United States Army. The Mormon Battalion was the only religious unit in United States military history in federal service, recruited solely from one religious body and having a religious title as the unit designation. During its service, the battalion made a grueling march of nearly 1, miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa , to San Diego, California.
The Battalion's march also opened a southern wheeled wagon accessible route to California. Veterans of the Battalion played significant roles in America's westward expansion in California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and other parts of the West. Under continued religious persecution, they had fled Nauvoo, Illinois , starting on February 4, , across the Mississippi River.
Church President sent Elder Jesse C. Little , to Washington, D. Little arrived in Washington, D. Kane , offered the Mormons his advice and assistance.
Politically well connected through his jurist father, Kane provided letters of recommendation and joined Little in Washington, D. The two called on members of the President's Cabinet - the U. Little's offer [ clarification needed ] if "a few hundred" men enlisted. On June 2, , President James K. Polk wrote in his diary: "Col. Kearny , , of the U. Army arrived at the Mormons' Mosquito Creek camp. He carried President Polk's request for a battalion of volunteers to fight in the coming Mexican War.
They were concerned about facing discrimination by the government, as they had from both the state and federal government in the past. Kane obtained Federal government permission for the refugee Mormons to occupy Pottawattamie and Omaha Indian lands along the Missouri River.
