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THE UTAH BATTERIES:

A HISTORY.




THE UTAH BATTERIES:

A HISTORY.

A COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE MUSTER-IN, SEA VOYAGE,
BATTLES, SKIRMISHES AND BARRACK LIFE
OF THE UTAH BATTERIES, TOGETHER
WITH BIOGRAPHIES OF OFFICERS
AND MUSTER-OUT ROLLS.

by

CHARLES R. MABEY,

LATE A SERGEANT OF LIGHT BATTERY A, UTAH VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY.

ILLUSTRATED.

SALT LAKE CITY,
1900.




COPYRIGHT APPLIED FOR.


DAILY REPORTER CO., PRINTERS, 158-160 S. WEST TEMPLE ST.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.




TO THE UTAH BATTERYMEN

WHO BRAVELY FOUGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY'S FLAG ON A FOREIGN

SOIL, THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY

THE AUTHOR.




PREFACE.


Sometime after the Utah Battalion left San Francisco for the Philippines
the author conceived the idea of writing a history of that organization
after its return from the war. With this purpose in view he kept a diary
during the entire campaign and also collected what other material that
could be utilized for such a work. Immediately upon the arrival in Salt
Lake City of the discharged volunteers he, with others, set to work to
bring about a completion of this plan. This little volume represents the
result of the labor expended at intervals between that date and the
present time. The author claims no more for it than its title assumes--a
brief history of the Utah batteries. It is no more. There may be some
works in the future which will command, to a greater extent, the
attention of the reading public. This is not written with the idea that
it will become a standard work, but that while those events which
happened are yet green in the memories of the Utah artillerymen, they
may be recorded and not be consigned to oblivion. The author trusts he
may not be asserting too much when he affirms that the book is written
with a strict adherence to facts, as he has had access both to public
and private data in the compiling of the work, and he has been
scrupulously careful in guarding against errors of every description. At
this opportunity he takes pleasure in thanking those officers and men
who have helped him in bringing about an accomplishment of his plans,
and furthermore, he wishes to extend his thanks to Angus K. Nicholson
for his contributions and a like communication to those friends who have
given him timely advice and aid in disposing of difficulties which have
arisen from time to time.

BOUNTIFUL, January 25, 1900.




CONTENTS.


PAGE                                                          7

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION                                                 13

CHAPTER I.--The Mustering                                    16

CHAPTER II.--Barrack Life                                    24

CHAPTER III.--The Insurrection                               36

CHAPTER IV.--The Gunboats                                    77

CHAPTER V.--The Home Coming                                  90

MAJOR RICHARD W. YOUNG                                      102

MAJOR FRANK A. GRANT                                        103

CAPTAIN E.A. WEDGEWOOD                                      105

CAPTAIN JOHN F. CRITCHLOW                                   106

LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. GIBBS                                  108

LIEUTENANT RAYMOND C. NAYLOR                                109

LIEUTENANT ORRIN R. GROW                                    110

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM C. WEBB                                  112

LIEUTENANT GEORGE A. SEAMAN                                 113

LIEUTENANT FRANK T. HINES                                   114

LIEUTENANT JOHN A. ANDERSON                                 115

SERGEANT HARRY A. YOUNG                                     116

SERGEANT FORD FISHER                                        118

ROSTER--Battery A                                           120

Battery B                                                   125




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                                            PAGE

A FAMILIAR SCENE                                             27

OLD GUARD FATIGUE AT THE CUARTEL                             33

LIEUTENANT GIBBS' SECTION AT FT. MACARTHUR                   47

GUN AT PUMPING STATION FIRING ON MARIQUINA                   50

UTAH GUNS ON MANILA & DAGUPAN RY. EN ROUTE TO THE FRONT      53

FIRST PLATOON, BATTERY A, READY TO MOVE TO MALOLOS           59

UTAH GUNS IN PARK AT CONGRESSIONAL HALL, MALOLOS             65

PREPARING FOR AN ENGAGEMENT                                  74

MAJOR RICHARD W. YOUNG                                      102

MAJOR FRANK A. GRANT                                        104

CAPTAIN E.A. WEDGEWOOD                                      106

CAPTAIN JOHN F. CRITCHLOW                                   107

LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. GIBBS                                  108

