jirsirs b- mbu-argonnbsi-...freight thorou-ghfare plowed its way through the last seven or eight...
TRANSCRIPT
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.
44-
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J-JJJJADV-
ANC
JA-
VA
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THBTHKTHRTBTKOTHOR INFANTRY SCHOOLSCHOOL-FOURTH
SHOO-TOUT
SCHOOL-FOURTH
SHOO-TOUT
SCHOOL-FOURTH
SHOO-TOUTFOURTH SECTIONSECTION-COIDlITT.i
SECTION-COMMITTAL
SECTION-COMMITTAflCOIDlITT.iCOIDlITTiCOMMITTALAcidities.&. HH-
FORTF-
ORTH-
FORTF-
ORTH-
FORTF-
ORTFORT BBNNITOBENNINGBRNNITTGBONITOBANNINGBENNETT , GBORGIAGEORGIA .,
ADVANCADVANCEADVANCifiDADVANCEDAdvanceD COURSE ,.
THXDTHR!TXTHOR 336262 D'JDJINFANTRY-IN
INFANT-RY 'INFANTRYINFANTRY-IN
INFANT-RY
ANTRANT!INDr THBTImTB JIRSIRSFIRST PIL\SI.OrPILSI.OrPILSI.OrSIOrPolioPHILSignorSIrPPHA3S\,
. WOF: THftTHTHRHaftTHOR& IllUSI-ARGOlfDIllUSIARGOlfDYRUSI-ARGONNIYRUSIARGONNIIllUSMarigoldCYRUSARGONIllUSIARG-OlfDDP
YRUSIARGONN-ISIP
MBUSB-ARGONN-BSIPTMBBR MBU-SB ARGONNBSI-PTMBBR B-US -DPIID1rSIP&'EYAIREYAIREAR' '". 26-292629aa-19aa19- ( INOLDIaLINCLNOLINC ) .
IM'MAJORDJ'taDJtaDJ LKK18LflELKLf BmStniKKRSUftlMSnickSift. ., INFANTRYI1r8TRY: .,
1) .11. . "
IINDEXN D EF X .,
PagePage1iPageiPage
Bibliography 1ii iBibliographyIntroductionBibliographyIntroduction-
Page
Introduct-
ion
Introduction 11-
GeneralIntroductionGeneralIntroductionGeneral Situation-The
Situati-on
SituationSituation-The
Situati-on
44-
TheThe Terrain-
DispositionTerrainTerrain-
Disposition55-
DispositionDisposition ( Operation Map ) 55-
PlansPlans and Orders-
OperationsOrdersOrders-
Operations
66-
OperationsOperations 6614-1414-14-
GainsOperationsGainsOperationsGainaOperationsGainsGainaGina and Lossee-
AnalysisLossesLosseeLesseeLosses-
AnalysisLo-
sses1515-
AnalysisAnalysis and Criticism-Lessons
Critic-ism
CriticismCriticism-Lessons
Critic-ism
151519-1919- 19-
LessonsLessons-
Page
Less-
ons
Lessons 191922-2222-22-
0.. .. .. ..-----0-----0- - - - -_ 0-
ILL
0--00-
I
oo-
ILLUSTRATIONS
I-
LLUSTRATIONS
-- - - -
ILLIILLUSTRATIONSILLUSTRATIONSO-
perations
Illustrati-ons
L L U S T RAT ION10 N S .
Operations MapHap ,. Plate 1 2323-
II\
1 .\
BIBBIBLIOGRAPHYL lOG RAP H Y .
.SStoryoryCory of the 91st Division .
Pershing'sPershingsPerishing' Final Report - IntrodIntroIntroductionIntroduction.-600
Introduction6-
00ctionaction .
600 DaysDaystDayst' ServiceS.rviceSrviceUrvicUric. e , 361st InfantryInfantry-
NapoleonInfant-
rymanInfantry-
Napoleon's
Infantry-
NapoleonInfant-
rymanNapoleonNapoleontNapoleon'sNapoleonst' 8 )[MaximsaximMaxim .
Personal }-MaryJiaryD-iaryDiaryDiaryairy .
00-
b
0-
ii
b,11ii .
INTRODUCTION-
In
Introductio-
nINTRODUCTION .
In preparing 'this'hiehiehide monograph , the writer haahasHarahaa-
deemed
an-adem
has-
deemedh-
adehaa-
deemed
an-ademdeemed it1t necessary to take into consideration the organiorgani-organicorgani-
zationorgani-
zationorgani-
zation¬-
zationaction ofot the 91at91st Division ., 181st18lst Brigaderigade , and ofot coursecourse-
thecorse-
tedcourse-
thecorse-
tedcourse-
thecorse-
tedthe 362d IntanInstantInfantrytry ,.
As this is18 a monograph written ofot a personal experexper-expertexper-
ienceexper-
ienceexper-
ience¬-
ienceVince with this organization on the dates specified abovea-"bovea-bove", itit-
doesi-
desit-
doesi-
desit-
doesi-
desdoes not seem appropriate to dwell in lengthy discussion ono-
nterraine-
ntraino-
nterraine-
ntraino-
nterraine-
ntrainterrain featuresteatures ,. disposition of ArmyAl'myAlmyBalmy' 7 and CorpsC rp8Jrp8Jthereforerpapa , thereforetherefore-
willtheref-
ore,
will limit those parts to the 'barebare' essentials necessary toto-
proper17
to-
properlyto-
wropeto-
properlyto-
wropeproper17properly orient the reader , .' carry with the regiment fromfrom-
birthfrog-
mouth
from-
birthfrog-
mouth
from-
birthfrog-
mouthbirth and finally bring him back with the remnantTemnantTenant ofor thethe-
regimentth-
ereinthe-
regimentth-
ereinthe-
regimentth-
ereinregiment that marched back from the aarmyy objectiveobJect1ve ;, thethe-
regimentth-
ereinthe-
regimentth-
ereinthe-
regimentth-
ereinregiment that gallantly carried and planted a firm toot-holdtootholdfoot-holdfootfoot-hold-on
foo-tholdo-
ntoothold-
on
foothold-on
holdin-g
foothol-d
-
on said army objective , the only regiment that gained the-
linehe-
mline
the(1)1( 1)1) Story-ot Stor-y Story line that date or for several days thereafter ,. (1)1(1)-
In
(1)-of
( l )
ofot the 9lst-Division
91st-Division
91st9lst91st-DivisionDivision . P-lPlP-11- In eight great western states ,. the young men ofot mili-milimilmili-
tarymili-
tarymilimilmili-
tary¬-
tarytarry age chosen to represent their respective communitiescommunities-
incommuniti-
esin the firsttirstthirst five percent ofot the selective draft , constitutedconstituted-the
constitut-ed
constituted-the
constitut-ed
constituted-the
constitut-edthe necleusnecleu8nucleus ofot the 91st9lst Division ofot the National Army .
The l81181stt Infantry Brigade (361st361st(361et361et( and 362d3624 InfantryInfantry-
was
Infant-ry
)
W&8W8was& made up in part from the men mentioned above and fromfrom-
laterform-
atterfrom-
laterform-
atterfrom-
laterform-
atterlater drafts froatramfromfro the .same.. statesatatelMattel . The principal part ofotof-
the
of-
ten.
the enlistedenliated .men.enen ofot the 362d3624 InfantryIntantr1' coming fromfroafro MontanaKontana .
!Thehe DivisionDl.1.ionDl1.ionDl1ion. . .wax.uuwas mobilized.obi11.dobi11.dobi11d. . . in o.popO.mpOmpComp.0.mp LewisLe.ieLeieLee. , WUh1ngtonWashingtonWashingto-
ntrained
Washing-tonian
,
trained in that extensiveextens1Y. training that other 41Y1aiondivisionsdivisions-
endureddivis-
ionsdivisions-
endureddivis-
ions.
endured during those hectic daydaY8days ,. when1fheashensheen it behooved each and-
every
An-
dover
andand-
very
An-
doververy'Y8r7Y8r7every.' divisiondlvilloDdevilwood commandercowmanderc and.randrAndre. ), &and&D4D4 coamanderscoanderecommanderscolander_ down to the 1.leer1leerlesser1.leer-UD1t
lesser-
unitsles-
serlesser-
unitsles-
ser.
UD1tunits , to whip a teteam. Into shapeehape to combatcCllbatcollate the Hun ,.
The majority of the officersotficerofficer. ofot the 362d InfantryIntantry .ereerewerewere-
thewrit-
he.were-
thewrit-
he.ere-
the
eart-
henthe outcrop oof the first training ccampcsmpap at PrPresidioPre8idioesidioHeidi ofot &anans.nsnSan.s.n-
ranai.co
San-
Francisco
&a-
nPpanciaco
&
Ppanciacoranai.coranaicoFranciscoPancakealnico) . ., California .,
1 .\
HereEereDeere should be placed and credit given to those officersofficers-that
offic-ers
officers-that
offic-ers
officers-that
offic-ersthat were in a great degree reresponsibleponsiblepossible fortortore the training ofof-
thisO-
tisof-
thisO-
tisof-
thisO-
tisthis wonderful unit , asa8 space will not permit to list andan-
dIpeciyad-
iposityand-
specifysa-
nseiand-
specifysa-
nseiIpeciyspecify! down to the companiescompaniesscompanieswillcompaniess, willw1l1 only describede8cribe the regi-regiRegisregi-
mentalregi-
mentalregiRegisregi-
mental
¬-
mental commanders .,
At ttthetiree organization of the regiment Colonel PegramPermPegram-
Whitworth
Pegram-
Whitworth
Pegram-
WhitworthWhitworthWhipworm ,. was designated to command and to this officerofficer-should
offi-cers
officer-should
offi-cers
officer-should
offi-cersshould be given a majority ofot the credit , &as8 it was to hishis-
untiringdis-
unitinghis-
untiringdis-
unitinghis-
untiringdis-
unitinguntiring energy and everlastingeverl1ns.' spirit ofot the ObjectiveObjective-
OffensiveObje-
ctive,.
OftensiveOffensive and MoraleKorale ,. that finallytinallytonally when it camecsme time to throwthrow-
allthro-
wthrow-
allthro-
wthrow-
allthro-
wall at the Hun ,. a1althoughthough the command had passed to another ,.
the unit responded and made a& hole in the German line on-
September
o-
netimeon
.SeptemberS.ptemberSptember. 29 , 1918 , that caused a major general to remarkremark-
"Give
remark-
Giverem-
ark,
"GiveGive" me freshtreshthresh troops and I1 will carry the ball to SedanSedan-
without
Sedan-
without
Sedan-
withoutwithout halting" ,.
On September 10 , 1918 , Colonel WhitworthWhipworm , having beenbeen-
promotedbe-
etrootbeen-
promotedbe-
etrootbeen-
promotedbe-
etrootpromoted , Colonel John Henry Parker , ( GatlinGatlin-GatingGatlinGunGalling- Gun ParkerParker-
assumedPar-
kers)
assumed command . AssumedAsumed!, does hardly seem the proper term , as-
C'Olonel
as-
Colonel
g-
asolineasas-
Colonel
g-
asolineC-olonelColonelC'OlonelCOlonel'- Parker does not assume in any sense ofot the word , he-I
hei-
r
hec-
ODDllands
he-
adlandshehe-
commands
rec-
ommends\-
commandsc-
ommands\I11-
commandscODDllandscommandscroplands ; bbylthisby\thisbythisblotchiest\this I meantmeanhemeanermean t, he leads1ead8 *. He led that gallantr-
egimentgalla-
ntriesgallantr-
egimentgalla-
ntriesgallantgallantr-
egimentgalla-
ntriesregiment personally acrossacrOS8 the field of Hell where humanhuma-
nvocabulary
huma-
nvocabulary
huma-
nvocabularyvocabulary failstails in expression , carried along the drive un-unu-
ntil
u-
ntil
unu-
ntil
¬-
tiltail he felltell with three wounds , refused to be evacuatedevacuated-
caused
evacu-ated
,.
caused the postpoet of commandco.aadcoaadconnandcad. to be brought forwardtorar4forard* to his sideside-
and
sideb-
and
side-
and
sideb-
and
side-
and
sideb-
andl/
and personallyper.onal17peronal17. directed the fightt1sht fromtrOll that positionpoaitioDpolitico .
The commandcOJPIudcopied wwas. at thisth11 timetiaetae (9:30930( : P.MPMP.KPK., ., ,. Septembergeptber9epteombergetter_ 2929,-
19X8)
29-
19X8
,
1918)1918) taken overoyerBoyer byb7 ColonelCelonel 3.Wlolaoulb3Wlolaoulba.BwoolnoughaBwoolnoughJ.B.WeolnouJB.WeolnouJBWeolnou. ! ., i ., &also110 an officerofficer-
ofoffic-
erofficer-
ofoffic-
erofficer-
ofoffic-
erof excexclexceptionalt1onal abilityab1ltt7 and leadership . In the drive jUltjustjUtjUlt-
aeat10ned
just-
mentioned
sus-
tentionJust-
mentionedSu-
stentionaeat10nedmentioned he went overoyerBoyer the top with the First Battalion otofot-
the
ot-
her
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe regiment and. during the advance when the Battalion ec-ecCom-Comec.-
der
dec-
ider
Co-
msander
Com-
mander
.Oom-
-aanderO-
omaa-
nderBo-
omLa-
nder-
sander..derderdeer. and .Adjutant.A.c1JutantA.c1JutantAc1Jutant both felltell woundedwoundedowoundedWoolnoughwoundedo, WoolnoughOolongWoolnouWoolen i personallypersonally-
led
persona-llyled the battalion ,. fortortore which he .was. awarded the rank otofof-
l
f-
l
of-
Colonel
co-
cooned
of-
Colonel
co-
coonedCColonel010n81 . 2 .
