Shortly after the threats were made against Backenstos, Governor Ford received word “that some villainous anti-Mormon forged an order . . . for a piece of artillery in Mc Donough county, and that the same has been conveyed, on the authority of this forgery, to the ‘Carthage Greys.’” Faced with this additional threat, Ford sent an agent to Carthage to recover the cannon and collect the state arms in possession of the Carthage Greys, as had been earlier proposed by the Illinois State Register. According to the Nauvoo Neighbor, the Greys refused to obey the order for over a week before finally complying on 19 April. (“Latest from Hancock,” Illinois State Register [Springfield], 11 Apr. 1845, [2]; Editorial, Illinois State Register, 4 Apr. 1845, [4]; “State Arms,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 23 Apr. 1845, [2].)
Illinois State Register. Springfield, IL. 1839–1861.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.