Chapter VII: Meuse-Argonne

Sept. 28th: Today the company commander left the company, leaving same in charge of Lt. Dunn, the only officer left. He reorganized the company--two platoons of about 40 men each was our strength. We remained in reserve in the Bois des Grandes positions until the night of October 4th. It was during this period that rumors of the enemy countries, Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria having quit reached us, causing a great deal of discussion and doing much to keep the morale at its highest. Sergeant Reid left for Officers’ Training School.

Oct. 4th: “We are going out for a rest”--These words were heard all through the company. Shortly before dark we left our position and marched to the road that led through Limey and remained there until midnight. We then started on what was one of the most tiresome hikes we ever experienced, and finally, at 5:30 A. M., reached the forest de la Reine. A fact that is worthy of mention and probably refreshes the reader’s mind of incidents of the night was what seemed to be a direct hit on an ammunition dump to the right. The sky was brilliantly illuminated and was the cause of numerous rumors and suggestions as to the reason of the glare. We remained here until about 4:00 P. M. October 6th, and then started off for what we fondly believed was a rest. Subsequent events proved that our hopes were not to be fulfilled. It was here that Lt. Luhn joined the company. After hiking until midnight, most of the time through rain, we reached Mecrin and were so tired that regardless of the weather we threw ourselves on the ground and without further aid went to sleep until the following morning. Sgt. Perry rejoined the company at this place. At 11:30 A. M., we started again on a hike to Pierrefitte, arriving at 10 P. M., having covered about 24 kilos. It was again our fate to have mother earth for a bed this night.

From here we hiked a short distance to Nicey, where we took busses for a 40 kilo trip to Beauchamp Ferme in the Forest de Argonne, arriving about 10 P. M. in what seemed to be the darkest spot on earth. As usual it was raining, and this added greatly to our discomfort. There were only sufficient barracks for one company, the rest of the outfit had to sleep in their shelter tents, pitched in spots that were not very appealing when revealed at dawn. Lt. Dunn having been ill for some time left us here and Lt. Lahey took command of the company, having been transferred from Company “I.” Sgt. Perry having been made 1st Sergeant upon his return to the company aided materially in reorganizing the company. We had a few days of much needed rest here and also consumed quantities of wood in making bonfires that dried us out and made life a little more cheerful.

At 2:00 A. M. October 10th we aroused from our slumbers with orders to roll packs and be ready to leave at once. This was another example of how things are done in the army. Having spent several hours in rolling packs and getting breakfast, it was 7:30 A. M. before we started out. Our hikes of several days previous to arrival at this camp had taken us through many ruined villages and parts of the country recently evacuated by the enemy. Today’s hike covered 22 kilos and brought us into the heart of the Argonne, the same ground having been bitterly contested by opposing armies only a week previous. It was here that we were able to form a definite idea of how the Germans lived behind the lines. Every hillside was covered with dugouts made of concrete and heavily timbered and furnished in a style that had been unknown to us during the past four months. In the Limey Sector we found some German camps that were fitted up in grand style, but these could not be compared with the ones mentioned above. The officers’ quarters were equipped with shower baths and in one place a large swimming pool. Everything seemed to denote that the Germans intended to stay there for all time. The signs on the trees and every crossroad led one to believe that the Germans were a nation of sign painters. Arriving at our destination after hiking about 23 kilos we appreciated an opportunity to rest and lost no time in pitching tents and getting a much needed sleep.

The following day we marched about 4 kilos and took up a position in the Bois de Chatel. It was here, on the eve of October 12th, that our much battered company of approximately 80 men, all veterans of the St. Mihiel, received 104 replacements from the 86th Division. Some of these men had never fired a rifle and were not familiar with the use of the gas mask. The company was again reorganized. The four platoons were placed in charge of Sergeants Newell, Lehy, White and Weber, respectively; to these men and our two officers, Lts. Lahey and Luhn, is due the credit of training these new and inexperienced men so that when they were called upon they made a creditable showing. Too much cannot be said about the way these men took care of what seemed to be almost a hopeless task.

October 15th again brought us under shell fire. About 8:00 P. M. we left our positions and marched through heavy rains to relieve a unit of the 308th Infantry, west of La Folie Ferme. We took up our position about 3:00 A. M. and despite the fact that we were wet through, made ourselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit, only to be awakened at 5:30 A. M. to prepare to advance at once. While preparing, Jerry saluted us with a barrage that, while it lasted, was very annoying and upset the new men exceedingly, this being the first time they had ever been under shell fire. This lasted only for a few minutes and after their baptism they all acted like seasoned veterans. This relief having been made during the darkness of the night, the units encountered great difficulty in keeping the men together. There was considerable mixup on the road that led to Chevieres; three columns of troops and a transport train trying to pass at one time. This caused a great deal of confusion and the result was that many of the new men became separated from the company and did not rejoin us until the following morning. On October 17th Sergeants Levy and Wilson left for Officers’ Training School. This morning we lost Sergeant Lehy; he was killed just one hour before he was ordered to leave for Officers’ Training School.

