Show MORMON BA BATTALION AND ITS 1 MON MONUMENT MENT In a special message delivered to the Legislature ure in 1915 b by Governor Spry he recommended that initial steps be taken toward the erection of a in honor of the Mormon Battalion The message was accompanied by hy a petition in which were set forth important facts pertaining to Mormon Battalion his his his- tor tory The petition in part reads as follows The the Governor and Legislative Assembly of the State of Utah Ladies Ladles and Gentlemen It has been the custom In all ages and I among all aU people for those who enjoy enjoy enI en en- I joy the advantages of or a higher civilization civilization to the achievements achievements achievements achieve achieve- ments of those who by heroic sacrifice sacrifice sacrifice fice blazed the tho trails and laid the foundation of that civilization Utah is unique among her sister states of the west In that she has numbered number number- ed among her citizens citizens' the members of ot a battalion that rendered a splendid splendid splendid did service in that conflict which I raised the st standard of the United Stat States s over tho the Rocky mountains and upon the tho shores of the Pacific ocean After a lapse of almost seventy years rears when the plain facts of history history his hIs- tor tory apart from prejudices and amI personalities per per- depend upon their own merits for tor their heir illumination Illumination n when the seeds of a great grent patriotic service have matured to a n glorious fruition wo we feel that the time is ripe to ask ash no only for a site for this monument but further that an appropriation be made for a monument to the Mormon Mormon Mormon Mor Mor- mon Battalion As a basis for such request we submit the following facts for your consideration The Mormon Battalion was regularly regularly regularly regu regu- enlisted into the service ser of the United States tates July 16 16 1846 at Council Bluffs la Ia The Tho call for volunteers cameto came ClUne cameto to the tile pioneers the founders of this stale state and the vanguard of western civilization when the they were in the tho midst of their journey to the Rocky mountains While the enlistment of the Bat Bat- tallon entailed great sacrifice upon those who enlisted and and upon their families fes who were left behind homeless homeless homeless home home- less and in fn an open country infested b by savages and wild animals it nevertheless was the the- means of rendering great assistance to the tile people as a whole in tho preparations for Cor their advent Into these valleys valles The fact that these men were in the service of the United States was the plea effectually used by Colonel Kane at Washington In securing securing securing se se- curing the privilege for the Utah pioneers to plant and harvest crops upon the Indian lands along the shores of f the tho Missouri river The seeds that matured matured upon these thase lands were brought here and planted panted plant pant ed in the soil of Utah The Mormon Battalion ren rendered financial aid to the pioneers of ot this state Upon enlisting each soldier received from the government besides besides be be- sides his accoutrements which he was to retain after hIs term of service service service ser ser- vice had expired two forty-two dollars In cash as clothing money for tho the year Continued d on Page Two IO BATTALION MALION From Page One I The clothing was not purchased and ands u s g good od portion of or the money was sent I back to Council Bluffs for lor the use of ol the tho people there and thus doubtless assisted in completing the equipment of the pioneers who entered Salt Lake Lako Valley July 24 1847 1841 Under the command of or Col Philip St. St George Cooke the Battalion BattalIon Battalion Battal Battal- ion made an infantry march of 2000 2000 2 miles es from the Missouri river to tJi the Pacific On account of 01 the sacrifice clothing and und shoes for lor forthe forthe the long strenuous march they endured endured en en- dured excruciating hardships The Tho chart of ot the road as made by Colonel Cookes Cooke's engineer was as placed placed placed ed upon upon the flies files at Washington D.C. D.C. D. D C. C and later formed the basis for forthe forthe forthe the construction of the Southern Pacific Ia Ia- railroad Upon their return march the Battalion Bat Hat tallon pioneered a road from the Cajon Pass northeasterly Into Salt Lake Valley a distance of 01 between and and miles They participated in that conflict which made California Utah Idaho Nevada Colorado New Mexico and Arizona Arlzo ia a part of at the United States They took part In the discovery of tIle the first gold in California which h event pacified i 1 the Californians j added added added add add- ed ed uncounted millions to the nations nation's wealth gave an impetus to emigration emIgration emigration tion from many nations and marked marked mark marc ed cd the beginning of the rul development of the West They brought from California to this this st state te seeds of or various kinds which were of inestimable value to the people hero here in early days I The Pueblo detachments 0 of the tile Mormon