the infantry fourth tout section- ommittee ...€¦ · afro--americanamericanamerican drive. from...
TRANSCRIPT
. . , .. ,. .
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. .. -" - . . . ./ . ." "
. 1'" I ... .11\.11. .11-
I
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THE INFANTRY SCHOOLSCHOOL-
FOURTHSHOO-
TOUTSCHOOL-
FOURTHSHOO-
TOUTSCHOOL-
FOURTHSHOO-
TOUTFOURTH SECTIonSECTIonC-
OMMITTEESECTION-
COMMITTEESECTION-
COAaMITTEECOMMITTEECOMMITTEEIIHItCommitteeIIHItViiiIIHI-
tFORT"HH"H"-
FORTHF-
ORTFO-
RT" "
FORT BENNINGBANNING , GEORGIA-
ADVANCED
GEO-
RGIA
GEORGIA-
ADVANCED
GEO-
RGIA
GEORGIAGEORGIA-
ADVANCED
GEO-
RGIAADVANCED COURSECOURS-E1926-1927
COU-RSE192619-27COURS-E192619273d1926-19271926192719261927-
3d
-
3d BATTALION 140th INFANTRY , 35th DIVISIONDIVISION-IN
DIVISIO-NIN THE MEUSE-ARGONNEMEUSEARGONNEUEUSE-ARGONNEUEUSEMUSEARGONQUEUEMEUSE-ARGONNE-
SEPTEMBER MEU-SE ARGONNESE-PTEMBER MU-SE - ,SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 3 , 1918 .
( Personal ExpeExpelExperienceienceVince )
Captain John V ,. StarkStart ,,, Infantry
. ..
1
. . . . . , . . . . . - , . . . . ' . " .-., -
._rr-
.t
. .. _ - . . _ ._. - . -. . . . . . . .
-.t.t-. .
.:. . . - .. . . , . . .. . . .. '., .. . . , . . - - . . , . .'-' . " - - . " _ . . .. "
.
" .tWItWItwig.. . _' . . . . -
. _. . -. .,,
.WW..
"''
_.,0--,00,- 04fI"4IIJI),.-.", . "
-
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.
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.
.. . ... . .4fI"4IIJI4fI4IIJI!" !
TABLE OF CONTENDSOONTENISCONTENTSCONTEMNSOONTENIS-
Ti
Monotheis-
tic
CONTENTS-
PAGE
CONTE-
NTSPAGEPAG-
ETitle
Arg-
entite
PAG-
ETitle
Arg-
entitePAGEUnpagedPaginated
TiTitletie page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( Unpaged )
Table of contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i1i-Bibliography
B-
ibliographyBibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii-iiiiiiii11-1il111iliiiiiM-
arginaliiiiiCA-
MP
-Marginal abbreviations used-
Introduction
used . . . . . . . . . . . .iiiiii. 111.iii-
IntroductionIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-
CAMPCAMP MARMA.R.'iVIANUEIrvineUETTEBUTTEUETT-
EPreliminary
UETT-
SPreliminary
T TET-
EPreliminary
E-
xpeditionaryPreliminary movements and orders . . . . . . . . . . 2
25 September 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
MEUSE-ARGQRNEMEUSEARGQRNEMUSEMARGARINEdEUSE-ARGONNEdEUSEARGONNEdEUSARGONEUSS-ARGKEUSSARGKUSSRARK- yS
26 September 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
27 September 19131918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
28 September 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
29 September 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
30 September 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1 October 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1515-
AnalysisAnalysis and criticism-
Lessonscritic-
ismcriticism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1616-
LessonsLessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1818-
questionsquestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2020-
MapQuestionsMapQuestionsMap-
1
Map . . 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
-1-1- 1-
PAGE
-
""'1_ _
. .._ , . , . . ,.-.__ .. ';.: .
. . . . ,
. . , . . .. .:: " . . - . . '
. .. . ., . . L.rLr.' .*
. '. , : . '.. .
" " f n . <. y.> .4141' 6c ;:< 'QQ'! ?;W-WW-
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BI-
BLIOGRAPHY
- r 111" _
BIBIBLIOGRAPH-
YStark
Bibliogra-
phy
BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPH-
YStar
Bibliogra-
phy
BL IOGR.APHYIOGRAPHYBIOGRAPHY.
IOGR.APHYIIBIOGRAPHY
StarkStar !? , JohnJOhJlKohl V . II""PersonalPersonal Experience "
These experiences are frofrom memory and notesnotes-that
inters-tate
notes-that
inters-tate
notes-that
inters-tatethat I made and have kept .
PershingPerishing , John HH-.Liggett
H-Liggett
H-inge. Report of the First AmericannericanErica ExpeditionaryExpeditionary-
ForcesExpeditio-nary Expeditionary-
LiggettExpeditio-nary Expeditionary-
ForcesExpeditio-naryLiggettLeggett , Hunter-
Hoyt
Hun-
ter
Hunter Forces . The General Service SchoolSchool-Prees
School-rooms
School-Press
Scho-lars
School-Press
Scho-larsPreesPressRees , Fort LeavenwortbLeavenworthLeavenBlameworthy , Kansas .
This book was no doubt written by these twotw-oofficers
to-ffees
tw-oofficers
to-ffees
tw-oofficers
to-ffeesofficers from reports they had . Too thesetheset-wo
ther-eto
theset-wo
ther-eto
theset-wo
ther-etotwo officers had commanded the First ArmyArmy-and
Ary-an
Army-and
Ary-an
Army-and
Ary-anand were on the ground and, had first hadhad-information
ad-ministration
had-information
ad-ministration
had-information
ad-ministrationinformation as to what took place.. NothingNothing-I
Nothin-gI could use , but I think it is a very goodgood-book
hoo-doo
good-book
hoo-doo
good-book
hoo-doobook .
HoytHot , Charles B . "HeroesHeroes" of the ArgonneJargoned . II" An AuthenticAuthentic-History
Authen-ticityAuthentic-
HistoryAuthen-ticityAuthentic-
HistoryAuthen-ticityHistory of the 35th DivisionDivision.-
FranklinDivision-
Franklin Divi-sion.
Franklin Hudson Company , 1919 ,.
This book gives a very good history of thethe-travels
te-rraces
the-travels
te-rraces
the-travels
te-rracestravels , battles and fighting done in thethe-Argonne
he-roine
the-Argonne
he-roine
the-Argonne
he-roineArgonneJargoned . I was with the division up to 2828-
September28-
September88-
SeptemberSeptember 1918lSlSSols , and I find up to then whatwhat-the
swa-the
what-the
swa-the
what-the
swa-thethe writer said to be true .
Edwards , Evan A . "FromFrom" DoniphanDonnish to Verdun . "
Official History of the 140thl40th Infantry .
The World Company , Lawrence , Kansas .
Chaplin Edwards was in the midst of everythingeverything-that
everyth-ing
everything-that
everyth-ing
everything-that
everyth-ingthat was going on in the regiment , and knowsknows-of
kno-ws
knows-of
kno-ws
knows-of
kno-wsof what he is writing . His book is veryvery-good
ver-ged
very-good
ver-ged
very-good
ver-gedgood , and a good history of the regiment .
JCKenmorenmoremore , Claire-
Palmer
Cla-
ire
Claire "TheThe"StorrStoreStorrofToroStory of the 139th InfantryInfantry.-
GuardInfantry-
Guard Infan-try .Guard PubPublishingishlngdishing Company , St . Louis .,, MoM-
oLittle
M-
ilitate
.
Little history of the regiment . MostlyMostly-piotures Mo-stly Mostl-ypictures Mo-stly Mostl-ypictures Mo-stlypioturespictures . No historicalhistorioal value .
Palmer , Frederick-
Information
Fred-
erick
Frederick "OurOur.Our". Greatest Battle , the Meuse-ArgonneMeuseArgonneMuseJargonedMeuse-Argonne.-Dodd
MeuseArgonne.-Dodd Meu-se Argonne.D-odd
ArgonneD-odd Mus-e Jargon-ed
- . ."Dodd , MeadXeadEgad & CompanyOompany , New York .
A very good book of the battle of the Mouse-MouseUeuse-UeuseMeuse-MeuseQueueMuseUeuse.-A.rgonne
Meuse-Argonne
Mouse-Argonne
Mo-user -Argonne.A.rgonneA.rgonneJargoned.A.rgonn-
eBattle
. .,
Information rileFileFile-300.4
File-3004
"BattleBattle-Battle"- Orders and Secret Order #*4 withwith-Battle
Wh-itehall
with-Battle
Wh-itehall300.43004. Battle Plane foflfotfoldfootfo the 35th Division ,. "
A copyoopyloopy of the original from the historicalhistorical-8ection
historical-section
histor-ical historical-section
histor-ical8ectionsection of the War DepartmentDepartment-
11
.
-11-11-1111- 11-
BIBLIOGRAPHY
-.
" - . '. ' 0
. ' _ . . .. ". , ' 0 . 1' " . " ., . .. . . I_...,_. .. ,, ". .. . " . . . .. ; . .., . .AA. . . ._. .. .. .. , . . . . . . -
..
.ofof. . :, JT _ -
File 322.1332213. - 35th "TheThe" 35th Division , 191'7-1918191'7191719181917-1918.1119171918.111918.1119181119171918.1-1Confidential
1917-191-8Confidential 19-17 1918Co-nfidential '- . "
( Confidential ) Issued from the ArmyArmy-Wa.r
Army-worm
Army-War
Army-worm
Army-War
Army-wormWa.rWar. College. .
This is a study made by the War College ofof-the
of-ten
of-the
of-ten
of-the
of-tenthe 35th DivieionDlvieionDivision in action , and is veryvery-good
ver-ged
very-good
ver-ged
very-good
ver-gedgood history of the division from a militarymilitary-standpoint mili-tarist
military-standpoint mili-tarist
military-standpoint mili-tariststandpoint .
MAR&INALMARINALMARGINALPJiARGINALMARINAApiarian& ABBREVIATIONS USE-
DStark
Spe-
edster
USE-
DStark
Spe-
edster
USEDUSE-
DStark
Spe-
edsterStarkIIStarkStark II""personalpersonal Experiences "
StarkEdwardsStakedEdwardsIIFromEdwardsEdwards "FromFromIIFromFIFO" DoniphanDonlphanDonnishDolphin to Verdun "
EdwardsHoytEdwardsHoytHot "HeroesHeroes" of the ArgonneJargoned "
HoytFileHostile
File 300.43004. "BattleBattle" Orders and Secret Order #*4 withwith-Ba.tt1e
with-Battle
Wh-itehall
with-Battle
Wh-itehallBa.tt1eBatt1eBattle. Plans for the 35th Division "
File 322.1332213. 35th "TheThe" 35th Division ,. 1917-191819171918- "
.111-.111. .11-
1File
iii-iiiiii.-
A
--
..-. . - .. . .- . ' " . . . . oK'" , . .. . . " " - , - . . . . . . ... - ' . - ' " . ;. . , . . . . , . , , " . - . , . ' -cc" :: ijj"' . f-ffiiFiji' ii 111-
1INTFODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONINTFODUCTIONINTRODUCTION-
On
Introducti-
on
IN TB ODUCDUCE TI ONON-
On
On-
ion
-On 6 April 1917 , the United States declared-
wardeclar-
eddecla.reddeclareddecla.red-
Jrardeclar-
eddeclared-
wardeclar-
ed.
JrarwarRare on OeroaanyGermanyOran , . and at once ata-rtedatartedstaxtedstaxt.edBataratedstated- . gettingge.tting. readyre.ady. f.f.orforfirf.or-
thefo-
rtefir-
thefir-
thr-
the
t-
hethe fight thattha.t. waswa.s. to come .