Late in June , 1918 , the DDivisionvi8ion entrained fortortore an un-unun-
known
un-
known
unun-
known
¬-known port on the eastern coast and arrived itin Camp68mp KerrittMerrittKeriMeritKerritta-
ndErra-
taMerritt-
andMarie-
ttaMerritt-
andMarie-
ttaand sailed JuJuly 6 ., 1918 , arrived in England and receivedreceived-
theirrecei-
vedreceived-
theirrecei-
vedreceived-
theirrecei-
vedtheir introduction to RestR.tRt.. Camp No ,. 1 and EnglishBftglishnglishFattish KaMarmaladeal&dealdealder& .
The trip across the channel and to the . training areaarea-
consumed
reco-
nfirmedarea-
consumed
reco-
nfirmedarea-
consumed
reco-
nfirmedconsumed the usual time and the only incident worthy of re-rere-
latingre-
latingrere-
lating¬-
latingelating is a train wreck in which the Machine Gun CCompanynpanynanny ofof-
theof-
tenof-
theof-
tenof-
theof-
tenthe regiment lost some seventy (70)men(70)70( ? O ) men and the !Medicallediealmedieval D-DD-
tachment
D-
etachment
DeDe-
tachment*¬-
tachmenttachometer was completely lost . It also can be mentionedmentioned-
thatmentio-
nedmentioned-
thatmentio-
nedmentioned-
thatmentio-
nedthat an unknown providence that handles such8uch affairsaffaire apparentapparent-apparent-
caused
appren-tices
apparent-
ly
¬-
ly caused the train crew to switch the officers1officers' car fromfrom-
thefrot-
hed
from-
thefrot-
hed
from-
thefrot-
hedthe rear to the fronttronttrot of the train just beforebetorebettor a throughthroug-htreight
tho-ught
through-
freightthorou-
ghfarethrough-
freightthorou-
ghfaretreightfreight plowed its way through the last seven or eight carscarescares-
leavingcorr-
elatingcars-
leavingcoa-
rsening,
leaving death and destruction in its wake .,
On September 6 , 1918 , the movement to the front be-bebe-
gan
be-
gan
bebe-
gan
¬-ganEgan ., MarchesKarcheeArcher ,. trucks , more. marches by night and the usualusual-
sleepingusual-
sleepingsleeping and existing in likely woods in the dday time . AAfterAfter-
beingPatte-
rningAfter-
being
Patte-
rningtertear
being held in reserve in the St.MihielStMihielSt.K1hlelStK1hlelSmithfield., OffensiveOtfensive *., another . tourtour-
by
to-ur
tour-
by
to-urby night and the 91st Division ., lessles8 its artillery ,. that waswa-
sstillBa-
stillewa-
sstillBa-
stillestill held in training , arrived opposite its sector as part-
2)
part2)ot(2)of(2)2\2)2)(\ ) ofot Fifth Corps,C rp8 ,. First Army ,. (2)-story
(2)-Story
(2)2(2)-Story
( )Story ot-gl
og-
leoofotof-
91stff-
91stgl91stt Division ,. The sectorlector .assigned.signedsigned the 91st DivisionDivilion ran aalmost-Y14
almostalmos-ty14
o8to8t-JJ14JJ14-
exact17Y14-
exactly:y-14y14JJ-14JJ- exactlyexact17 up to the dividing line between the army&rII7rII7& group of the ._.
GermanaenaanCanaan CrownCroWD Prince to the vestwest and the army grojpgroupgropeI'oIo%' ' p ofot GeneralGeneral-
Von
Gene-ral
General-
Von
Gene-ral
,
Von GalliGalliaGaliv/itaGalivitaGallw-ritsGallwritsAliveKitaGallgrits./.,- ts ., to the easte.ateat. . On e1eithertherether lidside. ofot the boundaryboundary-
laybounda-
ryboundary-
laybounda-
ry1lay., a& GGermanan divisionald1Y111onal sectorseotor ;: the eastern oneeneRene extendingextending-
trcaextend-
ingextending-
fromextend-
ingextending-
fronextend-
ingtrcafromrca about the southlouthlout tip ofot ChappyChapP7ChoppyHappy wbodroodwood04 ,. easte.ateat. to .alanco\lrt.alancolrt.alancoalancolrtMalancourtbalanceralnicoaltMalnourishMalancourt-
and
.Malancourt--
andMalanco-
urtan-dMalnour-
ish.alancolrt-
and\ ,.
-andand-- the .western.eaterneaternEastern takingtakinstakings in the .west..tt. halfhalt ofot ChappyHappy foodsfoodsthefoodsWood *. thethe-
Valle7
the-
Valley
the-
rmally
the-
Valley
the-
rmallyValle7Valley ofot the AireAlreAiresAre andaDd the easterneuterndeuteron border ofot the ForestYorestYarest otofot-
the
ot-
her
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe Arjponne.QtFDneQtFDneAr1pnneEarphone. . TheseThe.eThee. two .sectors.ectorectorhector. , which lay18J oppositeoPPo8ite thethe-
91et
the-
91st
the-
9XBt91et91st DivisionD1Y1e1on front wre.ereerewereware. held bby, the 11711'1111' D"IvlsDIvlsDrivelsDivisionDt'Y181onDtY181on" ' ion and thethe-
lethel-
met
the-
lethel-
met
the-
1stlet Prussianprua.iaapruaiaaPraia. GGuardar4 DivisionYI81on .,
ThoTheTheo 117thll'thllthlilt' .was. rated as. one ojof the bestbeet second-classsecondclasseecond-claseecondclaseecond.classeecondclassclamsreconciles-. ..
,
3 .
divisions in the German Army ., It had been raised in thethe-
secondth-
ereonthe-
secondth-
ereonthe-
secondth-
ereonsecond year of the war , had foughtfoufoul it with credit in success-successsuccess-
fulsuccess-
fulsuccess-
ful*-
fulfoul Carpathian Campaign on the eastern front and had particuparticu-pareticparticu-larly
particu-larly
particu-larly
¬-
larlyglary distinguished itself in Italy ., During the offensiveoffensive-in
offensi-vein 1918 , the 117thl17th was repeatedly used as , a shock unit andand-
each
An-
dreaand-
each
An-
dreaand-
each
An-
dreaeach time acquitted itself well .
The First Prussian Guard Division as its nnamee impliesimplies"-
belongedimplies-
belongedim-plies
,.
belonged" to the elite ofor the German Army and nothing more needneed-
be
need-
ed
need-
be
need-
edbe saidsa1d except that it had been well trained in open warfare .
(3)3( ) (3)-
GE
(3)3(3)-Pershing's
( )(3)PershingPershingPerishingPershing'sPershingsPerishingPershing'sFinal' 8ss-Final
F-
inalFinal Report-Par
Rep-ortReportRaportRapportRepor-
tPar.9IntroPar.9IntroGBNBRALPar.9IntroGKNBRALParPar.9Intro-Par.9Intro.99. , Intro-IntroIntro-duction
- GBNBRALGKNBRALGE RALAL SITUATION .,duetionductiondurationdictionduct ion
On SeptsberSeptemberSept amber 16th , the concentration of the large-
torcelarg-
hettolarge-
forcelar-ge largelarge-
forcelar-geforcetorcetore for the MeuseMuseMeuse-ArgonneMeuseArgonneMuseJargoned-ArgonneJargoned was well underway , including thethe-
movement
th-eorem
the-
movement
th-eorem
the-
movement
th-eoremmovement from the St.MihielStMihielSt.K1hielStK1hielSmithfield. front . The St.MihielStMihielSmithfield., salientsalient-had
salie-nt
salient-had
salie-nt
salient-had
salie-nthad been reduced and the staffstafttaft at ChaumontCamion wawas taking upipp thethe-
taskth-
etasthe-
taskth-
etasthe-
taskth-
etastask ofot launching theth6 second attack by the firstYlrstrirstLyristgrist Army , whichwhich-
hadwhi-
chwhich-
hadwhi-
chwhich-
hadwhi-
chhad apparently been planned by General PershingPerishing asa8 the properprope-
rstrategicprote-
ctorateprope-
rstrategicprote-
ctorateprope-
rstrategicprote-
ctoratestrategic move to terminate the war , realizing that nevernever-
duringnee-
dlingnever-
duringnee-
dlingnever-
duringnee-
dlingduring the war had an essentialeS8ential GeGermanan line been seriouslyseriously-
threatenedseri-ouslyseriously-
threatenedseri-ouslyseriously-
threatenedseri-ouslythreatened and as the railroad skirting the ArgonneAfgonneJargonedWagoner on thethe-
northte-
northe-
northte-
northe-
northte-
nornorth , through MontmedyKontmedyMountedWontedly and SSedan,Sedandan , represented nearly one-oneon-ehalf
N-eal
on-ehalf
N-eal
one-
-halfo-
ne h-alf
-
half ofot supply8upply and troop moving power of the German line of(44(4)4( ) communication ., (4)-
Since
(4)-Story
(4)4(4)-Story
( )Story of the-91.t
the-91st
thethe-91st91st91.t91t. DivDiY ., Since the very beginning ofat the war this .stretch.tretchtretch ot-
countryc-
oconutof-
Po-
fofoto-
fPllo-
palPl1c-
ommunication
PP-llPllP-l1l1-1111-countrycountry had been the sceneBeeneBenne of hard fighting ., During the-
or11inal
the-
originalthe-
orizingthethe-
originalthe-
orizingoriginalor11inal GeGermanan drivedr1ye in AugustAUguit 1914 ,. the French'renchrench' .were.rere. forcedforced-
toforce-
dforced-
toforce-
dforced-
toforce-
dto falltall back down the .MeueeMeuseMeleeMuse.useuse. &and&DdDd the AAireAiresr . ,. MontfauconlIoDttauconMontagueflotation was bom-bomboombom-
barded
bom-
barded
bomboombom-
barded
¬-
barded and taken , the .enemy.nyny_ ppassed. .., by VerdunVer4\U1Ver4U1\ and. .struck.trucktruck sand .,
AfterAlter their defeatdeteatdetest on the MarneKuneArneJune the GermansGemMaEmMa 8ucceededsucceededsucceeded-
insucceed-
ed.
in checking their pursuerspur8uera on011 a linel1ne aauas designated4esignatd'! in1n anotheranothe-
rparaanot-
heranother-
paragraph
ano-ther
another-
paragraph
ano-therparaparagraphraphgraph ofot ththisi. article ., FromFrcaRca 1916 to the .w.e-Argonnew.eArgonne.w.eweArgonneMeuse-ArgonneMeusewearisomeJargonedMuseMeuseArgonne-
Offensive
.Meuie-Argonn-
eOffensiveMe-uieArgonneOf-
fensiveMa-ui .w.eArgonne-
Offen.iye
. -
Offen.iyeOffeniyeOffensive. numerousDWlerOU8 hand to hand finitefllbtlfightsfallible ,. but the net resultsrelultsresults-
(5)Story(55(5)Story5Story( 5 )Stor1Story ofot inn ground gainedga1ne4 or lostlo.tlot. wasW&8W8& small ,. (5)-the
(5)5(5)-the
( 5)55)-the
)the 91at91et91st DivDiy .,P-12P12- 4 .
mTHE TERRAIN .,
The ForetFloret de HesseHess ,. in which the 91st9lst Division tooktook-
up
look-
up
took-
up
look-
up
took-
up
look-
upup its position for the attack , and the Bois de CheppyChepP1Choppy , throughthrough-
whichthro-
ughthrough-
whichthro-
ughthrouthou i-
which
w-
hichwhich it passed on the first day ,. are easterly extensions ofof-
the
of-
tenof-
the
of-
tenof-
the
of-
tenthe ForetFloret d ' ArgonneJargoned and , like it , are thick , heavily under-underunder-
brushedunde-
rbrushunder-
brushedunde-
rbrushunder--
brushedun-
derbru-
shed-
brushed and cut by numerous ravines *., The district is18 sparse-sparsesparse-
11
sparse-
lysparse-
ly*-
11ly populated and poorly provided with roads ,.
The French and German lines were separated "byby" thethe-
narrow
At-
henathe-
narrow
At-
henathe-
narrow
At-
henanarrow valley of the BrantheBreathe , south of the BrantheBreathe the FrenchFrench-
heldDrenc-
hedFrench-
heldDrenc-
hedFrench-
heldDrenc-
hedheld the heights ofot MontKontOnt des AAllienxAlienlienxlien and CigalerieChivalries ButteButte-
whichBu-
tte,
which gave excellent observationobservation-observationacroBsobservation- acrossacroBscaroBs No Man'sMansKantsAnts' Land ,. butbut-
thebu-
ttebut-
thebu-
ttebut-
thebu-
ttethe heavy woods in which the front line was located handicappedhandicapped-
thehandicapp-
edthe observation into the enemy'senemysenemy' trenches ., The German heldheld-
thehea-
lthheld-
thehea-
lthheld-
thehea-
lththe north halfhalt of VanquVanVanqusisAnusesis Hill and alsallsalso could see acrossacross-
No
acro-ss
across-
No
acro-ss
across-
No
acro-ssNo Man'sMansKan'sKansKhans' Land , also were retarded fromtromtromp observation ofot thethe-
trenchesTe-
rencethe-
trenchesTe-
rencethe-
trenchesTe-
rencetrenches held by the French , by the woodswoods-
DISPOSITION
,.
DISPOSITION ( OP.KRATIONOPKRATIONOPERATIONCOPULATION. MAP )
The battle line held on September 25 , 1918j1918jwas1918 ,. was divideddivided-
intodivid-
eddivided-
intodivid-
eddivided-
intodivid-
edinto brigade sectors8ectors ,. the 181st on the right and the 182dl82d onon-
the
M-
onte
on-
the
M-
onte
on-
the
M-
onte. ,
the left ., AAAs$ the four daysd838 covered by this article , the two-
regiments
w-orriment
two-
regiments
w-orriment
twotwo-
regiments
w-orrimentregiments ofot 181st181et Brigade .were.ereere two ddayss ofot time abreast .
