1838 The Extermination Proclamation
No American contribution to religion has evoked as much turmoil, tragedy, and violence as the Church of Latter Day Saints, popularly called Mormonism. Its origins lie in the Burned-over district of upstate New York but the crises it precipitated occurred across the USA all the way to the Great Salt Lake of Utah.
Following the 1830 publication of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith’s new revelations attracted a large number of converts as well as hostile attention from their Christian neighbours. Particularly provocative were the approval of polygamy and numerous theological novelties such as the appearance of Jesus Christ in the Americas.
Settlements of Mormons were established in Ohio and then Missouri where Smith prophesied the Second Coming and the founding of a new capital city. Alarm at the growth of a Mormon presence led to the establishment in 1836 of Caldwell County in the northwest of Missouri where they could come together in safety, but that hope proved illusory. Small-scale violence broke out, especially after Mormons expanded their presence into neighbouring counties. In 1838 these skirmishes broke out into what is known as the Mormon War.
In the summer of 1838 a Mormon preacher warned that his people would respond to any further attacks with violence. Sidney Rigdon’s “July 4th Oration” stated:
We take God and all the holy angels to witness this day, that we warn all men in the name of Jesus Christ, to come on us no more forever. For from this hour, we will bear it no more, our rights shall no more be trampled on with impunity. The man or the set of men, who attempts it, does it at the expense of their lives. And that mob that comes on us to disturb us; it shall be between us and them a war of extermination; for we will follow them till the last drop of their blood is spilled, or else they will have to exterminate us: for we will carry the seat of war to their own houses, and their own families, and one party or the other shall be utterly destroyed.—Remember it then all MEN.
A Mormon militia encountered forces of the Missouri state troops at the Battle of Crooked River on October 24 and though casualties on both sides were light, all thought of conciliation was abandoned. On October 27 Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs issued Executive Order 44, known as the Extermination Order:
Headquarters of the Militia, City of Jefferson, Oct. 27, 1838.
Gen. John B. Clark:
Sir: Since the order of this morning to you, directing you to cause four hundred mounted men to be raised within your division, I have received by Amos Reese, Esq., of Ray county, and Wiley C. Williams, Esq., one of my aids [sic], information of the most appalling character, which entirely changes the face of things, and places the Mormons in the attitude of an open and avowed defiance of the laws, and of having made war upon the people of this state. Your orders are, therefore, to hasten your operation with all possible speed. The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description. If you can increase your force, you are authorized to do so to any extent you may consider necessary. I have just issued orders to Maj. Gen. Willock, of Marion county, to raise five hundred men, and to march them to the northern part of Daviess, and there unite with Gen. Doniphan, of Clay, who has been ordered with five hundred men to proceed to the same point for the purpose of intercepting the retreat of the Mormons to the north. They have been directed to communicate with you by express, you can also communicate with them if you find it necessary. Instead therefore of proceeding as at first directed to reinstate the citizens of Daviess in their homes, you will proceed immediately to Richmond and then operate against the Mormons. Brig. Gen. Parks of Ray, has been ordered to have four hundred of his brigade in readiness to join you at Richmond. The whole force will be placed under your command.
I am very respectfully, yr obt st [your obedient servant], L. W. Boggs, Commander-in-Chief.
This proclamation was swiftly followed by a massacre of 18 Mormon prisoners at Haun’s Mill, despoiling of Mormon settlers, and a decision by Joseph Smith to migrate out of Missouri. Further violence and hardship would ensue.