Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-24

Muster Of the Conpany-stat From Fort Leavenworth-
March to California Sufferngs and Privatons
of the Soldiers.


not received the best of treatment,
heard OF thi, proposed exodus west
ward and it was feared by authorities
thereof that the Mormons would be
likely to Join the British and help
them to gain dominion over large
tracts Of United States soil Trouble
was imminent in Oregon which At
that time was in possession Of the
United States, and President Polk
had recommended to Congress the
building OF stockade forts along the
route rs protection to emigrants
President Young heard of this rec.
ommcndalion and seeing in it Il
splendid opportunity to help the
Saints westward, the High Council
saw fit to issue the following circular
under date OF Jan. 20, 1916:
Should hostilties arise between the
| government OF the United States and
any other power in relation to the
right OF possessing the territory OF
Oregon, we are on hand to sustain
the United States government to that
country. 1t is geographically ours;
and Of right no foreign power should
hold dominion there and if our ser
vices are required to preyentit, those
services will be cheertully rendered
according to our ability"
Note the language of the above
and then say if you will that the
Mormon people were not loyal to
the land in which they were living.
1T is geographically ours" were the
words used with reference to the dis
trict Of Oregon, and the expression
coming before 1--WE are on hand to
sustain the United States government
to that country shows in plain and
emphatic terms the loyalty and the
patriotism which the Mormon people
held to their government, albeit that
they were not accorded that full de-
gree of protection which the Consti-
tuition OF the United States granted
unto all Its citizens, and especially
that portion which gives all mankind
the right ofreligious worship accord
ing to the dictates of conscience.
Be this as it may however, the
Mormons were contemplating a
move westward, and all the Saints
from Illinois north and east were in
structcd to make the most OF every
opportunity which presented itself to
cross the wilderness before them.
Accordingly, early in the year 1916 a
start was made from Nauvoo, the
Saints leaving their homes in com
panies as their respective circum-
stances and conditions would rmit.
1t was about this time, in the summer
, of 1876, that call was made by
the federal government for 500 young
men Of the Mormon faith to join in
a march to California, there to assist
the United States government in its
war with Mexico. The call for vol
= untcers was made known by Captain
| James Allen of the u. S. army, who,
. on June 20, 1916, arrived at Mount
e Pisgah, a camp OF the Mormons I5c
, miles east of Council Bluffs, and
presented the following circular max
5 ing known his business:
have come among you, instructed by Col
? onel +. w. kcarncy Of the U. s. army nov
, | commanding the army OF the West, to visit III,
| Mormon camp and accept the services, io
! twelve months. Of four or five companies OF The
I | Mormon men who may be willing to serve thei
country for that period in our present war will
| MeNCo. This force to unite with the army q
! the West at Santa Fc and be marched thenct
{ 10 California, where they will be discharged.
They Will receive pay and raiions and othe
| allowances such as other volunteers or reguit
/ | soldiers receive from the day they shall he
! mustered into the service, and will be entitled
to all the comforts and benefits Of rcEula
soldiers OF the army, and when discharged d
I contemplated ~ California they will be gwen
gratis. their arms and accuuuements, With whic
: ! they will be fully equipped at Fort LeaNem
| worth. Thus Is offered 10 the Mormon peopl'
, ! now, this year an opportunity Of sending pol
! / ton OF their young and intelligent men TO 'h
ultimate destination Of their whole people am
entirely at the expense OF the Untcd States, an
this advance party can thus pave the way, am
| look out the land Tor their brethren TO com
after them.
The pay Of q private volunteer is seven dol
+ lars per month and the allowance tor Clolhlu
IS the cost price OF clothing OF reguA
| soldier.
, Those Of the Mormons who arc drSirous
. | serving their country, on the conditions her
cnum rated are requested To meet me Wihou
delay AT their principal camp, at the Couua
% Bluffs whittier am now going 10 consult Wit
their principal men, and TO receive and ofgtni4
the force contemplated TO be raised
4 will receive all healthy able men OF iror
r eighteen to iorty-ivc yrtrs OF age.
J. ALLEN Capt Isi Dragons
NorE--I hope To complete the orghniauo
/ Of this battalion within SIS days afrr reachiu
4 Council Bm6s, or within nine days from TIL
time.
d This circular was presented to tn
II leading men ofthe Church at meet
d ing held by them on the date men
C toned. They considered the matte
n carefully and after some time advise,
it Capt. Allen to go among the author
1t tiles of the Church of Council Bluffs
y the army officer being furnished wit
d a letter OF introduction to Eide
.e William Clayton, clerk of the camp
10 Capt. Allen went at Council Bluff
j. and visited the authorities, and OF
the first Of July a communication
IS signed by Colonel Kcarney and him
le self was presented to Presiden
IL \r..... ...1 IL. 200. - i...-.1, .