The Mormon Battalion at McPherson, Kansas
On 3 September 1846, the Mormon Battalion camped near here on its way to fight in the war with Mexico. This small army of more than 500 men and officers had been recruited at Council Bluffs, Iowa, from among the Mormon pioneers (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) who were en route to the Rocky Mountains. About one-tenth of the battalion suffered from "ague, billions, and congestive fever" during the march from Council Bluffs, but only the standard army medicines of "calomel, arsenic, and bitters of bayberry bark" were on hand to treat them with.
Here battalion members saw for the first time the prickly pear cactus and other semi-arid plants typical of the American Southwest. Their difficult 1700-mile journey through the dry and barren landscape between this campsite and the final destination at San Diego, California, evoked poems, songs, and art work, some of which have been preserved in diaries kept by battalion members.
Erected 1982 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Kansas State Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, Mexican-American. In addition, it is included in the Mormon Battalion series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 3, 1846.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Kansas Honors the 35th Infantry Division (approx. 0.3 miles away); Purple Heart Trail in Kansas (approx. 0.3 miles away); Runbeck Mill (approx. 6.2 miles away); Smoky Valley Roller Mills (approx. 6.2 miles away); Otto Johnson (approx. 6.3 miles away); The Teichgraeber-Runbeck House (approx. 6.3 miles away); Sweadal 1869 (approx. 6.3 miles away); Steve W. Train (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in McPherson.
Also see . . . History of the Mormon Battalion. Utah "History To Go" entry (Submitted on February 6, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 6, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 488 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 6, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
