KUED Programs

They marched under their nation's flag through prairies, deserts, and mountain passes. Following orders from an ambitious U.S. President, they charted a course through some of the toughest terrain in America. They helped secure the Pacific coast for the United States and found themselves at the epicenter of the California gold rush. On their way to build a new religious utopia in the West, the Mormon Battalion would shape the future of America. Ken Verdoia's two-hour documentary BATTALION, uncovers the story of the Mormon Battalion during the War With Mexico. Marching 2,000 miles through a mostly uncharted American Southwest, the 500-man battalion was a pivotal force in fulfilling the national dream of Manifest Destiny. Their experiences, shared in this film through personal correspondence, journals and historical accounts, changed the face and fate of the American West.