Allred
Family Organization
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Support our Research and Buy Cool Stuff! East Coast Allred Family Association Tales of a Traveling Genealogist
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You Will Get Those Arms Contributed by: Mark J. Allred I will mention one prophecy among the many predictions of the Prophet Joseph Smith that was literally fulfilled. During the persecutions in the fall of 1838, one of the brethren happened to be a stranger in Richmond, Ray Co., Missouri, a distance of some thirty or forty miles from Far West, in Caldwell County, where the Saints dwelt. About sundown he saw men loading guns into a carriage and learned that they were to be taken that night to the mob in Davies County to fight the Mormons. He feigned to be traveling in the opposite direction and took a circuitous route to Far West, arriving there about eight o'clock the next morning. He related what he had seen of the actions of the mob and a call was immediately made for ten volunteers to accompany Captain Allred of the militia to intercept and take the arms. To do this we had about twenty miles to ride across a trackless prairie to reach the road leading from Richmond to Davies County where the mob was quartered. The man with the guns had a good, smooth road, free from rocks or obstructions of any kind, and to all human appearance, might have reached his destination before we obtained the news of his having the arms. When we all were mounted the Prophet Joseph said to Brother Allred, "I want you to ride as fast as your horses can carry you, and you will get those arms." These last words inspired faith in the little band and even the horses did not seem to become weary. When we neared the road, we cast our eyes towards Richmond and at a distance of about half a mile we discovered a black-covered carriage standing in the road without any team attached to it. On nearing it, we saw that it was empty. We examined and found that one of the axles was newly broken in two. Here was the carriage described, but where were the guns? We soon discovered a trail in the high grass where something heavy had been dragged from the carriage. We followed this trail a short distance and found a wooden box containing seventy-four United States yaugers. While consulting how to get them to the town, we looked in the direction of the mob and discovered two men coming about as fast as they could drive in a lumber wagon. When they discovered us, they supposed us to be mobs and swung their hats and shouted "hurrah!" two or three times. Our little troop responded in the same way. They got very near before they discovered their mistake. Brother Allred directed the teamster to drive alongside of the box. He then told the two men to get out and put it into the wagon and then follow him. We returned the way we came, and reached our destination about sundown. After the guns were taken from the wagon, the men and team were released. The prediction of the Prophet was fulfilled and the long-range guns, which were the best then known, were in our hands. Joseph, knowing that the guns were government property, sent a dispatch immediately to notify General Atchinson and Colonel Doniphan of Clay County what had been done. They directed that the arms should be delivered over to them, and pledged their honor that they should not be used against our people. The Prophet's patriotism would not allow him to retain government property although it had been obtained by our enemies for our destruction. If this was not a test of loyalty, I fail to see an opportunity where a test could be given. "You Will Get Those Arms," in Treasured Stories, Lucy Gertsch Thompson, comp.; Bookcraft: Salt Lake City, UT; 1958; 95-98. Taken from "Scraps of Biography," page 33, courtesy of the Instructor Magazine. [Joseph Smith records the interception of the guns in this manner:] Friday, 7 [Sept. 1838] News came this evening that the mob were to attack Adam-ondi-Ahman, and that a few of the brethren from Far West started to assist the brethren to defend themselves. Sunday, 9 [Sept. 1938] This morning a company in addition to that which went last evening went to Adam-ondi-Ahman to assist the brethren there in their defense against the mob. Captain William Allred took a company of ten mounted men and went to intercept a team with guns and ammunition, sent from Richmond to the mob in Daviess county. They found the wagon broken down, and the boxes of guns drawn into the high grass near by the wagon; there was no one present that could he discovered. In a short time two men on horse-back came from towards the camp of the mob, and immediately behind them was a man with a wagon; they all came up and were taken by virtue of a writ on the supposition that they were abetting the mob, by carrying guns and ammunition to them. The men were taken together with the guns to Far West; the guns were distributed among the brethren, for their defense, and the prisoners were held in custody. This was a glorious day indeed, the plans of the mob were frustrated in losing their guns and all their efforts appeared to be blasted. Captain Allred acted under the civil authorities in Caldwell, who issued the writ for securing the arms and arresting the carriers. The prisoners were brought to Far West for trial. [On September 15, General A.W. Doniphan reports to General Atchison that] I also found that the guns that had been captured by the Sheriff and citizens of Caldwell, had been distributed and placed in the hands of the soldiery, and scattered over the country; I ordered them to be immediately collected and delivered up to me. . . . When my command arrived, the guns were delivered up, amounting to forty-two stand, three stand could not be produced, as they had probably gone to Daviess county. I sent these guns under a guard to your command in Ray county, together with the prisoner Comer. . . . [Joseph Smith, History of the Church; Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1978. pp. 74, 78\ [B.H.Roberts summarizes the account in the History of the Church as follows:] The brethren from Far West were active in going from point to point, under the direction of the civil authorities of Caldwell county, wherever there was a threatened attack upon their people. Hearing that a wagon load of arms and ammunition was en route from Richmond to the mob investing [sic.] the vicinity of "Di-Ahman," Captain Wm. Allred took a company of ten mounted men and started to intercept the transport. They found the wagon broken down, and the boxes of guns concealed near the roadside in the tall grass; but no one was in sight. Shortly after this party had discovered the arms, they saw moving over the prairie, from the direction of the mob's camp, two horsemen and behind them a third man driving a team. These parties came up to the broken down wagon and were arrested by Captain Allred, by virtue of a writ he held for them issued by the civil authorities of Caldwell county. The prisoners and the guns were taken to Far West. . . . The guns were distributed among the brethren to be used in self-defense. A few days afterwards the prisoners were delivered up to General A. W. Doniphan; and forty-two stands of the firearms were also collected and delivered to him. [B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Provo, Utah: Brighm Young University Press, 1965. p. 454]. |
North Carolina Allreds in the 1750's North Carolina History Timeline |
