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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:

James Allen and R. B. Mitchell letters

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 399
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, dated 16 July 1846, and composed at the "Headquarters Morm. Batt. U.S. Volunteers." Allen writes about the march to California and the necessity of protection against Indians. On the reverse of Allen's letter is found a handwritten letter, dated 21 July 1846, and signed by R. B. Mitchell, "Indian Agent." The item was composed at "Point aux Poules." Mitchell praises the conduct of the emigrating Mormons in general and with the Indians in particular.

Dates: 1846 July

An appeal to the president of the United States

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232498912]
Identifier: MSS 241
Scope and Contents

Handwritten copy of a letter appealing to the president of the United States, James K. Polk. The item was copied in 1890, but the original was dated 1 June 1846. The letter states that the Mormons have been persecuted and appealed for aid. It is believed that Polk's call for volunteers to fight in the war with Mexico was an answer to this request. The "Mormon Battalion" was formed in consequence.

Dates: 1846 June 1

Levi W. Hancock journal

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 3252
Scope and Contents

Phtocopy of a microfilm copy of a handwritten diary. Hancock writes about his service in the Mormon Battalion during the War with Mexico, 1846-1848. He writes about the daily activities of the men and about their hardships. He also includes a number of hand-drawn maps relating to the march of the battalion.

Dates: 1846-1847

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

Carl V. Larson research on the Mormon Battalion

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230350867]
Identifier: MSS 5885
Abstract

List of burial places of Mormon Battalion members, collected by Carl V. Larson, 1987.

Dates: 1987

Lafayette Frost letter and biography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230345727]
Identifier: MSS 956
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten letter and a handwritten biography. The date of the biography is uncertain. The letter was written by Frost while serving in the Mexican War with the Mormon Battalion when he was in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Frost writes about the scenery along the line of march, his duties, a change in leadership, and about his illness.

Dates: 1846-1860

Mormon Battalion

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2224
Scope and Contents

Handwritten poem commemorating the activities of the Mormon Battalion in service of the United States during the war with Mexico (1845-1848). The item was written in ink. "By John Hancock who went in the Battalion in 1847" has been penciled in at the bottom of the item in another hand. No John Hancock is listed among members of the battalion.

Dates: approximately 1860

Mormon Battalion Association records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 8000
Scope and Contents

Materials include reports, minutes, biographies, correspondence, histories, newsletters, and other materials from the Mormon Battalion Association and its earlier women's auxiliary organization, both of which were headquartered in Lehi, Utah. The materials document the activities and governance of these organizations, as well as the history of the original Mormon Battalion of 1846-1847. Materials date from between 1846 and 2012.

Dates: 1846-2012

Andrew Jackson Shupe diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305655]
Identifier: MSS SC 817
Scope and Contents This is a typescript of a diary of a Mexican War soldier who served in the "Mormon Battalion." The diary was kept from 16 July 1846 to 10 Sept. 1847 with a few entries for the years 1848-1855. He was also among the first groups to enter Salt Lake Valley in July of 1847. He went to Winter Quarters in August 1847 and went to Ogden, Utah in 1852. There are numerous gaps in this diary. The entries tend to be short but some are lengthy and detailed. Two small biographies of Andrew Jackson...
Dates: 1846-1855

Azariah Smith diary

 Item — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 554
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten diary. Smith writes of his early life until he started his diary in 1846. He tells about his experiences in the Mormon Battalion and the discovery of gold in California in 1848. Smith also writes about his coming to Utah and his life in Manti, Utah. He also relates incidents in the Black Hawk War when the whites fought the Ute Indians. There are many gaps.

Dates: 1846-1912