The 140thl40th Infantry was made up ofof.theoftheoften..thethe. 3d and-
6thandand-
6th6th Missouri National Guard Regiments . The 3d was one ofof-
theof-
tenof-
theof-
tenof-
theof-
tenthe oldest regiments in the state and was from Kansas-
CityKan-
sasKansasKansas-
CityKan-
sasKansas-
CityKan-
sasCity except for two companies . The 6tb6th had seen serviceservice-
duringserv-
icedservice-
duringserv-
icedservice-
duringserv-
icedduring the warwa.r. withwl th Spain and had been mustered out since-
1899since
1899 . It waswa.s., reorganized 28 July 1917 , and waswa.ewaewade. recognizedrecognized-
byrecogniz-
edby the War Department . The companies of this regiment-
wereregim-
entregimentregiment-
wereregim-
entregiment-
wereregim-
entwere from the southeastern part of the state . At Cam-
pDoniphan
Cla-mpdown
CampCamp-
Don1phan
Cam-
pDoniphan
Cla-mpdownDon1phanDoniphanDonnish , OklahomaOkla.homa. , these two regiments mergedmerjedmerced[ .anda.nd becamebecame-
thebeca-
mebecame-
thebeca-
mebecame-
thebeca-
methe 140th Infantry .
The regiment then became part of the 70th70th-
Brigade
70th-
Brigade
70th-
BrigadeBrigade of the 35th Division . DuringDutingDucting our stay here , we-
were
se-
werwewe-
were
se-
werwe-
were
se-
werwere trained in both open and trench warfare . 11 AprilAuril-
19171917 found the regiment on the way to Camp Mills , New-
York
Net-
work
NewNew-
York
Net-
work
New-
York
Net-
workYork , where we stayed until we sailedsa.l1edsal1ed. . The 3d BattalionBattalion-was
Battali-on
Battalion-was
Battali-on
Battalion-was
Battali-onwas divided into sections for this trip ; I and 1CK CompaniesCompanies-
made
Compa-nies
Companies-
made
Compa-nies
Companies-
made
Compa-niesmade up the first section , and L andaxedd M with Battalion-Headquarters
Batt-alion
BattalionBattalion-Headquarter8
Battalion-Headquarters
Batt-alionHeadquarter8Headquarters the second . The stay at Camp Mills was shortshort-
and
shorth-
and
short-
and
shorth-
and
short-
and
shorth-
andand on 25 April 1917 , the regiment sailed for duty in-
France
in-
ference
inin-
France
in-
ference
in-
France
in-
ferenceFrance . The 3d Battalion sailed on the "Aeneas11Aeneas11"AeneasAeneasArenas" " ; it waswas-
on
Wat-
son
was-
on
Wat-
son
was-
on
Wat-
sonon the trip over that the Overseas Literary society was-
formed
abs-
orbedwaswas-
formed
abs-
orbedwas-
formed
abs-
orbedformed . This society beoaaebecamebreakage the by-wordbyword- of the officers-in
offioers-in
officeri-ng
offioersofficersin the battalion during their stay in FranceTrance . The bat-batbat-
talionbat-
talionbatbat-
talion¬-
taliontalon landed In LiverpoolL1verpootLiverpoot , England early in May and wen-
tat
we-nt
wentwen-
tat
we-nt
wen-
tat
we-ntat once to Winchester . After a short stay there , we wentwent-
towe-
ntwent-
towe-
nt
went-
towe-
ntto South Hampton , and from there set sailsa11 across the-
Channel
he-
xanethethe-
Channel
he-
xanethe-
Channel
he-
xaneChannel fortortore HavreHare , FrancerranoeTranceramose . It was here that we lost our-
Sprtngt1eld
ourour-
Springfield
our-
SpringfieldSpringfieldSprtngt1eld rifles and receivedreoeived the BritishBritish-1
.BnfleldsEnfieldsInfieldsEnfield .
-1-1-1-
IN
-/
" . . 1<' , . '.:.; ..
The stay in HavreHare was short as we were sentsent-
to
San-
to
sent-
to
San-
to
sent-
to
San-
toto the British as reserves back of Amiens . Again , we diddid-
not
did-
n'tdid-
not
did-
n'tdid-
not
did-
n'tnot stay long but left for the-.ner-icanthe.nericanthe.nernericanstentoriannearRicanthe .- . ..American.lmeri.canlmeri.canlmerican-. areawhwea.wwhweawwhareawhewaxe.a-whichaxe.awhichaxe.aaxeawhichaxeaxe.awhichvasarea. . -whwh- ichiohLichoh was.w'a-s.was.w'awas-v-a-sva.- .w'asnowvasnowvanwasnow-
down
masto-don
'- -- -nownow--now-
down
now-
down
low-
down
-now-
down
low-
down
. .
down in Alsace . On 2523 June 1918 , the 3d Battalion waswa-
sholding
asp-
halting
wa-
sholding
asp-
halting
wa-
sholding
asp-
haltingholding a line in the VosgesVogues Mountains . We were thethe-
firstth-
eirsthe-
firstth-
eirsthe-
firstth-
eirsfirst battalion in the line of the regiment , and amongamon-
gthe
amon-
gstamon-
gthe
amon-
gstamon-
gthe
amon-
gstthe first of the division . We spent two months there inin-
trench
en-
trench
in-
trench
en-
trench
in-
trench
en-
trenchtrench warfare and left it for the St . MihielMichel sectorsector.-
While
sector-While
sec-tor
.
While in this sector , we were held in reserve for the firstfirstA-
merican
Afro--
American
firstA-
merican
Afro--
American
firstA-
merican
Afro--
AmericanAmerican drive . From there , we find ourselves hikingkikingkicking toto-
Camp
to-
ecap
to-
Camp
to-
ecap
to-
Camp
to-
ecapCamp Marquette .
CCAMPAMP MARQMARMAR'".DEUEUETTS-
PRELIMINARY
TTETATETTE-
PRELIMINARY
TTE-
PRELIMINARYPRELIMINARY MOVEMENTSMOVE1ENTS AND ORDERS-
On
Orde-rs
ORDERS-
On
Orde-rs
ORDERSORDERS-
On
Orde-rsOn 21 September 19161918 , the three battalions ofof-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe 140th Infantry were at OampCampAmp litoquetteMarquette , France . This'hishisThis-
was
Th-
is'his-
was
'This-
was
Th-
iswas the first time that the regiment had been togethertogether-
since
toget-her
together-
since
toget-her
together-
since
toget-hersince it left Camp Mills in the United States . It was atat-
this
M-
atthias
at-
this
M-
atthias
at-
this
M-
atthiasthis time a great mystery as to why we were all togethertogether-
again
toget-her
together-
again
toget-her
together-
again
toget-heragain . But it was a pleasure , for we had friends in thethe-
other
te-
therthe-
other
te-
therthe-
other
te-
therother battalions and were glad to see them .
On arriving at Camp Marquette , we did not havehave-
a
hav-
ea regimental commanderoommander ,, the regiment being under thethec-
ommand
heb-
domad
thec-
ommand
heb-
domad
thec-
ommand
heb-
domadcommand of Major Fred L ,. Lemon of the 1stlet Battalion ,. OnO-
nthe
M-
onte
O-
nthe
M-
onte
O-
nthe
M-
ontethe following oayclayokayy ., Lieutenant Colonel C ., E ,.! DelaplaneDeadpannedDelaplane-
was
Delaware-
answas assigned and assumeda.sumedasumed. command . Major Lemon , later inin-
the
in-
ter
in-
the
in-
ter
in-
the
in-
terthe day , presented Colonel DelaplaneDeadpanned to the officers ofof-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe regiment asae their new commander . Some of the offioersofficersoffioerst-
newoffic-
ersofficersk-
newoffic-
ersofficersk-
newoffic-
erstnewknewnew the Colonel as he had been the division OrdnanoeOrdnanceOrdnano-
eOfficer
Ordnanc-
eOfficer
Ordn-ance
Ordnanc-
eOfficer
Ordn-anceOfficer , prior to coming to the regiment . Oolone1ColonelOolone1-
Delaplane
Colonel-
Delaplane
Col-onel
Colonel-
Delaplane
Col-onelDelaplaneDeadpanned told us that we couldoouldGould expectexpeot to be in a newnew-
drive
ne-
edier
new-
drive
ne-
edier
new-
drive
ne-
edierdrive soo-
n2
soonsoon-
8
*.
-8-8-2-2-2-
The
-8-
1
-
The same day , we heard that the division hadhad-
lostha-
lloshad-
lostha-
lloshad-
lostha-
lloslost both brigade commanders and8ndPndPond that, the senior colonelcolonel-
incolon-
elcolonel-
incolon-
elcolonel-
incolon-
elin each brigade would take consnandconmandconnandconsonantcommand , also thattha.t. he wouldwould-
command
woo-
dsman
would-
command
woo-
dsman
would-
command
woo-
dsmancommand'
the brigade during the'dri-v
thedri-v
Terr-i
the' drivedrive ththatwasthawsthatttwaswaswas to followfollow.-
Colonel
follow-
Colonelfoll-
ow.
Colonel Kirby Walker of the 139thl39th Infantry at once tooktookc-
ommand
tookc-
ommand
tookc-
ommandcommand of the 70th Brigade .
The 3d Battalion of the 140thl40th Infantry waswas-
commanded
ga-
sconadewas-
commanded
ga-
sconadewas-
commanded
ga-
sconadecommanded by Major Murray Da-visDavisDevisDavisAvisDevils-, . He had a complete staffstaff-
of
sta-ff
staff-
of
sta-ff
staff-
of
sta-ffof both officers and enlisted men . Two companies werewere-
short
ear-
shotwere-
short
ear-
shotwere-
short
ear-
shotshort captains ; all companies were short officers .
On 24 September 1918 , we learned that thethe-
drive
Kh-
edive
the-
drive
Kh-
edive
the-
drive
Kh-
edivedrive would stattstmtstatsmut on 26 September 1918 and that we wouldwould-
be
wou-
ld
would-
be
wou-
ld(1)1( ) Start-
The
Star-
tle
Start be in the front line . (1)1( )
25 SEPTESEPTSEPTEMBERSEPTEUjBER! BERBERG 191-
8Early
1918191-
8EarlyEarly on the morning of 25 September 19181918-
as
,
as Battalion Adjutant , I went with the battalion commandercommande-
rto
command-
erto Brigade HeadquartersHea.dqua.rtereHeadqua.rtereHeadquartereHeadquarteredHeadquarter. . , where Colonel Walker issuedissued-
verbaldiss-
everissued-
verbaldiss-
everissued-
verbaldiss-
eververbal orders for the coming attack . The 35th DivisionDivision-
would
Divis-ion
Division-
would
Divis-ion
Division-
would
Divis-ionwould be a part of the I Corps of the First Army . TheThe-
I
The-
ir
The-
I
The-
ir
The-
I
The-
irI Corps was made up of the 28th , 35th and 77th divisions-
withdivisi-
onsUivisionsDivisionsivis1onsivis1ons-
with(2)2( ) FileFile300.4File3004 with the 92d tfivisiondivisionfinishing1vis1on in reserve ,. (2)-
The
(2)2(2)-
The
( )
300.43004300.4-
Our
300.4-The
.The attack will start with the 77th DivisionDivision-
on
Divisi-onon the left , the 2Sth28th as the center division and the 35th35th-
on
35th-
on
35th-
onon the right . The 91st Division which .Isls.1's.1s1s' in the V CorpsCorp-
swill
Co-rps
Corp-
swill
Co-rps(3)3( ) rileFileFile300.4File3004 will be on our right . (3)3(3)-
Our
( )
300.43004300.4-
Early
300.4-Our
.Our objectivesobjeotives' were given aeas followsfollowlfollow :
CorpBCorpsCorp Objective ;: The heights southeast of-
Oharpentry
ofof-
Oharpentry
of-
OharpentryOharpentryCoherently .
American Army Objective ;: Line throughthroug-
hL'lsperanceHI1l
through-
L
throug-
h
through-
L'SBperance-Hill
throug-
hL'SBperancethroug-
hLSBperanceH-illL'lsperance-HI1lL'lsperanceLlsperanceHI1lEsperance-HillEsperanceHillLisperEsperantoL ' - . MontrebeauKontrebeauMountebank - La Neuv11NeuvilleNevillee Iele OomteComteOmittedComateOomte-
3
.
