The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-07-26

litia, authorized by special acts of the
Illinois legislature. passed in 1910. pro
viding that the Nauvoo city council
might organize the inha bitants OF the
city and county, subject to- military
duty under the laws OF the state, into
an independent body Of militia. Offi-
GERS OF the legion were commissioned
by the governor OF Illinois. and the
mem bers OF the organization were re-
CURED TO perform the same military du-
ties as the state militia. The first cleo
ton of officers took place in February.
lS41. and Joseph smith was chosen lieu
tenant general. At the time OF the death
Of Joseph Smith. in 1914. the legion
numbered 5000 men when Brigham
Young succeeded in command.
The organization was suspended I'M
I'll after the arrival OF the pioneers
in Salt Lake. when. on account OF the
hostility OF the Indians. il was rec
ognized by a territorial act in 1852 and
Daniel II Wells was named as conf
mancer Inc organization did excel
lent service Tor years until }. Wilson
Shaffer in 1870 issued his notorious
proclamation forbidding all muster
drills or gatherings Of militia in Utah
except by his expressed orders. BY an
act Of Congress which became a law
without the consent Of the president.
March 3. 1887. the NauvoO legion
ceased to exist.
Mormon Battalion.
While the Latter-Day Saints. who
had been driven from their homes I'm
aNNhNVNs were CROSSING the plains to-
wards the Rocky mountains. they were
called upon by the government of the
United States TO furnish 500 men to
march TO the Pacific coast and assist
IN fighting for their country. which, al
that time, was at war with Mexico.
President Brigham Young Immediately
called the camps OF Israel together
and ordered that the required number
OF men be furnished. Volunteers We're
called for and shortly after. the full
quota Of men was furnished. July 20.
hn Ire FfaHrr 80.
lied commenced their march for Fort
LeavenWorth, where they arrived Au-
gust /. having been joined by the fifth
company while on the road. Here the
companies were fitted out with arms
and the usual accoutrements furnished
at that time.
Ing the Mormon battalion. commenced
one OF the greatest marches ever ac-
compllshed by any body OF men bear
battalion died on the journey. but the
march was finished without the ne
ceSsity of shedding human blood. in
fulfillment Of prediction made by
President Brigham Young"
The Handcart Companies.
Quoting from Thomas Dobson re-
garding the handcart companies. Mr..
Smith said:
The memory of the handcart com
panies Will be perpetusted for both his
torical and religious reasons 1t was
composed. first Of all OF men and
under the most extreme pioneer con-
ditions for the purpose OF helping to
found substantial community in the
heart o. the American desert and TO re-
claim 20 civilization vast area OF IN
productive land And II comprised in
the next place men and women who
believed that they had been called out
OF Babylon by the voice of God to 20
up to the mountain of the Lords house
that they might learn more Of His ways
and walk more perfectly in His paths.
In the early sos. thousands of
Saints in England were longing 20
come to Zion but they. had no means
with which to emigrate and the demand
on the emigration fund was a thou
sandfOld greater than it's power TO
supply. SO in order to make the fund
accommodate a larger number Of per
sons, the handcart companies were or
ganized. This was In 1856.
There were five companies in all
1000 souls; men. women and children.
Three companies reached the valley
early enough 90 escape the severe win
ter. The other two. however having
been delayed on the Missouri. were
caught in the early snowstorr1 and the
frost OF that year. and. in consequence.
suffered untold hardship and many
"If it had not been for these two un-
fortunate conditions. the delay and the
early storm. the handcart company
would have been remembered only for
its uniqueneSs. As Il was. the early
companies had much fun and amuse-
ment, as well as hard work and some
suffering"
Write Of Experiences.
At the close Of the program. Senator
SmOOt urgently asked the members OF
the early companies OF pioneers to
write in their own words their recol-
lections OF the experiences OF the early
days in Utah. saying these accounts
would become more and more valuable
and that 70 was the duty and should be
the privilege OF every one OF the pio-
neers to leave these records for their
descendants.
Benediction was pronounced by John
Henry Smith OF the first presidency OF
the church and then the pioneers were
banqueted. Those who were members
OF the companies arriving in Salt Lake
in 1s4z. including the members of the
Mormon battalion. were taken to the
restaurant where dinner was served by
the Sons and Daughters Of the Pioneers:
the committee being headed by VIII
lard Young and Alice X. Smith The
other pioneers were served by various
church organizations in the large pa
vilion. and after dinner the pioneers Of
ls4t were grouped and several photo
graphs were taken.
Arrangements for the comfort OF the
aged guests were carried out admirably
by the management Of the resort. and.
despite the intense heat. there were no
prostratiops