History of 313th U. S. Infantry, "Baltimore's Own,"

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HISTORY OF
313th U. S. INFANTRY

HISTORY

OF

313th U. S. INFANTRY

((

Baltimore's Own"

Henry C, Thorn, Jr.

Formerly ist Lieut. 3i3th Infanlry

Printed by
WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD COMPANY

Printers ^ Binders

80 Lafayette Street, New York
Price $i.75 per Copy, Postpaid

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Publisher's Note

This, the official History of the 313th Infantry, "Baltimore's Own," is
published by authority of its commanding officer, and the commander of the
Montfaucon Post No. 40, American Legion, who issued the following an-
nouncements:

WASHINGTON, D. C.

The Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Company has been authorized to publish
the only official History of the 313th Infantry, which will contain in accurate text and
pictures the achievements of the Re^ment — its training, its overseas service, its return
home and demobilization.

All members of the 313th are assured that this History will, in every way, be a worthy
volume, and all are urged to secure a copy of what will be a record of one of the most
interesting chapters in their life*s history.

C. B. SWEEZEY,

December 15, 1919. Formerly Colonel, SiSlh Infantry.

MONTFAUCON POST
American Legion *

The official History of your 313th Infantry, written by Ist Lieutenant H. C. Thom,
Jr., is now on press. It is a book size about 8x11 inches, bound in full maroon cloth,
stamped in silver and blue, embodying the divisional insignia, the Lorraine Cross, with
80 pages, 18 photographic illustrations and 2 maps — Citations of the Regt-General
Orders, etc.

By arrangement with Wynkoop Haixenbeck Crawford Co., the publishers of this
official History of "Baltimore's Own,** a percentage from the sale of each book will be
turned over to Montfaucon Post No. 40, Ainerican Legion, Baltimore.

Every member of the Rep^ment, and all those who at one time or another were con-
nected with it, should have this book. No one can afford to be without it.

CHAS. A. LEIDLICH,
December 26, 1919. Commander.

The publishers undertook this work in view of the interest and enthusiasm
evinced by the oflQcers and men of the 313th Infantry, and upon assurances
of co-operation and support from them, that there would be a substantial
demand from them for a book giving in text and in picture the accomplish-
ments of the Regiment.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge with appreciation the co-operation of all
those who have made its issuance possible, especially :

Claude B. Sweezey, ColoneU Commanding Officer 313th Inf.
Chas. a. Leidlich, Commander j Montfaucon Post No. W,

American Legion.
Henry C. Thorn, Jr., 1st Lieutenant.
W. Russell Mules, Finance Officer, Monifaucon Post.

WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO.
January 30, 1920.

Copyright 1920 by Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co.

Contents

Page
Chapter I. Forming of Regiment — Officers and Men Report —

Training Starts 11

II. Changes in Personnel 14

III. Review by Secretary of War — More Training —

Colors — Parade in Baltimore 15

IV. Camp at Rifle Range 17

V. Leaving Camp Meade — ^Trip Aboard LevicUhan —
Brest — ^Rail to Interior — Champlitte — More Train-
ing — Trip to the Front 18

VI. In the Trenches — ^Raided by the Germans — Relieved —

Preparations for Drive to Start 23

VII. Montfaucon and the First and Second Days ... 27

VIII. Montfaucon — From Beginning Third Day Until

Relieved 35

IX. Troyon Sector — March to Verdun — Start to Relieve

26th Division North of Verdun 38

X. Cote-de-Roches— Hill 360— Death Valley ... 44

XI. Capture of Hill 378 by 2d Bat. 313th Inf.— Continuing
with 1st Bat. to Claire Chene Trenches — Reville is
Occupied 46

XII. Fighting until 11 A.M., 11 Nov., 1918— The Armistice 50

XIII. Holding the Old Lines — Relieved — ^Verdun Again —

Christmas 51

Page

XIV. Wintering in Erize, La Brullee, Seigneulles, Conde, etc.

March to Lafauche, Inspected by Gen. Pershing 54

XV. Cholet and Mortagne — Board Transports at St.

Nazaire 56

XVI. Homeward Bound in Paysandu and Antigone — New-
port News — ^Baltimore — ^The Great Parade — Camp
Meade — Demobilized and Regiment Passes into
History 60

