, Terryl L., and Matthew J. Grow. Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
“Mormonism Overhauled!!!,” Evening Post (New York City), 30 Aug. 1842, [2].
Evening Post. New York City. 1801–.
“Late and Important from the Mormon Country,” New York Herald (New York City), 30 Aug. 1842, [2].
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
JS, Journal, 14 Sept. 1842; “Great Hoax,” Wasp, 24 Sept. 1842, [2].
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
Bennett arrived in New York City on 11 August 1842 to lecture against JS and the Latter-day Saints, after which he evidently met Bacheler, a New York resident and famed religious debater who had previously spoken against the Saints. Bennett may have been trying to generate support for military action against the Saints. Soon after his arrival in the city, he addressed a letter to James Gordon Bennett, editor of the New York Herald, stating that JS had “perpetrated the blackest deeds of felony” and that “nothing short of an excision of the cancer of Mormonism will effect a cure of that absorbing delusion.” Such an excision, John C. Bennett further stated, could only be performed “at the edge of the sword, point of the bayonet, and mouth of the cannon” by “the strong arm of military power.” By 9 September, he had moved on to Boston, where he continued to lecture against JS and the Saints. (“Arrival Extraordinary,” New York Herald [New York City], 12 Aug. 1842, [2]; “Late and Important from the Mormon Country,” New York Herald, 30 Aug. 1842, [2]; “Mormonism Exposed,” Daily Atlas [Boston], 9 Sept. 1842, [2]; Discussion on the Existence of God, 1–3; “Religious Magazine,” Millennial Harbinger, Apr. 1835, 154.)
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
Boston Daily Atlas. Boston. 1844–1857.
Discussion on the Existence of God and the Authenticity of the Bible, between Origen Bacheler and Robert Dale Owen. London: J. Watson, 1840.
Millennial Harbinger. Bethany, VA. Jan. 1830–Dec. 1870.
The New York Herald stated that Bacheler and Bennett were delivering joint lectures to large audiences in New York City concerning “the secret practices of Joseph Smith.” On 30 August, the two addressed “a large assembly” at a church in Manhattan. Bacheler stated that “Mormonism is bloody and treasonous against the United States of Government—a species of American Mahomedanism—that seeks to overthrow the government of the country and the destruction of all who do not embrace it.” He concluded that “there was no other way of subduing the Mormons than by the SWORD!” In his speech, Bennett reiterated many of his earlier accusations against JS that had been published in the Sangamo Journal. Robert D. Foster attended the lecture and wrote that Bennett said JS “was notoriously profane—said that all surplus property must be given up,” and that “all the prisoners in Hancock county and Adams were Mormons, and they were murderers, burglers, and they were committed for all manner of theft.” Two days later, Bennett and Bacheler again lectured in the same church, with Bennett discussing “the secret wive system.” (“The Discussion of General Bennett about Joe Smith and the Mormons,” New York Herald [New York City], 31 Aug. 1842, [2]; “Extract of a Letter from Robert D. Foster,” Wasp, 24 Sept. 1842, [2], emphasis in original; “The Mormon Discussion,” New York Herald, 1 Sept. 1842, [2]; “Anti-Mormon Lecture—The Secret Wive System at Nauvoo,” New York Herald, 4 Sept. 1842, [2].)
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
Foster was the president of the branch of the church in New York City. Bennet had met with him during August 1842 and had been impressed with him, stating that he was “unquestionably a most excellent & good man.” (Letter from James Arlington Bennet, 16 Aug. 1842; “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 July 1842, 3:844–845; Letter to James Arlington Bennet, 8 Sept. 1842.)
In 1842 the New York City branch met at 29 and 31 Canal Street in Lower Manhattan. By the following year, it was meeting at 263 Grand Street. (New York City Directory, for 1842 and 1843, 373; Thomas, “Various Times and Sundry Places,” 1.)
New York City Directory, for 1842 and 1843. Containing Fifty-Five Thousand Names: Together with Other Valuable Information. New York: John Doggett Jr., 1842.
Thomas, Ned P. “Various Times and Sundry Places: Buildings Used by the LDS Church in Manhattan.” New York LDS Historian 3, no. 1 (Spring 2000): 1–2, 5–8.
John C. Bennett’s book, The History of the Saints; or, An Exposé of Joe Smith and Mormonism, was published in Boston in October 1842 by Leland and Whiting. (“Gen. Bennet’s Mormon Disclosures,” Daily Atlas [Boston], 15 Oct. 1842, [2].)
Boston Daily Atlas. Boston. 1844–1857.
This is possibly a reference to George Pope Morris’s The Deserted Bride; and Other Poems (New York: Adlard and Saunders, 1838).
Morris, George Pope. The Deserted Bride; and Other Poems. New York: Adlard and Saunders, 1838.
“Late and Important from the Mormon Country,” New York Herald (New York City), 30 Aug. 1842, [2].
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
James Arlington Bennet’s letter to James Gordon Bennett on 31 August does not seem to indicate any belief that the order was a hoax. It is possible that Bennet had spoken to the newspaper publisher in private or that there was another, now nonextant, letter indicating that belief. The 24 September 1842 issue of the Wasp published a statement by McFall denying that any such order had been issued. McFall wrote, “I take this method of testifying to the public that no such order, or any thing of the kind, has ever proceeded from my mouth or pen, in any shape or manner whatever, and I hereby declare the article alluded to, a base forgery and piece of deception.” (“Military Movements,” New York Herald [New York City], 1 Sept. 1842, [2]; “Great Hoax,” Wasp, 24 Sept. 1842, [2].)
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
It seems that in publishing the purported general order from JS and McFall, James Gordon Bennett believed in the document’s legitimacy. He wrote, “We have the following letter from the head quarters of Joe Smith, the prophet, and second Mahomet himself.” The day after publishing the letter, the Herald featured a short article intimating that he believed the order was legitimate. He queried, “Is General James Arlington Bennet ready to obey the order of his superior, and march to Nauvoo?” and then suggested that he did not personally intend to obey the purported order. (“Late and Important from the Mormon Country,” New York Herald [New York City], 30 Aug. 1842, [2]; “War,” New York Herald, 31 Aug. 1842, [2].)
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
“Military Movements,” New York Herald (New York City), 1 Sept. 1842, [2].
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.
On 31 August 1842, James Arlington Bennet wrote to James Gordon Bennett that he had “transmitted the Order to his Excellency Governor Carlin for instructions,” expecting to “repair immediately to Nauvoo, and take command of the Legion.” (“Military Movements,” New York Herald [New York City], 1 Sept. 1842, [2].)
New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.