Chapter XIX

COMRADES ON THE MARCH. BROTHERS IN THE SLEEP OF DEATH.

POLICY OF SUBSTITUTING WHITE OFFICERS---INJUSTICE TO CAPABLE NEGROES--DISAPPOINTMENT BUT NO OPEN RESENTMENT--SHOWED THEMSELVES SOLDIERS--INTENSER FIGHTING SPIRIT AROUSED--RACE FORGOTTEN IN PERILS OF WAR--BOTH WHITES AND BLACKS GENEROUS--AFFECTION BETWEEN OFFICERS AND MEN--NEGROES PREFERRED DEATH TO CAPTIVITY--OUTSTANDING HEROES OF 371ST AND 372ND--WINNERS OF CROSSES

Changing from Negro to white officers was in accordance with the military policy of the American Government; the generic inspiration and root being found in national prejudice, incident to the institution of slavery and the spirit of racial caste and narrowness, that still disgraces it. Doubt was pretended to be entertained of the ability of the colored man to command, and although there were not lacking champions for the policy of placing capable Negroes in command of Negro units, the weight of opinion; superinduced and fostered by racial prejudice, inclined to the opposite course.

In the light of the fine record made by such Negro officers as were given responsible commands, let us hope for the future honor of the nation; preening herself as being in the vanguard of the progressive commonwealths of the age, that a policy so unjust, narrow and unworthy will; as quickly as feasible be abandoned. In favor of Negro commanders is the additional testimony of high French generals, who knew no color distinction and could see no reason why a Negro should not command his own race troops if he had intelligence, courage and military skill. Indeed there are not wanting in the annals of French warfare brilliant examples where men of African blood commanded not only mulattoes and blacks, but heroic whites as well. It is not of record that those white Frenchmen showed any reluctance to follow such leaders or viewed them with less affection than they did their white officers.

One should not say that the Negro troops would have fought any better under the men of their own race. They achieved all possible glory as it was. They simply did their duty whether their officers were white or black. But that they did not fight any the less valiantly or efficiently under men of their own race is abundantly proven by the record of the 370th, or the 8th Illinois as the soldiers and their people still prefer to call it; and other units which had Negroes in responsible positions.

That there was disappointment, chagrin and anger in the rank and file of the Negro soldiers when their own officers were taken from them and white men substituted was natural and quite to be expected.

However, there was little open murmuring. While the Negro regarded the removal of the officers who had trained him and were, in a sense, his comrades, unfair and uncalled for, his fighting spirit, seemed to burn with an intenser heat; a determination to do his best to show and shame the spirit that robbed him of his own race leaders, and at the same time convince his white commanders of the stuff he was made of.

There was much disappointment in the ranks of the District of Columbia battalion, when the place of its old leader was taken by Major Clark L. Dickson, twenty-seven years of age, one of the youngest--if not the youngest--of battalion commanders in the American army. But their disappointment was soon allayed, for Major Dickson made an enviable record. He received the Croix de Guerre with this citation:

"Most efficient officer, valorous and intrepid, acting in dual
capacity as regimental adjutant and operation officer. Displayed
the utmost energy in issuing operation orders during the period
between September 26th and October 6th, 1918, and especially
distinguished himself in crossing a roadway under violent artillery
fire to give assistance to a wounded brother officer. His clear
view of the situation at all times and the accuracy with which he
issued the necessary orders required of him, contributed largely to
the success of the regiment."

Many of his men have stated that the citation only hinted at the real accomplishments of Major Dickson.

In the rigors of war and the perils of battle, men serving side by side, forget race. They simply realize that they are sharing hardships in common; are beset by a common foe and are the subjects of common dangers. Under such circumstances they become comrades. They learn to admire each other and willingly give to each other a full measure of praise and appreciation. The Negro soldiers generally, have expressed unstintedly, approbation and praise of their white officers; and the officers have been equally generous. Here is an appreciation by one of the officers of the 372nd regiment, Lieutenant Jerome Meyer of Washington, concerning the men of that organization:

"Casualties were heavy because the colored lads fought to the last,
cheerfully accepting death in preference to captivity. Their
adeptness in mastering the throwing of hand grenades and in
operating the machine guns quickly won them the esteem of the
French. Remember, that the colored lads were quite new to warfare.
But in the Champagne they fought with a persistence and courage
that enabled them to hold permanently the ground they gained and
won for many of them their decorations. Not a few of the prisoners
taken by the regiment declared that the Germans were in positive
fear of the Negroes, who, they complained, would never quit even
under terrible fire."

One of the outstanding heroes of the 372nd regiment was Sergeant Ira Payne, of 325 Fifteenth Street, Washington, D.C. He won the Croix de Guerre and the Distinguished Service Cross, and according to his comrades, "was not afraid of the devil himself." His story as related by himself on his return home, follows:

"During the fighting at Sechault the Germans were picking off the
men of my platoon from behind a bush. They had several machine guns
and kept up a deadly fire in spite of our rifle fire directed at
the bush. We did our best to stop those machine guns, but the
German aim became so accurate that they were picking off five of my
men every minute. We couldn't stand for that.

