When the Mormons established their theocratic city of Nauvoo on
the banks of the Mississippi in 1839, they made self-defense a
priority, having encountered persecution, violence, and forcible
expulsion elsewhere. Organized under Illinois law, the Nauvoo
Legion was a city militia made up primarily of Latter-day Saints.
This comprehensive work on the history, structure, and purpose of
the Nauvoo Legion traces its unique story from its founding to the
Mormon exodus in 1846.
An American construct in design, appearance, and function, the
Nauvoo Legion quickly became one of America's largest--and most
feared--militias. The authors describe its origins, daily
activities, and general conduct, including parades, sham battles,
uniforms, and military operations. And they also present a new
interpretation of the Legion's essential purpose and character.
Drawing upon overlooked state militia records and recently
discovered archival material, they identify the thousands of
citizen soldiers who served.
Despite the nominal authority of the Illinois governor, the
Nauvoo Legion was led by Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith. As the
militia grew in strength and military prowess, neighboring
non-Mormons grew wary. Soon, local fears led to violence and the
killing of Smith and his brother, Hyrum, in 1844. When the Nauvoo
Charter was revoked, the militia no longer enjoyed legal status and
assumed a distinctly different role in Mormon affairs until it was
reconstituted after the Mormon emigration to Utah.
Impeccably researched and honestly told, this groundbreaking
study fills a major gap in Latter-day Saint church history and adds
a significant chapter to the annals of American militias.
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