Minutes and Testimonies, 12–29 November 1838 [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); unidentified handwriting; 126 pages; Eugene Morrow Violette Collection, State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia.
Sidney Rigdon <Joseph Smith Jr I think it was who> addressed the meeting, and said in substance.— that they were then about to go to war in , that those persons who had not turned out, their property should be taken to maintain the war— this was by way of formal resolution, and was not objected to by any present. a a motion was then made by , that the blood of those who were thus backward, should first be spilt in the streets of . a few said amen to this. but there arose but immediately Mr Joseph Smith Jr arose and before ’s motion was put, rose and moved, that they be taken out to , & if they came to battle they should be put on their horses with bayonets & pitch-forks, and put in front. this was passed with<out> a dissenting voice. There was a short address made then, by Joseph Smith Jr, about carrying on the war, in which he said it was necessary to have something to live on, and when they went out to war to live it was necessary to take spoils to live on— this was in refference to the dissenters and as as well as to the people of where they were going— in this speach he told the anecdote of the dutchman’s potatoes— Finding I should have to go— and not wishing to be put in front of the battle. I sought a situation and went out with my waggon.— this was the expedition in which & Mill-port were burnt— I went— on to , a few days after the mormon troops had gone out. I went to the tavern late at night where [p. [89]]