THE UTAH BATTERIES: A HISTORY. THE UTAH BATTERIES:^ A HLSTOPY. A COMPLETE ACCOUNT OF THE MUSTER-IN, SEA VOY- AGE, BATTLES, SKIRMISHES AND BARRACK LIFE ' OF THE UTAH BATTERIES, TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHIES OF OFFICERS AND MUSTER-OUT ROLLS. . CHARLES R. MABEY, 1 LATE A SERGEANT OF LIGHT BATTERY A, UTAH VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY. ILLUSTRATED. SALT LAKE CITY, 1900. COPYRIGHT APPLIED FOR. DAILY REPORTER CO., PKINTKHS, l.-js-lf.n S. West Temple sr SALT LAKE CITT, I'TAH. D5 ^3 U5M11 TO THE UTAH BATTERYMEN WHO BRAVELY FOUGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY'S FLAG ON A FOREIGN SOIL, THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. 1232261 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 accom- plishment of his plans, and furthermore, he wishes to extend his thanks to Angus K. Nicholson for his contributions and a like com- munication 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. PREFACE 7 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 1 03 CAPTAIN E. A. WEDGEWOOD 1 05 CAPTAIN JOHN F. CRITCHLOW 1 06 LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. GIBBS 108 LIEUTENANT RAYMOND C. NAYLOR 109 LIEUTENANT ORRIN R. GROW 1 1 LIEUTENANT WILLIAM C. WEBB 112 LIEUTENANT GEORGE A. SEAMAN 113 LIEUTENANT FRANK T. MINES 114 LIEUTENANT JOHN A. ANDERSON 115 SERGEANT HARRY A. YOUNG 116 SERGEANT FORD FISHER 118 ROSTER Battery A 1 20 Battery B 1 25 LIST Or 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 MARIOUINA 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 1 04 CAPTAIN E. A. WEDGEWOOD 1 06 CAPTAIN JOHN F. CRITCHLOW 1 07 LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. GIBBS 108 LIEUTENANT RAYMOND C. NAYLOR 110 LIEUTENANT ORRIN R. GROW Ill 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. n^IIK history of the Utah Batteries should he a plain tale, for deeds of valor cannot be garnished by the flower of rhetoric or the pomp of oratory. This is a sim- ple 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, ana no mere pen picture could augment his greatness. So we shall paint a picture of the achievements of the cannoneers and gun- ners of Utah while withstanding the onslaughts of the dusky warriors of Aguimaldo, and no greater compliment can be paid them than a clear true narrative of their ex- ploits. 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 tyran- ny. Her later accomplishments against the fierce Taga- lan braves have only served to increase the homage and admiration of the world, yet, in the dark days of the con- flict, 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 experi- enced 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 14 INTRODUCTION. swamps anxiously watching for the iirst 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 de- scription 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 un- ceasing 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 Cal- oocan and San Lazerus cemetery, the cannon under Cap- tain Wedgewood hurled fiery wrath into the terrified foe at Sampaloe, and Lieutenant Webb's death-dealing mon- sters 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 for- ests in that campaign which drove the natives out of Cal- umpit 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 Mo- rong and Santa Cruz and disturbed the silence of the primitive woods at San Luiz and Candaba. The country was not slow in recognizing Utah. Al- most 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 K. C. Nay- lor was placed second in command. Later when the river fleet was enlarged Major Grant took command and Lieu- tenant William C. Webb assumed control of the "Cova- donga," positions which both held till Utah's fighting days were over. The Utah cannoneers w r ere 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 iurned its weapons upon the walls of Manila, they hauled their pieces after them in grim pursuit of the fleeing foe. INTRODUCTION. 15 They stood coin parison 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 skir- mish 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 w r arriors of Utah have listened to their last re- vielle and their last retreat. When they withdrew from I he Orient they left the scenes of carnage behind and re- turned to loved ones and to peace. May that peace be lasting and happy. CHAPTER I. THE MUSTERIXCi. W 1 1 ION the war trumpet's shrill notes disturbed the se- ivnit v of this tranquil land early in '98 their echoes \\ere 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 com nionwealth. The dark stormy days preceding the dec- laration of war in April had aroused the dormant ener- gies 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 (Jovernor Wells on April 2~)th a host of young men from every corner of the State applied for en- listment 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 out- side military circles. At the breaking out of hostilities Avith 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 (Mvil War. Some Avere smooth bores, others rifled. There were Xapoleons and Parrots, brass cannon and tAventy- four pounders. Very few of the Si ales had modern guns, but Utah was especially favored in this line. During the early organization of the guard she had been provided with eight .'i.li-inch H. & 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 Stale in the Union Avonld be called upon to fur- nish 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 ar- rangements for Utah to put two batteries in the field. THE MUSTERING. 17 The day following the Governor's call recruiting of- ficers 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 0. 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 Ser- grjnit 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 Lieu- tenant in the Second United States Infantry, who had been stationed here on duty with the National Guard, was assigned as mustering officer. The recruiting con- tinued with varied success until May 1st, when the quota was filled. Applications for enrollment were so plenti- ful 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 examina- tion the following morning. Farmers fresh from the plow, cowboys from the plain, miners from the moun- tains, 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 appoint- ments of the Governor were as follows: Battery A Captain, R. W. Young; First Lieuten- ant, George W. Gibbs; Second Lieutenants, Ray C. Nay- lor and Thomas B. Braby. Lieutenant Braby declined the honor and William C. Webb was selected in his stead. 18 THE UTAH BATTERIES. Battery B Captain, Frajik A. Grant; First Lieu- tenant, 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 Ar- tillery; Lieutenant Gibbs was the Major commanding the battalion of light artillery in the National Guard of rtah; Lieutenant Naylor was one of the founders of the National Guard and had worked his way up to a Lieu- tenant-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 anx- ious 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 cheer- fully 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 de- velopments proved this to be a mistake, for long after THE MUSTERING. 19 the Spanish had felt the force of American war machin- ery at San Juan and El Caney their lost subjects in the Antipodes were fleeing in terror before the mighty thun- der of the Utah guns at Santa Mesa and Bagbag. 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 part- ings 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 re- ceived a royal welcome, the Red Cross society taking especial pains to make their visit a pleasant one. Sev- eral weeks were consumed in perfecting the organiza- tion and preparing it for foreign service. Lieutenant Wedgewood and Sergeants Brown and Fehr returned to Utah and recruited 104 men to complete the organiza- tions 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 voy- age 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 stop was made at Honolulu, where occurred a re- ception to the Utah men which marked a bright day in the life of the soldier. The transports arrived on the night of the 23rd, and at 11 o'clock. The next morning they went ashore amid the cheers of the Haw T aiians, who 20 THE UTAH BATTERIES. gave them a greeting hearty and cordial. Flowers were in profusion and pretty girls threw bouquets at the tired pilgrims until they felt that they had indeed found the "Paradise of the Pacific." Judge Kinney, a former resi- dent of Salt Lake City, headed the reception committee, and there were elaborate preparations to make the stay one of gladness. The great sugar works and plantations at Oahu were visited and the points of interest carefully shown. Then under the shading palms, amid the fra- grance of flowers, with hundreds of pretty girls to wait on them the men sat down to the banquet. In an at- mosphere which breathes poetry and pleasure; where the soft tropical zephyr kisses the cheek as a mother does a sleeping infant the choicest fruits were served and substantial edibles tempted the appetite. Soldiers made love to maidens with dusky cheeks; American blut eyes told short stories of love to Kanaka brown, and the Caucasian ladies were not forgotten, for it was a feast of love. Everywhere was "Aloha, Aloha." But all things end. The next day saw the ships sail away. With the sweet fragrance of blossoms still ling- ering in their nostrils and the long-to-be-remembered clasp of friendship yet plainly felt they passed away from the dreamy isle into the oblivion of the Pacific to resume the diet of beef a la can and coal a la "Colon." Once more was ship soup staple and tropical sea monot- ony plentiful. A few days later the fleet arrived at Wake Island, which General Greene took possession of in the name of the United States. Five days after this the Ladrone Isl- ands were sighted and passed. About the middle of the month the Philippines were sighted and on the 17th the fleet of transports entered the harbor of Manila escorted by the cruiser "Boston." The landing was an exceedingly difficult undertak- ing. The facilities for taking the guns from the trans- ports were not perfect. The guns were put ashore in about five feet of water and had to be hauled out by hand, but the work was accomplished in the usual good natured American fashion, and when this task was fin- ished men dried their clothes as though nothing had THE MUSTERING. 