Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 12th September 2009, 08:54 AM

What an incredibly esoteric, and fascinating topic Pallas!!

I am not at all surprised that these weapons would be hard to come by, and am wondering exactly how they might be provenanced. The Nauvoo Legion, first chartered in Illinois in the Mormon city by that name, was supposed to receive guns from the government. These would have been the M1816 flintlock musket and Harpers Ferry M1803 rifle, but there are no accurate accounts of how many were ever actually issued. The very character and climate of the situation was reflected by the bureaucratic resistance to actual issue weapons to a potentially volatile arrangement.

By 1845-46, matters had indeed become chaotic, and the official recognition of the chartered city state of Nauvoo was rescinded. Illinois governor Thomas Ford recalled the weapons issued to the Legion in 1840, but in documents examined by scholars at Brigham Young University in 1995, it revealed these numbers were only possibly about 250 rifles and muskets. There were also three antiquated cannon, one from the War of 1812.
While a small arsenal was built for the Legion, its completion in 1845 would seem to suggest it was likely never used as intended, especially for the small number of weapons that seem to have been in personal possession.

In the interesting situation of the Mormon Battalion, who were a unit of about 543 men who were termed volunteers, but actually coerced into army service in arrangements between Brigham Young and the government, they again likely received the issue weapons as before, M1816 and M1803.
It is doubtful that these had identifiable markings that would attribute them to these individuals, and on August 15,1847 they were told to turn in these weapons.

Meanwhile, the Nauvoo Legion had been reinstated by Brigham Young, as Utan was created officially a territory (1852) and as such, permitted to establish a militia. In "The Rocky Mountain Saints" (T.B.H. Stenhous, p.676) it as noted that "...the arms with which the saints are now equipped are thier own property". Once again, the government was resistant to supply weapons to this this potentially troublesome situation. While these units were of course well known in various historical engagements such as the 'Walker War' (1853-54); Utah War (1857-58) and in degree the Civil War and 'Blackhawk War of 1865-68, it remains unclear just how many weapons were ever 'officially' issued, and if they were, how they might be identified.

In "The Utah Geneological and Historical Magazine" (Vol. 4, 1913, p.137) there is an article, "Relic Hall of the Deseret Museum" by the curator of that museum, Sterling B. Talmage. In it he notes the curious assemblage of arms apparantly of the Nauvoo Legion, though it is unclear which period or incarnation or units these are from.
There are muskets and rifles, some cap and ball, as well as Kentucky rifles and Spencer repeaters. There are single shot pistols such as the .22 rimfire belonging to Hyrum Smith, and the Ethan Allen Dragoon model pepperbox postol of Joseph Smith. There are also the Colt cap and ball revolvers as well as the underhammer percussion pistols known as 'bootleg pistols'.

I would presume many of these types of weapons would have been brought back from the many Saints who had been away on missions, as they were often encouraged to bring back the latest items, including weapons.

Despite the profound presence of symbolism evidenced in Mormon architecture, and tradition, as far as I know there has been no evidence of markings or identifiable motif on weapons attributed to the Mormons, nor suggestion that they ever applied same. As noted, while the Nauvoo Legion was a quasi-military organization, it is unclear if or how any issuance markings might be recognized if they ever were used.

These attachments might be of interest;
The shoulder patch of the Mormon Battalion
The Nauvoo Legion Flag
The Angel Moroni weather vane atop Nauvoo Temple
I had once thought this image was engraved on a Mormon knife or
sword.
The Deseret alphabet
perhaps these characters might be present on a weapon in some manner

All best regards,
Jim

12th September 2009, 08:54 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,800	What an incredibly esoteric, and fascinating topic Pallas!! I am not at all surprised that these weapons would be hard to come by, and am wondering exactly how they might be provenanced. The Nauvoo Legion, first chartered in Illinois in the Mormon city by that name, was supposed to receive guns from the government. These would have been the M1816 flintlock musket and Harpers Ferry M1803 rifle, but there are no accurate accounts of how many were ever actually issued. The very character and climate of the situation was reflected by the bureaucratic resistance to actual issue weapons to a potentially volatile arrangement. By 1845-46, matters had indeed become chaotic, and the official recognition of the chartered city state of Nauvoo was rescinded. Illinois governor Thomas Ford recalled the weapons issued to the Legion in 1840, but in documents examined by scholars at Brigham Young University in 1995, it revealed these numbers were only possibly about 250 rifles and muskets. There were also three antiquated cannon, one from the War of 1812. While a small arsenal was built for the Legion, its completion in 1845 would seem to suggest it was likely never used as intended, especially for the small number of weapons that seem to have been in personal possession. In the interesting situation of the Mormon Battalion, who were a unit of about 543 men who were termed volunteers, but actually coerced into army service in arrangements between Brigham Young and the government, they again likely received the issue weapons as before, M1816 and M1803. It is doubtful that these had identifiable markings that would attribute them to these individuals, and on August 15,1847 they were told to turn in these weapons. Meanwhile, the Nauvoo Legion had been reinstated by Brigham Young, as Utan was created officially a territory (1852) and as such, permitted to establish a militia. In "The Rocky Mountain Saints" (T.B.H. Stenhous, p.676) it as noted that "...the arms with which the saints are now equipped are thier own property". Once again, the government was resistant to supply weapons to this this potentially troublesome situation. While these units were of course well known in various historical engagements such as the 'Walker War' (1853-54); Utah War (1857-58) and in degree the Civil War and 'Blackhawk War of 1865-68, it remains unclear just how many weapons were ever 'officially' issued, and if they were, how they might be identified. In "The Utah Geneological and Historical Magazine" (Vol. 4, 1913, p.137) there is an article, "Relic Hall of the Deseret Museum" by the curator of that museum, Sterling B. Talmage. In it he notes the curious assemblage of arms apparantly of the Nauvoo Legion, though it is unclear which period or incarnation or units these are from. There are muskets and rifles, some cap and ball, as well as Kentucky rifles and Spencer repeaters. There are single shot pistols such as the .22 rimfire belonging to Hyrum Smith, and the Ethan Allen Dragoon model pepperbox postol of Joseph Smith. There are also the Colt cap and ball revolvers as well as the underhammer percussion pistols known as 'bootleg pistols'. I would presume many of these types of weapons would have been brought back from the many Saints who had been away on missions, as they were often encouraged to bring back the latest items, including weapons. Despite the profound presence of symbolism evidenced in Mormon architecture, and tradition, as far as I know there has been no evidence of markings or identifiable motif on weapons attributed to the Mormons, nor suggestion that they ever applied same. As noted, while the Nauvoo Legion was a quasi-military organization, it is unclear if or how any issuance markings might be recognized if they ever were used. These attachments might be of interest; The shoulder patch of the Mormon Battalion The Nauvoo Legion Flag The Angel Moroni weather vane atop Nauvoo Temple I had once thought this image was engraved on a Mormon knife or sword. The Deseret alphabet perhaps these characters might be present on a weapon in some manner All best regards, Jim Attached Images Last edited by Jim McDougall; 12th September 2009 at 09:09 AM.