-3-3-3-
The
3-
(1)
-
The Combined Army First Phase Line : East ofof-
Fleville
e-
ffluvialof-
Fleville
e-
ffluvial(4)4( ) File FlevilleFlexile . (4)4( )
300.4-The
300.43004300.4-
ft
300.4-
I
. (4)TheThe didivisionvisAvis ion willw111 at-tackattackattack- in colcoolcolumncolunucolumx\unuunuUnum\: of brigadbrigandbrigades,brigades-
regimentsbrig-
ades'-
I:1I- 1' : ,
regiments abreast , each with a battalion on the "firingfiring'firing"firing-
line'firing-
line
"' firing-
linefiri-
ngline , one in support and one in reserve .
The 70th Brigade less one battalion will bebe-
used
be-
mused
be-
used
be-
mused
be-
used
be-
musedused as the reserve and will follow the leading brigadebrigade-
atbriga-
deat not more than two kilometers .
Regimental Limits : Right regiment ( easteast-
limit
elas-
ticity
)
limit - right limit of the division . Left ( weswest) limitlimit-
western
lim-iters
limit-
western
lim-iters
limit-
western
lim-iterswestern edge VauquoisVanquish Hill 207 to right regiment - LaLa-
Forge
L-
afarge
La-
Forge
L-
afarge
La-
Forge
L-
afargeForge Mim-CheppyMimCheppyMimiChoppy- to right regiment , heights east of raLara-
Baunthe
ab-
sintheLa-
Baunthe
A-
bsinthe
La-
Baunthe
A-
bsinthe
,
BauntheBanter - RauFrau - OharpentryCharpentryCoherentlyCarpentry to left regiment - ExermontExperiment toto-
right
to-
night
to-
it
ti-
tto-
right
to-
night( ftIit ) File right regiment - SommerenceSomnolenceommerenceconference , to right regiment . (5)-
On
(5)5(5)-
On
( )
300.4-On
300.43004.On the return to the regimental area with thethe-
commanding
ch-
eckmating
the-
commanding
ch-
eckmating
the-
commanding
ch-
eckmatingcommanding officer , he announced that he would hold anan-
officers
n-
ovicesan-
officers
n-
ovicesan-
officers
n-
ovicesofficers ' meeting at 10:001000: AM . At this meeting , they werewer-
etold
whe-
reto
wer-
etold
whe-
reto
wer-
etold
whe-
retotold about the coming drive , when and where it wouldwoul-
dstart
Wor-
dStar
woul-
dstart
Wor-
dStar
woul-
dstart
Wor-
dStarstart and the H hour .
On one occasionacca.sionaccasion. in the VosgesVogues Mountains ,, thethe-
men
the-
methe-
men
the-
methe-
men
the-
memen were forced to use their reserve rations and now withwith-
a
with-
ala big battle only a matter of hours away , found the 3d3d-
Battalion
3d-
Battalion
3d-
BattalionBattalion without reserve rationsrationerationed . ThemailThermalThe mail from divisiondivision-
headquarters
division-
headquarters
division-
headquartersheadquarters came to us and in same was a letter wantingwanting-
to
wanti-ngto know why the ration'hadrationhadrationration ' had been used and on whose authDbathedauthovityauthorityauthority.-
The
authority-
The
authori-ty
1ty .
The letter ventwent backbactbract and forth dduringingKing the day three oror-
four
C-
orfu
or-
four
C-
orfu
or-
four
C-
orfufour timeetimestime , and it was not until an hour before leavingleaving-
forleavi-
ngleaving-
forleavi-
ng(6)6( ) Start-
The
Star-
tle
Startstark for the front that the rations were receireceiptreceiveded ,. (6-
)4
(6)6(6)-
4
( )
-4-4-4-
The
-4-
(4)
-
MEUSE-ARGONNEMEUSEARGONNEMUSEARGON-MEUSEARGONNEPromptly
Promptly at 8:00800: pPM on 25 September 19181918-
the
,
the 3d Battalion in the lead left Camp MarauetteMarquette on thethe-
way
thru-
way
the-
way
thru-
way
the-
way
thru-
wayway tto. their firetfirstfret big battle of the war . We had two-
months
tor-
ments
two-
months
tor-
ments
twotwot-m
tote-m*. tm,. .-
theirt-heir
months of trench warfare in the VosgesVogues Mountains , andand-
were
ans-
wered
and-
were
ans-
wered
and-
were
ans-
weredwere held in reserve during the St . MihielMichel drive . AndAnd-
now
An-
doAnd-
now
An-
doAnd-
now
An-
donow the regiment was considered ready to taketa ce its placeplace-
alongside
pla-cations
place-
alongside
pla-cations
place-
alongside
pla-cationsalongside of the other divisions in the drive . The moralemorale-
of
mora-
le
morale-
of
mora-
le
morale-
of
mora-
leof the battalion was high , and the men were ready andand-
anxious
and-
antinos
and-
anxious
and-
antinos
and-
anxious
and-
antinosanxious to help end the war so they might get home . AboutAbout-
two
Abb-
ottAbout-
two
Abb-
ottAbout-
two
Abb-
otttwo hours before we started the mail from home came inin-
and
inl-
and
in-
and
inl-
and(7)7( ) StarkStark-
f
Stark-
5
Star-
k
and this helped the morale also . (7)-
Our
(7)-
Our
(7)7(7)-
Our
( )
Our destination this night was the town ofof-
Aubrivl11e
of-
Aubriville
of-
AubrivilleAubrivl11eAubrivilleAuricle . Just as we were leavinleavingleaving camp we received moremor-
erifle
Mar-
seille
mor-
erifle
Mar-
seille
mor-
erifle
Mar-
seillerifle ammunition , hand grenades .anda.nd rifle grenaaegrenade , alsoalso-
our
Balf-
our
also-
our
Balf-
our
also-
our
Balf-
ourour pyrotechnics . It was but a short hike to Aubrivil1eAubrivilleAuricleAubriville-
butAuric-
le,
but the roadsroa.deroaderode. were all 01cluttereduttered w1withth troops , guns andand-
ammunition
ad-
monition
and-
ammunition
ad-
monition
and-
ammunition
ad-
monitionammunition cartsoarteorate , and on account of this it took us aboutabout-
three
both-
eredabout-
three
both-
eredabout-
three
both-
eredthree hours to get there .
The town of AubrivilleAuricle was in ruins , and asas-
we
a-
we
as-
we
a-
we
as-
we
a-
wewe hiked through the Germans let us know they knew troopstroops-
were
troo-ps
troops-
were
troo-ps
troops-
were
troo-pswere on the move in the town . We camped on the hillsidehillside-
justhillsi-
dehillside-
Just
hillsi-de
hillside-
justhillsi-
dejust a 8horshort distance beyond the town . The hillside waswas-
to
was-
te
was-
to
was-
te
was-
to
was-
teto be our campingoamp1ng ground for the night . Also for whatwha-
trest
har-
dest
wha-
trest
har-
dest
wha-
trest
har-
destrest the men couldoouldGould get before the battle started the nextnext-
morning
ext-
orting
next-
morning
ext-
orting
next-
morning
ext-
ortingmorning . About 11:301130: PVPU1 the artillery started to shellshell-
the
shel-
tershell-
the
shel-
tershell-
the
shel-
terthe enemy area , and thethey, were assistedaS8isted by the big l4-1nahl41nah14-inch14inchl41nah-
naval
14-inih-
naval1-4inihn-
aval--
(8)8( ) StarkStarkM-
EUSEARGONNE
naval guns which were in the valley bbelowlow our billets . (8)-
Abou.t
(8)-
About
(8)8(8)-
About
( )
Abou- .tAbo- utAbout. 2:30230: AM the irregular fire of thethe-
artilleryhe-
artilythe-
artilleryhe-
artilythe-
artilleryhe-
artilyartillery blended into a huge and de&feningdefeningdeUeningdeffeningdeafeningdeeming& volume of soundsound-
5
sound.-
5
.,
f' .' l"rt1w40lrt1w40.5l"rt1w40." .*... ". . -5-5-.5-.5-.5-
MEUSEARGONNE
5-
(8)
-
The barrage was on .
The first thousand shells fired by our artilartil-artilyartil-
leryartil-
leryartil-
lery
¬-
leryleery on the front were to be gas shells . To-trhoTotrhotaro:To-fehoseTofehoseohoseethosgooseo-o-- hosese of usus-
who
un-
shod
us-
who
un-
shod
us-
who
un-
shodwho had heard the barrage of the St . MihielMichel drive , andand-
knew
An-
drew
and-
knew
An-
drew
and-
knew
An-
drewknew that it was the biggest thing of its kind that we hadhad-
ever
han-
dover
had-
ever
han-
dover
had-
ever
han-
doverever known , were now seeing one by far more elaborate andand-
preponderant
and-
preponderant
and-
preponderantpreponderant than the one at St . MihiMishMihielMichelel .
26 SEPTESEPTSEPTEMBERBERBERG 1918-
Then
1918-
Then
19181918-
ThenThen suddenly quiet , a strange terrible silencesilence.-
A
silence-A
silenc-e
.
A gray misty dawn . It was 5:505505:30530: , the "zerozero" hour . II" LightLight-
packs
Light-
faces
Light-
packs
Light-
faces
Light-
packs
Light-
facespacks , and ammunition bandoleers were adjusted , bayonetsbayonets-
were
bayon-ets
bayonets-
were
bayon-ets
bayonets-
were
bayon-etswere fixed and breakfastlessbreakfasters , cold , stiff but feelingfeeling-
suddenlyfeel-
ingsfeeling-
suddenlyfeel-
ingsfeeling-
suddenlyfeel-
ingssuddenly younyoungyoung , strong and victorious , the men streamstream-
"over
stream-
"over
stream-
"over
stream-
overstea-
mier"overover" the top . II" There was little evidence of excitement-
and
excitem-ent
excitement-
and
excitem-ent
excitement
(9)9( ) Edwards,EdwardsEdwaxds , and none of fear . (9)9(9-
)It
(9-
)It
(9)-p
9-p
( )
p 58-
The
58-
A
58It was 5:45545: AM when the 3d Battalioniattalion formed-
and
foreh-
and
formed-
and
foreh-
and
formedformed-
and
foreh-
andand started on the march toward Germany ,. K and L CompaniesCompanies-
were
Compa-nies
Companies-
were
Compa-nies
Companies-
were
Compa-nieswere the leading companies , and were in squad columnscolumns-
I
column-
s
,
I and M Companies were in support , and in section columnscolumns.-
The
columns-
The
column-
ist.
The battalion commander and his staff were between thethe-
oompanies
the-
osophies
the-
companies
the-
osophies
the-
companies
the-
osophiesoompaniescompanies .
'!The'hehe weather was foggyfoggyJfoggyandfoggyJ, and the men could seesee-
only
sec-
ondly
see-
only
sec-
ondly
see-
only
sec-
ondlyonly about 25 yards ahead of them . The smoke , fog and thethe-
une'V'enneS8
the-
unevenness
he-
inousness
the-
unevenness
he-
inousnessune'V'enneS8uneVenneS8unevenness' of the ground , made travellingtraveling hard and somesom-
etrouble
Som-
erville
som-
etrouble
Som-
erville
som-
etrouble
Som-
ervilletrouble was encountered in keeping pproperoperdoper position , butbu-
tthis
ba-
thsbu-
tthis
ba-
thsbu-
tthis
ba-
thsthis was soon overcomeoveroome . The battalion saw no actual fightfight-fight-
ing
fight-
ing
¬-.ingKing until just past VauquoisVauquo18Vanquish Hill .
VauquoisVauquolsVanquish Hill had been a GremanGerman .trotrotaroStrongholdStronghold-
since
Strongh-olds
.itronghold-
since
strongh-olds
gholdholdghold-
sinoe
gold-
minesinoesincesine the drive for PariParisParis. in 1914 , and the TrenchrTenchFrench had beenbeen-
unable
ben-
dable
been-
unable
ben-
dable- unablebb-f! to.fh.tfh.tfhtht.ttakeittakeout!it, , .
.
