“The trustees have no means with which to carry on the defense; they are already involved. Major Parker, who was sent by the governor to aid us, when he left, promised to raise men and return immediately to our assistance, but he has forsaken us, and is it not well known that the Quincy Committee was prepared to join the mob, if a treaty was not effected? Under these circumstances, I have thrown in my influence with the trustees for the surrender of Nauvoo upon the best terms we could get, and as being the best and only wise policy left for us to pursue.
“Brethren, reflect, we have nothing to gain in defending Nauvoo, but everything to lose; not only property, but life also, is hourly in peril.”
Chapter 38
The Mormon Battalion
1846–1847
Captain Allen’s Circular
When Captain James Allen arrived in the Camps of the Saints, he issued a “Circular to the ‘Mormons,’” which read as follows:
“I have come among you, instructed by Colonel S. W. Kearny, of the U. S. Army, now commanding the Army of the West, to visit the ‘Mormon’ Camp, and accept the services for twelve months of four or five companies of ‘Mormon’ men who may be willing to serve their country for that period in our present war with Mexico; this force to unite with the Army of the West at Santa Fe, and be marched thence to California, where they will be discharged.
“They will receive pay and rations, and other allowances, such as other volunteers or regular soldiers receive, from the day they shall be mustered into the service, and will be entitled to all comforts and benefits of regular soldiers of the Army, and when discharged, as contemplated, at California, they will be given gratis their arms and accoutrements, with which they will be fully equipped at Fort Leavenworth. Thus is offered to the ‘Mormon’ people now—this year—an opportunity of sending a portion of their young and intelligent men to the ultimate destination of their whole people, and entirely at the expense of the United States, and this advance party can thus pave the way and look out the land for their brethren to come after them.
“The pay of a private volunteer is seven dollars per month, and the allowance for clothing is the cost price of clothing of a regular soldier.
“Those of the ‘Mormons’ who are desirous of serving their country on the conditions here enumerated, are requested to meet me without delay at their principal camp at the Council Bluffs, whither I am now going to consult with their principal men, and to receive and organize the force contemplated to be raised.
“I will receive all healthy, able men of from eighteen to forty-five years of age.
“J. Allen, Captain 1st Dragoons.”
“Camp of the ‘Mormons,’ at Mount Pisgah, one hundred and thirty miles east of Council Bluffs, June 26th, 1846.”
Scarcity of Able-Bodied Men
When this call came a great part of the young men of the ages required were scattered over the plains. Many had gone to St. Louis and other points for employment to obtain means to help them carry their families to the west. All of the Saints were poor, and some in dire want. Those who were able to travel were under the necessity of helping along the weak, the aged and infirm, who could not be left behind. Among the teamsters were found mere children, who had been forced into such service because of the limited number of men.