The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-10

Nothing has been done in the matter
of a reorganization of battery A of the
national guard, and from indications it
does not seem that anything will be
done, for some time. to say the least.
The members of the organization met
at the armory last evening, and prob
ably for the last time. There is but
little hope among them for recognition,
and all will turn in their equipments
and retire TO private life as before.
1t win be remembered that on Friday
evening the officers and enlisted men
sent in q protest to the governor, ask
ing him TO rescind the order, or so
much thereof as related to battery y.
The Herald predicted that it would not
be granted, and the prediction was YER
flied last evening. In their protest the
men set up that the action of the exec
utive, taken, as il was, in the face of
declaration Of war, would mean a
great deal to them; that it would af-
feet their daily lives in this. that they
would be held up to public ridicule:
that there was no way suggested for
evasion Of the jibes and jeers which
would be bestowed upon them by those
who could not, or would not, under
stand the situation.
Inns ttlOlGSL Ndo Sl-llGu ny liz lAAe1JOl
commanding the battalion, the battery
officers and the enlisted men present,
with one or two exceptions.
At the meeting of the battery, or
rather the men formerly composing the
battery, last evening, the reply of the
commander-in-chief was read, as fol-
lows:
GOVERNORS REPLY.
To Major George w. Gibbs. First Ar
tillery, and the officers and Enlisted
Men of Battery A. First Artillery:
1 am directed by Governor Heber NJ.
Wells, commander-in-chief national
guard of Utah, to acknowledge receipt
of your communication of April s, pro-
testing against the decision reached in
general orders No. 3, with reference to
the battalion of light artillery, and par
ticularly with reference to battery a.
The commanders desires to as
sure you, one and all, that there has
not been, and is not, the slightest desire
TO cast reDroach" upon your patriot
ism, to place - a stigma upon your
good names, or to offer "a lasting dis
grace" TO you as citizens and as SOL
diers. On the contrary, he has the
most unquestioned faith in your loyalty
and courage, but it was not a question
of patriotism. 1t was a question of eff
ficiency, as that term is understood by
of feelings and the best OF motives, he
felt compelled to take the unpleasant
course that the order indicates. OF
course you will see that it will be i'm
possible to rescind that order, but men,
berS of the organization now disbanded
may confidently feel that, with the full
realization of the difficulties and dis
coura gements they have had to endure,
the services of those who have been
energetic and active are thoroughly ap-
preciated. There is no accusation of in
subordination, no Impeachment of pa
triotism; but the best interests of the
service and of the organization itself,
required, in his judgment. the action
which has been taken.
| may add that IL is the hope and eX-
pectation of the commander-in-chief
that within a short time the battery
shall be TeOrganized. 1t would not be
wise to rush heedlessly, or even impul-
sively, into such course but there is
no reason to doubt that whenever the
proper time comes for its reorganiza-
ton, the deserving and desirable men
of the former battery A, svho may wish
to continue their service. viii be gladly
welcomed to membership.
Trusting that you viii feel to take a
cain and inst view of the exigency
which has arisen, and give your SUI
perior officers credit for patriotism
equal TO your own, am. very respect
fully, JOHN Q. CANNON,
Adiutant General.
Fhe reading of this letter was greet
ed with no demonstrations at all. Fol-
lowing the same, Major Gibbs advised
conservative course on the part of
the men. saying he believed this would
be the best. Lieutenant Hensel follow
ed in the same strain. Lieutenant Jack
son declared he had no advice to offer,
having decided on a programme of his
own, which he would adhere to. Lieu
tenant Jackson took occasion to allude
to the fact that the men had been to-
gether for a long time, and he had
hoped that when trouble came they
would be found doing their duty He
wished to say, before retiring that he !
thanked the members of the battery
for the honors conferred upon him. and |
To assure them. one and ALL of his ap-
probation and friendship. He then |
bade them an official farewell, stating !
that while bowling TO the will of the |
higher authority, at the same time he |
could not help expressing his deep re-
gret for what had happened.
Lieutenant Ford had nothing to add. |
declaring there was nothing he could |
say TO better conditions.
Captain Palmer was not present.
REORGANIZATION.
There are all sorts of rumors prevail |
ing concerning the reorganization of |
the battery. One was to the effect |
that Richard w Young would be Sc
lected as the head of six-sun battery, |
10 be made up from the Ogden battery |
and this one. Mr. Young was seen yes
terday and said he did not know what /
would happen. In the event &C war. /
he would consider il his duty to offer /
his services to the government. The |
capacity would be determined by the |
government. He presumed. however,
that many in similar positions would |
60 into the service from the states in
which they lived. He declared that in
time of peace he had no desire to serve
in the militia, but when war was de-
clared. it would be his duty to voIun-
teer.
Governor Wells stated yesterday that
when the battery was reorganized.
every acceptable officer and man would
be given a chance to vindicate himself.
The exact meaning of this is not ap-
parent to the members of the battery,
but a determination seems to exist. af-
ter a careful elaboration, to await the
results.
The feeling which exists over the ac-
fiou of the governor is but natural |