". 'rr'}'-rand
>
and the other two ddays. in1n column ofot r.grgregiments. entedente , it will be-
necessaryb-
eechesbebe-
f
bee-f')f\ff-
necessaryn-
ecessary\
necessaryDecessary to cover the brigade .sector.ectorectorhector *.,
AAttachedA'CtachedACtached' tachedached to the DivisionDiv1810n were the following unitsunite :
58th :FieldF1eld. Artillery Brigade ; one regimentreg1aent ofot the 158th158th-
F1eld
158th-
Field
158th-
FieldF1eldField: ArtilleryArt111er7i; one battalionbatta110n ofot the 65th85th Regiment.g1mentg1ment. .CoastCoast..Coas-
tArtilleryCoas-
tArtilleryCas-
carilla..Coas-
tArtillerycon-
tractileo.toto.t-
Artillery.
Artillery ;: one batterybatter7 ofot French Artillery ; Co.panB8CompanyCo.pan-Co.pan. ,- -B8B8"BB"- " , letlet-
Gas
le-gs
let-
Ga
lep-
ta0Gas. Regimentaegiaentagainst .-,$ 1!less... oneODe platoon ;: 104thl04th SquadronSclua4roDSquadrongSquadronMrSquadrong,. AirMr ServiceSWrv1ce .,
(6)Story(6)stoJ7(6)6( ) 1!lose... onone. flighttllShttallest ., (6)-
The
(6)-Story
(6)6(6)-
The
( )
StorystoJ7 otofot-the
ot-her
of-the
of-ten
of-the
of-tenthe 91.t91t91st91.tD-1T1e1oD
91. t-
DivisionP-20
t-
DivisionP2-0d-
ivisionThe MachinelIachinelaciness Gun CompanyCOIIpan7 ofot the regiment .was. attachedattached-
Divisionatta-chedattached-
to
attache-
dD1T1e1oDDivisionD1T1e1oDP20DivisionP"20P-20P20P"20P20P20-
Decessary
-" to and fougfugfoughttougbtthoughtit with the Firstriretrivet Battalion ofot the regimentreg1aent andand-
one
und-
one
and-
one
und-
oneODeone ooRpanyacapu7companyorphan ofot MachineKaoh1De GunGuns. wasw.ewe. attached to each ofot the otalerothertallerothert-
wother-
eto
oUior-
twotwo battalionsbattalion. andan4 therefore beebecamebeceae._ an integraliDtesralliteral part ofot the-
battalion
te-
arstainthe-
battalion
te-
arstainthethe-
battalion
te-
arstainbattalion attached .,
5 .
The CommandingCamnandingcmimandingC General of the 58th Field A1-tilleryA1tilleryArtillerytillerA1tillery-Brigade
Artillery-Brigade
Artil-lery
-Artillery-Brigade
Artil-leryBrigade was ordFordorderedred to designate two regiments ,. one battalionbattalion-to
battalio-nto each regiment as supporting guns , and to furnish accompanyingaccompanyin-
gbatteriesaccomp-
anyingaccompanyin-
gbatteriesaccomp-
anyingaccompanyin-
gbatteriesaccomp-
anyingbatteries ,. but it was not until the fourth day that batteriesbatteries-were
batter-ies
batteries-were
batter-ies
batteries-were
batter-ieswere pushed to the front as accompanying guns for front lineline-
battalionsinc-
antationsline-
battalionsinc-
antationsline-
battalionsinc-
antationsbattalions ., During the first day ., no artillery wasWBeBe able toto-
reach
T-
orahto-
reach
T-
orahto-
reach
T-
orahreach the positions north of BoiBoilBois. de CheppyChoppy in time to assistassist-the
assi-st
assist-the
assi-st
assist-the
assi-stthe infantry advance ,. ..
At the Jump offIoffofftheoftenoff I, the command posts were as follows :
DivisionD1vl.ionD1vlion. P.CPC. ,. - Bertrame-
BrigadeBert-
ramBertrameBertramBertrame-
BrigadeBert-
ramBrigade PP.CPC. C ,. - Lutzen-
RegimentalLutzenGlutenLutzen-
RegimentalRegimental P.CPC. ,. - Along the line of Liaison .
PLANS AND ORDJERSORDERS ,.*
The general plan of the attack will be fully discusseddiscussed-
in
discusse-
din subsequent monographs ofot the Army1 and Fifth Corps , therethere-there-
forethere-
forethere-
fore
¬-
fore will suffice to say that the 91st was to attack in1n itsits-
zone
iso-
merits-
zone
iso-
merits-
zone
iso-
merzone ofot action . The 361st InfantryIntantry wasW88 to assist our regimentregiment-
in
regimenti-
ngin the taking of pinonvilleRplnonvilleEpinonvilleindocilePolynomial . The 362d3624 InfantryIntantry with ad-adad-
ministrative
ad-
ministrativeadad-
ministrative
¬-
ministrativeinfiltrative orders attached made a very bulky document .
The Corps Order stated that each division would pushpush-
ahead
unsh-
eathed
push-
ahead
unsh-
eathed
push-
ahead
unsh-
eathedahead with all the force possible and under no circUMstancescircUMstances-
would
circumsta-nces
circumstances-
would
circumsta-nces
circumstances-
would
circumsta-nceswould wait for troops on its right and left .
The regiment within its zone ofot action in column otofot-
batta11on
of-
battalionsof-
battalionsbatta11onbattalions. ; 1stlItlet Battalion in the leadileadlead ; 2d24 Battalion to mopmop-
up
pop-
up
mop-
up
pop-
up
mop-
up
pop-
upup and the 3d Battalion to followtollowtallow at 500 metersmeter. ., On ourou-
rright
out-
rightou-
rright
out-
rightou-
rright
out-
rightright the 37th DivisionD1.1aioDD11aioD. , onOD our leftlettlet the 361et381.t381t361st. InfantryInfantry.OP-
ERATIONS
InfantryOP-
ERATIONSInfa-ntry
.
OPDA'lI0lf8OPDAlI0lf8OPIRATIOPERATIC' CII8 .
_Numerous.u-ou.uou.uuou.- . writwriters._ hahave",. attemptedattepted to describe4e.orlbe4eorlbe. the artil&rtil-&rtilrtilartil-artily&rtil-
ler7
artil-lery
&artil-lery
¬-
leryler7leery boabardmentbombardment,b barmeDteDt ,. but I beliebelieve"'. it 1is. uselessuseleefuselage. to try , w111willw11-
1theretore
will-
therefore
Wi-
ltshirewill-
therefore
Wi-
ltshiretheretoretherefore sufficelutticelattice byb7 .saying.1ng1ng., that thothouthose.. that lay1&111& under itit-during
in-
terring
it-
during
in-
terring
it-
during
in-
terringduring the hourshour. beforebetorebettor the jump-offjumpoffJuap-ottJuapottJapeOtto- willw1l1 never forgettorgettarget itit.-It
it-It
IT-
T.,
It wwas.. eo80so vastvaltvalet ,. so80 stunningatunDlngtrundling ,. and the noiseDoiseDose .was.aeae so80 o'YerWheoYerWheoverwhelmoverwhelmin-
gthat
overwhelm-ing
overwhelBingoverwhelmingoverwhelBin-
gthat
overwhelm-ing
' 1ng1n-
gthatthat no one could graapgrMpgraspgrapegrump the whole *.
6s .,
The regiment was able to cross No IIMan'sMansanantansHanst' s Landhand throughthrough-
thethoug-
htthrough-
thethoug-
htthrough-
thethoug-
htthe cloud ofot smoke and mist 'IrlGirl"WithoutWithout" houtshout sufferingButtering casualtiescasualties.S-ome
casualtiesS-ome
casualt-ies
.
gemeSemegeneSemen difficulties were encountered in the open ground northnorth-ot
Nor-th
north-of
Nor-th
north-of
Nor-thotof OheppyHeap
.
Wood , but the Powder River Regiment had the bibitt inin-ss .,I! '"
th-eirtheirthrtheiremirthruth!- -rr- teeth and pushed on to a position where the German po-pop-osition
p-osition
pop-osition
¬-
sitionsitting near apine.nvilleapinenvilleEpinonvilleXpin.nvilleXpinnvilleGainesvillePainkiller: © . could be seen and here the oppositionopposition-stiffened
opposi-tionist
opposition-stiffened
opposi-tionist
opposition-stiffened
opposi-tioniststiffened and on account ofot a mistake in orders to the l22d122dl22d-
Field122d-
Field122d-
FieldField Artillery , which was to assign one battalion to our sup-supsup-
portsup-
portssup-
port*-
portports, proceeded to therherhea Very Crossroads and the artillery sup-supsup-
portsup-
portsupsup-
port¬-
port never materialized6materialized;, however , the brigade (361st361st( andd 362d362-dInfantry
362-dInfantry
362-dInfantryInfantry ) foughttoughtthought side by side across that open fieldtieldtied and betorebeforebettorbetore-
nightfallbeto-
keningbefore-
nightfallbefri-
endingbefore-
nightfallbefri-
endingnightfall had penetrated the city , but were ordered back toto-
enable
te-
nableto-
enable
te-
nableto-
enable
te-
nableenable the artillery to bombard the town ,. also to straightenstraighten-out
straight-enout the line fortortore the night .,
September 27th2th? the kick-offkickoffkick-ottottOtto- came as the day before andand-
in
band-
ing
and-
in
band-
ing
and-
in
band-
ingin the night the Germans had strengthened their positions inin-
the
in-
terin-
the
in-
terin-
the
in-
terthe town and for the lack of artillery three attempts werewere-
made
sere-
nade
were-
made
sere-
nade
were-
made
sere-
nademade to take BpinPinBpinvnvilleEpinvnvilleBienniallynvilleNeville and finally the regiment swung outout-
of
out-
do
out-
of
out-
do
out-
of
out-
doof its zone of action long enough to capture the town otofot-
Ivo1ry
of-
Ivoiryfr-
ivolity
of-
Ivoiryfr-
ivolityIvo1ryIvoiryIvory that was causing severe losseslosseelessee to us , this owing to thethe-
tactth-
etathe-
factthr-
eatthe-
factthr-
eattactfact that the Division on our right was unable to keep up . a*AAlookLookjl look at the map will showahowhow that the ridge extending west otofot-
IvoiryO-
livierof-
Ivoiryfr-
ivolity
of-
Ivoiryfr-
ivolityIvoiryIvory was an excellent machine gun ridge and afforded flankflank-flank-
insflank-
ingflank-
ingflank-
ing
¬-
inginsKing firetire aeroacross.. our regGregregimententKent .,
September 28th the Brigade Order written on a .S8ageS8agemessagemessage-
pad
messa-ge
.message-
pad
messa-ge
..S8age-
padpad by pencil and leavingle.vinslevinslevis. plentyplent,. space.pacepace. at the bottom,bottombottOllblotto , a. great-
deviationreac-
tivationgreatgreat-
deviationreac-
tivationgreat-
deviationreac-
tivationdeviation frmtraafromfarmstrata our first attack orderandorder.andborderlandorder ,. and as the writer thinkthinksthinks-
thethin-
ks. ,
the orderordersorderstheorders,. the usual order receiveddftreceivedreceived -dftdftxndbrdaft.-ndTdT the 81situationtuat1on ,. al80alsoal80-
attentionalso-
attentionalli-
terationalso-
attentionalli-
terationattention iis. invited to the time issuedi.8uedi8ued. , extracts are shown.hOWDhOWDhOWshow-
nhere
Shaw-
nee.
(7)7( ) herhere_ exactlexactlyexactly,. as. written : (7)7(1)1( 1)11)-
181' )
600 DDays.,. ' . . , .
Service 361-Int
36-1Inf.P73
361 -181181-" lot181 BrigBrig-Inf.P-73
Brig-Inf.P73
Bri-gInf.P
Bri-gInfP 7-3 Bri-dging,.
IntDintInf.P-73Inf.P73Inf.PInfP73IMFInfoInf.P73-
their
.P-3.P3.PP3. -? 28 SV,Syt.18-60.2Syt1860.2Syt.18Syt1860.2602St.18-6U2St.186U2St.18St186U2t .l8-6.l86.l8l86. - .22. AM-
.F
A.-
M.
A-
N.F.0.8
AMANA-
MP.0.8.-F
F.-F.0.8F-0.8F-08.P.0.8P0.8P08.0.80.808. . .
!Thehe Brigade will attack in column of RegtsRegteDregsCrete ., at 7009:009007:00;:
7 .
o'clockoclocko1' clock in the following order :
36l361stt Infantry .,
362d Infantry .
The regimentsregUDents will be roformeded with two battalions inin-
linein-
linein-
lineline , the 3d Battalion in support ,.
x x x x x x x-
The
T-
hex-
The
T-
hexx-
The
T-
heThe writer well remembers the time ofor receipt of ourour-
order
out-
riderour-
order
out-
riderorder fromtromtromp the Brigade Commander , and up to that time wewe-
were
se-
werwe-
were
se-
werwere prpreparingparing and expecting to leap-frogleapfrogleap-trogtrogtog- one battalion overover-
theovert-
hrew
over-
theovert-
hrew
over-
theovert-
hrewthe other for the pushpUBhpUB that day ., Here it does not seem-
amiss
sem-
antics
seem-
amiss
sem-
antics
seemseem-
amiss
sem-
anticsamiss to say8ay that no idea ofot criticism isi8 offered to the-
Brigadehe-
rringthe
Brigade CommanderCommandertt, and on the other hand offeroftersofter the highest-praise
hig-hest
highesthighest-praise
hig-hestpraise fortortore that officer that soeo capably commanded thethe-
briga.dehe-
rringthe-
brigadehe-
rringthe-
brigadehe-
rringbriga.debrigade. ., His leadership was felt throughout , and it wouldwould-
be
wou-ld
would-
be
wou-ld
would-
be
wou-ldbe hard to find through the Army three officers that couldcould-
equalcollo-
quialcould-
equalcollo-
quialcould-
equalcollo-
quialequal or even approach the Brigade CommanderCbmmander,
, General J.BJBJ,5.-
McDonald
J5.M-
cDonaldJ5M-
cDonald,. .,
KcDCDMcDonaldnaldnailed , COolonelColonelOolonglonellonely William BD ,. Davis,Davis ,. 361361stt ,. and our noblenoble-
leaderNo-
blenoble-
leaderNo-
blenoble-
leaderNo-
bleleader Colonel John H ., BarkerParker ,. the fire eater ,,.,
Upon receiving the oolderorderderdeer to follow the 361st36lst ,. ourour-
Colonelho-
rologeour-
Colonelho-
rologeour-
Colonelho-
rologeC-olonelColonelColonel- remarked that he did not know how to followtfollowfollowhefollowedfollow t, he hadhad-
alw
hand-
saw
had-
always
hal-
lwayshad-
always
hal-
lwaysalwalalways8 been in the lead up to thisthi8 time and I will remarkremark-
thatrema-
rketremark-
thatrema-
rketremark-
thatrema-
rketthat no truer wordswordeworded were ever spoken than those ,.
