500 Little Known Facts

Was George Hinkle, who surrendered the Mormon leaders to General Lucas at Far West, as guilty of treasonable conduct as he has been portrayed? In 1844, he wrote a letter to W.W Phelps explaining his conduct in 1838. He said that the Prophet told him to obtain a treaty “on any terms short of a battle.” There is also evidence that Lucas wanted the prisoners only as hostages, giving the Saints until the following morning to decide whether to accept the terms of surrender offered Hinkle, after which he would return them. Perhaps Lucas was more guilty of deceit than Hinkle was of treachery.

LeSueur, Stephen C., The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, pp. 168-169