United States. Army. Mormon Battalion
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 4 Collections and/or Records:
James T. S. Allred papers
Photocopies of typewritten and handwritten diaries, genealogies, and applications for a pension from the United States Government. The diaries include very brief entries and cover the years 1855 to 1859.
John W. Hess autobiography
Typewritten autobiography. Hess was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania and was converted to the Mormn Church in 1834. He lived with the Mormons in Missouri and Illinois and witnessed persecutions in both places. He was a member of the "Mormon Battalion" during the war with Mexico, migrated to Utah, married several women, served as a legislator in Utah, and served as a missionary to the "Washakie" (Shoshoni) Indians.
The march of the Mormon Battalion
Typewritten draft with handwritten corrections, 73 pages in length. Also included are 9 pages of handwritten research notes. The article was originally published in "A Century of Mormon Activities in California" vol. 1, edited by Leo J. Muir. Roberts relates the background and history of the "Mormon Battalion" in the war with Mexico (1846-1848), including its activities in California, and tells about the monuments and markers that have been built to honor the members of that unit.
Newel Kimball Whitney collection on military units, 1840-1858
Contains poll books, certificates, petitions, reports, orders, and other materials related to Mormon militia units, including both the Nauvoo Legion and the Mormon Battalion. Materials date from between 1840 and 1858.