Description

Isaac Leany’s Miracle

A volley of bullets smashed into Isaac Leany’s gun shattering the stock in his hands and tearing away the trigger guard. Isaac realized that if he stayed where he was it was certain death. Isaac and others of the Mormon defenders at Hawn’s Mill bolted from the door of the blacksmith shop and began to run for the woods. As Isaac did so he was shot repeatedly. He would later describe that the bullets “just plunked through me as if I were a squash.” But somehow he stayed on his feet and kept running, urging the women and children to run harder for the woods.

He crossed over Shoal Creek and started up the hill beyond, bent over and straining with effort and growing weakness, when suddenly a bullet hit him in the back near his kidneys and traveled lengthwise up his body. By the grace of God, Isaac stumbled into the cabin of Jacob Hawn where some women took him in. However the mob was looking for the men yet alive, so the women took up floorboards of the cabin and laid Isaac beneath them.

When the mobbers had gone, Isaac pleaded with them to get him out. He was laid upon a bed and his wounds were washed. It was then that it was discovered that he had been shot four times through the body—the bullets passing all the way through. In addition two more bullets had hit his arms resulting in flesh wounds. Counting the wound in his back there were 13 in all. Moreover, they found 27 bullet holes in his shirt and 7 in his pants.

As darkness fell, Isaac lay near death, not expected to live. The sisters nourished him with a spoon but Isaac was barely alive—so weak that he could not open his eyes. It was suggested that some of the brethren administer to him and pray over him as James directs. One standing by thought it was useless to do so as it was impossible for Isaac to recover. No man so badly wounded could come back. Nevertheless, “he was anointed and promised in the name of Jesus Christ that he would recover.” From that time forward Isaac was free of pain and within four weeks was healed and “chopping logs in Illinois for the homes of the Saints.”

Isaac remained faithful to the Lord and his brethren to the very end. One night, many years later, Isaac, now an old man, called his oldest son to his bedside and announced,

“My son, I am going to die today.”

“No, father,” answered George, “you are better today.”

“Yes, I know,” he answered, “but I am going to die tonight. My mission on earth is filled. I wouldn’t turn my hand over to live another 24 hours except for what good I might do for others. Now I will tell you how I want to be buried. I want a plain board casket, you may stain it if you wish, but make it plain. I want no hearse, my own team and wagon will suit me better.”

All this was said as if he was planning a vacation.” That night Isaac Leany, true to his word, passed away. It was the night of October 30, 1873, 35 years to the day since Hawn’s Mill.

Source: