Benjamin Andrews — Dream of the National Archives Turned to Blood (1833)

“I will now relate a dream, which I had near the time that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was driven from Jackson county, in Missouri. In my dream I was at the capital of the United States. All was solemn as the tomb. The voice of the eloquent orator was hushed to silence. The senator, the sage, the honourable, the rich and poor together, all were clad in mourning; indeed, nature herself, and all things seemed to participate in the general gloom. All was silent but the voice of one man, his was low and solemn as the lonely sepulchre. In the archives of state was a twilight, by which, with some difficulty, one could peruse the records. As I was returning from a spacious bureau, where it seemed I had been reading, in an opposite of the room I saw a man approaching the same bureau. I did not know him, but felt assured within myself that it was one of the ancients of the nation. He took from the bureau two or three small boxes; and as he presented one of them to me, exclaimed, “these were the archives of state,” and, while in the act of placing it in my hand, finished the sentence he had commenced, “but it is turned to blood.” I saw while yet the words were on his tongue, the box dissolve to blood. Then I turned to view the other boxes; and they were also turned to blood. With sentiments of respect, I remain your humble servant, BENJAMIN ANDREWS.”

— Benjamin Andrews, letter to the editor