History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

Source Note

History draft; handwriting of
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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; 71 pages; CHL. This manuscript covers the period from 6 August 1838 to 30 December 1839.
Historical Introduction

See Introduction to History Drafts, 1844–1856.

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<Oct 4> <Camp—> called the Kirtland camp, Number 1, for they— arrived at their destnation. and began to pitch their tents about Sun Set, when one of the brethren living in the place proclaimd with a loud voice “Brethren, your long and tedious journey is now ended. You are now on the public square of . This is the place where Adam blessed his posterity, when they rose up and called him Micha[e]l, the Pri[n]ce the Archangel, And he bei[n]g full of the Holy Ghost, predicted what shoud befal his posterity to the Latest Gene[r]ation see Doc & Covts..

I spent most of this day with my family.

<.> The mob again fired upon the saints at , who <were compelld to> retu[r]n the fire in self defense. To show how that fire brands arrows & death were scatte[re]d through the , and that too by men high in authority, & who were sworn to p[r]eserve the bublic [public] peace I quote the followi[n]g from to the , Dated “Booneville “Mo Oct 4th 1838. Dear Sir # (see Doc p 34) satisfy <hours> them <wa[rn]ing>. .” “Base and degraded beings”? Who ever heard before of high minded & honorable men’s condesceding to sacrifce their honor by stooping to wage war without a cause or provocati[o]n, againt “base & degraded beings”? But is ready with his whole division, at an “hour warni[n]g” to enter the field of battle on such degrading terms if his <own> statemnt is true. But knew better. He knew the were an innocent unoff[e]nding people, and would not fight only in self defenc[e],— and why ride <write> such a letter to the to infl[u]ence his mind? Why not keep truth and justice on your side? poor , the annals of Eternity shall will unfold to you who are the “base” beings, & what it will take to “satisfy” for the shedding of “Mormon blood.”

5 October 1838 • Friday

< Committee’s Report> <5> <Friday 5> <Report of the committee of >

“The Undersigned # See Doc p 36) J. P.”

This [illegible] day day also wrote the from Boonville <that> “in Carroll county the citizens are in arms for the purpose of driving the Mormon from that county.” [p. 22]

Oct 4 Camp— called the Kirtland camp, Number 1, for they— arrived at their destnation. and began to pitch their tents about Sun Set, when one of the brethren living in the place proclaimd with a loud voice “Brethren, your long and tedious journey is now ended. You are now on the public square of . This is the place where Adam blessed his posterity, when they rose up and called him Michael, the Prince the Archangel, And he being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted what shoud befal his posterity to the Latest Generation see Doc & Covts..

I spent most of this day with my family.

. The mob again fired upon the saints at , who were compelld to return the fire in self defense. To show how that fire brands arrows & death were scattered through the , and that too by men high in authority, & who were sworn to preserve the bublic public peace I quote the following from to the , Dated “Booneville “Mo Oct 4th 1838. Dear Sir # (see Doc p 34) hours warning. .” “Base and degraded beings”? Who ever heard before of high minded & honorable men’s condesceding to sacrifce their honor by stooping to wage war without a cause or provocation, againt “base & degraded beings”? But is ready with his whole division, at an “hour warning” to enter the field of battle on such degrading terms if his own statemnt is true. But knew better. He knew the were an innocent unoffending people, and would not fight only in self defence,— and why write such a letter to the to influence his mind? Why not keep truth and justice on your side? poor , the annals of Eternity will unfold to you who are the “base” beings, & what it will take to “satisfy” for the shedding of “Mormon blood.”

5 October 1838 • Friday

Committee’s Report 5 Friday 5 Report of the committee of

“The Undersigned # See Doc p 36) J. P.”

This day also wrote the from Boonville that “in Carroll county the citizens are in arms for the purpose of driving the Mormon from that county.” [p. 22]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]
ID #
8472
Total Pages
74
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 74
  See 5 Oct. 1838 entry in JS History, vol. B-1, pp. 832–833.

History Draft [6 August 1838–30 December 1839]

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