Battalion comprising the sick and disabled who had winter- winter quartered d at Pueblo consisting of 3 soldiers and a numbers of familIes families families lIes lies entered Salt Lake valley valle July 29 29 1847 five days after BrIgham Young and his company They Tuley re reinforced re- re unforced rc d the supplies of the pioneers with wagons wagons gons horses mules cattle rattle and nd g guns ns They joined the pioneers in their occupation and df defense Tense of th the land The They were among those who turned the thc first furrow l planted plant plant- ed d the tho first seeds and built the first houses They built the ll- ll Il p edifice in fn the tacky Rocky mountains the Bowery on the Temple grounds They built the greater portion of the first fort In Iii Salt Lake City It oc- oc pled what is nov no now Pioneer I ee park parle tl lJ l lu u inis valley wa was wa the daughter of John Campbell Steele a member of the Mormon Battalion Connection with Irrigation passing through the valley of Santa SantaFe SantaFe SantaFe Fe members of the Battalion had made observations concerning a system aye aye- tern tem of irrigation employed by the natives s of that region Our modern system of Irrigation has doubtless I evolved from ideas brought here by bythe bythe I Ithe the Mormon Battalion The rh Pueblo detachment was discharged discharged discharged dis dis- charged after arriving in Salt Lake valley ller Capt James Brown was sent to California with power of attorney to to collect their pay He returned with in Spanish doubloons which was the first gold coin circulated circulated circulated in Utah The Pueblo detachment of the Mormon Mormon Battalion was the first United States military organization to como come here They entered Salt Lake valley to the strains of martial music accompanied b by Brigham Young and escort They camped upon City creek and BrIgham Young thanked them In the presence of all assembled for the service which they had rendered to the people people people peo peo- and their country Conclusions The Mormon Battalion Battalion Bat Bat- tallon rendered a service to the nation nation nation na na- na- na tion In that they performed an Important Important Important Im Im- part in opening the highways highways high high- ways wars between the east and the westIn west westIn westIn In that they assisted In establishing establish establish- ing the United States government and In Introducing American civilization civilization civili civili- upon the shores of the Pacific Pacific Paci Paci- fic fie ocean The Battalion rendered not only a national service but a world service service service ser ser- vice In that they ther participated in the discovery of the first gold In Cali CaU- fornia The Mormon rendered a service to the State of Utah Utah Utah- In that they ther aided her pioneers in their preparations for lor coming to these valleys In that they added splendid reinforcements reinforcements reinforcements rein rein- to the supplies of the pioneers pioneers pio plo In that they took part In fn the earliest activities of the state In that much of the seeds sown in the virgin soil of Utah were fruits of their enlistment In that they thoy brought here the first ideas for that wonderful system of irrigation which made possible the fruition of those seeds Further we desire to our I I appreciation that the United States through the enlistment of the Mormon Battalion rendered Important aid to the Utah pioneers in their labor of founding this state Government money paid to the tho Battalion Battalion Bat Bat- assisted In equipping the pioneers pIoneers pioneers pio pIo- of 01 1847 Government permission permission sion obtained on account of the enlistment enlistment en en- of the Mormon Battalion gave the pioneers permission to pass through and settle temporarily upon Indian lands and to plant and harvest harvest har her vest crops and Further urther we feel that Utah's first t memorial should commemorate the first national and patriotic event in her history as a state and a part of the United States For the foregoing reasons we feel fecI that H t is right and fitting for tor forthe forthe th the State State of t Utah to tomake make an an appropriation on for tor a monument In honor of the Mormon I r on Battalion Battalion and further that a site upon the capitol grounds be bo set apart for tha monument and we wo ask that such be lie granted DAUGHTERS OF THE MORMON BATTALION The Governors Governor's based upon the splendid achievements achievements achieve achieve- ments of our Pioneer Battalion as asset asset set forth In the petition was met with such favor lavor by the representatives tives of the state that unanimous support was given ghen to a measure which provided for the appointment of a committee of seven citizens whose duty It should be bo to select a site on the Capitol grounds and to procure a design for a monument in honor of the Mormon n Battalion The Mormon Battalion matter was again brought before the States State's representatives for their consideration tion In 1917 The Tho Monument Committee had secured secured secured se se- se- se cured a design for a It monument by means menns of or