Affairs at Nauvoo.
SKIRMISHING— ANOTHER BATTLE ANTICIPATED.—The St. Louis Republican of the 15th inst., has the following letter from its correspondent at Warsaw:—
WARSAW, Illinois, Sept. 14, 1846.
Gentlemen:—The belligerent forces at Nauvoo have skirmishes every day. Yesterday afternoon a few guns were fired, and one man on the Anti-Mormon side was slightly wounded. They were again firing on each other's outposts last night, but on the side of the Anties no harm was done. It is impossible, on this side of the river, to ascertain with any degree of certainty the states of affairs in Nauvoo, and the chance on the other side is little better. Taking all the reports I have heard together, in relation to the number of Mormons killed and wounded in the two battles, I cannot form any esti-mate of the correct number. The Mormons acknowledge to the death of only three, but some of the Anties who were in the engage-ment of Saturday, say positively that nine dead bodies were taken out of one house.
On the Anti-Mormon side seven were wounded, one of whom has since died.—Capt. Smith, of Carthage, is not now considered dangerously wounded. The Anties sent to Quincy for a supply of cannon ball, which they expect to receive to-day; and to-morrow there will be another battle. It is said one hundred men are on their way from Quincy to try and effect a compromise. They will not be successful, for the Anties are determined not to accede to any compromise whatever. Mr. Carlin yesterday made a requisition upon Gen. Stephens for his brigade of militia, as he says, to assist him in arresting and executing certain writs in his possession against individuals in Nauvoo. These writs are a sort of flimsy covering for the real object of the Anties, which is, to drive the Mormons from the country.
I visited Montrose yesterday for the purpose of ascertaining something in relation to the number of killed and wounded of the Mormons, but I could learn nothing satisfactory. I saw there something of the suffering and destitution produced among the Mormons by this outrageous war. Many families of women and children had been sent over the river without shelter or food, some of them sick. The ferry boat was kept constantly running while I remained there. Mrs. Smith herself crossed over and begged quarters on the steamboat Monona, which was lying up there. She was crowd-ed full of women and children from Nauvoo.
Other boats were taking those that wish to go up the river without charge. Some of the strongest Anti-Mormons at Montrose, were contributing to the relief of these distressed creatures, rather than see them in a suffering condition, but if the war lasts much longer their numbers will be so great that the citizens of Montrose cannot relieve them, even if they had the disposition.
The Mormons, urged by a set of unprinci-pled men, who call themselves new citizens, but whom the Anties call Jack Mormons have brought this state of things upon themselves.
However much it is to be regretted that unnecessary suffering should be produced, it is the inevitable consequence of civil war, which the Mormons should have foreseen and might have avoided.
There appears to us a perpetual Sunday here—some of the stores are open, but no business of any kind is going on. It is the same way throughout the country. It is a sad time amongst the farmers, but they say they will sow no more until this Mormon difficulty is settled. Nothing is thought of but the expulsion of the Mormons from the State. Whatever the citizens of the county possess, is at the disposal of the camp; it is contributed without money and without price. Wheat is sent to the mill here from all parts of the county, to supply the camp with bread.
A baker here with several hands has devoted himself exclusively to their service for three weeks; a butcher at Carthage has done the same. There are from one hundred to one hundred and fifty wagons and teams all the time at, or employed for the camp; and last, though not least, nearly, if not quite a thousand men constantly on duty.— Besides the dire consequences attendant up-on such a state of things, I estimate that it costs to maintain such a force, one thousand dollars per day.