LIEUTENANT RAYMOND C. NAYLOR                                110

LIEUTENANT ORRIN R. GROW                                    111

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM C. WEBB                                  112

LIEUTENANT GEORGE A. SEAMAN                                 114

LIEUTENANT FRANK T. HINES                                   115

LIEUTENANT JOHN A. ANDERSON                                 116

SERGEANT HARRY A. YOUNG                                     117

SERGEANT FORD FISHER                                        119




THE UTAH BATTERIES.

INTRODUCTION.


The history of the Utah Batteries should be a plain tale, for deeds of
valor cannot be garnished by the flower of rhetoric or the pomp of
oratory. This is a simple story of brave deeds. The stern browed
Heracles standing unarmed in the midst of his countrymen was a frank,
common figure, but when he dashed like Ares upon the Lerneaen hydra he
became majestic, and no mere pen picture could augment his greatness. So
we shall paint a picture of the achievements of the cannoneers and
gunners of Utah while withstanding the onslaughts of the dusky warriors
of Aguinaldo, and no greater compliment can be paid them than a clear
true narrative of their exploits.

Utah was early distinguished in the furious fights of Luzon. Even before
the soldiers of "Uncle Sam" had felt their way into the defenses of
Manila, her guns had awaked the long-sleeping sentries of the Dons and
torn holes into the bulwarks of Spanish oppression and tyranny. Her
later accomplishments against the fierce Tagalan braves have only served
to increase the homage and admiration of the world, yet, in the dark
days of the conflict, as veterans know, are performed many daring acts
and feats of human strength, which are never recorded in the chronicles
of fame, or proclaimed by the bugle's blare. There were those who knew
what it was to feel the pangs of hunger and the ravages of disease,
those who experienced the racking pains occasioned by fatiguing marches,
and long, weary tramps through the unbroken wilderness of the tropics;
and there were belated ones who hid in the swamps anxiously watching
for the first beams of dawn to reveal the lurking foe.

An account of the actions of the men of Utah is not a recital of the
performances of one man; neither is it a description of the doings of a
particular section of men. It is the story of brave men fighting under
competent chiefs. Their history is exceptional. In every engagement
against the insurrectionists, on land and river, the unceasing fire of
the guns of Utah was heard. While Major Young, Major Grant, Captain
Critchlow and Lieutenant Seaman battered down the enemy's breastworks at
Caloocan and San Lazerus cemetery, the cannon under Captain Wedgewood
hurled fiery wrath into the terrified foe at Sampaloe, and Lieutenant
Webb's death-dealing monsters flung destruction into the ranks of the
Filipino hordes at Santa Mesa. While the land batteries, with the
infantry, worked their way through the tropical forests in that campaign
which drove the natives out of Calumpit and San Fernando and sent
Aguinaldo flying into the mountains beyond, Major Grant, Lieutenant
Naylor and Lieutenant Webb, with their fire-spitting dragons, the river
gunboats, bore down upon the insurgents at Morong and Santa Cruz and
disturbed the silence of the primitive woods at San Luiz and Candaba.

The country was not slow in recognizing Utah. Almost as soon as
hostilities commenced Major Young was elevated to a position on General
MacArthur's staff, and when the river gunboats were put into commission
in anticipation of a Tagalan outbreak Lieutenant R.C. Naylor was placed
second in command. Later when the river fleet was enlarged Major Grant
took command and Lieutenant William C. Webb assumed control of the
"Covadonga," positions which both held till Utah's fighting days were
over.