Appendix . Awards — General Orders — Station List of 2d Bat. in

France 65

Story of the 79th Div. Insignia 71

List of Illustrations

Page

Colonel Sweezey 10

Murphy — G Co.'s Mascot 17

Group of Officers in Champlitte 21

Line Drawing of Montfaucon, etc 24

Section of Verdun, a Map (Montfaucon) 28

Jump Off Trenches 29

No-Man's Land 30

Montfaucon 31

View from Montfaucon 32

German Observatory in Montfaucon 34

General Nicholson and Officers 37

Troyon Sector— The Hills 39

Dugouts in Troyon Sector 41

Map of Hill 378, etc 47

Standing Retreat — Cholet 56

Major EUiott and His Officers and Sergeants 58

Headquarters Company at Cholet 58

Color-Sergeant Leidlich with Colors and Headquarters Co. at Newport

News 60

Col. Sweezey Watching Debarkation 61

Parade in Baltimore June 4th, 1919 62

Foreword

THE following history of the 313th U. S. Infantry was written in France
by order of Colonel Sweezey pursuant to instructions received from the
Commanding General of the 79th Division, being completed after returning
to the United States. It is necessarily brief but records the principal events
in the career of the Regiment from its inception in August of 1917 until
demobilized in June 1919.

It is the story of an organization and, therefore, practically no reference
is made to individual exploits or achievements. Reference is Only made to
other units where the 313th Infantry is directly concerned, and absolutely
no criticisms are intended in any way.

Acknowledgment is hereby made to Colonel Sweezey and the other
officers and men for their helpful suggestions and criticisms, especially to
Major John Elliott, for without the aid of his diary, carefully and accurately
written (often under the most adverse conditions in the field), very many
important details would necessarily have been overlooked.

H. C. T., Jr.

Coionfl Claude B. Stveexy

CHAPTER I

li

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n

HEN the 79th Division was formed, in August, 1917,
the 313th Infantry of the 157th Brigade came into
being. Colonel Claude B. Sweezey, a West Pointer,
with nearly thirty years' service in the Regular Army,
was placed in command. Lieut.-Colonel Frederick R.
Brown, also a West Pointer, was assigned to assist him
in the difficult task of organizing the Regiment out of
the raw material. The Colonel, who had been the
senior instructor at the first Officers' Training Camp
at Fort Niagara, was practically given a free hand in
the choosing of his officers. He selected most of them from the cavalry troop, his
own branch of the service. A number of 1st lieutenants from the 4th Company,
Infantry, were also chosen.

On August 29th, the officers reported. Major Benjamin Franklin Pepper, a
prominent lawyer of Philadelphia, was given command of the 2d Battalion; Major
Jesse R. Langley of Pittsburgh, the 3d Battalion. Later Major Pat M. Stevens, an
officer of the Regular Army, who had been Brigade Adjutant, took command of
the 1st Battalion. Captain, later Major, H. Nelson Jackson, of the Medical
Reserve Corps, was placed in charge of the Sanitary Detachment. Captain John
Elliott was appointed Regimental Adjutant. Captain John E. Hughes, long a 1st
Sergeant of the 6th U. S. Cavalry, was placed in charge of the Supply Company.

The great cantonment of Camp Meade had not yet been completed and none
of the men of the selective draft was to report for some time. Consequently there
was little for the officers to do. In order that all might keep hands in, however,
close order drills, tactical walks, etc., were instituted.

Finally, on September 29th, the first men from Baltimore arrived. Some men
from the 3d Training Battalion had been assigned to the Regiment September
27th. These men came from Garrett and Carroll Counties, followed on October
6th by more men from Baltimore. The latter were met by the newly formed
Regimental Band, which was energetically, if somewhat in need of practice, playing
"Maryland, My Maryland." Mr. Louis H. Fisher, Jr., who later became its leader
and eventually was commissioned a 2d lieutenant, came down to Camp as a civilian
before he was certified for service. He had been an orchestra leader of note in
Baltimore and was of invaluable assistance. A further draft of men from Balti-
more and the counties reported was on November 5th.

