Today in Savannah history August 18, 1898 the Fourth Regiment of the United States Volunteers stopped in Savannah on their way from Virginia to Florida. The troops came through Savannah on the Plant System Railroad which was on the eastern side of the city. The first group arrived around 8 pm and they were supplied with coffee. The Morning News states, “some few managed to get over the fence and quench their thirst with more active stimulants near by.” There was cheering and commotion that drew the curious stander-bys to the crowds of people gathered around the train depot. The noise continued on into the night as more trains came to a stop there at East Broad Street at 9 and 10 o’clock. There was no shortage of coffee for the brave men headed off to revenge the Maine. The regiment was nicknamed the “immunes” because it was believed that African Americans would be immune to yellow fever and other maladies that the tropical climate would produce. The operation to use the African American soldiers was backed by President McKinley. It was believed that the African Americans were immune to the fever since the recovery rate among their ethnicity was far greater than among the whites who contracted the fever.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 14:42:14 +0000