But thiss 8same! hihilll "wasSo! nOnow ;in our path.- ",'AIAI"'. > *- , ,lM-JlMJ-'-"' t. <mrw MM "fUkfUkfunk" f'? W ! W*''; -. oe r.rtrtsawTessa9m , imiiiii mi 1: tfhtffthat MWiWi' sawsawaVsawf aVMJf ' ryaRyanyhWAYWCAyhW-
Aand
*MMftiMuftiMM-
ftiand
...and up to usu-uutoautou. - to take . The artillery during the earlyearly-
hours
earth-
works
early-
hours
earth-
worksbourbournhours. of the morning poured lots of shellsshellashellac on the hill-
6
hillhill-
6-6-6-6-
The
-6-
(9)
-
and by the time we reached it it was well torn up . WeW-
efound
R-
efund
W-
efound
R-
efund
W-
efound
R-
efundfound one ro two dugouts left ; we could seeBee from thosethos-
eleft
tho-se
thos-
eleft
tho-se
thos-
eleft
tho-seleft that both officers and men had been very comfortablecomfortable-
while
comfort-able
comfortable-
while
comfort-able
comfortable-
while
comfort-ablewhile there . They had been constructedoonstructed out of COfCT.eteCOfCTeteconcreteCoffeeconcrete.-
Just
concrete-
Justconcr-
ete) . .
Just as we passed VauquoisVanquish HillFill we received heavy artilartil-artilyartil-lery
artil-lery
artil-lery
¬-
leryleery fire from the enemy , but it did not last long . JustJust-
past
Dust-
pans
Just-
past
Dust-
pans
Just-
past
Dust-
panspast the hill were some machine gun nests which had toto-
be
t-oe
to-
be
t-oe
to-
be
t-oebe cleaned up . This we did with very little trouble , asas-
the
as-
hen(10)10( ) Stark-
the
Start-
ed
Stark the men that were left made little or no fight . (10)-
While
(10)-
While
(10)10(10)-
While
( )
While OheppyCheppyHeapChoppy was being takentakenchetaken, -chechetheache- regimentregiment-
was
regimen-
tals
regiment-
was
regimen-
tals
regiment-
was
regimen-
talswas advancing back of the attacking troops in case of-
unexpectedly
of
(11)11( ) HoytHot , unexpectedly strong opposition by the enemy . (11)11(11)-
About
(11)-p
11-p
( )
P 80-
and
80-
About80
About 3:00300: PM the 3d Battalion still in supportsupport-
passed
upper-
cased
support-
passed
upper-
cased
support-
passed
upper-
casedpassed through CheppyChoppy . A few kilometers pastpast-pastthepath- the towntown-
the
tow-
nie
town-
the
tow-
niethe battalion stopped to eat , as the regiment , and bat-batbat-
talions
bat-
talionsbatbat-
talions
¬-
talionstalons ahead had been held up ; this was the first foodfood-
since
fo-ods
food-
since
fo-ods
food-
since
fo-odssince early morning . It was not for long for we were soonsoon-
on
Solom-
on
soon-
on
Solom-
on
soon-
on
Solom-
onon the marchmarohmacro again ; about 5005:00;: PM we were halted andand-
ordered
ad-
orerand-
ordered
ad-
orerand-
ordered
ad-
orerordered to dig in for the night ; this was a welcomeweloome soundsound-
to
Sou-nd
sound-
to
Sou-nd
sound-
to
Sou-ndto hearforHartfordhear , for the men as well as the officers were good andan-
dtired
ba-
ndied
an-
dtired
ba-
ndied
an-
dtired
ba-
ndiedtired . The day had . been long and the excitement of beingbeing-
in
bingi-
ng
being-
in
bingi-
ng
being-
in
bingi-
ngin a battleba.ttle. had gotten on the nerves of the men and they-
were
he-wer
theythey-
were
he-wer
they-
were
he-werwere ready to stop for the day . Just as dusk startedstarted-
fallingstar-
tedstarted-
fallingstar-
tedstarted-
fallingstar-
tedfalling the mail from the rear was brought up , and justjust-
atju-
stjust-
atju-
stjust-
atju-
stat this time it had a wonderful effect on the men . ItIt-
helped
In-
terloped
It-
helped
In-
terloped
It-
helped
In-
terlopedhelped to raise their , morale . The nighnigfetnightknife' was cold andand-
dreary
A-ndrea
and-
dreary
A-ndrea
and-
dreary
A-ndreadreary , for there was aa- 'finea- finef- ine'* finef inecine rain falling , and it continuedoontinued ,.
27 8SPTSMBERSEPTEKBERSEPTEMBER 1911918-
Colonel
19181918-
Colonel
.
ColonelOolonelOolong OelaplaneDelaplaneOverbalanceDeadpanned had moved hiehishide headquartersheadquarters-
alongside
headqu-arters
headquarters-
alongside
headqu-arters
headquarters-
alongside
headqu-artersalongside of the 3d Battalion ; about 2:00200: AM a measagemessage
4-4-4r-." r MfrnMfrI . _TwaftWaft'"-".flMSWIMftfalsify.mtmt. i.mtuMTkitsu. _, . J 1 . " "' ((,(. .'I1.rI1.rI1r': '. . I V ONWROOMNEWSROOM_ . Aww"tiRAwwtiRWWI..". M:" ." 'it, \
. ., ". A.b-A.bA.b.II.- MMr.rrwvw4iMMrrrwvw4i. .IIII. '" . . - ;- J-JJ-
7
-
-7-7- 7-
and
7-77-
(11)
--
was received , from brigade headquarters that the attackattack-
would
atta-ck
attack-
would
atta-ck
attack-
would
atta-ckwould start that morning at 8:508508:30830: AM . But before the HH-
hour
H-
ourH-
hour
H-
ourH-
hour
H-
ourhour there would be a barrage by the artillery .
At 55:10510:1010: AM another message was receivedrecevWdrecrecd' v"ava!" ' " thatthat-
the
thatc-
hed
that-
the
thatc-
hed
that-
the
thatc-
hedthe hour had been changed , and that the start would bebe-
at
be-
at
be-
atat 5:505505:30530: AM . Further there would be a 5-minute5minute- barragebarrage-
by
barra-ge
barrage-
by
barra-ge
barrage-
by
barra-geby the artillery , followed by a rolling barrage . 5:305305:30-
arrived
5:30-
arrived
5:50-
arrived
550-
arrived
:
arrived, , and there was no barrage from the artillery .
The first day of the fight the 5d3d BattalionBattalion-
was
Battali-onwas in regimental support , and the first night of thethe-
fight
he-
ightthe-
fight
he-
ightthe-
fight
he-
ightfight we were in divisional reserve . On starting thatthat-
morning
stat-
ioningthat-
morning
stat-
ioningthat-
morning
stat-
ioningmorning we were to be in support of the 1st and 2d Bat-BatBa-
ttalions
Ba-
ttalions
BatBa-
ttalions
¬-
talionstalons of the regiment . For the regiRegisregimententKent to setget on thethe-
firingt-
heirthe-
firingt-
heirthe-
firingt-
heirfiring line , it was necessary for us to play leap frogfrog-
with
frog-
mouth
frog-
with
frog-
mouth
frog-
with
frog-
mouthwith the 158thl38th138th Regiment , which we did . The 1st BattalionBattalion-
was
Battali-on
Battalion-
was
Battali-onwas on the left , the 2d Battalion on the right , and the-
3d
the
(12)12( ) Stark 3d Battalion in support . (12)-
The
(12)-
The
(12)12(12)-
The
( )
The crest of Hill 218 was boiling under enemyenem-
yfire
ene-my
enem-
yfire
ene-my
enem-
yfire
ene-myfire ; high explosives and shrapnel kept the death songsong-
continuously
non-
contiguous
song-
continuously
non-
contiguous
song-
continuously
non-
contiguouscontinuously above the men'smensmeansme ' s heads . The hill seemed toto-
crumble
st-
orable
to-
crumble
st-
orable
to-
crumble
st-
orablecrumble before the artillery and machinemaohine guns , and ColonelColonel-
Delaplane
Col-onel
Colonel-
Delaplane
Col-onel
Colonel-
Delaplane
Col-onelDelaplaneDeadpanned decided each foot of ground was being bough-
tat
boug-
ht
bought
(13)13( ) Hoyt-
was
Toy-
otas
HoytHot at too precious a price . (13)13( ) The men were ordered to-
dig
tid-
ing
to-
dig
tid-
ing
toto-
dig
tid-
ingdig in . If we only had had some support from the artilleryartillery-
atartiller-
yat this time we could have moved on , but with no supportsupport-
the
supp-ort
support-
the
supp-ort
support-
the
supp-ortthe lines held vteeewhere. thethey, were .
Many attempts were made in the afternoon toto-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orranceadvance , but eacheaohLeah attempt failed. . The shelling from thethe-
enemy
He-
nley
the-
enemy
He-
nley
the-
enemy
He-
nleyenemy continuedoontinued as it did early in the morning . JustJust-
aboutJ-
ustJust-
aboutJ-
ustJust-
aboutJ-
ustabout noon the engineers came up with gomesomegnome mortars to seesee-
y
seed-
yi.t1it1i.t-
18
.y .WW H 1. B. (7'r7r('" 17 .kk..*.1.81-1.81.1.81181. .1.8111fW. x -11wYWmtt" 11 r.. . UVUtW ,IfIom;Idiomh l,
. I.. ", 4 'Vf. I Hilll s-wwswwri.KSriKSrinks-% u.IuI,.!u.I.r, . " ,. . JMI_MI .11
. .1111111 /--.r.-r/. - . >"' ,.- j." .- . . . . -..,"W'BIIIWBIII. ' rr9ro'IIlltWSWGilts.\9/ro'I\\9ro'IroIrIo\. '9ro'I1'. / '\> "
1 ,_MMy,* TI.-yy-"':$.MM-
8
,
-8-8- 8-
was
8-
(12)
-
if they could be of any help in clearingclea.ring. out some ma.chinemachinema.chine-
gun
machi-
nemachine-
gun
machi-
nemachine-
gun
machi-
ne.