The Utah cannoneers were not only exceptional as fighters, but they did
things before unheard of in artillery annals. They pushed along in line
with the infantry in many a hard-fought encounter in the vanguard;
during the early days of the conflict, when the rival force first turned
its weapons upon the walls of Manila, they hauled their pieces after
them in grim pursuit of the fleeing foe. They stood comparison with the
well-drilled regulars, and in many instances surpassed them; the bark of
their iron-tongued guns never failed to strike terror into the hearts of
the dusky braves of Luzon, while it ever sounded as a note of cheer to
the infantrymen on the straggling skirmish line.

There is Santa Mesa, Malabon, Quingua, Bag Bag, San Fernando--words
hollow sounding to the ordinary ear; but when named to the stalwart
veteran they touch a chord which quickens the pulse and sets every nerve
fiber vibrating with emotion. To him each tells a tale of noble
achievements wrought beneath the broiling sun of the tropics; to him
each whispers an assurance that his duty was bravely done in the
blasting fires of the East.

The warriors of Utah have listened to their last reveille and their last
retreat. When they withdrew from the Orient they left the scenes of
carnage behind and returned to loved ones and to peace. May that peace
be lasting and happy.




CHAPTER I.

THE MUSTERING.


When the war trumpet's shrill notes disturbed the serenity of this
tranquil land early in '98 their echoes were not lost on the hills of
Utah, but reverberating from cliff to cliff and peak to peak they
swelled into a martial hymn whose chorus was sung in every home in the
commonwealth. The dark stormy days preceding the declaration of war in
April had aroused the dormant energies of men, hitherto engaged in the
peaceful pursuits of life, and filled them with an eager desire to
perform the more exciting duties of the camp, so that when the call was
issued by Governor Wells on April 25th a host of young men from every
corner of the State applied for enlistment in the volunteer army.

Out of the 500 men, Utah's original quota, 343 were designated for the
Light Artillery service. There are reasons for this not altogether
understood by those outside military circles. At the breaking out of
hostilities with Spain the National Guard of the various States were
deficient in this branch of the service. The guns consisted mostly of
obsolete and useless muzzle-loading cannon, divided among the States at
the close of the Civil War. Some were smooth bores, others rifled. There
were Napoleons and Parrots, brass cannon and twenty-four pounders. Very
few of the States had modern guns, but Utah was especially favored in
this line. During the early organization of the guard she had been
provided with eight 3.2-inch B. & L. rifles, together with limbers,
caisson, harnesses, etc. Thus it was apparent to all who knew anything
of the manner of procedure that the youngest State in the Union would be
called upon to furnish artillery, and so it proved, for, after having
been informed by Senator Frank J. Cannon that this State could man the
guns, the War Department made arrangements for Utah to put two batteries
in the field.

The day following the Governor's call recruiting officers were appointed
to enlist men for the service, the names of those designated to enroll
batterymen being Richard W. Young, Frank A. Grant, George W. Gibbs, Ray
C. Naylor and Orrin R. Grow. These were assigned to different portions
of the State and the work began on the day following. Ethan Allen,
afterwards First Sergeant of Battery A, was the first man to enroll.
Orders were received from Washington naming Fort Douglas as the
rendezvous for the recruits, the message reaching here the day
enlistment began. Briant H. Wells, a Lieutenant in the Second United
States Infantry, who had been stationed here on duty with the National
Guard, was assigned as mustering officer. The recruiting continued with
varied success until May 1st, when the quota was filled. Applications
for enrollment were so plentiful after the news of the call became
generally known that recruiting officers were frequently compelled to
have the men draw lots in order to determine the lucky ones, for that is
the term then used.

May 3rd, camps were pitched on the lower parade ground at Fort Douglas.
It was named Camp Kent in honor of Colonel (now Major-General, retired)
J. Ford Kent, who had commanded the Twenty-fourth United States Infantry
stationed at the fort when hostilities were declared, and which had
marched away but a short time before. As soon as the camp was
established the men began coming in. It was a strange gathering of men
which appeared at the surgeon's door for examination the following
morning. Farmers fresh from the plow, cowboys from the plain, miners
from the mountains, blacksmiths from the forge, students, teachers,
doctors, bookkeepers had assembled to be defenders in common of the
Nation's honor.

