Life Guards

For much of his life as a young man Charles Emerson Griffin served in the Nauvoo Legion. His service started in 1853 at the age of sixteen. From his autobiography,

“When sixteen years old I joined a minute company under Captain Robert T. Burton, and from that time on until I moved to Summit County, I held myself in readiness with horses, saddle, bridle, arms and forty rounds of ammunition to go to any place at any time when called upon.”

Charles joined the Life Guards sometime early in 1853. The first time he appears in a MUSTER ROLL is in November of 1853 as his unit was inspected and reorganized after a summer’s campaign during the Walker War. Charles is number 33 on the list of men.

Charles served in the most elite unit in the newly reconstituted Nauvoo Legion the Life Guards. The Guards had two Battalions of Cavalry and two Battalions of Infantry. Together these units made up what was considered the standing army for the Utah Territory. The Guards were usually the first force sent to face any major emergency.

 Within days of the opening salvos in the Walker War Lt. Colonel William Kimball was given ORDERS to assemble a unit and make a reconnaissance in force to the far end of Utah Valley. Part of his command was to be made up of men from the 1st Regiment of Cavalry. In his 1^st REPORT back he names Hoses Cushing and John Smith of Charles’s own unit as members of his staff the indication being that Charles was also part of the command. Lt. Colonel Kimball sent back a detailed REPORT of the unit’s activities.

Later that summer Charles’s unit was received ORDERS to serve under George D. Grant in response to raids against the sawmills in Parley’s Park

The major action taken by the Life Guards in 1853 was an expedition to Sanpete County the epicenter of the Walker War. ORDER, 21, sent the unit on its way. We get some idea of the campaign from a REPORT written by the commanding officer in Manti.

In 1855 a select group from the Life Guards were sent East by ORDER of Brigham Young. The unit was to show the flag and take steps to demonstrate Mormon control over the eastern end of the Oregon Trail. Robert T. Burton was given ORDERS to assemble and lead the unit. He sent back a very detailed REPORT on the unit’s activities. At the end of the mission one of the most detailed MUSTER ROLLS on file was written. It acknowledges the men who served and is stamped with Brigham Young’s personal seal of approval. Click on images to enlarge.