celebration in an enduring form that shall perpetuate the memory of them
to future generations. This has been recognized for many years and the
idea of such a memorial has been kept alive in the community by a
women's organization known as the Daughters of the Mormon Battalion,
composed of direct female descendants of the men of that organization.
Of late years the interest has taken on a wider scope, until now the
whole state of Utah and the surrounding intermountain states have become
awakened to the duty of properly commemorating by a Monument, this
unique event in the history of our country and of the Utah pioneers.
=The State of Utah Mormon Battalion Monument Commission.=--This awakened
sense of duty led to the creation of the State of Utah Mormon Battalion
Monument Commission, by the twelfth legislature of the State of Utah. It
is instructed to proceed with the erection of a monument upon the
capitol grounds to commemorate the important contribution made to the
early settlement of the state of Utah and the western portion of the
United States by the Mormon Battalion.
The appointment of this commission and the mandate given to it were the
sequence of an act of the previous legislature (the eleventh), which had
appointed a former commission of seven citizens to investigate the
subject of such a monument, choose a site for it upon the capitol
grounds, select a design and report to the legislature next succeeding.
Accordingly a site was selected, a competition held in which the
architects and the sculptors of Utah and also of the United States were
invited to participate, and in which prominent sculptors and architects
from the whole country did participate, submitting plans and models of
their designs, from which a committee composed of Utah's prominent
artists and architects selected three as winning first, second and third
places, respectively, and to which were awarded cash prizes as per terms
of the competition. Acting upon the judgment of this committee the
design accorded first place was recommended by the Monument Committee to
the twelfth legislature and an appropriation of one hundred thousand
dollars asked for, not to be available, however, before 1920, and only
when a like amount of money should be raised from other sources.
The report of the first committee resulted, as before stated, in the
appointment of the present Commission, the making of the aforesaid
appropriation of two thousand dollars additional for contingent
expenses, and authorizing procedure with the work.
Mr. G. P. Riswold, the successful sculptor in the competition,
associated with Messrs. James R. M. Morrison and Mr. Walker, architects,
Chicago, Illinois, were notified of the action of the legislature. The
following spring Mr. Morrison of the firm of the sculptor and associated
architects, being in Salt Lake City, and meeting with some members of
the Commission volunteered the making of a larger model of the design
submitted by Mr. Riswold. This model has been inspected by a special
committee appointed by the Utah State Commission and finally adopted by
the full Commission as the accepted design and model of the monument to
be erected on the Capitol grounds.
=Description of the Monument.=--The written report of Mr. Samuel C. Park,
formerly mayor of Salt Lake City, made on behalf of the committee that
went to Chicago to inspect the model, to the Utah State Mormon Battalion
Commission--may well be taken for a description of the Mormon Battalion
Monument that it is proposed to erect on the capitol grounds:
"To the Chairman of Members of the Mormon Battalion Monument Commission:
"As a member of your subcommittee delegated to go to Chicago to inspect
the model of the proposed Mormon Battalion Monument, I have the honor to
report:
"* * * The base is in triangular form with concave sides and rounded
corners.
"A bronze figure of a Battalion man is mounted upon the front corner.
Flanking him on two sides of the triangle are cut in high relief, on the
left, the scene of the enlistment of the Battalion under the flag of the
United States of America; on the right a scene of the march where the
men are assisting in pulling the wagons of their train up and over a
precipitous ascent while still others are ahead widening a cut to permit
the passage of the wagons between the out-jutting rocks.
"The background is a representation of mountains of the character
through which the Battalion and its train passed on the journey to the
Pacific.
"Just below the peak in the center and in front of it is chiseled a
beautiful head and upper part of a woman, symbolizing the 'Spirit of the
West.' She personifies the impulsive power and motive force that
sustained these Battalion men and led them, as a vanguard of
civilization, across the trackless plains and through the difficult
defiles and passes of the mountains.
"The idea of the sculptor in the 'Spirit of the West' is a magnificent
conception and should dominate the whole monument.
"The bronze figure of the battalion man is dignified, strong and
reverential. He excellently typifies that band of pioneer soldiers which
broke away through the rugged mountains and over trackless wastes.
"Hovering over and above him the beautiful female figure, with an air of
solicitous care, guards him in his reverie. Her face stands out in full
relief: the hair and diaphanous drapery waft back mingling with the
clouds while the figure fades into dim outline in the massive peaks and
mountains, seeming to pervade the air and the soil with her very soul.
"'The Spirit of the West' is but one of the many attributes of Deity
symbolizing that Infinite Love and care which the Deity has for all his
children and it represents the hope, courage, and determination which
moved and impelled the Battalion Man, his comrades and all the others
who have followed in their footsteps in the settlement and development
of the great west.
