Longest March in US Military History
The Mormon Battalion
The longest military march in US History and the only religiously based military unit left from Council Bluffs in July, 1846. Though this was during the Mexican/American War, the Mormon involvement started unrelated to this. The mustering grounds for the march is part of the campus of Iowa School for the Deaf today.
Brigham Young sent Elder Jesse Little to Washington trying to get aid for the financially strapped LDS settlements along the Missouri River. This was not the first attempt at getting money from the government, but previous attempts for "redress of grievances" had been turned down.
Elder Little had consulted with Thomas Kane prior to the visit. Kane was a lawyer and abolitionist who had encountered the Mormons at a conference in Philadelphia and was sympathetic to them and their struggles with the government. (Kane's father, also a lawyer and judge, was the one that incorporated the Pennsylvania Railroad.) Kane joined Elder Little in Washington in his negotiations with the president; the Mexican war had only broken out a fews days before so was very much on the president's mind at that time.
Young wasn't aware that Elder Little had bargained with the president, working out an agreement that involved supplying 500 men to fight in the Mexican/American War.
Thomas Kane was dispatched to deliver the war department's orders from Washington; Captain James Allen was sent from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to Iowa to enlist the men.
Noteworthy aspects:
The approximately 2000 mile march was the longest in US Military history
The unit was the only religiously based military unit in US history
The battalion suffered no combat related casualties; there were 25 deaths from natural causes.
In Tucson they bluffed 200 regular Mexican Army troops into surrendering without firing a shot
Much of the route between Santa Fe had no established trail; their wagons were the first to travel that route
The US government stayed true to its word, paying as promised and allowing the veterans to keep their rifles, ammunition, and other supplies, though some volunteers expressed disappointment that the government did not provide travel pay to return home.
Kane actually had a greater role than this; he had been secretly instructed to observe the Mormons and Brigham Young and report back to Washington their plans and character. Kane spent three months in Iowa, was impressed with the Mormons and made a positive report; the feeling amongst the LDS was mutual, and "Miller's Hollow" was renamed "Kanesville" in his honor.
Young had not informed the rest of the church leadership of his negotiations with the government via Elder Little and Young didn't know himself about Little and Kane's agreement to provide troops. A messenger was sent to alert him before Captain Allen's arrival and Young advised the rest of the Quorum of Twelve of the deal. Young liked the idea of providing troops, seeing it not only as a source of revenue (from the troops' monthly pay and uniform allowance) but as a good way for the church to demonstrate its loyalty to the United States. From a diary entry it appears President Polk likewise was looking at more than just recruiting soldiers, writing that the agreement was a way to "conciliate them, attach them to our country, and prevent them from taking part against us."
There was a general distrust of the government amongst the LDS plus concern about leaving families behind for a year. The LDS leadership enjoyed a high degree of trust amongst their followers and many men responded to the request reaching the required number over a three week period.
The agreement was to provide 500 men between the age of 18 and 45 to serve for one year. At the end of the year they would receive their full pay, could keep their supplies and equipment, and would be taken to California, which was where at that time it was thought the final Mormon destination would be. Each man was given a $42 uniform allowance in advance; as they were allowed to wear their own clothes on the march most of this money was donated to the church.
A farewell party was held in the cottonwood grove (near today's Woodbury Avenue and Harry Langdon Blvd) July 19 and the volunteers officially mustered in on what are now the ISD grounds July 20. Brigham Young promised none would die in battle (he was correct).
The volunteers were divided into 5 companies (companies A,B,C,D,E). They were issued blankets, coffee, and sugar.
The exact number of people involved is unclear. The marker on the ISD campus reads "about 489 men, 12 teens (aides to officers), 20 wives (laundresses)". Lt. Col. Allen also had a staff which included a major, paymaster, 1st lieutenant, a 2nd lieutenant, assistant quartermaster, Sgt. Major, quartermaster sgt, two medical doctors, and six guides. Interesting that one of the guides was Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea (Lewis and Clark's guide).
The battalion left under the command of James Allen who had been promoted to Lt. Colonel. They marched to St. Joseph, Missouri they were ferried across the river, then to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, arriving August 1 and averaging about 20 miles a day.
Each time the volunteers were paid a rider was sent to return to Iowa will any money the volunteers chose to send home; this was used to take care of those left behind and the movement in general.
Lt. Colonel Allen died of malaria at Fort Leavenworth; Lt. A.J. Smith was named to replace him and they left August 12 arriving in Sante Fe October 12, averaging about 15 miles a day.
Lt. Col Phillip S. George Cooke assumed command at Sante Fe. As the Mormons had essentially been on the move since February, having left on the military march shortly after arriving in Iowa, many people and animals were weak. Cooke ordered all of the children, all but five of the women, and about 150 of the weakest and sickest men to return to Pueblo; the rest moved on toward San Diego with 25 wagons and six cannons.
In California Companies A,C,D, and E were sent to Los Angeles where they built Fort Moore; Company B remained in San Diego and remodeled Fort Stockton into a more effective fortress. In their spare time they befriended the local residents, repairing buildings, wells, built the first brick building in California.
The Battalion members were discharged as promised after one year, July 16, 1847. 82 reenlisted, a few dozen went to work for John Sutter building a gristmill and sawmill along the south fort of the American River, and the rest traveled east to Salt Lake city to meet up with family they had left behind in Kanesville.