Coloma (Jan 25, 2025) – In a moment that would forever alter the course of American history, James W. Marshall, a carpenter overseeing the construction of a sawmill for John Sutter, discovered gold along the American River in Coloma, California. Sutter’s Mill was a water-powered sawmill on the bank of the South Fork American River in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This unassuming find set off the California Gold Rush, drawing hundreds of thousands to the Sierra Nevada foothills in pursuit of fortune.
On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall found a gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill in Northern California, a discovery that sparked the California gold rush. Marshall recounted the pivotal moment: “My eye was caught by something shining in the bottom of the ditch. … I reached my hand down and picked it up; it made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold.” The news of gold spread rapidly. As many as 25,000 miners headed to California over the next couple of years, becoming known as “Forty-Niners.”
The gold rush turned out to be a boon to LDS Pioneers, not so much for the gold pioneers who ventured West were able to mine, but in the income gained supplying other “forty-niners” rushing to California.
Members of the Mormon Battalion had finished their service with the U.S. government in Southern California and were working their way back to the Great Basin in 1848. According to news reports, members of the Mormon Battalion were in the area, helping to build Sutter’s Fort when gold was discovered. Though some of those LDS pioneers were in the area in 1848, and some had returned to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, group leader Sam Brannan and others are labeled as forty-niners as well.
Among the early prospectors were members of the Mormon Battalion. After completing their military service in Southern California, In July 1846, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the ship Brooklyn, led by Samuel Brannan, arrived at Yerba Buena, now San Francisco. The ship began its voyage leaving New York harbor Feb. 4, 1846. These pioneers sought employment in the region. Some found work at Sutter’s Mill, contributing to its construction. Notably, the diaries of Battalion members Henry Bigler and Azariah Smith provide firsthand accounts of the gold discovery, with Bigler documenting the event on the very day it occurred.
Chasing gold in the West was a popular topic, as evidenced by a half page of mining news in the Deseret News on April 27, 1859: The influx of miners and settlers had profound effects on the local communities, including those in El Dorado County. Towns sprang up overnight, economies boomed, and the demographic landscape transformed as people from diverse backgrounds converged on the area.
Nine years earlier, noted pioneer poet/composter William Clayton penned the words to a song titled “The Gold Diggers,” to the tune of the song “A Man That is Married.” Per the Deseret News article, it was performed on the 24th of July by John Kay. The final verse:
“Now ye Saints, my advice I will give without price,
Don’t be tempted to worship the dust;
But stick close to your farms, and build up your good barns,
For the grain is much better I trust.
And in ages to come, when the fold fever’s gone,
You will all the wealth you desire;
For your wisdom will then be esteemed amongst men,
And your prudence mankind will admire
Gold! Gold!! that give from above—
‘Tis a blessing I own, sirs, whenever used well;
But my song is quite done, and I bid you farewell.”
The Mormon Battalion holds a unique place in U.S. history as the only religiously based unit to serve in the U.S. military. It was formed in 1846 during the Mexican-American War at the request of U.S. government officials, including President James K. Polk, who sought to enlist Latter-day Saint (LDS) pioneers. Their journey and service showcased remarkable endurance and loyalty to both their faith and country.
Formation and Purpose
After being expelled from Nauvoo, Illinois, and seeking refuge in the West, the LDS pioneers agreed to provide volunteers for the U.S. Army in exchange for financial support. Brigham Young saw the enlistment as a means to assist the Saints’ migration to the Great Basin. Approximately 500 men and a few women and children joined, marching under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Philip St. George Cooke.
The battalion’s primary mission was to secure California and the Southwest for the U.S., which was engaged in territorial disputes with Mexico.
The March
The Mormon Battalion embarked on what became one of the longest infantry marches in U.S. military history, covering approximately 2,000 miles from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to San Diego, California. They faced immense hardships, including extreme weather, illness, and scarce supplies. Despite these challenges, they completed their march without engaging in combat.
Contributions and Legacy
The battalion’s contributions went beyond military service:
- Infrastructure Development: Members built forts, roads, and infrastructure, contributing to the establishment of key settlements in the Southwest.
- Gold Discovery: Some battalion members were present at Sutter’s Mill when gold was discovered in 1848, helping launch the California Gold Rush.
- Settlement and Leadership: After their service, many returned to aid in the migration of Saints to Utah, bringing valuable resources and skills.
The battalion’s service ended in 1847, but its legacy continued as a symbol of perseverance and faith. Today, memorials and reenactments honor the sacrifices of the Mormon Battalion, reflecting its impact on U.S. history and Western expansion.
Mormon Island Cemetery
Mormon Island is a relocation cemetery that was created in 1954 by the Army Corps of Engineers. It was used as a new site for several cemeteries that would have been submerged below Folsom Lake when the Folsom Dam was built. The cemetery holds the relocated remains of some of the earliest mining camps established after the 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill. The earliest burial from any of these cemeteries could have been 1848, since several of these Mining Camps were first established in that year.
Responsibility for the Mormon Island Cemetery was taken over by El Dorado County from the Army Corps of Engineers in October of 1954. In 1996, remains from the Prairie City Cemetery were interred after being discovered during the construction of the Prairie City Road on-ramp to Highway 50.
At five acres, Mormon Island (Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery) is one of the largest cemeteries in the County. Approximately one-half of this area is currently undeveloped. There are 474 occupied plots recorded in the cemetery and 17 plots that have been reserved for future burials, in family plots.
