Mormon Battalion

The Mormon Battalion

“A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War, 1846-1848" written by Daniel Tyler, is a very thorough and complete account. There is no need to repeat any of it here.

However, Chapter 39 gives his weight as 135 lbs, which is helpful in considering his physical appearance. More information on his description will follow.

Daniel’s health had been badly damaged by the difficult march of the Battalion and later he applied for a disability pension from the government because of it. Those applications created records which give some interesting information about Daniel Tyler of interest to his descendants.

September, 1852 (before his European Mission)

It is hereby certified that Daniel Tyler, a Sergeant in Company C. Commanded by ... Brown in the Mormon Battalion commanded by Col. Cook, is rendered incapable of performing the duty of a sergeant because of wound ... injuries inflicted while he was actually in the service of aforesaid and in the line of his duty. That while in a march from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe in route to California in or about .... of September, 1846, the aforesaid Daniel Tyler was taken sick and continued sick for the space of about two weeks, which nearly destroyed his constitution. By satisfactory evidence and accurate examination, it appears that on or about the 5th day of September in the year 1846, being engaged in a march from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe enroute to Calilfornia, and exposed to the inclemency of the weather while taking medicine, was greatly disabled and thereby not only incapacitated for duty aforesaid, but in the opinion of the undersigned is 3/4s disabled from obtaining his sustenance from manual labor.

Signed: L. Sprague, surgeon

Sworn and subscribed before Ezra A. Williams, Surgeon, in this 28th day of September AD 1852. Z. Snow

I certify that the above named Samuel L. Sprague and Ezra G. Williams are reputable surgeons. Z. Snow, Justice.

Territory of Utah

Great Salt lake County

On the 18th day of September, 1852, personally appeared before me, the undersigned one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court for the Territory above mentioned, James Brown, Captain of Company C. In the Mormon Battalion, commanded by Col. Cook, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that Daniel Tyler, who is the inducted Daniel Tyler who was a fourth Sergeant in viz. said Company C. Was mustered into service at Council Bluffs on the 16th day of July A.D. 1846 by Captain J. Allen for the term of one year and was mustered out of service on the 16th day of July, 1847 at Los Angeles, California. That while on the march from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe enroute to California, on or about the 5th day of September, 1846, the said Daniel Tyler was taken sick and continued violently sick for the space of about two weeks, and his exposure in the open air and the effects of the medicine taken, so far disabled him that he was not only incapacitated for military duty, but up to the present time, he has not been able to obtain his subsistence by manual labor.

James Brown, Captain

Co. C. Mormon Battalion

26 September, 1852

Be it understood that on the 26th day of September AD, 1852, before me Z. Snow, Associate Justice the Supreme Court of the United States of America within and for the Territory of Utah personally appeared the above named James Brown and made oath in due Court of Law that the several statements in the foregoing instrument are true.

28 May, 1853

On this 28th day of May AD 1853, personally appeared before me, Leo Shaver, Associate Justice of the United Supreme Court for the Territory of above named. Samuel D. Sprague, who being first duly sworn according to law, declared he is personally acquainted with Daniel Tyler who was a Sergeant in the Mormon Battalion commanded by Col. Cook. And has been his attending physician since his discharge from service til the present time and knows that the disease with which the said Daniel Tyler, brought on by excessive fatigue and hard service was and is now afflicted, has thus far baffled all attention to cure. The disease, by whatever name it may be called, is settled in his back and liver, thus leaves him unable to obtain his subsistence by manual labor and 3/4s the common pay of a sergeant will be but a small renumeration towards the health of one who was never encountered the hardships of a desert campaign.

Samuel L. Sprague,

Attending Physician.

September 5, 1853

...on or about the 5th day of September AD, 1846, while in the march to Santa Fe, enroute to California, in the service aforesaid and in the line of his duty, he was violently attacked with a fever and continued to be sick for about two weeks and was returned to duty before he was fit for such arduous service, in consequence of which, while marching from Santa Fe to California, in the service aforesaid and in the line of his duty, he took relapse which brought on the fever and he was unable to perform any more than light ... duty. After bearing excruciating pain for a time, the whole disease settled in his back and liver and continued there and since his discharge up to the present date so that he has not been able to obtain subsistence by manual labor and in accordance with the certificate of the examining physicians, he considers himself about 3/4 disabled and ... at the hands of the United States and according to ... in such cases from manual labor. And if the government wishes to assist invalids, Daniel Tyler is one who ought to receive at least 3/4s of sergeants’ pay.

Sworn before me ....

Daniel’s original invalid pension was not granted. He tried again later.

1871 (age 55). Daniel’s description given as: Height: 5' 5 3/4".

Hair: Auburn

Eyes: Hazel gray

While in the service aforesaid and in the line of duty he was disabled by sickness, having taken severe cold which terminated in chronic catarrh, chronic nephritis and chronic inflammation of the spleen.

That he was taken sick with a severe fever from exposure while in the line of his duty, between Fort Leavenworth and the crossing of the Arkansas River on or about the 15th of August in the year 1846, and was entered upon sick report by Dr. Sanderson, U.S. Surgeon. The aforementioned surgeon reported him for duty and he was ordered under Col. P. St. George Cook to march across the deserts to California while yet weak and not entirely recovered from the sickness; that he was required in crossing the aforesaid deserts to assist the given out teams in hauling the Government Supply wagons by ropes attached to them over some of the worst deserts. That his present physical condition is weak and emaciated in consequence of aforesaid. That he has resided since leaving the service in Utah Territory; and that his occupation has been, when able to be employed, that of a nurseryman and school teacher. That he has never received a pension; that his residence is at Beaver City, Utah Territory and his Post Office address is Beaver City, Utah Territory.

