Mormon Battalion - Old Town San Diego CA (Travel Photo Monday and Our World Tuesday)

Travel Photo Monday and Our World Tuesday


March 2014 - San Diego CA

We had intended to only take a photo outside of the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in Old Town.

However, we walked up the stairs and were greeted by Sister D who graciously invited us to attend a 30 minute interactive presentation.

We are seated in a hall lined with photographs.

We both thought we saw a photo move but weren't sure. Sure enough, the pictures started talking to us wanting to tell their story. here you can see they've moved into the next room and we follow.

The Mormon Battalion was the only religiously based unit in United States military history, and it served from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War. The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 559 Latter-day Saints men led by Mormon company officers, commanded by regular US army officers. During its service, the battalion made a grueling march nearly 2,000 miles long from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to San Diego.

Next we move into the barracks.  We've made to Missouri! The woman in the window is a video and she is so happy to see us.

Sister D needs a volunteer. They had run out of uniforms so we were given a clothing allowance of $42 to send home to our families and we made do with a makeshift uniform.

Checking out his rations.

The battalion's march and service was instrumental in helping the US secure much of the American Southwest, including new lands in several Western states, especially the Gadsden Purchase of 1853 of much of southern Arizona. The march also opened a southern wagon route to California. Veterans of the battalion played significant roles in America's westward expansion in California, Utah, Arizona and other parts of the West.

All in all this was a very informative fun presentation. Really glad we did it.