History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell,
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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, and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.

The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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, who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.

Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed
Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)

Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.

The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include

• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.

• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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Legion, and Mormon voting practices.

• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
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and
William Clayton
17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...
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.

• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
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and revocation of his priesthood license.

• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by
Addison Pratt
21 Feb. 1802–14 Oct. 1872. Sailor, farmer, carpenter. Born in Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Henry Pratt and Rebekah Jewell. Married Louisa Barnes, 3 Apr. 1831, in Dunham, Lower Canada. Settled on banks of Lake Erie, in New York, where he...
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.

• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of
George J. Adams
7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...
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’s appointment to a mission to Russia.

• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
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pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.

• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of
Vermont
Area served as early thoroughfare for traveling Indian tribes. French explored area, 1609, and erected fort on island in Lake Champlain, 1666. First settled by Massachusetts emigrants, 1724. Claimed by British colonies of New York and New Hampshire, but during...
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, inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.

• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by
Eliza R. Snow
21 Jan. 1804–5 Dec. 1887. Poet, teacher, seamstress, milliner. Born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Daughter of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Moved to Mantua, Trumbull Co., Ohio, ca. 1806. Member of Baptist church. Baptized into Church...
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commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by
Lorenzo Snow
3 Apr. 1814–10 Oct. 1901. Schoolteacher. Born in Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio. Son of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Attended Oberlin College. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John F. Boynton, 19 June 1836, in Kirtland...
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.

• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the
United States
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
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.

• An account of JS’s
King Follett
24/26 July 1788–9 Mar. 1844. Born at Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Follett and Hannah Oak (Oake) Alexander. Married Louisa Tanner, by 1815. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spring 1831. Member of Whitmer branch...
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sermon, 7 April 1844.

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<July 1> exceed three hundred men— that of , perhaps three times that number. I was no way connected with the militia, being over age, neither was Joseph Smith Senior. I went into the line formed by though unarmed, and stood among the rest to await the result, and had a full view of both forces, and stood there. The armies were within rifle shot of each other. About the setting of the sun ordered his army to return to the camp at the creek; they wheeled and marched off. After they had retired, it was consulted what was best to do— by what authority the army was there no one could tell, as far as I knew— it was agreed to build through the night a sort of fortification, and if we must fight, sell our lives as dear as we could accordingly all hands went to work, rails, house-logs, and wagons, were all put in requisition and the South line of the as well secured as could be done by the men and means, and the short time allowed; expecting an attack in the morning. The morning at length came and that day passed away and still nothing done; but plundering the cornfields, shooting cattle and hogs, stealing horses and robbing houses, and carrying off potatoes, turnips and all such things as the army of could get, for such in the event they proved to be. The main body being commanded by a Deacon in the Presbyterian church. The next day came and then it was ascertained that they were there by order of the .

A demand was made for Joseph Smith Senior, , , , and , to go into their camp with this demand we instantly complied and accordingly started. When we came in sight of their camp the whole army was on parade, marching toward the , we approached and met them, and were informed by that we were prisoners of war. A scene followed that would defy any mortal to describe, a howling was set up, that would put any thing I ever heard before or since at defiance. I thought at the time it had no parallel except it might be in the perdition of ungodly men. They had a cannon. [HC 3:459] I could distinctly hear the guns as the locks were sprung, which appeared from the sound to be in every part of the army. came riding up where we were, and swore by his maker that he would hew the first man down that cocked a gun, one or two other officers on horseback also rode up, ordering those who had cocked their guns to uncock them or they would be hewed down with their swords, we were conducted into their camp and made to lay on the ground through the night.

This was late in October— we were kept here for two days and two nights. It commenced raining and snowing until we were completely drenched and being compelled to lay on the ground which had become very wet and the water was running round us and under us— what consultation the officers and others had in relation to the disposition which was to be made of us. I am entirely indebted to the report made to me by as none of us were put on any trial. gave an account of which the following is the substance, as far as my memory serves me: “That they held a court martial and sentenced us to be shot at 8 o’Clock the next morning after the Court Martial was holden, in the public square in the presence of our families— that this court martial was composed of seventeen preachers and some of the principal officers of the army— presided— and said “that neither himself nor his brigade should have any hand in the shooting; that it was nothing short of cold blooded murder and left the Court Martial and ordered his brigade to prepare and march off the ground”. [p. 1646]

July 1 exceed three hundred men— that of , perhaps three times that number. I was no way connected with the militia, being over age, neither was Joseph Smith Senior. I went into the line formed by though unarmed, and stood among the rest to await the result, and had a full view of both forces, and stood there. The armies were within rifle shot of each other. About the setting of the sun ordered his army to return to the camp at the creek; they wheeled and marched off. After they had retired, it was consulted what was best to do— by what authority the army was there no one could tell, as far as I knew— it was agreed to build through the night a sort of fortification, and if we must fight, sell our lives as dear as we could accordingly all hands went to work, rails, house-logs, and wagons, were all put in requisition and the South line of the as well secured as could be done by the men and means, and the short time allowed; expecting an attack in the morning. The morning at length came and that day passed away and still nothing done; but plundering the cornfields, shooting cattle and hogs, stealing horses and robbing houses, and carrying off potatoes, turnips and all such things as the army of could get, for such in the event they proved to be. The main body being commanded by a Deacon in the Presbyterian church. The next day came and then it was ascertained that they were there by order of the .

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History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

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