21 happened. In landing several amusing incidents oc- curred. Many Filipinos, anxious to earn a few "cen- tavos," flocked around the ships, and not a few of the men hired a native as a sort of a pack horse to carry them ashore. One two-hundred-pound soldier was unfortu- ate in the selection of his human pack horse, for he sat astride the shoulders of a ninety-pound native until the little fellow broke down and buried himself and rider in the sad sobbing sea waves to the great amusement of his comrades and his own disgust. Other occurrences were equally as ludicrous. The several days following the landing of the bat- teries were spent in giving the men the rest they had earned and needed. No work worthy of mention was done until the morning of the 29th, when came the first scent of trouble of war. From the actions of the offi- cers at early morning it was plain to be seen that some- 1hing was going to happen. Two guns of Battery A were taken over to the trenches which had been built by the insurgents near the Capuchin Monastery. During the day the sharpshooters of the Twenty-third United States Infantry and the Spanish had been doing some desultory firing with little result on either side, save that the men kept their heads closer to the breastworks, while a battalion of the Colorado Infantry, under Colonel McCoy, advanced beyond the old trenches to a point near the monastery, where they threw up a new line of earth- works. The two guns of Battery A moved to this point the following morning and took possession of the em- placements already constructed. On the following morning two guns under Lieutenant Grow of Battery B were brought over from Camp Dewey and placed in position on the left. Men from both lines were engaged in erecting gun pits all along the front. The guns were located about 1000 yards from Fort San Antonio de Abad, which formed the extreme right of the Spanish line. The enemy's left and center was protected by a line of intrenchments. Outpost duty was being per- formed by a company of the Eighteenth United States Infantry. The firing, which had been kept up with more or less vigor, came from the right of the Utah position, 22 THE UTAH BATTERIES. which was entirely unprotected owing to a failure on the part of the insurgents to maintain their lines be- tween Calle Heal and the Pasig road. During the night of July 30th-31st the excitement began. Heavy small arm firing was indulged in by the enemy and from his lines came shells at irregular inter- vals, none of which did any damage. At this time Lieu- tenant Naylor was in the trenches with the two guns of Battery A. At 8 o'clock next morning Lieutenant Gibbs relieved him of the command with two-gun detachments of fresh men. All day everything was quiet. The enemy was planning a night attack, as he had no desire to mix with the American forces in a fair open fight in the broad light of day, but rather trusted to darkness to accomplish his designs. Everything was quiet until 11:30 that evening, when the Mausers began singing venomously from the Spanish lines. Then came the boom of his artillery and the men in the trenches knew that the time for action had come. The Tenth Pennsyl- vania troops replied with their Springfields and the whiz of the "45's" mingled with the keen "twang" of the Mausers, while the Third Artillerymen, equipped as regular infantry, took a part in the altercation. The in- structions of the Utah men were not to fire until it was evident the enemy was making an advance. The can noneers stood by their guns awaiting the orders which should make them a part of the fight. Finally it came. Major Cuthberton of the First California, the senior officer present, gave the word and then Utah's voice was heard for the first time during the war. The gunners worked like Trojans and with shrapnel punched at zero they sent shell after shell into the Castilian lines. Cor- poral Charles Varian, with no clothing on save a pair of trousers, sweating like a man who was working for his life, yet cool withal, managed his piece like a veteran. Sergeant J. O. Nystrom gave orders in a collected way that instilled fresh courage into the hearts of his men. W. W. Riter wore a seraphic smile as he sighted his gun at the spits of flame on the other side, while Billy Kneass worked his cannon with the sang froid of a man in a blind waiting for ducks. It was a warm time and when THE MUSTERING. 23 morning dawned it was ascertained that several (Jas- tilian voices bad been added to Choral Society in that land beyond the river. Utah's men were standing their baptism of fire and proved themselves soldiers. All the terrible passion of war had supplanted the first feelings of timidity, and they manipulated their guns with as much composure as they would have handled the pigskins on the gridiron. But the ammunition was running short. Fifty-seven shrapnel had been dis- charged and the battle was still on. The Penn- sylvania men had fired away nearly all their am- munition, and affairs began to look serious, when a body of men from Camp Dewey hauling a limber chest after them dashed from out the gloom. Once more across the intervening space the shells shrieked and broke the Spanish lines, causing havoc and terror. The attempt of the u Dons" had proved futile, and after hav- ing fought for two and a half hours they withdrew. Although other commands had lost men the Utah boys were fortunate in this that not one of their number was killed and only one slightly wounded in this en- gagement. For several days but little was done by the Utah troops. The men constructed emplacements for the guns, cut down timber which might have interfered with good work and awaited orders. In the meantime the Lieutenants of the batteries were relieving each other from day to day. The fire from the Spanish lines was kept up in a desultory manner and was replied to by the infantry in the American lines. The final engagement on the 13th was short, but the guns of the Utah men did wonderful execution. In con- junction with Dewey's fleet they tore holes in the Span- ish fort at Malate and helped in forcing the enemy out of his position on the extreme left. CHAPTER II. BAH RACK LIFE. LIKE all the other organizations which had taken part in the capturing of Manila, the Utah batteries were without a home when they first entered the city. Bat- tery A found temporary quarters in a spacious nipa hut in the Malate district, while Battery B went into bar- racks in the Oduiinistracion de Hacienda. Several days later 'Major Young secured the Cuartel de Meisic, for- merly occupied by a Spanish engineer regiment, and Battery A was stationed there August 18th. Some days following Battery B moved into the same building. The Third Artillery occupied the south half of the Cuartel, and the batteries were domiciled in the east and west wings of the north half. The Cuartel was a large and stalwart structure located in the most picturesque part of Manila. South of it lay the business portion of Ma- nila, with its Escolta, its Plaza de Cervantes, and its Hotel de Oriente; to the w r est was the Marcadero teem- ing with rustic Filipino maids and redolent with its Oriental odors; stretching away to the north were the broad rice fields and forests of bamboo, with the moun- tains in the distance forming a background. It was a pleasant home and one which the men appreciated. During the first few weeks of barrack life the men settled down serene in the thought that they would soon be speeding homeward. Their duty had been done and they felt that they were now entitled to the happier pleasures of Utah. But days passed, and were length- ened into weeks, weeks passed and were lengthened into months, and still they remained in the tropics with less