Those 'cohorts' had names.
Smith's personal secretary, John S. Fullmer, first smuggled in the single-shot pistol. Later, Cyrus H. Wheelock smuggled in the six-shot 1837 patent Ethan Allen pistol. According to the Official History of the Church, Chapter XXXIII, p. 602-622 (I'm reading from a non-paginated version, since lds.org removed the Official History of the Church from its website last fall), upon receiving the six-shot pistol, Joseph Smith gave the single-shot pistol to his brother, Hyrum.
This is a particularly touchy historical point for me, because last December I was called a liar, a 'poisoner of the truth', and therefor unfit to lead Scouts on this forum when I said that guns had been smuggled into the jail. I continued to be called a liar even after I posted the cites and links to the Official History of the Church, cites to CES lessons naming Wheelock, and screenshots from CES materials, including the photo of the pistols from the LDS museum.
When you feel and have been taught a lie of persecution for decades of course you would come unhinged with facts.
Great source of information, thanks.
I never called you that Scoutmaster. Instead I have no problem whatsoever in talking the truth about what heppened there. Yes, they had guns. They knew that the Carthage Grays were out for their blood and would most likely attack them...Governor’s pledge for safety or no...and they did...and they defended themselves and died doing so.