Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838, Copy and Letter [State of Missouri v. Gates et al. for Treason]
Source Note
Minutes and Testimonies, [, Ray Co., MO], 12–29 Nov. 1838, State of MO v. Gates et al. for Treason (Fifth Judicial Circuit of MO 1838). Copied with letter ca. late 1838–ca. early 1839; unidentified handwriting; fifty-one pages; Mormons Collection, 1813–1970, Missouri History Museum.
ever to set myself up above him in the matter but that I wished to do it, for the good of the Church— I knew this was the way I could get to talk with him. I explained myself more fully than when in the house, & told him I thought things were running to a dangerous extreme, & he ought to exercise his influence to stop it, as this course of things would ruin his people. He answered that I was mistaken and that I was scared & that this was the only way to gain our liberty & our point. That the mob had begun it with us in and had been kept up to this day & told me to be cheered up & not to oppose him & he pledged himself in some way that it would go on right— I replied I hoped for the better and that it would be better than I anticipated— both of the above conversations occured in at the time the Mormon troops were assembled there—
There was a council held the evening after I arrived at ,as I learned from & others, in which some officers were appointed. I do not recollect precisely how made, but I think was commander-in-chief of all the Mormon forces in county
Neither of the Mr Smiths seem to have any command as officers in the field, but seemed to give general directions—
I saw a great deal of plunder and bee-stands brought into camps, and I saw many persons for several days taking the honey out of them— I understood this property and plunder was were placed into the hands of the bishop at named to be divided out among them as their wants might require
There were a number of horses and cattle drove [p. [4]]