On May 4th the officers were selected. The appointments of the Governor
were as follows:

Battery A--Captain, R.W. Young; First Lieutenant, George W. Gibbs;
Second Lieutenants, Ray C. Naylor and Thomas B. Braby. Lieutenant Braby
declined the honor and William C. Webb was selected in his stead.

Battery B--Captain, Frank A. Grant; First Lieutenant, Edgar A.
Wedgewood; Second Lieutenants, John F. Critchlow and Orrin R. Grow.

These selections were regarded as very happy ones. Captain Young is a
graduate of West Point and was at one time a Lieutenant in the Second
United States Artillery; Lieutenant Gibbs was the Major commanding the
battalion of light artillery in the National Guard of Utah; Lieutenant
Naylor was one of the founders of the National Guard and had worked his
way up to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy, while Lieutenant Webb had been for
some time the Captain of Company A, First Infantry N.G.U.

All the officers of Battery B had been identified with the National
Guard. Captain Grant was Colonel of the First Regiment; Lieutenant
Wedgewood was formerly Captain of a company stationed at Provo;
Lieutenant Critchlow was a member of the medical staff, while Lieutenant
Grow was Major of the first battalion of the First Infantry.

No time was lost after the officers had been chosen, as the work of
disciplining the raw force immediately began. Camp Kent was the scene of
bustle and hurry. It was drill, drill, drill, from morning until night,
and "Action Front," "Action Right," "Action Left," "Change Posts,"
"Section left front into line" kept the men moving from reveille until
retreat. All seemed anxious to become proficient in the use of the guns,
and even guard duty--that task ever despised by the soldier--was
performed with a surprising willingness.

On May 9th Lieutenant Wells administered the oath which transformed the
body of citizens into a battalion of soldiers. The work of preparing the
roll was cheerfully done and was accelerated somewhat by the arrival of
a message from the War Department announcing that the Utah Batteries
would be sent to the Philippines. The declaration was received with
satisfaction by some, but others were less enthusiastic as an opinion
prevailed that there would be no fighting in the East, but that Cuba
would furnish the battles of the war. Later developments proved this to
be a mistake, for long after the Spanish had felt the force of American
war machinery at San Juan and El Caney their lost subjects in the
Antipodes were fleeing in terror before the mighty thunder of the Utah
guns at Santa Mesa and Bag Bag.

The batteries left for San Francisco on May 20th. It was an imposing
sight to see the newly recruited soldiers, commanded by Captain Young,
as they marched down the streets to the depot followed by thousands of
citizens who gathered to bid them farewell. Some partings between
relations were exceedingly touching and sad. Perhaps mothers and
sisters, fathers and brothers read in the dim misty vista of the future
the fate to which some of the men were doomed in the furious skirmishes
of Luzon. Cheer after cheer rang out as the train pulled away and the
volunteers responded with vigor, although there were some whose voices
sounded husky as the final greetings were given.

On their arrival at San Francisco the batteries received a royal
welcome, the Red Cross society taking especial pains to make their visit
a pleasant one. Several weeks were consumed in perfecting the
organization and preparing it for foreign service. Lieutenant Wedgewood
and Sergeants Brown and Fehr returned to Utah and recruited 104 men to
complete the organizations to their full strength, leaving Salt Lake
City with them on June 29th. On June 15th the batteries sailed away to
the land across the seas where work of a far more serious nature awaited
them.

The voyage across was not altogether unlike a voyage on any ordinary
vessel, save for the fact that the men were crowded a little closer than
on a first-class passenger boat, and the food was not so elaborate in
character as one would expect to find in a first grade hotel or a
railway dining car. The men kicked in the good natured American way and
continued to eat what was given them and slept as best they could.

A