Spanish American War--Medallion P.1

State: Utah. Medal: Spanish American War Service. Authority: Governor H.M. Wells Proclamation issued on August 11, 1899 to honor returning Utah troops. General: Although not an official authorization, it is believed that the medal was initiated by a committee of representative citizens who were given the responsibility for carrying out the Governor's proclamation. Utah provided about 450 soldiers for service during the Spanish American War and Philippine Insurrection. Three light batteries of artillery and a troop of cavalry were called to active duty. Only Batteries A and B served in the Philippines and it appears that the medal was given only to the members of these two units. Actual presentation took place on August 19, 1899 when the medals were presented by Governor Heber M. Wells and accepted on behalf of the volunteers by Major R.W. Young. Records of the time inidicates that the total strength of the two artillery units was 355. The firm of Wendell and Co. of Chicago was awarded the contract to manufacture the medals. Description: The medal is silver and 35.5 mm in diameter. It is suspended by chain links from a silver bar 8x30mm upon which is engraved the recipients name. The obverse contains the State seal within a circle and around the outer edge are the words defender of the nations's honor in the war with spain and at the bottom the dates 1898 - 1899. On the reverse above crossed cannons, a crossed rifle and sword and a trumpet are the words The Gift of / The / State of Utah/ To her volunteers. The illustrated medal was awarded to Private W.H. Shearer of Salt Lake City who served in Battery B. References: Wilcox, Marrion, Harper's history of the War in the Phillippines, Harper and brothers Publishers, 1900. The history of the Utah Volunteers in the Spanish American War and in the Philippine Islands, W.F. Ford, Publisher, Salt lake CIty 1900.