hope of returning home than they had at first enter- tained. The novelty of their surroundings began to wear off and everything which the Philippines could afford became decidedly commonplace. Unable, therefore, to find other entertainments when off duty, as a pastime BARRACK LIFE. 25 the men exchanged reminiscent fairy tales about their late combat. Wearying of these occupations they often sauntered out of the Cuartel in bodies in quest of what little mirth they could get out of the passive and inex- plicable natives. Of course, there were drills and everybody liked them, as they produced such an excellent opportunity for one to give vent to his feelings after the drills were over with. Those were happy hours which the men spent in sweltering under the genial warmth of the southern sun, and learning with a bitter vengeance the tactics of "dismounted drill." And ''double' time," too, was al- v ays a pleasant innovation as it generated a bodily heat to correspond with mental feelings and external influ- ences. Then there was always an appreciative audience of gaping nut-brown maids and matrons who took de- light in watching the "soldado" go through his ever- changing evolutions. Yes, those were days which the veteran will always look back upon with rapture. At first some trouble was occasioned over the inade- quate food supply; but that difficulty was soon obliter- ated. The then acting commissary sergeant was re- moved and A. L. Williams, familiarly known among his admirers in the battalion by the euphonious prefixes of ''Dad" and "Judge," was elevated to this position. Under the judicious management of the Judge a revolu- tion was made in the department and the men waxed fet from the overflowing cornucopia of the commissary. In those murky days of Manila were other things which served to offset the oppressive blazonry of the tropic sun. In order to make the attire of the soldiers harmonize as much as possible with the requirements of the climate, light shirts and trousers were provided by the quartermaster's department. Every week occurred a general inspection, to which the men were expected to appear housed in this startling white with polished shoes and flaming brass buckles. A very imposing ap- pearance they made when lined up on these occasions. The advent of the soldier vastly accelerated the trade of the native fruit venders in the vicinity of the Cuartel, and as time wore on this peculiar product of 26 THE UTAH BATTERIES. the Orient increased his sales by the addition of the deadly "vino," sometimes with rather disastrous results to the imbiber. That wondrous monument of human in- genuity commonly known as "army hardtack" formed the standard medium of exchange between the indus- trious fruit dealer and his overworked customer. The barred windows of the Cuartel became the market ground for all the products of Luzon, and through them many a luscious mango was exchanged for an adaman- tine biscuit upon which the soldier had vainly expended all his dental energy. The natives had full access to the barracks at this time, and the native washerwoman made the bianco trousers shine iridescently for inspec- tion by beating them against the sunny side of a boulder and afterwards pressing them with a fearfully and won- derfully made flatiron. Hard by the Cuartel were a number of "tiendas," widely known among the soldiers as "vino stands." The presiding spirit over one of these establishments was generally a pretty "mestiza," who, in addition to her natural charms, was blessed with a high-sounding Cas- tilian name. There were four shops run on the plan, which held pre-eminence both for the character of the "vino" which they supplied and the bewitching charms of their owners. The returned volunteer will remember with keen enjoyment "Juanita," "Juaquina," "Vic- toriana," and above all "Isabella," the saintly and vir- tuous, who was equally as skillful in obtaining the nimble sixpence as in raising a brood of mestiza chil- dren. There was also "Madre," withered and anti- quated, but a born dictator, and through her superior management she came to be known as the top-sergeant. Finally there was Ysabel, with a gentle smile upon her pleasant brunette face, and Estepania, brown-eyed and plump, most beautiful among all the mestiza belles. Isabella's casa was the place to which the eyes of the weary soldier turned after a long and fatiguing drill; afterwards it was the point to which his footsteps inevi- tably led when he was able to rush in for a few days from the firing line. The house was large and spacious, with polished ebony floors and wide windows through BARRACK LIFE. 27 which the balmy zephyrs blew and kissed the heated brow of the tired fighter. Beautiful creepers twisted their way up the wall and stole in at the extensive bal- cony to catch a taste of the pleasures within; the broad- leafed banana palm surrounded the casa and broke the power of the blazing tropic sun. It was, indeed, the one spot in all the East which made the home-loving Utahns feel at home. When away all his secret longings were centered upon that place and its attractions, and his mouth yearned for a renewed acquaintance with the delicate omelets fashioned by the dainty fingers of Pania A FAMILIAR SCENE. and the crab brought from the bay by the ubiquitous Peek-a-boo. His mind reverted with gratitude to the anxious solicitations of "Madre" when she learned that he was suffering from a headache and he acutely re- membered the healing balm which she applied to his fevered brow. He knew, too, that should he be struck down in death by the bullet of the enemy, what tears of sympathy would be shed at the news of his misfor- tune. The one source of worriment about the Isabella man- sion was the fact that the thirsty soldiers were frequently 28 THE UTAH BATTERIES. given an over supply of the deadly vino. Such an occur- rence was attended with dire results; but as the mother- ly "Madre" was blessed with an abundant store of reme- dies, under her care the victim was soon restored to his mental equilibrium. All soldiers seem gifted with special powers to spend money and as a consequence few of them could command the attention of a penny bootblack twenty-four hours after being paid, but this weakness had no weight with the kindly old dame who carried a large credit roll and could refuse nothing to a Utah sold ado. So Isabella's mansion forms a part of the war history of the Utah batteries; and it must be remembered with other and more Stirling scenes; for when the thoughts of the Utah soldier stray to the domi- cile of the Isabella family they are mingled with happy reminiscenses and strange memories and tragic sights. One hundred and four weary and footsore re- cruits arrived in the Cuartel on the 28th of August and deposited their blankets and all other portable property on the greensward. They had been waiting out in the bay four days and had finally reached the Cuartel after having made a complete circuit of the city. Sergeant Arthur W. Brown piloted the new batch of volunteers to their home, and ever since the redoubtable Sergeant has borne a reputation, as a file leader, which would make a Mexican burro grew green-eyed with envy. Here it might be stated that after watching the fleet of transports, which conveyed the Utah batteries, sail out of the rugged Golden Gate into the broad Pa- cific, Lieutenant E. A. Wedgewood and Sergeants Ar- thur W. Brown and L. N. Fehr turned toward Utah bent on the mission of securing 104 recruits, which would give each battery its full quota of 173. Volunteers were nu- merous but the work of enlisting covered a period of nine days. Kecruits were obtained from all points in the State but the majority came from Salt Lake City. On the 28th of June the full number had been enrolled and the following day the small body of men left for San Francisco, after being accorded a warm demonstration at the depot. At Oakland they remained all night of the BARRACK LIFE. 29 30th and the following morning they marched to Camp Merritt, from which place they were removed to the Presidio two days later. Late in June Lieutenant Wedgewood was ta- ken ill with typhoid fever but remained with the men until July 6th, when he was taken to the Lane hospital and Lieutenant Diss of the Calif orna Heavy Artillery was placed temporarily in charge of the recruits. Or- ders were for the Utah contingent to sail on the trans- port "Rio de Janeiro," and as the South Dakota Infantry was the only organization on the vessel Lieutenant Fos- ter of that regiment was given command of the men. The voyage was uneventful save that the soldiers were ill-treated by Lieutenant Foster, who succeeded in gaining for himself the eternal hatred of the men under his charge. As the recruits were then unacquainted with military practices, many expressions of disgust be- ing made in an unguarded Vay, reached the ears of the worthy Lieutenant, wha heaped still greater indignities upon the men by way of retaliation. At Honolulu TV. A. Kinney, the large plantation owner, entertained the Utahns during