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In August, the BYU Religious Studies Center and Deseret Bookreleased "Civil War Saints", a book three years in the making. Editor and BYU Associate Professor, Ken Alford, with a team of student research assistants present a list identifying 384 Latter-day Saint Civil War Veterans-- although not a complete list, this is a great start.

Few Utahn's know that just over 100 men served in Utah during the Civil War under Lot Smith from May 1862-August 1862, prior to the arrival of the 3rd California Volunteers in October.

While many know  the establishment of Camp Douglas on 26 October 1862, was in relation to the American Civil War, few realize the effects of the "Utah War" (1857-1858) on the American Civil War, or Abraham Lincoln's relationship with the Mormons. Civil War Saints explores these events and many others as well as the stories of other Latter-day Saints who served and died during the Civil War.

Source: BYU Press Release, September 18, 2012 ; Photo: Ken Alford (used by permission)
To see full BYU press release article please click Here!!!




 
Sources have listed various dates in relation to General Patrick Edward Connor's arrival in the Salt Lake Valley. While trying to narrow this date down to the correct date, this much is known. This event occured sometime around the middle to the end of September, prior to the arrival of Federal troops and establishment of Camp Douglas on the 26th day of October 1862. This would not be the first stationing of troops in Utah. The first major military establishment was Camp Floyd in 1858. Connor's men were to re-establish Camp Floyd, which had been scavenged by the time the troops arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. This is the subject for a future post, as it will play a role in the reason

Also to note this week is the 150th anniversary of Antietam on September 17, 1862.