L. B. Fleak to Governor Reynolds, October 5, 1842

Historical Introduction

On September 20, 1842, Governor Thomas Carlin issued a proclamation regarding the legality of the arrest warrants for Joseph Smith and Orrin Porter Rockwell in the wake of extradition attempts for the attempted assassination of Lilburn Boggs. In this, he offered a reward of two hundred dollars for Smith and Rockwell’s apprehension.¹ Smith, still in hiding after narrowly avoiding the extradition attempt on August 8, 1842, found ways to direct the Church through letters and covert meetings with other Church leaders. He occasionally made appearances, though, such as a meeting in late August where nearly four hundred men volunteered to be part of the Mormon militia and protect Smith from arrest attempts.² Fleak’s hope that a Mormon would turn on Smith for the reward money thus seems unlikely. Additionally, he was misinformed, as his letter on October 7, 1842, shows, about Smith’s arrest.

Document Transcript

Keokuk I. T. Oct 5th 1842

Gov Reynolds

Dr Sir

I am this moment in receipt of your favour of the 23rd Ultimo & mailed on the 26th and also in receipt of the enclosed letter from my half brother who left here this morning.

I hope that my brother has not been misinformed. The Town that he dates his letter at is immediately opposite Nauvoo—Since writing the above another respectable man has arrived at my house with the same report that my brother sends me—he obtained his information from one of the leaders of the Church. In fact he told me that he had seen a letter from Jo. stating that there would be no chance for him longer to escape, that the officers were there in Nauvoo &c. In this same package I send you another letter that I had written before I was in receipt of either yours or my brothers’ letters. It is a fact that Smith ordered the Mormons back to Nauvoo that had started—The person of whom they were purchasing told me not 10 minutes since. Success to the enterprise.

. . .

L. B. Fleak

. . .

P. S. I will write you again tomorrow night

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Keokuk I. T. Oct 5th 1842

His Excellency Thomas Reynolds

Sir

Your reward for Smith & Rockwell is making a great stir among the “brethren” at the “City of Nauvoo” Smith it is said has fortified himself in some sort of den; this I do not vouch for, & Rockwell has left the Country. I am informed that the Gov of Illinois has added $400 more to your reward and I at this time know of no less than three persons that are on the alert determined to arrest him if possible. There will be some Judas’ among themselves I think. I am in hopes to have it in my power to announce to you the capture of Smith by a week from this evening. Yesterday was a day that was set for about 50 of them to come down to our Town to select lots, but by an order from the Prophet they all remaind at home. This information I have from one of the Mormons & I have no doubt but it is correct—The intention of the three persons above alluded to, is to seize Smith some night in his own house perhaps, gag him, & carry him on board a small boat and bring him down to my house & keep him securely in a room in the 3rd a story until the arrival of our regular St Louis Packets, one of which leaves here every night in the week except Monday night. I am the agent for all those Packets & when once on board there will be no further difficulty. If the enterprise succeeds I am entitled to one fourth of the Reward which I will take pleasure in bestowing on the State of Missouri. One of those three is now in Nauvoo and has been there for 2 days since which time I have heard nothing from him, but I have no doubt but that he is making all the discoveries that can be make, without creating suspicion. They are all careful, resolute fellows & will do nothing without the utmost caution, & if they should, accidentally be detected it will take the half of Nauvoo to arrest them, for all is planned, either for victory of defeat

Thus I have given you the Outlines of the plan & it is needless to say to you that it is in confidence. In the course of two months our Town will be overrun with those cutthroats as one of the principal owners in the Town has sold his interest to them.

I shall leave here with my effects in the Month of March for Missouri or sooner if I can get my business shaped so that I can leave without too great a loss. I am selling goods here & think of locating in some County seat in the South western part of Missouri should I find a location to suit me. I have now on hands about 70 head of Cattle that I shall send off this fall to Van Buren County.

. . .

L. B. Fleak

. . .

Montrose Oct 5th 1842

Dear Brother

I have that Jo Smith is taken again. Some say the Mormons have themselves taken him for the purpose of getting the reward but others that the Officers from Quincy have taken him. He has gone to Carthage to day & is to have a trial tomorrow. The Mormons think the Judge will set him at liberty I shall go to Carthage this evening if I can get over the River

In haste

. . .

H. B. Whetset [?]

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