THE MORMON WAR.-The apprehensions of any immediate disturbances arising out of the perfidious murder of the two Smiths, appear to have subsided.-The state of angry excitement between the Mormons and the inhabitants of the country in the vicinity of Nauvoo was such for the space of a few days, that any accidental collision might have led to the most bloody hostilities. Fortunately this was prevented.
We have been favored with the perusal of a narrative of events containing some particulars which we have not seen published. It has been correctly stated that Joe Smith and other Mormons had surrendered themselves under a pledge from the Governor that they should be protected, and they were put in jail, under a guard, at Carthage, 18 miles from Nauvoo. Gov. Ford, with an escort of 60 men, had proceeded to Nauvoo. During his absence the jail was assailed by a body of 100 armed men. The guard fired over their heads, and injured no one. The assailants rushed up stairs and fired through the door at the prisoners. Hiram Smith was shot through the head, Joe was wounded, upon which he jumped from the window to the ground, where he was immediately despatched , having 13 balls fired through him.
It so happened that the messenger who was conveying the intelligence of this catastrophe to Nauvoo, was met by Gov. Ford, three miles from the city, on his return from his visit to that place. He made prisoner of the messenger, and conveyed him back to Carthage.-He there advised the inhabitants to evacuate the place, and immediately left it without giving notice where he was going. The inhabitants scattered in such haste that the military left even their guns, ammunition, &c. behind them. The military force of the Mormons, which is pretty well disciplined, was supposed to be about 2500 men, and it was apprehended that they would be excited to revenge by the treachery practiced upon their leader. Such was the panic that persons enough were not left at Carthage to lift the bodies of the Smiths into their coffins.
The Governor had previously given orders to the militia of Quincy, the nearest considerable town, about 80 miles distant, to be ready to march at a moment's warn-ing. At sunrise on the morning of June 29, the steamer Boreas arrived at Quincy with the news of what had occurred at Carthage, and of the danger which impended over the inhabitants of that vicinity, and the inhabitants were immediately aroused by the ringing of bells, and drums beating to arms. The whole military of the place turned out with a most praiseworthy spirit. Orders were issued for them to muster at 7 o'clock the same morning, on service, with four days' provisions, camp equipage, &c At 8 o'clock, the Riflemen, 80 strong, the German Guards, and two other companies, making in all 275 men, under the command of Major Flood, marched on board the Boreas, which was soon after on her way hack to the theatre of war. On reaching Warsaw, the commander hearing that Carthage was abandoned, resolved to encamp near the former place for its protection. Hearing that the Mormons were on their march, and expecting an attack they doubled their guard, and slept on their arms. But the prompt show of force and energy , had its effect upon the Mormons, and they abandoned the purpose of an attack. Efforts were made at Warsaw, by the inhabitants of the vicinity, to induce the Quincy volunteers to act on the offensive, and to engage in a war of extermination against the Mormons. This they wisely declined doing, and adhered unanimously to the purpose of preserving the peace and not of disturbing it. The troops after being three days on duty, and having exhausted their provis-ions, returned to Quincy, where in the mean time the Governor had arrived. After his retreat from Carthage, he rode until his horse failed him, and at length arrived at Columbus on foot. He there obtained another horse, and proceeded to Quincy, where he issued the procla-mation which was published some weeks since, and called out the troops of nine Counties. The Quincy troops, however, had already closed the campaign, and brought the war to an end. They reported themselves at headquarters, and the Governor addressed them in a complimentary speech and discharged them, after they had been on duty for a period of three days.
