List of Names in the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, 1846-1847
(from A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, 1846-1847 by Sergeant Daniel Tyler)
The history of Pottawattamie County would not be complete without a mention of the faithful Latter-Day Saints volunteers who enlisted in the Mormon Battalion. On the 16th day of July 1846, four companies of over four hundred men, all told, and part of a fifth, were mustered into the service of the United States, at Council Bluffs, Iowa Territory.
These men, and some of their families, walked more than two thousand tortuous miles from Council Bluffs to San Diego, California, during the winter of 1846-47, to participate in the war against Mexico. As an incentive to assist their government in a time a great need, the volunteers were promised provisions, wagons, horses, mules, guns, and accoutrements, and received governmental pay and allowances during their period of service which was to extend for twelve months. The President of the Mormon saints, Brigham Young, encouraged these brave souls by assuring them that families left behind would be cared for, which they were.
The following are the names of officers and men, also families accompanying the command, as far as they have been obtained. Many of these individuals remained on the west coast, however, numerous ones returned to Iowa and became leading citizens in the area.