!Thehe 361361stt lostloetlet heavily during the day , especiallyespecially-when
especia-lly
especially-when
especia-lly
especially-when
especia-llywhen the ooutfittrittrait reached LLesLees.. SpinettesBpinetteBpinettesPipettesBinate. BoisBoi8 and the BoiBoilBois. dede-
Ceirged-
etergede-
Ceirges
de-
ceivesde-
Ceirges
de-
ceivesCeirgeCeirgesEireClergies. and the night apparentlyapparent17 foundtoundpound ththaithem_ in a de.peratedeperatedesperatede.perate-
positiondesperate-
positiondesp-
eratedesperate-
positiondesp-
erate.
position aaas. at 1:00100: AA.MAM.. ,. , SeptiberSept.berSeptberSeptemberScepter. 29th2ith General McDonaldMcDonal-
dcalled
McDo-nald
McDonal-
dcalled
McDo-nald
McDonal-
dcalled
McDo-naldcalled our P.OPOP.CPCP.CPC.,. . . and ordered Colonel BarkerParker to pushpuah onone. otofot-
our
out-
pour
of-
our
fl-
our
of-
our
fl-
ourour battalionsbattalionebattalion forward to aupport8upportsupport the 3361stlet Infantry ., Colonel-
ParkerCol-
onelColonel-
ParkerCol-
onelColonelColonel-
ParkerCol-
onelParkertParkerParker t., .11.withth certain _members.berebereberet. ofot hihis. staffetatttatty ,. ,wentt forwardforeard ,. veri-veriVerdiveri-
tiedveri-
tiesveri-
fied
veri-ifle-d
ver-i
ifle-d
Verd-i
rifle-d
-
tiedfiedfield the condition ofot 3361stl.tlt. Int8DtInfantry and at 3:00300: A.MAMA.M. . ,. our 24-
Battalion
2d-
Battalion2d242d-
BattalionBattalion moved up . The fronttronttrot line extended fromtromtromp la1ais Grange AuxAux-
Bot
A-ux
Aux-
Bois
Aux-
BoisBotBootBois. about 1000.eters1000eters1000 .meters to the left ,. along the hither .aide.ideideside otofot-
the
ot-
her
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe geographicalgeosraphical crestcre.tcretcaret. along the ridge ., At thithinthis. tinetiaetimetae the
8 .6.
Colonel requested that the Brigade Reserve ( our istLotKist8t BattalionBattalion-be
Battalio-n
)
be released and allowed to take over the right of the lineline-
thisplin-
ths,
this was done and we now had the line by daylight that I men-menme-
ntioned
me-
ntioned
menme-
ntioned
¬-
tionedtoned above .
The position at daylight wasW&8W8& a precarious one . WhileWhil-eit
Whi-le
Whil-eit
Whi-le
Whil-eit
Whi-leit has been my effort to keep from belittling anyone , it herehere-
becomes
herb-
aceoushere-
becomes
herb-
aceoushere-
becomes
herb-
aceousbecomes necessary to at least explain in part the reasons forfor-
our
forb-
ore
for-
our
forb-
ore
for-
our
forb-
oreour position . The 182dl82d Brigade of our division had apparentapparent-apparent-
lyapparent-
11
¬-
ly11 fallen down on its leadership as the Brigade Commander andabdabedabd-
one
abdo-
men
and-
one
und-
oneone ofot the regimental commanders were relieved after a fewfew-
hours
flea-
wortsfew-
hours
flea-
wortsfew-
hours
flea-
wortshours from the jump-offjumpoffjump-oftoft- September 26 . The 35th Division ono-
ntheir
o-
thero-
ntheir
o-
thero-
ntheir
o-
thertheir left had led off to the left leaving a wide gap fortortore whichwhich-
thewhi-
chwhich-
thewhi-
ch. the 182d Brigade found it necessary to filltill . The 37th31th Divi-DiviDivDivi-
sianDivi-
sion
Divi-
sion
DiviDivDivi-
sion
¬-
sionsianscionAsian on our rightri it see-oawedseeoawedsee-aswedaswedsee-sawedsawedawed- back and forth and there are num-numnumbnum-
erous
num-
erous
numnumbnum-
erous
¬-
erousserous witnesses that will state that the DivisionJivision ; or thatthat-
partTa-
tarthat-
partTa-
tarthat-
partTa-
tarpart within our 8igheightyeight, retreated in more or less1e88 disorder onon-
several
co-
nserveron-
several
co-
nserveron-
several
co-
nserverseveral occasions and on the morning of the 29th the 91st91st-
Division91st-
Division91st-
DivisionDivision had a salient into the German fronttronttrot ,. without veryver-ylittle
over-
written
ver-ylittle
over-
written
ver-ylittle
over-
writtenlittle support fromtram the left and for three kilometers to thethe-
righthe-
ightthe-
righthe-
ightthe-
righthe-
ightright , none at all . At 11:001100: AMA.KAKA.M,. ,. afteratterLatter a carefulcaretul reconrecon-recon-I
reco-n
recon-
naiseance
recon-
naissance
recon-
naissance
¬-I
naissancenais8&ncenais8ncenaiseancenuisancenascence& of our front lines ,* Colonel PorkerParker rreportedported the sit-sitsit-
uationsit-
uationsitsit-
uation
¬-
uationnation by runner and phone ttoo the GeneralGeneralsGeneralsMcDonaldGenerals*. McDonaldJlcDonald ,. and atat-
4.00
at-
4004.004004,00., P.MPM.,P.MPMP.KPK. . ,. the order waswaewade received to take GesneaGeeneGenevaGreene. at onceonce-
withoutco-
nceit,
without failtail ,. and without regard to loss10s8 . Upon receiptrece1pt otofot-
thiaA-
ttica
of-
thisO-
tisof-
thisO-
tisthiathisthai order knowing1knowing1, the a1situationtuat1oD , well aware that we.ee. werewere-
then
eart-
henwere-
then
eart-
henwere-
then
eart-
henthen stickingat1ck1DI out to the front like a soreaoreadore thumbthuab , the Regi-RegiRegisReg-
iaental
Regi-
mental
Regi-
mental
Regi--
ment&lR-egime-
nt&lm-
entlRe-
gisme-
ntal-
aentalmentalagential& Adjutant refusedretu.dretudrestudy.. to take the order ;,, thinking a.eaesomea.ea-
.l.etatesom-
emistake
com-
mittable
som-
emistake
com-
mittable
.a.l.etateal.etatealetatemistakepalette:. surelyBurellBurl' had been .adad.made. , but it camec.ece. againaga1n ; YoulltYou'llYou mustmust-
take
mist-
ake.must-
take
mist-
ake\lltlltliltlltt-
akeA-
lta\
take it . Colonel0010l1e1 BarkerParkerPark. ,proceededroo.eciedrooeciedprophecies. to the telephone andan-
d1n.i.ted
an-
dinsisted
ha-
ndinessan-
dinstated
adm-
inistrated1n.i.ted1ni.ted1nitedinsisted. . on havinghavinsShavians the order conticontainconfirmeded againasainasian ., After beingbeing-
assuredbe-
ingsbeing-
assuredbe-
ings.luredluredassured. that the town was to be takentlltentkkentulle he replied ,. "."VeVe"WeWe... willwill-
take
w-ilt
will-
take
w-ilt
will-
takew-
ilttake the towntaWIltaIl , but the 362d3624 InfantryIntantJ7 willw111 need a new lolonelColonelColonel-
withinCol-
onel;colonel-
withincolo-
nelwithin an hour asae I Intend to lead the SecondS1Ioon4 battalion",.BattalionBattalionatta11oD. ". ,. and-
orderedad-
orer_andand-
orderedad-
orer4
ordehordeorderede4 ItXt.ColonelXtColonelt.Colon.ltColon.ltColonlTycooncoloncolonel. Colonel. . ,.J.BwoolnoughJBwoolnoughJ.B.WoolDOUgbJB.WoolDOUgbJBWoolDOUgbJ.B.VoolnoughJB.VoolnoughJBVoolnough to lead the 'iratiratFirstirate' irstfirst Battalion .Battalion.9Battalion99 .
He assembled hishiehide staffetafftaffy and asked them how many wanted toto-
go
to-
go
to-
gogo along ,. telling thenthem it would take the combined effort ofof-
allf-
allof-
allf-
allof-
allf-
allall to take the town .,
Colonel Parker has been censured for leaving his Pcp.GpG,. ,. .,I
at this critical time ,. but from a viewpoint ofot the officers-that
offic-ers
officers-I
officer-s
officers-that
offic-ers
officersofficersvofficers,\ v -
that crossed that field , they are all firmly conVinconvinceconvinyedconvinceded that-
thethatc-
hed
that-
thethatc-
hed
thatthat-
thethatc-
hedthe only way to capture GesnesGeenesGenesGenies was to throw your all at it ;
therefore ,. when the last unit of your organization goes intointo-
actioninte-
raction
into-
actioninte-
raction
into-
actioninte-
ractionaction , he believedasbellevedasbelieved, many of the older officers still be-bebe-
lievebe-
lievebebe-
lieve¬-
lieveleave , you should then proceed too .
One machine gun battalion moved into position inin-
frontin-
fantin-
frontin-
fantin-
frontin-
fantfront of our P.CPC. . ., an old stone quarry to give overhead firefire-to
foret-
op
fire-to
foret-
opto our troops and one battalion ofot the 361st36lst moved over thethe-
righthe-
ightthe-
righthe-
ightthe-
righthe-
ightright front to protect the flank , while another battalion ofot thethe-
same
thre-
esome
the-
sanehe-
xane
the-
same
thre-
esomesamesane regiment widened the line along the right .,
Again I hesitate to attempt to give a description ofof-
thisO-
tisof-
thisO-
tisthishiehide field ,. German observation from Hill 255 northwest ofof-
Geene
co-
genceof-
Gesnes
of-
fenses
of-
Gesnes
of-
fensesGeeneGesnesGreeneGenes. and the German airplanes that flew overoyerBoyer our troops a.tata.-
tw'll
at-
willt-
will.at-
willt-
willw'llwllwillwall' , kept the artillery fromtromtromp our front and both flanks accuaccu-accacc-urately
acc-urately
acc-urately
¬-
ratelyirately on our lines until the town was taken and theridgeheritagetheridgeb-
eyondthe-thethe'ridgeb-
eyondtheridgeb-
eyond',- ridgeridge-
beyondbrid-
geablebeyond . CColonellonellonely Parker fell seriously wounded beforebetorebettor reach-reachreach-
ing
reach-
ing
reach--
ingrea-
chin-g Kin-g
-
ingKing GesnesGeenesGenesGenies , Lt . Colonel .Woolnough.oolnoughoolnoughOolong , with ththe 1stIdtlotDt Battalion onon-
the
M-
onte
on-
the
M-
onte
on-
the
M-
ontethe right became .separated.eparatedeparated and .was. given up fortortore lostlOltlOt ., TheTh-
eentire
Th-
eatreTh-
eentire
Th-
eatreTh-
eentire
Th-
eatreentire staffItaftTaft of the let Battalion were either killed or woundedwounded-
and
wound-
edwounded-
and
wound-
edwounded-
and
wound-
edand the regGregregimententKent foundtoundpound itselfit.eltiteltIntel. ,. until LtColonelLt.ColoDelLtColoDelLtolonelTycoonToulon,.( WoolnoughWoolnougbOolong re-rere-
Joined
re-
joinedre-
Joined
*-
Joined about 6:006008:00800: A.MAM.,.A.MAM.. . , without a fieldt1elc1 officer . MontanaKontanaXontanaFontana meDmenmeD-
ehowed
hedg-
ehopped
men-
showed
en-
dowed
men-
showed
en-
dowedehowedshowed their .metal.taltaltail. , .moving.OViDSOViDSOvid to almosta11loet certain death '.,,* they nevernever-
wa
nev-er
never-
wavered
ever-
ywhere
never-
wavered
ever-
ywherewawavered8red ,. but continued to advancea4YUtce until , as. related aboveabove-
theyabo-
ve,
they reached the ridsbeyonc1ridgerids-rids- beyondbeyonc1 GesnesG.nuGnuGenes.. ., The crycr7 ofMPowdercomposerof MPowder"PowderPowderMPowde-
rpoder
Pow-der
"Powde-
rPoder
"** Powde-
rPoder
Pow-der( poderpolder ) River",!KivertlverSkiverlaver "**
t,tLetLet-LetLet"Let-"Let 'oror' er BuckJ5uckisucksuck ". t, .was. the battle cry - ATonj'rolDjrolDFromActonJerald' . oneone-
side
on-
side
one-
side
on-
side81dlside you muldwMl1dwouldmould hear fta shoutahoutmahout : "PowderPowder" livliveRRiverivrrcirri. " t,tandstand, and acrossacrOBBJacob a-
.pace
a-
pace
a-
space
s-
paceaa-
.pace
a-
pace.pacepacespace.. ofot fifty yards7&Tde7Tde& would camconecome. back the cryAcrycry - "AA-A"- milemlle wide andand-
an
And-
ean
and-
an
And-
eanan inchdeeplnchdeepinchedlunched ". , onlyon11 to be respondedr.pondedrpondedpounded. by another man .- "AA" mile-
deep
mil-
ledmile-
deep
mil-
ledmilemile-
deep
mil-
leddeep and anlID inch widewide-wideHerewidener"- . Here I should explain thrtthatthirst10 .
