hat
the occasion calls forth the men needed for each enterprise.

I also soon saw that it was the natural inclination of men to
convert to their own use that which others possessed. What
perplexed me most was to see how religion had not the power to
subdue that passion in man, but at the first moment when the
restrictions of the Church were withdrawn the most devout in our
community acted like natural-born thieves.

Being young, stout, and having plenty of property, I fitted
myself out in first-class style. I had good horses and plenty of
the best of arms. I joined in the general patrol duty, and took
part in daily raids made under either Maj. Brunson or Capt.
Alexander McRay. I saw much of what was being done by both
parties. I also made several raids under Capt. Jonathan Dunham,
alias Black Hawk. I remember one incident that was amusing at the
time, as it enabled us to determine what part of our forces would
fight on the field and face the enemy, and also those who
preferred to fight with their mouths.

Early in the morning, while Maj. Brunson's men were marching
along, shivering in the cold - for it was a dark, cloudy morning
late in October, 1838 - we saw a company of horsemen some three
miles away. We concluded they were Missourians, and made for them
at full speed. They halted and appeared willing to fight. When
our command got within three hundred yards of them many of our
pulpit braves found out all at once that they must stop and
dismount to fix their saddles or for some other reason. The
remainder of us rode on until within one hundred and fifty yards
of the other force, and were drawn up in line of battle. Maj.
Brunson rode forward and hailed them, saying,

"Who are you?"

"Capt. McRay," was the reply. "Who are you?"

"Maj. Brunson."

They met and shook hands. Seeing this the pulpit braves rushed up
in great haste and took their places in the ranks, and lamented
because we did not have an enemy to overcome.

So it is through life - a coward is generally a liar; those men
were cowards, and lied when they pretended they would like to
fight. All cowards are liars, but many liars are brave men.

While I was engaged with the Mormon troops in ranging over the
country, the men that I was with took a large amount of loose
property, but did not while I was with them burn any houses or
murder any men. Yet we took what property we could find,
especially provisions, fat cattle, arms, and ammunition. But
st