History of the American Negro in the Great World War eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 392 pages of information about History of the American Negro in the Great World War.

History of the American Negro in the Great World War eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 392 pages of information about History of the American Negro in the Great World War.

On September 15, 1918, the regiment received orders to move again toward the front.  From Mareuil-sur-Ourcq to the region of St. Bandry (Meuse) the movement was made in motor trucks.  On September 16, 1918, the journey was resumed, the regiment proceeding by marching.  Upon arrival at Tartier, Companies F and G were sent to Monte Couve (Aisne) to join the 232nd Regiment of Infantry, and Companies I and L pushed forward to Bagneux (Aisne) to join the 325th Regiment.  The 1st battalion proceeded the next day to the caves in the vicinity of Les Tueries, the 3rd battalion moved up into the reserve in the region of Antioch Farm with the remainder of the 2nd battalion.

As soon as Companies F, G, I and L had moved up and taken position in the lines opposite Mont des Signes an attack was ordered.  Attacks on the enemy positions on the plateau of Mont des Signes were almost continuous from the date of arrival of these companies until about September 21, 1918, when they were withdrawn and joined their battalions.  These companies acquitted themselves with credit.  One platoon under command of Sergeant Matthew Jenkins, Company F, took a large section of the enemy works for which the sergeant was awarded both the French Croix de Guerre and the American Distinguished Service Cross.

About the 22nd of September, the regiment for the first time took over a full regimental sector, the Battalion Stokes relieving the Battalion Garnier in the positions outlined by La Folie-l’Ecluse on the Canal l’Oise-l’Aisne and the Farm Gulliminet, the Battalion Patton going into the support positions at Mont des Tombes and the Battalion Duncan going into reserve at Tincelle Farm.  Colonel Roberts located his commanding post at Antioch Farm.  From the date of arrival in these positions until the enemy began to retreat on October 12, 1918, the entire area occupied by the regiment was almost constantly shelled, gas being used frequently.  The front lines were almost constantly under the fire of enemy minnenwurfers and numerous machine guns located in the Bois de Mortier, a very dense wood north of the canal.

On the night of September 26-27, 1918, the Battalion Patton was ordered to relieve with like units one-half of each of the companies of the Battalion Stokes in the front lines and soon after the relief was completed an attack along the l’Oise-l’Aisne Canal was ordered.  By the extreme of effort the remainder of the Battalion Patton was brought up and having completed the relief of the Battalion Stokes, the attack began as ordered.  The attack continued until October 4th, on which date all objectives had been gained and the enemy pushed back across the canal.  On September 30th the Battalion Duncan was thrown into the fight and two companies of the Battalion Patton withdrawn to the support.  The Battalion Duncan was ordered to make a frontal attack which necessitated an advance across the open fields.  This was successfully accomplished, the battalion being subjected to intense artillery, machine gun and rifle fire continuously.  The Battalion Duncan, having gained its objectives, the Farm de la Riviere and the railroad south of the canal, held on tenaciously in spite of the intense fire of the enemy and held the positions gained until the pursuit began on October 12, 1918, when it passed into the reserve of the division.

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History of the American Negro in the Great World War from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.