PoderPolder River is apparently a small stream in Montana andBl1d tththe-
peoplethe-
rmopile
ee-
people
p-
eoplee-
people
p-
eoplepeople attach a feeling to that district something to the-
feelinghe-
elingthe-
feelinghe-
elingthethe-
feelinghe-
elingfeeling that we have for the mountaineer of Kentucky - thatt11at islisleis-
men
ri-
senis l,
l-Imen
l-inen
j'-
menen '
men of Bsturdytur dy sstocktoc k ,. shoot straightstraightsstraightsetcstraightest, etc .
In trying to give an account of this last days attackattack-and
attack-
edattack-
and
attack-
edattack-
and
attack-
edand in1n a measure describe the death dealing HungHun , pouring framfromframefram-
everyfra-
mefrom-
everyfor-
everfrom-
everyfor-
everevery method shot and shell upon those gallant men , the saddestsaddest-
issadde-
stsaddest-
issadde-
stsaddest-
issadde-
stis yet to come ., With bowed heads , with a wail of despairde8pair inin-
theiri-
nterin-
theiri-
nterin-
theiri-
ntertheir hearts , they were forced to retire back to the same lineline-
thatlin-
netline-
thatlin-
netline-
thatlin-
netthat they kicked off from at 44:00400: 00 PP.MPM. .MM. . , that date ., Why ,. nono-
not
sn-
oot
no-
not
sn-
oot
no-
not
sn-
ootnot from the BocheBroche , but fromframframe higher authority of our own forces .
It has been explainexplaineded , or betterbettersbettersanbetters, an explanationexplR.l'1&t1onexplR.l1t1onexplRl1t1on.'& has beenbeen-
offeredbeen-
offeredbeen-
offeredoffered ,. but not by the ones thattha.t. crossed that field ,. tlJTeltheythey-
werehe-
werthey-
werehe-
wereyey-
weree-
werwere afraid that the 362d Infantry would have been capturedcaptured.-
There
captured-There
captu-red
.
There might haveha.ve. been another lost unit , but not capturedcaptured-
notcaptur-
ed,
not that organization ,. AAftyAnyAfty organization that will go forwardforward-
under
forwa-rded
forward-
under
forwa-rded
forward-
under
forwa-rdedunder the casualties that were inflicted that day , would nevernever-
b
neve-r
never-
be
nev-er
never-
be
nev-erbbe capturcapturecaptureded . AlsoAleoAloe , the officers and men that witnessed thethe-
Huns
thr-
umsthe-
Huns
thr-
umsthe-
Huns
thr-
umsHuns scurrying8currying for cover as the regiment took the Hill byby-
assaultb-
asaltby-
assaultb-
asaltby-
assaultb-
asaltassault ,. would readily understand that it would have takentaken-
leadershiptaken-
leadershiptaken-
leadershipleadership and morale ,. the latter especially , to turn thethe-
enemy
He-
nleythe-
enemy
He-
nleythe-
enemy
He-
nleyenemy around and bring him back .,
Upon receiving the order to retire ,. it was not obeyedobeyed-
immediately
obeyed-
immediatelyimmediatelyed1&telled1tell& ,. for good and sufficient8ufficient reasons : First , eupportedsupportedeupported-
by
supported-
by
reported-ly
support-edby the .Brigade.Br1g&de.Br1gdeBr1gde& Coam&nderCoamnderC08DanderCommanderColander& ,. the regiment wanted to hold theirtheir-
groundth-
eirtheir-
groundth-
eirtheir-
groundth-
eirground . !'They'heyhey believedbelieTeetbelieveth thattbatbat ifit the town .was. worth takingtaking-
attakin-
gtaking-
attakin-
gat such a prloploprice. ,. 1itt .vacwas. worth.orthorthNorth. hOld1nll1heyholdingwheyholdingholding wheyhey alsoaleoaloe belhedbelievedbelchedbelhedt-hat
belch-ed
believed-
thatbeliev-
ethbelieved-
thatbeliev-
eth.,
that there beingbe11'11be1111' the UU.SAymyUSAymy.8.48.484U.s.4myUs.4myUs4mySammy. ,.7.. on our rlgbtrightrelightri t and lettleftletlefty, ifit theythey.-
ere
they-
'rethey-
werehe-
werthey-
werehe-
wer.ereerewere. fartar to rear , and afteratterLatter .eeeing.eeinseeinsseeing the hunxunun retreat in disorderdisordertdisorder-
thatdisor-
derdisorder-
thatdisor-
dert,.
that the American.r1canr1can. soldierlold1er would comecoaecoaled forward along aide8ideside , oror-
neM
or-
eMor-
near
H-
orner
or-
near
H-
ornerneMnearnM' enough Ifit there .were.ereere leaders to lead thenthemtb_ ., and asa8 atatedstatedactuatedstateda-
bovestat-
edelated-
above
ela-tedaboyeaboveBoyer this beliefbelietbelie vaewuwasvale shared by the Brigade ComnanderCommander ., untiluntil-
he
unt-il
until-
he
unt-ilhe receivedrece1Te positivepoaitiTepolarities orders that the retreat must be made.dede. .,
andutesad! at onceODceODe .,11 .,
ThThe. rearward movement was made ,. and wounded takentaken-
alongtak-
entaken-
alongtak-
entaken-
alongtak-
enalong - this after using every meansmeanemeaner in our power to bbe. per-perper-
mittedper-
mittedperper-
mitted¬-
mittedemitted to stayetayeta *., !itt became a case of each and every manma-
nhelping
ma-
nglingma-
nhelping
ma-
nglingma-
nhelping
ma-
nglinghelping wounded , and a military man can conceiveconcei.econceie. the workwork-
thewo-
rthwork-
thewo-
rthwork-
thewo-
rththe work of reorganizing the regiment after thishis movemoveymovewow-wowwow-ever
who-ever
", JJow-
ever
How-
ever
[ OW-OWO-
Wever
Ho-
wever
ow--
evero-
we-
ver-
ever , the rremainingainingaiming men , hhardlyardlyhardly fitting here to sayBay regimentregiment-
wereregim-
ent,
were reorganized afteratterLatter passing the battalion of the 361st361st-
Infantry361st-
Infantry361st-
InfantryInfantry that moved up fartar enough to put a screen out inin-
trontin-
tranet
in-
frontin-
fantin-
frontin-
fanttrontfronttrot ., in facttact just a few yards in front kick off line atat-
4:00
at-
4004:00400: P.MPM. ,. ,. until they could regain their other battalionbattalion-that
battali-on
battalion-that
battali-on
battalion-that
battali-onthat was holding the ripfitriptltrightrifttriplet of our advance . Those men thatthat-
had
thatc-
hed
that-
had
thatc-
hed
that-
had
thatc-
hedhad the privilege ofor serving in France can appreciate thethe-
feelinghe-
elingthe-
feelinghe-
elingreelingfeeling that existed in the regiment for a few days , but &as&ss i1 amam-
here
am-
erceam-
here
am-
ercehere to relate only the four daysdayeaye , willw111 not attempt to describedescribe-
thedescri-
bedescribe-
thedescri-
bethe work cut out for the remaining officers of the regimentregbnentregnant .
Colonel BarkerParker , although wounded and unable to proceedproceed-
atproce-
edat the head of the organization , continued to command as bestbest-
he
Esth-
erbest-
he
Esth-
erhe could fromframframe his position , and sent two me8messagesages that I havehave-
beenha-
vehave-
beenha-
vehave-
beenha-
vebeen informed by people that shouldehould know , reached DivisionDivision-
P.C
Divisi-on
Divisio-nP.C
Divis-ion
Division-
P
Divisio-nP.CPCP.CPC.,. C ,. , and were made ofot record . As explained ,. colonelolonel ParkerParke-
rfellPar-
kerParke-
rfellPar-
kerParke-
rfellPar-
kerfell beforebetorebettor reaching GeGesnesGesneeGenesGenene , and after being assureda.lur.dalur.dalurdallured. . thatthat-
everythingth-
ieverythat-
everythingth-
ievery. . .
"l '
eTerythingeverything that could be/.donbe.donbe.dondonbedbe/, . ..
done. fortortore the RegimentalReglmental: CommanderCommand-
erpossible
Comm-andeer
Command-
erpossible
Comm-andeer
Command-
erpossible
Comm-andeerpossible under the situation ,. ththe. Regimental Adjutant went onon-
with
mo-
nolith
on-
with
mo-
nolith
on-
with
mo-
nolithwith the troops in their dash fortortore Democracy , until the ridgeridge-
beyond
bridg-
eableridge-
beyond
bridg-
eableridge-
beyond
bridg-
eablebeyond the town wawas. taken , and afterarterCarter ordering the reorganizareorganisa-reorganisareorganiza-reorganizereorganisa-
tionreorganiza-
tionreorganiza-
tionreorganiza-
tion
¬-
tionion fortortore derenDarrendefense. . ., the Adjutant4dJutant returned back throughthrouSbthroes Hell ,. toto.-
We
to-
wed
to-
thet-
ote
to-
thet-
otethe Colonel endaDdand had the followingfollo.iDSfolloiDScolloids. dictated to hiahimiah : "WeWe.We". have-
taken
have-
rsack
havehaTe1I
_. takentakeDtake G.DGDGeeneeGainesGreene'. .. _andsad4 the ridridge..' beyondbrODcIbroad.; , bhavee dUdug, inill ,. )havea.eae. toodfoodstoodtood-
an4
food-
and
doo-
dad
food-
and
doo-
dad( r-rr-
t
-
an4and watertwaterwater t, andaD4 canCaD andMet willw111 hold until Hell trfreeaeafreezesfreebase..... oTerwdoteroverover.-Back
overB-
ackover-
act" .
Back to the rearr.arrarrare. P.CPC.,P.CPC. . ,, fortortore said8.id8id. AdjutantMjutantMutantA JutantMutant fortortore the purpopurportpurpose. . ofof.-
oTiDI
of-
moving
co-
mmoving
of-
moving
co-
mmoving.oTiDIoTiDImovingoutbid. it forwardforwar4 , andend whenwh.nwhn. arrivingarriTiDIparricide finding it neceesaryneceBearTnecessarymacebearer toto-
borrow.en
to-
morrowto-
borrow
to-
morrow
to-
\
t-o
to-
borrow
to-
morrow,t
\ .' borrow.enborrowenborrowedborrow .men fromfro. the 361st361s.t361e.t361et. Infantry ,. as all our Signal CorpeCorpCorpsCope. menmen-
had
menh-
aden
men-
had
menh-
aden
men-
had
menh-
aden
.had beenbeeDbeD ueedu.e4ue4usedcued. aeas. runners and onlyon11 God could tell wherei1 ere they-
werehe-
werthey-
werehe-
werthey
were at thithinthis. timet1ae . Thehe p.CpCP ., C ., .was8& movedaOTedaborted forward , tbiedaistietb1 . afterafter-.a
afte-rafter-
I
afte-
r
after-4.aa..a-
The
a-
te
the word had come to retire . Another message worthy ofof-
noteco-
nnote
of-
noteco-
nnote
of-
noteco-
nnotenote . "WeWe" have made a hole in the German Line . Send freshfresh-troops
restr-ooms
fresh-troops
restr-ooms
fresh-troops
restr-oomstroops to carry the ball and we can go to Sedan " ,.
Alas , after all ., the 362d Infantry did not take GesneeGesnesGeneGenesGesnes.-
ThisGesnes-
ThisGene-
tics.
This has been made so80 by the historical writer of the WWorldWorld-
War
Wo-rld
World-
War
Wo-rld
rldldrld-War
ra-darWar . We are given credit for having patrols in said towntown.-
The
town-
The
tow-nie
.
The officers and men that made the supreme sacrifice on tLatthatLattLat-
fieldLak-
efield
that-
fieldhay-
fieldthat-
fieldhay-
fieldfieldfieldofieldfieldIfieldo, I1 hopeJdidhopedhope JdidDid, did not die in vainva1n }he® only regiment toto-
place
po-
pulace
to-
place
po-
pulace
to-
place
po-
pulaceplace themselves on the Army Objective on the fourth day otofot-
the
ot-
her
of-
the
of-
tenof-
the
of-
tenthe ArgonneJargoned Offensive did not get the credit for taking itit-Admitted
in-
termitted
,.
Kdm1tteAdmitted ;.itit. it was given up and another ororganizationanizationanimation paid inin-
blood
in-
board
in-
blood
in-
board
in-
blood
in-
boardblood for the retaking , but it would seem that 8aa, full explanaexplana-explainexplana-
tionexplana-
tionexplana-
tion¬-
tionion would read better to the loved ones of those that dieddied-
thatdi-
eddied-
thatdi-
eddied-
thatdi-
edthat YT0UYOU_ mirfitmightmisfitmi t live , if full particulars , would be statedstated-
notstat-
edstated-
notstat-
edstated-
notstat-
ednot saying or believing that any attempt has ever been mademade-
to
madd-
est
made-
to
madd-
est
made-
to
madd-
estto discredit the organization ,. but simply stating facts .
.: ' It is the belief of the writer , and this after carefulcareful-
study
care-ful
careful-
study
care-fulstudy and conferences with other officers , that the advanceadvance-
and
advan-ce
advance-
and
advan-ce
advance-
and
advan-ce
Irr-
It
B-
rit
and taking of GeGesnesGenesnee was only made possible by the trainingtraining-of
trainin-g
,
"of the officers and enlisted men ofot the regGregregimententKent and thethe-
leadershipste-
pladdersthe-
leadershipste-
pladdersthe-
leadershipste-
pladders,,. " ,
leadership displayed by that great soldier - John Henry Parker .
It was the writer'swriterswriter'lwriterlwriter' privilege to have known and served in sev-
eralsev-
eralsev-sevsesev-
oral
sev-
eral
-.".