their brief stay in that city. The "Bio de Janeiro" arrived in Manila Bay on the 24th of August, but it was four days later before the re- cruits set foot on the soil of Luzon and made their phe- nomenal march up the streets of Manila to Plaza de Felipe II, where they greeted their comrades. Lieutenant Wedgewood, having recovered from his fever, arrived October 4th on the "Scandia," which left San Francisco on August 27th. During the long dreary days following the arrival of the recruits their life was not entirely joyous. From sunrise to sunset they were forced to listen to the blood- curdling tales which their companions told of the late conflict with the "Dons." At first they hearkened to them with respectful attention. They never doubted the truth of these glowing fairy stories. They revered these self-lauding heroes as a species of immortal beings. In return for this tributary deference they were treated with contempt. The veteran called them "rookies," and 30 THE UTAH BATTERIES. whenever one of them attempted to soar he was prompt- ly and sternly reminded of his inferiority ;md kindly in- vited to get off the pedestal upon which he had so un- wittingly placed himself while one of his superiors pro- ceeded to relate a harrowing tale of blood and thunder and rain down in the trenches. Every bit of rainy weather or glorious sunset reminded the Malate hero of something he had seen in the trenches and at once he began to dilate upon it with great attention to details and a lofty air of his own importance. So it went on. The recruits vainly sought for re- lief. He tried to stem the tide of persecution by relating stories of his own. But as soon as he made such an at- tempt he was immediately ''bawled out" and his tor- mentors proceeded with a fresh tirade. Finally one of the groaning victims hit upon a happy plan, and after it was carried out it effectually stopped the torture. When in the future the mendacious veteran essayed to array himself in a cloud of glory by narrating legends of per- sonal prowess, he was unceremoniously suppressed by the rookies, who sang: It may be so; I do not know, But it sounds to me like a lie. Instantly upon the starting of this little hymn it was taken up by every soldier in the barracks and the unlucky veteran, crestfallen and beaten, was onty too glad to retire into seclusion. During those five months in which the soldier was learning the peculiarities of Oriental life and sweltering under the raj-s of the Southern sun, he adopted any means of causing the speedy destruction of time. After the singularities of his new surroundings had ceased to be uncommon he began to look about himself in search of other amusement. Naturally a person who adapts himself easily to his environments, he took up with the games of the Filipinos, and, as a consequense, soon after the appearance of the American as a prominent figure on the streets of Manila, it was no unusual occurrence to behold the huge, good-natured Yankee engaged in friend- ly sport with the diminutive and fiery Tagalan. BARRACK LIFE. 31 As cock-fighting is the national game of the native the soldier seized upon this diversion with an enthus- iasm that was truly remarkable. The slender and wiry Bailie cock was in great demand. The feathered pugilist became the hero of the hour. The price of "polios" jumped above par two or three times over. On the shady side of every street could be seen little knots of men eagerly awaiting the outcome of a battle in which these kings among all the fowl tribe were engaged. And the victory was not decided without great loss, for frequent- ly the champion proclaimed himself conqueror by mounting the gory body of his late enemy and crowing with great vigor. Men bet on their favorites with as much fervor as an ardent proselyte of Mohammed ut- ters praises to his Maker from the housetop at sunrise. But even this pastime was too tame for the restless nature which constantly pined for the more exciting fun of America. So the chicken stock suddenly declined in value, and that of the swine took a corresponding rise, when there was talk of organizing a football association. This plan, however, lost its popularity after several prac- tices on the "Gridiron" the climate of Luzon had its drawbacks when it came to punting the pigskin. Thft re- quirements for a good football game are a temperature of 6 degrees below zero, and a field covered with a four- inch layer of snow and a corresponding thickness of soft mud underneath. As the Philippines t lack ness and took up the appointed position on the Balic Balic road near Samaploe cemetery. The guns un- der Lieutenant Seaman dashed out of the barracks and a few moments later their deep bass was added to the Sa- tanic roar. On McLeod's hill surrounded by the Ne- braskans two guns under Lieutenant Webb menaced the plain below. At Santa Mesa the fight began. Three minutes after the opening flash the Nebraskan camp was deserted. As the outposts slowly returned the regiment swept on- \v;ml to the fray, and soon the angry rattle of the "Long Toms" answered back the viperous "ping" of the Mau- ser. The sound of the first shot had hardly ceased echo- ing upon the hill when the Tagalans, jubilant, confident, flew for the bridge; their onrush was met with a volley from the Nebraskans. Then from Caloocan and Sampaloi the din of multudunious musketry fired in unison, wavefl over the hill; then the awful thunder of the guns of the fleet pulverized the enemy's bulwarks at Malate swelled over the plain. Occasionally a lull came in the fight and then as if gathering strength by inaction the tumult broke forth with increased fury. In the dark- ness it was impossible for the Utah guns to accomplish anything, as the location of the infantry could not be exactly distinguished. So all night the men tugged and toiled to get the pieces in position, that they might take part in the encounter at dawn. The fifth section gun 40 THE UTAH BATTERIES. held a commanding position on the right and the sixth section was stationed directly in front of McLeod's house, from which point it could sweep the cm-my's line from Blockhouse No. 7 on the north to the Catholic con vent on the south. Just as the first streaks of dawn dappled the east, the two big guns belched over the plain and the tight began. During the night the relative positions of the opposing forces had not been changed. The maddened Filipinos made a renewed attempt to cross the bridge and penetrate the Nebraska line, that they might gain tlieir coveteu goal the city of their dreams. The aim of the two guns was concentrated upon this point. Twice the Tagalans with frenzied courage charged up the bridge, only to be torn to pieces by the shrieking shell!-. and the deadly bullets. With desperate energy they hauled an artillery piece into position on the bridge, but this was demolished by a single shell from one of our guns. The position of the artillery became perilous; the in- surgents centered a galling fire upon the big guns, with the hope of ridding themselves of this new terror. The leaden missiles rained from three points, Blockhouse No. 7, the bridge and the convent. Every time one of the cannon roared over the hill, she raised a vicious hail of bullets from the enemy. Three minutes after the con- flict began Corporal John G. Young received a fatal wound in the lungs. Almost immediately after Private Wilhelm I. Goodman fell dead with a bullet through his bj ain. Instantly men rushed in to fill their places, but the position of the gun had become so dangerous that Lieu- tenant Webb ordered it removed to a more sheltered point, at the north of the house. In the face of a heav\ tire the men lifted the piece out of the pit and rolled it to the station designated. This ended the casualty list of the artillery for that day. Both guns now r shelled thr enemy at Blockhouse No. 7 and the San Juan Del Moti'c Church, until the two guns under Lieutenant Gibbs came up. The skilled aim of the two gunners and the Trit INSURRECTION. 