"It is the Spirit back of the breaking of the soil by the farmer, back
of the institution of our schools, back of our mines, back of our
government and of our very hearthsides. It permeates the air, the soil
and the hearts of men. It tempers the character of all who come within
the influence of the boundless plains and majestic peaks. It has led men
to make a garden of a desert and a treasure house of the mountain. It
has justified and approved every sacrifice to make this part of the
world a better place in which to live. It is constant, never
ending--infinite.
"It is pleasant to contemplate these thoughts as expressed in the model,
at this time when the world is all but overcome with the idea of
individualism, and while new governments, shifting as the sands,
conceived in greed, envy and malice daily are born, struggle and die.
"Our proposed monument represents and commemorates such ideal in
co-operation, steadfastness and progress as should be a lesson and an
inspiration to this and to succeeding generations.
"The back of the monument has been most happily designed.
"It is the third side of the triangle and remains to be described.
"The central idea is the dimly suggested figure of an Indian woman, of
the southwestern type, whose head shows in relief against the background
peaks and whose body and outstretched arms draped in the customary
blanket are faintly suggested in the crags and rocks. In fact the head
is the only part of the figure that is chiseled clear in outline, the
balance of the figure being only dimly suggested."
=Evanishment of Race.=--"Just as the 'Spirit of the West' in the front
dominates and pervades so this figure has the air of receding and
disappearance. The evanishment of a former race. The figure is heroic in
size and beautifully conceived. On either side, really on the lower
folds of the blanket or on the rocks whereon the blanket is suggested,
are two more scenes incidental to the journey and labors of the
battalion. On the right half is a scene at Sutter's mill where some of
the battalion members in digging the tailrace for the mill turned up
the first gold bearing gravel that led to the great gold rush to
California in ''49,' and contributed so many millions to the wealth of
the country.
"On the left half is shown a battalion man digging a ditch and leading
the water from a creek to overflow the land so that the pioneers could
break the ground that had shattered their plow points and broken their
plows.
"This was the introduction of irrigation into Utah.
"The back of the monument in its conception and treatment, by its
stateliness and suggested grandeur and what the artists call
'atmosphere' made a distinct impression upon the committee and no
changes or modifications were thought of nor suggested. It seemed a very
happy solution of a difficult problem.
"From the irrigating stream and the tail-race of the mill it is designed
to have small streams of flowing water forming a pool in the shape of a
half moon at the rear and so arranged as to pass this water through to
the other side to form two pools or lagoons on the front side of the
monument.
"Immediately surrounding the monument the architects have laid out a
pavement in red brick tile with a border of an Indian design. This dark
tile will save the glare and dazzling reflection of the bright sun of
our clear atmosphere upon a white granite monument.
"There are also graceful and symmetrical walks, a granite coping and
seats suitably located and arranged to give everyone ample opportunity
for a casual or studied view of the monument and its parts.
"Beyond these walks and seats immediately around the monument, the
pools, lagoon and walks are designed to join in and harmonize with the
rest of the capitol grounds.
"Nothing like this monument has ever been designed or built before. It
is original and unique. Few states can boast the achievements such as
are commemorated in this design. More than 72 years have elapsed since
the battalion made its memorable march, and the most of its members have
passed to the great beyond. So this monument should be built at once if
we are to proceed according to first hand evidence and information and
not according to more or less fanciful and legendary tales concerning
them and their difficult journey.
"It is sufficiently creditable and glorifying to tell their history as
it was and without adornment. The most important events are to be shown
in bronze and stone upon this monument.
"Its execution will certainly tax the sculptor to his utmost, but I
believe it is in thoroughly capable hands and when built will be one of
the really great monuments of the United States. * * *
"Therefore, let us adhere to the proposed model with steadfast purpose
to build it not only as an added attraction to the many we have for the
tourist and visitor, but more especially as an object of great interest
for study and inspiration for our children and our children's children."
=The Duty of the People of Utah.=--Such is the Monument to be erected in
commemoration of this great march of infantry whose achievements are so
closely and inseparably connected with winning for the United States her
present inheritance in the intermountain west and on the shores of the
Pacific. Also whose achievements and glory are so inseparably connected
with the founding of the State of Utah, as the work of part of her
pioneer-state builders. It is the duty of the people of Utah, to whom
appeal is now made, to raise the $100,000 necessary to make the State's
appropriation of a like amount available to build the monument. To fail
in such a duty would be to disgrace the State. No other State in the
Union has such a unique incident to celebrate as this Battalion incident
in our Utah Pioneer history. It is both heroic and dramatic; and in the
results achieved is one of the largest events contributed by any state
to the history of our country. Utah owes it to the state and to the
nation to build this monument, that memory of this greatest march of
infantry in the world, and the heroism of those who made it, shall not
perish from among men.