Oct. 18th: At 10:00 P. M. we took up a position in the front line to the west of Chevieres, relieving our 2nd Battalion. At 3:00 A. M. we stepped off in a line of combat groups in support of “C” company, and advanced through heavy artillery and machine gun fire. We reached our objective at daybreak and held same through the day under continual fire from the enemy snipers and machine guns. Enemy planes endeavored to locate our position and flew so low that the aviators were easily seen. Their object no doubt was to signal their artillery the location of our position, but judging from the heavy barrage that fell directly in back of us, their efforts were not crowned with success. We suffered quite a few casualties during this attack, among whom was Sgt. Welch, who had been recommended for a D. S. C. for bravery at St. Mihiel. He was wounded in seven different places by machine gun bullets, but refused to be evacuated until the other wounded men had been taken care of. Owing to our advanced position, and both the units on our flanks having failed to obtain their objectives, we were subject to such a heavy fire that it was impossible to evacuate our wounded until dark. Toward evening the enemy closed in on both flanks, and on our front, making our position untenable, and under cover of darkness drew close enough to drop hand grenades among our fox holes. This caused our officers to call for volunteers to carry a message to the Battalion Commander. After several runners had failed to get through, Sgt. White had volunteered to carry the message and reached Battalion Headquarters P. C. in safety and returned with instructions to have the company withdraw. He was awarded a D. S. C. for this brave act. His entire route was continually subject to heavy artillery and machine gun fire. By performing this deed he undoubtedly saved many lives and enabled the company to make an orderly retreat to the position they left that morning. He also assisted in directing the evacuation of the wounded; every man was removed without further casualties. During the activities the enemy continually sent up rockets and flares so that our movements could only be made during short minute periods of darkness. Too much credit cannot be given to both Lt. Lahey and Lt. Luhn. Their bravery and unselfish action in face of the enemy did much to keep up the morale of the men. We fell back to the position we had left that morning, and remained until 6:00 A. M. Then we fell back to railroad track running from Chevieres to Grand Pre, where we remained about four hours and then advanced again and took up our position along the River Aire. Here we remained for nine days and nights under continuous shell fire. While we suffered no casualties at this place from the enemy fire, several of our men were evacuated with influenza. One great difficulty that we experienced here was that of obtaining rations, as it was impossible to bring them up during the day, and at night Jerry threw over such a heavy shell fire that made the work of the ration parties extremely hazardous.

On Saturday evening, October 26th, we were relieved by the 310th Infantry and took up a position in Brigade Reserve in the Bois de Negremont. This day Lt. Luhn was transferred to “D” Company, and we were again left with only one officer. Having lost a great many men, it was necessary to reorganize the company again. There were only sufficient men left to form two platoons. This position was subject to intermittent shell fire which caused occasional casualties.

The night of October 29th-30th will be one that will be long remembered by those men who were present with us. The enemy had been shelling us the entire evening without causing any casualties. It was about 1:30 A. M. a shell, the last one he fired that night, struck a tree directly over our camp and exploded. It killed or wounded 14 men, and Lt. Lahey was also severely wounded. Lt. Lahey’s bravery at this critical period was such that his men never cease praising him. While wounded so seriously that he died two days later, he directed the evacuation of all the other wounded men and gave instructions to the non-commissioned officers left with the company, before he permitted himself to be evacuated. Sgt. Newell, then acting 1st Sergeant, was killed instantly by this same shell. Sgt. White was now in command of the company and did excellent work keeping the company organized until the arrival of Lt. Gardenier. The following day, October 30th, the enemy resumed their heavy shelling and we suffered several more casualties in killed and wounded. During our stay in the Bois de Negremont we were fortunate enough to get a bath by walking five miles for it, and a change of underwear, but seldom it was indeed that we received more than one meal a day, so continuous was the enemy shell fire.

Oct. 29th: The position of the company was still in the Bois de Negremont, in Brigade Reserve. Pvt. Koehler was killed by shell fire during the day. Toward evening the shelling let up and was fitful and erratic from that time on. Lt. Gardenier arrived in the evening and took command of the company which was at the time in charge of Sgt. White.