gun nestsnest 8 . There were many on the Very-CharpentryVeryCharpentryCarpentry- RoadRoad-
and
Broad-
band
,
and. these were giving us a lot of trouble . Early in thethe-
afternoon
the-
atergoing
the-
afternoon
the-
atergoing
the-
afternoon
the-
atergoingafternoon some tanks came up to help out , but they diddid-
verydi-
verdid-
verydi-
verdid-
verydi-
ververy Iilittlettletitle good . They seamed.se.emedse.emedseemed.seemed. . at that timtime-to-timetotimetodrawtime-to-drawtimetodrawtrimester.-,-. ,t-"drawt"drawdraw()-- ", - draw ft-reftrefireftref-
romfree-
form
firef-
romfore-
front
fi-re-
fromf-i ref-
romref-
orm
.:--from enemy artillery , and to do very little good inin-
getting
in-
gesting
in-
getting
in-
gesting
in-
getting
in-
gestinggetting rid of the machine gun nests . Up to 5:30530: , howeverhoweve-
rorders
how-ever
,
orders were received to advanceadva.nce. at once . The advance hadhad-
startedha-
statehad-
startedha-
statehad-
startedha-
statestarted when another rmessagessa.gessagesage. come from regimental headhead-head-
quarters
head-
quarters
head-
quarters
¬-
quarters that there would be a barrage for 15 minutesminutes-
and
minute-
man
,
and then we would follow a rolling barrage . There was no-
barrage
un-
barring
no-
barrage
un-
barring
nono-
barrage
un-
barringbarrage of any kind , and we did not stop after we had onceonc-
estarted
conc-
entrated
onc-
estarted
conc-
entrated
once-\
onc-e
onc-
estarted
conc-
entrated\
started to see if the artillery would fire a barrage . W-
estopped
E-
scaped
!WefieW-
estopped
E-
scaped
fi-
estopped
fe-
stoonedstopped at dark in a ravine south of the CharpentryCarpentryCharpentr-
yEclisfontaine
Charpentr-
yEclisfontaine
Charpentr-
yEclisfontaineEclisfontaineCalifornian Road .. The scouts of the battalion were sentsent-
out
set-out
sent-
out
set-out
sent-
out
set-outout to gain contconstcontactct with the enemy , and try and locate thethe-
1st
the-
1st
the-
1st1st BattalionEattalion . It see.m-s
seem-s
seems. they were lost in the latter partpart-
of
pa-rt
part-
of
pa-rt
part-
of
pa-rtof the drive fha.1fha1that;hat. afternoon . The scouts found them latelate-
that
lat-ent
late-
that
lat-ent
late-
that
lat-entthat night about 1000 yards northwest of where the restrest-
of
pres-
to
rest-
of
pres-
to
rest-
of
pres-
toof the regiment stopped for the night . It was in thisthis-
advance
hin-
drance
this-
advance
hin-
drance
this-
advance
hin-
dranceadvance that we received the first casualties in thethe-
battalion
te-
arstainthe-
battalion
te-
arstainbattalion . Some very good men were lost . Thus did the-
2d
the
(14)14( ) Stark-
battalionStark 2d day of the battleba.ttle. end for the 3d Battalion . (14)14( )
28 8SPTEMBERSEPTEMBER 19181918-
The
1918-
TheThe dawn of 28 September was OolddoldBoldOlddoled and wiwithth a-
fine
f-
inea
(15)15( ) Hoyt-
The
Hot-
terHoytHot fine drizzle filling thetbetube air ., (15)-
Orders
(15)-
Orders
(15)15(15)-
Orders
( )
Orders were for us to advance at 5:505505:30530: AM onon-
this
m-
onths
on-
this
m-
onths
on-
this
m-
onthsthis morning . The lstlast1st.Battalion1stBattalion,. Battalion whichwhioh the night beforebefore-
was
befo-re
before-
was
befo-re
before-
was
befo-rewas lost was still some distancedistanoe to our left , and not withwith-
the
with-
held
with-
the
with-
held
with-
the
with-
heldthe regiment when we started . The 3d Battalion was sup-supsup-
porting
sup-
porting
supsup-
porting-¬-
porting the 3d2d . We had gone only about 1000 yards when
,. . . ".. . .00.. , ... _ J. ... :,, :; , .ww. 4'. ..iM-nim.iiiMnim.iiiMnim.iinimiiInfinitiMiminimbi- . . ..* -..,jy . . , . , . .IMIM. 10 . . .16'111611i" .'.<.II..IO00r(r..
, '".--rr_'-/
.__ \OO\ .'J'- .-
o
o. a .aa,.u .l w-wwMKMK-' -<.. .rr. MK-MKM-
Kif
M-
iff
.-"".,-"" -- ''
- -
we were held up by rifle , machine gunun and artillery firefiref-
romfore-
front
firef-
romfore-
front
firef-
romfore-
frontfrom the left flank and the front . IItt was very evidentevident-
atevide-
nt
evident-
atevide-
nt
evident-
atevide-
ntat this titimee that the 28th Division on our left was heldheld-
up
hold-
up
held-
up
hold-
up
held-
up
hold-
upup , and had not advanced as far as we had . The 2d2d-
Battalion
2d-
Battalion- . . . , . . .. . . . - .. . - .
Battalion after the .advancea.dva.nceadva.nce. started moved to rightri ht , andand-
we
ano-
de
and-
we
ano-
de
and-
we
ano-
dewe moved up on line with it . 'vv'vVhenTienviveTenen we halted battalionbattalion-
headquartersbatt-
alionbattalion-
headquartersbatt-
alionbattalion-
headquartersbatt-
alionheadquarters was established behind a knoll where wew-
espent
be-
sprent
w-
espent
be-
sprent
w-
espent
be-
sprentspent about two hours before we were able to advanceadvance.-
The
advance-
The
advan-ce
.
The knoll protected usue from machine gun?un and rifle firefire-
but
fire-
bug
,
but the shells from the artillery fell all around usus.-
At
us-
At
s-At
.
At this time we had in the battalion 20 officers andand-
an
And-
ean
and-
an
And-
ean
and-
an
And-
eanan average of about 200 men per company . The companiescompanies-
had
compan-
iescompanies-
had
compan-
iescompanies-
had
compan-
ieshad dugdusdeus : fox holes , and were in fair shape . It was whilewhile-
dig
whil-
edwhile-
dirrmin
wh-iled
while-
discingwh-
ileddigdirrminfirming; ingKing; in M}:;Ia ComoanyComDanyCompany lost CCaptainC-iptainCiptainptyalin-qtaintaint) McFa.ddenMcFadden.1cFa.dden1cFa.dden1cFadden. .. , the firstfirst-
officerfor-
tifierfirst-
officerfor-
tifierfirst-
officerfor-
tifierofficer in the battalion to be wounded . This left ttethetotette-
battalionte-
arstainthe-
(16)
th-
e16(16)16( ) Stark'-
f
Stark battalion with only one cacaotaincautatincaptaincausationtainstain . (16)-
At
(18)-
At
(16)16(18)18(16)-
At
( )
At 9:45945: AM twenty tanks reported and we werewere-
ordered
wh-
erefore
were-
ordered
wh-
erefore
were-
ordered
wh-
ereforeordered to advance following the tanks at 300 yardsyards.-
I
yards-
I
yard-s
.
I and K Companies were the front line companies , a.ndandB.ndBndBand.. L andand-
M
an-
d
and-
M
an-
d
and-
M
an-
dM were in support in squad columns . The advanceadva.nce. had justjust-
sta.rted
jum-
pstartjust-
started
jum-
pstartjust-
started
jum-
pstartsta.rtedstarted. , when the sergeant major of the battalionba.ttalion. was killedkilled-
alsokill-
ed,
also the interpreter ; both were very good men , and a lessless-
tole-
stless-
tole-
stlees-
tole-
stto the battalion . The sight of the tanks seemed to aroaeroarousearouse-
the
arou-
searouse-
the
arou-se
sese-
the
se-
ethethe ire of the enemy , for they turned loose1008e all of the gunsgun-
sthat
gun-
shot
gun-
sthat
gun-
shot
gun-
sthat
gun-
shotthat they had in that part of France on us at that timetime.-
There
time-
There
time-
share
.
There was frontal and flank fire , but none from our ownow-
nartillery
co-
nvertible
ow-
nartillery
co-
nvertible
ow-
nartillery
co-
nvertibleartillery . As the day before we had no artillery fire toto-
support
t-ossup
to-
support
t-ossup
to-
support
t-ossupsupport our advance but had to depend on the tanktanks to helphelp-
us
hel-ps
help-
us
hel-ps
help-
us
hel-psus get through the machinemaohine gun nests and strongholds ofof-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe enemyenellYeely .
'-
ff'j -
. . .... ., ., ,. ., .1 .w.1w.1w1.'M1M1' .11 rx&MM10,11JI.JMMMJIJMMMrx&MMrxMM& HHfflfVf/10,1110,111011./ ' .'.'fflfVffluff" v'TvT"'" , _ .. . ,
. . .." .8ftI8ftI. -/ tIAtAI _ " \ ' ( . . , , .
- _" ' , " "i-oioi ' " .J17"W.J17WJ17W" " w,! ffwff ' r rr-
we
R-
owe
';" ...,
When the battle began we had orders fromfrom-
headquarters
from-
headquarters
from-
headquartersheadquarters thattha.t. a message would be sent back to thosethose-
headquarters
those-
headquarters
those-
headquartersheadquarters every half hour during the fight . TheThe-
message
Th-
emesThe-
message
Th-
emesThe-
message
Th-
emesmessage would. ,.- . ,
state. . . where we were.lltuIwerelltuIwhere'llwere.., _JlOB.LOBow:
. farfe.rferfear. we had.gQnehadgQnead-.gonead.gonead.gonegone,-.handgunadjoinedh&A--gon-
eand
h&-A h-A
gonea-
ndgon-
adad.gone-
and
& .. -. . -.
B.ndBndandBand. how much opposiopposingoppositiontionion we were meeting from the enemyenemy.-
At
enemy-
At
ene-ma
.
At 10:001000: AM Major Davis directed that I send a messagemessage-
back
mess-age
message-
back
mess-age
message-
back
mess-ageback , which I did and in doing so became separated fromfrom-
the
frot-
hed
from-
the
frot-
hed
from-
the
frot-
hedthe Major . After sending the message back I started toto-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orranceadvance , and caught up with Lieutenant RitcherRicher , BnEn 2 ;
while advancing with this officer he was wounded , and II-
went
W-
entI-
went
W-
entI-
went
W-
entwent on , leaving him with a man from the medical corpscorps.-
On
corps-
On
cor-ps
.
On entering-enteringenteringMontrebeauentering- MontrebeauMountebank woods I found that the battalionbattalion-
had
battali-on
battalion-
had
battali-on
battalion-
had
battali-onhad lost very heavily during the advance . I found alsoalso-
that
alo-
haalso-
that
alo-
haalso-
that
alo-
hathat the two battalions , the 2d and 3d were ailedmlzedmixedlazed . TheThe-
enemy
He-
nley
The-
enemy
He-
nley
The-
enemy
He-
nleyenemy planes all of the time during the advance were over-overover-
head
over-
head
overover-
head
¬-
head giving information to their gunnersgunneregunner of the range andand-
we
ano-
de
and-
we
ano-
de
and-
we
ano-
dewe surely felt the effect of the information they sentsent-
back
setb-
acksent-
back
setb-
acksent-
back
setb-
ackback . No American planes were around . At times the planesplanes-
flew
plan-es
planes-
flew
plan-es
planes-
flew
plan-esflew low enough to shoot the men down on the ground ; wew-
ereceived
pe-
rceived
w-
ereceived
pe-
rceived
w-
ereceived
pe-
rceivedreceived many wounded and killed in this manner . The woodswoods-
too
Woods-
tock
woods-
too
Woods-
tock
woods-
too
Woods-
tocktoo were full of machine gun nests , and the fighting inin-
the
in-
ter
in-
the
in-
ter
in-
the
in-
terthe woods was fierce for a while . In the woods I metme-
tLieutenant
me-
tLieutenant
me-
tLieutenantLieutenant Holt of I and SOAQsomeSAO of his men . While movingmoving-
with
mov-ing
moving-
with
mov-ing
moving-
with
mov-ingwith him from one positionp08ition to another he was wounded , andand-
I
an-
d
and-
I
an-
d
and-
I
an-
dI was also a few minutes later . I knew Holt very well asas-
I
AN-
SI
as-
I
AN-
SI
as-
I
AN-
SII had served with him in the old third . He wawas a goodgoo-
dofficer
gon-
dolier
goo-
dofficer
gon-
dolier
goo-
dofficer
gon-
dolierofficer , and all of the men in hisbisbias companyoompany liked him . AfterAfter-
being
Patte-
rning
After-
being
Patte-
rning
After-
being
Patte-
rningbeing woundedwoundedoundedbounded myself I spent . the next twenty-twotwentytwo- hours wherewhere-
I
wherei-
nI fell . During the dayltghtdaylight I saw the battalion movingmoving-
forward
mo-ving
moving-
forward
mo-ving
moving-
forward
mo-vingforward . Several of the men who had been ., attachedattaohed toto-
battalion
to-
battalion
to-
battalionbattalion headquarters were wounded nearby ; some badly and-
Aiw
Ca-
ndia
and. - . ,, ,, . . ... . . ' ." - ' MF
. ,. . , . . . " ' _ ." . AiwAiwaA3W < slow"'WV): 'IIr'I-
11
'' AM. "_ , " "' *.
