Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
A PROPOSED REUNION
FOURTH IMMUNEs TO HOLD IT AT
FREDERICKSBURG.
Will Have Gathering of Spanish Wa
Veterans and an Encampment
for Three Days.

regiment of United States soldiers who
were chargeabie to the District of Column
bia propose to celebrate their entry into
the service of the government on July l. q
and 4, 1905, This regiment. five COM
panies of which were organized in the Dis
trict of Columbia known as the 4th I'm
munes, or 4th United States Volunteers,
was formed in 1898 for particular service
in Cuba. On next Wednesday evening
April 26, a meeting will be held at their
headquarters, 10 9th street, to make ar
rangements for the proposed celebration.
At this meeting additional committees will
be appointed to complete the work already
partly done by the subcommittee which
have been appointed for the preliminary
work.
Five companies of the 4th Immune Regi-
ment were organized in Washington They
were the first regiment to carry the Ameri-
can flag through the wastes of Cuba. The
proposed celebration will take place on the
Old camp ground at Fredericksburg, Va.
The chairman of the committee on ar
engagements r1d,st m It's, there i acting Capt w. H:
of the mounted immunes in Cuba.
Committee to Report
At the meeting next Wednesday night
additional committees will be appointed and
program will be arranged for the OBJ
servance. A committee, of which Quar-
termaster Sergeant Chas Bartel is chair
man. with Daniel Eberly and Sergeant
Fred. w. Alexander, have made a trip to
Fredericksburg, and will make their report
to the meeting Wednesday night as to
their meeting with the mayor of Freder-
icksburg and the common council of that
city. These officers have pledged them
selves to make the reunion of the 4th Int
munes, or 4th L. s. Volunteer Infantry,
success. The opera house at FredericNs-
burg has been rendered the 18th Immunes
for the purpose of forming a regimental
organization. The old camp ground of TIE
regiment has been promised, and the nag
staff. which was erected in 1898. is still
standing, and the garrison flag will he
boosted on the staff July l. The garris IN
flag has been presented to Capt. w. IL.
Melach. The tentage has also been pre-
scented to him. and the people of Freder-
iCksburg looking forward to the re-
union of the 4th Immunes as Iappy
event They will entertain the visitors
and on July will have parade, which
will include the Spanish War Veterans,
the United Confederate Veterans of Fred
ericksburg and vicinity. the 4th lmmunes
Fredericksburg. In this connection 1t IS
proposed to make July day for the re-
union of the soldiers who wore the blue
and those who wore the gray, and it is
proposed to have the celebration annually
under the auspices of the Spanish War Vet
Grams. On Marye's Heights, where the
most desperate charge in the world took
place, and where Cobb's Georgian lego
hurled back the desperate charges OF the
Irish Brigade will be one of the most in
teresting points to the visitors
Organized Under Col. Petit.
The 4th Immune regiment was organized
under authority granted Col James s. Pet
tit, who was at that time captain OF the
1st United States Infantry. This regiment
was one of the immune regiments organized
especially for service in Cuba. Five COM
panies Of the regiment were formed IN
Washington, the others being fromed IN
Virginia and West Virginia. The regiment
rendezvoused at Fredericksburg, Va, June
g. 1898 1t served at Fredericksburg for
two months, and then encamped at Camp
Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, Fla, for four
months, under command of Gen. j. Warren
Keifer, who was a division commander
under Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee, commanding
the 7th Army Corps. The regiment sailed
by the transport Roumania from ternan-
dina, Fla. October 9. 1888. and arrived at
Manzanillo Cuba, October IA They re-
lieved the last of the Spanish garrison and
sent them back to Spain on transports that
had been provided by the Cnlted States
government.
The 4th Immune Regiment garrisoned the
towns of Bayano, Jiguane, Campetuela and
Niuuero with headquarters at ManZalno,
Province of Santiago They remained there,
governing that province, till May 10, 1892
nearly eight months. That this was an
immune regiment was proved by the fact
that during their stay in Cuba only five
men died and only one of them from yellow
feyt- and Notwithstanding the fact that
they occupied the old Spanish yellow-fever
hospitals, the general health OF the regi-
ment was good. The regiment returned on
the transport Dixie to New York, thence
by New Jersey Central railroad and Le-
high Valley railroad to Middletown' Pa,
whence they were ordered to Washing
ton took part in the peace Juollee pa
oomplimanted by President
Mckinley upon the fine condition OF the
regiment after such arduous service IN the
tropics.
the committee on reunion of the 4th I'M
mune or 4th United States Volunteer In
fantry:
Circular Issued.
Dear Sir; Col Petit having Endorsed,
and desiring to have, a regmental reunion
of the Fourth Immunes, to be held at
Fredericksburg, Va, next spring, l called
a meeting and the following working COM
mittee was formed: w. H. Mellach, chair
man; William Peacock vice chairman;
John II. Ryan, secretary; Daniel Z. Eberly,
treasurer An advisory committee was also
formed, consisting of all the NONRESIDENT
officers.
1t is proposed to have the reunion last
three days, July 3, and b. First day,
regimental reunion and formation of per-
manent organizations; second day, enter
tainment by citizens of Fredericksburg,
Va, and parade; third day, reunion of the
various companies field, staff. band, hos
pital corps and ofhcerS.
One large three-pole circus tent to be
pitched for messing and meetings; fifteen
hospital tents for reunion of the various
companies field. staff. band and hospital
corps; using old camp ground If posi-
BILE; soldier grub to be furnished; the regu-
lar garrison calls to be sounded. etc.
The committee has secured from the
railroad people a half-rate passage from
any point in Virginia West Virginia, Mary
land and the District of Columbia. This,
providing we guarantee three hundred
men We figure the expense per man,
transportation and meals at $780, or Sc at
the outside.
AS we desioe all former members of the
regiment to attend. we wish you to call
meeting of your old company to communi-
cate with as many of its members as posi-
ble to find out how many will pledge them
selves to attend the reunion.
All the former officers requested to
send subscription, the amount being left
to their Judgment. A receipt will be sent,
signed by the chairman, secretary and
treasurer: credit given on treasurer's books