The Nauvoo Legion was a state-authorized militia of the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, United States from February 4, 1841 until January 29, 1845. It was first led by John C. Bennett, and then by Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement and mayor of Nauvoo. Its main function was the defense of Nauvoo and surrounding Latter Day Saint areas of settlement.
General Joseph Smith commanding the Nauvoo Legion infantrymen in formation between 1841 and 1844 in Nauvoo, Illinois, with the Nauvoo Temple on a hill in the background
The alleged Nauvoo Legion Flag. It is not known if it was used in Nauvoo, Illinois, or in the later Nauvoo Legion Utah period. It may have also been used by the Mormon Battalion in the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1847).
Last Public Address of Lieutenant General Joseph Smith by John Hafen, 1888
Brigham Young in military uniform
John Cook Bennett was an American physician and briefly a ranking and influential leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, who acted as mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion in the early 1840s.
Engraving of John C. Bennett as Major General of the Nauvoo Legion (in a hand-in-waistcoat pose)