41 superb courage of Lieutenant Webb and Sergeants Fisher and Kobinsou were greatly commended. {Shortly before 11 o'clock two Nordenfelt guns under Lieutenant Gibbs arrived at the hill and under the orders of Colonel Smith of the Tennesseeans advanced up the Santa Mesa road. The Tagalans were still in strong force in the woods to the right of the road, and, as the two guns moved forward, they received a pelting lire from this locality. The guns dashed up the road and swung into action on the bridge. The forces then began an advance up the road, running twenty and thirty yards at a time, sup- p< rted by the infantry from Tennessee. After a half hour of sharp lighting the Tagalans fled before the can- nister and shrapnel of the big guns and the bullets of the Tennesseeans, and thus the hills as far as the Depos- ito were won. Meanwhile, a battalion of Tenuesseeans had deployed out to the left and taken the Deposito, and the two guns were moved to this point. The Tennesseans left the Nebraskans in charge of the Deposito and disappeared off to the right. Late that night Lieutenant Webb and the fatigued warriors of Santa Mesa joined Lieutenant Gibbs at the Deposito, w r here they bivoaced with the prospect on the morrow of an advance upon the pumping station, four miles be- yond. The movement upon the pumping station was not easily accomplished; there were several sharp skir- mishes on the way. Though the power of the insurgents seemed to have been broken on the previous day, there were some in whom the spirit of resistance was not en- tirely extinguished and they contested the march of the Americans with vigor. When the move was made on the morning of the 6th the artillery was under the per- sonal command of Major Young. A straggling line of infantry deployed on either side of the road and with the artillery in the rear the forward movement began. Scarcely half a mile from the Deposito the moving col- umn encountered a small body of Tagalans, who opened lire. Once more the angry guns pealed forth in menac- ing thunder and the terror-stricken natives retreated for 42 THE UTAH BATTERIES. the kind shelter of the bamboo thickets beyond. Two similar skirmishes happened farther up the road. About a mile and a half from the Deposito the mutilated body of Dr. Harry A. Young was found lying by the side of a ventilator. Some distance back the body of his horse had been discovered. Major Young was the first to locate this gory evidence, which mutely told the tragic story of the end of Dr. Young. All the clothing had been rent from the body, a bullet hole was in his fore- head, and a bolo wound from the elbow of the left arm to the waist told the tragic story of how he died. The supposition is that the Doctor was surprised on his way to the Deposito, where he had an appointment with Major Young, and took the wrong road, which led him to a grim death in the Tagalan territory. A few min- utes later, while the body was being conveyed to Manila, the Major calmly commanded his men in a rush with the enemy, in which eighty of them were killed. This exhi- bition of splendid courage was ever after an inspiration to the Utahn when he felt like being disheartened. Gradually the uncoiled infantry line pushed back the recalcitrant natives, and late in the morning the heights above the beautiful Mariquina valley were reached. Here the artillery was placed in position, and, with the Mariquina Church steeple as a targel, the town was bombarded. Now and then a shuddering shrapnel was sent shrieking after fugitive bands of Tagalans, who made all haste for the protecting shelter of the mountain on the opposite side of the valley. From that place they were content to look with dis- may upon the death-dealing monsters which frowned from the hill above the bulwarks. When the first platoon of Batte^ A, under Captain Wedgewood, sped out into the gloom on the night of the 4th it took up a position in the Balic Balic road near the Oemetario de Sampaloc. All night long the two guns were under a straggling fire from the Filipinos, who at this place held Blockhouse No. 5, about 300 yards to our front, and a diminutive stone church which was located off to the right of our position. The section two gun was placed inside the Cemetario, but that of section one THE INSURRECTION. 43 remained outside, where it was exposed to the enemy's fire. At 3 a. m. from two points the Malays centered a vicious fusilade upon the artillery, which remained inac- tive owing to the obscurity of the Tagalan line of de- fense. No. 1 gun was moved back about 100 yards to a more sheltered station by the cemetery. Just as the first streaks of dawn appeared in the east the two guns bla/ed toward the blockhouse and the small church, in which were a large number of natives. Simultaneously the Colorado infantry swung into position and with a w i t hering fire slowly advanced upon the enemy. Several 7 well-directed shells sent the Filipinos flying from the blockhouse and a few more accurately trained shots an- \ uihilated the little church. As the Tagalans moved Jj from their cover they fell many deep before the blasting^ volleys of the invincible Coloradoans. As the natives fled from the church, the artillery turned its attention to Blockhouse No. 4, 1700 yards dis- tant, and while the South Dakotans made a wonderful charge they demolished this wooden bulwark. Next the big guns were ordered to shatter Blockhouse No. 0, but before they could be brought into play against this point rhe insurgents had disappeared into the woods with the swift-moving ('(dorado infantrymen hard on their track. On the 6th the platoon was moved to a position left of Blockhouse No. 7. On this part of the line it remained until March 23rd, when it was ordered to Caloocan to take part in the fierce engagement at that point when the whole line charged the enemy's works on March 25th. The damage inflicted on the natives of Sampaloe was very considerable. Over a hundred bodies were buried there and in many a battered form could be seen that ripping course of a shrapnel. General Hale per- sonally praised the work of Sergeants Emil Johnson and \Y. E. Kneass, who were in immediate charge of the two rifles. The guns of Battery B took a position on the left of the line to the south of Caloocan on the night of the war alarm. Second Lieutenant Seaman went out on 44 THE UTAH BATTERIES. the Caloocan road with one 3.2 guii. Major Grant left the Cuartel with three 3.2-inch guns, and after leaving one at Bilibid Prison took the remaining two up the rugged Bulum Bugan road as far as Lazuro Hospital. Emplacements were made under a spattering fire from the enemy at this point, facing the Chinese Hospital and the Binondo Cemetery, in both of which places the Ta ga- la ns were strongly lodged. Only an occasional shot blazed towards the enemy during the night, but from a commanding position the artillery fire began iat dawn with destructive and terrifying results. Besides driving the sturdily-intrenched Tagalans back, the Utah attack entirely covered the simultaneous advance of the Tenth Pennsylvania and South South Dakota infantry. The advance of the slowly-moving regiment was ir- resistable and the natives fell back from their position after a stubborn fight. All that day the Malay resisted the American advance with fanatical frenzy. The artil- lery moved forward at the same moment, but many times was delayed by burning huts. After an advance of about 400 yards they again joined the infantry line, but they had arrived at a conspicuous and dangerous position on the road, where for thirty minutes they fought desperately in the open under a heavy fire from the Filipino iutrenchinents. It was here that Major Bell of General McArthur's staff rode up and requested Major Grant to move up beyond the Chinese Hospital, where the Tagalans in a fierce engagement were inflict- ing heavy damage on the infantry. Almost at the same moment Colonel Wallace sent word that a company of the Tenth Pennsylvaniaiis had teen cut off to the left, and Lieutenant Critchlow was sent with one gun up the Leco road to its assistance. The remaining guns tore the woods in front of the advancing infantry and cleared the way for the Pennsylvanians and South Dakotans, so that the right wing advanced at this point almost with- out a casualty. Mill towards Caloocan the artillery ad- vanced with the musketeers, and beyond the Cemetery Church the big guns shelled the woods to the left of La Loma in front of the advancing Third United States Ar- tillery (infantry) and Twentieth Kansas. Just when the THZ INSURRECTION. 45 Tagalans were fleeing:, bleak with terror, from the artil- lery shells; when Colonel Funston, like a young Jove, was pounding his way irresistibly up from the left, ami when everything looked auspicious for an easy dash into ralooran, word came from General MacArthur that the firing should cease. The spires of Caloocan were then almost in view, and there is an opinion that had Gen- eral Ma<- Arthur not feared that the line would grow too thin by a further advance Funston would have taken Caloocan that night, with many railway cars and many supplies, and with the saving of many lives which went out on the next advance when the Filipinos had had time to bulwark themselves behind their wonderful intrench- ments. On the same day the guns were moved to a position dose to La Loma Church. Later two Nordenfelt guns arrived, one of Battery A, and were stationed first at Blockhouse Xo. 3 and afterwards east of La Loma Church and in front of the left battalion of the South Dakota infantry. These were commanded by Lieuten- ant Critchlow. Meanwhile Lieutenant Seaman withstood a destruc- tive fire on the Caloocan road. Early in the fight he was reinforced at the suggestion of the division commander by the addition of another gun. Major Young took per- sonal command of the Xordenfelt which arrived there late that night. Frequently in the encounter the na- tives rushed up to within 150 yards of our position, from which they went reeling back before the awful thunder of the big guns. At times the powder-begrimed Ftiahns were in