29 Jan. 1887

United States, enrolled at the San Francisco Pension Agency at the rate of $8.00 per ;month, Certificate No. 3254; under the provisions of the act of January 29, 1887, granting pensions to the soldiers and sailors of the Mexican War and for other purposes. That he is wholly disabled for manual labor and is in such destitute circumstances that $8.00 ;per ;month are insufficient to provide the claimant with the necessaries of life. That affiant believes he is entitled to an increase of pension on account of physical infirmity and disability resulting from age.

Here state any specific disability, or wound, or disease, and any remarks to sustain your claim:

“He also alleges the following in support of his claim. That he was stricken with fever and entered upon the sick report between Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Santa Fe, New Mexico. That he was treated by Geo. B. Sanderson, Surgeon, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army, Mexican War. That at Santa Fe, N.M. he was reported for duty while too feeble to endure the hardships of an infantry campaign aiding in making the first wagon road across the great American Desert to San Diego, Cal. Tramping sand, pulling ropes attached to U.S. baggage wagons, living on extremely short rations etc. etc. etc. That he is dependant upon charity for much of his living.

25 April, 1887

I have known the claimant, Daniel Tyler ... resident of Beaver, Utah, ... 41 years and know him to be the identical Daniel Tyler who served as .... I know this because I served as a corporal in Co. A. In the same organization.

I should say he was about 70 years old from the fact that he looks like it and because when I first knew him about forty years ago he was almost thirty (30).

The said claimant, Daniel Tyler, was not engaged in any battle except with wild cattle (Mexican). Such congregated on our route on the San Pedro Creek in Senoma, Mexico -- now Arizona --N.M. on or about Dec. 11, 1846, in which several men were seriously wounded and about 20 wild bulls killed and many mortally wounded (see History of Mormon Battalion p. 218).

The claimant, Daniel Tyler, actually served 60 days with the Army in Mexico or in the coast or frontier thereof enroute thereto. He enlisted at Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 16, 1846 and was honorably discharged at Los Angeles, Cal. July 16, 1847. I know the above facts by being associated with him in said service. I further declare that I have no interest in said case and am not concerned in its prosecution.

M.L. Sheperd

1893

Mexican War Cert.. No. 3254. Daniel Tyler, Co. C. Reg. Mormon Battalion, Iowa Volunteers. Claim for Increase of Pension Act, Jan. 5, 1893.

I hereby state on oath that I am totally disabled for manual labor.

Daniel Tyler

June 27,1893

Mexican War

Act of January 5th, 1893

Claim of Daniel Tyler for increase of pension Certificate No. 3254. Captain James Brown, Company C. Mormon Battalion, Iowa Vols. Claimant after being first duly sworn on his oath says his present means of subsistence is and has been since January 5th, 1893: $24.00 pension at $8.00 per month from December 4, 1892 to March 4, 1893, and $75.00 provided from the Beaver Tithing Office, a charitable institution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located in Beaver City, Beaver County, Utah Territory. Claimant alleges that he has real property of one unfinished brick house 18 x 30 ft., 1 ½ stories high, and one city lot, 12 x 12 rods square contains all his real property. That the present assessed value of said house and lot is j$700.00. That said house, except a small kitchen, is included in said valuation. It was erected partly on subscription, owing to claimant being an invalid for about fifteen years. The amount thus donated was about $400.00 as follows: [donations in varying amounts listed, including $100.00 from Church].

Claimant’s personal property consists of one horse (a present on account of both himself and aged wife being invalids), valued at $35.00. One single harness valued at $15.00 and one well worn carriage worth $20.00. Poultry and sundries, $7.00. One cow valued at $10.00. Claimant further on his oath says that in addition to his own personal expenses, he has an invalid wife, Ruth W. Tyler, aged 73 years, to support and that outside of public charity he has no income to rely on except his pension of $8.00 per month. That from the aforementioned real and personal property he has no income in excess of attendant expenses. That his Post Office address is Beaver City, Utah.

1893

Territory of Utah

County of Beaver

John Ward Christian, being sworn says, I am a physician and surgeon. That I have been acquainted with Daniel Tyler, who is the holder of pension certificate No. 3254, and is an applicant for an increase of pension -- for about 30 years. That his pulse rate is 58, respiration 21 and temperature below the normal, slightly, and he states his age to be 76 years past. He has congestion of the kidneys, and dark spots in the eyes, is emaciated and trembling.

He states that while int he service in the line of duty, he was taken sick, between Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico with severe fever -- he thinks Typhoid Fever, and was relieved from duty. This occurred about the latter part of July, 1846. That he partially recovered and was assigned for duty about 12th August, 1846, at Santa Fe, aforesaid. That afterward between there and Sand Diego, California, he was again taken sick and afterwards, and before recovered entirely, reassigned to duty. That ever since then he has been feeble and in poor health and has, as age advanced upon him, grown worse, until he is now unable to perform manual labor to any extent. ...states that owing to the causes assigned above and the age of the applicant, he is now entirely unable to perform manual labor to any extent whatever.

Daniel received his increase of from $8.00 a month to $12.00 a month, commencing 5 January, 1893. He began receiving the $8.00 on 27 January, 1887.