The Tennessee Massacre: Retrieval of bodes, burial, and conclusion

Meet Fugitives

When Elder Jones arrived among the Saints in Shady Grove, Monday morning, he found Elder J.G. Kimball there on a visit with the Saints. Tuesday morning these two brethren secured horses and a guide to go and see what had become of the other elders. They had proceeded but about eight or ten miles on their way when they met with Elder Thopson, who had fled from Condor’s house immediately after the killing of Elder Gibbs, and Mr. Garrett, who was conveying Elder Thompson in his carriage to a place of safety.

Brother Thompson had lain out in the woods two nights; Mr. Garrett hearing of his whereabouts sent him word that if he could find him he woudl take him wherever he might wish to go. A point was designated and Mr. Garrett, true to his promise, met Brother Thompson and took him to Shady Grove, near where they met with Elders Kimball and Jones.

Receives Help

Word was now wired to the writer who was then at Chattanooga. We sent at once to Elder John Morgan, president of the Mission, for means to convey the bodies home, but wishing to lose no time in getting the bodies to their friends, we presented the case to Mr. B. Moses, a merchant tailor of Chattanooga, and that gentleman kindly came to our assistance by going our security for two metallic caskets, which cost $200, and loaned us $100 in cash; subsequently he lent us $200 more, as the means sent for did not reach us by the time we had the remains of the elders ready to send home, though it was wired to us within an hour after it was known that we needed it. The kindness of Mr. Moses will long be remembered.

We met with Elders Jones and Kimball, and learning from them particulars of the massacre and the feelings of the people, we considered it proper to see the state authorities and inquire if they could and would assist us in any manner.  We went to Nashville, but the governor was absent from the city on an electioneering tour, he being a candidate for re-election.

Fail to Find Sheriff

We had an interview with the adjutant general, but he was of the opinion that nothing could be done until it was known that the officials of Lewis county refused to act. Being satisfied that they would remain inactive, we determined to take steps to secure the bodies at any rate. The adjutant-general gave us a letter to the sheriff of Lewis county suggesting to him the idea of accompanying us to get the bodies of our brethren, this was of no service to us, as when we called at his residence, he was not at home.

It was thought best for Elders Jones and Thompson to remain in Nashville, where they would be out of danger. Elder Kimball and myself went to Columbia, to which point we had shipped the caskets. From here we took livery and conveyed the caskets near Shady Grove, Hickman county, where there is a branch of the church.

Puts on Disguise

Here brothers Emmons and Robbins Church fitted up two teams and wagons, and brothers Henry Harlow, William Church and a young man by the name of Robert Coleman consented to accompany me to Cane Creek after the remains of the Elders. Before starting I had Elder Kimball clip off my beard and mustache, donned an old suit of clothes, smeared my face and hands with dirt, assumed a rough character, and going through corn fields and woods joined my three companions on the road. Elder Kimball parted with me at Shady Grove, to go to Chattanooga to make further arrangements for conveying the bodies home.

We drove thirty miles, which brought us to Mr. Garrett’s about 5 o’clock in the evening. He was upon the alert, and on our arrival was ready to go tot he graves and assist us in getting the bodies. Two or three of his neighbors went with us. Taking Mr. Garrett aside, I told him who I was. He was very much surprised to think he had shaken hands with me, as he had known me well for several years. He was more than glad to see me.

Arrive at Farm

I pass over the sad scene of taking up the bodies and placing them in the caskets and will say nothing of the struggle it required to keep up my assumed character and still the emotions that swelled in my heart. The saddest moments of my life were when we moved from the spot where the Elders had been buried. As we passed Brother Condor’s house, we saw the grief-stricken father chopping some wood. We thought of the bereaved mother lying wounded in the house, where only a few days before she had seen her two sons murdered; I looked back to the little graveyard we had just left, while the shades of night were gathering round us.

As I took in this scene, and felt the spirit of loneliness that seemed to settle over those remaining, the natural impulse was to stop the teams, throw off my disguise, and speak a few comforting words to the Saints, and administer to Sister Condor – but it was not wisdom to take such a course.

Enemy on Alert

Sister Condor was doing very well, and the excitement of seeing me might produce more injury than good, besides the enemy was still on the alert, though I felt that I would give the whole word to speak to the Saints and comfort their hearts with words of counsel.

Daylight the next morning founds us hitched up, and on our way to Carpenter’s Station, which is some 24 miles from Mr. Garrett’s house, where we had stayed all night. The road was an extremely lonely one, through a heavy growth of oak timber, principally of the species called Black Jack. After leaving Cane Creek and crossing Little Swan, we who drove the wagon on which I rode claimed to have seen two birds and a squirrel, the only animal life visible to any of the party in traveling the 15 miles mentioned.

Proves Wrong Road

By taking this left-hand road, we went some 12 miles out of our way. It was well we did so, as it is reported to us that 20 men had banded together and rode to Carpenter’s Station, where they intended to intercept us; if so, the Lord delivered us from their hands and our hearts are filled with gratitude to him for his watchcare over us.

From Mount Pleasant, the bodies were taken to Nashville, and Elder Robinson was released to accompany them home. They reached their destination and were delivered to their friends in safety. Memorial services were held in the stakes of Zion on August 23, and every honor that could be paid them by a united and sympathetic people were bestowed on them. The bodies were laid away in the silent tomb by their friends and families, where they will sweetly sleep until the morning of the first resurrection, to come forth crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives.

Judgment Forecast

On the escutcheon of the state of Tennessee appears a dark crimson stain. It is the blood of innocent men. As one shrinks from him whose hands are rec in the smoking blood of his murdered victim, so we recoil from the land made crimson by the blood of innocence. O, Tennessee! They sky may be as clear – they majestic revers as grandly roll on – they stately forest be filled with the resonance of singing birds – they fields be whitened by the cotton plant’s bursting bowls – yet thou are unlovely, for thou art smeared with the blood of God’s servants and Saints, and they sons make no effort to was from they face the guilty stains.

But there is One, whose eye doth see the sparrows when they fall, and that same eye was a witness of the dambing deed, which is no they shame. In the day of judgment He will not forget thee. The innocent blood that moistened they generous soil will smoke to heaven, until it is avenged on those who shed it and those who glorified in the hellish deed.

(Signed) B. H. Roberts

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