Things were beginning to look more military. Equipment and uniforms, as
far as possible and as fast as possible, were issued and the throes of typhoid inocu-
lations, vaccinations, etc., were gone through. Service and a dozen other records
were started and the serious business of training began. The men, a number of

12 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

whom came to Camp Meade with visions of being ill-treated, nearly starved, and
thrown into the Guard House for the least offence, were gradually beginning to
realize that, while they had to forego some of the comforts of home, things were
not so bad after all. The work was hard, but it was a great satisfaction to discover
that the complex maneuver of ** squads right" could be mastered after all. The
spirit of rivalry was soon noticed, too, as all knew that those who seemed to be
best qualified would be picked out to act as corporals and sergeants and secure
their warrants eventually if they made good. The passing of the weeks showed a
remarkable difference in the set-up of the men. The hard, outdoor life, with its
drills and setting-up exercises, combined with good hours and wholesome, if some-
what plain, food made everyone feel good.

On account of the great number of men from Baltimore, the Regiment was
beginning to be known as "Baltimore's Own," and on October 25th they entrained
to Baltimore to march in the Liberty Loan Parade. Although unarmed, the men
marched so well that it was hard to beUeve that a few short weeks before, prac-
tically everyone had been a civilian with no military training whatever. The
Regiment made such an impression that a number of officers and non-commissioned
officers were asked to undertake the task of teaching men, who would shortly be
inducted, the rudiments of close order drills and the manual of arms. These
men saw what an advantage it would be to have some knowledge of such things
and drills became weekly affairs at the 5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore.

The operation of the draft law necessitated a great shifting of men to fill the
various organizations of the National Guard and Regular Army to war strength.
Consequently it was not long before batches were being sent to southern camps,
and small detachments were later sent overseas as replacements. During this
period of training new men kept coming in in small and large detachments. They
were usually greeted loudly with all sorts of advice and raillery from the veterans
of a few weeks or months as they marched in. It was interesting to see how
quickly the average man changed his ideas from those of the civilian to those of
the soldier.

Everything wasn't entirely comfortable, however, as the Regiment had its
share of measles and this meant a long quarantine for the companies where cases
were discovered, and no week-end passes to visit home and friends. One company
even had the misfortune to be put in quarantine just as the men were to have
started on the Christmas leave.

Early in the winter, which will long be remembered for its severeness, an
elaborate system of trenches was started. The men dug away with a will and the
ground soon began to look like the battlefields of Europe. Practice marches were
also instituted and the battalions hiked over the surrounding country, first only
with rifles, but later, when packs were issued, the troops began to get used to the
load they'd soon be carrying a good part of the time. The light pack seemed
heavy and uncomfortable at first, and few realized how much heavier loads they'd
carry, more or less easily, before their army days were over.

It was not all physical work, for every afternoon non-commissioned officers'
school was held in each mess-haU under the supervision of a Company Officer.

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 13

Here the various problems and instructions were given in nearly all things it was
necessary for the corporals and sergeants to know and impart to the men under
them. The officers also had school at night under the battalion commanders.
Officers and N. C. O.'s were sent to the Division Schools under French, British
and American officers. Here practical instruction in grenades, auto-rifles, gas-
defense, field fortifications, etc., were given and the students later gave the benefit
of their instruction to the other officers and men of their companies.

Gradually blue-jeans disappeared from the drill fields, and the few Krag rifles
were eventually replaced with the new U. S. Model 1917 rifles. The men set to
work getting familiar with all parts of the gun and its care, for the new target range
was soon to be available for shooting. A bayonet course, with trenches, and obstacles
of various kinds, had been constructed by the men of the Regiment and many
strenuous hours were spent in running, climbing and stabbing the Boche hung in
the frames. The bayonet, one of the principal weapons of the infantryman, was
gone into extensively, for not only was it a wonderfully efficient means of tough-
ening the body, but it helped to inculcate the fighting spirit that lies more or less
dormant in every man.

UBING the entire period of training, the personnel of
Hie Regiment kept changing from time to time, due
to the drafts sent to other camps, and to the new men
who kept arriving all the time. A great number of
the original men remained and they furnished a large
percentage of the non-commissioned officers.

In February, a call for cavalry officers was sent
out by the War Department and many company com-
manders and lieutenants left to ofGcer the National
Army cavalry regiments that were to be formed. To
fill the vacancies, a number of officers who had been graduated from the second
Officers' Training Camp, and a large group from the 37th Diviaon were attached
for duty. Later a few of these were assigned to the Regiment. The same field
officers that were originally assigned stayed with the Regiment, with the exception
of Major Stevens, who was assigned to the Division Trains and his place filled by
the as^gnment of Major Israel Putnam.

