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Missouri Mormon War Commanding Officers

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Missouri Mormon War Commanding Officers Missouri Mormon War Commanding Officers Governor Lilburn W. Boggs Major General David R. Atchison Commander in Chief, Missouri Militia 3rd Division of the Missouri Militia Boggs was the 6th Governor of Missouri from 1836 Atchison and his law partner, Alexander Doniphan, to 1840. Boggs served as a Missouri State Senator from served as the Saints attorney following their expulsion 1825 to 1832. He then served as Lieutenant Governor from Jackson County in 1833. As a State Representative, from 1832 to 1836. During this entire time he was living Atchison worked hard for the Platte Purchase, which in Independence and was well aware of the expulsion of extended the northwestern boundary of Missouri to the Saints for Jackson County in 1833. the Missouri River in 1837. During the Mormon con- On October 27, 1838, Governor Boggs issued Mis- flicts in 1838, Atchison is sympathetic to the Saints and souri Executive Order 44, commonly called the “Exter- also aware of the Missouri citizen’s concerns due to the mination Order.” This order read in part, “The Mormons increased number of Mormons moving into northern must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or Missouri. driven from the State if necessary for the public peace October 26, 1838, Atchison is released by Gov. their outrages are beyond all description.” Boggs as Commander of the State Militia in Northern On May 6, 1842, Boggs was shot by an unknown Missouri. Major General Clark replaced him; however, party who fired at him through a window as he read a he was ill at the time and unable to respond – therefore newspaper in his study. Boggs was hit by large buckshot Major General Lucas assumes command. in four places. Orrin Porter Rockwell was later arrested Atchison served in the U. S. Senate from 1843 to for this crime and defended by Alexander Doniphan. 1855. During the Civil War, Major General Atchison Held for almost a year in jail, Rockwell was acquitted of led 3,500 militia to defeat Union troops in the Battle of all charges. Liberty, September 17, 1861. Major General John B. Clark Major General Samuel D. Lucas 1st Division of the Missouri Militia 4th Division of the Missouri Militia Clark was living in Howard County and was ill Lucas was living in Jackson County and although he when Gov. Boggs relieves Major General Atchison of served as a judge and was a Colonel in the State Militia Commander of the Missouri Militia and places Major he was heavily involved with the Saints expulsion for General Clark in Command, October 26, 1838. Not that county in 1833. It is obvious by Lucas’ many actions wanting to wait for General Clark, Major General Lucas that he disdains the Saints. Lucas was the defendant in a assumed command of the militia and marched onto Far civil lawsuit filed by Alexander Doniphan for the tar and West. General Clark ordered Lucas to take all prison- feathering of Edward Partridge during July 1833. Lucas ers to Richmond. General Lucas ignored this order and is charged with “trespass by force and arms.” Following transported seven prisoners to Independence. When two years of legal proceedings, Richmond, Ray County General Clark learned these prisoners were taken to In- Justice of the Peace John F. Ryland renders a verdict of dependence, he sent a detachment to retrieve the pris- guilty, July 1836, and orders Lucas to pay damages – one oners and transport them to Richmond. cent. Following the arrest of 64 Saints and their incarcer- During the Missouri Mormon War, Edward Par- ation at Richmond, General Clark wrote to Fort Leav- tridge was arrested, incarcerated and indicted for arson enworth requesting a legal opinion – if he can try the and treason. He was only released after posting $1,000 prisoners in a military court. Leavenworth responds bail. Partridge was then ordered to leave the State of that he cannot hold a court martial as the prisoners are Missouri. not military. Governor Boggs learns of General Clark’s On October 26, 1838, Governor Boggs’ releases Ma- and General Lucas’ attempts at trying the prisoners in a jor General Atchison of command and replaces him with court martial and on November 19, 1838, sends orders Major General Clark. Clark was ill and in Richmond at that all the Saints are to be tried in a civilian court of this time and Major General Lucas did not want to wait law. 1 Missouri Mormon War Commanding Officers for General Clark and therefore assumed command. Parks labored to be true to his military command, General Lucas marched the state militia to Far West and like General Atchison and Doniphan, Parks sought to on October 31, 1838, arrested Joseph Smith Jr., Sidney establish peace between the