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Military Order to Wilson Law, 18 December 1843–B

Source Note

JS, Military Order,
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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, to
Wilson Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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,
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....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 18 Dec. 1843. Featured version copied [18 Dec. 1843]; 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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; one page; JS Office Papers, CHL. Includes docket.
Single leaf measuring 9¾ × 7¾ inches (25 × 20 cm). The order was inscribed on the recto; the verso is blank except for a later docket. The document was trifolded for filing. The document underwent conservation to repair tearing along the fold creases.
The document was docketed by
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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, who served as JS’s scribe from December 1841 until JS’s death in June 1844 and served as church historian from December 1842 until his own death in March 1854.
1

JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

In 2012 the order was cataloged as part of the JS Office Papers at the CHL.
2

See the full bibliographic entry for JS Office Papers, ca. 1835–1845, in the CHL catalog.


The document’s early docket and later inclusion in the JS Office Papers suggest continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1841 and 21 Dec. 1842; Orson Spencer, “Death of Our Beloved Brother Willard Richards,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 16 Mar. 1854, [2].

    Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 1850–.

  2. [2]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Office Papers, ca. 1835–1845, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 18 December 1843, JS issued an order to Major General
Wilson Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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to mobilize a portion of the
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

View Glossary
to defend the city from a possible mob attack. Earlier that day, witness statements had implicated
Levi Williams

18 Apr. 1794–27 Nov. 1860. Postmaster, farmer, military officer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Married Mary (Polly) Reid. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1831, eventually settling in Green Plains. Served in Black Hawk War, 1832. Served as captain in ...

View Full Bio
, a local officer in the Anti-Mormon Party, in leading the group that kidnapped
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

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member
Daniel Avery

1 July 1797–16 Oct. 1851. Farmer, carpenter. Born in Oswego Co., New York. Son of Daniel Avery and Sarah. Moved to Franklin Co., Ohio, by 1821. Married Margaret Adams, 4 Jan. 1821, in Franklin Co. Moved to Worthington, Franklin Co., by Sept. 1825; to Perry...

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in early December.
1

“Part 5: December 1843”; “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2]–[3].


Later that evening, two messengers from
Warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

More Info
, Illinois, had informed JS that Williams was assembling a mob in southern
Hancock County

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
to possibly rescue
John Elliott

Ca. 1820–3 Oct. 1862. Schoolmaster, deputy sheriff, constable, clerk, marshal. Born in Butler Co., Ohio. Lived four miles south of Warsaw, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1843, where he worked as a schoolmaster. Arrested for and later acquitted of kidnapping Daniel...

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, who had been arrested for his participation in Avery’s kidnapping, and to resist further arrests. Shortly after receiving this report, JS issued an order to Law instructing him to send one hundred legion members to support Williams’s arrest.
2

JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1843; Military Order to Wilson Law, 18 Dec. 1843–A; see also Complaint, 18 Dec. 1843; “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2]–[3]; Amos Chase, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 19 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL; and Petition from Aaron Johnson, 18 Dec. 1843.


That night, JS’s scribe
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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swore out an affidavit before JS as mayor of
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....

More Info
stating that he believed “that the peac[e] of said citty is in danger from a Mobocratic assemblage at
Warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

More Info
” and that
Williams

18 Apr. 1794–27 Nov. 1860. Postmaster, farmer, military officer. Born in Madison Co., Kentucky. Married Mary (Polly) Reid. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1831, eventually settling in Green Plains. Served in Black Hawk War, 1832. Served as captain in ...

View Full Bio
had sent runners to
Missouri

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...

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“to excite the Missourians to Join the Mobbers in this
county

Formed from Pike Co., 1825. Described in 1837 as predominantly prairie and “deficient in timber.” Early settlers came mainly from mid-Atlantic and southern states. Population in 1835 about 3,200; in 1840 about 9,900; and in 1844 at least 15,000. Carthage ...

More Info
for the purpose of making a descent on said city.”
3

Willard Richards, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 18 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL.


It is unclear why Richards, as opposed to the messengers from Warsaw, provided this testimony.
4

Earlier in December, JS similarly relied on an affidavit from Richards containing thirdhand information to justify activating a portion of the legion to defend the city. (Willard Richards and Philip B. Lewis, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 8 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL; Mayor’s Order to Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843.)


In response to Richards’s affidavit, JS issued a second order to
Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

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, instructing him to muster sufficient forces to repel a possible attack. Richards made a copy of the order sometime before midnight that night.
5

Richards, Journal, 18 Dec. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

Ten days earlier, JS had similarly ordered
Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
to mobilize a portion of the legion in preparation to defend the city. Law responded by activating two regiments.
6

Historical Introduction to Military Order to Wilson Law, 8 Dec. 1843; see also Historical Introduction to Mayor’s Order to Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843; and Historical Introduction to Requisition from Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843.