Captain Biugwin, of Company E, and Captain Butterworth, of Company F,
were assigned to the Regiment at the close of the fourth Officers' Training Camp
at Camp Meade. Both of these officers had been instructors at the second Niagara
Camp and had been candidates at the first Niagara Camp.

CHAPTER III

HE training schedule was varied from time to time by
ceremonies such as Battalion and Regimental Parades
and Reviews. On December 22d, the Secretary of
War reviewed the entire Division. Shortly afterwards,
the 157th Brigade was reviewed by the Serbian Mili-
tary Commission. The 313th Infantry took part in
both and made a very creditable showing considering
the number of men who had been in the service only
a matter of a few weeks.

It was decided in December that, on account of
the great support that Baltimore was giving the Regiment, and also owing to the
fact that it was the only all Maryland Regiment in the Army, it would be a
good idea for the officers as a body to express their appreciation to the people of
Baltimore by giving an entertainment of some sort. Consequently a dinner dance
was given at the Hotel Belvedere in Baltimore on January 16, 1918. General
Nicholson, Colonel Sweezey, and practically all the officers were present. Many
of their wives acted as hostesses. Music was furnished by the Regimental Band.
It was a brilliant affair in every way and will long be remembered by both the
officers and the people of Baltimore.

Early in the winter preliminary rifle practice was held on the bayonet course;
and in March the Regiment went to the big range daily for about a week. Here
the real work of shooting was begun. Some surprisingly good scores were made
and none doubted that, with a little more experience on the part of the men, the
Germans would find it healthier to keep their heads down below their parapets.

About the middle of March, the weather having moderated considerably, the
Regiment packed up for a night in the field. The battalions moved out in a long
column foUowed by the trains, machine guns, etc., and pitched shelter camp a few
miles from the barracks. After supper that day, all hands gathered around an
enormous camp fire and sang songs and told stories. The band gave a concert,
and later in the evening General Kuhn visited the camp. Colonel Sweezey re-
quested the General to say a few words to the officers and men, and the General
replied by telling a few of the things the Regiment would experience in France,
and further stated his confidence in the organization. He said that he had plenty
of opportunity to observe the Regiment under all conditions — due largely to the
fact that the Regimental block was right near the Division Headquarters, and that
he was proud to have the 313th Infantry under his command. When taps sounded
all crawled into their tents; but sleeping was difficult, for the night was pretty cold.
The next morning after camp had been struck, there was a Regimental drill
foDowed by an attack problem which General Nicholson witnessed. Then came a
hard hike home by a roundabout route. The sun came out very hot and the men

16 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

were very tired, not a few dropping out. It was a great experience, however, and
was a taste of what might be expected in the days that were to come.

On April 3d, the citizens of Ali^hany County presented the Regiment with a
set of colors, which the Colonel accepted with the Regiment lined up in back of
him. After the ceremony of presentation was over, the Regiment passed in review.

The next day the great march of concentration for the defence of Baltimore
from the "" invasion of the Huns," who were assumed to be landing on the coast
after having defeated our navy, commenced. That night the 313th Infantry en-
camped on the hill-tops of Shipley overlooking Baltimore in the distance. Early
the next morning the camp was broken and a long column of marching men entered
Baltimore with bands playing and colors flying. Enthusiastic crowds lined the
sidewalks as the troops marched to the various parks where they were to encamp.
The 313th Infantry proceeded to Druid Hill Park and pitched a shelter tent camp,
and all that day and the next there was a swarm of visitors, all displaying great
interest in everyi^hing. The kitchens seemed to especially attract the women folks.

On April 6th the Regiment paraded through the streets of Baltimore as the
first unit in the long Divisional Column and passed in review before the President
of the United States, being the first unit he had ever seen of the National Army.
The next day the Regiment made the long march from Druid Hill Park to Camp
Meade without one single man falling out en route. This was a truly remarkable
feat and showed the pride that the men had in their organization, for it was hard
sledding for some during the last mile or miles, especially so as many of their com-
rades from the other regiments were sitting alongside the road with tags on them
entitling them to be picked up by the ambulances that foUowed in the rear.

On April 19th the fourth Officers' Training Camp turned out 53 members of the
Regiment, who had qualified as 2d lieutenants, these men having been selected from
a few of the various companies of the Regiment. Later they were commissioned and
assigned to the Regiment which they had joined as privates a few months before.

