Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-10-02
PROGRESS OF THE CIVIL WAR-ONE OF
THE ANTI MORMONS KILLED.

PROGRESS FTIIE CIVIL WAR-ONE OF
THE ANTI MORMONS KILLED.
WARSAW, Wednesday morn, Sept, III reach
ed here this morning, about five o'clock. At this
place, and at Quincy, find state Of excitement
of which it is very hard TO give just description,
for there all kinds of reports and stories afloat
AS well as | can gather the facts at Quincy and
here, they are substantially these: The citizens,
under the style of anti Mormons, have determined
to drive the Mormons out of the country The first
difficulty commenced in Adams county, which ad
joins Hancock, in what is known Morley's set
Element, or precinct In this quarter, which is near
the town Of Lima, party has been out, burning
the Mormon houses, barns, stacks, &c.
In this war of extermnaton, they include not on
| ly the Mormons, but all who are suspected of IA
voring the Mormon cause, of hOrboring Mormons
about them. The reports vary very much as to the
number of houses burned. AT Quincy, the mum.
Der was stated at from fifty to sixty; but | think
this large estimate. The anti-Mormons, | am
told, are divided into two companies. One is known
as the Fire and scord' Company duty it
is TO set fire to Mormon buildings, and drive the oc-
cupants off The other division acts as spies and
guards, generally not appearing, or taking very
| prominent part. | am told that company OF the
Fire and sword" men were ont in the Morley Set
Element on Saturday-and on their return, they
ported that they had burnt thirty three houses, and
had got through before supper. At Quincy, it was
reported that, among the buildings burned,
mill and that in conflict between the parties,
one or two Mormons we're killed. and three or four
wounded. do not know how much reliance to
place in these reports--but from the excitement,
think them not Improbable.
Mr. Head, the clerk of Hancock county, has fled
from Carthage, the county seat, with the records
and papers, TO Quincy. was told that the Clerk
OF Brown county had also gone to Quincy, but of
this | am not certain. 1t is expected that the
troops from Adams and Pike counties will be i'm
( medlately called out. A messenger dispatch
ed to Governor Ford at Springfield on Sunday last.
Warsaw is under considerable excitement and
/ at present is vigilenty guarded by armed men,
AT place called Rocky Branch, about six miles
from this place, Gen. Williams is encamped with
number of men-anl- Mormons The General is
the Commander of this Brigade, but suppose will
operate against the Mormons-law no law
Yesterday deporable circumstance occurred a
bout seven miles from here, which believe will
form the element for much wider difficulty than
anything which has yet transpred. The story, as
well as | can gather it in the confusion of reports,
is as tollows
1t is SAID, that on Sunday or Monday three men
entered Carthage, and enquired for Mr.. Backenstos,
| the Sheriff, who is Jack Mormon, and very OBJ
noxous to the anti Mormons Mr.. Backenstos
made his escape Yesterday, Mr.. Franklin A. Wor-
rel, merchant Of Carthage, and Lieutenant in the
Carthage Greys, was out with about twelve or four
teen other persons, when they came up with Back
enstos and number of Mormons at place called
Prentces' Shantv. The Mormons beckoned to
Worrell and his party to keep away out they eth
er did not understand the signal, disregarded it,
! On their approach two guns were fired. A ball
from entered Worrell's breast, killing him al
most instantly. The corpse is in this town.
The other ball entered the cap of the man by his
side. AS you may suppose, this has added fuel to
the flames, and this morning find majority of
the citizens here preparing to go out and nothing
is talked of but general battle and the driving of
the Mormons from the country.
! Numbers Of people, especially women and child
rem, are leaving the country, fast as they get
away. | found number with their baggage and
household affairs, on the bank of the river
| It is reported here, and credited, that the same
process of burning out the Mormons, has been COM
menced III the upper part OF tue county. 1t is said,
that they have commenced burning the Mormon
houses in the La Harpe settlement The deter
mlnaton appears TO be TO burn the Mormon houses,
| but the Antics claim that they will not nure the
sick, or widows nor destroy the grain. When they
md sick persons, or women, they give them notice,
and as aeon the house is vacated ,theyse fire to it,
Alarm and excitement pervade all classes, and
and terror is depicted on the countenances of all
the families have yet SEEM This week, believe,
must bring matters to an issue. From the appa-
'nt concert with which the anti Mormons are act
lng-their simultaneous attacks the deep and dead
! ~ hatred which they entertain to the Mormons-
the fact that the Mormons, from all the settlements
out OF Nauvoo, are being driven into the city,
probably give predominancy to one party or the
other. | shall wait the result 1t is very doubtful
whether the Governor or civil authorities act
in time to prevent the worst results There is
report in this place-said to have been brought in
last night-that three hundred Mormons, with some
pieces of artillery, had marched towards Carthage
Their purpose, 1t is said, was to bring away the
family of Beckenstos. The report is not much
relied upon by the more intelligent citizens.
The above letter embodies nearly all the news
which we have from the disturbed district. 1t is
stated in the Nauvoo Neighbor, that accounts had
been received there of the destruction of forty
four houses and out houses in Green Plains and lii
ma districts. The Neghbor" insists, that the
shots fired upon the nt-Mormons at the meeting
on Tuesday, were fired by their party, and that
the Mornons knew nothing of the occurrence I'M
til the next day. A partial list of the houses des-
troyed is published in the Nauvoo paper and it is
added, Z" All that we shall remark the above, is
that Col. Williams is at the head. We had for
some time heard Il rumor that the mob propar.
ing for further outrages" but really in hopes
as our people had given no provocatlon what
ever, that law and order would govern the old cit-
zens. Our people, though they have been basely
treated, and shot at, can be proved, have been
quiet, not retalIang even in self defence, seeking
peace at all hazards"
The same paper says that writs against the
"twelve" and some others, upon the charge of
"ueason," have been issued in that county
The planlng mills, cardlng machine, &C belon-
ging to Norman Buel, about mile from Lima,
were burnt.
Mr. Worrell, who was killed by the Mormons,
as stated above, was in command of the guard at
Carthage, on the day of the murder of Joe and Hi
rum Smith.
The Warsaw Signal is full of violent appeals to
the old citizens to put an end by any means to the
disorders of which they complain, and it is decar-
ed that anarchy will reign in Hancock until one
or the other OF the belgerents shall leave the coun
try."-S. Louis Repub 10Th
| The St Louis Republican of the Goth says that
there was then prospect of an adjustment of the
war. From 20 to 100 houses had been destroyed
! by the anti-Mormons.