the nauvoo legion

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by pallas

one thing ive noticed about the legion was that they all wore very "napoleonic" uniforms....i saw a painting of joseph smith reviewing the legion with a tricorner hat on that would not be out of place in the revolutionary period........my assumption from this would be that the mormons were outfitted with equipment that was already (becoming) obsolete in the 1840s...........

Actually that painting was reflective of a great deal of artistic license, and while officers would of course have worn uniforms with a considerable bit of flamboyance, the rank and file would likely have had simple uniformity in thier clothing. It should be noted that for the number of men mustered within the following three years, numbering over two thousand, there were only about 235 muskets issued, despite the 1808 Militia Act mandates.
The guns issued were very much the same as in use by the army at that time. though it was not as much a period of obsolescence as transition.
The M1816 flintlock musket was standard issue, and new cap and ball muskets were just becoming established.

The M1816 guns issued were all confiscated just after the murder of Joseph Smith in Illinois, and the charter for Nauvoo revoked. The remainder of the weapons in use, were of course the property of the men themselves.

There was some evidence of antiquation in one of the three cannon that was issued, which was a 12 pound mountain gun of War of 1812 vintage. That was hidden and kept by the Legion.


Thanks for responding Pallas! This has really become a fascinating topic

All best regards,
Jim