"Well, I decided that I would get that little machine gun nest
myself, and I went after it. I left our company, detoured, and, by
a piece of luck got behind the bush. I got my rifle into action and
'knocked off' two of those German machine gunners. That ended it.
The other Germans couldn't stand so much excitement. The Boches
surrendered and I took them into our trenches as prisoners."

Not a long story for such an able and courageous exploit, yet it contains the germ for an epic recital on bravery.

First Sergeant John A. Johnson a colored member of Company B, was decorated with the Croix de Guerre with palm for exceptional bravery during a charge over the top, and for capturing single-handed, two Hun soldiers who later proved valuable as sources of information. Sergeant Johnson's home was at 1117 New Jersey Avenue, Washington, D.C. He was equally reticent about boasting of his deeds.

"Near Sechault during the time the District men were making a big
effort to capture the town," said Johnson, "I was put in the front
lines not fifty feet away from the enemy. A greater part of the
time I was exposed to machine gun fire. I suppose I got my medal
because I stuck to my men in the trenches and going over the top.
Quite a few of the boys were bumped off at that point."

Another hero was Benjamin Butler, a private. The citation with his Croix de Guerre read: "For displaying gallantry and bravery and distinguishing himself in carrying out orders during the attack on Sechault, September 29, 1918, under heavy bombardment and machine gun fire."

"I did very little," Butler said. "During this fight with several
others, I carried dispatches to the front line trenches from
headquarters. They decorated me, I suppose, because I was the only
one lucky enough to escape being knocked off."

Private Charles E. Cross of 1157 Twenty-first street, Washington, D.C. was awarded the Croix de Guerre, his citation reading: "For his speed and reliability in carrying orders to platoons in the first line under the enemy's bombardment on September 29, 1918." In some cases he had to creep across No Man's Land and a greater part of the time was directly exposed to the enemy's fire.

Private William H. Braxton, a member of the machine gun company of the regiment, whose residence was at 2106 Ward Place, Washington D.C., received the Croix de Guorre for "displaying zealous bravery."

"An enemy party," reads his citation, "having filtered through his
platoon and attacked same in the rear. Private Braxton displayed
marked gallantry in opening fire on the enemy and killing one and
wounding several others, finally dispersing the entire party."

"The men who stuck by me when death stared them in their faces,"
said Braxton, "deserve just as much credit as I do. I was only the
temporary leader of the men."

Corporal Depew Pryor, of Detroit, Michigan, was awarded the Medal Militaire, one of the most coveted honors within the gift of the French army, as well as the American Distinguished Service Cross. Pryor saw Germans capture a Frenchman. Grabbing an armful of grenades, he dashed upon the Germans killing, wounding or routing a party of ten and liberating the Frenchman.

Sergeant Bruce Meddows, 285 Erskine street, Detroit, Michigan, brought home the Croix de Guerre with silver star, which he won for bringing down an aeroplane with an automatic rifle.

To have forty-six horses which he drove in carting ammunition up to the front lines, killed in five months was the experience of Arthur B. Hayes, 174 Pacific Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. He returned home sick, with practically no wounds after risking his life daily for months.

Sergeant George H. Jordan of Company L, whose home was in Boston, Mass., won the Croix de Guerre and palm for taking charge of an ammunition train at Verdun, when the commanding officer had been killed by a shell. He saved and brought through eight of the seventeen wagons.

Lieutenant James E. Sanford of Washington, D.C., one of the early Negro officers of the 372nd, was captured in Avocourt Woods near Verdun, August 19, 1918. He was endeavoring to gain a strategic position with his men when he was met by an overpowering force concealed behind camouflaged outposts, he was taken to Karlsruhe and transferred to three other German prison camps, in all of which he suffered from bad and insufficient food and the brutality of the German guards.

Major Johnson led his battalion of the 372nd in an attack in the Champagne which resulted in the capture of a German trench, 100 prisoners, an ammunition dump, thirty machine guns and two howitzers. He received the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor decoration from the French, as well as the Distinguished Service Cross from General Pershing.

Company B of the 372nd, took at Sechault in a raid, seventy-five prisoners and four machine guns.

One of the distinguished units of the 372nd, was the old and famous Company L of the Massachusetts National Guard. This unit was assembled at Camp Devens and left soon after the declaration of war for the south. It was stationed for a time at Newport News, and was then incorporated with the 372nd, went to France with that organization and saw its share of service throughout the campaign. Other distinguished units were the well known Ninth Ohio Battalion National Guard, and National Guard companies from Connecticut, Maryland and Tennessee.

Brigaded with the 372nd in the French "Red Hand" division, was another Negro regiment, the 371st, made up principally of selectives from South Carolina. It was commanded by Colonel P.L. Miles. Among the officers were Major Thomas Moffatt and Captain William R. Richey from Charleston.

