Chapter I: Front Matter

The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki

by Joel R. Moore and Harry H. Mead and Lewis E. Jahns

[Transcriber’s Notes]

Here are the definitions of several unfamiliar (to me) words.

batmen: Soldier assigned to an officer as a servant.

batushka: Village priest.

drosky: Cart

felcher: Second-rate medical student or anyone with some medical knowledge.

hors de combat: Out of the fight; disabled; not able to fight.

junker: Aristocratic Prussian landholder devoted to militarism and authoritarianism, providing the German military forces with many of its officers.

knout: Whip with a lash of leather thongs, formerly used in Russia for flogging criminals. To flog with the knout.

mashie nib: Mashie-Niblick (mah-she nib-lik)—Wood shafted golf club with about the same loft and length as today’s seven iron.

poilus: French common soldier, especially in World War I.

verst: Russian measure of distance; 3500 feet, 0.6629 mile, 1.067 km.

viand: Choice or delicate food.

volplane: Glide in an airplane without power.

I (Don Kostuch) am the son of John Kostuch, then from Detroit, who was a Mechanic in the 339th, Company M. He saw some action in the fall of 1918 but due to flu, exposure and a dislocated joint, was evacuated to England on December 1, 1918 before the gruesome winter described in the book. {sources: “M” Company 339th records and Golden C. Bahr papers, 1918–1919.}

Fort Snelling, Minnesota The following text is copied from a newspaper clipping in the book. The Declaration of War is on one side and an incomplete local news item is on the other side.

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, April 9, 1917

U. S. Declaration of War

Sixty-fifth Congress of the United States of America At the First Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the second day of April, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen

JOINT RESOLUTION

Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial German Government and the Government of the people of the United States and making provision to the same.

Whereas the Imperial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America, Therefore be it

_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States_ _of America in Congress assembled_, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and that the President be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial German Government; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

?? Speaker of the House of Representatives

Thomas R. Marshall Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

Approved 6 April, 1917 Woodrow Wilson

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, April 9, 1917

COUNTY PLEDGES AID FOR FOOD MOVEMENT

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED, AT COURTHOUSE MEETING.

APPEAL MADE TO PEOPLE

The movement to make the state of Indiana economically and agriculturally prepared for war, as recommended by Governor James P, Goodrich, had its beginning in Marion county at a meeting of farmers and those interested in soil cultivation held Saturday afternoon in the criminal courtroom.

The necessity for the efficient utilization of all the soil resources of Indiana were emphasized in addresses at the meeting, which was the beginning of a plan to create a county-wide interest in the movement.

Another Meeting Monday.

The general idea of the need for greater food production, as outlined at the meeting, will be crystallized into definite plans for meeting the situation at a meeting called for Monday night, to be held in the criminal court room. Representatives of commercial, labor and civic bodies and organizations of all kinds are invited and requested to attend the meeting Monday night and assist in the work.

Stirring appeals to the people of Indianapolis and the county to respond to the agricultural need which this country faces in the present war period were made by speakers, including: Charles V. Fairbanks, formerly Vice-president of the United States; the Rev. Frank L. Loveland, pastor of the Meridian Street M. E. Church; H. Orme, president of the Better Farming Association, and Ralph M. Gilbert, county agricultural agent.

Resolutions Adopted.

Resolutions were adopted at the meeting pledging the support of the citizens of Marion county in all measures taken for the defense of the nation and urging the people to respond to the resolutions prepared for greater and efficient food production. The resolutions prepared by a committee composed of Mord Gardner, Ralph C. Avery, Fred L., Smock, John E. Shearer, C. C. Osborn, Grace May Stutsman, Charles P. Wright and Leo Fesler were as follows:

“Whereas, By joint resolution of congress and the proclamation of the President, war has been declared on Germany, and

“‘Whereas, The President has earnestly appealed to all citizens to support the government in every possible way, and our Governor has called, for meetings in each county to plan preparedness in every occupation. “Resolved, That we, the citizens of Marion county, assembled in meetings at the courthouse do loyally pledge the support... [torn]

The following map was provide by Mike Grobbel (http://grobbel.org) who photographed it from the Frederick C. O’Dell Map Collection, Folder Number 9, Map Number 1, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Mr. Grobbel is the grandson of “CORP. C. A. GROBBELL, “I” Co.” mentioned on page 284 as a recipient of the French _Croix de Guerre._ The correct spelling is “Grobbel”.

