THE INFANTRY FOURTH TOUT SECTION- OMMITTEE ...€¦ · Afro--AmericanAmericanAmerican drive. From there, we find ourselves hikingkikingkicking toto-CampecapCamp Marquette. CCAMP AMP

. . , .. ,. .

"-' ,I . ' .

. .. -" - . . . ./ . ." "

. 1'" I ... .11\.11. .11-

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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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..

.

"

.

.. . ... . .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

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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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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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