The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-09

COUNCIL BLUFFS

bering some FIVE or SIX, found it necessary
to reclaim their oxen which had strayed on
the prairie. They followed what they sup
posed to be the trail of the missing cattle,
until it led them to the nelghborhood of
Pontoosac, where they were surprised by a
large party of Anti -Mormons, who sudden
ly emerged from an ambuscade, surrounded
them, and marched them to their encamp-
ment. To prevent discovery and the danger
OF recapture, they were Immediately hurried
into wild and secluded ravine, shaded by
dense underground, where they remained
until night under strong guard, when they
were placed in small boat furnished for
the occasion, and ferried in silence to an
island opposite in the Mississippi. The
custody Of these prisoners they believed
would prove an ample guarantee against
any violence which might be contemplated
against their friends in Nouvoo.
In the meantime the Mormons were in
formed Of the captrue of their friends by
the predatory GENTLE bands, and measures
"OAC OOVpeCO W oCCuIC tuclG ICS.
cue, Captain Anderson summoned his COM
mand, and without delay marched to the
village of Pontoosac. In anticipation of
the march of the Mormon force on this
point, the village was almost entirely
ened women and children were all that re-
from the windows, it was inferred by Ander-
thott tho fho,, boI
retreated to the island opposite. How to
effect a landing was a question which, with
all his ingenuity, he was unable to solve.
fully searched the coast in vain efforts to
discover some vessel to press in his service: !:
but the fugitves had taken the precaution
to cut off this resource, and after two days
spent in great perplexity, during which his
command was compelled to levy contribu-
| tions for their substance off the surround
ing country, the brave captain was compell
ed to relinquish the invasion of the island,
and return to Nauvoo to procure boats for
| the enterprise.
No sooner were the Anti-Mormons re-
| lieved Of the presence Of the Mormons force
than they recrossed to the mainland, and
whilst Captain Anderson, deeply mortified
with the result of his labors, was retiring to
Nauvoo, the Anti -Mormons, we'll mounted,
were making forced march north, at the
rate of six miles per hour, whilst the pris-
ers were compelled to march on foot in
front at that sweeping pace. Should their
energies appear to flag by their unusual ex-
ertion they were stimulated by the applica-
ton of goads, until nature refused to endure
such exertion longer, and the prisoners in
almost fainting condition were borne into a
secluded spot, whore they were suffered to
recruit their strength until the following
morning.
Before Captain Anderson could fit out his
boats for his river fight, intelligence was
received at Nauvoo that the Anti Mormons
were seen retreating north at furious speed,
still having their prisoners in custody
Without any delay an opposing force, under
the command of Picket, was dispatched in
pursuit. He passed through Pontoosac,
and from thence east to La Harpe; however,
without falling in with them. The Anti
Mormons, through the instrumentality of
their fril nds, contriyed to be Informed Of
A. the movements of the Mormons, and al
tbouo 4 the pursuit was hot and long contin-
ed. It wa. Intellectual. the Anti-Mormons in
variably ending the v!silant and untlrlng
efforts of the " ,.'ormons.
This chase n.'inued during two weeks,
during which the prl, 'oners were tnt'sued oy
ncessant marching, ur. i life had become a
burden which could be sc.'roe endured Inc
prisoners. at Nauvoo, who Sta continued "
close confinement, had become haggHra ny
constant watching and fearful app.'ehe:nsiohS
from threatened violence. Both pa,ties re
came wearieu by their mutual lawles.' oD-
stinacy. Finally the Anti-Mormons p. O.
cured for the benefit of their friends IN con-
hnement at Nauvoo, q writ of habeas corpus,
which was served on the Mormon jaiiors,
who SURF, n lered them to the tribunal for
examination, upon which on entering bail
they were finally discharged from arrest.
NJ sooner were they set at liberty than the
Mormon prisoners, jaded and tcavel-worn,
broken in health and spirit, from their un-
ceasing exertion, were suffered to return to
Nauvoo. They were received by their fam
lies as if they had risen from the dead.
Their release had never been expected;
they had already been enrolled on the list
of martyrs who had attested their faith by
heroic death.
1t should have been observed that to avail
themselves of the benefit of the writ of
habeas corpus which had been issued on
their behalf, it was necessary for the Anti
Mormon prisoners to be taken to Quincy,
where the judge issuing that process resi-
ded. On their discharge they Immediately
returned to Hancock county, but appre-
bending further annoyance and danger from
the Mormons, who still continued to send
out their predatory bands into the neigh
borhood of Pontoosac, they declined visit
ing their families; they determined to ac-
cept the hospitality of their Anti-Mormon
| friends in the southwest Of the county, and
remain in that section until general and
final rally should be made for the expul-
sion of the Mormons. 1t was resolved, IT
possible, to bring matters to an immediate
crisis between the parties. To effect an OBJ
iect so much desired, they determined to
make an attempt to arrest the leaders of the
Mormons concerned in their Imprisonment
and detention in Nauvoo, and If possible
secure legal redress for the wrongs they had
endured. To this end, writs were taken out
before justice of the peace, who resided
in the centre of hazle thicket in the south
west of the county. This justice was not
selected so much on account OF his legal
requirements, as the remoteness of the
situation from Nauvoo. The justice resided
on tho outskirts of the Morley settlement,
which had been desolated by Anti Mormon
vengeance only year before, where the
blackened and aecaying ruins Of the dwell,
ings of the hapless fanatics still remained
as monuments Of Anti-Mormon hate, and
where dreary barren wastes met the view
where only year before cultivated fields
sm ! ID in cheering beauty and abundance.
They knew it would be a source of annoy
ance to the Mormons to pass through this
desolate district, that it would bring fresh
to their memories the frightful disasters
which they had already sustained at the
hands of the Anti -Mormons. 1t would i'm
press upon the minds of the Mormons the
reckless and uuscrupulous character OF the
opposition which they might yet reasonably
expect to encounter.
! For various reasons it was considered un-
safe and impolitic to place the warrants
issued in the hands of an ordinary constable,
who MIGHT possess but little or no influence