THE DANITES, Chapter 10 of Blood Atonement by OGDEN KRAUT

Danite meeting today–a great ingathering of the brethren. After considerable preaching, as usual, and a vast expenditure of breath in expounding to the dupes, the High Priesthood up in the middle of eleven men, and with their hands uplifted, administered the oath, and initiated them into the band of warriors, and sons of thunder. The whole band of warriors was organized into companies of tens, twenties, fifties, hundreds, etc. The whole were placed under the command of a Brigadier General, with his under officers, Colonels, Majors, etc., accompanied with a band of music. (William Swartzell, Mormonism Exposed, pp. 25-26)

By 1838 Missouri became a hotbed of persecution for the Mormons. They were being burned, beaten and buried–and their troubles were only increasing. They sought for help from local residents, from county and state officials, but with little success. From out of this chaos and calamity came the “Danites.”

The exact date of the organization of the Danite Band is not known probably because it was just a gradual and mutual effort of the Mormons to protect themselves from mobbers and outlaws. It was in existence by the summer of 1838 when so many depredations against the Mormons were occurring. Mutual ef-[143]forts for defense and cooperative projects for protection had existed from the first early plunderings by mobs. However, there is nothing illegal or immoral in individuals or citizens forming a means of self-defense against any destructive force, whether natural or human.

At this time things began to assume an alarming aspect both to the citizens of Daviess and Caldwell counties. Mobs were forming all around the country, declaring that they would drive the people out of the state.