the nauvoo legion

[Jim McDougall]

I'm glad to see readers out there, and I'm glad Pallas placed this interesting query, so I hope I can add more as becomes available.

We have been moving north out of Arizona, and have now entered the southern part of Utah, the scenery is breathtaking, and we are now situated near Bryce Canyon, Utah. We have travelled through Utah before, and while we saw some historic places, not nearly enough. I lived in Salt Lake City in my youth, and Utah is an incredible state, obviously with the Mormon faith predominate. One of my brothers did become Mormon in later years.

I am hoping I will have a chance to discover a bit more on this interesting topic as I near Salt Lake City, and if so I will share what I can find.

Perhaps anyone else out there might have heard of any weapons that may have been attributed to these Mormon militia units, and might share any information.
Stay tuned

All the best,
Jim

[Jim McDougall]

Just working on more on the topic. The items listed in the 1913 magazine in my previous post were as noted, holdings of the Deseret Museum, which apparantly ceased in 1919. The disposition of these weapons is uncertain at this point, but I am hoping the LDS Church Museum in Salt Lake City might have information.

I do know that they seem to have several of the M1816 flintlock muskets described. These are noted as being of the type issued later to the Mormon Battalion during the Mexican War, not to the Nauvoo Legion in Illinois.
These are of Type II and the casehardened lockplates are stamped Harpers Ferry, with 1827 date. These were .69 cal. flintlocks, and fitted for triangular blade bayonets.

The others used by the Mormon Battalion were the M1803, .54 cal. termed a 'halfstock' with no bayonet fittings.Only a few were issued and are not with holdings.

The only other were the M1841 Mississippi Rifle, known as a 'Jaeger' type rifle (the German term for hunting type rifles) and was a cap lock. Only a few of these issued, none among holdings.

Again, these guns issued to the Mormon Battalion, just over 500 men for service with the army in the Mexican War. On August 15,1847 as this unit was discharged, the men were ordered to leave the guns and by no means to take them to the states.

The Nauvoo Legion essentially ended in Illinois with the assassination of Joseph and Hyram Smith in 1844, and the government rescinsion of the city charter for Nauvoo in 1845. While the unit numbered over two thousand, only about 250 guns of the M1816 and M1803 type were ever issued as far as I have found. as mentioned, no markings are known, and these were believed collected by government.

The Legion began again under Brigham Young in the newly established provincial State of Deseret unofficially in 1849, then recognized in 1852. The name Nauvoo Legion was reestablished until 1870 when prohibited by the territorial governor, then by congress in 1887.

In various references it is noted that the Nauvoo Legion seldom had enough long guns to arms half of the territorial militia in the 1870's
In "The Rocky Mountain Saints" (T. Stenhaus, p.676) it is noted that the arms with which the saints are now equipped are thier own property.
This is of course much the same as it was in Illinois. Another reference noted the presence of Colt M1851 Navy which were of course cap and ball revolvers. There were likely a number of Hawken, or Kentucky long rifles probably brought from Illinois, as they were often readily available in those regions and times, usually about .40 cal.

[Jim McDougall]

Another thought that might provide attribution would be if markings or symbols associated with the Mormon faith appeared on either any regulation weapon as described previously, or personal weapons of the period.

In 1854, a board established by Brigham Young had proposed a phonetically structured alphabet as shown here. While this did not find wide use or acceptance, its presence was well established as seen by the coin issued in 1860.
The illustration of the characters are from an 1868 book, but with Brigham Young's death in 1877, the use of the Deseret alphabet diminished and fell out of use.

Another potential device which might be considered would be the beehive symbol. Although I have not ever seen this on a weapon, it is much like the angel of Moroni, significant to the Mormons. The beehive represented 'deseret' which described in the Book of Mormon (Ether 2:3) means bees or beehive, and this was chosen for the name of thier state.

Again, purely speculative suggestions, presuming that some individuals might have been compelled to place such markings on weapons, and hoping that anyone might have information to add.

[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...........

[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

[Jim McDougall]

For those out there reading, and for future reference, from the week's research on this topic:

It appears there is only one known example of a gun which bears the making 'NAUVOO LEGION' and from what I understand it was documented some time ago in the Chicago area. As I have noted earlier, only a small number of these guns, the M1816' were issued to this unit. These were all confiscated shortly prior to the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage, Illinois in 1844.
It appears that these were reissued to other units by the state government, and while unclear if just a few or all these guns were stamped with this inscription, it appears the others have been lost to posterity.
There is little likelihood of personal arms being so marked, or if so, they do not seem known to those who have researched these arms, though the possibility certainly remains.

There are three known guns I believe, provenanced to the Mormon Battalion who fought during the Mexican War at the end, and I believe these are at a museum here in Salt Lake City.

The guns of the Nauvoo Legion in Utah, holding that title in honor of the Illinois unit of Joseph Smith, was officially the Utah Territorial Militia, and their weapons were privately purchased and owned.

Best regards,
Jim