Nauvoo Legion Officers, February–November 1841
The charter for the city of , Illinois,
permitted the establishment of the as a unit of
the state militia. The city council passed an ordinance officially organizing the Nauvoo Legion on 3
February 1841. The first meeting of the legion was held on 4 February,
when JS, , , and other commissioned officers of the
Illinois state militia elected the general officers of the legion. Other
positions were filled during the ensuing months.
The Nauvoo Legion comprised two brigades, or cohorts, each
headed by a brigadier general. The first cohort consisted of cavalry,
and the second consisted of infantry and artillery troops. Officers
retained their rank unless terminated by resignation, death, or being
cashiered out of the Nauvoo Legion.
The following chart identifies the staffs of the lieutenant
general, major general, and brigadier generals of the Nauvoo Legion, and
the men who held the various offices from the first meeting of the
legion on 4 February 1841 through 30 November 1841. If a Nauvoo Legion
officer began service after 4 February or ended service before 30
November, that change is noted in parentheses. Positions, dates of rank,
and commission dates are taken from returns to the adjutant general of
the state and records of the Illinois state militia.
| 4 February–30 November 1841 |
| Lieutenant General’s Staff |
| Lieutenant general |
| Joseph Smith |
| Inspector general |
| (began service 5 July 1841) |
| Aides-de-camp |
| (served until death, 27 Aug. 1841) |
| (began service 6 Apr. 1841) |
| (began service 6 Apr. 1841) |
| Judge advocate |
| (began service 3 July 1841; ended service before 6 Nov. 1841) |
| (began service 6 Nov 1841) |
| Drill officer |
| Guards |
| Herald and armor bearer |
| (began service 9 Sept. 1841) |
| Major General’s Staff |
| Major general |
| Adjutant general |
| Aides-de-camp |
| (began service 1 May 1841) |
| (began service 13 Nov. 1841) |
| Surgeon general |
| Cornet |
| Quartermaster general |
| (ended service before 1 May 1841) |
| (began service 1 May 1841) |
| Paymaster general |
| Commissary general |
| Chaplain |
| Quartermaster sergeant |
| (served until death, 20 Apr. 1841) |
| (began service 1 May 1841) |
| Sergeant major |
| Chief musician |
| Musicians |
| Herald and armor bearer |
| Samuel Hicks (began service 6 Apr. 1841) |
| First Cohort General Staff |
| Brigadier general |
| Aide-de-camp |
| (began service 9 Mar. 1841) |
| Surgeon |
| Assistant chaplains |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| Second Cohort General Staff |
| Brigadier general |
| (served until death, 7 Aug. 1841) |
| (began service 4 Sept. 1841) |
| Aides-de-camp |
| (began service 20 Feb. 1841) |
| (began service 1 May 1841) |
| Surgeon |
| James Kelly (ended service before 13 Nov. 1841) |
| (began service 13 Nov. 1841) |
| Assistant chaplains |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service July 1841) |
| (began service 3 July 1841) |
| (began service 10 Aug. 1841) |