On May 1st, the Regiment held a military field day. It was the first event
of its kind in the cantonment and many guests were present. An additional
interest was the ball game between the Regimental Team and the Baltimore
Orioles. The soldiers showed they knew how to play baU by defeating the visiting
team 10 to 1. Lieutenant Lavin, of G Company, an ex-University of Pennsylvania
star, coached the team.

FoUowing the ball game there were boxing bouts and athletic events, prizes
for which had been presented by the officers and several Baltimore merchants.
The Supply Company won the silver cup, Regimental Championship in team events,
winning the rescue and centipede races and taking second place in the shelter tent
race and third in the tug of war. Company I was second in the total number of
points scored.

There were also mounted events and grenade throwing contests. The Machine
Gun Co. gave an exhibition of a "going into action" inter-section competition.

In the evening the guests were entertained at the different messes for supper.
A dance for the enlisted men was held in the K. of C. auditorium. Dancing stopped
at 9.15, when a special train conveyed the visitors back to Baltimore.

CHAPTER IV

J the last weeks in May the Regiment marched

he Bide Range and pitched camp for two weeks.

field ofBcers accompanied it and Captain R. W. J.

m, of A Company, senior line captain, was in

mand at the camp. Here the men had plenty of

jrtunity to fire their rifles and from early morning

] evening the firing kept up. Very few regiments

d hope to get a better opportunity to practice with

r chief weapon than the 313th Infantry had. It

was here, too, that the new light Browning rifle, with

which the 79th Division had just been equipped, was given a thorough tryout.

No other division in the Army, either at home or abroad, bad been so equipped.

No history of the Re^ment would be complete without mentioning " Murphy,"
a smaU brown pup, that joined G Company on the range. This dog. called
"Michael," or "Mike," in spite of being a she, was carefully fed and nursed in
the kitchen and later went overseas with the Regiment with an identity disk around
her neck and 313th stenciled on her sides. She grew up and was with the Regiment
in all its engagements, sticking close to G Company's kitchen. She experienced
shell-lire and at times had to be smothered in a blanket to avoid being gassed.
The following February, in France, she gave birth to two recruits called "Verdun"
and " Montfaucon," both of whom followed a military career.

The "Dog of War" that ukiU Overtrat ail', the fiegimeni,

vxu in all ils Engagemenlt (being aUaehed to C Co.'t

Kitchen) and lutkough onee ilighlty wounded

returned with the Troopt to Camp Meade '

CHAPTER \

HILE the Regiment was still in camp at the Rifle Range,
word was received that the Battalion Commanders and
a number of officers and non-commissioned officers
from the battalions were to be prepared to leave for
overseas on very short notice. Naturally rumors of
an early sailing soon became rife, and it was not long
aft«r the Regiment returned from the Range that the
drill schedule was called off and everyone started def-
inite preparations for leaving. These were exception-
ally busy times, as new equipment throughout was
issued; boxes and crates were made and packed; and all necessary paper work,
such as passenger lists, prepared and gone over. Camp Meade was always filled
with visitors on week-ends, but never were there such crowds as assembled there
during the last week-ends in June. Everyone knew that the Regiment would soon
be leaving, but the exact date was only known to those higher up. Large drafts
of replacements were received from Camp Upton — men with only a few weeks'
training — and the Regiment brought up to war strength.

On June 28th the advance school detachment left and at 6 P. M. on Friday,
July 5th, Colonel Sweezey and his staff and the 1st Battalion entrained at Admiral,
arriving in Jersey City the next morning. The balance of the Regiment, under
Lieut.-Colonel Rrown, left Camp Meade at the same hour the next evening. From
the railroad terminal at Jersey City the troops were loaded on ferry-boats and
then taken up the North River to the ex-German piers. Upon disembarking, they
were marched to the pier where the huge Naval Transport, Leviathan was
loading. On the pier the Red Cross furnished all with sandwiches and buns and
then each officer and man was carefully checked as he boarded the vessel. Once
aboard there was no going on to the pier again for any reason. It averaged about
X8 minutes per company to embark, and with the great number of gangways, the
huge task of checking in over 12,000 men was quickly accomplished.

It was not known exactly when the ship would sail, but from the amount of
cargo and baggage alongside it looked as if it would be a week. However, every-
thing was loaded Monday afternoon and one by one the lines were cast off and
shortly after 6 P. M. the ship was pulled into the stream and headed down the bay.
Under a new order from the War Department, the troops were allowed on deck
and the bands to play. Great shouts went up as the ferry-boats full of commuters
passed close to the ship. Altogether it was a pretty good send-off.

