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 17 Collections and/or Records:
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.
David Pettigrew autobiography and diary
Joseph Lee Robinson journal fragments
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.
Azariah Smith autobiography and diaries
Photocopy of a microfilm copy of a handwritten autobiography and diary. Smith was born in New York in 1828 and joined the Mormon Church in 1839. He moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1840. He kept a diary during his service with the "Mormon Battalion" during the War with Mexico from 1846 to 1848. Smith married in 1850 and moved to Sanpete Valley in 1850. He lived in Manti, Utah, and wrote about his activities and experiences there.
Azariah Smith diary
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.
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.