The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-04
THE FIGHTING SEVENTH"
CAREER OF THIS REGIMENT oByREGU-
LARS FOR 100 YEARS.

Its Many Hard Fights Since I7es-Used
Repeatedly in StorminR-Its Heavy Losses
in Bnttle-GreRt Bravery of Its Mem
Some of the Graduates of the Regiment.
DENVER. Sept. 3.-The return Of the Sew
enth United States Infantry from Santiago to
Montauk Point with decimated ranks and a
large SILK list marks but another milestone
In the career OF q regiment whose one hundred
years OF service has been n history OF hard
ship and bravery unequalled. The regiment
has been stationed at Fort Logan. near Dem
yer. since 1850. and an effort will be made by
the people Of this city to have It returned here
should such DO tho wish Of the officers and
men.
The high mortality by disease on the fever
saturated soil OF Cuba and the great casualties
In the battle Of S~antiago-37 men killed and
1870 wounded-is perhaps u~nequalled by that
Of any regiment which fought In the war with
Spain and gives 1t additional right to the title
It has 30 long borne-the Fighting Sew
enth." In the fighting line before Santiago 1t
never faltered. and its rank and file return
with decreased numbers but untarnished rep
utation.
The Seventh Regiment was organized under
an act OF Congress July 10. 1893. and is there
fore q little over 100 years old. The first COM
manding officer was William Bentley, Lieu
tenant Colonel. commandant. The regiment
disbanded on June Is, 1900. and was
again organized under the act of April IL.
1908. with William Russell as Colonel and
Zachary Taylor as one Of the Captains. The
regiment at that time was made up mainly of
Louisianians and was the original Louisiana
Tigers 1t still retains among the regiment
al relics the silk flag presented by the ladies of
New Orleans with the figure Of a tiger en-
broidered thereon. 1t retained its organiza-
ton until May 10. 1915. when by consolidation
OF regiments under the act OF March 3, 1915.
1t became a part Of the First Regiment of In
fantry. It was again organized on May IL.
1915. by consolidation of the Eighth. Tenth.
Thirty-sixth and Thlrty-eighth regiments of
infantry. and again on May 10. 1859. by con-
solidation with the Thirty-sixth Regiment of
infantry.
During all these 100 years It has had a re-
markable record of fighting and is particularly
proud of the fact that 1t has never lost its
colors. The first action inscribed on its colors
is that of Fort Harrison. O.. fought on Sept. 4
and s. 1912. under the command of Capt. Zach
airy Taylor. The fort was attacked by an over
whelminG force of Indians. but was success
fully defended until the arrival of reinforce
ments put the savages to light.
The next engagement wassat Viller's planta-
ton. Louisiana, Dec. %, 1914. against n Brit
ish force. on which occasion the regiment
made itself conspicuous by the most reckless
bravery. The battle of New Orleans. Jan. 8
and @. 1915. followed. and here also the regi-
ment distinguished itself.
Following the battle OF New Orleans came a
long period Of peace. except n few unimportant
skirmishes with the Indians in which the
Seventh was engaged. In 1910. however.
came the Seminole war. in which. on four diff
faront Annoainnu thn Gnvnnfh n1 M ~ tGta rad n
whipping to the Indians.
At the close of the Seminole war the regi-
ment was for a time stationed in Georgia and
was subsequently removed to Fort Gibson,
Ark. then a frontier post, whore it was en-
;ployed in guarding the settlers from the incur
sions OF the Indians until the breaking out of
the Mexican war. when it was removed to the
Rio Grande and stationed at Fort Taylor. oppo-
site the Mexican town of Matamoros. On the
first OF May.:1S46. the greater part of the regi-
ment was taken by Gen. Taylor on an expedi-
of Capt. Brown. The main body mad no sooner
got out Of sight before a superior force OF Mex;
leans with artillery attacked the fort and
started a furious bombardment. They we're
repulsed with serious loss. but Capt Brown
WAS Was them Eenn rdsam nnf f ftsd 8 8p May in 81 hon The Of f4 }ts
gallant commander. and still retains that
name. The next action was the assault on the
Seventh took conspicuous part,
The regiment was then sent to Vera Cruz.
ing there until the capltulation Of the fortress
of San Juan d'Ulloa in March, 1S41. At Cerro
Gordo, the regiment stormed the heights and
took the in~trenchments. planting Its colors on
the ,parapet and Sergt. Henry of the Seventh
hauled d2Tn The Mexican flag; At Gontreras
selected from the Seventh and carried the in
tr%enchments. sweeping away the enemy like
chat and again planting both colors on the
Il the siege Of the City OF Mexico the Sew
enth was once more called upon TO furnish the
manded by Capt. siias casey. who was wound
ed early in the action, the command falling to
nett, commanded the detachment from the
Seventh, The heights. of Chapultepec were
regarded by the Mexicans as ~impregnable.
and the approaches were so steep that in some
their, hands and knees. Nothing could with
storminE party swept steadily on. the detach-
ment ofthe Seventh. as always. conspicuous
t9re its rs ES6lla prtsSne sTep five ever eab the w9 and G sap,
more the colors Of the Seventh crowned the
summit Of a captured fortress,
when when f nI VA 1 9SRt e FIoTid ,soT where ssn, ! { Z re- Re,
tecting settlers until 1858. when the Mormon
trouble arose, and it Joined the column Of Al
remained there until 1860. when it was or
dered to New Mexico and marched to Santa
re-.
Early In 1861 the regiment received orders
to move to the Rio Grande to, reinforce the
troops on the Mexican frontier. In July.
1891. a majority of the companies were at
Fort fillmore on the Rio drapdei awaiting
stationed at Fort Craig. The war Of the re-
ibelIion had begun, and the battle OF Bull Run
had aw been to3Ghf; put 1 ne news fS M had not reached "a
command Of Fort Fillmore. learned that. a
company of Texas troops was In striking dis
lance. and sent two companies to occupy San
Thomas. a small town on the opposite side. of
the river. as an outpost. On the 23d Major
Lynde heard the Confederate troops were ad-
Vancing on San Thomas, and brought the two
companies back to Fort Fillmore.
The Confederate advanced In the night to
within u short distance. of Fort Fillmore. eX-
pecting to surprise 1t In the morning. but a
deserter carried the news to the officers OF the
Seventh. the men were aroused and the plan
failed.
This brief campaign marked the only dark
spot on the record Of the regiment. for which
one man was responsible. After retreating
Major Iynde surrendered 800 we'll armed mud