The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-14
1snecial Correspondence


Tribune of the Sth instant, is a letter
purporting TO come from a Utah
trooper, which deserves and here re-
ceived nothing more than ridicule, but
may possibly be worthy of correction
among citizens of Utah, who, because
of distance, are not so conversant with
the facts. The communication is an
attempted and abortive criticism Of
Captain Gaines letter to Governor
Wells. wherein the captain stated that
his officers and men are delighted with
the prospect of going to Yosemite park;
and the critic not only posed as
q, Single-handed Sorehead, but made bold
sto aver that the majority Of the Utah
rcavalrymen Joined him in censuring
their commander. 1t is for that reason
that 1 deem reply proper.
There came a time in the history
of the First troop Utah U. S. volunteer
cavalry when they, along with many
another organization Of men even bet
ter drilled and better equipped, were
taken out Of the Philippine Islands
eXpeditionary forces and transferred to
the department of California. This was
because the wise heads who have
planned and executed the belief that
the Utah troops and the several other
cavalry commands, stationed here at
that time and camped here yet, were
not needed at Manila When their de-
cision was made known there was
natural and manifest disappointment
among the men, but those of them
whose common sense patriotism out
weighed their pyrotechnic, protracted
revival meeting loyalty knew that the
chance for a voyage west was too
feeble 70 further feel a hope; they re-
signedly abandoned that thought and
set about preparing mentally for what
might be assigned them at home
Later on two alternatives hove in
sight. One was to remain here at
Presidio doing what volunteers are
wont to call the tin soldier act, having
no duty except to drill, keep clean,
look we'll at guard mounts and dress
parades and to dabbie in the society
of gay San Francisco; the other alter
native YVES a long march TO the ma
tional park, where they would at least
be doing something useful to Uncle
Sam, if not rendering gallant service;
where their daily life would not be all
sham, mimicry of war and preparatory
for it, but would be- actual service OF
a kind in a beautiful spot and perfect
climate. For many days the men were
uncertain which of these two would
Ahe their lot. When they were finally
jSpprised that Yosemite was their
destination they were, as their captain
wrote, delighted. This mind you, was
hope for a trip to Manila this sum-
mer.
This disgruntled trooper wrote, ut !
has been reported that the captain has !
had an opportunity to take his troop |
to the Philippines, provided they |
would go dismOunted and that, without |
consulting the wishes of anyone but |
himself, he very promptly refused.p /
There is no truth in any such report |
if it was ever circulated. Anyone hav-
ing the slightest knowledge of affairs |
military, knows that troop command |
ers are not given options on certain
styles of warfare, but are ordered to
go or stay, on horse or afoot, Just as
they are most needed, in the eyes of the
powers that be. The fact is that when
Captain Caine went back to Utah last
month he left Camp Merritt with a
broad hint from General Otis that his
troop would be sent to Manila; that
during his absence it was learned by
the gentlemen conducting the eX-
peditionary forces that the time was
not yet ripe for the transportation of
any more cavalry or horses, and be-
fore the captains return his troop was
transferred to the California depart
were shipped across the water and
these were trained chargers, the flower
of four troops, sent as an experiment to
mount 2. troop of finely drilled regulars.
Another fact is that back in the
days when the Utah troopers had
glimmerings of hope for gallant serv-
ice at the front, the department at
Washington was notified that sheep
smen were overrunning Yosemite and
.Seuuoia parks. There then came the
order to send the Nevada, troop to pro
tect the parks. The department was
informed that the Nevadans We're not f:
mounted This left Utah the only
available volunteer cavalry organiza-
ton, and that is how Utah happened !
to knock what the reasoning ones deem '
the plum, prize assignment for which {
the regular cavalry troops contest ev-
cry year.
am only one Of the Utah troop and
I make bold to speak only for the
enlisted man whose name is signed I
below, but 1 am confident that did the
troop know the identity Of the libeler
Of their commander there would be
enough men available to administer to {
him a lively blanketing, despite his j
assertion that he represents the ma t
jority. I
I believe that the vast majority of 4
the troop enlisted from true patriotism; +
that they hoped by actual service to d
help win their country's battles; that d
they hail with delight the daily news s
Of their country's victory; that they
are happy that their country can con- b
quer even without them, and that c
while they may still fret to push to the t
front, they are loyal enough TO stand Ii
the most severe test of patriotism, to n
10 cheerfully the humble tasks Uncle S
Sam finds for their hands to do,
whether it be in barracks at Preside a
)r guarding the parks of California. d
Volunteers are first of all men and t,
patriots and as men and patriots they
serve their country even in unpreten-
ious manner without complaint, or If
With complaint, lodging it with the
roper authorities and not spreading n
I before the public in newspapers. AS
men and patriots they are cheerful in
diversity and obedient always VoIun-
GERS are also soldiers and as soldiers ir
aspect their superior officers. If there m
re an exception to this rule in Preside. di
lie is not properly a volunteer. p
JOHN METEER la
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