It is unclear from extant sources whether JS intended Law to remobilize the same units or to mobilize additional or different troops in response to his second 18 December order.
It is unclear how much of the legion
Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
activated, though it apparently involved multiple regiments.
7

Law’s subsequent orders to the legion are not extant. Aside from the featured order, the only surviving military order connected to the mobilization suggests that Law mobilized the second cohort’s first and fifth regiments, though presumably other troops were involved as well. (Theodore Turley to George W. Crouse, Order, Nauvoo, IL, [19] Dec. 1843, in Order Book, 1843–1844, 14–15; “A Rank Roll of the Commissoned Officers of the First Regiment 2nd Cohort Nauvoo Legion Illinois Militia,” Nauvoo Legion Records, CHL.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Order Book, 1843–1844. CHL.

Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430.

In accordance with Law’s orders, the legion assembled the next day at one o’clock in the afternoon near the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

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“with arms & ammunition” and instructions “to hold themselves in readiness at a moments warning.”
8

JS, Journal, 19 Dec. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 19 Dec. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

The Warsaw Message later criticized JS’s mobilization of the legion, arguing that the rumored mob was merely “some dozen or twenty of the citizens of Green Plains, excited by the circumstances of the arrest [of
Elliott

Ca. 1820–3 Oct. 1862. Schoolmaster, deputy sheriff, constable, clerk, marshal. Born in Butler Co., Ohio. Lived four miles south of Warsaw, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1843, where he worked as a schoolmaster. Arrested for and later acquitted of kidnapping Daniel...

View Full Bio
]” who armed themselves and went to
Warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

More Info
.
9

“The Late Arrest,” Warsaw (IL) Message, 3 Jan. 1844, [1]–[2].


Comprehensive Works Cited

Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

JS’s original order is apparently not extant.
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...

View Full Bio
’s retained copy is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Part 5: December 1843”; “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2]–[3].

  2. [2]

    JS, Journal, 18 Dec. 1843; Military Order to Wilson Law, 18 Dec. 1843–A; see also Complaint, 18 Dec. 1843; “Kidnapping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Dec. 1843, [2]–[3]; Amos Chase, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 19 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL; and Petition from Aaron Johnson, 18 Dec. 1843.

  3. [3]

    Willard Richards, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 18 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL.

  4. [4]

    Earlier in December, JS similarly relied on an affidavit from Richards containing thirdhand information to justify activating a portion of the legion to defend the city. (Willard Richards and Philip B. Lewis, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 8 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL; Mayor’s Order to Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843.)

  5. [5]

    Richards, Journal, 18 Dec. 1843.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

  6. [6]

    Historical Introduction to Military Order to Wilson Law, 8 Dec. 1843; see also Historical Introduction to Mayor’s Order to Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843; and Historical Introduction to Requisition from Henry G. Sherwood, 8 Dec. 1843.

  7. [7]

    Law’s subsequent orders to the legion are not extant. Aside from the featured order, the only surviving military order connected to the mobilization suggests that Law mobilized the second cohort’s first and fifth regiments, though presumably other troops were involved as well. (Theodore Turley to George W. Crouse, Order, Nauvoo, IL, [19] Dec. 1843, in Order Book, 1843–1844, 14–15; “A Rank Roll of the Commissoned Officers of the First Regiment 2nd Cohort Nauvoo Legion Illinois Militia,” Nauvoo Legion Records, CHL.)

    Order Book, 1843–1844. CHL.

    Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430.

  8. [8]

    JS, Journal, 19 Dec. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 19 Dec. 1843.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  9. [9]

    “The Late Arrest,” Warsaw (IL) Message, 3 Jan. 1844, [1]–[2].

    Warsaw Message. Warsaw, IL. 1843–1844.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Military Order to Wilson Law, 18 December 1843–B
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [1]

City of
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....

More Info
Dec 18th 1843.
Sir

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
I am credibly informed that a warlike force is collecting at or near
Warsaw

Located at foot of Des Moines rapids of Mississippi River at site of three military forts: Fort Johnson (1814), Cantonment Davis (1815–1818), and Fort Edwards (1816–1824). First settlers participated in fur trade. Important trade and shipping center. Post...

More Info
. for the purpose of some violent move towards this
City

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....

More Info
. or some of the inhabitants thereof. you will therefore order out such a portion of the
Nauvoo Legion

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

View Glossary
as may be necessa[r]y to repel any such mobocratic or hostile design of the Said unlawful force, and also as may be sufficient to Secure the peace of the citizens according to Law.
Your
Joseph Smith
Mayor
Maj Gen.
Wilson Law

26 Feb. 1806–15 Oct. 1876. Merchant, millwright, land speculator, farmer. Born in Ireland. Son of Richard Law and Ann Hunter. Immigrated to U.S. and settled in Springfield Township, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania, by 1820. Moved to Delaware Township, Mercer Co....

View Full Bio
, Commanding
Nauvoo Legi[o]n

A contingent of the Illinois state militia provided for in the Nauvoo city charter. The Nauvoo Legion was organized into two cohorts: one infantry and one cavalry. Each cohort could potentially comprise several thousand men and was overseen by a brigadier...

View Glossary
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Military Order to Wilson Law, 18 December 1843–B
ID #
1231
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D13:401–403
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

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