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United States. Army. Mormon Battalion

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1846 - 1847

Administrative History

The Mormon Battalion (1846-1847) was a unit in the United States military that served during the Mexican-American War.

The Mormon Battalion, which began official service in July 1846, was the only religiously based united in United States military history. The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 539 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Created to assist with the Mexican-American War (which lasted from 1846-1848), the unit marched nearly 2,000 miles from Iowa to San Diego.

The unit was discharged on July 16, 1847, five months after its arrival in San Diego.

Citation:
Larson, C.V. A data base of the Mormon Battalion, c1987: p. 1 (formed July 16, 1846, at the request of the U.S. govt.) p. 2 (discharged July 16, 1847) p. 4 (U.S. Mormon Battalion)

LC data base, 12/30/87 (hdg.: Iowa Infantry. Mormon Battalion, 1846-1847)

Wikipedia, via WWW, 27 January 2015 (The Mormon Battalion, which began official service in July 1846, was the only religiously based united in United States military history; was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 539 members of the LDS church;Created to assist with the Mexican-American War (which lasted from 1846-1848); marched nearly 2,000 miles from Iowa to San Diego; was discharged on July 16, 1847, five months after its arrival in San Diego)

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

Biography of Samuel Miles the son of Samuel and Prudence Marks

 Item — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7599
Scope and Contents Manuscript autobiography, labeled by the author as a biography, with thirty-two pages of a handwritten life story by Samuel Miles. The story includes a life summary from 1826 to 1851, and short yearly summaries for each year between 1852 and 1881. The text includes information that is particularly familial and spiritual, but often references broader historical events that contextualize his life. He mentions several events in Latter-day Saintn history including the violence in Missouri, his...
Dates: approximately 1852-1881

Russell R. Casper biography of William Wallace Casper

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197225537577]
Identifier: MSS 3714
Scope and Contents

Transcript of a biography of William Wallace Casper, with an emphasis on his service in the Mormon Battalion. Biography contains excerpts from a narrative account by William Casper. The edited biography is incomplete, documenting only brief elements of Casper's life.

Dates: Date not identified

Lue Ann Hjelm letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230233063]
Identifier: MSS SC 66
Scope and Contents

Typewritten, signed letter which contains a biographical sketch of James Pollock Park who served in the "Mormon Battalion."

Dates: approximately 1976

The life sketch of David Pinkney Rainey

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230308501]
Identifier: MSS SC 1063
Scope and Contents

Biography of David Pinkney Rainey (1815-1888) by an unknown author. Rainey was baptised into the Mormon Church in 1843. He served on two missions for that church and was in the "Mormon Battalion" (1846-1847) during the war with Mexico. He came to Utah and lived in Provo and Richmond in that state.

Dates: approximately 1925-1950

McClellan family histories

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230244615]
Identifier: MSS SC 561
Scope and Contents

Typescripts (some duplicated). The collection includes autobiographical sketch of William C. McClellan, member of the Mormon Battalion and of the Nauvoo Legion in Utah Valley, Utah, a biographical sketch of his wife, Almeda D. McClellan by Zitelle M. Snarr, and an autobiography of their son David A. McClellan Sr. which includes details of life in the Mormon colonies in Mexico and Arizona.

Dates: date of production not identified

Thomas Morris autobiography

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231238202]
Identifier: MSS 7661
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of an autobiography of Thomas Morris, written in 1871. Contains an account of his early life in South Wales, including his various occupations and religious affiliations, his emigration to New York in 1832, death of his first wife in 1837, his second marriage, conversion to Mormonism and relocation to Nauvoo in 1844, his impressions of Joseph Smith, and details of service in Mormon Battalion. Concludes with list of his various marriages and dates.

Dates: 1871

James Pollock Park papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230235316]
Identifier: MSS SC 170
Scope and Contents

Printed and handwritten application for Park's widow to receive a pension for his service in the war with Mexico, photocopy of a mission call for Park to serve on a mission for the Mormon Church in Europe, and a brief biography of Park by and unknown author.

Dates: 1852-1893

Personal histories and life sketches of ancestors of Vera Price

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197232480456]
Identifier: MSS 1560
Scope and Contents These manuscripts are biographies and autobiographies of ancesters of Vera Price. These individuals include Lewis Dunbar Wilson Jr. and Sr., John Lingren (autobiography), and James Brown (by Gladys Brown White). Most of the biographies are short (several pages) typescripts. There are biographies of 17 members of the Wilson family, 4 of the Price family, 3 of the Hunt family, and 2 of the Walton family. These individuals were Mormons, most of whom lived in Idaho. James Brown was a member...
Dates: approximately 1890-1978

Short life sketch of John S. Whilte, Ann Eliza Adelaide Everett White

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230331149]
Identifier: MSS SC 3204
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of typescript of a microfilm copy. The collection is a biography of John S. White and Ann Eliza Adelaide Everett White. "John S. White Sen., member of Company C. Iowa Volunteers (Mormon Batallion) in Mexican War, 1846, Utah Pioneer." "Ann Eliza Adelaide Everett White, member of Grant's Company of Utah Pioneers." The couple lived in Farmington, Utah.

Dates: 1927