FROM THE " SEAT OF WAR" IN ILLINOIS.
EDITORS' CORRESPONDENCE.
CARTHAGE, (Ill.) OCTOBER 4, 1845.
Messrs. GALES & SEATON : My letter of the 27th September closed with the arrival of Gen. HARDIN, and the dismission and hasty departure of our Mor-mon garrison. Since that time the Mormons have remained pretty closely in Nauvoo, and ceased their outrages upon the property and lives of our citizens.
On the morning of the 30th the General march-ed before daylight for Nauvoo. His object in go-ing there was to recover some public arms which the Mormons had illegally obtained and withheld ; to ferret out and arrest, if possible, some of those engaged in the late enormities ; and to examine the condition of the city. It was understood that war-like preparations were going on there, evincing a disposition to resist the authority of the State. BACKENSTOS had boasted of his large guns and skilful English engineers, enabling him to prevent the approach of an army to the city; and had even threatened to bring them up and batter down the court-house at Carthage, if it should be wrested from the possession of his garrison. It was also reported by persons who had passed through the city that a blood-red flag was streaming from the dome of the temple, and that some cannon and a mortar were mounted upon the wall around it. It was Gen. HARDIN'S intention to arrive in the city before his approach was known to the Mormons, so as to give them no time either to prepare to re-sist his entrance, or to remove and conceal their hostile preparations. To secure this object he made an early march, and did not disclose his in-tention of going to Nauvoo to any but his staff un-til the hour of starting. He was defeated, how-ever, in his purpose of taking them by surprise. A man by the name of Bedell, who is not a Mor-mon, but who has for some time played second to Backenstos, and acted as a runner for the Mormons, was eavesdropping about the camp the evening be-fore, and in some way got wind of the proposed march, and hastened to Nauvoo with the informa-tion. The consequence was, that the flag was pulled down from the temple, the guns removed from the wall and secreted, the public arms all con-cealed, and thieves and stolen property safely put away where they could not be found. But little, therefore, was accomplished by the expedition to the Holy City, except to spread the knowledge of the Latter-day-saints. The General and his troops became thoroughly convinced of what we have long known, that the whole Mormon community, from the Patriarch and Twelve down to the veriest poul-try stealer, are all leagued together in the commis-sion and concealment of crime.
They were rather surly at first, but soon began to yield before the resolute measures and bearing of Gen. HARDIN, and at length informed him that they were desirous to leave the United States and remove to some place beyond the Rocky Moun-tains ; that five or six thousand of them would go next spring, and the remainder of them as soon as they could raise the means and make preparations for the journey.
While the troops were in Nauvoo, a convention of delegates from nine of the surrounding counties met at Carthage, and resolved that the Mormons should all leave Hancock county next spring, and pledged themselves and the people of their counties to turn out en masse and drive them away if they refused to go ; and to turn out and drive them at any time previous to the period fixed for their depar-ture, if they should renew their depredations upon the other citizens. A standing committee was ap-pointed, with authority to call out the forces of those counties, if they shall at any time deem it necessary ; and an active military organization is going on throughout the same, to be in readiness to answer their call.
Gen. HARDIN, who is still here, will leave a gar-rison of one hundred mounted men at this place, to remain until the Mormons remove, for the purpose of preventing further outbreaks and mischief. We think this number will be sufficient for the purpose, as it will show the determination of the State to keep them in check, and could, if necessary, be aid-ed by an overwhelming force on short notice.
We have therefore a prospect of seeing an end of our trouble with the Mormons, and also of having their place supplied with good citizens. The su-perior soil and advantages of this county have at-tracted the notice of those whom our recent dis-turbances have brought here from different parts of the country ; and many are already looking out for farms and houses. The Mormons are anxious to sell, and will give better bargains than can be found elsewhere in the West. It is hoped and believed, therefore, that, by the close of another spring, this strange community of dupes and impostors will have disposed of their valuable property, and be on their " winding way" to the shore of the Pacific.
J. H. SHERMAN.