Saints and his fellow Mis- Ridgon, Parley P. Pratt, George W. Robinson, and Ly- sourians. Unlike Generals Clark and Lucas who took ev- man Wight. The following day Hyrum Smith and Ama- ery opportunity to punish and “exterminate” the Saints. sa Lyman were arrested. That same night, November 1, Brigadier General Alexander William Doniphan 1838, Lucas held a Court Martial for these seven prison- Clay and Caldwell County Militia ers. Following a one-hour trial, he found the men guilty Doniphan was a resident of Liberty, Clay County of treason against the State of Missouri. He sentenced and served as attorney for the Saints following their ex- them to be shot the following morning. Their lives were pulsion from Jackson County during the fall of 1833. spared when Brigadier General Doniphan refused to At this time Samuel D. Lucas was a leader in the tar carry out the order of execution. Lucas then ignored and feathering of Edward Partridge. Doniphan sought orders from Major General Clark to take all prisoner criminal action through the courts; however, nobody to Richmond. Instead, Lucas ordered Brigadier General was every prosecuted. Therefore, Doniphan filed a civil Wilson to take the prisoners to Independence, where lawsuit against Samuel D. Lucas and others. Following Lucas and his 300 soldiers, paraded the 7 Mormon pris- two years of legal proceedings, Lucas and other associ- oners confined in a large heavy wagon. ates were found guilty of “trespass by force and arms” Major General David Willock and ordered to pay damages – one cent. 14th Division of the Missouri Militia As a State Representative, Doniphan introduced In his infamous Extermination Order to Major legislation that created Caldwell and Daviess County. General Clark, Governor Boggs states, “I have just is- This legislation passed both the house and senate unan- sued orders to Majr Genl Willock of Marion Co to raise imously and was signed by the Governor. It provided a 500 mean and to march them to the Northern part of safe, although temporary, haven for the Saints. Daviess and there unite with Genl Donphaon of Clay General Doniphan was present at Far West when Jo- who has been ordered with 500 men to proceed to the seph Smith Jr., Sidney Ridgon, Parley P. Pratt, George Same front for the purpose of intercepting the retreat of W. Robinson, Lyman Wight, Hyrum Smith and Amasa the Mormons to the North they have been directed to Lyman were arrested and convicted in a one-hour court communicate with you by express.” martial by General Lucas. Brigadier General Doniphan refused Major General Samuel D. Lucas’ order of exe- Brigadier General Hiram D. Parks cution and is credited with saving their lives. General Ray and Daviess County Militia Lucas then orders Brigadier General Moses Wilson to As hostilities in Daviess County against the Saints transport the prisoners to Independence, a direct viola- escalated, General Parks authorized Colonel Lyman tion of Major General Clark’s orders. Wight 59th Missouri Regiment, to organize a force of On November 28, 1838, in payment for defense 150 Mormon men and use them to disperse all mobs serves rendered during the Richmond Court of In- found in Daviess County. Lyman Wight had been the quiry, Amos Rees and Alexander Doniphan would ac- Colonel of the Caldwell Militia. When he moved to Da- cept 1,080.52 acres of land in Jackson County from the viess County in 1838, George H. Hinkle was appointed Saints. However, the Saints did not sell the 63.27 acres Colonel of the Caldwell Militia. of the temple lot at this time. In the infamous 1838 Extermination Order issued by Governor Lilburn W. Boggs to Major General Clark, Brigadier General Moses G. Wilson it states, “Brig Genl Parks of Ray has been ordered to Jackson County Militia have four hundred of his Brigade in readiness to join On November 2, 1838, General Wilson is ordered you at Richmond” by Major General Lucas to take 7 prisoners to Indepen- 2 Missouri Mormon War Commanding Officers dence (transported in a large heavy wagon) and guard- Captain Patrick Durfee ed by 300 soldiers. This action was in direct violation of It is unknown if he was given the title of Captain; Major General Clark’s orders to transport the prisoner however he was placed in command of a column of men to Richmond. Lucas remained at Far West and then left at the Battle of Crooked River. He may have replaced the next day and caught up with General Wilson. Brunson who was not present. Following the Extermi- November 4, 1838, about 3:00 p.m., General Lucas nation Order, Durfee fled the state to avoid prosecution. with his prisoners and 300 troops arrive at Indepen- Captain Seymour Brunson dence. General Lucas parades his prisoners before the Although Brunson was a Captain with the Caldwell citizens of Independence.
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