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Nauvoo Legion Officers, February–November 1841

Nauvoo Legion Officers, February–November 1841

The charter for the city of , Illinois, permitted the establishment of the as a unit of the state militia. The city council passed an ordinance officially organizing the Nauvoo Legion on 3 February 1841. The first meeting of the legion was held on 4 February, when JS, , , and other commissioned officers of the Illinois state militia elected the general officers of the legion. Other positions were filled during the ensuing months.

The Nauvoo Legion comprised two brigades, or cohorts, each headed by a brigadier general. The first cohort consisted of cavalry, and the second consisted of infantry and artillery troops. Officers retained their rank unless terminated by resignation, death, or being cashiered out of the Nauvoo Legion.

The following chart identifies the staffs of the lieutenant general, major general, and brigadier generals of the Nauvoo Legion, and the men who held the various offices from the first meeting of the legion on 4 February 1841 through 30 November 1841. If a Nauvoo Legion officer began service after 4 February or ended service before 30 November, that change is noted in parentheses. Positions, dates of rank, and commission dates are taken from returns to the adjutant general of the state and records of the Illinois state militia.

4 February–30 November 1841

Lieutenant General’s Staff

Lieutenant general

Joseph Smith

Inspector general

(began service 5 July 1841)

Aides-de-camp

(served until death, 27 Aug. 1841)

(began service 6 Apr. 1841)

Judge advocate

(began service 3 July 1841; ended service before 6 Nov. 1841)

(began service 6 Nov 1841)

Drill officer

Guards

Herald and armor bearer

(began service 9 Sept. 1841)

Major General’s Staff

Major general

Adjutant general

Aides-de-camp

(began service 1 May 1841)

(began service 13 Nov. 1841)

Surgeon general

Cornet

Quartermaster general

(ended service before 1 May 1841)

(began service 1 May 1841)

Paymaster general

Commissary general

Chaplain

Quartermaster sergeant

(served until death, 20 Apr. 1841)

(began service 1 May 1841)

Sergeant major

Chief musician

Musicians

Herald and armor bearer

Samuel Hicks (began service 6 Apr. 1841)

First Cohort General Staff

Brigadier general

Aide-de-camp

(began service 9 Mar. 1841)

Surgeon

Assistant chaplains

(began service 3 July 1841)

Second Cohort General Staff

Brigadier general

(served until death, 7 Aug. 1841)

(began service 4 Sept. 1841

)

Aides-de-camp

(began service 20 Feb. 1841)

(began service 1 May 1841)

Surgeon

James Kelly (ended service before 13 Nov. 1841)

(began service 13 Nov. 1841)

Assistant chaplains

(began service 3 July 1841)

(began service July 1841)

(began service 3 July 1841)

(began service 10 Aug. 1841)

Nauvoo Legion Officers, February–November 1841

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