The Mormon Battalion camped at Council Grove, Kansas, for five days beginning 27 August 1846. More than 500 volunteers and officers had been recruited from the Mormon pioneers, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, to fight in the war with Mexico. Their commanding officer, Colonel James Allen, had died at Ft. Leavenworth because of a lingering illness and was replaced by Lieutenant Andrew Jackson Smith, who took command there on 30 August. Smith then led the battalion to Santa Fe, about half of the 2,000-mile march to San Diego. Council Grove was a government way-station used by soldiers and traders preparing for travel along the Santa Fe trail. While awaiting the change in command, the Mormon soldiers repaired their wagons and equipment, gathered supplies, and held religious services there. The battalion acquired two cannon drawn by six horses each, a portable blacksmith shop, forty provision wagons, twelve family wagons, and a few private baggage wagons. Merchants in twelve wagons also joined the battalion there for the march to Santa Fe, selling the soldiers clothing, water, and other goods.