, oraleralferal capacitiescapac1tiee under this man and without hesitation announce-
I
announc-
e
announce
\'ii''ithatthat only a Fire BaterBatorBatter ,. a man that fearedtearedeared neinevineithertherether Man.ananYam. nor-
Deviln-
odenor
",
:,: ' lte-,11lte,1111DevillateI evil-, would walk at the hhead..' ofot thatt1Jat organisationorgani.ationorganiationorganization. underUDder tholethoseholethose-
conditions> - conditionconditions. . AsAI stated.tatedtatedtatted. beforeberore , criticscritic. elatestate.tattat. . ,. and it isilin now-
the
no-
tenow
the policypo11c7 torfortore the coonandercommanderConnerc and.randrAndre. to ItaKitaetaystayeta, in1n observationob.r.tionobr.tionobrtionportionoration. . .. ,. thisthl1 ot-
cour
do-
ctor
of-
course
co-
factors
ofot. courcourtcourse8 aadmittedittedbitted that you70U 10lose. . control ofot the .mass.. fortortore a fewtewstew ,.
',f\f\0f0"'
i\ii-the
l-
ithe
'\ but neverthelessne-ertheleneerthele,Ethel-, 8 , if1t you carefullycaretully studyItudyTrudy our attack orde-rl
order-ly
order-
you
orde-
rlyorder
l\l\l- youy-
ouL-
butB-
ut, you willw1l1 .eeesee.. that it la1dTakeeaidla1dsaidaid : "TakeTake-Take"- GesneeGelneeGesnesGeneGenes *., without failta11 ,. regardregard-regard-
leregardl-
ess
regard-
less
*-
leless. . ofot 10Thatlosslose1110-10.. -" *. That could only aean.eaneanmeanpaeanJean. one thing - theIheHe RegimentalRegimentalC-
cam8l1der
RegimentalC-
ommander
Regim-ental
RegimentalC-
oBoaander
Regim-entalCcam8l1derCommander was the .man.anan held responsiblere.ponsiblereponsible. , hiehishide reglnentregl.entreglentregimentregnantrelent. was thethe-
orlan1zatioD
the-
organization
ter-
rorizationthe-
organization
ter-
rorizationorlan1zatioDorganization to be eacrlflcedaacrlficedsacrificed on the altar - it was to thethe-
deathte-
eththe-
deathte-
eththe-
deathte-
ethdeath , andaDd I firalyt1ralyfirmlyvirally believe that when he notified the brigade1513 .
that another colonel would be needed in one hohourr ., he expectedexpected-
toexpect-
edto meet the fate tYaaToyamathat: was actedmeted outsoutsoroutscoreout ,. or worse .
Another leader entered to a great degree in the successsuccess-
ofsuccess-
orsuccess-
ofsuccess-
orsuccess-
ofsuccess-
orof the 181stISlstIsles Brigade none other than the ;commandinglommand1ng GeneralGeneral.-A
General-A
Genera-l
.
A soldier only had to see this man on the "battlebattle" field to feelfeel-
thatfe-
ltfeel-
thatfe-
ltfeel-
thatfe-
ltthat wonderful influence thatttattact radiated from every white ha.irhairha.ir-
fraaHa-
ifahairf-
romairfr-
amehair-
fronshirt-
front
.fraafromfaa that great old soldier'ssoldiers' head ., A wonderful leader - aa-
man
A-
mman
a-
man
A-
mman
a-
man
A-
mmanman among men *. I feel surgsurgesurslur that those "bravebrave" men of the regi-regi-Regisregi-
mentregi-
ment
regiRegisregi-
ment
¬-
mentmeant felt it an honor to die for those two men and proud of thethe-
factth-
reatthe-
factth-
reatthe-
factth-
reatfact that they "belongedbelonged" to a race that turned out such leaders .
The following letter of recognition from the ammandingcommandingamendingcommandin-
gGeneral
comma-nding
commandin-
gGeneral
comma-nding
ammandin-
gGeneralGeneral of the Fifth Army Corps was received by the DivisionDivision-C
Divisio-n
DivisionC-
ommanderDiv-
isionDivisionC-
ommanderDiv-
isionCCommanderanderLander during the n1nightt ofot October 33-434- 4 , while relief byby-
th
m-
yth
by-
theb-
yteby-
theb-
yteththe 32d Division was being effected : '
"HqHq"* Hq . Fifth Army CCorpsCorps-
American
Cor-psmen
rpBJrpBJ-
Amer
urb-ane
,
AmerAmberAmericanicon ExpediExpediteExpeditionaryt ionarybinary IorcJ'orcJorcIgorJockforces' es ,.
..n'rance.nrancenrance.lt1rancelt1rance.FranceFranceNorman.' , 3d OctoberJOctoberOctober J, 19119181918.-
From
1918-
From
.,
From : Commanding General ,. V Army CorpsCorps.-
To
Corps-
To
Cor-ps
orp8 .,
To : ;commandinglQMmanding GeneralGeneraltGeneral91stt,. 91st91et DivisionDivision.-Subject
Division-Subject
Divis-ions
.
SubJectRelietSubjectSubject :Relief of 91st Division ,.
Under orders from the firstir8t Army ,. the 91st91st-
Division91st-
Division91st-
DivisionDivision will be relieved fromframframe the front line tonight andand-
placedan-
yplaceand-
placedan-
yplaceplacadplacedplacard in Corpscorp. Reserve .
The Corps CommanderCamander wisheswieheeIEEE you to understand thatthat-
the
thatc-
hed
that-
the
thatc-
hed
that-i
tha-i
thatith-e
halit-e
the relief results solely fromtromtromp the realization by higherhigherc-
Qmmand
hig-her
higherc-
ommand
hig-her
higherc-
ommand
hig-hercQmmandcommand that your DivisionDiyi.ionDiyiion. hashaaHara done itits. full share in thethe-
recentthe-
reuntothe-
recentthe-
reuntothe-
recentthe-
reuntorecent 8UCCsuccess.. . ,. and isi8 entitled to a. restr.trt.. fortortore reorganisationreorganizationreorganisation.-This
reorganisation-This
reorganizat-ion
.
This .especially.speciallyspecially &as1 during the pastpaetpeat three days4"141" ,* it has incurredincurre-dh'VJ
incurred-
heavyincur-
redincurred-
heavyincur-
redh'VJhVJheavyHIV..' ccasualtiesuualusual ti .. when circumstancescircUIIstanoecircumstance. would not permitpenlipenalt .iieithereithera-
dvanceeit-
her.eithera-
dvanceeit-
hertheretherther-
adyanc
hea-
dache( 8)88)-storY
) adyancadvance. or withdrawal ., la(8)-
AT
(6)6(8)8(6)-
AT
( )
storY' otot-the
ot-herthe 91et91et-DiY18ion
AT A TInTTHCIl l& WBHWKDWHENKWHWD TIBTHETB!HB DIVISIONSDIVISIOI'SDIVISIOIS' OH011ON ITS FLARSPLANKSLARSFLARS-
WBRB
FLA-IRS
PLANKS-
WBRE
PLA-NKS
FLANKS-
TSKS
FLA-NKSP-4P4DiY18ionP4DiY18ion- 7'7-
placad
WBRBWBREWEBBBRET, PALTBBiyGrALTDIIOFALTERINGratio ANDAm) WSSBUNEVENWASPS FALLI1TGFAJ.LIIlOFAJLIIlOFALLING. :BACK ., 'THB1'RI1RITEETB: 918T91ST PUShBDPUSMEDPUSHEDPushPAUSED AHBADAHEADABAAHBAD-
AND
ABANDO-
NED
AHEAD-
AND
HEADB-
AND
AHBAD-
AMD
ABRA-
DEDAND STEADFASTLYSTSADFASTLY CLOTGCLUlIGCLUNGCLOGCluing TO SvBRYBWRYEVERYSavoryWRY YARD GAITODGAInDGAINZDGAITEDGAIn ,.
In 1its. initial pertopertperformanceanceVance ,. your divisiondlvi8ion has
14 .
established itselfitaelf firmly in the list of the mmander-in-mmanderinCommander-in-CommandermaunderCommanderi-
nChief's
C mmanderin-
Ohier'smmander-in-
-Ohief'smman-
der i-n Ohi-ef's Ohi-efsmaun-
der Chi-efs- -
Ohier'sOhiersChief'sChiefsCoheirs' reliable fighting units ., Please extend to your of-ofof-
ficersof-
ficersofof-
ficers¬-
ficersfilchers and men my appreciation of their splendid behaviorbehavior-
and
behavi-or
behavior-
and
behavi-orand my hearty congratulations on the brilliant record they-
havethe-
y'vethey-
havethe-
y'vetheythey-
havethe-
y'vehave made ,., George H ., C'smeronCsmeronCameronCameron-Major
Cam-eron' ,
Major GeneraltGeneralGeneralcommandingGeneral t, CommandingGommanding ., "
GAINS AND LOSSES .
In the four days of fittingfighting the regiment ,* including thethe-
G.neethe-
Geenes
te-ens
the-
Gesnes
ch-eesesG.neeGneeGeenesNeeGenies.. affairaffairlostaffairaffair I lost seventy percent . On the afternoon ofof-
Io-
fof-
September
o-
ffsetof-
September
o-
ffsetof-
September
o-
ffsetSeptember 29 , 1918 ,. the regiment started over with just a fewfew-
men
foe-
men
few-
men
foe-
menmen less1888 than 2000 and the next morning we mustered aboutabout-
900900 men ., In thesetheee figures here , I have used every means pos-pospo-
ssible
po-
ssible
pospo-
ssible
¬-
siblesable to check up and give a correct report of the 108seslosseslosses-even
loss-es
,
even writing to the Regimental Personnel Adjutant , colonelolonelUolonel JohnJohn-
H
Joh-nH ., ParkerpParkerParker p, retired , Colonel J.B.WoolnoughJB.WoolnoughJBWoolnoughBWoolnoughWoolenJJ.BJB., ., ToolnoughTopology , and have conferredconferred-
withconfer-
redconferred-
withconfer-
redVl1withth every one else that could give information on the subjectsubject.-
I
subject-I
subjec-t
.
),
I remember reporting the losses as approximately 50750 on thethe-
and
thr-
ead
the-
morning
thr-
ongingthe-
morning
thr-
onging.
morning of September 30 , and to have discreditawediscred1tancediscreditaic-ediscreditaicediscreditablediscredit- placed on-
theM-
onte
on-
theM-
onte
onon-
theM-
onte"
the report by the Divisionniv1810n CommanderCaamanderCalamander . I suppose he remember-rememberremembe-
r-\
rememb-er
remember-
ed
rememb-erl
-l \"'". ed our teaching along the line , breaking point ,. before the-
war
thw-
artthe-
war
thw-
arttheNN-
GAINS
G-
AINS
\
war , however , careful count made no difference ), except toto-
increasetr-
ouncesto-
increasetr-
ouncesto-
increasetr-
ouncesincrease the figures given .
We clacladclaim as gains , the Army Objective ,. PrisonersPrisonerstPrisonersamdPrisonerst, amdamidam-
dMaterial
ban-
dmasteram-
dMaterial
ban-
dmasteram-
dMaterial
ban-
dmasterMaterial captured - no record but our shareshare.A-
NALYSIS
shareA-
NALYSISsha-rpen
.,
ANALYSIS AlfTDANDAloft CRITICISMCRITICISICRITICS .
The Battle ofot the ArgonneJargoned and the MouselIeuseMeuseleseMuse represented-but
repre.nted-but
represent-ed
repent-ed
repre.ntedreprentedrepresentedrepented. .but fta part ofot the ottenligottenoffensive. . undertaken by GeneralOeneral FochPochOuchPooch In thethe-
tallth-
etathe-
fallth-
rallthe-
fallth-
ralltallfall of 1918 , fortortore the BritishBritiah andan4 :drenchrrenchFrench hadhac1 alsoa180 beboonbeen. ener-enerenderene-rgetically
ene-rgetically
enerenderene-rgetically
¬-
geticallyethically attackingattack1ng sincosincesinoaincinc . the end ofot SopteaborSept.berSeptberSeptemberOperatorScepter. on the frontfront-
infronti-
ng
front-
infronti-
ng
front-
In
fronti-
ngin FlandersFlanderl and northern France . ThisThi8 attack ,. while atillstilltillatill-on
trilli-on
stillo-
nstilto-
nstillo-
nstilto-
non FrenchFrenoh soileoiloil ., strucketrucktruck one of thethathan main arteriesarteriaarterial. of ththJberaan-
arny.naannaanermanNanBermanerman-
army
semi-nary
.\':
.\ &ra7ra7army& ., the .Metz.etaetaMotsMetMoots - Sedan railway ,. by which essentiales.entialesential. part of thethe-
armyte-
arythe-
armyte-
aryarmy .were.rere. being supplied8upp11ed and fortortore which no substitute8ublt1tute waswaaWada toto-
bet-
oeto-
bet-
oeto-
bet-
oebe hadh&cihcichi& . Therehere! .was.11. in1ft attacknothingl1oth1ng new the attack ,. &as&ss the same_._same15
15 .
plan had teenbeen used before .
In addition to a strategicalstrategically important task , the AmericanAmerican-
Army
Americ-ana
American-
Army
Americ-ana
American-
Army
Americ-anaArmy had the advantage ofor possessionp08session of unlimited reservesreserves-and
reserv-es
reserves-and
reserv-es
reserves-and
reserv-esand material , true the bringing up ofot ammunition and suppliessupplies-were
suppl-ies
supplies-were
suppl-ies
supplies-were
suppl-ieswere not alwaysalwaY8 well handled , but the "NeverNever" say di-didispiritdie."- spiritspirit-of
spir-it
spirit-of
spir-itof the American SSoldierld1er ,. the spirit that if you had no ammu-ammuammoamm-
unition
amm-
unition
ammuammoamm-
unition
¬-
nitionnotion you are still equipped with your bayonet ,. ifit you breakbreak-
thebrea-
thebreak-
thebrea-
thebreak-
thebrea-
thethe bayonet use the rifle as a club ., andend ifit you break youryou-
rrifleout-
rideyou-
rrifleout-
rideyou-
rrifleout-
riderifle , choke the enemy to death , such a soldierBoldierBolder can never bebe-
conquered
en-
countered
be-
conquered
en-
countered
be-
conquered
en-
counteredconquered - he will always close with the enemy ,.
