The Mormon Battalion

The Mormon Battalion in Tucson, AZ, commemorates the remarkable journey of roughly 500 Mormon volunteers who enlisted to support the Mexican-American War, marching approximately 2,000 miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to San Diego, California, from 1846 to 1847. This unique military unit, the only one in American history comprised entirely of a single religious denomination, faced challenges that included health issues and a stampede of wild bulls, yet they successfully completed their mission without engaging in warfare.

Upon their discharge, many soldiers navigated overland routes to reunite with their families, establishing Cooke's Wagon Road, which became a significant route for emigration and freighting. Monuments and historic sites, such as the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in Old Town San Diego, honor their service and contributions to American history, including the land acquisition that led to the 1853 Gadsden Purchase in southern Arizona.

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