Tennessee Nana
Before you post your opinions you should check your facts.
The Mormon Battalion was raised in July 1846; the first handcart company did not make the trip west until 1856.
The men did not desert their families in the snow; the recruitment occurred in the July 1846. Certainly, there would have been hardships on the wives and children during their husbands’ absence, but to claim they had nobody to help them is an vast exaggeration. If anything, Mormons are known for taking care of their own.
Yes, the money paid by the government was used by Brigham Young to help finance the Mormon migration to Utah, but every enlistee knew this before he joined up. None of them expected their pay to be used for the sole support of their families. The men were willing to make such a sacrifice so that the money could be used for the migration of many others in need. Part of the money was likely used to support some of the men’s families.
I find your post to be not only historically inaccurate, but overall its tone is critical and unnecessarily harsh.
None of them expected their pay to be used for the sole support of their families.
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Why on earth not ???
Their wives and children needed food and warm clothing and transportation to Utah and homes when they got there...
The support of the families of these men was the main reason they signed up...
many came back to find their families destitute instead of cared for...
When they approached Brigham Young he ran them off and verbally abused and threatened them...
The pay was never intended for Brigham Youngs deep pockets..
find your post to be not only historically inaccurate, but overall its tone is critical and unnecessarily harsh.
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Well Boo Hoo whiny kid...
Brigham Young was a thief and a murderer...
Hows that for historically accurate ???
That better ???