DearMYRTLE - Nauvoo Legion (Utah Militia)

From: oppbooks@lewiston.com
DearMYRTLE,
"We are searching for one of our ancestors who came west with Johnston's Army and left the US Army for a pretty bride in the Deseret area. We believe he enlisted with the Nauvoo Legion (Utah Militia) to help out in the Black Hawk Wars/Rebellion in the late 1860s. Do you know of where we could find or see the muster lists for the Nauvoo Legion during that time period."

DearBRUCE,
A curious, romantic family tradition! It will be interesting to see if the story is confirmed by original documents. While in Illinois, "...the Nauvoo Legion became an active group of militia with about three thousand members. It existed for self-protection and as a sign of Mormon loyalty and patriotism to the state and nation." (1)

But Nauvoo Legion wasn't disbanded after the Mormons were forced out of Nauvoo, Illinois into their westward migration. "The Utah War of 1857-1858 was the largest military operation in the United States between the times of the Mexican War and the Civil War. It pitted the Mormon militia, called the Nauvoo Legion, against the army and government of the United States in a bloodless but costly confrontation that stemmed from the badly handled attempt by the administration of President James Buchanan to replace Brigham Young as governor of Utah Territory." (2)

"Johnston had been sent west by President James Buchanan to subdue the Mormons, who the President had wrongly been led to believe were in a state of rebellion against federal authority. The Mormons, keenly remembering past injustices in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, were determined to defend their mountain homes with their lives, if necessary. Had the transcontinental telegraph been in existence, it could have done much with its instant communication between peoples to prevent such a crisis from developing." (3)

In anticipation of a terrible confrontation, the Mormons were told by Brigham Young to "move south" and about 30,000 moved to the Provo area in the valley south of point of the mountain. The footings of the Salt Lake Temple were covered with dirt, and plowed for plantings of crops. (4)

My ancestors had problems with Black Hawk Indian raids, forcing them to the protection of the fort at Gunnison, Utah farther south. "In 1865-1867 Approximately 100 settlers and an unknown number of Native Americans were killed during the Black Hawk Indian War. Attacks were primarily centered in the Sanpete and Sevier valleys, causing the temporary abandonment of a number of settlements." (5)

Your best bet are the Service records of Indian Wars in Utah, 1853-1868 published by Board of Commissioners of Indian War Records (Utah). You'll find it on 11 microfilm reels at the LDS Family History Library as follows:

See also the Card Index to Military Records of the Indian Wars in Utah, 1866-1867 http://www.familysearch.org/sg/CCF3/45759.html. This must be ordered on microfilm # 0536221
through the Family History Library.

By searching online, I found something called the BLACK HAWK WAR INDEX 1831-32 (Illinois)
http://www.lumarmall.com/hawkinde.htm
"This Index contains the names of over 7000 men from the state of Illinois that fought in the Black Hawk War (1831-32). Its lists the soldiers name and town/county he enlisted from. " This is apparently an earlier war, often confused with the Utah skirmishes in the 1860s.

I'd also recommend reviewing the following for additional genealogical & historical insights into early LDS and Utah research:

Utah Research Outline	http://www.familysearch.org/sg/Utah.html "This outline describes major sources of information about people who lived in Utah. Many of the records described in this outline are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and Family History Centers throughout the world." In particular see the MILITARY RECORDS section which lists additional resources for Indian War pensions, service medals.
*Family History Library Catalog* - Utah	http://www.familysearch.org/Search/searchcatalog.asp This lists over 2 million books, maps, microfilm & fiche to millions. Originally the Genealogical Society of Utah.
Pioneers & Prominent Men of Utah	by Frank Esshom. Full Title: Pioneers and prominent men of Utah : comprising photographs, genealogies, biographies, the early history of the Church. Not only look for bios, but historical references to the towns and military conflicts. This is a basic reference work for Utah family historians.
Heart Throbs of the West - 1847 to 1851 immigrants Treasures of Pioneer History - 1852 to 1856 immigrants *Lessons* - 1847 to 1868 and Brooklyn passengers of 1846 Our Pioneer Heritage - 1858 to 1874 immigrants	Original Daughters of Utah Pioneer member, Kate B. Carter compiled several series (6-31 volumes each) of historical & genealogical insights. You'd want to check the Family History Library Catalog for call numbers and availability in microform if you can't visit the DUP Historian's Office or the Family History Library in person.
lineage papers and historical archives at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers	The headquarters & museum are up by the capital building. 300 North Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84103. Phone 801-538-1050 for hours of the historians office, as its not open as much as the museum itself.
Church Chronology: A Record of Important Events	By Andrew Jenson. Available at the LDS Family History Library: book 289.309 J453c microfilm 599327 item 2 microfiche 6051314 and 6053255
Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church	By Andrew Jenson. Available at the LDS Family History Library: book 289.309 J453e microfilm film 496776 fiche 6053258 index - film 928073 item 8 index - fiche 6051304
Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1830-1973)	Available at the LDS Family History Library: films 1259729-975
*Crossing the Plains Index*	Available at the LDS Family History Library: Film 0298440 A--Ek Film 0298441 El--Mo Film 0298442 Mu--Z
*Membership of the LDS Church, 1830-1848*	http://www.familysearch.org/sg/Membersh.html "This guide describes a 50-volume collection by Susan Easton Black. The collection contains information about people who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lived in the United States, Canada, or Great Britain from 1830 to 1848."
*Early Church Information File*	http://www.familysearch.org/sg/ECIF.html "This guide describes how to use the collection called the Early Church Information File. Family history research on early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is unique because of the variety of records involved. The most helpful single resource for locating these records is the Early Church Information File, often called the ECIF. This index is also helpful for finding non-Mormons who lived in areas populated by Latter-day Saints."
*U.S. Military Records Research Outline*	http://www.familysearch.org/sg/Military.html "Military records identify individuals who served in the military or who were eligible for service. This outline introduces records and strategies that can help you learn more about your ancestors who served in the United States military. It explains terms associated with military records and describes the content, use, and availability of major sources."
Utah: A Centennial History	By Wain Sutton. http://www.familysearch.org/sg/CCF1/47274.html Available at the LDS Family History Library: book 979.2 H2s
Newspapers	By consulting the Utah Research Outline, I was able to locate information on: Deseret News Weekly, 1850-98. (FHL films 026586 items 2-4 to 026614.) Deseret News, semi-weekly, 1866-1905. (FHL films 241150-81.) Deseret Evening News, 1867-1961. (On 437 FHL films beginning with 026899.)
*Crossing the Plains Index*	Available at the LDS Family History Library: Film 0298440 A--Ek Film 0298441 El--Mo Film 0298442 Mu--Z
The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine	The Genealogical Society of Utah Periodicals such as this are likely indexed in PERSI (Periodical Source Index) available in book format at libraries with sizable genealogy sections, as well as on CD-ROM and searchable online (for members) of www.ancestry.com
Utah Genealogical Association Newsletter.	Utah Genealogical Association P.O. Box 1144 Salt Lake City, UT 84110. Periodicals such as this are likely indexed in PERSI (Periodical Source Index) available in book format at libraries with sizable genealogy sections, as well as on CD-ROM and searchable online (for members) of www.ancestry.com
*Utah Historical Quarterly*	Utah State Historical Society 300 Rio Grande Street Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Periodicals such as this are likely indexed in PERSI (Periodical Source Index) available in book format at libraries with sizable genealogy sections, as well as on CD-ROM and searchable online (for members) of www.ancestry.com

The following items look fairly interesting, and are perhaps related to the question at hand. However, I have not reviewed them personally.

The Utah batteries, a history.	by Mabey, Charles R. (Charles Rendell). Full title: The Utah batteries, a history: a complete account of the muster-in, sea voyage, battles, skirmishes and barrack life of the Utah batteries, together with biographies of officers and muster-out rolls. Salt Lake City : [s.n.], 1900, 130 p. : ill., ports. Family History Library book call number 979.2 M2. Available on microfilm at the LDS Family History Library - US/CAN Film 1000615 Item 5.
The Utah War: a thesis	by Everett L. Cooley. Microfilm of manuscript from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Available at the LDS Family History Library - US/CAN Film 237829.
Database of Veteran Burials.	Utah State Archives and Records Service. Published in 1986 on 16 microfiche , available at the LDS Family History Library - US/CAN Fiche 6331395.
Johnston, Connor, and the Mormons - an outline of military history in northern Utah	By Irma Watson Hance and Irene Warr."Published in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Fort Douglas, Utah, October 22, 1962."--T.p. Bibliographical references occur in Footnotes, leaves 92-94. Includes history of the Utah Expedition and of Camp Floyd and Fort Douglas, burials at Camp Floyd 1857-1860 and at Fort Douglas 1863-1962, and marriages recorded in the Union Vidette 1863-1868." Available on 5 fiche at the LDS Family History Library - US/CAN Fiche 6117855.
Sons of Utah Pioneers	3301 East 2920 South Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, 801-484-4441.

Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
Daily Genealogy Columnist
AOL Keyword: gf, roots or myrtle
www.DearMYRTLE.com

To post a message on this topic, go to Myrt's Message Board