[1] By far the bloodiest event in the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, it has long been remembered by the members of the Latter Day Saint movement.

[2][4] However, by October 1838 there were approximately 75 Mormon families living along the banks of Shoal Creek, about 30[5][6][7] of them in the immediate vicinity of Hawn's Mill and the James Houston blacksmith shop.

At the time of the attack, the militia consisted of 240 men[9][10] from Daviess, Livingston, Ray, Carroll and Chariton counties, as well as prominent men like Major Daniel Ashby of the Missouri state legislature and Thomas R. Bryan, Clerk of Livingston County.

Hyrum Smith reported in the church's archives that Captain Comstock, who previously had assured the Mormons at the mill of their safety, had returned the next day attacking them, saying he had received an order from Governor Boggs via Colonel Ashley.

The threat posed by the growing strength and animosity of the Missouri militia caused considerable concern among the Mormon settlers at Hawn's Mill.

David Evans, a leader in the community, ran towards the militia, waving his hat and calling for peace.

Alerted to the militia's approach, most of the Latter-day Saint women and children fled into the woods to the south, while most of the men headed to the blacksmith shop.

[10] Grand River Township Justice of the Peace Thomas McBride, wounded while escaping the blacksmith shop, surrendered his gun to Jacob S Rogers Jr., who shot him and then hacked his body with a corn knife (scythe blade).

According to their own account, they fired seven rounds making upwards of 1,600 shots during the attack of Hawn's Mill.

"[8] William Champlin who was "playing possum" heard the conversations, was discovered, held captive a few days, then released.

Houses were robbed, wagons, tents, and clothing were stolen, and horses and livestock were driven off, leaving the surviving women and children destitute.

The next morning, fourteen of the dead were slid from a plank into a large unfinished dry well[9] and covered with straw and a thin layer of dirt.

"[33] Captain Nehemiah Comstock's contingent of Livingston militia occupied the mill for nearly three weeks harassing and plundering the Mormons.

Gastineau of Cowgill, Missouri, owner of the land, gave permission for Mr. Glenn Setzer, ex-county official, to place a commemorative marker, and hold a program on July 13.

It was also depicted in the Latter-day Saint film Legacy: A Mormon Journey (1993), as well as in the Hulu series, Under the Banner of Heaven (2022).