USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 41
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THE NAUVOO BATTLE
A battle followed. The account of this battle as given in the Warsaw Signal of Oct. 13th is as follows :
"After the reception of this letter (Clifford's) , the army was drawn up in column on a piece of high ground lying between the camp and the city. While in this position, a few shots were fired from a breastwork the Mormons had erected during the night, and the fire was re- turned from our artillery. So soon as all was ready, the Warsaw Riflemen were divided into two sections, and deployed on the right and left as flankers. Captain Newton's Lima Guards, with Captain Walker's gun, was ordered to take position a quarter of a mile in front of the camp, and employ the attention of the Mormons at their breastwork,-and from which they kept a constant fire, while the main body of the army wheeled to the left, passed down across the La Harpe road through a cornfield, thence across Mulholland street, thence bore to the right through an orchard, and on to the city. So soon as the army was fairly under way, Captain Newton's company, and the piece of artillery with it, were brought up in the rear. This march was made directly across and in face of the enemy's fire, and within good cannon range, yet not a man was injured.
"Arriving on the verge of the city, the army, all except the artillery and flankers, was halted, while the latter advanced and commenced an attack on the Mormon works, from which they had been firing during the whole time of the march. A hot fire was kept up by the artillery from both sides for fifteen or twenty minutes.
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During this time, the Mormons did no execution on our ranks, while the balls from our cannon rattled most terrifically through the houses in the city.
"At length a fire of smallarms was heard from some Mormons who had taken position on the extreme left in a cornfield. Immediately, Colonel Smith's regiment was ordered up and drove the assailants before them. The second regiment was in the mean time ordered up to the support of the artillery. By this time the action became general.
"The Mormons were in squads in their houses, and poured in their shots with the greatest rapidity. Our men were also divided off into squads, took shelter where they could best find it, and returned the fire with great energy. The greater part of the first regiment had no better shelter than a cornfield and a worm fence; the second regiment was open ground, having but two or three small houses to cover the whole body ; while our artillery was entirely exposed.
"The firing of smallarms was continued for half an hour, during which time our men stead- ily advanced, driving the enemy, in many in- stances, from their shelter. For a short time their fire was almost entirely silenced ; but, unfortunately, at this juncture our cannon balls were exhausted; and our commander, deeming it imprudent to risk a further advance without these necessary instruments, ordered the men to be drawn off. This was done in good order, and in slow time the whole force returned to the camp.
"In this action we had about five hundred men engaged, and four pieces of artillery ; two hundred men and one piece of artillery having been left at the camp for its protection. Our loss in this engagement, as well as the subse- quent skirmishes, will be found in the report of the surgeons hereto appended. Most of our men throughout the action displayed remarkable cool- ness and determination, and, we have no doubt, did great execution. We believe if our cannon balls had held out ten minutes longer, we should have taken the city; but when the action com- menced, we had but sixty-one balls. The battle lasted from the time the first feint was made until our men were drawn off-an hour and a quarter. Probably there is not on record an instance of a longer-continued militia fight. (!)
"The Mormons stood their ground manfully; but from the little execution done by them, we infer that they were not very cool or deliberate.
Their loss is uncertain, as they have taken especial pains to conceal the number of their dead and wounded. They acknowledged but three dead and ten wounded. Among the killed is their master spirit, Captain Anderson, of the fifteen-shooter rifle company. Their force in the fight was from three to four hundred. They had all the advantages, having selected their own positions; and we were obliged to take such as we could get. Sometimes our men could get no cover, and the artillery was all the time exposed, while theirs was under cover.
"On Saturday, after the battle, the Anties commenced intrenching their camp, and on Sun- day made it secure against the shots of the enemy's cannon, which frequently reached or passed over it. On Sunday, the Anties cut part of the corn from the field, on the left of the La Harpe road, to prevent the Mormons from taking cover in it. While thus engaged, the Mormons fired on the guard which was protect- ing the corn-cutters. The fire was returned by the guard, and kept up at long distance for two or three hours. In this skirmish one of our men was badly wounded. The loss of the enemy is not known. On Monday, a party of Mormons crept up through the weeds to a piece of high ground, and fired at our camp, wounding three men, none seriously. Their balls were nearly spent when they struck. On Sunday morning, after the battle, a powder plot was dug up on the La Harpe road, which the army was ex- pected to pass. On Wednesday, another was dug up on the same road nearer the city. Sev- eral of these plots were discovered near the Temple, and in other parts of the city."
Twelve men of Col. Brockman's force were wounded, among them Capt. Smith of the Car- thage Grays. One of the wounded died, the others recovered. Three of them were merely scratched. No definite account of the loss of the other side is obtainable.
On the 15th a deputation from 100 citizens of Quincy visited Col. Brockman and a similar deputation visited Maj. Clifford, in an effort at mediation. There was a truce at first, and finally a treaty. By this treaty, Col. Brockman's force was to enter and take possession of the city on Sept. 17th, at 3 p. m., and the arms of the opposition were to be delivered to the Quincy committee to be returned on the cross- ing of the river. This committee to use their influence to protect persons and property from violence, and the officers of the camp and the
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
men pledging themselves to protect all per- sons and property from violence. It was agreed that the sick and helpless should be protected and treated with humanity. It was agreed that the Mormon population of the city should leave the state or disperse as soon as they could cross the river. It was agreed that five men, including the trustees of the church, and five clerks with their families, be permitted to remain in the city to dispose of the property, free from molestation and personal violence. Finally, it was agreed, that hostilities should cease immediately, and that ten men of the Quincy committee should enter the city in the execution of their duty as soon as they should think proper.
This treaty was signed by Almon W. Bab- bitt, Joseph L. Heywood and John S. Full- mer, trustees in trust for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and by Andrew Johnson, chairman of the Quincy committee, Thomas S. Brockman, commander of the posse, and John Carlin, special constable.
By three o'clock on the afternoon of Sept. 17th, when Brockman's force marched through the city and encamped near the south end, nearly the whole of the Mormon population had crossed the Mississippi into Iowa.
There were a few minor disturbances after- wards, but this was the end of what has some- times been called the Mormon War, and was the end of the reign of Mormonism in Han- cock County.
A FEW INTERESTING ENACTMENTS OF THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE
On Jan. 26, 1849, by act of the Legislature the auditor was empowered to issue warrants to persons named in the act, among them James R. Parker, for services rendered the state under the order of the Governor, dated Aug. 21, 1846. There is nothing in the account to show what this service was, but the index in the session laws of 1849 referring to this act designates it as an appropriation "to pay J. R. Parker and others in Hancock War." On Feb. 12, 1849, the Legislature passed an act entitled, "An Act to compensate Porter Sergant for pow- der furnished in the Hancock War," whereby the auditor was authorized to draw his war- rant in favor of Sergant for $175, "being his pay in full for 35 kegs of powder furnished by him for the state."
On Feb. 3, 1849, an act was passed author- izing the auditor to draw warrants for the balance due cach officer or other individual named in the schedule annexed, which schedule purports to be "a list showing the pay, the amount received, and the amount due the per- sons therein named, called into service by the Governor, to suppress the Hancock disturb- ances." Among those named in the schedule are John J. Hardin, Brig .- Gen. W. B. Warren, Brig .- Gen. S. A. Douglas, "aid," and J. A. Mc- Dougall, "aid."
Here are legislative precedents for calling the Mormon troubles in this county, not simply "Hancock disturbances," or the "Mormon War," but the "Hancock War."
THE OLD JAIL
Reference is here made to the jail at which the Smiths were killed. In Munsell's History of MeDonough County there is published a letter concerning this building from Charles J. Sco- field, of Carthage, Illinois, parts of which are here given.
"The old jail is located on Lots 4 and 5, Block 6, Original Town (now city) of Carthage, being one block north and about two blocks west of the Public Square. Mrs. Eliza M. Browning owned the premises for thirty years or more, selling the same on November 4, 1903, for $4,000 and making deed of that date thereof to Joseph F. Smith, as trustee in trust of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, residing at the city and county of Salt Lake, in the State of Utah, and his successors in office and assigns forever."
