JIRSIRS B- MBU-ARGONNBSI-...freight thorou-ghfare plowed its way through the last seven or eight carscarescares-leaving corr-elating cars-coa-rsening, death and destruction in its

- f/?.,

.

44-

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. ..JJ'..

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THBTHKTHRTBTKOTHOR INFANTRY SCHOOLSCHOOL-FOURTH

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SHOO-TOUTFOURTH SECTIONSECTION-COIDlITT.i

SECTION-COMMITTAL

SECTION-COMMITTAflCOIDlITT.iCOIDlITTiCOMMITTALAcidities.&. HH-

FORTF-

ORTH-

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ORTFORT BBNNITOBENNINGBRNNITTGBONITOBANNINGBENNETT , GBORGIAGEORGIA .,

ADVANCADVANCEADVANCifiDADVANCEDAdvanceD COURSE ,.

THXDTHR!TXTHOR 336262 D'JDJINFANTRY-IN

INFANT-RY 'INFANTRYINFANTRY-IN

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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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Documents

JIRSIRS B- MBU-ARGONNBSI-...freight thorou-ghfare plowed its way through the last seven or eight carscarescares-leaving corr-elating cars-coa-rsening, death and destruction in its