Haun’s Mill Massacre by Richard and Pamela Price Haun’s Mill By Nancy Harlacher This painting is Nancy Harlacher’s conception of Haun’s Mill just hours before the terrible massacre in 1838. It was based on information researched by Richard and Pamela Price and Larry and Nancy Harlacher over a five-year period (1968–1973) and includes aerial photographs from the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture, studies in the L.D.S. archives in Salt Lake City, archae- ological activities, and interviews with local residents. Greatest efforts were made to make this painting an actual reconstruction of the scene—even the cabins are located where archaeological evidence dictated. During the 1836–1838 period about twelve thou- determination to banish the Saints, even to the point of sand Latter Day Saints moved into the nearly vacant Far shedding blood. Thus it was that while the main army of West area of “Upper Missouri” with the hopes of build- settlers was gathering at Richmond for an assault on Far ing a Zionic community, where they could await the West, the Livingston County militia attacked the Saints’ time when they would be allowed to return to the Cen- village at Haun’s Mill. This act on October 30, 1838, ter Place in Jackson County. At first, it seemed that peace proved to be the worst atrocity of the war; it became and prosperity would bless their efforts, but during the known as the “Haun’s Mill Massacre.” summer of 1838 war broke out between them and the In 1887 Burr Joyce, a journalist for the Saint Louis nonmember settlers. Globe-Democrat, wrote one of the best descriptions of The war intensified after the Battle of Crooked River this massacre, a shortened version of which is repro- on October 25, 1838, and after Governor Lilburn Boggs duced here: issued his infamous “extermination order” on October At Jacob Haun’s mill, on Shoal Creek, in the east- 27, 1838. The settlers throughout Northwest Missouri ern part of Caldwell County, about eight miles south of began to be caught up in a spirit of mobocracy and a Breckenridge, there had collected about twenty Mor- 1 Haun’s Mill Massacre by Richard and Pamela Price mon families. Haun himself was a Mormon and had come to the site from Wisconsin a few years before. He had a very good mill, and clustered around it were a blacksmith shop and half a dozen small houses. The alarm that the troops were moving against them had driven nearly all the Mormon families in the coun- ty to Far West for safety. A dozen or more living in the vicinity repaired to Haun’s mill, which was twenty miles to the eastward of Far West. As there were not enough houses to accommodate all of the fugitives, a number were living in tents and temporary shelters. A few fam- ilies, perhaps four, had come in on the evening of the 29th, from Ohio, and were occupying their emigrant wagons. Not one member of the little community had George Edward Anderson 1907 photograph ever been in arms against the “Gentiles,” or taken any of original Haun’s Mill millstone. part whatever in the preceding disturbances. Word that the militia of the State had been ordered enridge, an agreement was reached by the Gentiles for to expel them from the country had reached the Mor- an attack upon Haun’s Mill. Three companies, number- mons of the Haun’s Mill settlement, and following this ing in the aggregate about two hundred men, were or- intelligence came a report that a considerable number ganized. They were commanded by Captains Nehemiah of men in Livingston County, together with some from Comstock, William 0. Jennings, and William Gee. The Daviess, had organized in the forks of Grand River near command of the battalion was given to Col. Thomas Spring Hill in Livingston and were preparing to attack Jennings, an old militia officer .... them. It did not matter whether or not the Mormons at the Whereupon a company of about twenty-five men mill had taken any part in the disturbances which had and boys, indifferently armed with shotguns and squir- occurred; it was enough that they were Mormons .... rel rifles, was organized at the mill, and David Evans Setting out from Woolsey’s after noon on the 30th, was chosen captain. It was resolved to defend the place Col. Jennings marched swiftly .... The word was passed against the threatened assault. along the column, “Shoot at everything wearing breech- Some of the older men urged that no resistance es, and shoot to kill” .... should be made, but that all should retreat to Far West. Entering the timber north of the mill, Colonel Jen- The day after the skirmish on Crooked River (October