The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-12-12

Under the command OF Col.
Philip St. George Cooke, the bat
talon made an infantry march Of
1000 miles from the Missouri river
to the Pacifci coast. On account Of
the sacrifice which they had made In
not purchasing appropriate clothing
and shoes for the long, strenuous
march, they endured excruciating
hardships."
1.-THE chart of the road as made by
Colonel Cookies engineers was placed
upon the files at Washington, D. c.,
and later formed the basis for the
construction of the Southern Pacific
railroad.
Upon their return march the bat
talon pioneered road from the
Cajon Pass northeasterly into Salt
Lake Valley, distance of between
500 and 900 miles.
"They participated in that con-
flict which made California, Utah,
Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, New Mex
leo and Arizona part of the United
States.
They took part in the discovery
of the first gold in California, which
event pacified the Californians; add
ed uncounted millions to the nations
wealth; gave an impetus to emigra-
ton from many nations, and marked
the beginning of the wonderful de-
velopment of the west.
They brought from California to
this state seeds OF various kinds,
which were of inestimable value to
the people here in early days.
1.-THE Pueblo detachments of the
Mormon battalion, comprising the
sick and disabled who had winter
quartered at Pueblo, consisting of
143 soldiers and number of fami-
lies, entered Salt Lake valley July
20, 1847, five days after Brigham
Young and his company. They re-
inforced the supplies of the pioneers
with wagons, horses, mules, cattle
and gums. They joined the, pioneers
in their occupation and defense of
the land. They were among those
who turned the first burrows, plant
ed the first seeds and built the first
houses. They built the first public
edifice in the Rocky Mountains, the
'Bowery' on the Temple grounds.
They built the greater portion of the
first fort in Salt Lake City; it oc-
cupied what is now Pioneer park.
1.-THE first white child born in this
valley was the daughter of John
Campbell Steele, a member of the
Mormon battalion.
Connection with Irrigation
While passing through the valley of
Santa Fe members of the battalion
had made observations concerning a
system of irrigation employed by the
natives of that region. Our modern
system of irrigation has doubtless
evolved from ideas brought here by
the Mormon battalion.
1.-THE Pueblo detachment was dis
charged after arriving in Salt Lake
valley. Capt. James Brown was sent
to California with power of attorney
to collect their pay. He returned
with $4,000 in Spanish doubloons,
which was the first gold coin circu-
lated in Utah.
1.-THE Pueblo detachment of the
Mormon battalion was the first
United States military organization
to come here. They entered Salt
Lake valley to the strains of martial
music, accompanied by Brigham
Young and escort. They camped up
on City creek, and Brigham Young
thanked them in the presence of all
assembled for the service which they
had rendered to the people and their
country.
"Conclusions.-The Mormon bat
talon rendered a service to the ma
ton:
"In that they performed an i'm
portant part in opening the high
ways between the east and the west;
"In that they assisted in establish
ing the United States government
and in introducing American civiliza-
=, upon the shores of the Pacific
ocean;
The battalion rendered not only
national service, but world serv-
ice;
"In that they participated in the
discovery of the first gold in Cali
fornia.
"The Mormon battalion rendered a
service to the State of Utah
"In that they aided her pioneers
in their preparations for coming to
these valleys;
"In that they took part in the
earliest activities of the state
'In that they added splendid re-
Inducements to the supplies of the
pioneers;
| 'In that mucn OF the seeds sown
in the virgin soil of Utah were fruits
of their enlistment;
"In that they brought here the
first ideas for that wonderful sys-
tenn of irrigation which made pos
sible the fruition Of those seeds.
Further, we desire to express our
appreciation that the United States
government, through the enlistment
of The Mormon battalion, rendered
important aid to the Utah pioneers
in their labor of founding this state
Government money paid to the bat
talon assisted in equipping the pio'
neers of 1847 Government permits.
sion obtained on account of the en-.