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

prevent terrified fugitives from hourly cross
ing the river. The guard, which we have
seen had authority to murder oil deserters,
connived at their escape, and many OF them
were known to betray the confidence re-
posed in them, by the abandonment of their
post, and retreating across the river.
In addition to the annoyance of continued
desertions, the city was hard pressed by the
horrors of famine. Their supply of bread
stutfs was totally exhausted. The army was
compelled to subsist on fresh beef without
any other aliment; nor did their families
fare any better. Hunger and wretchedness
stared every family in the face. Pale-faced
and fearful women haggard with hunger
and terror, without protection, huddled
their squalid, starving and naked children
together and hurried away, without means
or provisions for single day, to encounter
the bleak winds Of approaching autumn,
and perish unpitied like famished wolves on
the wild prairie.
TO render the conditions Of the Mormons
more desperately hopeless, their enemies
had raised force on the opposite side of
the river, which had full control of the Iowa
shore, and whose dutyit was to prevent any
provisions from being crossed over to re-
lieve the starving Mormons. Resistance on
their part was no longer possible. 10 raise
the sciga which so grievously oppressed
them, it would be necessary to storm the
formidable barriers of the enemies CAMPS
and Sc ze upon their provisions, OF which
they had an abundant supply, and appro-
pirate them to their necessities; and to ac-
complisb an enterprise of so much peril by
a force diminished by desertion, and feeble
starvation, was altogether impracticable.,
The want Of ammunition on the part OF the
Anti -Mormons, and the weakness of their
adversaries, caused a temporary cessation OF
hostilities, which continued for several days.
However, tho dullness of the times was re-
lieved by the action of hostile parties from
each camp, who carried on q guerilla war
fare worthy of the most savage and depravcd
of the Mexicans. Although but little was
accomplished by the various salles of these
| irregular companies, no one being killed Or
seriously wounded, vet it kept up continued
excitement and alarm, and kept alive ter
rors which the situation naturally inspired.
In the mean time, the city Of Quincy,
which had exhibited a lively ard humane
interest in the struggle, and many OF whose
citizens had manifested the most commend
able zeal in prev enting the efusion of blood,
now dispatched committee of fifty persons
who were instructed to use all their inhu-
ence to bring the hostile parties to an ac-
commodation. These gentlemen arrived du-
ring the suspension of active hostllities !;
and although the firing Of the guerilla part
les. which wns necessarily kept up. contin-
ualy exposed them to eminent peril, yet,
thew manfullv and almost heroicly perse-
vered until they actually brought the en-
ragged and now desperate factions to terms.
and prevented that indiscriminate and bru-
tai mussacre which there was too much rea-
son to apprehend would result from taking
the city by storm.
Bv the terms OF the accomm odation CT
fccted. it was agreed on the part of the MOI
mons that the city should surrender; hostili-
ties to Immediately cease, and the Anti Nor
mons to march in and take possession of
,Sauvoo the following day. The Mormons
were to surrender their arms to the Quincy
committee, and leave the State without de-
Law: Their arms to be returned to them in
good faith, as soon as it could be ascer-
tanned that they had Prominently removed,
and manifested no intention of returning.
Ten families, to be indicated by the Mormon
trustees, were permitted to remain until the
lst of May following, for the purpose of ad-
usting and settling the accounts of the
Church. From this arrangement. William
Picket was expressly excluded. Instead Of
stpulating for the surrender of mis- body
into the custody of Mr.. Carlin, who had
called upon the "power of the county" to
effect his arrest, he was required forthwith
to leave the State, which it must be conced-
ed was a rather singular manner of term-
mating an enterprise set on foot for the
avowed purpose Of securing the custody Of
this same Picket.
In pursuance Of the stipulations Of the
treaty, on the following day General Brock
man paruded his troops preparatory to
marching into the conquered city. lie con-
graduated them on the successful termina-
ton of the expedition. He informed them
that now, when the Mo.:nons were within
their power, when their struggle was for
tunately terminated without material loss,
they could we'll afford to be generous. He
euioined upon them the strict observance of
the stpulations of the treaty, and exacted a
sepcrate pledge of every person in the camp
to observe the rights Of persons and prop
erty. The troops then marched into the ci-
ty. Although they were unrestrained by
any but moral and voluntary obligations,
the most perfect order was observed, no
outrage was committed, and the terms of
the treaty remained inviolate. The troops
encountered no opposition in taking posses
sion Of the city in fact, the streets were
all deserted, the doors Of the dwellings were
all closed. the shops gave no sounds indica-
tive of industry or of animated existence
a universal silence, profound as that of the
unoccupied desert, reigned throughout the
city. Brockmnn Immediately took possess
sion of the temple, which had been deserted
by the terrified and flying Mormons, planted
his batteries in the portico, charged his ar
;illcry with ball and grape-shot, distributed
his sentincls with the utmost care and vigil
ance, and provided every possible means to
guard against surprise and secure the gene
raj peace.
In the meantime the Mormons placed but
little confidence in the most solemn pledges
of their enemies. Judging from the course
Of policy which had uniformly been adopted
by the saints. they had little right to antic-
ipate an observance OF faith on the part OF
the Anti -Mormons. Pledges solennly made,
Mormons had always treated as farcical
Jokes, to be laughed at, and when policy
dictated. to be disregarded and trampled
upon. Observing no faith with the gentiles
they believed that retribution was now to be
Nlsiltu ou tuelI Ahcy uto
not care to await the storm of destrutive
wrath which they believed was about to
break on their devoted city and temple. Ac.
cordingly, in the greatest haste, they made
their preparations for their departure, many
Of them abandoning their property in tht
precipitancy of their flight. Every boa
which could do service was incess antly ply
ing from shore to shore, bearing away the
prescribed fugitives to the less hostile shores
of Iowa. The sullen Mormons still manifested
the unmitigated hate, the undying nalgnity
which appears to form the basis Of theiI
character. Unlike the early Christian mar
tyr, who invoked forgiveness on tho heads
of his murderers, the desperate sniut of mod
ern times, as he beheld for the last time ths
tall spire of the temple which he profoundly
reverenced, muttered deep curses on the
gentle bands who had conspired to drive
him from his affairs and his gods. They
exuted in view of their speedy expatriatior
from land doomed by their prophets to di
vine wrath and complete and fearful over.
flow. They disuv owed their allegiance to {