[Letter from Govr. Thos. Ford to Lieut Genl Brigham Young State of Illinois] ... To Lieutenant- General Brigham Young of the Nauvoo Legion
Sir
It may be probable that there may be further disturbances in Hancock County by those apposed to the prosecutions against the murderers of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. They may combine together in arms to subvert justice and prevent those prosecutions from going on. They may also attack or resist the civil authorities of the State in that county and they may attack some of the settlements or people there with violence.
The sherriff of the county may want a military force to guard the court and protect it or its officers or the jurors thereof or the witnesses attending court from the violence of a mob.
In all these cases you are hereby ordered and directed to hold in readiness a sufficient force under your command of the Nauvoo Legion to act under the direction of the said sherriff for the purposes aforesaid; and also to suppress mobs which may be collected in said county to injure the persons or property of any of the citizens.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of state the day and year first herein above written. Thos Ford, Governor & Commander-in-Chief.
[Source: Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']
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