Mormon Settlement in Arizona: A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the DesertMcClintock, James H.
History
Mormon Settlement in Arizona: A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the Desert
McClintock, James H.
Arizona -- History -- To 1950; Latter Day Saints -- Arizona -- History
With full assent from the leaders, some of the brethren remained in the
vicinity of Sutter's Fort, where work was plenty, and probably half of
those who went on across the mountains returned on receipt of advices
that came to them at Donner Lake, at the hands of Capt. James Brown, of
the Pueblo detachment. The Church authorities instructed all who had
insufficient means to remain in California and labor and to bring their
earnings with them in the spring. Tyler, with his party, arrived in Salt
Lake Valley October 16, to find his relatives living in a fort, which had
all rooms opening into an enclosure, with port-holes for defense cut in
the outer walls.
The new company, with additional enlistment of six months, was placed
under Capt. Daniel C. Davis, who had been in command of Company E. The
company was marched to San Diego, arriving August 2. A detachment under
Lieut. Ruel Barrus garrisoned San Luis Rey. In San Diego the men appeared
to have had little military duty. They were allowed to work as mechanics,
repaired wagons, did blacksmithing and erected a bakery. They became very
popular with the townspeople, who wanted to retain them as permanent
residents. It was noted that the Mormons had conquered prejudice and had
effected a kind of industrial revolution in languid Alta California.
[Illustration: BATTALION MEMBERS WHO RETURNED TO ARIZONA
1--Samuel H. Rogers 6--Hyrum Judd
2--Henry Standage 7--Samuel Thompson
3--Edward Bunker 8--Wm. A. Follett
4--Henry W. Brizzee 9--Schuyler Hulett
5--George Steele 10--David Pulsipher]
[Illustration: BATTALION MEMBERS WHO RETURNED TO ARIZONA
1--Rufus C. Allen
2--John Steele
3--Reuben Allred
4--Elzada Ford Allred
5--Wm. B. Maxwell
6--Henry G. Boyle
7--Zadok K. Judd]
The enlistment term expired in January, but it was March, 1848, before
the men were paid off and discharged. Most of the 78 members of the
company went northward, but one party of 22, led by Henry G. Boyle,
taking a wagon and 135 mules, started to Salt Lake by way of the Mojave
desert, reaching its destination June 5. This would appear to have been a
very important journey, the party probably being first with wagons to
travel what later became known as the Mormon road.
Following the very practical customs of their people, the members of the
Battalion picked up in California a large quantity of seeds and grains
for replanting in Utah, welcomed in establishing the marvelous
agricultural community there developed. Lieut. James Pace brought in the
club-head wheat, which proved especially suited to inter-mountain
climatic conditions. From Pueblo other members brought the Taos wheat,
which also proved valuable. Daniel Tyler brought the California pea.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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