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Show 124 John Tanner and His Family The writers of such charges appear not to be acquainted with the facts, and certainly are not very objective. Both the United State en government and the Latter-day Saint church at the time of the later the and to the listment considered it a favor charges church, grew in consequence of subsequent Mormon conflict with the govern ment. Two of John Tanner's sons, Albert who was twenty-one and Myron who was twenty, volunteered for the year's enlistment. Neither of the boys were married, consequently their departure did not work as much hardship as if they had left families." were privates, Myron in Company D Myron states that they were mustered Both pany E. and Albert in Com in to the service on July 16, 1846, and left at once for Ft. Leavenworth.' It is not known if Albert left at the same time, but one would presume SO.5 A great deal has been written about the hardships of this march, and much oratory, some of which is of the emotional variety, has come from both Mormons and non-Mormons. It is unfortunate that the history and achievements of the Mormon Battalion have been obscured in the smog of controversy, for the work of the Battalion was a major achievement of which descendants and relatives of the participants can well be proud. Present historians are able to sort the good apples from the bad, and it is not difficult to learn the facts if one wishes. Many of the Battalion stories have to do with the mistreatment of Mormon soldiers by the officers. A particular target was the Bat talion doctor, George B. Sanderson, of Platte County, Missouri, whom James S. Brown characterized as a cruel, tyrannical quack. The following by Brown is typical of the charges levied against him: The doctor often talked to the men as if they were brutes. He was very unfeeling, and the men would not respond to his sick call when it was possible for them to walk alone. When we would stop he would sit in front of his tent with his book on his knee, a long chest of medicine before him, a colored man for his body servant, and a hospital stewart standing in front of the wagon. At sick call, everyone who could not walk [that is, march in the ranks] had to be taken before the doctor's tent, and there seated or laid down, sometimes on the wet ground, then, like going to a mill, wait for the grist, or dose of calomel. There was not much chance to miss it, for when the man's name was called and responded to, the |