.rr. " -- " r'4l4tl1r4l4tl1r'4l4tl1M': ..la-MM.-IW').> " vWWMW.WWWW'" 'JJ.'/-MW.WMW.WWW/"'-.11-.11-11-11-.11-
When
.11-
MF
-
the others not so toadbad that they could not help putput-
IBndages
put-
tendages
p-utted(17)17( ) Stark-
the
Start-
edStark IBndagesBandagesbandages on those the worse for wear . (17)17( ) LieutenantLieutenant-
HarrisonLieut-
enantLieutenant-
HarrisonLieut-
enantLieutenant-
HarrisonLieut-
enantHarrison of Company I passed during the morning , andan-
dlater
sand-
blaster
an-
dlater
sand-
blaster
an-
dlater
sand-
blasterlater in the day he brought Major DDavis! . to see me ; I waswas-
more
as-
hore
was-
more
as-
hore
was-
more
as-
hore
,
more than glad to know that he was up and going again forfor-
I
fr-I
for-
I
fr-I
for-
I
fr-II had heard that he had been killed . He had been badlybadly-
wounded
badly-
wounded
badly-
woundedwounded in the head , but insisted in going on , which hehe-
did
he-
eded
he-
did
he-
eded
he-
did
he-
ededdid against my wish , for he was in no condicondocondi-cioncondicionconditioncondocoin- ion to do soso-
(18)
s-
o18
.
(18)18( ) Stark (18)18( ls )
The Sd3d Battalion in its advance past ChaudronCauldronChaudron-
Farm
Cauld-ron
Chaudron-
Farm
Cauld-ron
Chaudron-
Farm
Cauld-ronFarm to Montrebea-uMontrebeauMontrebea.uMontrebeauMountebank-. Woods between nine and nine thirty hadhad-
lostha-
llos
had-
lostha-
llos
had-
lostha-
lloslost aoutaboutabout_ fifty per cent of its men , anda.nd. a larlairlargerer DerdoerDeerDer-
cen
De-
cent
doe-
rcent
de-
cent
ner-
cent
per-
centcencentcentt of officers . HolHolyHoltt of I Companyompanycompany was killed , leavingleaving-
Harrisonlea-
vingleaving-
Harrisonlea-
vingleaving-
Harrisonlea-
ving,
Harrison to carryoncarry on . K Company had Lieutenant SmithSmit-
hleft
Sm-ith
Smit-
hleft
Sm-ith
Smit-
hleft
Sm-ithleft ., Captain KenadyKeened and Lieutenant Miller being casualcasual-casua-
lties
casua-
lties
casua-
lties
¬-
ties ; Slaughter , DenhamEnchant and StinsonStinkstone of L Company werewer-
eoasualties
aer-
osolizeswer-
ecasualties
wer-
ecasualtiesoasualtiescasualties also . Most of battalion headquarters were gone ;
McFaddencFaddenD&cFaddenDcFaddencadentDecadent& and Nottingham were wounded , and M Company waswa-
swithout
wa-
swithout(19)19( ) Edwards , without an officer . (19)-
From
(19)-p
(19)19(19)-
From
( )pEdwardspEdwards77-
From77
From where I lay I could see the planes over-overover-
head
over-
head
over--
bead
ov-er
be-ad
-head but they were enemy planes , and none of our own . IfIf-
we
Li-
fe
If-
we
Li-
fe
If-
we
Li-
fewe could have had some that morning , and again in thethe-
afternoon
the-
atergoing
the-
afternoon
the-
atergoing
the-
afternoon
the-
atergoingafternoon we would not have had the casualties that wew-
edid
w-
eird
w-
edid
w-
eird
w-
edid
w-
eirddid . Late in the afternoon a few shells were heard to gogo-
over
gl-
over
go-
over
gl-
over(20)20( ) Stark over toward the enemy line , but mighty few . (20)20( ) What waswa-
sleft
wa-
lletwa-
sleft
wa-
lletwa-
sleft
wa-
lletleft of the battalion was badly shot up , and was holdingholding-
theholdi-
ngholding-
theholdi-
ngholding-
the
holdi-ngthe line with the let Battalion . They had won a littlelittleo-
verlitt-
lelittleo-
verlitt-
lelittleo-
verlitt-
leover a mile - a ooatlycostlyloathly mile . And every yard of the wayway-
was
ay-
ahs
way-
was
ay-
ahs(21)21( ) Edwards , was spotted with orcrimsonimsonjimson . (21)-p
(21)21( )EdwardspEdwardsp 77-
The
77
.".-, . .: ,\ w .... . .. , . . .. .. '.., ,
._ .. _ 1 ._ .,,
.'. :' . ' ,
- .. . . ..
'" '' ' ' ' .wTriBiraffB-.TriBiraffBTibia'II' iii " - jw.-'-ww'-Raw" )'' ; ." " .-.Ra . .".-. "0' >, . .4-.4..4J.- J -v; " ; f-sus-avkifsusavkisubsakin- -. '1h '1 "WJ1WJ1"W-
J1the
"
a blow to the battalion , for it seemed to take thetnetine heart-
out
hea-
rthearthearti-
fhear-
tif.i-fout
f-
loutout of the men . At the death of the I/AjorIAjorMajorY/only.Jonlyjorjour tthereere were onlyonly-
'two
only-
two
on-ly
.JJ..-J't1'iO. . _ .--'t1'iO't1'iOt1iO.- .- -'''ro youug'li1youugli1youngOteiitenantcyounyoung "" '"',Sl'etitenanrs'TeftSletitenanrsTeft'' UtenantTenant s.I'efts.IeftsIefts'l'eftsleftsiftleft."' .''' to carryc'a.Tryca.TrycaTrycatercary' :.rryrr on . CCaptain'PtainPtainPain' 8miSmithSmith-
from
Sm-ith
Smith-
from
Sm-ith
th
from the 2d BattalionBa.ttalion. was sent to take commandcomllandcomplained{ of the 3d3d-
(25)
3-
d25
.
(25)25( ) Edwards , (25)25(25)-P
( )EdwardspEdwardsP 85-
The85-
The85
The messages sent back by the regimentalregimenta-
lintelligenceregi-
mentalregimenta-
lintelligenceregi-
mentalregimenta-
lintelligenceregi-
mental,
intelligence at 12012:301230: ? PL1PILPHILp , and at 44:30430:; 30 PM show the statestate-
os
stat-es
state-
os
stat-es
state-
os
stat-esos the regiment . Message No 23 sent at 12:301230: is asas-
follows
as-
follows
as-
followsfollows ;: Our troops now occupy ExermontExperiment . It was ta.kentakenta.ken-
under
tak-en
taken-
under
tak-en
taken-
under
tak-en
.under a fierce artillery and machine gun fire . Our losseslosses-
were
elsew-
here
losses-
were
elsew-
here
losses-
were
elsew-
herewere heavy in killed and wounded . Our artillery gavegav-
elittle
ga-
velgav-
elittle
ga-
velgav-
elittle
ga-
vellittle support and on several occasionsocca.sions. fired short a.sasa.s-
much
as-
much
sm-
utch
.as-
much
sm-
utchmuch as one kilometer , causing losses to our troopstroops.-
Muddy
troopsM-
uddytroo-
ps.
Muddyuddybuddy ground . TrumanTrmaan RIa-
Kessage
R-
akesRIO-
Message
Br-
imless
RIORIaRicaRIO-
Message
Br-
imlessMessageKessage 244 is1s as follows ;: Our troops startedstarted-
to
starte-
dstarted-
to
starte-
dstarted-
to
starte-
dto fall back in accordance wiwithth ordersorders rece1receivedvedvend from thethe-
as
the-
tas
the-
Brigade
he-
rringthe-
Brigade
he-
rringBrigade Commanderommander0onmmander to retire back to the position gradua11ygraduallygradually-
that
gradua-lly
,
that was held lastla.st. night . Instead of doing .asa.s ordered byby-
the
b-yte
by-
the
b-yte
by-
the
b-ytethe officers and NCOCONCO'sNCOsNOO'sNOOsNachosMoos' s they started to run , it almostalmost-
turning
hamst-
ringing
almost-
turning
hamst-
ringing
almost-
turning
hamst-
ringingturning into a stampede . Men of all regiments , officersofficers-
and
office-rs
officers-
and
office-rs
officers-
and
office-rsand NCO'eNCOeNicoleN00NCOCO *' se were headed for the rear . It being a criticalcriticalm-
omentcriti-
calcriticalm-
omentcriti-
calcriticalm-
omentcriti-
calmoment , I gathered a few of NCOCON00'sN00sNOO'sNOOsMoos' s and observers about mem-
eand
m-
end
m-
eand
m-
end
m-
eand
m-
endand stopped about 300 . We are organized now in line ofof-
trenches
o-
ffences
of-
trenches
o-
ffences
of-
trenches
o-
ffencestrenches as shown . Everything is quiet at present withwith-
exception
inte-
rceptionwith-
exception
inte-
rceptionwith-
exception
inte-
rceptionexception of heavy shelling and machine gun fire . TrumanTruman-
RIO
Trum-
anTruman-
RIO
Trum-
an(26)26( as ) Edwards , RIO . (2S2S(26)-p
(26)26(26)-
Men
( )
pEdwardspEdwards109-
Brigade
109-Men
109Men of the 3d Battalion no doubt were in thethe-
300300 that were stopped for with their leaders gone , andand-
many
san-
dman
and-
many
san-
dmanmany of NCOCOKCO'sKCOs100's100sTKOs' s also gone , too being tired and in need of-
food
of-
fload
ofof-
food
of-
floadfood they started for the rear . They were stopped , ho-
warT
th-wart
how-
G
ho-G
bow-bowhow-howbow-
mi
bow-
ie
-. .. . .
,. .. .. . .
,, . , ' ---w.www-[ <W"
T' giaGilatarirtardierarTarTcaTc"" --c-c- -
--eviiiteviiitceviiit-=-:.Gever._:. . .. ..
,.'" ndaadadand'didanddidbandied' mi i in
what theyheyheybeeye'* behad:1 doneo bbeforef 'hhd;"'"MMMM"
held :. t(27)27( 27)-27)2727)-
14
.fcfc)) - >
.14-.14-14-14-. 14-
a
.14-
a
--
29 8SPTELB5RSEPTELBERSEPTELLBERSEPTEMBER 1916-
All
1918-
All
191819161918-
AllAll night longIon ? they shelled us , and plentyplenty-
of
plent-y
plenty-
of
plent-y
plenty-
of
plent-yof gas was sent over . Sunday morning we looked on a wetwet-
and
wet-
land
wet-
and
wet-
land(22)22( ) Edwards , and gloomy world . (22)-
At
(22)-p
(22)22( )EdwardspEdwardsp 79-
At79
At 55:25525:2525: AM orders"wereorderswereorders'wereordersorders '"' '
were receireceiptreceivedvedvend to attack a.tatat-
5:30
at-
530
.
5:30530: and for the 128thl38th138th Infantry to leap frogfroBroB the l40th140th140th-
and
,
(23)23( ) EdwardsEdwardspEdwards , and lead the attack on SxermontExermontSermonExperiment . (23)23( G3)G3) It was at thisthist-
ime
thir-
stier
this-p
thi-s
thist-
ime
thir-
stierp 79-
time79
time that the officers who were in command of the tw-
obrigades
tor-
nadoes
tw-
obrigades
tor-
nadoes
two
brigades, , and the regiments knew not just whatwha.t. they werewere-
going
ver-
gingwere-
going
ver-
ginggoing to do next . Orders were issued , and not carriedcarried-
outcarri-
edcarried-
outcarri-
ed
,out . The higher commanders were in a state of confusionconfusion-
and
confusi-on
confusion-
and
confusi-on
confusion-
and
confusi-onand excitement and to this cause waswa.s. undoubtedly due muchmuch-
of
mu-
ch
much-
of
mu-
ch(24)24( ) Edwards , of the confusion of the troops . (24)24( ) .ThileThileWhile'chilechileTile!'.' the troopstroops-
were
troo-ps
troops-p
troop-s
troops-
were
troo-ps
EdwardspEdwardsp 79-
were7979-
CTWIlTMlUWai
were trying to get into formationforrnetioncorrection orders were received toto-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orranceadvance . Colonel DelaplaneDeadpanned at tllitallthiss timetirnetine aslalasked<: ed the brigadebrigadec-
ommanderbri-
gadebrigadec-
ommanderbri-
gadebrigadec-
ommanderbri-
gadecommander if the 140thl40th should advance and he was told toto-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orranceadvance at once . Colonel Hawkins in the meantime orderedordered-
Mejor
orde-red
ordered-
Major
orde-red
ordered-
Major
orde-redMejorMajor, MurrayMurre.yMurrey. DavisDavie , and the 3d Battalion to move outout-
which
G-othic
,
which the Major did . At this time there was less1esB thanthan-
12001200 men in the regimentregin1ent . As had happened the two previousprevious-
days
previ-ous
previous-
days
previ-ous
previous-
days
previ-ousdays there was no artillery support . The enemy fire waswas-
heavy
wa-
shday
was-
heavy
wa-
shday
was-
heavy
wa-
shdayheavy , and there was still some fire from the left flankflank-
near
flan-
kerflank-
near
flan-
kerflank-
near
flan-
kernear ApremontPremonition . The fight had started this morning inin-
column
li-
noleum
in-
column
li-
noleum
in-
column
li-
noleumcolumn of battalions , 3d leading , 2d and 1stlet followingfollowing.-
By
following-
By
followin-g
.
