One of the great pioneer stories was the Mormon Battalion. Brigham Young had tried to seek aid for the saints after being driven from their homes. Jesse C. Little met with President James K. Polk on June 5th, 1846 and asked him to aid the Mormon pioneers by employing them to fortify and defend the West. The President offered to aid them by allowing them to raise a battalion of 500 men to fight in the war against Mexico. They were going to join Colonel Stephen W. Kerney. The offer was accepted and word was sent to raise the battalion. This was the first time the US Government had given aid to the Mormons.
On July 16th, 1846 543 men enlisted in the Mormon Battalion. There were also approximately 33 women and 51 children. The men took cash instead of uniforms, using the cash to support their families, so they did not wear uniforms. Most of them migrated to the Salt Lake Valley after they had served.
I am always amazed to think of the men being willing to leave their families knowing that they were not left in the best of circumstances and that they would have to travel on alone. It is also amazing to me to hear of stories of the women and children really stepping up and doing what needed to be done because of their faith.
I knew that the women's pull was going to happen. I knew from my kids talking about it in the past that it was an emotional thing for the boys to watch the girls pulling the handcart up the hill. I know it was physically hard for the girls. But I looked forward to the experience.
The riders rode up and announced that they needed men to join and told the history, and then the boys and men in the group were asked to march out.... Willie and Wyatt told me that their dad was choked up walking away and that they all had tears in their eyes watching us pull. They were taken up and around where they were able to watch from a distance. I am going to say that it was honestly that physically it was one of the hardest things I have done in years! I had been sick for a month before this and was having a hard time breathing on top of the pain in my legs right then. The girls were troopers. Some of the families only had a couple of girls but everyone split up and made sure things were equal and we pulled.... and pushed... and cheered each other on. The girls in my family were troopers.... all of the girls were!
At a certain point the boys/men were told they could go help us. It was crazy to look across and see dozens of boys running as fast as they could to get to us and help. Thayne's back still isn't in great shape and he knew he couldn't get there as fast as the boys so as soon as they said to go, he told the boys to run as fast as they could to help me! It was so sweet. Wyatt, and our 'other' Thayne (bff's son) got to the girls first and Wyatt grabs our handcart and says, "I got this mom!" Then he told me that it was so hard to see me pulling like that and he wouldn't have liked to have had to leave me alone to do something so hard.
It really was a great expeience. Different for both the boys and the girls. The boys' hearts were pretty tender watching the girls struggle, and even though they did an amazing job, it was something to see how fast the boys wanted to get there an help. It also helped the girls over the next day and a half appreciate how tough those boys are!!! We have amazing youth. We have an amazing past. There are so many that gave so much for what they believe, for their freedom to worship God they way they choose to... and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to reflect on all that it means to me!
Gathering around to hear the riders call for all of the men and boys to serve in the battalion!
My girls.... ready to handle the handcart! They told me we could do this ~ no problem!!! They were tough and did do an amazing job of getting it up the hill... and that was no easy task! I really love these girls. It was so amazing to get to be their 'ma'... it was an amazing experience!
