MOVEMENTS OF FORCES. 123
to the houses, they drove off the inmates and destroyed their property. General Parks then moved his troops to Dewitt, but found the mob too many for him. They openly defied him, would make no compromise, and swore "they would drive the Mormons from Daviess to Caldwell, and from Caldwell to hell." General Atchison then went to Dewitt and told the Mormons that his men were so disaffected^^ that they had better apply for protection to Governor Boggs. This official returned answer that, as they had brought the war upon themselves, they must fight their own battles, and not look to him for help. Thereupon they aban- doned the place, and fled to Far West.
In order to intercept the mob General Doniphan entered Daviess county with two hundred men, and thence proceeded to Far West, where he camped for the night. In consultation with the civil and military officers of the place, who, though Mormons, were nevertheless commissioned by the state, Doniphan advised them to arm and march to Daviess county and defend their brethren there. Acting on this ad- vice, all armed, some going to Daviess county and some remaining at Far West.^^ The former were met by Parks, who inquired of them all particulars. Shortly afterward some families came in from beyond Grand River, who stated that they had been driven away and their houses burned by a party under C. Gilliam. 2" Parks then ordered Colonel Wight, who held a commission under him as commander of the
i^'At length the general (Atchison) informed the citizens that his forces were so small, and many of them so much in favor of the insurrectionists, that it was useless to look any longer to them for i^rotection. . .After the evacuation of Dewitt, when our citizens were officially notified that they must protect themselves, .. .they assembled in Far West to the number of one thousand men, or thei'eabout, and resolved to defend their rights to the last.' Pratt's Autobiography, 192-3.
" 'The Mormons in Caldwell were the regular state militia for that count}', and were at the time acting under the legal authorities of the county. ' Greene's Facts, 20.
- "A noted company of banditti, under the command of Cornelius Gilliam,
who had long infested our borders and been notorious for their murders and daring roblieries, and who painted themselves as Indian warriors, came pouring in from the west to strengthen the camp of the enemy.' Pratfs Au- tobiography, 202.