By 9:00900: AMAX ZxermontIxermontFxermontZeroPiedmontFerment was taken , and what was left of thethe-
3d
the-
3d
the-
3d3d Battalion was now mixed with the other battalions ofof-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe regiment . MajorKajor Davis of the 3d Battalion was killedkilled-
atkille-
dkilled-
atkille-
dkilled-
atkille-
dat 10:001000: AM . He had been wounded the day before , and-
again
ban-
daging
and ..-
again
a-
gain
.
again early thiethisthief morning before he was .Milled.11led11ledkilled . MajorMe.jorMejor. DavieDavisDavie-
was
Dai-wa
Davis-
was
Dai-wa
Davis-
was
Dai-wawas a wonderful man , and loved by all who knew him . HeHe-
was
H-
ews
He-
was
H-
ews
He-
WBB
H-
ewwas a real leader and the men followed him wherever he went
,CTWIlTMlUWai, ,act. .
. nl '.i...-or
o- r.*'" ' .where
,"ff'"! .S_ heh'TT'e6- -66Jtt&J, ,.,-.tt".wantewanted9"k9krant
$.;" '"'eLlthell"! them:-" ' ''.to' ' i?
Q'OQO',.o°. ,",. .., ..Jtt&JJttJVia& 1' ,
n."' .,
sa. et'thiaetthiaethicalaatjaiAaataxiaatjaiAaseataxiat. '
, ' , +'1me. , .
se. . ",.
.. .__"WLWL"!"W-
L13
. ..;
-13-13-.1313.13-
29
-.
30 SEPTESEPTSEPTEMBERSEPTE1BER: .:B 1916-
Mornin
1916-
Mornini
191819161918-
MorningMorninMorningMorningMornini: finally came . The men were wet andand-
their
an-
therand-
their
an-
therand-
.their
and-
their
an-
ther.
their cclothinglothineclothier was heavy wiwithth rain and mud ," a1alalthoughthou ;:thr-hrh- thethe-
rain
the-
rein
the-
rain
the-
rein. rain hadbtuppedhabituatedhad btopp-edbtoppedtopp-edtoppbtuppedboptopbumped-- . There " was no protectionforprotectionprotection .forfor-for.- the menme-
nexcept
non-
exempt
me-
nexcept
non-
exempt
me-
nexcept
non-
exemptexcept fox holes ," these ggAvegiveve no protective from thethe-
weather
the-
reafter
the-
weather
the-
reafter
the-
weather
the-
reafterweather ,.
The 91st9Ist .Division.Division on the rirightghtht: had come up toto-
Eclisfontaine
to-
Eclisfontaine
to-
EclisfontaineEclisfontaineCalifornian ," .anda.nd the 28th Division of the left ha.dhad.. ta.kentakenta.ken-
Apremont
taken-
Apremont
taken-
Apremont
.ApremontPremonition . With these two dividivdivisionsions up with us the artilartil-artilyartil-lery
artil(-
28)artil-
lery¬-
(28)28( ) Edwards , leryleery fire from the flanks waswa.s. stopped . (28)-
The
(28)-P
(28)28(28)-
The
( )
p 8989-TheThe men that were left in the 3d BattalionBattalion-
were
Battal-ion
Battalion-
were
Battal-ion
Battalion-
were
Battal-ionwere still in the line mixedmiaedmiredmailed with other companies . TheyThe-
yrepulsed
Th-ey're
The-
yrepulsed
Th-ey're
The-
yrepulsed
Th-ey'rerepulsed , counterattacks of the enemy during the dayda.y.. . TheyThe-
yall
The-
y'll
The-
yall
The-
y'll
The-
yall
The-
y'llall were too tired to try .anda.nd advadvance,nc e , but were able toto-
hold
to-
ehold
to-
hold
to-
ehold(29)29( ) bdwaxbedewtdwaxdsEdwards,; s , hold the position they held . (29)-
At
(29)-p
(29)29(29)-
At
( )
P 90At 6:45645: PM the followinfollowingfoilfollowingowinzowing messamesamessazemessagemessagee was sent byby-
the
b-yte
by-
the
b-yte
by-
the
b-ytethe Division Commander to I Corps : Can'tCant' advanceadvuIiceadvice, beyondbeyon-
dcrest
abeya-
ncesbeyon-
dcrest
abeya-
ncesbeyon-
dcrest
abeya-
ncescrest south of ExermontExperiment , thoroughly disorganized . RequestReques-
tthat
Requ-est
Reques-
tthat
Requ-est
Reques-
tthat
Requ-est(30)30( ) File that we be replaced with fresh troops . (50)50(30)30( )
322.13-322.13. -322.1335th322.133535th35 thth-
At
1 OCTOBER 1918-
At
1918-
At
19181918-
AtAt 3:00300: AM the 1st Division relieved thethe-
regiment
th-
ereinthe-
regiment
th-
ereinthe-
regiment
th-
ereinregiment , during the relief they were shelled heavilyheavily-
and
heav-ily
heavily-
and
heav-ily
heavily-
and
heav-ilyand continuously ," but with few losses . The regiment waswa-
sreorganized
wa-
sreorganized
wa-
sreorganizedreorganized and marched to a point south of CheppyChoppy onon-
the
M-
onte
on-
the
M-
onte(31)31( ) EdwardEdwards , the Vernays-LaVernaysLaVerona- Forgerorgeroger Road . (31)31( ) The men startedstaxtedstated fireafireffireireejIrene, .-
and
a-
nd.
p 9595-
andand for the first time in nearly a week they couldoouldGould getget-
warm
G-reta
get-
warm
G-reta
get-
warm
G-retawarm . Too they had some warm food .
In reorganizing the regiment it was foundfound-
thatfou-
ndfound-
thatfou-
ndfound-
thatfou-
ndthat the 3d BattBattyBattalionBatteAion1on had left 2 officersoffioers and 627 men .
. . : W a.; 1 :. . , " .. .. ., . ' . ' ..*". ' ' .. " .. . . , ,
. ..Ljf-.Ljflf..Ljf1.t.ii- .atlMMalum - ** : '\.' 'rw-y1'rwrwy1' -1.t.ii1t.ii1tii' 1 .- ' '. '. : ' 'C.IMC.IMCIMCM'. "InIn" '_ "oror" .0/.0..06/ . 6 'W.uW.uWu' . _':. ::1f1f-.16165-5>-
ANALYSIS AND CRITICISM-
The
Criticis-m
CRITICISM-
The
Criticis-m
CRITICISMCRITICISM-
The
Criticis-mThe morale of the battalion was hihighhip-hhiph-h , and inin-
fact
in-
farct
in-
fact
in-
farct
in-
fact
in-
farctfact it was very high . The battalion had good officersofficers-
and
office-rs
,
and the men were all loyal .
While at Camp DoniphanDonnish we were trained in bothboth-
trench
bott-
leneck
both-
trench
bott-
leneck
both-
trench
bott-
lenecktrench and open warfare, ,, but more time was devoted to openopen-
wa.rfare
open-
warfare
ope-
nwork
open-
wa-rfare
op-enwa
rf-are
o-pen f-arewa.rfarewarfare.
- than trench . The men realized that to win thethe-
war
thw-
art
the-
war
thw-
art
the-
war
thw-
artwar , they must work hard and they did . They all took aa-
pride
p-
ridea-
pride
p-
ridea-
pride
p-
ridepride in what they were doing , and did it well .
The two months that were spent in the VosgesVoguesVosges-
Mountains
Vosges-
Mountains
Vosges-
MountainsMountains was all trench warfare , and eicepte3ceptexceptincept for holdingholding-
theholdi-
ngholding-
theholdi-
ngholding-
theholdi-
ngthe line a part of the time it was a waste of time for whatwhat-
was
white-
wash
what-
was
white-
wash
what-
was
white-
washwas to follow . Too we had some traitrailtrainingtrairinvtraditioningKing in the open game-
The
gam-
eTe
game .
The loss of our Colonel just .aftera.fter arriving inin-
France
in-
ference
in-
France
in-
ference
in-
France
in-
ferenceFrance hurt the morale of the regiment for a time , for wew-
ereceived
pe-
rceived
w-
ereceived
pe-
rceived
w-
ereceived
pe-
rceivedreceived a man in his place that the officers did not likelike-
and
like-
ned
,
and in turn none of the officers ever did anything thatthat-
pleased
sta-
plesthat-
pleased
sta-
plesthat-
pleased
sta-
plespleased him . Just before the Meuse-ArgonneMeuseArgonneMuseJargoned- we hadbad nono-
commanding
in-
commoding
no-
commanding
in-
commoding
no-
commanding
in-
commoding .commanding officer , and then two days before the drivedrive-
Lieutenant
drive-
LieutenantLieutenant Colonel Dela-planeDelaplaneDela.planeDelaplaneDellaDeadpannedDelaDella -. lane took command of the regimentregiment.-
Colonel
regiment-
Colonel
regim-ental
.
Colonel DelaplaneDeadpanned prior to taking command , and during thethe-
Doniphan
he-
donicthe-
Doniphan
he-
donicthe-
Doniphan
he-
donicDoniphanDonnish days had been the Division Ordnance Officer . TheTh-
eofficers
Th-
eorizers
Th-
eofficers
Th-
eorizers
Th-
eofficers
Th-
eorizersofficers and the men hardly knew him , and he tooCoo did . notnot-
know
No-
rtek
not-
know
No-
rtek
not-
know
No-
rtekknow the men he was to lead into battle , but behe did thethe-
best
th-
ebes
the-
best
th-
ebes
the-
beet
Th-
ebesbest that he could .
The loseloss of General Martin , the Brigade ComCom-Com-
mander
Com-
mander
Com-
mander
-¬-
mandermaunder , was at a very bad time and hard to take . GeneralGeneral-
Martin
General-
ization
General-
Martin
General-
ization
General-
Martin
General-
izationMartin had been with the brigade since it was formedandforehandformedand-
theforeha-
ndformed ,
_
andand-
the
ant-
hem
and-
the
ant-
hemthe officers and men hadbad a lot of faith in hiehishide abilityability-
to
abilit-yto lead themthem-
16
.
_1 1---11d"'- d . . . . ,..' , . , . . .tf/'oiI.tfoiI.tftf'oiIoiI/'iI. ":' . \ ' ,
. "
.. $. .1.k1.k1k.
