Esqr. Streator
Eliza R. Snow in later life
”… I shall not say anything about what transpir'd previous to the last of Oct. when an army of 95 hundred encamp'd about Far-West threatened an immediate massacre. Soon as our people ascertain'd that they were authoriz'd Militia they surrender'd, the leaders of the church delivered themselves up, and went to the camp of the Militia, with the promise, that they sould return to their fami- [page 547] lies in the morning. Gen. Lucas, was first in command;—the prisoners 7 in number instead of returning home the next day were tried by a Court Martial & 13 generals out of 17, condemned them to be shot a company was chosen to execute the sentence—the hour was appointed & the place chosen which was the center of the City, in sight of their families. Those who were chosen refused to perform, & a second company chosen, when Gen. Donithan [Doniphan] told them, they were acting illegally and if they proseeded [sic] he would expose them. They then concluded to take them to Jackson County thinking the mob spirit there, would furnish executioners without ceremony, but they were mistaken. Our people found warm friends in that Co. who even invited Joseph Smith & S. Rigdon to bring their families & settle there. They were then taken back to Richmond & put in chains where they were kept four weeks when prejudice was so strong it was thought wisdom to remove them to Liberty where they were considered more safe. They were tried about the last of Jan. Tile excitement was great, about 250 mob, collected & seeing that nothing could be brought against the prisoners, threatened to shoot both Judge & Jury if the verdict was given, and the prisoners were hurried back to prison. One of our neighbors was there on the day of trial, who said lie should judge that no less than 1000 people gathered in, and when he was returning home, met 300 armed men, who swore that if the prisoners were releas'd, they would kill every "Mormon" in the State. But to return to the surrender at F. West. After the 7 were taken, the City was kept with a strong guard, the men call'd together to lay down their arms and were compell'd at the point of the sword to Deed away all their property both real & personal estate to a committee chosen for tills purpose, all of which was done so cheerfully that the Militia were quite angry. Three or four days after this, General dark came with several hundred, who ratified the treaty made by Gen. Lucas, I will send a copy of his address that you may have it in his own words, the "list of names" refer'd to in the speech are those of between 60 and 70, who were driven to prison soon after, like sheep to a market, most of whom were releas'd after a confinement of a month, the rest are in prison now, unless they have been privately set at liberty, for the Mob law is the law of this State and but few dare act, except in accordance with it.
The General's assertion that our people had been the "aggressors" is too false to pass without some comment; for we have been driven from Jackson, Clay, De-Witt and Daviess; yet, as a people have always been in "subjection to the powers that be"; not that there has been no wrong done by those that are call'd "Mormons" for we profess the "ancient order," of course our greatest perils are those we have to encounter among false brethren; for we have those among us who have not only tasted the "good word of God" but also the "powers of the world to come," who, concerning the faith have become reprobates. These constitute the most powerful earthly ally, which Satan has to boast. But be assured, these are not the followers of Joseph Smith, for so long as they conform'd to his teaching, they were righteous men. I now anticipate your question. Do you yet believe Joseph Smith is a prophet? I have not seen or heard anything which caus'd me to doubt it even for a moment:
If possible, I have better testimony that J. Smith is a prophet, than that Jeremiah was one, altho' he has not been kept in prison quite so long. S. Rigdon is liberated, I do not know whether he was let down the wall in a basket, but his keepers thrust him out privately for fear of the people, and then circulated the report that he was bail'd out in two thousand dollar bonds, but this, is only to appease the wrath of the multitude. He has gone clear, and the others are only kept for our safety, for it is suppos'd, the Mob will either revenge on us, or on those who hold them in confinement, if they are liberated before most of us get out of the State. The Gov. of Illinois says our people may come there—they have been going all winter, and move very fast— A man just arrived from 111. who said he counted 220 wagons between this and the Mississippi. It has been judg'd there were eight thousand of our people in this County but the season has been a stormless one—the most favorable for moving that we could wish, and the word impossible, has become obsolete with us, therefore I think we shall net out, in pretty prompt compliance with the orders of government. Those who will deny the faith have the privilege of staying. Some, will accept the terms.
Lorenso left us in the forepart of Oct. we received a letter from him which he commenc'd in Ill.; it was mail'd in Kentucky where I suppose he is now,—had but partially recover'd…” [Cited in BYU Studies, “Eliza R. Snow: Letter From Missouri,” 13 (Summer 1973): 544-552]. Original at the Western Reserve Historical Association, Cleveland, Ohio].