On 9 December 1843, , major general of the , wrote to JS, lieutenant general of the legion and mayor of , Illinois, requesting funds to supply some of the legion’s troops with ammunition. The previous day, JS had issued an order to Law instructing him to activate the legion to protect Nauvoo residents’ rights and to “compel obedience to the ordinances of said city” in the aftermath of the kidnappings of and . On 9 December, Law issued orders to the commanding officers of the two legion cohorts, Colonel and Brigadier General , directing them to “order out the most efficient Regiment” under their respective commands and have them assemble at JS’s home at three o’clock in the afternoon to receive ammunition. Law indicated in his order to Rich that the ammunition would be “provided at the expence of the city” with funds obtained by the colonels of the mobilized regiments from the mayor or the marshal. However, in his letter to JS, featured here, Law requested JS to authorize payment to the commanding officers of the cohorts rather than to the colonels.

The same day he received this request, JS authorized the city treasurer, , to issue sixty dollars from the treasury to the commanding officers.