Corp. Grobbel received the Distinguished Service Cross, not mentioned in this book.

[End of Transcriber’s notes]

The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki

_Campaigning in North Russia 1918–1919_

_Compiled and Edited by_

CAPT. JOEL R. MOORE, 339th U. S. Infantry LIEUT. HARRY H. MEAD, 339th U. S. Infantry LIEUT. LEWIS E. JAHNS, 339th U. S. Infantry

_Published by_

The Polar Bear Publishing Co. Detroit, Mich.

COPYRIGHT 1920 BY JOEL R. MOORE

PRESS OF TOPPING-SANDERS COMPANY DETROIT

To the men who in North Russia died in battle and of wounds, or of sickness due directly to hardship and exposure, this book is reverently dedicated.

To Our Comrades and Friends

To our comrades and friends we address these prefatory words. The book is about to go to the printers and binders. Constantly while writing the historical account of the American expedition, which fought the Bolsheviki in North Russia, we have had our comrades in mind. You are the ones most interested in getting a complete historical account. It is a wonderful story of your own fighting and hardships, of your own fortitude and valor. It is a story that will make the eyes of the home folks shine with pride.

Probably you never could have known how remarkably good is the record of your outfits in that strange campaign if you had not commissioned three of your comrades to write the book for you. In the national army, we happened to be officers; in civil life we are respectively, college professor, lawyer, and public accountant, in the order in which our names appear on the title page. But we prefer to come to you now with the finished product merely as comrades who request you to take the book at its actual value to you—a faithful description of our part in the great world war. We are proud of the record the Americans made in the expedition.

We think that nothing of importance has been omitted. Some sources of information were not open to us—will be to no one for years. But from some copies of official reports, from company and individual diaries, and from special contributions written for us, we have been able to write a complete narrative of the expedition. In all cases except a few where the modesty of the writer impelled him to ask us not to mention his name, we have referred to individuals who have contributed to the book. To these contributors all, we here make acknowledgment of our debt to them for their cordial co-operation. For the wealth of photo-engravures which the book carries, we have given acknowledgment along with each individual engraving, for furnishing us with the photographic views of the war scenes and folk scenes of North Russia. Most of them are, of course, from the official United States Signal Corps war pictures.

When we started the book, we had no idea that it would develop into the big book it is, a _de luxe_ edition, of fine materials and fine workmanship. We have not been able to risk a large edition. Only two thousand copies are being printed. They are made especially for the boys who were up there under the Arctic Circle, made as nice as we could get them made. Of many of the comrades we have lost track, but we trust that somehow they will hear of this book and become one of the proud possessors of a copy. To our comrades and friends, we offer this volume with the expectation that you will be pleased with it and that after you have read it, you will glow with pride when you pass it over to a relative or friend to read.

Detroit, Michigan, September, 1920

JOEL R. MOORE HARRY H. MEAD LEWIS E. JAHNS

Table of Contents

Index to Photo-Engravures Introduction U. S. A. Medical Units on the Arctic Ocean Fall Offensive on the Railroad River Push for Kotlas Doughboys on Guard in Archangel Why American Troops Were Sent to Russia On the Famous Kodish Front in the Fall Penetrating to Ust Padenga Peasantry of the Archangel Province “H” Company Pushes Up the Onega Valley “G” Company Far Up the Pinega River With Wounded and Sick Armistice Day with Americans in North Russia Winter Defense of Toulgas Great White Reaches Mournful Kodish Ust Padenga The Retreat from Shenkursk Defense of Pinega The Land and the People Holding the Onega Valley Ice-Bound Archangel Winter on the Railroad Bolsheozerki Letting Go the Tail-Holt The 310th Engineers “Come Get Your Pills” Signal Platoon Wins Commendation The Doughboy’s Money in Archangel Propaganda and Propaganda and— Real Facts about Alleged Mutiny Our Allies, French, British and Russian Felchers, Priests and Icons Bolshevism Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. with Troops “Dobra” Convalescent Hospital American Red Cross in North Russia Captive Doughboys in Bolshevikdom Military Decorations Homeward Bound In Russia’s Fields (Poem) Our Roll of Honored Dead Map of the Archangel Fighting Area

