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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 3 Collections and/or Records:

A brief sketch of the life of Samuel Gould

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230348499]
Identifier: MSS 1381
Scope and Contents

Typewritten biography of Samuel Gould by his daughter. The date of composition is unknown. Gould was a member of the Mormon Battalion and an early pioneer in Parowan Utah. Also included is a program from the Iron County Centennial Celebration of 1951 and a brief history of the Parowan Ward of the Mormon Church.

Dates: 1920-1951
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / A brief sketch of the life of Samuel Gould

Charles H. Oliphant and Orson Bennett Adams autobiographies

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230234368]
Identifier: MSS SC 155
Scope and Contents Coverless notebook containing handwritten autobiographies of Oliphant and Adams. Oliphant writes of his childhood, meetings with Brigham Young, his work as a horticulturalist, and the Deseret Horticultural Society. Adams' autobiography is written back to front in the same notebook. He writes about his joining the Mormon Battalion along with his wife who worked as a laundress, his settlement in Parowan, Utah, his fighting the Indian Wars, and exploration during the Utah War during which he...
Dates: approximately 1800s
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Charles H. Oliphant and Orson Bennett Adams autobiographies

Joseph Lee Robinson journal fragments

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230350776]
Identifier: MSS 5898
Scope and Contents

Joseph Lee Robinson's autobiography and journal, 1852-1893. Joseph Lee Robinson writes about his family, spiritual manifestations, conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith's teachings, his journey from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City, service as a bishop, how seagulls saved the crops, death of Jedediah M. Grant, his plural wives and his journey to southeast Idaho.

Dates: 1852-1893
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Joseph Lee Robinson journal fragments

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