The Mormon Battalion was the only religious unit in American military history,[citation needed] serving from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War. The battalion was a volunteer unit of about 500 Latter-day Saint men led by Mormon company officers, commanded by regular army officers. The battalion eventually made a grueling march from Council Bluffs, Iowa to San Diego, California.
The battalion's march and service was instrumental in helping secure 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.
From the Wikipedia
Yuma, Az was on their way to San Diego. A monument was dedicated to them here in Yuma 1998. Randy visited the site and took some photographs of it. Here they are.
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