Mormon Battalion Marker

GPS: 35.45163333, -106.35385000

The Mormon Battalion, also known as the "Battalion of the Saints" only served from July 1846 - 1847 during the Mexican-American War. It is the only religiously based unit in United States military history. This is one of several historic sites and monuments associated with the battalion. This monument was erected in 1940.

The plaque on the monument reads

The Mormon Battalion
Council Bluffs, July 16, 1846
Fort Leavenworth, Aug. 2, 1846
Santa Fe, Oct. 9, 1846
San Diego, Jan 29, 1847

Erected June 16, 1940

The Mormon Battalion, composed of 500 men mustered into the service of the United States in the war with Mexico was called to the colors as the Mormon pioneers were beginning their historic trek to the Rocky Mountains at the conclusion of the 2,000 mile march from Council Bluffs Iowa to San Diego California. The leader who took command at Santa Fe paid tribute to his men in part as follows ... History may be searched in vain for an equal march of infantry. Half of it has been through a wilderness where nothing but [...] and wild beasts are found, or deserts where for want of water there is no living creature. Here with almost hopeless labor we have dug wells which the future traveler will enjoy without a guide who had traversed them. We have ventured into trackless tablelands where water was not found for several marches. With crow bar and pick and axe in hand we have worked our way over mountains which seemed to deny aught save the wild goat, and hewed a pass through a chasm of living rock more narrow than our wagons to bring these first wagons to the Pacific. We have preserved the strength without loss.

Thus marching half naked and half fed, and living upon wild animals, we have discovered and made a road of great value to our country.

Lieutenant Colonel P. St. George Cook
Official Order issued January 30, 1847, upon the safe arrival of The Battalion in San Diego, California

Note: There is a map of the Battalions route from Council Bluffs to Sad Diego just under the "Erected" date.

This is actually the second location for this monument. It was originally built about 32 miles north of Albuquerque along Hwy. 85, The monument was taken down during the construction of I-25 in 1982 with plans to build similar monuments on both sides of the freeway. That never happened and the monument seems to have gotten forgotten along the way, until 1995 when the monument was mentioned by columnist Larry Calloway in the Albuquerque Journal. A lady named Georgia Frazier from Albuquerque read Calloway's column and took up the cause to get the monument replaced, she contacted a couple of New Mexico legislators and convinced them to help, which led to this monument being erected in 1996 at a cost of about $30.000.00. The monument is constructed of reinforced concrete faced with split sandstone from Los Lunas.

I don't know the significance of the wagon wheel style symbol on the top of the monument.

Photo(s): 2015