. . . ". ..u-.u..uJ- J , . . . . . . . r. ... l . . . II"!'. .._. ' .nn..-
n16
. .. ' , . '
-16-16-16-
ANALYSIS
16-
ANALYSIS
-
Again on 28 September the arti11artilleryeryvery did nothingnothing-
tonothin-
gto help the battalion or the regiment in any of the ad-adad-
vances
ad-
vances
adad-
vances
¬-
vancesvanes . The main advance made that morning was made wiwithoutwithout-
any
witho-
utwithout-
any
witho-
utthouttoutthout-
any
touc-
anany help from the artillery , but with some help from thethe-
.tanks
tet-
anusthe-
tanks
te-
aksthe-
.tanks
the-
tanks
te-
aks.tankstanks., tanks . It was very evident early in the morning that itit-
was
vi-
tasit-
was
vi-
tasit-
was
vi-
taswas going to be hard sledingsledding . For the enemy artilleryartillery-
firedartill-
eryartillery-
firedartill-
eryartillery-
firedartill-
eryfired from the left , and from the front at will . TheTh-
edivision
Te-
levision
Th-
edivision
Te-
levision
Th-
edivision
Te-
levisiondivision on the left had not advanced as far as we hadhad-
and
head-
band
,
and too our artillery was not bothering them , so with thethe-
helph-
eelthe-
helph-
eelthe-
helph-
eelhelp of their air service they fired , you might say , pointpoint-
blank
point-
blank
point-
blankblank at us . The men of the 3d Battalion knew that theythey-
should
thre-
shold
they-
should
thre-
shold
they-
should
thre-
sholdshould have some artillery help in all of their advancingadvancing-
in
advanci-ng
,
in fact , they had been taught they would have it ; knowingknowin-
gthis
know-ing
knowin-
gthis
know-ing
knowin-
gthis
know-ingthis , they felt that when they were ordered to advanceadvance-
they
adva-nce
advance-
they
adva-nce
advance-
they
adva-ncethey were going to certain death , and lots of them werewer-
ekilled
der-
ailedwer-
ekilled
der-
ailedwer-
ekilled
der-
ailedkilled and a great number wounded . The infantry is thethe-
basic
He-
braic
the-
basic
He-
braic
the-
basic
He-
braicbasic arm of the service , and at times it needs help andand-
this
an-
tisand-
this
an-
tisand-
this
an-
tisthis was a time it needed it , but did not get it from twotwo-
branches
To-
rrancetwo-
branches
To-
rrancetwo-
branches
To-
rrancebranches that should have helped , namely , the artilleryartillerya-
ndartillery-
man
artillerya-
ndartillery-
man
artillerya-
ndartillery-
manand aira.ir. service .
On 29 SepSeptemberember the higher commanders were inin-
state
in-
state
in-
statestate of confusion and excitement and to this cause waswas-
undoubtedly
was-
undoubtedly
was-
undoubtedlyundoubtedly due much of the confusion of the troops . HereHere-
was
Hebr-
ews
Here-
was
Hebr-
ews
Here-
was
Hebr-
ewswas the time when General Martin was sadly neededJneededneededJheneededneeded , he wouldwould-
bave
woul-
d've
would-
have
woul-
d've
would-
have
woul-
d'vebavehavebrave been thinking neither of himself nor his reputationreputation.-
There
reputation-
There
reputat-ion
.
There was no friendly barragebarrageJbarrageJandbarrage, and the enemy gave us every-
thing
every-
(32)
every-everyevery-
(32)
-
(32)32( ) Edwards , thing from the front . (32)32(32)-
LESSONS
(32)-p
32-p
( )
p 79-
LESSONS
79
LE880N8LESSONSLE880N-
8l(1)1( l ) The Principle of the Offensive is1s broughtbrought-
out
broug-
htbrought-
out
broug-
htbrought-
out
broug-
htout in the very first day of fighting , and continued thethe-
next
te-
netthe-
next
te-
netthe-
next
te-
netnext two but not as 1itt shouldshoul"d"
. The second day the offensive-
WA.loffen-
siveoffensivewv-
.A.Ns
offens-ive
offensiveoffensive-
i
offensiv-eWA\-.l-WA.lWA.llWaltWA.lIIWallis\iwv.A.NswvA.NswvANsvans" "..jtjt..- .,.- ',wa-"waiMMrswimmer.,
."
. .>.. . . .IIiMMr-iMMrMriMMrYSMrjdimmers; ,,.)X rr.4rSllWW''"- ,/-.4rSllWW.4rSllWWYSMrj;'/ .-...* ., "rr"10"Nw"WW10NwWWHllHull" " """' "nrywh.4wf-rywh.4wfrywh.4wfP," . .", tMwil1li\01l1li01twig\. _K(>-. <,PW .*. .' .' w(', MM ftft . ."', < \, ;:_;! ..'* . ".' ('WW' '1--11II-, ..i
-' .. <!< iViVfif..* .. IIIIIf(' -II-_-ff-I'f$'..,"4- -'f'ff-_'_1-11'f--
& .-.'.frfr. eItedit<,"< ti{ . :...- VbtV- btV-t<'. 'ff' 11-
18,,-':<''NN-
18t.!t-
18-18-18-18-
Again
18-
(32)
--
Using of the reserve rations in the VosgesVogues waswas-
something
as-
sentingwas-
something
as-
sentingwas-
something
as-
sentingsomething that could not be helped ; it waswa.s. due to the lossloss-
of
los-
sloss-
of
los-
sloss-
of
los-
sof the cable that brought the food up the mountains . TheTh-
ecable
Che-
ckable
Th-
ecable
Che-
ckable
Th-
ecable
Che-
ckablecable had beenbeybevybeen-hitbeenhit.=- hihitt by ..Ahe.thetheAche enemy artilleryartilreTYartiiiryarticle and DUIput out ofof-
use
f-use
of-
use
f-use
of-
use
f-useuse . The men had to eat .anda.nd the battalion commandercommande-
rordered
comman-
deered
commande-
rordered
comman-
deered
commande-
rordered
comman-
deeredordered the rations used . Then with the battle only aa-
ma.tter
a-
mateur
a-
matter
a-
mateur
a-
matter
a-
mateurma.ttermatter. of hours away to have someBomeBiome one ata.t. Division HeadHead-Hea-
dquarters
Hea-
dquarters
Hea-
dquarters
¬-quarters stir up a fuss over the use of the rations wawaswas-
a
as-a
was-
a
as-aa mere trifle .
27 September was, the beginning of the mixedmixed-
orders
mine-
workers
mixed-
orders
mine-
workers
mixed-
orders
mine-
workersorders . First we received orders that we would advanceadvanoe atat-
8308:30830;: AM behind a barrage , then out of a clearclea.r. sky ordersorders-
wereord-
ersorders-
wereord-
ersorders-
wereord-
erswere received to advance at 5305:30;: AM behind a I5-minuteI5minute15-minute15I5minute-
barrage
15minute-
barrage
15-minute-
barrage 1-5 minuteb-arrage
interma-rriage
-barrage . The barrageba.rrage. never came , and we were held up allalld-
a.yall-
ayall-
day
all-
ayall-
day
all-
ayda.yday. long by the enemy . Several attempts were made to gogo-
ahead
go-
dhead
go-
ahead
go-
dhead
go-
ahead
go-
dheadahead , but wiwithoutthouttout any support from the artillery it wa.swaswa.-
simpossible
wa-
simpossible
wa-
simpossible
.
impossible to do so . Tanks and mortars were used to helphelp-
the
hea-
lth
.
the advancea.dvance. , but it waswa.s. still imposeiimposeimpossiblebleable to move aga.1nstaga1nstagainstaga.1ns-
tstrong
against-
strong
aga-inst
against-
strong
aga-inst
.strong machine gun nests which needed artillery to clearcleart-
hem
cle-ar
cleart-
hem
cle-ar
cleart-
hem
cle-arthem out . Why the artillery fell down is not known , yetyet-
they
et-hyl
yet-
they
et-hyl
yet-
they
et-hylthey claimolaim they gave plenty of support , but being there onon-
the
M-
onte
on-
the
M-
onte
on-
the
M-
ontethe ground I failed to see any , and I know the advance waswas-
hel
we-
asel
wa-
sheld
wa-
shed
was-
helft
we-
aselhelheelheld up . At 5SO5:30530: WPM. verbal orders were to advance , and toto-
advanoe
t-
oadto-
advance
T-
orrance
to-
advance
T-
orranceadvanoeadvance at onceonoeone . 5:35535: a message was received to advanceadvance-
atadvan-
ce
advance-
atadvan-
ce
advance-
atadvan-
ceat 5:30530: behind an artillery barrage which will last for 1515-
minutes
15-
minutes
15-
minutesminutes . Again asa8 in the morning artillery failed . TheThe-
advance
He-
adache
The-
advance
He-
adache
The-
advance
He-
adacheadvance badhad started ,. and was not halhaltedted by lacklaoklao of firefiref-
rom
fore-
front
firef-
rom
fore-
front
firef-
rom
fore-
frontfrom our own artillery , but by darkness . The battalion, hadhad-
some
hand-
some
had-
some
hand-
some
had-
some
hand-
somesome losses10s8es and the regiment manvmanyman , which would not havehave-
happened
have-
happened
have-
happenedhappened if we had had the proper support from the artilleryartillery-
as
artiller-yas the order said we would.-
w
woul-
d
would .
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17
f17
-17-17-1717-17-
Using
-.
. . . . . . . , . . . . .. . . . . . ,
waswa.s. lost by the artillery failingfa.iling. to give any supportsupport-
and
suppor-
ted
,
a.ndand. causingca.using. the brigade of which the 3d Battalion waswa.s. aa-
part
a-
part
a-
partpart to fail in their objobobjectiveectihectic ve of the day, .
(2)2( ) The OvermansGermansEveryman were expecting an attackattack-
but
atta-ck
,
but as late as the 22d September they did not know wherewhere-
the
wher-
eat
where-
the
wher-
eat
where-
the
wher-
eatthe main blow was to be struck . Later they expected the-
attack
he-
artache
thethe-
atta.ck
he-
artache
the-
attack
he-
artacheatta.ckattack, . to be launchedla.unched. onMetzbonneton MetzMet . The above illustratesillustratest-
heillustrat-
esillustratest-
heillustrat-
esthe Principle of Surprise .
(3)3( ) There was no cooperationcoopera.tion. between thethe-
artilleryh-
eartilythe-
artilleryh-
eartilythe-
artilleryh-
eartilyartillery and the infantry , and from this their lineslines-
werelin-
eslines-
werelin-
eslines-
werelin-
eswere held up , and too many lives lost needlesslyneedlessly1-
,9
.
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" 4#-" '
ussTiorsUESTIONJESTIONNSbustiersQUESTIONJESTINGS; S
1 . Who commanded 3d Battalion 140thl40th InfantryInfantry-
A
Infantr-y
?
A . Major Davis .
2 . On which side of the VauauoisVanuatu Hill did thethe-
battal1on
the-
battalion
te-
arstainthe-
battalion
te-
arstainbattal1onbattalion, cross ?
A . Left .
53 . What day were orders from brigadebriga.de. badly mixed-
A
mixe-
d
mixed ?
A . 27 September .
4 . Was there lack of cooperation between thethe-
artilleryh-
eartilythe-
artilleryh-
eartilythe-
artilleryh-
eartilyartillery and infantryinfantry-
A
infantr-y
?
A . Yes .
5 . WasWa.s. Colonelolonelvolorelvalor DelaplaneDeadpanned justified in stoppingstopping-
the
stoppi-ng
stopping-
the
stoppi-ng
stopping-
the
stoppi-ngthe advance over hill 218 on 27 SeptemberSeptember-
A
Septembe-
r?
A . Yes .
56 . Was there an artillery barrage afterof tertear 26-
September
2626-
September
26-
SeptemberSeptember ?
A . No .
7 . What day did the battalion suffer the mostmos-
tlosses
mist-
resses
mos-
tlosses
mist-
resses
mos-
tlosses
mist-
resseslosses ?
A . 28 September ,.
8 . Was Division Headquarters justified in raisingraising-
the
raisi-ng
raising-
the
raisi-ng
raising-
the
raisi-ngthe disturbance over the used rationsrations-
A
ration-s
?
A *. No10 .
9 ., Was the Air Service of any help during the drivedrive-
A
driv-e
?
A *. No .
10-
20
10 . Who brought the battalion out of the fightfight-
A
figh-
t?
.. . . ,
.. . . . , . \ . "" "-.... . jr.,. . .. . .; ' :' . ." . .. .
0 ':. .._ IJ IIJr.Ii 'JJJJ' : . . . .- lIIJ-lIIJalibilIIJ'I- ' ; ,_
( " 'II' 0 "
A . CaptainOaptain Smith .
Smith20
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