Progress of the Civil War—One of the Anti-Mormons killed.
WARSAW, Wednesday morning, Sept. 19.
I reached here this morning about 5 o'clock. At this place and at Quincy, I find a state of ex-citement of which it is very hard to give a de-scription. The citizens, under the style of anti-Mormons, have determined to drive the Mor-mons out of the county. The first difficulty commenced in Adams county, which adjoins Hancock, in what is known as Morley's Settle-ment, or precinct. In this quarter, which is near the town of Lima, a party has been out burning the Mormon houses, barns, stacks, &c.
In this war of extermination, they include not only the Mormons, but all who are suspected of favoring the Mormon cause, or of harboring Mormons about them. The reports vary very much as to the number of houses burned. At Quincy, the number was stated at from fifty to sixty. The anti-Mormons are divided into two compunies. One is known as the "Fire and Sword" Company—whose duty it is to set fire to Mormon buildings, and drive the occupants off. The other division act as spies and guards. I am told that a company of the "Fire and Sword" men were out in the Morley Settlement on Saturday, and on their return they reported that they had burnt thirty-three houses, and had got through before supper. At Quincy, it was reported that, among the buildings burned, was a mill, and that in a conflict between the parties one or two Mormons were killed, and three or four wounded.
Warsaw is under considerable excitement;—and at present is vigilantly guarded by armed men. At a place called Rocky Branch, about six miles from this place, General Williams is encamped with a number of men—anti-Mor-mons. The General is the Commander of this Brigade, but I suppose will operate against the Mormons—law or no law.
It is said, that on Sunday or Monday three men entered Carthage, and enquired for Mr. Backenstos, the Sheriff, who is a Jack Mormon, and very obnoxious to the anti-Mormons. Mr. Backenstos made his escape. Yesterday, Mr. Franklin A. Worrell, a merchant in Carthage, and a Lieutenant in the Carthage Greys, was out, with about 12 or 14 other persons, when they came up with Backenstos and a number of Mormons, at a place called Prentices' Shanty. The Mormons beckoned to Worrell and his party to keep away, but they either did not un-derstand the signal, or disregarded it. On their approach, two guns were fired. A ball from one entered Worrell's breast, killing him almost instantly. The corpse is now in this town.—The other ball entered the cap of the man by his side. As you may suppose, this has added fuel to the flames, and this morning I find a major-ity of the citizens here preparing to go out, and nothing is talked of but a general battle, and driving the Mormons from the county.
Numbers of people, especially women and children, are leaving the county as fast as they can get away.
It is reported here, and credited, that the same process of burning out the Mormons, has been commenced in the upper part of this county.—It is said, that they have commenced burning the Mormon houses in the La Harpe settlement and Camp Creek settlement.
From the apparent concert with which the anti-Mormons are acting—their simultaneous at-tacks—the deep and deadly hatred which they entertain to the Mormons—the fact that the Mormons from all the settlements out of Nau-voo are being driven into the city—I judge a fight must come off this week, which will prob-ably give a predominancy to one party or the other.
There is a report in this place—said to have been brought in last night—that three hundred Mormons, with some pieces of artillery, had marched towards Carthage. Their purpose, it is said, was to bring away the family of Back-enstos.
The above letter embodies nearly all the news which we have from the disturbed district. It is stated in the Nauvoo Neighbor, that accounts had been received there of the destruction of forty-four houses, and out-houses in Green Plains and Lima districts. The "Neighbor" insists, that the shots fired upon the anti-Mor-mons at the meeting on Tuesday, were fired by their own party, and that the Mormons knew nothing of the occurrence until the next day.
The planing mills, carding machine, &c. be-longing to Norman Buel, about a mile from Lima, were burnt.
Mr. Worrell, who was killed by the Mormons, as stated above, was in command of the guard at Carthage on the day of the murder of Jo. and Hyram Smith.
From the Warsaw Signal of Sept. 17.
Murder of one of our Best Men—to Arms! to Arms!