advance of the main line, carrying death into the very teeth of the foe. So fierce was the conflict that Major Young had the gun manipulated in short re- liefs, and this shortened the casualty list of our organi- zation. Corporal Wardlaw and Private Peter Anderson sustained wounds while serving their pieces in this man- ner. The natives trained two big guns on our position in mi fired fifteen ineffective shots from them. Next day the two guns supported the Kansas troops in their ad- vance upon the Filipino intrenchments and Blockhouse Xo. 1. As the swift-moving column charged the enemy's 46 THE UTAH BATTERIES. line the two rifles tore great gaps into this wooden structure and plowed furrows into the wonderfully- constructed earthworks. When the insurgents had fled before the deadly volleys of the Kansans one gun was stationed at the blockhouse and the other at the Binondo Cemetery. Here they remained until February 10th, \\ hen they took part in the demonstration against Cal- oocan. The next three days Major Grant's three guns did nothing except to fire occasionally at some enthusiastic Filipino sharpshooters. On the llth a general advance was made by the Montana and the Kansas infantry and the Third United States Artillery. The artillery force consisted of two guns under Lieutenant Seaman on the hill to the left, two guns under Lieutenant Fleming of the Sixth United States Artillery on the railroad, Lieu- tenant CYitchlow with two Xordenfelts at Blockhouse No. 2, and Grant with three 3.2-inch B. and L. rifles at La Loma Church. The prearranged signal for the at- tack was to be a bombardment by the navy accompanied by a similar action by Major Young's artillery force. The big guns pounded shell against the native defenses, and sent shrapnel singing into the woods surrounding the town, and under the somewhat ineffectual, but loud- ly-thundering labors of the fleet the infantry column hurried forward, and the Tagalans gradually swayed back. As the enemy retreated the aim of the guns was directed higher and several of these iron messengers went crashing into the town. Some remarkably good work was performed by our gunners on this day. It is said that a small body of Filipinos could be seen rein- forcing the intrenchments at the gate of the Caloocan Cemetery. A Utah gunner saw this, and turned his piece on the gate and shortly after a shell shuddered through the air on its 2600-yard journey. When the smoke cleared away, gate, Filipinos and war weapons strewed the ground for many yards. Major Bell with a flanking column of Montana de- ployed through a ravine on the right. Suddenly a lonu, rope-like column of natives whipped out of the fringe of the woods and quickly coiled around the company. THE INSURRECTION. 47 Major Young saw the predicament in which the Ameri- cans were placed, and soon the murderous shells fell in the midst of the column, which broke into fragments and disappeared the way it had come. The next day Major Bell was lavish in his praise of the batteries, and several British officers who were watching the progress of the fight complimented the gunners on their expert and effective gunnery. During the attack on Caloocan Lieutenant Seaman followed with the infantry as far as the flames from the burning houses would permit and pulled the gun through Caloocan to a position on the Kansas line. On the llth guns were moved to a position on a hillside near the residence of Mr. Higgins near Caloooan at a place where he commanded the causeway between Caloocan and Malabon. At this point the two guns were joined by a platoon of the Sixth Artillery and a 3.6 mortar un- der Corporal Boshard of Battery B. LIEUT. GIBBS' SECTION AT FT. MACARTHUR. At this time Utah soldiers on different parts of the line manned thirty-two pieces of artillery, including 3.2- inch B. L. rifles, Hotchkiss revolving cannon, Hotchkiss mountain guns, Maxim Nordenfelts captured from the Spanish, Mortars, Colt's rapid-fire (Browning's) gun, a 48 THE UTAH BATTERIES. navy field piece, navy six-pounder and Gatling guns of various calibers. After Caloocan was taken possession of by the troops scarcely any fighting was indulged in until March 25th, when an advance was made. Except for occa- sional incursions into the enemy's territory for the pur- pose of driving back harassing sharpshooters there was a practical cessation of hostilities at the waterworks. At this time the line over which our guns were stationed extended from Malabon to Mariquina. At Caloocan a ^severe engagement occurred on the 23rd of February. A large force of insurgents came rushing down from the hill towards our outposts and finally established them- selves within 150 yards of the American lines. It was during this period that some of them were able to pene- trate the American position and steal their way into Manila to take part in the burning of the Tondo district. This band was under the leadership of a bold and gal- lant chief named Zandico. While Tondo was disappear- ing in flames and sharp hand-to-hand skirmishes were taking place between these Filipino desperadoes and the American police a furious altercation was going on be- tween the darkly-outlined bulwarks of the two armies. During this attack sixty men of the Kansas and Mon- tana regiments alone were killed and wounded. The work of the sharpshooters show r ed the watchful alertness of the enemy. Whenever one of these riflemen espied a piece of American anatomy there was a report and a still messenger of death went skimming through the air. Frequently one of the large guns had to be em- ployed to repress the zeal of one of these ubiquitous Ma- lays. While repairing a breach in the gun pit Lieuten- ant Seaman received a wound in the leg, Corporal Southers was shot in the hip and Private Hill sustained a serious wound in the back. About this time existed as remarkable a truce as was ever patched up between belligerent forces. Some Filipino statesmen came down from Malabon to see Aguinaldo, and as they carried a flag of truce firing from our side ceased. The natives signified their desire to talk and Colonel Funston and Major Young went half THE INSURRECTION. 49 way to meet them. The Tagalans then made known their proposition, which was that there should be no fir- ing between the two forces at that point for a period of ten days. Colonel Funston assented. This was directly in front of the Kansas line. The insurgents rigidly ad- hered to their promise, and while the Springfields and Mausers were angrily barking in the -vicinity of the rail- road track no messenger of war sped across the space in front of the Kansans. The four guns under Lieutenant Gibbs and Webb lifted to a commanding position on the hill above the waterworks, menaced the valley below. Frequently they boomed from the mountains as a warning to the curious natives down on the wide plain of the San Mateo. The encounters which took place between the Ameri- cans and the Tagals at this place are illustrative of the peculiar mode of warfare carried on by the natives. Not a few times our forces made invasions in the enemy's country at Mariquina under the protection of the guns and drove his army into the foothills on the opposite side of the valley, only to find him back in his old position before nightfall with his camp fires piercing the gloom of the valley as darkness settled in. These successive defeats seemed to have no power in dampening the ardor of the ducky warriors of the plains. They continued to make invasions on the American ter- ritory, and frequently waylaid belated American troops. Up to March 25th the infantry force was not sufficiently large to hold the country which had been taken. Four times the town of Mariquina was captured in this style. Finally, by some peculiar decision of fate, a battalion of Ooloradoans descended into the valley and after dislodg- ing the enemy set fire to the hideous nipa huts. There- after fewer skirmishes occurred in this locality. The white and shining church steeple arose above the black- ened ruins as a ghostly monument of the work of war. About four days after the occupancy of the water- works by the American troops Colonel Stotsenberg with a small body of the infantry scoured the Mariquina plain, but though he met with some heated skirmishes 50 THE UTAH BATTERIES. and drove the enemy back, there was no visible results from his excursion. The artillery was first used in an advance on February 17th, when the two Nordenfelt guns were taken down the Mariquina road by Lieuten- ant Gibbs. None of the Utah men were hurt on this oc- casion, although the natives fought stubbornly at short range and several men and officers of the Nebraska regi- ment were wounded. Meanwhile General Montenegro, known as one of the fiercest Filipino chiefs, had con- gregated his forces in the woods southwest of the pump- ing station towards Pasig Lake and Gainta. A plan was formed for surrounding the insurgents and the Ne- GUN AT PUMPING STATION FIRING ON MARIQUINA. braska and Washington infantry and the two Maxim Nordenfelts took part in the engagement. The artillery worked with the Nebraskans and shelled the woods. Then there was a simultaneous advance from two sides by the regiments. The Washingtons did their work well and the shells from the guns were effective, but for once the Nebraskans failed in their usual dash and came up too late to cut off the retreat of the enemy and pre- vent his escape. Again on the 24th the two Nordenfeldts under Lieu- tenant Webb moved down the Mariquina road, and did THE INSURRECTION. 