Mormon Battalion Monument (Sandoval County, New Mexico) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mormon Battalion Monument |
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The monument in 2014
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| Year | 1940; 1996 |
| Subject | Mormon Battalion, Mexican–American War |
| Dimensions | 6.1 m (20 ft) |
| Location | Sandoval County, New Mexico |
| 35°27′06″N 106°21′14″W / 35.451646°N 106.353897°W | |
The Mormon Battalion Monument is a tall, pointed stone pillar, also known as an obelisk. It stands in a rural area of Sandoval County, New Mexico. This monument honors members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church). These individuals served as soldiers in the United States Army's special group called the Mormon Battalion. They fought during the Mexican–American War, which happened between 1846 and 1848. The monument was first built in 1940. It was later taken down in 1982 and then rebuilt in 1996.
Where to Find the Monument
The first monument was located about 32 miles north of Albuquerque on an old highway. The monument you can see today, rebuilt in 1996, is in a slightly different spot. It's about five miles northeast of San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico. You can find it near the end of a road, close to exit 257 on Interstate 25. It sits along a smaller road next to the north side of the interstate highway.
The Monument's Story
The first monument was put up by members of the LDS Church from Albuquerque and Los Alamos, New Mexico. Its dedication ceremony took place in June 1940. Thousands of people attended, including important leaders like Mormon leader George Albert Smith and U.S. Army General R. C. Charlton. Joaquin Antonio Bazan, a skilled builder, designed and created the original monument. He even used an old oil derrick wheel for the top of the spire, knowing it would last longer than a real wagon wheel.
In 1982, the monument had to be moved. This happened because Interstate 25 was being built. The plan was to split the monument into two parts and place them on either side of the new highway. However, this plan didn't happen right away, and the monument was forgotten for a while.
In 1996, a newspaper writer named George Calloway mentioned the forgotten monument in the Albuquerque Journal. Soon after, a community leader contacted two politicians, Gerald Weeks and Joseph Carraro, to help. For $30,000, the monument was rebuilt that same year. It was made with sandstone from Los Lunas. The new monument is 20 feet tall. It still has a wheel at the top and a bronze plaque with writing on one side near the bottom. A special rededication ceremony was held on September 7, 1996. About 700 people attended, including Mormon Elder Garn.
What the Plaque Says
The monument has a bronze plaque with an important message. It tells about the journey of the Mormon Battalion.
Here's some of what the plaque says:
The Mormon Battalion
Council Bluffs Fort Leavenworth Santa Fe San Diego July 16, 1846 Aug. 12, 1846 Oct. 9, 1846 Jan. 29,1847 Erected June 16, 1940
The Mormon battalion was made up of 500 men. They joined the United States Army during the war with Mexico. This happened as Mormon pioneers were starting their long journey to the Rocky Mountains. After a 2,000-mile march from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to San Diego, California, their leader at Santa Fe praised his men. He said:
"You won't find another march like this in history. Half of it was through wild lands with only wild animals, or deserts with no water. We worked hard to dig wells that future travelers will use. Without a guide, we bravely went into unknown lands where we found no water for many days. With tools like crowbars and picks, we worked our way over mountains that seemed impossible to cross. We even cut a path through solid rock, barely wide enough for our wagons. To bring these first wagons to the Pacific Ocean, we kept our mules strong by letting them graze in large areas. You guarded them carefully without losing any.
"So, marching with torn clothes and little food, living on wild animals, we found and made a very valuable road for our country."
Lieutenant Colonel P. St. George Cook
This was an official message given on January 30, 1847, after the battalion safely arrived in San Diego, California.
The monument was sponsored by the Committee for the Erection of the Mormon Battalion Monument in New Mexico and the Utah Pioneer Trails and Landmarks Association. Many friends donated to help build it.
- Note: The word "savages" on the original plaque has since been removed.*
