Major General Briant Harris Wells (December 5, 1871 – June 10, 1949) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American and Philippine–American Wars, he later distinguished himself as chief of staff of the IV Corps during the final days of World War I, for which he received the Army Distinguished Service Medal.
He later served in various important assignments, including as Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Army and commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and the Hawaiian Department.
Early career
Wells was born on December 5, 1871, in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, as the son of Daniel H. Wells and Martha Givens Harris. His father was a mayor of Salt Lake City and an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Briant had a total of thirty-seven siblings due to his father's LDS religion, which allowed Polygamy. Some of his siblings had also distinguished careers later: Heber M. Wells, first Governor of the State of Utah; Elizabeth Wells Cannon, a prominent women's suffragist or Rulon S. Wells, a Utah politician. His father was also head of the Nauvoo Legion (the name given to the predecessor of the Utah National Guard during the early period of Utah Territory).
In May 1890, Wells received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated four years later with Bachelor of Science degree. Many of his classmates became general officers later including: Butler Ames, George H. Estes, Hamilton S. Hawkins III, Samuel Hof, Ora E. Hunt, John W. Joyes, Francis L. Parker, Frank Parker, Paul B. Malone, George Vidmer, Pegram Whitworth or Clarence C. Williams.
Following his graduation, Wells was commissioned second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch on June 12, 1894, and ordered to Fort Omaha, Nebraska, where he joined 2nd Infantry Regiment. He served with the regiment in Department of the Platte until June 1896, before his unit was transferred to the Department of Dakota.
He then served as an instructor with the Utah Army National Guard from August 1897 until the beginning of Spanish–American War, when he was promoted to first lieutenant and appointed a quartermaster, commissary, and mustering officer of the Utah Volunteers. Wells was then transferred to the 18th Infantry Regiment and embarked for Cuba in June that year. He participated in the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, and was wounded while leading a charge. Wells spent a month in the hospital and received Silver Star for gallantry and efficiency under fire.
Upon his full recovery, Wells served light duty with Utah Army National Guard and rejoined the 18th Infantry Regiment at Cavite, Philippines as company commander in November 1898. He subsequently participated in the combats against Filipino insurgents on the Island of Panay during Philippine–American War. Wells took part in the captures of Jaro and Iloilo and served in the field until December 1899. He was meanwhile appointed Regimental Commissary in May that year.
While in the Philippines, Wells participated in the Moro Rebellion and was promoted to captain in February 1901. He left for the United States in June that year and following a leave at home, he was assigned to the 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. His regiment served within the Department of the Lakes until February 1902, when it was ordered for occupation duty to the Philippines.
During his second tour in that country, Wells was stationed in the Southern Philippines and in the Islands of Visayas until May 1904, when he was ordered back to the United States. He then served a tour of duty with the Department of the Colorado, before he rejoined his regiment in Luzon, Philippines in August 1907.
In August 1909, Wells returned stateside and joined the headquarters of the Department of the East at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York City. He consecutively served as quartermaster under Majod Generals Leonard Wood, Frederick D. Grant and Tasker H. Bliss until December 1912, when he rejoined his old outfit, the 29th Infantry Regiment, as constructing and regimental quartermaster. Wells sailed with the regiment to the Panama Canal Zone in March 1915 and served as company and battalion commander and as adjutant and again as quartermaster of the regiment.