JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.
The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.
Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed ’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)
Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.
The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include
• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.
• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the Legion, and Mormon voting practices.
• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’s appointment to a mission to Russia.
• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.
• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
Amos Lowell, Clark. John Miller, Whitesides. William Martin, Christian.
Reuben Parkhurst, De Witt. John Keele, Perry. George W. Langley, Johnson.
James M. Henderson, Gallatin. James W. Cummings Randolph.
, Shelby. , Knox.
and John Wakefield Peoria.
President.
, Clerk.” [HC 5:485]
About noon Gen. with 25 men, returned, formed a square in front of my house, and sung a new song. I went out shook hands with each individual and blest them in the name of the Lord. the following is a report of their expedition.
“The detachment left the main body of the Camp and started from s Mills about 1 a.m. on Monday the 26th. of June under the command of as follows. , , , , James W. Cummings, , , , , . A. L. Fullmer, Joel E Terry, , Dr. , Thomas Woolsey, , Dr. , [blank] Babcock, Isaiah Whitesides, Jesse B. Nichols, , and four or five others, on horses, with one Baggage wagon drawn by two horses, with instructions to proceed to Peoria, there cross the , and then proceed up the East side of the River on the main stage road leading from to Ottowa, we travelled till about 3 o’Clock in the morning, when we halted for about an hour, and put out a guard, at day break we again took up the line of March, and traveled thro’ the day, mostly without a road and the following night till near day break of the 27th. and again made a halt for an hour and passed through Ellesvile before sunrise <when going thro that village, the people were opening their shops, and many persons came in their shirts to the window. and J. W. Cummings were behind the Company about six rods, when one man came running up, full of anxiety, and enquired “where in the world are you all going to?” who carried a very sanctified face, drawled out “we-re-a-hunting a-wheel-barrow’s nest.”>, after which we again resumed the march, <about noon halted> on the Kick-a-poo creek, and sent and A. L. Fulmer to Peoria, to see Lawyer Charles C. Ballance, and obtain what information they could from him, [illegible][2 words illegible] and about 2 P.M. crossed the at Peoria, where we obtained supplies for our further journey. here we left and with instructions to hail the Steamer Maid of Iowa, and procure what information they had of the whereabouts of brother Joseph Smith.
The Company after crossing the river proceeded nearly due East till they intersected the stage road running from to Ottawa, at a small town named Washington 10 miles East of Peoria, there we stopped for about an hour and fed our horses, at dusk we again re[HC 5:486]sumed the march on the stage road towards Ottowa, and traveled about 10 miles to Black partridge point, and camped for the night.
At day break of the 28th. we were on the march, traveled about 35 miles to the Town of Magnolia and halted for noon, where we fed ourselves and animals [p. 1658]