Oct. 30th: The morning was spent in reorganizing the company and issuing equipment preparatory to the drive which was to start the following day. The company was divided into two platoons, the first under Corporal Ahearn, and the second under Corporal Thomas White; with Sgt. White second in command of the company. Pvt. Koehler was buried at La Noua le Coq, near the chateau. There was considerable shelling during the afternoon, but there were no casualties, and the appearance of a big consignment of rations in the evening did much to hearten the men. Enemy shell fire had interfered with the rations considerably up to this time, as there was but one route the ration parties could take and it seemed to be quite familiar to the Boche artillerymen.

Combat packs were made at night and the company was ready to move early in the morning as the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were to attack at dawn. In the afternoon a pirate 75 was moved up behind our position and engaged in an artillery duel with a Boche battery until late at night. The only result being a fairly continuous shelling of our area.

Nov. 1st: At 2:30 A. M. the barrage preparatory to the launching of the second phase of the Meuse-Argonne opened. The sky behind us was a flickering, gleaming red. The roar was as of myriad drums rolling almost in unison, and the air overhead seemed almost alive with whistling visiting cards to the departing Jerry. The effect of this on the men who had heard little but shells coming in their direction was tremendous. The men walked about the hills whistling and singing and the erstwhile quiet forest was alive with conjectures as to what was happening when the winged death that was flying overhead arrived at its destination. After the firing had ceased there was extreme quietness and there was no activity during the night.

Nov. 2nd: The company was held in readiness throughout the day, and after mess in the evening packs were slung and the Battalion moved out. It began to rain just at the start, and the path we followed in the pitch black forest was steep and slippery. We progressed slowly over the plain between la Noua le Coq and the Aire River and entered the shell-torn town of Grand Pre. Passing through the ruins along the Kron Printz Strasse, we went north to the road fork between Grand Pre and Ferme des Loges. Here the company was detached from the Battalion, Lt. Conroy was placed in command and we waited for trucks to enable us to overtake the now flying enemy. Trucks were boarded about 11:00 P. M. and we bumped over the shell-torn road in the general direction of Germany, until our way was blocked by a mine hole not yet repaired. We debussed and hiked to Briquenay, where we found the 312th Infantry had the situation in hand and with the exception of about twenty men who formed an ammunition detail for the 309th Machine Gun Battalion, we turned into some German billets about 2:30 A. M. The infantry advance up to this time had been so swift that the artillery had been unable to catch up to us, having set up their guns three times without firing a shot.

Nov. 3rd: During the day the 2nd Battalion passed through Briquenay and we were held there. Most of the time was spent in improvising meals and exploring the debris left by the enemy in his hasty flight. Toward evening about 200 American airplanes in combat formation flew over going north. Lt. Conroy returned to Battalion Headquarters. About 5:00 P. M. the rest of the Battalion moved out and through a misunderstanding the company was left behind. When our plight was discovered we set out for Germond, and after passing a Battalion of the 308th Infantry on the road arrived just in time to get the last available billets. Germond at that time held the four Regimental P. C.’s of our division, one of the 77th and somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 troops.

Nov. 4th: At 5:00 A. M. we started for Authe, after the heartrending procedure of passing a battalion of the 308th Infantry lined up for a hot meal. We went through Authe to Brieulles under fairly heavy shell fire where the road had been blown up, six mines having been placed at a bridge and we were forced to make a long detour through a swamp. From there we proceeded to Les Petites Armoises as the advanced guard of the Brigade. It was a gruelling hike and considering the condition of the men, the spirit shown was remarkable, and we halted south of the town only four men less than we had left Germond with in the morning. Artillery was quite active there and we witnessed some wonderful work by German batteries and an airplane in destroying a group of buildings to the west of us.

On entering the town we were greeted by delighted civilians who had been under German rule for four years and who gave us some atrocious black bread covered with lard which almost tasted good. They also warned us that the enemy had a machine gun nest to the north of the village.

After deploying we started up the hill, and soon as scouts appeared above the crest machine guns opened up on them. In the subsequent reconnaissance Privates Sullivan and Burchell were killed by machine gun fire. One gun was located about 300 meters in front of us and in an effort to flank its position the right of the company was deployed along the crest of the hill, and was in position to rush it, but it was cut off by fire from the flank. After three attempts Sgt. White brought the left flank to a similar position only to have the advance halted by another machine gun. As it seemed impossible to advance without auxiliary weapons the company was withdrawn and dug in half way down the hill. “D” company established contact on our left but there was nothing on our right but German machine guns. Corporal Miller led a patrol in an effort to put the guns out of action, but was unsuccessful because of the covering fire from other guns and the openness of the country. About 3:00 P. M. two airplanes arrived and one by his near presence causing a Boche plane to retire, dropped a message which said “There are Boche machine guns in a shell hole 200 meters to your front.” This information was somewhat superfluous, but the affair was interesting. The other plane, endeavoring to locate Company “D” flew too low and landed on a hill about 500 yards in front of our line. The aviator unhurt got out of the machine and in spite of the hails of our outpost he headed for Germany and was seen no more. The plane was dragged by the enemy to a point north of Tannay and demolished. About 5:00 P. M. Boche artillery opened up and played a steady stream of fire on the town, and by no means neglected our position. A strong point made up of men from Company “C” was scarcely located in their new position when a shell severely wounded two of their men. The loss of our First Aid Man who was killed by a shell early in the evening greatly handicapped the evacuation of the wounded.