"Mrs. Browning is (was, for she is now dead) the widow of James M. Browning, for six years County Treasurer and one of our best and most highly respected citizens, who died in the spring of 1903. On account of friendship existing between the families and church affiliation, Mrs. Browning had me pre- pare the deed, and the same was acknowledged in my office. A man named Woodruff repre- sented the trustee of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in this transaction. I think he was from Chicago-a representa- tive of Mormon evangelization in that city. He was a man of pleasing address, intelligent, rather quiet in his demeanor, and seemingly well posted in the work he had in hand. The premises are occupied exclusively for residence
Sarah E. De WWW.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
purposes. Mormon representatives have been evangelizing in this community during the last year or two-with what success am unable to state. As to present condition of Nauvoo, I would say that there are but slight vestiges of Mormon days to be found there, and very few Mormons, as I understand the matter. The population of the town is mostly German. It is a beautiful site for a city, the Mississippi River making a half circle at that point, and thus partly enclosing the site. It is a very good town for a place of its size, and its citi- zens are ordinarily quiet and attentive to busi- ness."
THE ICARIAN COMMUNITY
Soon after the killing of the Smiths many persons, who were looking for favorable op- portunities in the new western country, came to Nauvoo in the hope of bettering their con- dition by the purchase of cheap property which would be for sale by reason of the impend- ing migration of the Mormons. Some of these remained at Nauvoo or located in other parts of the county and became prominent afterwards in professional and other circles.
There had been a communistic society in France for a few years prior to this time, of which Etienne Cabet was the founder. This man was born at Dijon, France, January 22, 1788. He was educated for the bar, was at- torney-general of Corsica (from which office he was dismissed) and entered the Chamber of Deputies as a member in July, 1831.
He advocated absolute equality of men and women, freedom of religion, common ownership of property, and the abolition of individualism and self-interest. He proclaimed these doctrines in his newspaper, and soon had a large fol- lowing. He was indicted for treason because of his speeches and writings. He went to England and there advocated his scheme of communism. He acquired a large tract of land in the Red River district in Texas, and some of his followers went there in 1848, and others followed in 1850. The communistic state in Texas was a failure, and some of the Icarian band, in 1850, removed to Nauvoo, Ill., where Cabet presided over the colony until a short time before his death, when he was set aside. He died at St. Louis, Mo., on Nov. 9, 1856.
The Nauvoo "Icarian Community" was in- corporated by an act of the Illinois Legislature approved on Feb. 13, 1851.
This act provided that Etienne Cabet, J. Pendant, P. J. Tavard, Andre Thebant, Alfred Pignnard and Jean J. Witzig, and their asso- ciates and successors, be a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the "Icarian Community." The usual powers of corpora- tions were conferred, as, perpetual succession, capacity for suing and being sued in all courts, right to have a common seal, and right to purchase, hold or convey real and personal estate necessary to promote and fully carry out the objects and interests of the corpora- tion, but not for any other purpose.
The capital stock was to be $100,000, with the privilege of increasing the same to $500,000, and the shares were to be $100 each, but no one individual was to own more than one share.
In all elections or questions to be decided by vote, each share, if owned by an adult male, was to have one vote, and this was to be cast in person. It thus appears that women and minors could not vote, and that voting by proxy was not allowed.
It was provided that the business of the company should be manufacturing, milling, all kinds of mechanical business, and agriculture.
It was provided that the company should have six directors, to be elected annually, one of them to be president, and that these direc- tors should have the management of the con- cerns of the company, subject to the by-laws to be adopted.
The persons named in the first section were made commissioners to take subscriptions and organize the company, and were to be the directors thereof until directors should be elected. The stock of the company was to be assignable, but subject to the regulations and by-laws on the subject.
Full power to pass by-laws was given, such by-laws to relate to the government of the property and possessions of the company, to regulate its internal policy, and for other pur- poses directly connected with the business and management of the company, not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the state.
It was provided that the act should be a pub- lic act and should be construed liberally for the benefit of the company and there was a proviso that the Legislature should have power to alter, amend, modify or repeal the act when- ever the public good should require.