It is the purpose of the Utah State Mormon Battalion Monument Commission
to raise this fund by the 30th day of January, 1920,--Battalion
Day--being the seventy-third anniversary of the official ending of their
march, and arrival upon the shores of the Pacific. The respective
counties have been organized for the campaign for the funds,
subscription lists have been opened. It is proposed to conduct a
campaign of public meetings in the interest of the Monument throughout
Utah and the surrounding states, and give the people of the
inter-mountain west every opportunity to honor themselves and their
posterity and their state by fittingly memorializing the March and
Achievements of the Mormon Battalion.
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the
original.
The following corrections have been made to the text:
Page iii: The Call of the Battalion. [period missing in
original]
Page iii: From Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe. [period missing in
original]
Page iv: From Santa Fe to the Mouth of the Gila. [period
missing in original]
Page iv: Record of the Battalion in California. [period missing
in original]
Page v: The Tide of Western Civilization Started 67 [original
has 66]
Page v: The Mormon Battalion's "Diggings" on the American
River 68 [original has 67]
Page v: Ascent of the Sierras from the Western Side 72 [original
has 71]
Page v: Evidence of Appreciation of the Battalion's Services
73 [original has 72]
Page v: Efforts to Raise a Second Mormon Battalion 74 [original
has 73]
Page v: Lieut. George Stoneman [original has Stonemen]
Page 9: In it Mr. [period missing in original] Little expresses
Page 14: in the event of [original has or] the Battalion being
raised
Page 15: locate on Grand Island until [original has untill]
they could
Page 15: [original has extraneous quotation mark] You can stay
till your husbands
Page 16: "Four regiments were called [quotation mark missing
in original]
Page 17: 11th of July, Col. [period missing in original] Thomas
L. Kane
Page 17: with benevolent [original has benevolant] intentions
Page 17: His [original has Hisc] written report
Page 18: The United [original has Unied] States want our
friendship
Page 18: "This is the first time [original has single quote]
Page 18: choose the best locations." [quotation mark missing in
original]
Page 19: affectation at their leave-taking," [original has ',']
Page 19: firm and hard by frequent use. [period missing in
original]
Page 19: the canto of debonair [original has debonnair] violins
Page 22: To volunteer [original has volunter] for a "war-march"
Page 24: said river some thirty or forty miles. [period missing
in original]
Page 24: would amount [original has amout] to $42.00 each
Page 24: pay of the soldiers that had accrued [original has
accured]
Page 24: first [original has fiirst] sergeant, $16.00 per month
Page 25: winter supply of the Camp." [quotation mark missing in
original]
Page 26: where they were destined to go without." [quotation
mark missing in original]
Page 26: experienced in raising [original has rasing] the
Battalion
Page 28: commissioned officer of the regular army [original has
mary]
Page 32: [original has extraneous quotation mark] By special
arrangement
Page 32: not very available at Santa Fe [original has
extraneous comma]
Page 36: Through sand, beneath a burning sun." [quotation mark
missing in original]
Page 36: through Sonora via [original has of] Janos and
Fronteras
Page 37: 'I will go there or die in the attempt. [period
missing in original]'
Page 40: message from Captain Comaduran [original has
Comandurau]
Page 41: "Adjutant." [quotation mark missing in original]
Page 42: it was signed, December 30, 1853. [period missing in
original]
Page 43: called tornia, a variety of the mezquit. [period
missing in original]
Page 45: was [original has kas] "the most trying of any
Page 45: the skin from the leg of an ox. [period missing in
original]
Page 46: Near eleven, [A. M. [period missing in original]] I
reached
Page 46: dependence on muddy wells for five or six
days. [period missing in original]
Page 48: too narrow by a foot of solid rock. [period missing in
original]
Page 49: round one side, a cold one around the other. [period
missing in original]
Page 49: fallen upon the rainy season. [original has extraneous
quotation mark]
Page 49: "The ill-clad [original has ill-crad] Battalion," he
continues
Page 49: the announcement that Gen. [period missing in
original] Kearny
Page 51: of the snow-capped mountains." [quotation mark missing
in original]
Page 51: military brevity the achievements [original has
achievemets]
Page 52: these first wagons to the Pacific [original has
Pacifice]
Page 53: Lieutenants A. [period missing in original] J. Smith
and George Stoneman
Page 54: "Some had not shaved [quotation mark missing in
original]
Page 54: a year's growth had to be sacrificed [original has
sacrified]
Page 55: vermin, and no person, however [original has howevevr]
cleanly
Page 55: "Colonel Cooke and Lieutenant Stoneman commenced
[quotation mark missing in original]
Page 55: nine privates of Company A. [period missing in
original]
Page 59: be accepted. [period missing in original]
Page 59: induce the Battalion to re-enlist. [period missing in
original]
Page 60: and work until spring. [period missing in original]
Page 61: mustered out of the service. [period missing in
original]
Page 62: $1,950.00, cash down. [original has extraneous
quotation mark]
Page 63: Goodyear's title amounted to no more [original has
momre]
Page 65: 24th of January [original has extraneous quotation
mark] while
Page 65: Jan. [period missing in original] 30th: Clear, and
Page 65: he does not know the date. [period missing in
original]
Page 67: date of discovery trebly proved. [original has
extraneous quotation mark]
Page 67: civilized world to California. [period missing in
original]
Page 68: Bigler, followed the wagon road. [period missing in
original]
Page 69: might examine the place." [original has single quote]
Page 71: Parties [original has Patrties] came in one after
another
Page 71: national 4th," writes H. [period missing in original]
H. Bancroft
Page 72: been murdered by the Indians. [period missing in
original]
Page 73: California and the U. [period missing in original] S.
