that he was sent by his
General to notify them that he desired an interview with the Twelve to which they consented to grant at the prade ground which place he now was formed.
I was then sent to look up some witnesses to testify against the house burning mob and also to escort Douglas to his General; which I did and then made the necessary arraingements to procure the witnesses as aforesaid.About this time the Twelve & others came in their buggys to the ground and was introduced to Genl Hardin, who Showed his authority for coming here and told his intentions of mintaining the "Supremacy of the Law" as he called it.He also said that there had been complaints made to him while at Carthage about two men being missing one in Nauvoo named Wilcox and the other between Carthage and Appanoose named Debonairand that he intended to have an effectual and thoroug search made here for them that it was somewhat Strange that a man should leave so large and populous a City as this and no
body see him and in a scarcastic manner insinuated that we had been guilty of their death, after which the Twelve returned back & I went home and in a Short time Captains Hunter &
McRae came and took dinner with me and then we went to A. Weeks to get Mirinda to wash for my wife from thence to quarters again and there heard that Hardins troops had search the Temple through out even in the dome for the dead bodies also the Masonic Hall was searched from the garrett to the cellar.they then went to Mansion House Barn as said that they wanted to search it as Col Scott had Stationed troops there as they thought to conceal the bodies aforesaid to which Col Scott consented after requiring them not to steal any thing else to which they agreed.they searched it in the Hay mow & all other apartments after they were done Col Scott told them that they were fools to suppose that we would hide dead men in the Hay &c when the river was so near which seemed to in some degree to shame his bar
efaced impertinence for in reality they only wanted to find our canon &c as we had good reason to believe and Deprive us of our means of defence and then we could be more easy brought to
bow in Submission their unjust mandates.It may be seen that I have no confidence in them since our leaders were martered by the Gov. and his men
How rediculous and contemptible the idea that rational men as we are should be supposed to murder men under the excitement which now prevailed against us when the mob and State authorities both Sught a pretext to form an alliance against us and then in warm weather hide them in Hay mows and Masonic Hall and even in the Temple where more than one hundred men were at work and that in all parts of it at once & we expect not to be found out.Their object was too obvious & I feel indignant at the idea & also think of the "Honor of Governor Ford and the plighted faith of the State" to Joseph & Hyrums protection while he could lock them in jail and then w
ith draw his forces to insult us, in his weak administered, & "Brief authority," in Nauvoo while his compeers could assassinate them in cold blood in despite of the "Carthage Grey" Guard loaded with "Blank Cartrages" as we know they wereTo all Such men officers and governments I can truly say that it is my hearts desire and prayer to God
for Christs and his kingdoms and peoples sake that they may be speedily damned to the lowest degredation of Hell.But ceace my feelings & be calm.I then went to the flat with J. B. Nobles in a Buggy to the printing office & to Allen Stouts, then to the police, then to the Marquee & took Supper & then home a little after dark and Staid about two hours and went to Shumways who was not much better then to A. Weeks and there found that [Marinda] was gone to set up at Br Lewis whose son was deadI went to bed and sept soundly till about two hours before day, when [Marinda] came to my bed and put [her] cold hand on my forehead which awoke me then c
ame to bed and at day break I got up and came home
[source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
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