Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838, Copy [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 ca. late 1838–ca. early 1839; unidentified handwriting; fifty-seven pages; Mormon War Papers, MSA.
Wyatt Cravens a witness produced sworn and examined for the state deposeth & saith he was one in 's Company and was present at the fight with the Mormons on the 25th day of October last
about day break in , and appeared in command of the company that made the attack upon us, we were lying in Camp when we heard them coming we got up and prepared for Battle, the mormons came in about 60 yards of us & formed the line of battle they then approached in a body numbering as near as I can guess to about 150 armed with guns swords & pistols to about 40 yards when the firing commenced by both parties
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Nehemiah Odell Senr. a witness produced sworn and examined for the State deposeth and saith that he was in the Battle between and the Mormons on the 25th of October last and says
was in the battle commanding part of the Mormon forces on that occasion. The officer who gave the Command to the Mormons, after some kind of religious ceremony to about this amount "In the name of Lazarus God & the lamb" fire Danites” and after firing twice they charged, but which party fired first I dont recollect and further this deponeth saith not
Nehemiah Odell
Captain a witness produced sworn and examined for the State deposeth and saith,
that on the evening of the 24th Octr last while ranging under the Orders of as is below inserted I met with several Mormons & read it to them supposing they would inform the Mormons of the Character of my company. We had been informed on that evening by citizens of that we were in danger of bei[n]g attacked by the Mormons that night, whereupon I fell back to an encampment on in . On the next morning near day break my picket guard gave information that they were coming and in a few moments I saw the mormon forces forming and a few guns were fired out of the brush by the Mormons, when the fight commenced the left wing of the Mormon forces were with [p. [26]]