Sunday, Sept. 6, 1846:
At the headquarters of the Camp of Israel, located west of the Missouri River at Cutler's Park, the Saints gathered together in a grove for a morning Sabbath meeting. Many in the camp were sick and could not attend.In the afternoon, members of the Twelve met in a joint council meeting with the Cutler's Park High Council. Albert P. Rockwood and John Pack reported that there were plenty of nice pastures several miles to the north. The council agreed that cattle should be sent there, and Brigham Young suggested that a small settlement be established above Old Council Bluffs for those guarding the cattle. The council also discussed sending teams back to Nauvoo to help remove the poor from the city.
Monday, Sept. 7:
Thomas L. Kane, the respected friend of the Saints, was preparing to return to his home in Philadelphia after spending a month with the Saints. The Mormon Battalion on the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas Territory spotted buffalo during the entire day. Sometimes they could see more than 500 at one time.
Tuesday, Sept. 8:
As Thomas L. Kane was about to leave, Brigham Young and Willard Richards called to express their warm thanks and good wishes. Col. Kane expressed a strong determination to continue to help the Saints in any way he could.
Elder Willard Richards wrote to his parents and other family members in England: "We have been detained and shall not pass over the mountains till spring, shall stay where we are, now in a tent, shall soon be in a winter cabin. . . . I must just say to you that on the first of July last there were upwards of 2500 wagons loaded with our friends and their provisions . . . going West. Many have come out since and many more will this fall and when we shall have arrived over the mountains we shall leave this a great thoroughfare such as hardly has been since the exit of Moses."
Wednesday, Sept. 9:
At a council meeting it was reported that 12 teams had been found to be sent back for the remaining Saints in Nauvoo. Brigham Young asked that more brethren donate their teams to the cause. He set the example by offering three yoke of his own cattle.
Back in Nauvoo, an armed mob of 700 men organized to attack the city. Gov. Ford had authorized Major Flood, the commander of the militia in neighboring Adams County, to raise a force to help preserve order in Hancock County. But Major Flood feared angering the anti-Mormons and disregarded the governor's request. A small band of brave men started to take up positions on the high ground about one mile east of the temple, placing themselves between the mob camp and the city.
Thursday, Sept. 10:
Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball rode out in the morning to search out a location for Winter Quarters.
Serious hostilities broke out in Nauvoo. Thomas S. Brockman, the leader of the mob, advanced, his forces numbering about 1,500, toward Nauvoo and started to fire upon the city with their cannons. The defenders, numbering only 150 men, were organized into three companies under the overall leadership of Col. Johnson.
Many of the Saints started to flee to cross the river. The men were asked to stay. Joseph Fielding wrote that "the sick, the women and children got over as fast as they could. I went down to the bank of the river and found many of the Saints in distress. Some had left their goods and were destitute of food and clothing. Others had left their husbands in the battle. The cannons roared tremendously on both sides for several days."
Thomas Bullock's writings reflected the frightening feelings of those who were still in the city: "The sharp cracking of the rifles kept us in an awful state of suspense and anxiety. Our devoted city was defended by about 150 poor, sickly persecuted Saints, while it was cannonaded by about 1,500 to 2,000 demoniacs, in the shape of men, who had sworn to raze our temple to the ground, to burn the city, to ravish our wives and our daughters, and drive the remainder into the river."
Friday, Sept. 11:
In the morning Brigham Young and the other members of the Twelve at the camp walked to the north and officially selected the site for Winter Quarters. They began to survey the new settlement and chose a location for Main Street. This first site for Winter Quarters was located on some prairie ridges, away from the river. A week later the brethren would decide to move the planned settlement to a bench of flat land closer to the river, located in present-day Florence, Neb.
Back at Nauvoo, the mob moved to the north and fired over 30 cannon balls. One of the Nauvoo companies advanced in an effort to prevent the enemy from entering the city. They laid a "powder plot," or mine, in the road and then hid themselves in Daniel Well's cornfield. The mob spotted them and opened fire which caused the defenders to quickly retreat.
Saturday, Sept. 12:
At Cutler's Park, where the brethren were unaware of the terror taking place back in Nauvoo, a company of 10 volunteers was appointed to go back to the city to help the Saints come to Winter Quarters. President Brigham Young received a letter from the Indian Agent, Robert B. Mitchell, asking him to make sure that the camp would not waste any timber where they were located on Indian land. In the evening assignments were made to ensure that timber would be cut only with prior permission from the leaders.
In Nauvoo, Col. Johnson, leader of the Nauvoo defenders, became sick, and William E. Cutler took over for him with Daniel H. Wells at his side. The enemy was more determined after receiving a few wagon loads of ammunition. They attempted to advance on Nauvoo but were forced back several times by defenders firing on them from behind houses. Cannon balls were being fired constantly. Wandle Mace wrote: "The little band of brethren and some of the new citizens made a brave stand against the mob. Sometimes the cannon balls from the mob would be picked up and loaded into our steamboat shaft cannon and fired back at them. Ammunition was scarce with us and we were but a handful."
Some of the brave women were said to have helped gather up cannon balls in their aprons. Other sisters assembled on porches out of range of the guns, listening to every sound of the conflict. Mary Ann Stearns Winters wrote: "The anguish and suspense of those dreadful hours can never be told in words. And I will never forget the unflinching faith and courage of that devoted group of women. They never thought of fleeing or turning away."
A fierce battle soon ensued. It became known as "The Battle of Nauvoo" and lasted about 75 minutes. Daniel H. Wells rode on his white horse encouraging and directing the men. His courage was looked upon as a tower of strength for the men defending their homes and families. (See separate article on page )
Sources: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, pp. 368-83; Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 3:75, 83; Journal of Henry Standage in The March of the Mormon Battalion, pp. 160-61; Henry W. Bigler Journal, Utah Historical Quarterly 5:2:38-9; A Ram in the Thicket: The Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, 127-31; Journal of Robert S. Bliss, Utah Historical Quarterly, 4:71-2; Our Pioneer Heritage, 3:142, 8:234, 11:526; Ensign to the Nations, pp. 42-3; John William Dutson Journal; Joseph Fielding Diary in BYU Studies 19:165; LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 3:94; History of Utah, 1:273; Wandle Mace Autobiography, Typescript, p. 203; Mary Ann Stearns Winters, "The Nauvoo Battle," The Relief Society Magazine, 4:78.
