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 52 Collections and/or Records:
Daniel Brown biography
David Brown's third great grandson, Erold Clark Wiscombe, writes about Brown's family history; marriage to Elizabeth Stephens; removal to Illinois in 1831; conversion to Mormonism in 1840; removal to Florence, Nebraska; son, James, joining the Mormon Battalion; quarrel with Brigham Young leading to removal to Calhoun, Iowa; Indian difficulties in Iowa; rebaptism in Salt Lake City, in 1874; and death in Calhoun, Iowa.
Jacob Kemp Butterfield correspondence
Photocopies of handwritten and typed copies of correspondence. Butterfield writes to his mother and other family members. Butterfield writes about his missionary work for the Mormon Church in Missouri; his association and employment with Joseph Smith, the first president of the Mormon Church; and his life in Missouri, Illinois, and Missouri. He also writes about his service with the Mormon Battalion. Also included is a biography of Abel Butterfield.
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.
Jacob Kemp Butterfield letters
Handwritten letter and a typescript. The letter was written at Fort Levenworth on August 7, 1846 to Butterfield's mother and deals with the "Mormon Batallion," with his personal feelings toward the Mormon Church, and quotes from his patriarchal blessing.
Russell R. Casper biography of William Wallace Casper
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.
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.
Erma P. Peterson genealogy
Collected biographical sketches, personal histories and genealogies of the ancestors of Petersen. Includes information on the Pace family and early Utah history and settlements.
The experiences of a western pioneer
Two handwritten accounts written by an unidentified grandchild of Albert Smith. The first story concerns an acquaintance of the family who, while traveling east from California in 1852, rescued his wagon train's horses from the Indians. The second account concerns Albert Smith and Azariah Smith, their journey with the Mormon Battalion to California, their return to Utah, and their settlement of Manti, Utah.
Fifteen months experience
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.
Levi W. Hancock journal
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.