From 5:00 P. M. to 1:00 A. M. there was a perfect hail of shells and machine gun bullets while enemy airplanes dropped bombs on the town itself. Corporal Peter did excellent work during this time keeping the outposts organized. Casualties--killed 5, wounded 9.

Nov. 5th: About 3:30 A. M. the enemy machine guns pulled out and at 5:00 A. M. the company retired to les Petites Armoises for breakfast and then went on to Tannay. After reconnaissance by the Battalion a patrol of 30 men was called for to establish a strong point in a patch of woods northwest of the town. An effort was also to be made to obtain liaison with units on our right. The first platoon was called upon and though practically exhausted they responded promptly and went up to take their position. Lt. Gardenier with three runners went on until contact was established with the 165th Infantry just north of Sy. Sgt. Ahearn meanwhile, finding no opposition in the woods designated, pushed his jaded men to the edge of the Bois de Mont Diens, about two kilometers further on and began to exchange courtesies with a lonely machine gunner. To this detachment belongs the distinction of being the unit of the 78th Division nearest Germany when the relief came.

When the 166th Infantry had leapfrogged us at 3:30 P. M., the company pulled back into Tannay at 4:15 P. M. just in time to begin hiking back. It was raining again, and it was a dismal hike to Les Petites Armoises where no billets were available, and the only alternative was Brieulles, 7 kilometers further on. Over a road pitted with shell holes, filled with troops, transport and artillery headed in the opposite direction, the company plodded on, arriving at Brieulles about midnight. A conservative estimate of the distance covered by the first platoon that day is thirty kilometers and all under the most trying conditions. On reaching Brieulles we shared a church with “C” company and while some sat up and others stood crowded into corners, everybody slept. We left Brieulles at 5:00 A. M. and hiked to Authe where, Nov. 6th, a hot breakfast put new life in the company, which was fortunate, because though we did not know it at the start, there were twenty-two gruelling kilometers in front of us. After hiking continuously until 5:30 P. M. we reached La Folie Ferme and stayed the night in these familiar haunts.

Nov. 7th: Packs were slung and we were on the move early in the morning and after hiking until 4:00 P. M. we were presented with a soaked, battered section of the Argonne not far from Appremont, and told to make ourselves comfortable. We were doing the best we could when there was an unholy din and a fireworks display, owing to a signal corps outfit hearing “Officially” that the war was over. We mistook it for a German air raid, however, so we did not derive much comfort therefrom. But it is worthy of notice because it was the beginning of the greatest conglomeration of rumors in the history of civilized warfare.

Nov. 8th: It took most of the day trying to follow out the order to make ourselves comfortable and we were just beginning to accomplish this when on the morning of November 9th we pulled out and hiked to Florent, remaining there the following day. Lt. Gartley, who had joined on November 8th, assisted the company commander in re-acquainting the jaded doughboys with the intricacies of the manual of arms and that evening the pearly notes of “Retreat” and The Star Spangled Banner made us feel nearly civilized again. The rumors were still running high.

Nov. 11th: On this historic day the 1st Battalion celebrated by taking its longest hike of the Meuse-Argonne Campaign. We moved from Florent to Varimont, a distance of twenty-nine good long kilometers. While we were passing through Ste Menehould, the French papers with gigantic headlines “C’EST SIGNE” were shown us and we passed innumerable grinning French men and women repeating over and over again the words which were like music to our ears--“la Guerre Finie.”

We arrived at Varimont about 5:00 P. M. nearly exhausted and resumed back area existence at once.

Nov. 12th-14th: Our stay in Varimont was punctuated by determined efforts to get separated from Argonne Mud and getting policed up and generally put in shape for a Fifth Avenue parade, which was to come off very soon. Lt. Gartley left for the 1st Division.

Nov. 15th: The company moved to Givry-en-Argonne to act as a loading detail for the Brigade which was to entrain, and the following day was spent in that occupation.

Nov. 17th: The company entrained about 11:00 P. M. and started on a two-day journey to Les Laumes, where they arrived about 3:00 P. M. on the 19th. With much grunting and puffing the initial ascent of the now well known hill was made, and about 5:00 P. M. we arrived at Flavigny, which was to be our home until we began our journey homeward.