It is not intended to convey the impression that the Negroes were entirely responsible for the victory before Metz.  Many thousands of white troops participated and fought just as valiantly.  But this History concerns itself with the operations of Negro soldiers and with bringing out as many of the details of those operations as the records at this time will supply.

CHAPTER XXI

THE LONG, LONG TRAIL

Operations of 368th infantry—­negroes from Pennsylvania, Maryland and south—­in Argonne hell—­defeat iron cross veterans—­valiant personal exploits—­lieutenant Robert Campbell—­private John Baker—­operations of 367th infantry—­“Moss’s buffaloes”—­365Th and 366th regiments—­the great divide—­their souls are marching on—­praised by Pershing—­some citations

When the history of the 92nd Division is written in detail, much prominence will necessarily be given to the operations of the 368th Infantry.  This unit was composed of Negroes mostly from Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Southern states.  They went abroad happy, light-hearted boys to whom any enterprise outside of their regular routine was an adventure.  They received adventure a plenty; enough to last most of them for their natural lives.  They returned matured, grim-visaged men who had formed a companionship and a comradeship with death.  For months they were accustomed to look daily down the long, long trail leading to the Great Divide.  They left behind many who traveled the trail and went over the Divide.  Peril was their constant attendant, danger so familiar that they greeted it with a smile.

It has been noted that this unit of the division saw real service prior to the campaign leading from Pont Mousson to Metz.  Their first action was in August in the Vosges sector.  This was largely day and night raiding from front line trenches.  A month later they were in that bit of hell known as the Argonne Forest, where on September 26th, they covered themselves with glory.

They were excellent soldiers with a large number of Negro officers, principally men who had been promoted from the ranks of non-commissioned officers in the Regular Army.

Their commander during the last six weeks of the war, the time when they saw most of their hard service, was Lieutenant Colonel T.A.  Rothwell, a Regular Army officer.  He went abroad as commander of a machine gun battalion in the 80th Division, later was transferred to the 367th infantry and finally to the 368th.  Many of the officers of the latter organization had served under Colonel Rothwell as non-commissioned officers of the Regular Army.  He paid them a high tribute in stating that they proved themselves excellent disciplinarians and leaders.  He was also very proud of the enlisted men of the regiment.