Mormon History
Warning from U.S. Military Officer - 1842
Sangamo Journal – July 8, 1842
AN OFFICER OF THE U. S. ARTILLERY.
This letter requires no comments. We ask the people of this State, shall Joe Smith dictate to them? Shall he tell them for whom they shall vote for Governor and Lt. Governor? Let the people answer.
The
same paper contains a letter from an officer of the U. S. artillery under
date; "City of Nauvoo, Ill., May 8, 1842" in which the writer says --
"Yesterday was a great day among the Mormons. Their Legion, to the number of two
thousand men, was paraded by General Smith, Bennett and others, and certainly
made a very noble and imposing appearance. The evolutions of the troops directed
by Major General Bennett, would do honor to any body of armed militia in any of
the States, and approximates very closely to our regular forces. WHAT DOES ALL
THIS MEAN? Why the exact discipline of the Mormon corps? DO THEY INTEND TO
CONQUER MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, MEXICO? It is true they are part of the militia of
the State of Illinois, by the charter of their Legion, but then there are no
troops in the States like them in point of enthusiasm and warlike aspect, yea
warlike character. Before many years this Legion will be twenty, and perhaps
fifty thousand strong, and still augmenting. A fearful host, filled with
religious enthusiasm, and led on by ambitious and talented officers, what may
not be effected by them? perhaps the subversion of the constitution of the
United States and if this be considered too great a task, foreign conquest will
most certainly follow. Mexico will fall into their hands, even it.
"These Mormons are accumulating, like a snow-ball rolling down an inclined
plane, which in the end becomes an avalanche. They are also enrolling among
their officers some of the first talent in the country, by titles or bribes.
It Don't matter which. They have appointed your namesake, Capt. Bennett,
late of the army of the United States, Inspector General of their Legion, and he
is commissioned as such by Gov. Carlin. This gentleman is known to be well
skilled in fortification, gunnery, ordinance. castramentation, and military
engineering generally, and I am assured that he is now under pay, derived
from the tithings of this warlike people. I have seen his plans for fortifying
Nauvoo, which are equal to any of Vauban's.
I arrived here incog. on the 1st inst., and from the great preparation for the
military parade, was induced to stay to see the turn-out, which I confess has
astonished and filled me with fears for future consequences. The Mormons, it is
true, are now peaceable, but the lion is asleep. Take care, and don't rouse him.
The Mormons number in Europe and America about one hundred and fifty thousand,
and are constantly pouring into Nauvoo and the neighboring country. There are
probably in about this city and adjacent territories, not far from 30,000 of
these warlike fanatics, this place having been settled by them only three years
ago.