New Mexico Company, Mormon Battalion Organization

El Rancho de las Golondrinas is a living history museum located south of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Original colonial buildings on the site date from the early 18th century. Villagers clothed in the styles of the times show how life was lived in early New Mexico when this part of the United States was ruled by Spain and Mexico.

Over the Harvest Festival weekend, the New Mexico Company participated with members of the Battalion Trek and 1st New Mexico Volunteer Infantry in interpreting for visitors the military uniforms and equipment of the Mexican War, camp life of the period, and the significance of the Mormon Battalion.

(Click a photo for a larger view - All photographs by Ron Kirkpatrick, Albuquerque)

Soldado Antonio Campisi (1st NM Vol. Inf.) in camp.

Peter Guilbert of the Sierra Nevada Mormon Pioneers in straw hat facing away from the camera) answers questions of a Golondrinas visitor while Denny Henson, in the distance, tends to dinner preparation.

Tony Campisi and Blaine Bachman discuss the finer points of reenacting (Tony is convinced that he'll someday succeed in talking Blaine into a 100% authentic wool uniform - sweating profusely in the 'Indian Summer' heat, Blaine is not so sure).

Denny Henson, in pioneer woman's garb, explains the ins and outs of food preservation and camp cooking to a Golondrinas visitor while Mark Cummins (1st NM Vol. Inf) returns to his tent, musket in hand.

Battalion Trekker Kevin Henson cradles his Harper's Ferry musket and strikes a vigilant pose in front of his tent at the entrance to camp.

Denny Henson successfully enlists the help of a young Golondrinas visitor in preparing a pot of 'Battalion Stew.' Vegetables for the stew were grown at the Rancho and wheat for the biscuits was ground at one of the Rancho's mills.

Kevin contemplates the deteriorating weather and the hundreds of tough miles yet to be travelled in his monumental reenactment of the Mormon Battalion's march some 162 years earlier.