Some of the German writers speak ofot the long columns ofof-
Americans
Fr-
anciscansof-
Americans
Fr-
anciscans.r1can8JbeardlessAmericansbeardlessAmericansAmericansAmericanst.r1can8Jr1can8J. t, beardless youths fromtram beyond the ocean , radiatingradiating-health
radia-ting
radiating-health
radia-ting
radiating-health
radia-tinghealth and strengthstrengthAmericastrengthener., -AmericaAmerica"America-" was the savior&v1orv1or& ofot .1f'rance.1france1franceFrance.trance-trancetrance-
The
tran-ce
' -" ,.
The American soldier went into the battle in the firstfirste-
nthusiasmfift-
eenthsfirste-
nthusiasmfift-
eenthsfirste-
nthusiasmfift-
eenthsenthusiasm of warw&rwr& , which hadhoohobo. long since become an earnest con-concon-
captioncon-
ceptioncon-
ceptionconcon-
ception¬-
ceptioncaption of duty with GermansGermanstGermansEnglishGermanst,. English and French ,. and in anan-
ignorancea-
ngoraan-
ignorancea-
ngoraan-
ignorancea-
ngoraignorance of the horrors of modern warfare , while the .tfrench-
.gallanttfrench-
gallantFre-
nchrenchFrench .,
gallant soldiers thereUlereMuller were ,. wouwouldwouldd only attack if their red winewine-
had
swine-
herd
wine-
had
swine-
herdhad arrived and then after artillery preparation ,> heShe:)he AmericanAmerican-
went
Ameri-can
American-
went
Ameri-canwent forward with that desire to close , the spirit of the bbay-baybay-
onet
bay--
ftnetb-ayft-
netfitm-
ent-
.netnetonetMonet. ever evident , accepted terrific losses quite naturally andand-
the
ant-
hem
and-
the
ant-
hemthe propaganda , true or exaggerated ,. the wickednesswickednes8 of thethe-
Boche
th-ence
the-
Boche
th-ence '.BoeheBocheBoneheadBroche was evident , and a'certa-
in
acerta-
in
ascerta-
in
&a'certa-
in
acerta-
in
ascerta-
in certain hatred of the foe was an evereve-
r1ncre.ingeve-
rincreasing
ove-
rstressingeve-
rincreasing
ove-
rstressing1ncre.ing1ncreingincreasing. stimulationatimulation to our army .
ThoTheoThose. . aBinesameBines.. German writerswriter. are quitequite-quitefrankquitter.- frankrrankrank in statingstating-
thatstati-
ngstating-
thatstati-
ngstating-
thatstati-
ngthat the Independent SocialistSJoc1&li.tSJoc1li.tSJoc1lit& . Party waswa carrying on sabotage.sabotage-
ofsabota-
ge.bebe. tagestagetage-
ottarg-
etotof the war and foundtoundpound fertiletertile field with hungry people inin-
Germany
in-
errancyin-
Germany
in-
errancyin-
Germany
in-
errancyGermany , also,alsoaleoaloe , they claim01&11101111& the influeninfluentinfluenza.. wasw.ewe. working havoc-
among
avoc-
ation
havoc-
among
avoc-
ation
havochavoc-
among
avoc-
ationamong the troops ,. and there can be no doubt that the American-
had
Americ-ana
American-
had
Americ-ana
American
had succeeded on SeptanberSeptssberSeptember 26 ,. 1918 ,. in1n that which is the-
preth-
erthe-
primary
te-rtiary
thethe-
primary
te-rtiaryprprimary&ryry& principle of all successes8uee.e8ee8ueee8ee. In war - surprise8urprise ofot the-
enemy
He-
nleythe
.enenemy .,
Since the World War'farfar' ,. carefulaaretulartful etudystudy hashaaHara been mademade-
otma-
de
made-
of
ma-de
made-
of
ma-deotof traffic control , priority ofor roaderoadroadsrode. and the use of
16 .
engineer troops in thee Theater of Operations and our StaffStaff-and
Staff-
edstaffa-
ndstaff-
edStaff-
and
Staff-
edand Command School , Fort LeavenworthBlameworthy , Kansas , have problemsproblems-
inproble-
msin road graphs ., Subsequently in this article , I mentionedmentioned-
lackmentio-
nedmentioned-
lackmentio-
nedmentioned-
lackmentio-
nedlack of roads to the frontfronts., also , the fact that the artilleryartilleryc-
ouldartill-eryartilleryc-
ouldartill-eryartilleryc-
ouldartill-erycould not keep up ., Anyone that attempted to move to thethe-
frontthe-
reonthe-
frontthe-
reonthe-
frontthe-
reonfront or the reverse during these operations will bear me outout-
inouti-
ng
out-
inouti-
ng
out-
inouti-
ngin 8saying1ng that if there was any effort made to control ,. exceptexcept-
have
excep-
tiveexcept-
have
excep-
tiveexcept-
have
excep-
tivehave a MPK.PKPM.P,. . at a CrossroadOroseroadO D8sroad ,. it simplytmplyimply did not work ,.
Not with an idea.ofideaofdeafidea . of finding fault with the ArtilleryAttilleryArrtillery , asas-
I
AN-
SI
as-
I
AN-
SI
as-
I
AN-
SII am not familiar enough with their problems in the ArgonneJargoned ,. toto-
S&y
to-
sayto-
day
to-
sayto-
dayS&ySysay& , except to state that they did not keep up ., AccompanyingAccompanying-
guns
Accompany-ing
Accompanying-
guns
Accompany-ing
Accompanying-
guns
Accompany-ingguns , &as8 orderedorderedoordereddidorderedo, did veryvery little if any good .,
The Air ServiceSesrvice was also noticeable by their aabsenceabsence-
an
absen-ce
.enceencefence. ,
an explanation given as we advanced they became farther fromfrom-
theirfrot-
hierfrom-
theirfrot-
hierfrom-
theirfrot-
hiertheir landing field which made it impossible for them to givegive-
8upport
give-
supportgi-
vesgive-
supportgi-
ves8upportsupport .
Machine Gun Batta11Battalionn gave excellent service and this cancan-
be
ca-ne
can-
be
ca-ne
can-
be
ca-nebe explained by the fact that they were an integral part of thethe-
brigadehe-
rringthe-
brigadehe-
rringthe-
brigadehe-
rringbrigade and had to take orderstordersorders t, where the artillery and airair-
servicear-
senicair-
servicear-
senicair-
servicear-
senicservice were simply supporting , which makes ,. or did make , allall-
the
alt-
hea
all-
the
alt-
hea
all-
the
alt-
heathe difference in the world . 'The Corps Orders for the attack ,. in fact the AArmyy handedhanded-
down
hand-ed
handed-
down
hand-ed
handed-
down
hand-eddown the order ; each divisiondivisions, regardless ofot the divisiondlTi.londlTilondeletion. o-
ntheir
o-
theron
il\ilil-
The
li-
The
'\ their right and left will push the attack home , ie . I,InotMinotnot waiwaifwait-
ingwait-waitwait-
ingt-tt-
iDS
t-
ides
-<"'- ingiDSKing or attacking in conjunction with each other . The 9lst91st91st-
Division
91st-
DivisioniT11ionDivision was.8888. &ahead&headhead throughout the fourtour ddays. ,. therefore , re-rere-
ceived
re-
ceived
rere-
ceived
¬-
ceivedcleaved firetire fromtraastrata the front andan4 flanks , both artillery andand-
auxiliaryba-
ndeauxand-
auxiliaryba-
ndeauxand-
auxiliaryba-
ndeauxauxiliary .weapons.eaponeaponweapon. ,. as. you willw111 DOnote. it becamebecome necessaryneo.aryneoarynearby... torfortoretor-
the
to-rte
for-
thefo-
rtefor-
thefo-
rtethe 562d362d InfantryInt.atryIntatryInitiatory. to go to the rifiitr1ShtrightGriffith? ., out ofot their aonesonezonealonescone orofor-
actiOD
or-
ationof-
action
ol-
faction
of-
action
ol-
factionactiODaction andanetJanet capture the town ofot IvioryIv1oryIvory ., This point , whilewhile-
a
whil-ea goodsoodsod one .sometimesClIettClient .. ,. will &ll&always. . put the unit ahead in aa-
dangeroue
a-
dagea-
dangerous
d-
angerousa-
dangerous
d-
angerousdangerouedangerous positionp08it1oD ,. flanks more or lessle.8le8lose. open and lastlutglut ., but not
171'111' .,
. . . . . . . " .
leaetleastleanest ., the division behind generally ask and obtain moremor-eartillery
for-estaller
mor-eartillery
for-estaller
mor-eartillery
for-estallerartillery to support their advance whey they try to push upup-
forwardcu-
pflowerup-
forwardcu-
pflowerup-
forwardcu-
pflowerforward - result , the barrage covers several hundred yardeyardsyardedyarde-
morehard-
coreyards-
more
yar-ds
yards-
more
yar-dsmore thantl"JBntlJBn" theirthe1r sector and you have the extreme pleasure otofot-
haviT-
haiof-
having
co-
heringof-
having
co-
heringhavihavinghavingg your own artillery llayinglngling down a barrage in your rearrear-
thatea-
rthrear-
thatea-
rthrear-
thatea-
rththat gradually creeps up and up and finally , ifit you live toto-
tellto-
tallyto-
tellto-
tallyto-
tellto-
tallytell the tale , passes on and getset8 out where there may be somesome-
otso-
me
some-
ofso-
me
some-
ofso-
meotof the enemy . This iiss a beabeadbeautifultifulstifle feeling , you feel almost asas-
securem-
asseuras-
securem-
asseuras-
securem-
asseursecure as to step in1n front of and stand while a railroad engineengine-
bearsengin-
eersengine-
bearsengin-
eersengine-
bearsengin-
eersbears down on you . There is only one thatth.at. can beat it for anan-
tmposs1blean-
impossiblea-
ntimissilean-
impossiblea-
ntimissiletmposs1bleimpossible situation and that is when the enemy planes fly overover-
your
ove-
rture
over-
your
ove-
rture
over-
your
ove-
rtureyour head low enough for you to hit them with your forty-fivefortyfiveforty-five-which
for-ty fivewh-ich fiv-e - ,.
which happened on tthee 29th , except we were too busy to fire atat-
th
K-
ath
att-
herm
F-
ather
at-
them
an-
themththermthermoem .
In the advance on the third and fourth daysdayssdaysthedasheds, the enemy'senemysenemyenemy'-
sballoons
enemy'-
sballoons
enemys-
balloons
*'
balloons were in plain sighteight , quietly overlooking every movemove-
we
mo-ve
move-
we
mo-ve
move-
we
mo-vewe made , in telephone communication with the artillery andand-
other
an-
otherand-
other
an-
otherand-
other
an-
otherother troops . It would seem that somescmescammed method could have beenbeen-
advanced
been-
advanced
been-
advancedadvanced to have made them at least feel insecure . AsAI mention-mentionmention-
ed
mention'-
ed
mention-
ed
-'
ed before , the German planes did as they pleased ,. flewtlewclew over atat-
random
tr-
ansomat-
random
tr-
ansomat-
random
tr-
ansomrandom and when ththey87 sweep down your line ,. you could expectexpec-
tartilleryexpe-
ctativeexpec-
tartilleryexpe-
ctativeexpec-
tartilleryexpe-
ctativeartillery fire immediatelyed1&te17ed1te17& and alwalalways8 received it .
ThThe. 362d Infantry was quietlyq\lletlyqlletlyfleetly\ trained. in a newnow method otofot-
advance
ou-
tbalance
of-
advance
fa-
ndangle
of-
advance
fa-
ndangleadvance *., That iaiIin , in place ofot squads,,. .we.ee toformeded gangsgangeganged ,. eacheach-
lans
eche-
lons
each-
gang
arch-
angel
each-
gang
arch-
angellansgangclans built around the automaticautoaat1c rifler1tle . TheThese. . gangs nuaberednumberednuabere-dfro
numbe-red
numbered-
from
numbe-red
numbered-
from
numbe-redfro-frofromfro.1Ft-. .1Ft1Fteight.ei it to fourteentourt.DtourtDtouted.. mensenseen ., TTheTie. advance , whwhile118 siailar81ailarsimilar toto-
thet-
ote
to-
thet-
ote
to-
thet-
otethe .wave.ayeaye foraationforaat1oDformation but 4Itt.r4Ittrdiffered. . in111 that the gangganlgal .vacwas.11. deployeddeployed-
more
deplo-yed
deployed-
more
deplo-yed
deployed-
more
deplo-yedmore in depth ., The two .scouts.ooutooutout. out in front ,. followed bby, thethe-
leader
ste-
pladder
the-
leaders
ste-
pladders
the-
leader
ste-
pladderleaderleaders,. endand. in turn bby, the reefr.trtrest. of the gangI&DIIDIII& ,. preadIprea4spread out andand-
echeloned
und-
evelopedand-
echeloned
und-
evelopedand-
echeloned
und-
evelopedechelonedechelon in depth to covercoyer their aonesonsaloneone ofot action . !ThieThisThiefh1. hadhad-
the
ha-
tehad-
the
ha-
tehad-
the
ha-
tethe .advantage.cS.YaDtagecS.YaDtagecSYaDtagecymatia. ofot not affording a long line fortortore machinea.chlneachlne. gunsgunagun toto-
tireat-
tireto-
fire
ta-
ffies
to-
fire
ta-
ffiestirefire enfilade firetire down the line and. SODzone' , a. veryTeryTerry .catteredcatteredscatteredcateredscattered-
targetforscat-
tered.ecattered-
targetcate-
red.cattere-
dtargettarcat-
eredtarget-tartargettartarget-forfor- for &any&n7n7 Mindkind ofot weaponsw.apoDswapoDsappose. . ForJorJour further descriptiond.cr1ptlondcr1ptlon..18 .
assume we were advancing on a front of one thousandthoueand yardeyardsyardedyards-
withyar-
ds,.
with Company "AA" ". and "BB" " in the assault ., The formation assumassum-assumeassum-
ed
assum-
ed
assum-
ed
¬-ed and the organization at that time meant two platoons aheadahead-
and
headb-
and
ahead-
and
headb-
and
ahead-
and
headb-
andand two in supportsupportssupportsinsupporting,. in other words,words , two platoons of Company "AA"A-
"for
Af-
orAf-
ore
" "
torfortore instance would have a front ofot 500 yardsyardeyarded fortortore a1moalmostt oneone-
hundredbon-
eheadedone-
hundredbon-
eheadedone-
hundredbon-
eheadedhundred and ten men to cover ., Therefore , the platoon leaderleader-
would
leather-
woodleader-
would
leather-
woodleader-
would
leather-
woodwould designate one man , give hhim hishiehide attack directions andand-
place
any-
placeand-
place
any-
placeand-
place
any-
placeplace hhimn in the center of his zone *., and the seven , eight oror-
teno-
renor-
teno-
renor-
teno-
renten gangs would start within their zone ' , scoutsBcoutsBouts ahead ,. takingtaking-
advantagetaking-
advantagetalcing-
advantageStal-
ingradadvantage of cover and feeling out the enemy ., As oftenoften-
happened
often-
happened
often-
happenedhappened , machine gum would open up on a certain part of thethe-
linehe-
mline
the-
linehe-
mline
the-
linehe-
mlineline and the scouts would flop , take up the fire and the-firingthefiringthefiring-line
thethefirtheir*-' firingfiring-line
firi-ng
ing-
lineinl-
ineline wouMwou1dwouldwound be built up along the line ofot scouts *. Other garJgagangegargetgangedgangs-
saygain-
say
,.
say to right or left or botbootbothtbothboth t, would continue to advance and 01-01of-of01-
courseof-
course
co-
factors
of--
courseo-f co-
urse-
course bring flanking fire ,. saylay fromframframe rifle grenades 'ononrofroof' h saidsaid-
machine
said-
machine
said-
machinemachine guns .
