The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1902-12-27
PRESENTATION TO Gen. M'k|BD|N
At a Luncheon Given by
Capt. JAS. A. Moss at
the Raleigh, Wash
ington, d. G..

From the Army and NAVY Journal of Dec. -. 1907
One of the most interesting social events
occurring for some time in the military Cir
cles of Washington, was the luncheon given
by Capt. Jas. 4. Moss, adju.ant, z4,h In
fantry, on Dec. ;, at the Raleigh, in honor
of Gen. Chambers McKibbin, U. S. A., re-
tired, late colonel of the z4th Infantry.
The walls of the luncheon room were most
artstically decorated with flags and en-
blems; palms and ferns were banked At
ither end of the room, and the loug, white
table was strewn with yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS and dainty ferns. The luncheon was
the charming means of gathering twenty-one
Army officers to assist in the presentation
to General McKibbin of beautiful silver
tray, bearing the inscription:
3'To Gen. Chambers Mckibbin, u. S. A.,
from the officers of his old regiment, the
cath Infantry, to whom he good
friend, just colonel. Oct. 2, Iooz.''
Special pains had been taken to make the
presentation complete surprise to the gen
eral, coming, as it were. like thunderbolt
from clear sky.
The presentation made by General
Corbin, personal friend of General Nc
Kibbir, and as an old officer of the 24th,
major in the Adjutant Generals Department
from captain in the z4th Infantry, in which
regiment he served eleven years. In his pre-
sentation speech the general referred in
glowing terms to the splendid history of his
old regiment on the frontier. in Cuba and in
the Philippines-especiallyi in Cuba, where
after having lost heavily at the battle of
San Juan, the regiment was marched to the
pest ridden yellow fever camps of Siboney,
where the men volunteered as nurses, grave
diggers, etc. The regiment went to Cuba
with 500 able bodied men and returned with
loz following its flying colors! "a magn
6cent example of courage. forti.ude and
recorded in military sistory!'' said the gen.
eral. He then recalled most feelingly his
services with Company c. 24th Infantry,
whose morning report he had signed con-
for years and aG.%
more name to the list of the min eseen gen
eral officers who had served in the z4th In
fantry. including William r. Shafter.
Henry W. " L e F: Kent %;;J J. G: Gil,
H. Liscum, H. b. Freeman and the m
mortal Mackenzie, who organized the reg:-
ment.
After referring in aa,terine terms to Cen
soldier, General Corbin said: ''Mckibbin,
although good soldier should never be
taken by surprise, and you have been one
for forty years, am now going to surprise
you" Reaching down by his side, picking
up and holding in the bright electric light a
beautiful silver tray the general continued.
{" have been requested by the officers of
our regiment to present you with thjft
you, McKibbin!' General McKibbin. com.
pletely surprised and nonplussed. responded
with much feeling. paying a high tribute to
the officers and men of his old regiment.
Gen. A. S. Burt, under whom General
McKibbin had served as a major in the 2sth
Infantry. then paid an eloquent tribute 10
s'Chambers MsKibbin, my old friend and
comrade," after which General Corbin in
trodu ced Captain Moss, referring to him as
the youngest regimental adjutant in the
Army at the time of his appointment. mid
cries of ''Speech. speech" the captain rose
and said few months ago he had read in
some newspaper that officers returning from