Shortly following the United States' declaration of war on Mexico in May of 1846, Colonel Thomas L. Cane arranged a meeting between a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints named Jesse C. Little, and President James K. Polk. In an effort to obtain government aid to help church members emigrate to the west coast, Elder Little met with President Polk on June 3rd. They agreed that troops would be raised for "The Great Army of the West", instead of stockade forts on the road to Oregon. The formation of a battalion of Mormon volunteers culminated in one of the longest infantry marches in history: The March of the Mormon Battalion.
Bill Greenwald's Mormon Btn. marches through Tucson. Modified Minifigs ACW Iron Brigade figures.
Orders were forwarded to Colonel Steven W. Kearney, commanding the forces at Fort Leavenworth. Capt. James Allen was sent to the camp of the saints at Council Bluffs and with the full support of Brigham Young, the church president, mustered 4 companies. Although more men were ready and able to enlist, a limit had been set by Colonel Kearney to no more than 500 volunteers. It was feared that with greater military strength, the saints would join forces with the enemy in retalation for their many persecutions. However, Brigham Young was quoted as saying,
Following the mustering of the battalion on July 16th, Captain Allen was promoted to Lt. Colonel of Infantry, a rank he would have for a little over a month, as he later became ill and died on August 23rd while at Fort Leavenworth.
Before the battalion left Council Bluffs for Fort Leavenworth, Brigham Young predicted that not one who enlisted would fall at the hand of the nation's foe. That their only fighting would be with wild beasts.
March Begins
The battalion began their march on July 19th, 1846. They were dressed in their own clothes, as the men elected to leave with their families the year's clothing allowance of $42.50. According to Campaign Booklet #1, The Texas War of Independence and the U.S.-Mexican War, the men of the battalion wore dark blue or grey trousers, grey, blue, or red shirts, white crossbelts, and broad-brimmed hats.
Upon arriving at Fort Leavenworth, the battalion was outfitted with weapons and equipment. It was here that Lt. Colonel Allen fell ill and was unable to continue. The battalion nonetheless continued to march and was later joined by a replacement commander, Lt. A.J. Smith and Dr. George B. Sanderson. The battalion marched southwest to Council Grove and then on to the Arkansas River, a little beyond Fort Mann. The line of march put them on the trail of Colonel Alexander Doniphan and the 1st Missouri Dragoons. They reached the Arkansas on September 16th. Crossing over, the battalion headed for San Miguel and then turned northwest around the point of the mountains to Santa Fe. The Battalion was welcomed with a 100 Gun Salute, ordered by Colonel Doniphan, on October 9, 1846.
The now General Kearney, before he had departed for California, replaced Lt. Smith with Lt. Colonel Philip St. George Cooke as commander of the battalion. But by now some of the men of the battalion were ill because of the difficult conditions of the march and it was decided by Doniphan and Cooke that these men should be sent north to Pueblo to recuperate. Accordingly 86 men were conducted to Pueblo where they arrived on November 17, 1846. Weeks later another 50 were likewise stricken and rerouted to Pueblo.
South
Leaving Santa Fe on October 19, the battalion marched south along the valley of the Rio Grande to the location where General Kearney had abandoned wagons due to the roughness of the route he was taking along the Gila River. Following orders, these wagons were attached and the battalion turned west and followed a course parallel to Kearney's, but south of the Gila River and marched to the San Pedro River where it arrived on December 11.
On the banks of the San Pedro, the battalion was attacked by a herd of wild bulls. According to some records, between twenty and sixty bulls were killed in the attack but the only casualties suffered by the battalion was a number of team mules and pack animals. Notably, this attack was a reminder, to the battalion, of the prophetic words of Brigham Young before the battalion left Council Bluffs.
From the San Pedro, the battalion marched northwest to the outskirts of Tucson. The town was garrisoned by 200 Mexican soldiers under the command of Capt. Comaduran, who was under orders to let no armed force pass through the town without resistance. The battalion guides informed Cooke that to circumvent the town would take the men 100 miles out of their way. Cooke sent Dr. Steven Foster, the interpreter, into the town to ascertain if it was possible for the battalion to march through unmolested. He was arrested and placed under guard. Fortunately, a Mexican patrol was captured and as it turned out one of the corporals was the son of the Mexican commander. Arrangements were made to exchange prisoners, which was accomplished at midnight.
The next day the Mormon battalion found that the Mexican forces had retreated out of the town and the battalion marched through without incident.
End of the March
Continuing its march, the battalion arrived at the Gila River three days later. The march followed the Gila to the Colorado River where the battalion crossed on January 9. Continuing west, the battalion finally descended the coastal range of mountains and into camp at San Diego on January 29, 1847. Thus ended the March of the Mormon Battalion. All told, the battalion marched in excess of 1500 miles across desert and mountainous country.
The end of the march did not spell the end of service. Immediately, the battalion went into garrison duty in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Luis Rey. Many were the accomplishments of the battalion while in California. The first fired bricks were made by battalion members. Many houses were built and many wells dug. Irrigation systems were designed and implemented by the battalion, as this knowledge was obtained while en route to California. So much good came from the battalion being in San Diego that when the time came to release the men from service a petition was signed by all the townspeople and sent to the governor in an effort to keep the battalion in service. Many men did re-enlist and eventually some helped build Sutters Mill where the discovery was made that caused the "Gold Rush" of 1849.
Although the Mormon Battalion never saw action in the war, any number of "what if" scenarios could be planned. Most likely would be a Battle of Tucson where a small action could be played with 200 Mexicans with a small gun against the Mormon Battalion of 350 strong.
There is only one manufacturer of specific 15mm and 25mm Mormon Battalion figures that I know of and that is Frontier Miniatures. The figures shown in the photo depicting the Mormon Battalion marching through Tucson are Minifigs ACW Iron Brigade advancing, with one modification. The hat of the Iron Brigade is folded up on one side. I cut the upright brim with a razor knife and folded it down into the normal position.
As usual the American flag is carried by the troops. The other flag, of an angel sounding a trumpet in gold on a white background, is only used decoratively here. This motif appears later in the church's history as the angel that adorns the east spire of the church's temples. I have not as yet been able to find the real flag of the battalion.
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"The question might be asked, is it prudent for us to enlist to defend our country? If we answer in the affirmative, all are ready to go. Suppose we were admitted into the union as a state, and the government did not call on us, we would feel ourselves neglected. Let the Mormons be the first to set their feet on the soil of California!"
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