Isaac Leany Miraculously Survives Seven Bullet Wounds at Haun's Mill Massacre

On October 30, 1838, the mob attacked Haun's Mill with overwhelming force. Isaac Leany, armed with three guns, gave two to other men and positioned himself between the mob and the cabin housing women and children. As he prepared to fire, eleven bullets struck the stock of his gun, cutting it off in his hands. One hit and knocked the trigger guard off, but the mechanism remained intact and he managed to fire it one more time, seeing one of the mob fall. Realizing he was being overwhelmed and 'cutting him to pieces,' Isaac returned to the cabin, shouted a warning to the women and children to run to the woods, and fled up a small hill. As he ran, a large ball struck him in the back near the kidneys, passing lengthwise through his body. He said, 'only the power of God stopped it from going on into the brain.' Over the course of the attack and escape, Isaac was struck by seven bullets total: two passing through his breast, two through his hips, two others passing through and through, and one striking his back that left only one scar. His clothes were literally cut to pieces and his body severely wounded. He lost practically all his blood and lay near death, so weak he could not open or close his eyes. The elders were called, and he was anointed and promised in the name of Jesus Christ that he would recover. From that time forward, he recovered rapidly and was soon chopping logs in Illinois to build homes for the Saints. His survival against impossible odds testifies to divine protection.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in Isaac Leany – Doctrine and Covenants Central):

This was not the first wound he had received, for two bullets had gone through his breast and came out his back, and two had passed through his hips. After they shouted [a] warning to the women and children, Isaac fled for his life, taking a trail leading up a small hill. He said, “Brother Leany its no use to encourage you, for no man was ever shot as you are and lived.” Then followed the identical conversation of the dream, excepting the substitution of shot instead of snake bite. A little farther on was the home of some friends who took him, and so great was their fear that the mob would follow and kill him, they took up a board and laid him under the floor. His condition was such that he could not stand this long, and on begging, they took him out washed and dressed his wounds and put him to bed. His clothes were literally cut to pieces, and his body almost as bad, for it had been struck by seven bullets, leaving 13 scars, six passing through and through, the 7th struck him in the back leaving but one scar. For some time he lay near death being fed with a spoon, and so weak he could not so much as open or close his eyes.