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The Battle Between Mormon and Missouri Militia
At Crooked River
Alexander L. Baugh
During the hours just before dawn on Thursday, 25 October 1838, a contingency of Mormon Caldwell County militia engaged in armed conflict on the Crooked River, situated in northern Ray County, with the Ray militia under the command of Samuel Bogart, a Methodist minister. This skirmish, later known as the Battle of Crooked River, resulted in a dozen wounded and the deaths of three members of the Caldwell company-including the Mormon commander Apostle David W. Patten-and one member of the Ray company. Although casualties were limited, a broader examination of the conflict indicates the battle fueled the civil strife between the Mormons and the Missourians during the fall of 1838, and consequently was a leading factor in bringing about the forced expulsion of the Latter-day Saints from the state.
The Battle of Crooked River followed soon after the forced removal of several hundred Latter-day Saints from De Witt in Carroll County, which occurred during the first part of October 1838. This expulsion marked essentially the third time a group of Latter-day Saints had been forced from their homes and lands in the state. The first forced exodus was from Jackson County in 1833, and the second was the politically negotiated removal from Clay and Ray counties to the newly created "Mormon" Caldwell County in 1836. Following the dislocation of the De Witt Saints, Missouri assailants continued to extend their threats against Latter-day Saints residing in Daviess County. But on this occasion, Church leaders decided to take decisive action to disperse their antagonists by removing the remaining handful of non-Mormons who continued to reside in Mormon-dominated Daviess County. They justified such aggressive actions because they clearly felt they had been pushed around long enough, and if they were forced to leave Carroll County, they should be entitled to occupy both Caldwell and Daviess counties exclusively.
The immediate events surrounding the Battle of Crooked River essentially began on 23 October, when Reverend Samuel Bogart wrote a letter to Major General David R. Atchison, supreme commander of the state militia in northwestern Missouri. That letter informed Atchison that Bogart and his Ray County troops would patrol the line between Ray and Caldwell counties because "The Mormons have burnt Gallatin, and Mill Port, and have ravaged Daviess county…and they have threatened to burn Buncombe and Elk Horn and have been seen near and on the line between Ray and Caldwell." Reverend Bogart then stated that his main objective was "to prevent, if possible, any outrage on the county of Ray."
Sir:-Your communication by express has been received. You are hereby ordered to range the line between Caldwell and Ray counties with your company of volunteers, and prevent, if possible, any invasion of Ray county by persons in arms whatever. You will also take care to inquire into the state of things in Daviess county and make report thereof to me, from time to time.