51 excellent work in aiding the Nebraskans to drive the natives back towards San Mateo. The B. and L. rifles from the hill fired into bodies of natives to the left of Mariquina Church on this occasion, and the death roster of the insurgents for that day was very great. A re- volving Hotchkiss under Corporal Hesburg, located close to the Deposito, also inflicted severe damage on the natives. Still the enemy at this point was alert and aggressive. The next day Major Mulford went scouting with a small force to the right of Miariquina. Soon after he reached the valley he was completely surrounded by the insurgents. Then the big guns on the hill sent bursting shells fast into the Filipino ranks and soon they retired stubbornly into the woods. Several of Major Mul ford's men were killed or wounded, and he stated afterwards that the Utah guns had saved himself and party. This skirmish proved that the natives were gath- ering there in a larger and more formidable force, and this circumstances led to the burning of Mariquina. All night the flames from the bamboo huts and old Spanish mansions illumined the valley, and when the troops de- scended the next morning they found that all the south and the greater part o f the north end of the city were entirely destroyed. There was comparative quietude after that until March 6th, when the natives began to resume the annoying fire on the infantry, and an artillery demon- stration became imperative. As the insurgent attack came about daylight, the guns under Lieutenant Gibbs bombarded the valley from the hill, driving the enemy northward. Another large force of the Tagalans swept down upon the Nebraskan outposts on the left and a deadly affray commenced. Reinforcements were rushed to the aid of the stricken sentries, who were gradually forced back by the superior numbers of the assaulting jxarty. Sergeant Ford Fisher with the fifth section gun dashed out of the camp to the front. For three-quarters of a mile the diminutive Filipinos horses with which the ji;nns had lately been equipped sped down the ridges under a galling fire. On the brow of the hill the gun whirled into action long enough to drive the enemy back 52 THE UTAH BATTERIES. a few hundred yards. Again the piece limbered up and rattled over the hard lava road for a new position. The Tagalans soon centered a murderous fire from three points upon the big gun as a desperate measure to anni- hilate this new terror. A horse ridden by Private Eng- ler was shot down, but was able to recover himself suf- ficiently to gain the shelter of a small gulch a few yards farther on. From its shelter the big gun pounded over the road to another gulch which had been deserted just a few minutes previously by a company of Nebraskans. The heavy limber chest was left at the foot of the hill and on their hands and knees the men pushed the piece forward until the bore of the gun gleamed down the slope. A heavy volley answered from the plain below. Ford Fisher said afterwards that he saw a Filipino sharpshooter behind a rock fire six times point blank at the gunner as he was sighting the piece. Suddenly the roar of a cannon tore down the hill. The Tagalans an- swered it with a fiendish yell and came steadily onward. The men on the gun worked like Trojans, but they could not force the Malays back. Just as it seemed as if the gun would have to retire the tall white figure of Colonel Stotsenberg could be seen with galloping steed coming up the hill. Instantly the wavering infantry line tight- ened. The Colonel's pistol flashed in the sunlight, and the whole column swung up the eminence to victory. The voice of the big gun bellowed back its notes of de- fiance and the haughty foe fled in terror. During the encounter Corporal McDonald with a revolving Hotchkiss cannon performed some excellent service on the right in aiding the Oregon infantry. Most of the fighting had been done at from 100 to 150 yards range. The casualty list of the Nebraskans was heavy, and an immense number of Filipinos was killed. The infantry followed the retreating natives for three miles. On the 7th, in conjunction with the river fleet, the guns aided the Nebraska, Wyoming and Washington infantry in forcing the enemy through the woods towards Guadaloupe and Pasig Lake. The guns under Captain Wedgewood shelled tho insurgents to the south of San Junn del Monte and aided the infantry very materially THE INSURRECTION. 53 in its advance. The gunboats hammered the natives on the left bank of the river and sent them scurrying into the woods beyond Guadaloupe. It was decided to take the town of Mariquina on the 30th of March, and Major Young with the left platoon of Battery A shelled the woods to the north and west of the town so effectively that when the infantry forces entered the place they found it deserted. This ended the fighting in that vicinity until the general advance of March 25th. UTAH GUNS ON MANILA d a Browning gun under Ensign Davis. Majors Bell and Young went forward to locate a position for the pieces. They discovered that where the road crosses the river the banks of the Pulilan rise to an almost perpendicular height of nearly fifteen feet. A road ia little distance above, so small that it could only be utilized for carometas, crosses the river a short dis- tance beyond the dismantled bridge. On the right abut- ment of the bridge the Filipinos had constructed a very formidable breastwork of earth and stone, and the heavy steel beam of the bridge was arranged above this so as to leave a long slot for the rifles the whole length of the work. This menaced the surrounding approaches. A short distance below this was a boiler and engine-house and on the other side of the river and lower down was a remarkable field work. It extended along the river a distance of two hundred feet, and was constructed with the same wonderful skill as the smaller one at the bridge abutment. It had the same long slot flaring outward about eighteen inches and the upper part of the work was substantially held by bamboo flooring. The two Majors left the artillery piece and went forward to discover a good site for the big gun. Major Young selected a place just under the brow of the hill. The enemy was only 100 yards beyond, but our exact location was screened from his view by a thick under- growth of bamboo. A heavy stone wall was used as a shelter for the men. Meanwhile the cavalry stood a ter- rific fire. Out of less than forty men who took part in the encounter nine were killed and wounded, a casualty list of almost one-fourth of their number. The guns rushed into action. Major Young directed that the Colt's automatic be turned on the slots to protect the big gun. At the first boom of the rifle all the attention of 58 THE UTAH BATTERIES. the insurgents was turned upon the crews working the piece, but the bamboo screen kept them from taking ac- curate aim. Of the three shells fired by Corporal Don Johnson, two struck immediately in the slot holes and burst in the interior, doing considerable damage to the bamboo shed and above all terrifying the dusky war- riors, who turned and fled. The spitting Colts and breaking sharpnel followed them with deadly effect. The artillery then lumbered up and dashed to a position on the hill, from which the boiler-house could be bom- barded with annihilating effect. The cavalry had stood a heavy lire during all this time at a range of seventy- five yards, and when the beam had been examined after the enemy had been driven out it showed the marks of eighty-nine cavalry bullets. That night the weary troops rested on the banks of the river. The next morning, March 26th, an early ad- vance was made upon the insurgents' position at Malin- ta and Polo. It was here the moving column met the advancing lines of General Wheaton, and then it was learned that he had marched forward simultaneously with Bale's flying command, and that the wily native had had ample time to flee out of Malabon and his old position at Caloocan. So the projected coup had failed. Lieuenant Gibbs with the right platoon of Battery A and one gun of Battery B and a mortar bombarded Malabon and the surrounding country. When the shell- ing ceased the Oregon regiment charged over the open and assaulted the enemy's works, which were taken after a stubborn fight. The routed Tagalans fled along the railroad track towards Malinta. One gun under Lieutenant Seaman accompanied Wheaton on this march as far as the foot of the hill lead- ing to Malinta, and was unloaded from the car under a shower of Mauser bullets. Private Parker J. Hall of Battery B was wounded at this point while standing on the track. A few shells were fired into distant in- trenched position on the hill, but when Wheaton re- sumed his advance early in the morning the B. and L. rifle was returned to its position at Fort MacArthur. It was during the advance up the hill a few moments later THE INSURRECTION. 