Did you know that during the Spanish American War, there was a unit of Mormon soldiers that was raised in Utah, and sent to fight in the Philippines? While I understand they missed the war against the Spanish, I also heard they were involved in direct fighting with the Filipino Insurgency. However, other then a few throw away lines in a Church History book, I have never been able to find anything about these guys.

I am intensely curious, both as a history buff, and because I suspect something nefarious being behind why we never hear about these guys? Did they receive prophetic council that none of them would die in combat, then took heavy casualties? Did they commit war crimes? Did they serve honorably, but were just forgotten as not being faith promoting? If anyone knows anything, especially the formal name of the Unit, I would be grateful. If I had the Regimental number, I could dig up a lot of stuff on my own.

BTW, according to the Church History Book, when these guys went off to war, there were a lot of comparisons to them and the Mormon Battalion, and a really big deal made about them, and then nothing...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2012 12:48PM by forbiddencokedrinker.

Update, I turned up some stuff on my own.

http://www.fortdouglas.org/spanamvolunteers.htm

It would appear to be the two artillery batteries. It is interesting they were heavily engaged in battle, both with the Spanish, and the insurgents, and that several of them were killed in action. I believe those listed as Killed died in battle, while those listed as died, were of other causes.

Another interesting thing I discovered in that link. Look at the names of the poor guys who got sent to the Philippines and almost sent to Cuba, then look at the names of the guys who were given the strategically important job of protecting Yosemite National Park from the Spanish.

Hmmm interesting. I see a lot of the Mormon 'royalty' names like Young and Pratt who served in Yosemite. Your point is they played favorites with who served where, right?

That's what I was thinking, but I don't know how much direct influence the church had. My guess is the prophet made a deal to raise two artillery batteries, in exchange for the government finding safe work for the royal Calvary regiment, so those kids could go on to say they served willingly in the war, but were never given a chance to prove themselves, when running for office, or marching in parade. It's also my guess that the special kids who went to Yosemite got more honors and parades then the poor kids who actually got into the fight, and I would love to find evidence of that.

considering the reported atrocities that took place throughout the war, probably most if not all of the U.S. soldiers that fought in the Philippine-American War (Feb. 4 1899 - 1902) committed some kind of war crime under the orders of their superiors. Those Utah units were there at the end of the S.-A. War and the beginning of the P.A. War.

"The scene reminded me of the shooting of jack-rabbits in Utah, only the rabbits sometimes got away, but the insurgents did not."
Fred D. Sweet, of the Utah Light Battery

"The enemy numbered thousands and had courage, but could not shoot straight. People can never tell me anything about the Rough Riders charging San Juan. If these natives could shoot as accurately as the Spanish, they would have exterminated us. Fighting goes on all along the lines, many natives are killed, but we capture very few rifles, as they seem to have men to take them. Official reports say over four thousand two hundred natives have been buried by American troops. How many they have buried themselves and how many more are dead in the brush no one knows."
N. A. J. McDonnel, of the Utah Battery, February 22d
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/58/

I did find an article about the "Balangiga Massacre" and the aftermath, when things turned even uglier. The descriptions in this article reflects what I read elsewhere about the contempt with which Americans viewed the Filipinos:
http://www.bibingka.com/phg/balangiga/default.htm

The United States fought hard and viciously to turn the Philippines into our second official colony. It never really worked out for us.