Manuscript Story

In an 1833 affidavit, the author’s sister-in-law summarizes the plot as follows: “I was at [Spalding's] house a short time before he left Conneaut; he was then writing a historical novel founded upon the first settlers of America. He represented them as an enlightened and warlike people. He had for many years contended that the aborigines of American were descendants of some of the lost tribes of Israel, and this idea he carried out in the book in question . . . disputes arose between the chiefs, which caused them to separate into different bands, one of which was called Lamanites and the other Nephites. Between these were recounted tremendous battles, which frequently covered the ground with slain; and their being buried in large heaps was the cause of numerous mounds in the country.”