Manuscripts

The Mormon Battalion: a lecture

Image not available

Description: This manuscript is a hand-written transcript of a lecture on the Mormon Battalion, given by James Ferguson in Liverpool, England, on November 7, 1855. He describes his experiences as part of the Battalion, including encounters with Indians and Mexican soldiers across Texas and Mexico. Includes printed copy of the December 1, 1855 issue of the Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, which contains a printed transcription of the lecture.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1855, November 7.
Call number: mssHM 19825
Creator: Ferguson, James (1828-1863)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased from Park-Bernet Galleries, 1945, April 4.

Mormon Battalion diary of Henry Standage

Manuscripts

Typescript of Henry Standage's diary, kept while he was serving in the Mormon Battalion from 1846-1847. The diary opens with his departure from Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Mormon Battalion in July 1846. It traces their travels across the plains, including stopping at Fort Leavenworth, arriving in Santa Fe (where he recalls General Kearney's bloodless encounter with Mexican troops, and concludes "the Lord is...opening the way before us"), trading with Alpacha Indians, the taking of "Spanish prisoners," and the difficulties of marching and moving supplies. Once the Battalion had arrived in California, Standage records stopping in San Diego only to be ordered to march to San Luis Rey ("It does seem as though we should never have rest in the service of the United States," Standage complained), drilling in San Luis Rey before preparing to march to Los Angeles, derogatory remarks about the "Spaniards" in Los Angeles, a description of the city, and his interest in Roman Catholic ceremonies. The diary ends on July 19, 1847, while Standage was still in Los Angeles.

mssHM 16998

Orderly book of the 2nd Battalion of the 71st Regiment of Foot, 1778, Apr. 21 - Sept. 9

Manuscripts

The regimental orderly book of the 2nd Battalion of the 71st Regment of Foot, containing general, brigade, regimental, and battalion orders, including those from the headquarters of Henry Clinton and John Campbell, records of proceedings of court martial, etc.

mssHM 617

Orderly book of the New Hampshire Battalion, 1783, Mar. 12 - Apr. 13, Newburgh, N. Y

Manuscripts

A fragment of the orderly book of the New Hampshire Battalion containing chiefly brigade and general orders

mssHM 588

Diary of Robert S. Bliss, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1846-1847

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a diary kept by Robert S. Bliss while he was serving with Company "B" of the Mormon Battalion, United States Army. It traces the Company's travels from Colorado through Sonora, California, to San Diego, and Bliss's return trip as far as Fort Hall, Idaho. The diary details the months the Company spent at the San Luis Rey Mission, and includes observations, both positive and negative, on local Indians and Spaniards. The second microfilm reel contains a typescript of the diary.

MSS MFilm 00412

Image not available

James McMahan orderly book

Manuscripts

This volume is the day-to-day record of the 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion during Henry Bouquet's 1764 Ohio campaign during the Pontiac War, also known as Pontiac's Conspiracy. It documents military orders, records of court martial, announcements, encounters with women following the troops, French prisoners of war, Indigenous hostages, interactions with local Indigenous groups, and life at Fort Pitt, Pennsylvania, following a siege by allied Indigenous warriors. After McMahan returned home in December 1764, he used the orderly book to keep personal accounts. The sporadic records cover 1765 to 1772 and include transactions involving purchases of whiskey, shoes, "Bedsteads, "dear skins," lead, sugar, salt, and books, as well as payments to day laborers and artisans.

mssHM 84495

Diary of Robert S. Bliss, Private, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1848

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of the diary of Robert S. Bliss, covering January to May 1848. The diary recounts Bliss's time in Salt Lake City and his overland travel toward Garden Grove, with the final entry made when he was forty-two miles from Winter Quarters. The original diary is included later on the microfilm reel, along with a typescript copy of Bliss's 1846-1847 diary. The microfilm also includes letters reading the diary dated 1915-1928, and addressed to and from the Gallery of California, Panama-California Exposition, in San Diego, the Daughters of the Mormon Battalion, Margaret V. Allen, George I. Putnam, and Mary J. Clawson.

MSS MFilm 00424

The Mormon Battalion: a lecture

Opening Hours

Admission Info and Tickets

You might also be interested in

Mormon Battalion diary of Henry Standage

Orderly book of the 2nd Battalion of the 71st Regiment of Foot, 1778, Apr. 21 - Sept. 9

Orderly book of the New Hampshire Battalion, 1783, Mar. 12 - Apr. 13, Newburgh, N. Y

Diary of Robert S. Bliss, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1846-1847

James McMahan orderly book

Diary of Robert S. Bliss, Private, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1848