a wide nation competition This design was presented to tot the legislature for their inspection t and and approval The bill which was approved by bythe bythe bythe the legislature of 1917 provided for tor forthe forthe the of a commission whose duty It should be to proceed with the erection of a monument upon the site which had been selected select select- ed and for the appropriation of to be available January January January Janu Janu- ary 1 1 1920 upon condition that a alike alike alike like sum had been secured from other oth oth- er sources and deposited with the state treasurer Shortly after the appointment of the commission our country countr i ec y en In 10 the Gr Gre World W War and Jor or the h mo monument t was wa s Ir Delayed r 4 t Q Quite tt as a Is surprise to to man many the subject of the monument monument was again brought before the attention of the legislature of 1919 This proved to tobe tobe be uc a most fortunate thing It was a test of the sentiment of the people of the state for the Mormon Battalion BattalIon Battalion Battal Battal- ion Monument for this sentiment was expressed in the recommendation tion of the legislative committee to which this matter had been submitted submit submit- ted that the work of the Mormon Battalion Monument Commission should n not t be Interfered with Following is a description of or the monument model b by Samuel C. C Park formerly mayor of Salt Lake City now City now a member of the Monument Monument Monument ment Commission appointed with two other members as a committee to inspect and pass upon the model The base is in triangular form with concave sides and rouD ed corners A Abronze bronze figure of a Battalion man is mounted upon the front cor cor- ner Flanking him on two sides of the triangle are cut In high relief on the left lert the scene of the enlistment enlistment enlistment enlist enlist- ment 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 overa a precipitous ascent while still others are ahead widening a cut to permit I the passage of the wagons between the rocks The background is a representation tion 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 center center cen cen- ter 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 mothe force torce that sustained sustain sustain- ed these Battalion men and led them as a vanguard of civilization across the trackless plains and through the difficult defiles and passes pass pass- es of the mountains The Idea of the sculptor In the Spirit of the West the West is a magnificent conception and should dominate the whole monument Hovering over and above him the beautiful female figure with an air of solicitous care guards him In his reverie Her lIer 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 10 the massive peaks and mountains seeming to pervade I the air and the soul soil with her very soul Jul j The Spirit of ot the West Is but one of or the many attributes of Deity Delt symbolizing sym 1 sym sym- that Infinite Love LoTe and car carol which the Deity has for all aU his children children chil chil- dren and It represents the hope courage and determination which moved and Impelled the Battalion man his comrades and all the others who have ha followed in their footsteps in the settlement and development of oC the great west It Is the Spirit back of or the breakIng breaking breaking break break- ing of the soil by the farmer ha ba of the Institution of our back of our mines back of our government government gov gOY and of our very hearth- hearth sides It permeates the air the sell ell elland and the hearts of men It tempers the character of all who come within with with- in the Influence of the boundless plains and majestic peaks It has led men to make a garden of a n desert desert des des- ert and a treasure h house use of tho the mountain It has justified and approved approved ap p ap- ap proved every sacrifice to make this part lart of the world a better place lac i to live Uve It is constant never ending Infinite It is pleasant to contemplate these thoughts as expressed in tin tl t model at this time when the wog wor Is all aU but overcome with the Idea l of Individualism and while new pop pop- shifting as the sands santi co cuq- cuq In greed envy and man malice e dally dai daily dal- dal 1 ly are arc born struggle and die L Our proposed monument represents represents represents and commemorates such ideal I in cooperation steadfastness a and d progress as should be a lesson and t d i ian an inspiration to this and to tl- tl tIng t- t lug Ing generations The back of or the L i q been most happily designed It is the third side of the gle and remains to be described The central Idea is the tho dimly suggested suggested suggested sug sug- figure of oC an Indian woman of oC the southwestern typo whose head shows on relief against Jf background back back- background back back- ground peaks and wh body and outstretched arms drap draped d in the cus- cus cus customary s- s tomary blanket are fal faro fain suggest y-suggest- ed ell In the crags and r ro e k In t fact fact ct the head is the only of part part othe the figure figure figure fig fig- ure that f is s chiseled clear In |