Haun's Mill Massacre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it reads, in part:

“Haun's Mill was a mill established on the banks of Shoal Creek in Fairview Township, Caldwell County, Missouri in 1835–1836 by Jacob Haun, an early Latter Day Saint settler. By October of 1838 there were approximately 75 Mormon families living along the banks of Shoal Creek, about 30 of them in the immediate vicinity of Haun's Mill and the blacksmith shop.

The militia was led by Colonel William Jennings, Sheriff of Caldwell County. At the time of the attack it consisted of 240 men from Daviess, Livingston, Ray, Carroll, and Chariton counties and included prominent men such as Charles Ashby of the Missouri state legislature and Thomas O. Byron, Clerk of Livingston County.

There was considerable concern among the Mormon settlers at Haun's Mill due to the threat of the growing strength of the militia. On Sunday, October 28th, a council was held to discuss how to defend themselves. It was decided to organize a defensive force and 28 men were armed and held themselves in readiness against an attack. That same evening, one of the militia groups sent a representative who negotiated a truce with the settlers. Monday the 29th and most of Tuesday the 30th passed without incident.

On October 30 at approximately 4 p.m., the militia rode into the community. David Evans, a leader in the community, ran towards the militia, waving his hat and calling for peace. Alerted to the militia's approach, most of the Latter Day Saint women and children fled into the woods to the south, while most of the men stayed behind to fight, entrenching themselves in the blacksmith shop. Unfortunately, the building was a particularly vulnerable structure as the widely-spaced logs made it easy for the attackers to fire inside. The shop became a deathtrap, since the militia gave no quarter, firing about one hundred rifles and muskets into the building.

After the initial attack, several of those who had been wounded or had surrendered were shot dead. Members of the militia entered the shop and found ten-year-old Sardius Smith hiding under the blacksmith's bellows. William Reynolds put his musket against the boy's skull and blew off the top of his head. Reynolds later explained, "Nits will make lice, and if he had lived he would have become a Mormon." Seventy-eight year old Thomas McBride surrendered his musket to militiaman Jacob Rogers, who then shot McBride and hacked his body apart with a corn knife. Several other bodies were mutilated or clothing stolen, while many women were assaulted. Houses were robbed, wagons, tents and clothing were stolen, and horses and livestock were driven off, leaving the surviving women and children destitute.

By the end of the skirmish at least eighteen Mormons were dead. Thirteen more had been injured, including a woman and nine-year-old child. A non-Mormon sympathizer was also killed. Three of the 250 militiamen were wounded, but none fatally. After the fighting, the dead were thrown in an unfinished well and covered with dirt and straw. The survivors and their wounded gathered at (the town of) Far West for protection.

Although participants in the massacre boasted of their acts for years, none of the Missourian militiamen were ever brought to trial, and the Latter Day Saints' efforts at receiving justice in the Missouri courts failed.” (End of Wikipedia quote)

Daniel Tyler, as explained at the end of this article, writes the following:

“Everyone has probably heard or read of the terrible martyrdom at Haun's Mill. At this late date some may be led to inquire why did not the Prophet (the leader of the Mormon Church) foresee this and avert the terrible calamity. The older Saints, or those of long standing in the Church, understand all of the particulars, but there are our young folks and future generations who, not understanding some unpublished facts, would be liable and almost certain to marvel, as some already do. This is not strange, as the history of the Church shows that the man of God (the Prophet, Joseph Smith) was in Far West, only about twenty miles distant.

Well, my young brethren and sisters, the following are a few of the facts. Brother Haun owned the mill, a grist mill, which took his name. From two to four days prior to the massacre the citizens of the little settlement assembled in a mass meeting, and appointed Brother Haun a committee of one to go to the city for advice to know what to do. The whole country was under arms and excitement. The Apostle David W. Patten, with Brothers Gideon Carter and O'Banion, had already sealed their testimony with their blood. Under these circumstances it was quite natural that small settlements should begin to inquire what was best for them to do.

Brother Haun repaired to the city, and as the Prophet (Joseph) was but a private citizen and minister of the gospel, in the legal sense, he first went to Captain John Killian, of the Caldwell County militia, informed him of his appointment, and inquired what he and his brethren should do.

"Move into the city was the prompt reply."
Brother H.—"What! and leave the mill?"
Captain K.—"Yes, and leave the mill."
Brother H.—"What! to the mob?"
Captain K.—"Yes, to the mob."

Brother Haun then left the Captain and went to "Brother Joseph," as the Prophet was familiarly called. He asked him the same questions, and received the same answers, word for word.
"But," responded the selfish mill-owner, "Brother Joseph, we think we are strong enough to defend the mill and keep it in our own hands."

"Oh, well," replied he, "if you think you are strong enough to hold the mill you can do as you think best."

What more could he (Brother Joseph) say? His method had always been when his counsel was asked to give it freely and leave parties to receive or reject it. He could not, nor would not if he could, take away people's agency.

Brother Haun returned and reported that Brother Joseph's counsel was for them to stay and protect or hold the mill. The rest the reader knows, or can become acquainted with by reading the published account of the terrible tragedy. Brother Haun ignored Joseph's warning and the Haun's Mill massacre resulted. (bold type added for emphasis)

The foregoing facts I had from the late Captain Killian in person.”

Daniel Tyler, "Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith," Juvenile Instructor 27, no. 3 (1 February 1892): 94-95. (Extracted from the book, Remembering Joseph, by Mark McConkie, pg. 226)