The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-21
BATTERY c IN A FIGHT.
WAS ONLY WITH A BRUSH FIRE,
HOWEVER.
The Blaze Threatened 70 Reach the
Barracks, and Was distinguished
By the Artillerymen - Some
Funny Incidents.

Battery c, Utah volunteers, has dis
tinguished itself.
1t had its first experience under a
heavy fire yesterday, and every mem
Der from Captain Jennings down TO
Orderly "Jaffert" conducted himself
bravely. When the smoke cleared
away there was nothing but a black
stretch of ground to indicate where the
enemy a few moments before tore
onward in its furious assault on Fort
Douglas.
The battle was of short duration. 1t.
lasted not over half an hour, but in
that time enough bravery was dis
played to prove that battery c is COM
posed of the right stuff Like most of
the battles of the present war it was
comparatively bloodless. Quartermaster
Sergeant RaWley, who got into the
hottest part of the fight, had his whis-
kers singed, but otherwise escaped IN
injured. He will not go to the hospital.
Private Ongman, who took up the fight
where Hawley left off, will have TO
have his mustache shaved off, while
some of the other boys will have to use
vaseline for q couple of days.
The success of the engagement was
largely due to the gallant action of the
officers. Captain Jennings took a posi-
ton on the ridge of the hill overlook
ing the battle-ground, from which place
he could observe the movements of his
troops. Lieutenant Murphy, saber in
hand. led one detachment which made
the first assault Lieutenant STACEY
brought up in the rear with what was
intended for a reserve force, but there
was no reservation about it; they all
wanted hand in the fight. and plung d
forward into the thickest part of the
smoke and did gloriously.
II was about O'clock last evening
when the sentry smelled smoke. He
took a few shifts to make sure and gave
the alarm. The call was sounded and
the boys responded like heroes. A
hasty council of war was held by the
officers and the plan of attack agreed
upon. The enemy was fast approach
ing, following both side of the car
track. A few moments more and it
would reach the lower barracks. There
was no time TO lose. Five minutes of
irreSolution cost Napoleon the battle of
Waterloo. and il was decided not to
have a repetition of that catastrophe.
Captain Jennings stationed himself on
the edge of the hill and gave orders
for his men to go ahead and fight. They
did so. 1t took the battery 10 minutes
to get in range of the enemy, but when
the men opened up they made short
>
demon, while the officers stood and
watched them. In 80 minutes not a
puff Of smoke could be seen. The en-
envy was completely wiped out.
So entirely oblivious TO all danger
were the men that at one time during
the hottest part of the engagement
they sang The Star Spangled Ban
Eer." Many other actions OF heroism
were displayed. Sergeant Hubert fell
into a ditch in his mad rush into the
very teeth of the fire and. had it not
been for the extraordinary reach of
Sergeant Lund, would have had no
chance to distinguish himself any fur
Their.
Sergeant Allen, who had a new uni
form On, didn't want it spoiled. and
showed great GOODNESS by taking his
while the enemy was getting in its best
ticks. But to mention all heroic deeds
would take up too much space.
When there was nothing left to fight
Captain Jennings signaled retreat. and
the victors marched home singing
''There'n Be a Hot Time for the Next
Man Who Sets Fire to the Reservation
Grass"
Aside from the exciting battle last
evening nothing of any special impor-
lance occurred at the fort No news
was received as to when the battery |
Will finally get away. though it was
confidently expected that word from
Washington would be received today.
The Red Cross society sent up IA /
pairs of shoes and three dozen cotton /
hose to be distributed among the needy /
members, and several made applica- !
tons for the footwear. The majority 4
of the boys. however are fairly well /
supplied with clothes and money. Still !
there are a few to whom these dona- /
lions are a godsend. The housewives |
sent up by the ladies of the Red Cross /
a few days ago We're distributed and |
every batteryman was happy.
Lieutenant Murphy was the proud |
possessor of n saber presented to him |
by the people of Ogden last Tuesday /
evening. 1t is a beauty and much adj
was bestowed upon it by the
visitors at headquarters yesterday.