Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-06
HISTORIC REGIMENTS IN CAMP

Important Epochs of COuntry's His
tory Embraced in Their Career.
The Second, Fourth. Seventh and Fiji
tenth regiments of United States cavalry,
now the guests Of Omaha, constitute an
aggregation of regimental organizations of
more than passing interest, embracing as
they do the most Important epochs OF ma
tionsl history.
Were the custom now observed that pre-
vailed In the old army days. the battle
flags Of at least two of the regiments
would not be large enough to contain the
entire battle history of the Second and
the Fourth.
The Secohd cavalry was first organized
May %, 1896, as the Second regiment of
Dragons. As such II participated in the
Seminole wars and was converted into a
regiment OF riflemen by act OF congress in
1902, and in 1874 was r~econverted into the
Second regiment of Dragons.
AS such it participated in the Mexican
v ar and engaged in the battles of La Rosia,
Palo Alto. Resacasde la Palma, Matlmoras,
Cerro Gordo, Moline del Rey, Chapultapec
and the City OF Mexico. Following the
close of the Mexican war It engaged In
various Indian campaigns, and on septem-
Der 8. 1855, took part In the battle Of Ash
Hollow, NebraskaESw az: ,r'r
DCCOhhon SCtOnO 'OaNaIEXs'
August 3, 1851. the regimental designa-
ton was changed to the Second cavalry,
which II has since borne. Its first engage
ment OF the civn war was at Fairfax. Va.
Thenyit went west, where 1t took part in
the battle of Pittsburg landing in April,
1852, and was again transferred to the
Potomac army ana engaged in the Peninsu-
lar campaigns. 1T remained with the
Potomac army for the remainder Of the
civil war, taking part in the battles Of
Fredericksburg, Stoneman's Raid, Gettys-
burg, Culpepper, Wilderness, Cold Harbor,
Thevellan Station, winchester. Fishers
Hill and Cedar Creek, and a hundred or
more minor battles.
At the close of the civil war the regiment
was sent to the northwest to engage in the
Indian campaigns against the Sioux under
Red Cloud. Fifteen men of Troop c were
among those lost In the Fetterman massacre
in December, 1865.
Campaigning against the Apaches in
Arizona followed and the regiment again
came to the northwest In 1875 and took
part in the battle Of Slim Buttes. S.
that year.
1t was one Of the first regiments called
into active service at the outbreak OF
the Spanish-American war and took part
in all the Cuban campaigns and later in tn,
Philippine campaigns, and in the in.
vasion Of China.
Fourth Also Has History.
The Fourth cavalry, is also a regimen
with a history, Its inception was as tho
First Dragons and 1t was organized Il
August 1870 as such. II participated in tn,
earlier campaigns against the Indians pre-
ceding the Mexican war, and was tn,
first Of the United States troops TO occupy
Santa Fe, N. M. in the year 1912. A year
later the regiment, as the First dragons
was sent to California under General Johr
q! Fremont, and occupied Cuidad de Los
Angeles. The regiment was recalled e
participate in the Mexican war. and Tough
in the battles Of Vera Cruz, Contreras
ChuTubusco, Chaputtepec and the City OIL
Mexico,
The regiment went to the plains again il
1s4s and in October OF that year engage,
in a bloody fight with the Indians nea
[ Fort KeaTney, Neb. In 1851 II wen
10 Oregon and fought in the Rogue River
and klamath Indian campaigns.
II was organized as the fourth regimen
Of cavalry IN August 1861 and shared in al
I the important battles Of the western arm.
during the civil war, including Plttsburi
5 Landing, Corinth, Perryville. Crab Orchard
5 Stone River, Franklin, s~helbyville, Chick
amauga, Rome, Kenesaw, Atlanta an.
4 Nashville.
4 1t resumed Indian campaigning after tn
close of the civil war in Texas and Ne,
E Mexico, participating in the Miles expedi
3 ton In 1874, under It's gallant commando
, Mackenzie. Later 1t took part in the Arr
) IONA campaigns, and was early In tn
I field in the spanish-AmerIcan and Philir
pine wars.
Seventh Clusters ReRihent.
A The Seventh cavalry, known as Gus
, ter's regiment" was first organized Jul,