--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 9 published: 1927-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, “Mormon Troops in 1846,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 9 (July 1927): 804–805." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3009unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3009unse start_page: 804 end_page: 805 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3009unse publication_year: 1927 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Mormon Troops in 1846 "MORMON" TROOPS IN 1846 [Through the courtesy of Miss Daphne Smith, of Salt Lake City, the Era is able to reprint a letter written before the settlement of Utah, and containing interesting references to pre-pioncer day conditions, and to the Mormon Battalion, which then was enroute to Mexico. The letter was furnished by Maj. Gen. Wm. Carter to the Cavalry Journal, at Washington, D. C and published in 1922. It was written by Lieutenant Clarendon I. L. Wilson to Dr. Armistead Mott, of Leesburg, Virginia, was folded and sealed without an envelope, as was the custom of that period. Lieut. Wilson went with his command to California, and later returned to New Mexico, where he died in 1852, at the age of 28 years. His letter follows: — Editors.] Fort Leavenworth, Aug. 12, 1846 Dear Mott: — I reached this place two days ago, and having a little time to spare take this opportunity of writing to you. I found here more than two thousand troops (if these untamed volunteers deserve the name) , but the number is daily diminishing as they are put en- route for Santa Fe. This place is, at present, a perfect Bedlam — the damndest, noisy, dusty place that I have ever met with. You can hear nothing; for the teamsters are breaking mules and oxen to the wagons, and cursing, yelling at and thrashing them incessantly. The "Mormon" force are getting under headway today. I have just seen the rear of the 3d "Mormon" company file past. There are several more of the same command to leave to-morrow. The "Mormons" are the most orderly of the forces that I have seen at this place. I think that they are more likely to do credit to themselves, if brought into action, than the other volunteers. This is a very pretty place — just on the outskirts of civilization — lots of Indians in their original, wild state visiting it every day. I wish that you would come out and try this trip — I think (throwing out of consideration the hardships) that we shall have a tall time. It is a much more expensive affair than I had anticipated. The outfit is an expensive one in the line of articles necessary for a prairie life, such as cooking utensils, blankets, knives, axes, oil-cloth (to protect against the expected long rains) quantities of woolen clothing, horses or mules, etc., etc. I am going out in company with one of my classmates and we club together in the major part of the outfit. Mules are selling at from 80 to 130 dollars1 — horses at about the same, although you can get some knotty, stinted old fellows at less. Mules and horses are in the greatest demand — one might make his fortune. if he had grazed this kind of cattle largely. Myself and friend had to purchase 5 horses between us, one apiece to ride in order to spare as much as possible our parade horses, the other for our servant: it being absolutely necessary to get a servant at any rate of hire — the officers here saying that "it was absolutely necessary." I should have preferred getting three mules, but th? raft $t which they are selling is too exorbitant. "MORMON" TROOPS IN 1846 805 We are now nearly ready, so .far as our personal effects are concerned, to set out, but are detained by order of the ranking officer at this post. He says that he wants to send me out with a supply of government stores under my charge. There is another officer here who perhaps will start out in charge of them and as he is much my senior in years, I should like it a great deal better as it would take the responsibility off my hands. If I am sent, I shall have a company of "Mormons," I expect, as an escort, and if the Comanches- undertake to carry the stores off, they'll catch hell or I'm mistaken. If I com- mand them, perhaps, I shall get off in a day or two, if not I shall be detained perhaps a week. It has been almost a week since I com- menced this letter. The greater part of the "Mormon" and other volunteers are now on their way to Santa Fe. Gen. Kearny is in all probability there at this time, as an express arrived from Bent's Fort a day or two ago, saying that when he left, Kearny proposed leaving Bent's the next day and marching into Santa Fe. The distance between the latter places is about 12 or 14 days march. The express thinks that there is no chance of a fight. Capt. P. St. G. Cook of the 1st Dragoons had been despatched with 12 men and a flag of truce to Santa Fe. You will perhaps learn from the papers the information brought by the express, more correctly than I did, amidst the bustle and confusion here. If I had had my own way about the matter I should have been on the Santa Fe trail 5 days ago at least. Give my love to my sisters, my respects to all my friends, sub- stituting names, particularly the Greys', Harrisons', Tylers', Powells', Masons', Bentleys', Sinclairs', etc., etc. Tell Charley and John Wildman that they would better come out with you and try this trip. C. I. L. WILSON, 1st Reg, Dragoons. The Word There was a message passed along, Breathed into the listening ear Of a mountain bold and strong, Whispered by a lordly sphere; — "Say to the stately swaying one, 'Pass the word, the goodly word To the herald waiting in the dawn.' Just as the sun peeped o'er the hill, A brave, angelic little bird Raised aloft his tiny bill. "Behold!" said he, "I form the word, 'Pass the word, the goodly word I shout of all Omnipotence — Intelligence! Intelligence!' " Millard f. malin