Mormon Battalion: United States Army of the West, 1846-1848 [Paperback]

Norma Ricketts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

Few events in the history of the American Far West from 1846 to 1849 did not involve the Mormon Battalion. The Battalion participated in the United States conquest of California and in the discovery of gold, opened four major wagon trails, and carried the news of gold east to an eager American public. Yet, the battalion is little known beyond Mormon history. This first complete history of the wide-ranging army unit restores it to its central place in Western history, and provides descendants a complete roster of the Battalion's members.

Editorial Reviews

Review

>From the Mexican War to the discovery of gold in California, there were few major events in the history of the Far West from 1846 to 1849 that did not involve the Mormon Battalion. Norma Rickett's The Mormon Battalion: U. S. Army Of The West, 1846-1848 is the first complete history of this wide-ranging, but heretofore almost forgotten, army unit, restoring it to its uniquely central place in the history of the American West. Several informative appendices are also featured including an analysis of movement within the Mormon Battalion, an alphabetically reconstructed roster of the Mormon volunteers, military documents, the Mormon Battalion in music and poetry, and much more. A useful bibliography and a subject index further enhance the value of this benchmark publication. Norma Ricketts' The Mormon Battalion combines the scrupulousness of an historical scholar with a born story-teller's ability to showcase history for contemporary readers. The Mormon Battalion is an immensely valuable contribution to Mormon studies and Western American history reading lists. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Utah State University Press; 1 edition (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874212154
• ISBN-13: 978-0874212150
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource Tool, June 16, 2000

By 

Major Sherman L. Fleek, Chief Historian Natio... (Orange County, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mormon Battalion: United States Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Paperback)

It is about time that I write a review of Norma Ricketts' the Mormon Battalion U.S. Army of the West 1846-1847. I bought the book when it first came forth. I found it to have many short comings, especially with depth and inadequate background of major events and it provided no new intrpretation, just continuing the old themes. Yet, since that time I have come to realize that Mrs. Ricketts' has assembled an outstanding research and resource tool. I have nearly worn out my copy from my hundreds of times in looking up information and facts. It is invaluable to any serious student of the Mormon Battalion. I recommend it to all readers, especially those who desire to write or publish anything dealing the Mormon Battalion. Even with its weaknesses and old school approach in scholarship, it is still an important asset.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Effort, Misses the Mark for Proper Scholarship, June 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mormon Battalion: United States Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Paperback)

Norma Ricketts' new book is a valiant attempt to shed more light on the history of the Mormon Battalion, but it sadly misses the mark. It has perhaps some of the finest maps on the march of the battalion and wonderful period artwork that conveys a sense of timelessness to the work. Sadly, the remainder of the book is merely a rehash of archaic concepts and provides no new scholarship for battalion historiography. She continued the theory that the men of the Mormon Battalion were more pioneers than soldiers, an old and cliche approach. Mrs. Ricketts has assembled perhaps the finest collection of primary sources to date; unfortunately, her use of these valuable sources was weak. She did not understand the importance of proper referencing and careful documentation. Many of her facts and points are incorrect. Her scope and purpose are too narrow, because she does not place the battalion in its proper historical context of the broader view of Mexican War and American history. For example, her causation of the Mexican War and the aspects of Manifest Destiny of the 1840s is very lacking. Not one apsect of the conflict with Great Britain over Oregon was mentioned. She gave the incorrect date of the battle of Buena Vista on p.138. This is just one of many errors in conveying simple historical information. Her understanding of military terms, procedures, tactics, rank, training, firearms and equipment is discouraging. Confusion of rank and position and proper military terms were constant problems throughout the book. Mrs. Ricketts spend much of her time and the book narrating the travels of the men after they were discharged, and their journey to Utah or back east. The flow and organization of the book suffered because of this. Also, there is not a thorough effort to review and employ other major works and sources on Mormon Battalion scholarship. I even found great difficulty with the writing, the flow, the content and organization of the book. I find it difficult to recommend.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars History Out of her League., August 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mormon Battalion: United States Army of the West, 1846-1848 (Paperback)

I just finished Norma Ricketts book on the Mormon Battalion and unfortunately, I find it difficult to recommend. She made so many mistakes that I really think that she should have had some other historians review it before it went to press. She stated that Santa Ana surrendered to Gen. Zachory Taylor in Mexico City, when Taylor was not there but Gen. Winfield Scott. She also made a error witht he battle of Buena Vista. It was fought on 22-23 February 1847 and not in May 1847 as she wrote. She has no understanding of the Mexican War and the army. I also thought that the writing and editing was very poor. She really does not understand the military and history very well. I know she spent a great deal of time writing her book, but I think writing history is out of her league. The story of the Mormon Battalion is an outstanding story, too bad this book does not tell it very well. This story deserves a better history.