nings passed through it unobserved right up to the bor- 25), Haun himself went to Far West to take counsel of ders of the settlement and speedily formed his line for Joe Smith. “Move here, by all means, if you wish to save the attack. Capt. W. 0. Jennings’ company had the cen- your lives,” said the prophet. ter, Capt. Comstock’s the left, and Capt. Gee’s the right. Haun replied that if the settlers should abandon The Mormon leader had somehow become appre- their homes, the Gentiles would burn their houses and hensive of trouble. He communicated his fears to some other buildings and destroy all of the property left be- of the men and was about sending out scouts and pick- hind. ets. It had been previously agreed that in case of attack “Better lose your property than your lives,” rejoined the men should repair to the blacksmith shop and oc- Smith. cupy it as a fort or blockhouse. This structure was built Haun represented that he and his neighbors were of logs with wide cracks between them, was about eigh- willing to defend themselves against what he called teen feet square, and had a large wide door. “the mob,” and Smith finally gave them permission to The greater portion of the Mormons were, howev- remain .... On the 29th at Woolsey’s northeast of Breck- er, unsuspicious of any imminent peril. Children were 2 Haun’s Mill Massacre by Richard and Pamela Price playing on the banks of the creek, women were engaged in their ordinary domestic duties, the newly-arrived im- migrants were resting under the trees, which were clad in the scarlet, crimson, and golden leaves of autumn. The scene was peaceful and Acadian. It was now about four o’clock in the afternoon, and the sun hung low and red in a beautiful Indian summer sky. Suddenly, from out of the timber north and west of the mill the Gentiles burst upon the hamlet. The air was filled with shouts and shots, and the fight was on. It cannot fairly be called a fight. Taken wholly by surprise, the Mormons were thrown into extreme confusion. The women and children cried and screamed in excitement and terror, and the greater number, directed by some Haun’s Mill of the men, ran across the milldam to the south bank by C. C. A. Christensen of the creek and sought shelter in the woods. Perhaps Museum of Church History and Art twenty men, Captain Evans among them, ran with their guns to the blacksmith shop and began to return the glee how the poor child “kicked and squealed” in his fire. Some were shot down in their attempts to reach the dying agonies and justified his inhuman act by the old shop. Indian aphorism, “Nits will make lice.” The fire of the Mormons was wild and ineffective; Charley Merrick, another little boy only nine years that of the militia was accurate and deadly. The cracks old, had hid under the bellows. He ran out, but did not between the logs of the shop were so large that it was get far until he received a load of buckshot and a rifle easy to shoot through them, and so thickly were the ball—in all, three wounds. He did not die, however, for Mormons huddled together on the inside that nearly nearly five weeks. every bullet which entered the shop killed or wounded Esquire Thomas McBride was seventy-eight years of a man. Firing was kept up all the while on the fleeing age, and had been a soldier under Gates and Washing- fugitives, and many were shot down as they ran. ton in the Revolution. He had started for the blacksmith Realizing very soon that he was placed at a decid- shop but was shot down on the way and lay wound- ed disadvantage, Captain Evans gave orders to retreat, ed and helpless but still alive. A Daviess County man directing every man to take care of himself .... The fu- named Rogers, who kept a ferry across Grand River gitives were fired on until they were out of range, but near Gallatin, came upon him and demanded his gun. not pursued, as the few who escaped scattered in almost “Take it,” said McBride. Rogers picked up the weapon every direction. and finding that it was loaded deliberately discharged it Coming upon the field after it had been abandoned, into the old veteran’s breast. He then cut and hacked the the Gentiles perpetrated some terrible deeds. At least body with his ‘‘corn knife’’ until it was frightfully gashed three of the wounded were hacked to death with the and mangled. “corn knives” or finished with a rifle bullet. William After the Mormons had all been either killed, Reynolds, a Livingston County man, entered the black- wounded, or driven away, the Gentiles began to loot the smith shop and found a little boy, only ten years of age place.