Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-17

Fourth Infantry, commanded by Col
onel Edward G. Shannon. Under the
reorganization plan, the Fourth has
t ZEN transferred to machine gun bat
talions and loses its identity as an . =
fanrty regiment, but the prestige of the
past as well as the present clings to
the regiment and no matter where The
men of the Fourth may be assigned,
they will carry with them the fighting
spirit and the efficiency that gave the
Fourth the distinction of being the
only unit in Pennsylvania to contrib
ute troops to the Rainbow Division,
slated to sail fer France soon.
On the 23rd of July, the Third Bat
talon of the Fourth was ordered to
Join the Rainbow Division and this
marked the beginning of the end of
the Fourth. The Third Battalion is
now known as the 149th Machine Gun
Battalion and with the recent order,
the entire regiment has been trans
ferred from an efficient infantry unit
to machine gun uits.
Companies A and B go to the 108th
Machine Gun Battalion.
Companies C and D and Machine
Gun Company to 107th M. G. Bait.
Company e. F. G, and II form the
107th Machine Gun Battalion.
Sanitary, Supply and Headquarters
Companies are divided among the
three battalions.
Only Colonel Shannon, Lieut.. Col.
Case, Major S. II. Hell-r, Chaplain
Dollman and the band remain at the
Headquarters of the dismembered
Fourth, where they will stay to receive
the men of the national army.
Oriqn of the Fourth.
Three years after the close of the me-
morable Civil War, with basis OF the
f,IN
d, and the Reading Artillerists, as Com
pany A. six additional companies were
recruited, and with headquarters at Al
lentown, Pa, BECAME the Fonrt ta, ln fsa1,,
various cities throughout the state
Reading. Allentown, Columbia, Bethle-
hem Hamburg, Pine Grove, Lebanon and
Easton. At that time eight companies
constituted a full regiment. A and d had
been First Defenders" answering the
call of '61, as old and well drilled mill
Followed several years of training dur
ing which time the Fourth improved
steadily. rapidly taking it's place among
the foremost in the state militia. The
when the command was ordered to assist
in uuelling the Pittsburg riots, which
attended the big railroad strike OF that
year Here they We're held Tor twenty
days, and here they proved their worth
as military unit, executing their duties
with dispatch and precision, in manner
reflecting credit to the entire militia of
the state.
For a period of fifteen years following
the Pittsburg riots little of importance
weekly drills and the yearly encamp-
ments, the Fourth was idle In 1892,
however, the Fourth was again called to
the field, at the advent of the Home
days, stationed at Swissvale, directly
across from the scene of the disorders.
Since that time the regiment has an
swered several state calls. in event OF
strikes and labor troubles, including the
Latimer riots of '97, when they were
posted at Hazelton, the great anthracite
coal strike of 1900, when they served six
weeks at Shenandoah, Pa, the coal strike
of 1902 and many minor disturbances.
Spanish American War.
During the Spanish American war the
unit took to the field, and was changed
from the old eight-company lineup to
the three battalion formation, of twelve
companies. Originally the Fourth was
detailed to Chicamauga, whence they
were ordered to Newport News. Va From
there they proceeded to Porto Rico, where
they took active part in the campaign
under General Brooks, and the advance
strategic position. ready for the newt
able battle at Guayma, when word was
flashed that an armistice had been de-
clared between the warning powers,
and were demobilized having served
twenty-six weeks during the war.
After the regiments return from the
conflict, they were again reorganized to
a ten-company formation, which they
held until 1918, when a twelve-company
strength was resumed. Company /, of
the Thirteenth was transferred. and be-
came Company l. of the Fourth, and a
Bethlehem company was organized, as
M"
Mexican Border
Last year the unit spent seven months
at the Mexican border. Because of the
excellency of its organization and per-
sonnet, Colonel Shannon waSs called upon
to detail an entire battalion to the Rain
bow Division, which is made up of pick
ed men from the guard of all states,
Forthwith, the Third Battalion, includ-
ing fourteen commissioned officers and
62S enlisted men were taken into the
Machine Gun Battalion of the Rainbow
Division.
This, having taken place shortly before
the present mobilization, the ranks were
not filled in the Fourth. Under the new
regime the Second Battalion. together
with the Machine Gun Company, will be
embraced as part of the Machine Gun
Battalion of the Pennsylvania Division.
The First Battalion will be attached to
the old First Infantry. the Tooth, to bring
it to the new requisite strength.
The colonel lieutenant colonel chan