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 6 Collections and/or Records:
Abner Blackburn diary
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.
Jacob Kemp Butterfield letter
Photocopy and typescript of a handwritten letter written while on the march with the Mormon Battalion. The item is addressed to Butterfield's mother and gives particulars about the Mormon pioneer trek to the west as well as the Mormon Battalion's mission and activities. Butterfield explains his Mormon faith to his mother.
Abraham Day III
Photocopy of a typewritten biography of Abraham Day, III (1817-1900). Abraham Day was born in Vermont, joned the Mormon Church, moved to Montrose, Iowa near Nauvoo, Illinois, served in the Mormon Battalion 1846-1847, migrated to Utah, took a second wife, and lived in Springville and Mt. Pleasant, Utah, and served in the Black Hawk War. The date of the composition of this item is uncertain.
Thomas Morris autobiography
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.
Short life sketch of John S. Whilte, Ann Eliza Adelaide Everett White
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.
Andrew Jackson Workman autobiography
Andrew Jackson writes about his family's conversion to Mormonism in 1839 while living in Tennessee; his settlement at Nauvoo, Illinois, 1843; the exodus west; serving in the Mormon Battalion, and march to California; his work in the gold mines; his arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, 1855; the return trip to California; settling in Kane County, Utah; the death of his wife, Rebecca Deck; his remarriage to Sariah A. Eager, 1866 and the organization of the United Order, 1874.