June 26, 1846, Captain James Allen, of the United States army, arrived at Mount Pisgah and had an interview with the brethren there. He was the bearer of a message to the "Mormon" people making a requisition on the camps for four or five companies of men, to serve as volunteers in the war with Mexico, which had recently been declared. The brethren at Mount Pisgah did not feel authorized to take any action, and therefore advised Captain Allen to visit President Young and the apostles at Council Bluffs. Captain Allen arrived at Council Bluffs on the 30th day of June, and the following day met with the Church authorities and presented his credentials for raising five hundred men. Such a demand caused some surprise and a little dismay among the camps. However, President Brigham Young declared that the volunteers would be forthcoming. It was moved by Heber C. Kimball and seconded by Willard Richards, that a battalion of five hundred men be raised, which was carried unanimously at a meeting of the brethren of the camp who were called together to consider the requisition. Consequently President Young and Elder Kimball returned to Mount Pisgah to raise volunteers, while letters were sent to Garden Grove and to Nauvoo bearing on the subject. Monday, July 13, 1846, in obedience to the call of the authorities, the camps of the Saints met on Mosquito Creek, where they were addressed by President Young, Captain Allen and Colonel Thomas L. Kane, who had arrived in the camp to be of service to the people. Four companies of the battalion were raised on that and the following day, and the fifth company a few days later. An Important Council Meeting July 16, a council meeting was held at the bluffs and Ezra T. Benson was ordained an apostle in the stead of John E. Page, who had been excommunicated. Elders Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt and John Taylor were appointed to go to England to take charge of the affairs of the Church in that land and set them in order. Reuben Hedlock and Thomas Ward, who had been in charge, had been guilty of misconduct in the use of funds and had been disfellowshipped. The same day four companies of the battalion were mustered into service by their respective captains, and on the 20th left for Fort Leavenworth in the service of the United States. The fifth company left the following day, and the entire body arrived at their destination August 1, 1846, numbering at the time five hundred and forty-nine men. President Young's Instructions to the Battalion