The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-16


broke iuto small fragments the boilers and
other portions of the same engine, with
which they crammed to the muzzle their nov
81 field pieces. Not satisfied with this and
similar measures Of defense, the Mormons
excavated the ground over which it was an
ticipated their adversaries would be compell-
cd to advance, and filled the cavities with
kegs of gunpowder and deadly missiles, to
which they designed to apply the match and
blow to atoms the advancing column. These
subterranean powder plots which were des-
tined to vomit flame and smoke and death
in the path Of the invading gentle, were
termed, in the pious and expressive language
OF the saints, hell acres," and were inten-
ded perhaps more to terrify the Anti-Mor-
mons than to lure them.
Whilst the parties were making these dead
iy preparations, Captain Picket, in command
OF small scouting company, was ranging
the prairies after the manner of chivalrous
knights Of yore, in search of adventures
1t would be impossible to recount in our
limited space the gallant deeds Of this chiv-
alrous commander-how with his small band
OF adventurers, on dark and rainy night,
ne encountered strong party OF Anti-Mor-
mons how his band recklessly and bravely
fired on them, which induced the Anti
Mormons to scamper for dear life ; and how
one of their number, scorched by the fire
from their muskets, rode away blazing like
comet in the darkness.
Whilst these events were transpiring, an
under current was silently at work amongst
the new citizens, which promised speedy
and satisfactory adjustment Of all the excl
ting topics which had been so long agitated,
and which threatened to involve aif parties
in destructive civil war. Itwas the desire
of the new citizens to effect final comprom-
isc between all the parties. Through their
efforts, final treaty of peace was mutually
signed by the belligerents. This treaty
specified that the Mormons should leave the
State within sixty days; that they should
Immediately surrender all their arms to per-
sons indicated in the treaty, to be re,tored
to the true owner as soon as it should be
satisfactorily known that in good faith he
had complied with the stipulations Of the
treaty by leaving the State. 1t was further
provided that the Anti -Mormons should
leave a permanent force of twenty FIVE men
in the city, for the purpose Of enforcing the
terms of the treaty. This treaty was fully
acccded to by the Mo.mons, who were be.
coming alarmed by the gathering strength
of their alvers rsarIes. The new citizens, un-
der the most discouraging circumstances,
had labored for its adoption, and hailed it
as harbinger Of permanent peace. General
Singleton was anxious for the peaceful ar
rangcment Of a difficulty which threatened
the destruction of social order and the she'd
ding of blood without legal warrant. lie
had enjoyed sufficient of the glory, and ex,
psrleneed sufficient of the hardships of the
camp to satisfy his young ambition. He
therefore gave the treaty his influence and
ardent support. He assembled his troops,
read the treaty for their appreciation and
adoption, and was deeply chagrined when
it was rel jccted by a unanimous yell of indig-
nation. The Anti Mormons had assembled
and organized their troops with a great sac
rlhce of time and large expenditure of
money. Their force now, so far AS the Nor
mons were concerned, was Irresistible. 1t was
to them the height of folly to abandon their
enterprise when its object lay within their
grasp. They had been repeatedly foiled by
the superior adroitness # the fanatics, who
had always managed to evade and nulHfy all
! tn ir engagements, however clearly and pos
itivcly expresses and solemnly ratified. They
had now n sufficient force to remove them :
it was therefore unnecessary to trust them to
remove themselves: and trust them they
would not under any circumstances, and
there was an end of il.
! General Singleton expressed the opinion
that the MorInons had acceded to every
thing that could be reas sonabiy asked Of them.
To prosecute the war any farther, under the
circumstances, was unnecessary and treason
able to humanity; he therefore resolved to
withdraw from the camp, and leave tue con-
sequences to those who chose TO prosecute
j the war further.
! The withdrawal of Gen. Singleton occa-
stoned little if any convenience to the
! Anti Mormon host. The eucampment
swarmed with ilustriDus Generals of ap.
proved bravery and high rcnown, who pant
ed for the honor of leading the embattled
host to victory. The citizen soldiery imme-
diately elected Thomas Eruckman rs the
successor of Gen. Singleton. Gen. Brock
man, they were assured, would never sur
render his sword or turn his back upon
their enterprise. This new military chief
tain bad various and high qualifications for
50 important IL command. He was black
smith II house carpenter, county commls
sioncr, Il preacher of the gospel, and serv ed
as groom to celebrated horse, which had
| the most undisputcd and aristocratic pre-
| tensions to a long line of Arabian ancestors.
/ 1t was thought that a person who could so
| readily turn his hand and his head to such
various and different pursuits with tolera-
ble share of success in each, could not fail
/ to shine as a hero likewise. To be sure,
one of the favorite pursuits Of the old gen.
tleman, in which he had spent the better
part Of a pretty long life, i. e., to proclaim
"peace on earth and good will to men, ap-
pearcd to be in decided antagonism with the
| death dealing profession of which he was
now a conspicuous member; but the villain
Gus expression of Il countenance which would
have been warrant of condemnation before
Jury skilled in reading the passions from
their outward manifestations, at once con-
! elusively demonstrated that, so far as he
was concerned, the gospel of peace which
he had so long proclaimed was the greatest
of humbugs. lie had spent long life in
canting hypocrisy, and now for the first
time, he had unfurled his true coors. 1t
cannot be pretended that the Rev. General
was influenced by religious zeal or the love
of Christian purity in his Quixotic campaign.
lie possessed none of the fire, the fervor or
fanaticism which induced the enthusiastic
Covennnters to gallantly and bravery throw
their lives away at Boutwell, Bridge. Moth
ing of the kind. Base and sordid selGshness
was the spring toll of all his actions, the
controlling motive of his life. His noblest
aspiration was to win the votes of the Anti
Mormons, and through their influence fatten
on the spoIs of Office. .lle had preached
and prayed for Office without success, and
now he was resolved to descend from the
altar, throw aside his clerical habiliments,
and fight for it. lie had grown gaunt as
a greyhound with hunger and long and anx-
ious waiting. Despair and hard feeding
had furrowed his checks and sprinkled his
hair with gray. The Mormon war was to
him "god- send" it aroused his despairing
energies, it resuscitated him with renewed
activity. 1t matterea not to him how much
blood should flow, how many of his COM
radss might perish, or how many of the enemy
be trampled under the hoof Of his avenging
Arab charger, provided by such means he
could secure the reward of his ambition and
ride safely into office. General Brockman
occupied position entirely different from
the men be commanded. They had suffered