Under this charter the Icarian Community proceeded to demonstrate the success and fail-
.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
ure of communism. All things were in com- mon, and all went well for a brief period of time, after which the impossibilities of the association became manifest and the Icarian Community, so far as Hancock County is con- cerned, disappeared. Some of these people re- mained as citizens of the county and were among its best citizens, as are also their de- scendants.
NAUVOO PAST AND PRESENT
The following article was written by J. M. Davidson, editor of The Carthage Republican, and published in the issue of that paper dated Feb. 25, 1864:
Nauvoo in 1846. In 1846, the writer of this article-then a mere boy, but with recollection of those events now but little impaired-visited Nauvoo, in this county, then a city of over 16,- 000 inhabitants. The period of that visit is doubtless fresh in the memory of thousands now living who passed through the shifting scenes of the great Mormon War. It was at the time when the last of the Mormon inhab- itants of the city and county had fled across the river upon the approach of the thousands of armed citizens of this and adjoining coun- ties, who for years had suffered in person and property from the unlawful raids of bands of men and of individuals claiming that their mur- ders, and assassinations and thefts were by order of Divine revelation. That the unparal- leled atrocities thus committed upon citizens were by Mormons is a question that we do not pretend to discuss. It is a question about which we have no knowledge except through opinions and prejudices much softened by the lapse of time.
At the period of our visit in that year, the great Mormon temple was as near its comple- tion as it ever attained ; finished, however, in all its grand proportions of size and height. The basement hall, in which was situated the bap- tismal font-itself a miracle of art and beauty, with its appointments of life-sized oxen in purest marble, the marble basin and elaborate railings-the preparation and reception rooms ; the immense audience chamber above with its pews and changing backs, its immense altars and oratories, its gorgeous tapestry and motets in gold and silver, its ponderous chandeliers and the innumerable columns and frescoes that
everywhere bewildered the eye with their gor- geous beauty. Of all these appointments we have such a vivid recollection that it seems but the rehearsal of a last night's pleasant dream. We were but a boy then, and venturesome. We could not do it now,-but then we climbed to the top of that vast dome and planting our feet around the lofty rod which supported the bronze angel, we viewed a scene of magnificence vast and varied in its scope-the immense river half circling the beautiful city, the towns and vil- lages that dotted its shores for miles in either direction, the tasteful farms that stretched their uninterrupted lines of hedge and fence into the misty distance, and the grim cannon and the men who guarded them shrunken into pop-guns and pigmies so far below our feet. Such is our recollection of the great city and its proud temple in 1846.
Nauvoo in 1864. On Friday, the 12th inst. we again visited Nauvoo, A want of space must forbid indulgence in the overpowering reflec- tions that crowded our mind in contemplating the vastness of the changes that had occurred in the period of eighteen years; it is enough to say that the 16,000 inhabitants that then crowded the beautiful city and its embowered environs are gone; one-half to two-thirds of the dwellings that constituted the homes and the scenes of industry of that peculiar sect of people are either in ruins or have been transferred to other localities. Nevertheless, Nauvoo is a beautiful city still, vast in extent, and peopled by three thousand as industrious people as ever gave vitality to enterprise.
Many remains of Mormon industry still re- main, sad mementoes of the past. Centrally through the city, on a line running nearly north and south, and following the base of the steep bluff which divides the upper from the lower city, are the remains of a deep wide excavation or ditch which was intended by Smith as a canal leading from the river on the north and intersect- ing the river at its curve on the south side. This ditch which was intended to have been nearly straight would have been two miles long inter- secting the base of the crescent which the Miss- issippi here forms around the city,-leaving all that part of the city comprehended in "the flat" on a sort of island. This stream of water, thus diverted from the parent flood would have sup- plied smaller streams intersecting it and run- ning through other streets westward. The pecu-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
liarity of the soil-its proneness to wash, etc., --- has since demonstrated that such an enterprise, possibly combining utility with the ornamental, would have proved a source of incredible ex- pense to its projectors for repairs. For hundreds of yards, however, the canal seems to have been walled on its western slope-possibly in view of the tendency to wash.
