AFFIDAVIT OF AMASA LYMAN
"Amasa Lyman, witness for the defendants, being sworn, deposeth and saith, that some time in the forepart of October last, while on his way from De Witt, some two or three days after the Church of Latter Day Saints left De Witt for Far West, in company with a Mr. Dunn, of Far West, we were taken prisoners by a company of armed men, numbering from 15 to 25, varying at times. They had with them a cannon which they said they were going to take to Daviess County, and were going to commence a war of extermination with the Mormons, and in case the inhabitants of Caldwell County interfered they should share the same fate.
Church member, Addison F. Green, testified, "I was at a meeting in Far West, the Saturday before the fight with Bogart, in which a spy and other companies were organized." [Testimony of Addison F. Green, Correspondence and Orders, 144]
The name of the Captain of the company was W. B. Henderson, who said he had once been called out to go to Daviess County, and had acted as a Lieutenant in the Militia, but he was now going on a different hook, because he was free from military law. The witness was detained by said Company four days, during which time he heard many threats against the Mormons. They said they intended to exterminate the Mormons and take their improvements and wives to themselves. Some of the company were for having the prisoners executed, as an offset against some of their men who they supposed had been taken prisoners by the Mormons; but on hearing they had not been taken, our lives were spared. They said they were going to be assisted by men from Livingston, Ray, Jackson, Corrill, and other counties, also from the Platt County. There were some in the company from Linn County. The witness in company with Mr. Dunn, who was a prisoner also, was taken to a Mr. White's in Livingston County, (the place where the cannon was said to be found by the Mormons,) and discharged. This was before the burning in Daviess County. About the time of our arrival at Far West, a report came into the place stating that a mob was about collecting at Buckham [Buncombe] for the purpose of burning Far West if they had sufficient strength; and if not, to commence depredations on the outskirts of the Mormon settlements by driving them off and burning their houses. It was therefore thought best to send out a spy company to that vicinity to watch the movements of the mobs if there should be any, and report to Far West. Accordingly, a company of ten men was raised of which I had the command. We were instructed to range the southern line of Caldwell County. and watch the movements of armed bodies of men, if any were there, and in case they should commit any depredations upon the citizens of Caldwell, we were to report to Far West immediately. We were to act entirely on the defensive, and not to injure any people in person or property, except an attack should be made upon us in our own County, or upon some of the families of some of our people... AMASA LYMAN." [Amasa Lyman, statement, Document Concerning Correspondence and Orders..., 83-84]. Contrary to Amasa Lyman's testimony, members of his spy company went to Nathan Pinkham's, two miles inside Ray County.
A spy company member, Joseph Holbrook, says, "I volunteered to go the south line of the County of Caldwell next to Ray County to see what the mob in that quarter were about, with brother Amasa Lyman." [Holbrook Autobiography; see Mike Riggs, "Danitism in Nauvoo," Restoration Studies, VII, 105, n50].
After Bogart's comany left Parsons', Thorit followed Bogart to watch his movements. "Brothers Joseph Holbrook and David Juda [Judy], who went out this morning to watch the movements of the enemy, saw eight armed mobbers call at the house of Brother Pinkham..." [History of the[LDS] Church, 3, 169] Pinkham lived across the Ray County line, not far from where to battle occurred. Bogart took three prisoners from Pinkham's back to his camp. At least some of the three captured Mormons were members of Lyman's spy company.
After encountering Bogart's forces inside Caldwell County, Joseph Holbrook recalled, "I in company with Brother [David] Juda [Judy] started for Far West where we arrived about midnight. We informed our brethren of the danger there was in that quarter and about 60 men volunteered to go down and see what the mob was about." [Joseph Holbrook, http://www.farwesthistory.com/plumcre.asp].
Another member of Amasa Lyman's spy company subsequently stated [speaking in the third person], "that on or about day of 24th October he went to Bunkham's [Buncombe] Strip a distance of about twelve miles from his Stopping place [Far West] in Caldwell County, to See one Mr. Pinkham on business [reconnaissance]; while there he was Surprised & made prisoner by Some armed men. he was Stripped and Searched to see if he had any arms, by which he lost a Jack-knife the only weapon, offensive or defensive which he had about him; the armed men he believes were fifteen in number, two of whom Caught him by the Collar, thrust him out of doors, dragged him over a panel [sic] of fence so vehemently as to do him bodily injury while at the same time a third one facilitated my his Course by the application of his foot to the rear of my his body—When over he was asked if he was a mormon, for to which he replied that he was; this affient further says that he was threatened by his Captors, that "'he would never see home again.'" &c. he was then Compelled to march… in[to] the camp with his Captors" [Affidavit of William Seely of Scott County Illinois, taken January 20th, 1840, Mormon Redress Petitions, 532-533].
Addison Green, another individual captured by Bogart related, "I was peaceably walking the highroad in Ray county, state of Missouri, I was molested and taken prisoner by ten armed men, who took from me one double-barrel fowling piece and equipage, threatening to blow out my brains and swore that if I was a Mormon they would hang me without further ceremony. They had previously been to my lodging and taken my horse, saddle, and bridle. All was then taken into the woods about one mile to Bogart's camp." [Addison Green, statement, Quincy, Illinois, March 17, 1840, Millennial Star, 17: 646].