government
Page 75: he had met Captain Hunt [original has Hrnt]
Page 75: rank of lieutenant-colonel, with an adjutant [original
has adjustant]
Page 75: the wish of the department. [period missing in
original]
Page 76: and that he [original has be] brought with him
Page 77: 4. [original has comma] The adoption of irrigation
farming
Page 77: The part [original has extraneous of] the Battalion
took
Page 78: government paid Mexico $15,000,000. [period missing in
original]
Page 78: Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas [original has
Nevavda]
Page 78: for which was paid $10,000,000. [period missing in
original]
Page 80: Such is [word is missing in original] the reputation
of the Battalion
Page 80: The part the Battalion played [word missing in
original] in the discovery of gold
Page 80: with the several invalided [original has invallided]
detachments
Page 83: the streets [original has tsreets] of Salt Lake City
Page 84: grade of brigadier general (1861) [opening parenthesis
missing in original]
Page 85: natural austerity of temperament [original has
temperment]
Page 85: from the report of those who were present." [quotation
mark missing in original]
Page 86: Col. [period missing in original] Cooke said to him
Page 87: load it and give it to me. [period missing in
original]
Page 87: was not properly loaded.'" [double quote missing in
original]
Page 88: You may go to your tent.'" [double quote missing in
original]
Page 88: Col. [period missing in original] A. S. Johnston, in
1858
Page 89: the erection of a monument [original has monumen]
Page 90: a site was selected, [comma missing in original] a
competition
Page 90: Mr. G. P. [period missing in original] Riswold
Page 90: Mr. [period missing in original] Morrison of the firm
Page 93: world is all but overcome [original has ovrcome]
Page 93: being only dimly suggested." [quotation mark missing
in original]
Page 93: the front dominates and pervades [original has
prevades]
Page 93: whereon the blanket is suggested [original has
suggsted]
Page 94: the wealth of the country. [original has comma]
Page 94: shattered their plow points [original has poitns]
Page 94: also graceful and symmetrical [original has
symetrical]
Page 95: with steadfast purpose to build [original has built]
it
Page 96: with the founding of the [original has te] State
Page 96: duty would be to disgrace [original has disgrance]
Page 96: not perish from among men. [period missing in
original]
Page 96: their state by fittingly memorializing [original has
memoralizing]
[8:e] Hist. of Brigham Young, [comma missing in original] Ms.
Bk. 2
[8:e] (Hist. U. S., [comma missing in original] p. 483)
[17:q] History of Brigham Young, [comma missing in original]
Ms. Bk. 2
[18:s] History of [of missing in original] Brigham Young [comma
missing in original] Ms. Bk. 2, pp. 30-34.
[19:v] Kane's Lecture [original has Licture] "The Mormons"
[19:t] History of Brigham Young, [comma missing in original]
Ms. Bk. 2
[19:u] History of Brigham Young, [comma missing in original]
Ms. Bk. 2
[21:a] [Transcriber's note: Footnote missing in original.]
[25:e] History of the Mormon Church (Roberts), [comma missing
in original] Americana, March, 1912
[30:b] their arrival in Santa [original has Sant] Fe
[31:d] driven all the [original has he] way from Nauvoo
[32:e] Personal Narrative by P. St. George Cooke, G. P.
Putnam [original has Putman] and Sons
[62:g] middle of November, 1847" [quotation mark missing in
original]
[64:e] time of the gold discovery [original has discvery]
[75:g] quoted by Bancroft, [comma missing in original] Hist.
Cal.