This system worked to great advantage throughout ttethetotette-
Argonne
tea-
rdownthe-
Argonne
he-
roinethe-
Argonne
he-
roineArgonneJargoned and Belgium with lesleeslesblees losses than would have incurredIncurred-
inIncurre-
din any other roformationationaction ,. and &as8 explained before and aadmittedadmitted-
theadmitt-
edadmitted-
theadmitt-
edittedbitteditted-
thebitt-
edthe 91st91et919t919too,. particularly the 181st Brigade were always ahead inin-
the
in-
terin-
the
in-
terin-
the
in-
terthe ArgonneJargoned ,.
As shown before ,. the troops fought well and were ap-apap-
parentlyap-
parentlyapap-
parently¬-
parentlyparentally well led ., ThoseThoeeThee training camp officersofficer. had camecomecam-
ethrough
co-meth
com-
ethrough
co-meth
com-
ethrough
co-meththrough with a vengeance and were accepted as88 real honest toto-
God
to-
Go
to-
God
to-
Go
to-
God
to-
GoGod soldiers ,.
U.SSONSUSSONSaSBOB8i3SSONSRUSSIANS. .
ThThe. real lesson1.OD1OD... learnedlearne. ,. or at leastl.tlt... accepted , re-rere-
8ulted
re-
sulted
re-
suited
re-
sulted
*-
8ultedsultedsilted in1n our C-onareConareBonaireCongreacCongressConAgra- .. finallytinallrTina; giving,1T1nl1T1nl, usU8 a .national.tionaltionaltonal. ht.D8htD8DDefense-
Act
Defen-se
fensefens. .. ,.
Act ., Our warwars. alwaysa171"& in111 &main11&11111111 foughttoupttout withw1th the civilianc1Til1an , yetyet-
thiset-
hics
.'
th1this. war foundIIfoundfound \us\IIII Uas& alwaysalw&18alw18& beforebetorebettor , w1withoutthouttout any .means.earlearl. or waywaysways-
towa-
ys
ways-
towa-
ys
.to ra1raise. . an &army&rayray ., !Theh. taltailfalse. . IdeIdesIdea. that a million men wouldwould-
epr1DI
woul-
dspring
won-
deringwoul-
dspring
won-
deringepr1DIspring to arms. overOTerDoter n1lhtnightni it ., .was. exploded with a terrible re-rere-
bOIDd
reb-
ounded
re-
bound
rere-
bound
¬-
boundbO\IDdbOIDdID\ . RecruitingRecruitinl .was" open fortortore .several.yeryerAyer. l months andMd the only
19 .,
- . . . . ,
crowded places were where the would be officer mobbed thethe-
placech-
elaethe-
placech-
elaethe-
placech-
elaeplace where he expected to receive his commission and therebythereby-
beatthere-
bythereby-
beatthere-
bythereby-
beatthere-
bybeat the draft .
Not saying that our Americans did not fight when theythey-
werehe-
werthey-
werehe-
werthey-
werehe-
werwere finally drafted , that would be foolish and contrary toto-
factsst-
oatsto-
factsst-
oatsto-
factsst-
oatsfacts , but 8simplyply stating that voluntaryoluntary enlistments,
,. spring8pring-8pringspring-8pring-
ingspring-
ingspring-
ing¬-
ingKing to arms8 overnightovernighteovernightdidovernighte, did not work .,
Congress finally passed the selective draft and we werewere-
on
where-
on
were-
on
where-
on
were-
on
where-
onon our wayray ,.
General PershingPerishing no doubt spent many wakeful . nightsnights-
duringnig-
htsnights-
duringnig-
htsduring the time that the FirstFiratFrat Army was in the initial stagesstages.-wondering
stages-wondering
states-women
.,
wondering and hoping ., The 362d Infantry for instance , hadhad-
Justad-
Justhad-
justad-
justhad-
Justad-
JustJust two regular army officers ,. and on such regiments hebe waswas-
in
wash-
ing
,
in fact our NationKat10D depended on them to bring the Hun , that armyarmy-
ofarm-
yarmy-
ofarm-
yarmy-
ofarm-
yof professionals to their knees . 'What'What was done in historyhistory-and
histori-an
,
and General PershingPerishing ,. ifit not betorejnowbeforenowbetokenbeforebefore,:now realized that againagai-nJ agai-n again-
we
aga-in
again-
we
aga-in
J-we relied uponponpeon the citizens army to win our wars ; thereforetherefore-
thistheref-
ore,.
this man in his quiet effective wway set about convincing thethe-
people
the-
rmopile
the-
people
the-
rmopile
the-
people
the-
rmopilepeople that preparednesspreparednees was the only way - hence our nowno-
wNational
no-
tationalno-
wNational
no-
tationalno-
wNational
no-
tationalNational Defense Act .
As passed in 1920 ,. it would pa8pass. the test of ttimee , realreal-
advantages
re-levant
real-
advantages
re-levant
real-
advantages
re-levantadvantages of national resourcesre.ourcereourceresource. and population were taken andand-
at
anda-
nte
and-
at
anda-
nte
and-
at
anda-
nteat last we have ,. even after the Pacific has torn apart some8C1De ofof-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
ten
of-
the
of-
tenthe real body , tLeti-etietaleft -
, only Defense Act the United States has everever-
had
over-
hand
ever-
had
over-
hand
ever-
had
over-
handhad .,
It hardly .SCOBSseemsCOBS... appropriate to quote NapoleonXapoleon , but itit-sees
m-
itoses
its-
eemsit-
emssees. ... so80 to hit the cacase. . , that I will quote : ' i-i1-1iWhen1WhenWhen- When once thethe-
ottensivth-
reatensthe-
offensiveth-
eoremsthe-
offensiveth-
eoremsottensivoffensiveostensive. hashaehade been assumedassuaedassuaged ,. it mustaustFaust be .sustained.u.tainedu.tainedutaineduntainted. to ththe. lastlast-
.xtr.ilast-
extremitylast-
extrwity(9)9( ) .xtr.ixtr.ixtritriextremity. . ty ,. (9)9( ' ) .(9)lapoleon's(9)Napoleon'slapoleon'slapoleonsNapoleon'sNapoleonslapoleon'svINapoleon'sv'vIv I .ax1aax1aMaxim. Here this applies to our attack on the 29th ., wwewe. ap-apap-
parently
ap-
parently
apap-
parently
¬-
parentlyparentally diddi4 .exactly.xactlyxactly what the enemy wanted usUI to do , hithit-
atra1&bt
hit-
straightshi-
pwrighthit-
straihi-
tter(10)10( ) atra1&btatra1btstraight&il to the front ., 2-InfantryInfantry2InfantryIntlll1try- and artillery are (10)10(10)-
nothing
(10)-
nothing
(10)-
nothing
10n-
othing
( )(10)lapol.on(10)Napoleonlapol.onlapolonNapoleonlampoon. ' s.s-XL
s-
axXL JlaximMaximJaimeMaxim-
and
Marx-
ian
nothing without each other ; therefore they should always be-
d1apo
be-
disposed
be-
dspread
bebe-
disposed
be-
dspreadd1apodisposed.. to .assist.1at1at. each other ,. especially.p.cial17p.cial17pcial17XspeciallySpecially. . should artilleryartillery2020 .,
be ready to assist Infantry held up by strong en-.yen.yen.yyenergydenyen-.ay resistanceresistance.-This
resistance-This
resistan-ce.
This was carefully explained in subsequent paragraphsparagraphstparagraphsthatparagraphst, that thethe-
artilleryh-
eartilythe-
artilleryh-
eartilythe-
artilleryh-
eartilyartillery failed , probably throughthrouthou i no fault ofot their own toto-
keept-
oketo-
keept-
oketo-
keept-
okekeep up so they could put fire on the enemy .
3 - Air Service shshoulduldauld be so80 disposed to furnish communicationcommunication-
tocommunicati-
onto the troops they support , this failed in the firatfirstfrat four daysdays-
ofda-
ysdays-
ofda-
ysdays-
ofda-
ysof the ArgonneJargoned .
4 - Ammunition and food must be kept up , this , while potnot aa-
complete
c-
ompletea-
complete
c-
ompletea-
complete
c-
ompletecomplete failure *., was so close to a failure that it had itsits-
effectdis-
affectits-
effectdis-
affectits-
effectdis-
affecteffect on the combat unitsunite ., Of course , roads and otherother-
means
othe-rness
other-
means
othe-rness
other-
means
othe-rnessmeans of communication spell victory or defeat to any armyarmy-
and
armb-
and
,
and therefore , full advantage should be taken of them .
5 - MoraleJloraleLoral and leadership goga hand in hand *. With leadership andand-
moralead-
orableand-
moralead-
orableand-
moralead-
orablemorale the battle is1s half won . Apparently the 362d InfantryInfantry.-
hadInfant-
ryInfantry-
hadInfant-
ry.hadhad. had both , as they accepted their losses ,,, always keeping theirtheir-face
thor-aces
their-face
thor-aces
their-face
thor-acesface to the enemy , and forever seeking to close with himhim-
therebyhi-
ther.,
thereby keeping the spirit of offensive on the proper side .
6S - The principle of Mass and CConcertedncertednetted Effort was ably dem-demdeemde-mon8trated
de-monstrated
demdeemde-monstrated
¬-
onstratedon8tratedconsternated on the 29th ., When the proper timettmetm comes , give himhim-
allKim-
ball
him-
allKim-
ball
him-
allKim-
ballall you have ,. then notify higherhi ierbier authority of your action .
7? - Auxiliary weaponsweaponeweapon ofot an infantry regiment mustsuet be an in-inin-
tegralin-
tegralin--
tegrali-n te-
gralT-
erra-
tegralTerra part ofaf the unit making the main effort ,. and not havinghaving-
thehavi-
nghaving-
thehavi-
nghaving-
thehavi-
ngthe missionmilsion of supporting8upporting . This waswaewade the real reasonrea80n why thethe-
machine
tea-
chingthe-
machine
tea-
chingthe-
machine
tea-
chingmachine gun becbeckbecame.. a& partput of the battalion and under the com-comco-m"Dc
com-
mand
corn--
oand
co-rn
oa-nd
a-nd
-
"DcDcmandMandy" ! of ununit!t cconnandercommanderand.eranderLander. .
68 - Sufficient staffetafttaft wiwithth each headquartersheadquarter. to enable or allowallow-
theall-
otallow-
theall-
otallow-
theall-
otthe unit cooaandercoeandercolanderoleanderc 8I1d.r8I1dr. to &assume8.ua8ua. . the ottenligottenoffensive". and not keekeelkeep> a& paperpape-
rbattle
pape-
rbackpape-
rbattle
pape-
rback. battle with the higherh1per headquartershe&4quarterhe4quarter& . , as. continuallycODtl11ua11J llappenedhappenedlampoonedllappened-
during
happened-
duringhappe-
ned,M ppened-
during
pen-nedduring the late war . It proved itselfit.lfitlfit,. conclusivelyconclu81'Yelconclu81Yel' )' ,. hence thethe-
new
the-
methe-
new
the-
methe-
new
the-
menew organization .,
9e OrganisationOrgan1a.t1onOrgan1at1onOrganization. shouldahould be led up to a major operation , itifit-po.sible
im-
possibleif-
possible
im-
possibleif-
possible
im-
possiblepo.sibleposiblepossible. ,. therebythereb7 training officersofticerofficer; in the art of warfarewarfare.-
actUal
warfare-
actUalwarf-
are.,
actac triala1 warfarewartarewarfaretwarfarethatwarfaret, that. cannotCUlDOtClot bbee done by' lI&DeUTerslIDeUTersmaneuvers,indenters&neuversneuters . The 91stilltill21 .
DivisionDivilion jumped directly into the ArgonneJargoned , and officersofficers-had
office-rs
officers-had
office-rs
officers-had
office-rshad never been called upon fortortore the real testtest,-10
test-10
,.
1010RelievingRelieving-Relieving--, organization commanderscommand ere on the eve of battle"battle-
works
battle-works
battle-dores
" ,
works a great disadvantage to the organization ,.
On the whole , the 161st181st Brigade foughttoughtthought well , and onlyonly-
minor
Oly-mpian
only-
minor
Oly-mpian
only-
ainorcom-
plainerminor errorserroreerror of Junior commanders caused any inconvenience .
2221 .
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