The regiment saw practically the same service as the 372nd under General Goybet, was mentioned in divisional and special orders, was decorated by Vice Admiral Moreau, Maritime Prefect of Brest, at the same time the honor was conferred on the 372nd. The two regiments were together for seven months. The men of the 371st especially distinguished themselves at Crete des Observatories, Ardeuil and in the plains of Monthois. Seventy-one individual members received the Croix de Guerre and some the Distinguished Service Cross. Among the latter were the following:

Sergeant Lee R. McClelland, Medical Detachment, home address, Boston, Mass., for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30, 1918.

Corporal Sandy E. Jones, Company C, home address Sumter, S.C.; for extraordinary heroism in action in the Champagne, September 28 and 29, 1918.

Private Bruce Stoney, Medical Detachment, home address, Allendale, S.C.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, 1918.

Private Charlie Butler, Machine Gun Company, home address, McComb, Miss.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, 1918.

Private Willie Boston, Machine Gun Company, home address, Roopville, Ga.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, 1918.

Private Tillman Webster, Machine Gun Company, home address, Alexandria, La.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 29, 1918.

Private Ellison Moses, Company C, home address, Mayesville, S.C.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30, 1918.

Private Hunius Diggs, Company G, home address, Lilesville, N.C.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30, 1918.

The two regiments, besides the regimental Croix de Guerre, awarded for gallantry in the Champagne, won individual decorations amounting in the aggregate to 168 Croix de Guerre, 38 Distinguished Service Crosses, four Medal Militaire and two crosses of the Legion of Honor.

An incident of the service of the 371st and particularly emphasizing the honesty and faithfulness of the Negro Y.M.C.A. and the regiment's medical detachment, was the case of Prof. H.O. Cook, a teacher in the Lincoln High School at Kansas City, Mo. Professor Cook, a Y.M.C.A. man attached to the sector which the 371st was holding during the great offensive in September, went with the men to the front line trenches and rendered valuable aid among the wounded until he was gassed. Owing to the fact that there were no facilities at that particular time, for the safe keeping of money and valuables, he carried on his person more than 150,000 francs (in normal times $30,000) which boys in the regiment had given him to keep when they went over the top.

After being gassed he was walked over for an hour before being discovered. The money was found and sent by Sergeant Major White also colored, to general headquarters at Chaumont. When Prof. Cook was discharged from the hospital and made inquiry about the money, it was returned to him. Not a cent was missing. Colonel Miles recommended that General Pershing award Prof. Cook a Distinguished Service Cross.

The men of the 93rd Division and other Negro divisions and organizations will never forget their French comrades and friends. It was a lad of the 371st regiment who wrote the following to his mother. The censor allowed the original to proceed but copied the extract as a document of human interest; in that it was a boyish and unconscious arraignment of his own country--for which he with many thousands of others, were risking their lives.

"Mammy,
these French people don't bother with no color line business. They
treat us so good that the only time I ever know I'm colored is when
I look in the glass."

The 371st regiment had 123 men killed in action and about 600 wounded or gassed. The casualties of the 372nd consisted of 91 killed in action and between 600 and 700 wounded or gassed. Like the other Negro regiments of the 93rd Division, there was comparatively little sickness among the men, outside of that induced by hard service conditions.

HEROES OF THE 371ST AND 372ND.

The names listed below are cross and medal winners. The exploits of some are told in detail in the chapters devoted to their regiments. There are many known to have received decorations whose names are not yet on the records.

Cross of the Legion of Honor
372ND REGIMENT.
Major Johnson

Medal Militaire
372ND REGIMENT.
Corp. Depew Pryor
Corp. Clifton Morrison
Pvt. Clarence Van Allen

Distinguished Service Cross
371ST REGIMENT.
Sergt Lee R. McClelland
Corp. Sandy E. Jones
Pvt. Bruce Stoney
Pvt. Charlie Butler
Pvt. Willie Boston
Pvt. Tillman Webster
Pvt. Ellison Moses
Pvt. Hunius Diggs

372ND REGIMENT
Major Johnson
Sergt. Ira M. Payne
Corp. Depew Pryor

Croix de Guerre
372ND REGIMENT.
Col. Herschell Tupes
Major Johnson
Major Clark L. Dickson
Lieut. Jerome Meyer
Sergt. Major Samuel B. Webster
Sergt. John A. Johnson
Sergt. Ira M. Payne
Sergt James A. Marshall
Sergt. Norman Jones
Pvt. Warwick Alexander
Pvt. George H. Budd
Pvt. Thomas A. Frederick
Pvt. John S. Parks
Pvt. Charles H. Murphy
Pvt. William N. Mathew
Pvt. Ernest Payne
Sergt. Homer Crabtree
Sergt. Norman Winsmore
Sergt. William A. Carter
Sergt. George H. Jordan
Sergt. Bruce Meddows
Sergt. Harry Gibson
Corp. John R. White
Corp. Benjamin Butler
Corp. March Graham
Pvt. Joseph McKamey
Pvt. William Dickerson
Pvt. William Johnson
Pvt. Walter Dennis
Pvt. Charles E. Cross
Pvt. William H. Braxton
Pvt. Nunley Matthews