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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 8 Collections and/or Records:

Abner Blackburn diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230233485]
Identifier: MSS SC 43
Scope and Contents

Typescript of diary which gives accounts of the Mormon experiences in Missouri, frontier and pioneer life, Indian customs and warfare, and gold-digging during the California gold rush of 1849.

Dates: 1827-1851

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

Erma P. Peterson genealogy

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 52
Scope and Contents

Collected biographical sketches, personal histories and genealogies of the ancestors of Petersen. Includes information on the Pace family and early Utah history and settlements.

Dates: approximately 1900-1972

Fifteen months experience

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197227622211]
Identifier: MSS SC 3268
Scope and Contents

Fifteen months experience gives an account of Bulkley's journey following his release from the Mormon Battalion until he rejoined his family. This collection includes a photocopy of the original account.

Dates: Date not identified

John W. Hess autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230325430]
Identifier: MSS SC 2635
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: approximately 1900

Jonathan Harriman Holmes diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230333954]
Identifier: MSS 1164
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a typescript of a diary kept from 1846 to 1848. Holmes writes about enlisting in the Mormon Battalion, the march to Santa Fe and to California, being discharged from the service, and his travels to Sacramento, California, and to Salt Lake City, Utah. Also included is an obituary for Holmes, his account book, and biographies of Franklin Weaver and Sarah Elizabeth Holmes.

Dates: 1846-1947

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

Shadrack Holdaway

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231046415]
Identifier: MSS 1314
Scope and Contents

Typewritten biography of Shadrack Holdaway by his granddaughter. Newren writes about Haldaway's service in the Mormon Battalion and his later life in Provo, Utah.

Dates: approximately 1930