Index of Photo-Engravures

Hundreds of Miles Through Solid Forests Surgical Operation, Receiving Hospital, Archangel Old Glory Protects Our Hospital Used as 53rd Stationary Hospital “Olympia” Sailors Fought Reds After 17-Hour March in Forest Loading a Drosky at Obozerskaya Wireless Operators-Signal Platoon A Shell Screeched Over This Burial Scene Vickers Machine Gun Helping Hold Lines Our Armored Train First Battalion Hurries Up River Lonely Post in Dense Forest Statue of Peter the Great and Public Buildings, Archangel Drawing Rations, Verst 455 List Honors to a Soldier Olga Barracks Street Car Strike in Archangel American Hospitals “Supply” Co. Canteen “Accommodates” Boys Red Cross Ambulances, Archangel “Cootie Mill” Operating at Smolny Annex Single Flat Strip of Iron on Plow Point Thankful for What at Home We Feed Pigs Artillery “O. P.” Kodish Mill for Grinding Grain Pioneer Platoon Clearing Fire Lane Testing Vickers Machine Gun Doughboy Observing Bolo in Pagosta, near Ust Padenga Cossack Receiving First Aid Ready for Day’s Work Flax Hung Up to Dry 310th Engineers at Beresnik Joe Chinzi and Russian Bride Watching Her Weave Cloth Doughboy Attends Spinning Bee Doughboy in Best Bed—On Stove Defiance to Bolo Advance 337th Hospital at Beresnik Onega Y. M. C. A., Obozerskaya Trench Mortar Crew, Chekuevo—Hand Artillery Wounded and Sick—Over a Thousand in All Bolo Killed in Action—For Russia or Trotsky? Monastery at Pinega Russian 75’s Bound for Pinega “G” Men near Pinega Lewis Gun Protects Mess Hall Something Like Selective Draft Canadian Artillery, Kurgomin Watch Tower, Verst 455 Toulgas Outpost One of a Bolo Patrol Patrolling By Reindeer Jitney to Bakaritza Russian Eskimos at Home near Pinega Fortified House, Toulgas To Bolsheozerki Colonel Morris, at Right Russian Eskimo Idol Ambulance Men Practising Rifle and Pistol Fire, on Onega Front French Machine Gun Men at Kodish Allied Plane Carrying Bombs Dance at Convalescent Hospital—Nurses and “Y” Girls Subornya Cathedral Building a Blockhouse Market Scene, Yemetskoe Old Russian Prison—Annex to British Hospital Wash Day—Rinsing in River Archangel Cab-Men Minstrels of “I” Company Repeat Program in Y. M. C. A Archangel Girls Filling Christmas Stockings Y. M. C. A. Rest Room, Archangel Russian Masonry Stove—American Convalescent Hospital Comrade Allikas Finds His Mother in Archangel Printing “The American Sentinel” Flashlight of a Doughboy Outpost at Verst 455 Bolo Commander’s Sword Taken in Battle of Bolsheozerki Eight Days without a Shave, near Bolsheozerki Woodpile Strong-Point, Verst 445 Verst 455—“Fort Nichols” Back from Patrol Our Shell Bursts near the Bolo Skirmish Line Blockhouse at Shred Makrenga Hot Summer Day at Pinega before the World War Dvina River Ice Jam in April Bare Mejinovsky—Near Kodish Bolo General under Flag Truce at 445, April, 1919 After Prisoner Exchange Parley Pioneer Platoon Has Fire 310th Engineers Under Canvas near Bolsheozerki with “M” Co Hospital “K. P.’s” Red Cross Nurses Bartering Mascots Colonel Dupont (French) at 455 Bestows Many _Croix de Guerre_ Medals on Americans Polish Artillery and Mascot Russian Artillery, Verst 18 Canadian Artillery—Americans Were Strong for Them Making _Khleba_—Black Bread Stout Defense of Kitsa Christmas Dinner, Convalescent Hospital, Archangel “Come and Get It” at 455 Doughboys Drubbed Sailors Yank and Scot Guarding Bolo Prisoners, Beresnik View of Archangel in Summer General Ironside Inspecting Doughboys Burial of Lt. Clifford Phillips, American Cemetery, Archangel Major J. Brooks Nichols in his Railway Detachment Field Hq Ready to Head Memorial Day Parade, Archangel, 1919 American Cemetery, Archangel Soldiers and Sailors of Six Nations Reverence Dead Graves of First Three Americans Killed, Obozerskaya, Russia Sailors Parade on Memorial Day Through Ice Floes in Arctic Homeward Bound Out of White Sea into Arctic, under Midnight Sun