59 that the gallant, white-haired General Egbert, veteran of many battles, was fatally shot through the stomach. In the meantime the artillery with General Mac- Arthurs division continued the march up the road close by the railway line. While the artillery was sending shell fast into the Filipino position at Malinta and Mey- cayauan, and occupying their attention, General Hale executed a rather brilliant flank movement and forced the enemy to retreat with considerable loss. When the march was resumed on the 27th, the artillery was moved up to a position just behind the first battalion of the Kansas regiment, while all the rest Of Otis's brigade re- mained in the rear. FIRST PLATOON. BATTERY A, READY TO MOVE TO MALOLOS.? When General Mac Arthur's division moved forward on March 25th, General Hall, with the Colorado and Minnesota regiments, moved down the Mariquina valley towards the San Francisco del Monte, where the bullets of the South Dakotas and Lieutenant Naylor's shells were battering against the walls. General Hall's ad- vance was so warmly contested that it became necessary for the guns on the hill to bombard the city and sur- rounding woods to the north and west. The infantry was then able to press forward and drive the natives back from the valley toward San Mateo. 60 THE UTAH BATTERIES. On the 31st of March General Hall essayed a more extended advance, and on this occasion his forces con- sisted of the Fourth and Twenty-third regular infantry, the Minnesota and Colorado regiments and two Utah B. and L. rifles, commanded by Captain Wedgewood. The movement began at dawn. The regulars came from the South and the Minnesotas and Coloradoans around the north of Mariqulna. The town was entered before the enemy had begun to fire. The attack was sudden and effective, and as the natives began to retreat a gun under Sergeant Nystrom and another close by the Mariquina Church commanded by Captain Wedgewood played vig- orously on their ranks. The infantry followed the na- tives six miles, and from the hills overlooking the city San Mateo was bombarded by the two guns. The natives were again in retreat when a telegram arrived from Otis, which showed that he feared the na- tives might be preparing to make another entrance into Manila. It read: "Wheaton has engaged enemy at Malolos and taken that place. A very small force of the enemy was there. Withdraw all your forces which are moving towards San Mateo and bring them back to La Loma Church." It was a wearisome march to La Loma after the fatigue of the day's campaign, and when the men arrived there with the guns they were forced to sleep among the graves of the churchyard without blan- kets and in a pelting rain. The next day the guns were ordered back to their old position above Mariquina, where they remained until relieved by the Sixth United States Infantry, when they joined the rest of the com- mand at San Fernando. On April 27th our forces met the Filipinos on the banks of the Manias river, on which occasion the noses of the big guns were pushed to within fifty yards of the native earthworks. The guns employed were two under Lieutenant Critchlow, a platoon of Dyer's light battery and Colt's automatic under Ensign Davis. The Kan- sans under Major Metcalf had deployed on the left and approached the river, but they were forced back by the heavy fire of the insurgents, who had cut away the inter- vening trees to give a clear sweep for their rifles. The THE INSURRECTION. 61 whole north side of the river had been cleverly and com- pletely intrenched so that it formed an almost impreg- nable fortification when attacked from the front. The r;ms'way up which the artillery had to advance was commanded by the insurgent infantry. Across the river where the infantry first engaged the enemy, the natives were about 800 yards distant. Major Young went for- v. a i-d with Ensign Davis to locate a good position for the ^iiiis. While there General Funston came up and stated he had seen quite a number of cascoes further down the river, and that if Major Young would protect his men with an artillery fire he would be able to cross the river and flank the enemy. This was agreed to, and a com- pany of Kansans accompanied the guns as a support. Lieutenant Oitchlow's guns were quickly turned upon the earthworks. As the big rifles roared across the >i ivam the small arms and the Colt's automatic centered a withering fire on the intrenchments to keep the ene- my's fire inaccurrate. This vigorous demonstration ter- rified the Tagalans and soon several white flags ap- peared fluttering above the trenches. The firing ceased ;;n<1 the Filipinos were ordered to stand up. Some few of them reluctantly showed themselves, but the greater number ran through the get-away ditch and vanished in the dark fringe of the bamboo forest. Lieutenant Coul- ter of the Tenth Pennsylvania regiment with an enlisted man stripped and sw r am the river and walked directly into the enemy's trenches. The two naked men took as many rifles as they could hold from the defeated Malays. By this time Colonel Funston, who had crossed the river, came up and took some thirty natives prisoners. As the bridge crossing a branch of the Marilao river at this point had been destroyed by the insurgents, the artillery moved to a new position by the railroad track until a new bridge could be constructed by the engineers. Just as night came on the natives were seen to emerge in a large force from the woods and move towards our lines. Soon the entire American host was sturdily en- gaged in repelling the attack. In the dark it was im- possible to exactly locate our infantry, but Major Young, at a venture, directed several shots over our column at a 62 THE UTAH BATTERIES. range of from 2000 to 2500 yards. The Filipinos soon retreated. It was afterwards learned that these shells had fallen in the midst of the attacking force. This spirited encounter was the subject of a special report of the chief of artillery to the division commander in which Lieutenant Critchlow and the cannoneers re- ceived special mention for their gallantry. That night a pontoon bridge was built across the river and on the morning of the 28th the artillery moved across and encamped during the succeeding day and night in the suburbs of Malolos. An advance of only a short distance had been made the next morning when a body of the enemy was encountered at Bocaue. Here it \vas necessary to cross the Santa Mone river. This was attempted with some difficulty, as only the guns could be taken over on the bridge and the mules had to be swum across. The pieces and accoutrements across, the artil- lery immediately went into action against the long lines of Filipinos. A railroad train in the hands of the in- surgents could be seen in the distance and some natives \vere busily engaged in applying torches to the engine- house. A few shells were sent screaming in that direc- tion and the engineer needed no further orders to speed \vith all dispatch toward the north country. Again the guns were limbered up and the force advanced to the Bagoa river, where it was again necessary to drag the guns across the shaky bridge and force the reluctant mules to swim. By this time the infantry had pushed some distance dhead, and suddenly there was heavy firing near another lismantled bridge close to the Guiguinta. Both the town and the bridge had been burned by the insurgents, and as soon as the infantry force crossed the railway track it was greeted with such a heavy fire that there were thirty casualties within a few minutes. The artillery came forward, as it had done before in many desperate fights, at the critical moment. The mules were unhitched and the cannoneers dashed with two of the guns across the shattered bridge and began firing from the top of the track. The insurgent fire came directly down the rail- road grade. Private Fender was shot through the hip THE INSURRECTION. 63 \vhile working at the gun. In a few moments the shrap- . nel had torn the Filipino earthworks and in the semi- darkness the dusky figures of the Filipinos could be seen in retreat. The river which barred the way was crossed the next day. When evening fell on the 30th, the towers of Malo- los, the insurgent capital, where a few months before Don Emilio Aguinaldo had been crowned president of the Filipino republic, were almost within view. A long line of Filipino intrenchments defended the approaches to the city. All eyes had been turned from the begin- ning of the insurrection toward Malolos, and here it was expected that on the morrow Aguinaldo, with a host of his black warriors around him, would make a desperate effort to resist the aggression of the American troops. The four big rifles and the Colt's automatic were moved into