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This article is about the Illinois militia with the nickname Nauvoo Legion. For the Utah militia with the same nickname, see Utah Territorial Militia.
Nauvoo Legion
General Joseph Smith commanding the Nauvoo Legion infantrymen in formation between 1841 and 1844 in Nauvoo, Illinois, with the Nauvoo Temple on a hill in the background
Active
1841-1845
Country
United States
Allegiance
United States
Illinois
Mayor of Nauvoo
Branch
Illinois State Militia (1841–1845)
Type
Militia
Role
Protect Mormon settlers from domestic and foreign enemies
Size
Illinois State Militia (2,500)
Engagements
Illinois Mormon War (1844–1846)
Battle of Nauvoo (1846)
Commanders
Notable commanders
Lieutenant General Joseph Smith
General John C. Bennett
Brigham Young
Daniel H. Wells
Hosea Stout
Military unit
Part of a series on
Mormon Militias
Lieutenant General Joseph Smith Addresses the Nauvoo Legion
Military Units
Caldwell County Militia
Danite
Lot Smith Cavalry Company
Mormon Battalion
Nauvoo Legion
Spartan Band
State of Deseret Territorial Militia
Utah Territorial Militia
Whistling and Whittling Brigade
Zion's Camp
Conflicts
1838 Mormon War
Battle at Fort Utah
Battle of Crooked River
Battle Creek massacre
William McBride Massacre (1851)
Morrisite War
Mormon War (Illinois)
Utah War
Wakara's War
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Black Hawk War (1865–1872)
Notable leaders
George M. Hinkle
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
Sampson Avard
John C. Bennett
Daniel H. Wells
William H. Dame
Lot Smith
Related Topics
Expulsion of Mormons from Jackson County, Missouri
Missouri Executive Order 44
v
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The alleged Nauvoo Legion Flag. It is not known if it was used in Nauvoo, Illinois, or in the later Nauvoo Legion Utah period. It may have also been used by the Mormon Battalion in the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1847).[1]
The Nauvoo Legion was a state-authorized militia of the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, United States from February 4, 1841 until January 29, 1845. It was first led by John C. Bennett, and then by Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement and mayor of Nauvoo. Its main function was the defense of Nauvoo and surrounding Latter Day Saint areas of settlement.
In 1845 the Nauvoo Legion lost its official sanction as an arm of the Illinois militia, following a controversy in which the Nauvoo Expositor newspaper was destroyed by the Legion on Joseph Smith's orders.[2][3] Joseph Smith was ordered to the Carthage Jail under charges of treason, where Smith was then killed by a mob.
^Groote, M. D. (2010, January 7). Secrets of the patriarch’s bear flag. Deseret News.
^Wicks, Robert S.; Foister, Fred R. (April 7, 2024). "Retributive Justice". Junius and Joseph. University Press of Colorado. pp. 132–144. doi:10.2307/j.ctt4cgn0s.16. ISBN 978-0-87421-608-0. JSTOR j.ctt4cgn0s.16.
The NauvooLegion was a state-authorized militia of the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, United States from February 4, 1841 until January 29, 1845. It was first...
dismissed by Nauvoo courts. Smith declared martial law in Nauvoo and called on the NauvooLegion to protect the city. After briefly fleeing Illinois, Smith...
controlled Nauvoo's civil government, the city guaranteed religious freedom for its residents. The charter also authorized the NauvooLegion, a militia...
Illinois for calling out the NauvooLegion contrary to the orders of the Governor of Illinois. Bainbridge Kirtland Far West Nauvoo While in New York, Smith...
hindering and weakening them. Daniel H. Wells, Lieutenant-General of the NauvooLegion, instructed Major Joseph Taylor: On ascertaining the locality or route...
The Nauvoo Expositor was a newspaper in Nauvoo, Illinois, that published only one issue, on June 7, 1844. Its publication, and the destruction of the printing...
Church) involved with the Utah Territorial Militia (officially called the NauvooLegion) who recruited and were aided by some Southern Paiute Native Americans...
establishment of a university, and the creation of a militia unit known as the "NauvooLegion." Smith dreamed of industrial projects, and even received a revelation...
the old NauvooLegion uniforms. This new Utah based militia would also be referred to as the NauvooLegion. Some of the Utah-based NauvooLegion would carry...
Mormon militia known as the "Armies of Israel,", which pre-dated the NauvooLegion by eight years, to protect his community. Some historians have alleged...
of Davis County, Utah, Mormon hero of the Utah War, General in the NauvooLegion and the first LDS stake president in Arizona. George Stoneman, Civil...
the Civil War. In 1850, Salt Lake City sent out a force known as the NauvooLegion and engaged the Timpanogos in the Battle at Fort Utah.: 71 Disputes...
outlawed. The LDS Church was incorporated and a militia, based on the NauvooLegion, was formed. The legislature initially formed six counties, which covered...
British Legion (1860) British contingent of the above NauvooLegion, a significant militia in early Mormon history List of American Civil War legions, both...
assassination, had served as mayor of Nauvoo, Major General of the NauvooLegion, and Chancellor of the University of Nauvoo. Bennett made a number of controversial...
Deseret, reconstructed A cavalry guidon of the Utah-era version of the NauvooLegion According to most descriptions, the flag of the State of Deseret was...
persecution and to further their creed, for example the Hussites, the Mormon NauvooLegion and the Mahdi Army in Iraq; because of their nature, such militias are...
Farmington, Utah, where he married, became a military leader in the NauvooLegion in Utah and was distinguished in campaigns to stop Indian depredations...
declared martial law in Nauvoo and called out the NauvooLegion, an organized city militia of about 5,000 men, to protect Nauvoo from outside violence....
their release, Smith joined with the other saints who were gathering in Nauvoo, Illinois. During the conflict, 22 people were killed (three Mormons and...
assassination, had served as mayor of Nauvoo, Major General of the NauvooLegion, and Chancellor of the University of Nauvoo. Bennett implicated Rockwell in...
exterminate any Timpanogos hostile to the Mormon settlement. Young sent the NauvooLegion down with Captain George D. Grant and later sent General Daniel H. Wells...
to the Nauvoo Temple in early 1841.[citation needed] Smith also served on the Nauvoo City Council. He was brigadier general of the NauvooLegion and a...
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