There are but few houses in the city that are not of Mormon construction ; and many of them are fine buildings ; although the vast majority of dwellings erected in the time of Mormon power were of the flimsiest description. Hun- dreds of them have fallen through successive storms, and their material taken to build other and more substantial edifices. Among the best of the Mormon buildings now remaining are the Masonic Hall, the "Lord's Store House," the "Mansion," now kept as a hotel by Maj. L. C. Bidamon, and a number of dwellings which be- longed to leading personages in the church, busi- ness houses, etc. At the foot of Main street, and just at the river bank, Smith had com- menced the erection of a large and magnificent hotel, the walls of which, for one story, are in good preservation. The basement, one hundred feet long by fifty feet in depth, is of stone cut and finished in the best style of workmanship. The story above the basement is constructed of the finest pressed brick, with marble steps and caps. Some of the interior walls have been taken down and the brick sold by Smith's heirs. The walls remaining are as perfect as the day the work ceased on them, at Smith's death. Not another brick should be taken from the walls, however, because the day is not far dis- tant when the necessities of a fine city-such as Nauvoo will become-will demand a hotel of the magnitude contemplated by Smith's far- seeing judgment.
HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE-ITS REMAINS
From Dr. J. F. Weld, a resident of Nauvoo since 1839, and who was intimately acquainted with the main incidents of the rise and fall of Mormondom in that vicinity, we gather the fol- lowng facts in relation to the building of the temple : The plans and style of architecture of that building Smith claimed to have received by revelation from God; although, subsequently the plans were materially altered from the original draft, whether by revelation or not we
are not informed. The temple was commenced in 1841, with the laying of the corner stone and impressive ceremonies attended by a vast multi- tude of people. To its erection the whole people of the Mormon church gave their enthusiastic aid-all being required to give a tenth of their incomes or labor. In 1846, two years after the death of Smith, the temple was finished and ded- icated. The account of its size, height, and gen- eral appearance in 1846 in the "Fulton Gazette," then published by the writer, is as follows :
"The temple is built wholly of stone procured from quarries near the city. This stone is of the best description, firm in texture, beautiful to the eye, and susceptible of a fine finish. I am not acquainted with architectural terms, and hence cannot say in what style the temple is built ; but were it not for its tower and belfry, and some attempts at modern ornamentation, I should think it was purely Grecian. In size, the main building is 180 feet long by 80 feet wide, and, probably 80 feet in height. The tower and belfry reach above the main building some eighty or a hundred feet; but of that I could gain no certain knowledge. Although I should think the entire height of the temple from base stone to ball cannot be less than 180 feet."
The "Nauvoo Neighbor," of the date of July 30, 1845, a copy of which Dr. Weld has in good preservation, has an article on the subject of the temple, from which we gather the height of that building, but not its other dimensions.
From eaves to top of attic story. . 161/2 feet
Tower .1212 feet
Belfry 20. feet
Clock section .10
feet
Observatory .16 feet
Dome
.131% feet
Ball and rod
10
feet
Eaves to rod
981/2 feet
Add to this the height of main building to eaves, which, we think, judging from the height of the southwest ruin now standing could not be less than 70 feet, we have the whole height of the temple-1681% feet. The cost of the temple was estimated at $800,000.
In 1849 the temple was destroyed by fire; supposed to be the work of an incendiary. On the 27th of May, 1850, the north wall fell in by
1
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
force of quake. The remaining walls fell on subsequent occasions, leaving only the south- west corner standing, as we saw it during our recent visit. The site of the temple and its ruins are now the property of Mr. John Dorn- siff, of that city, who, as he informs us, will remove the balance of the stone-the remaining corner included-at an early day, and convert the ground into a vineyard.
Incidentally, we remark, that in 1849-50 a body of French socialists calling themselves "Icarians" purchased the temple site and ad- joining property, and for six or seven years attempted to establish their colony on the ex- ploded system of "communism" or "socialism" -a theory we think once strongly advocated by Horace Greeley, but by him now condemned as impracticable for all uses except those of liber- tinism and infidelity. The Icarian colony was broken up in 1857, and its members scattered throughout this and adjoining counties. While in Nauvoo, this body of people erected several fine buildings from the stone of which the tem- ple had been built.
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