Great interest was exhibited in the city and harbor as the LeviafAan stood
out to sea, and especially in the camouflaged destroyer that picked up the ship
outside the harbor. As darkness fell the decks were cleared of all but the crew,
certain of the Army who were doing guard duty, and submarine lookout.

By this time the permanent details for policing and mess and kitchen police
had been arranged. The guard, consisting of more than 400 men and officers, was

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 19

furnished by the 1st Battalion. Colonel Sweezey was commander of the guard.
The problem of feeding so many men was splendidly worked out, and by estab-
lishing lines from the troop compartments, through the serving stations and
8tanding-up mess hall, and returning via the upper deck, the entire ship*s company,
excepting the crew, were fed in short order.

About 6 A. M., Monday, the destroyer left and the Leviathan was left to
her own resources. From her speed and the naval guns she mounted, she appeared
to be well able to defend herself. The men all wore life-preservers at aU times
and abandon ship drills were held several times a day. Although the greatest
number of men ever carried in one ship was aboard, after several days' practice
the time of getting all men on deck was getting close to the record. On Friday
the former record of fourteen minutes went by the board, and a new one of eleven
minutes was established. The ship's captain wrote General Nicholson a letter
congratulating him on the performance.

On Sunday morning, about 8:00 A. M., after an uneventful voyage, the ship
was met by a convoy of five destroyers which escorted her for the remainder of
the trip. Early on the afternoon of Monday, July 15th, the coast of France was
sighted and at 3:00 P. M. the Leviathan anchored in the harbor of Brest.

All that afternoon and late into the night, lighters were ferrying the troops
ashore. As soon as the landing was made, all were marched through the outskirts
of Brest to the Pontanezen Barracks, where about thirty thousand troops were
already quartered. This necessitated the Regiment pitching shelter camp about
one and one-half miles out. This was no easy job, as tentage, wood, stores,
supplies, etc., had to be carried by hand through deep mud. The next morn-
ing, the 1st Battalion, which had stayed on the ship overnight, arrived in
camp. The advance detachment, which had come in a slower vessel in a convoy
and had only landed a few days previously, came out and paid a visit. As some
one expressed it, "the place was a rest camp because you remembered it for the
rest of your life."

It was without the least regret that orders arrived suddenly on Wednesday
evening, July 17th, that the Regiment would entrain for the interior next morning.
No rest was obtained that night and at 5:32 A. M., July 18th, the first of the long
trains pulled out. The trains consisted of an enormous number of old, dilapidated
baggage cars, marked mostly with the following legend, "Hommes 40, Chevaux
8," showing that it was better, as far as space went, to be a horse.

The sardine industry, which has flourished for so many years in France, made
them expert in all things connected with packing, and it wasn't long before all
hands were stowed away. The next three days and nights were most interesting,
if somewhat dirty and uncomfortable, for some beautiful country was covered.
Stops were made en route for coffee and occasional washes at pumps at sidings
and stations. The trains appeared to be running on an extemporaneous time
table; but this was due to the great congestion caused by the activities at the
front.

The first train arrived at Laignes at 3:00 A. M., Sunday, July 2l8t. It was
misting heavily and it was necessary to wait for daylight. All that day the Regi-

20 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

ment was busy unloading baggage and locating billets. Regimental Headquarters,
Headquarters Company and B Company were located in Laignes; A and D at
Bissey la Pierre; C Company at Balot; E and F Companies at Marcenay; G and
H, Larrey; I and Supply Companies at Poincon; K and L at Bouix; M and
Machine Gun at Cerilly. All the towns were situated within a few kilometers of
each other. The business of cleaning up the streets and fixing up the bams to
sleep in was a great novelty. Little did anyone realize how much fertilizer would
eventually be moved from one place to another and how many billets would be
fixed up during the Regiment's service in France.

Of all companies, H Company, at Larrey, had the most picturesque billet-
Nearly 200 men and officers were quartered in the medieval chateau reputed to
have been the home of Henry IV at one time. The lady who resided there could
not do enough for the Americans and was most hospitable to all.

About the time everyone was getting accustomed to life in the strange sur-
roundings, a lieutenant appeared at Laignes with 24 trucks and orders to leave at
once. Thirty-three trucks had been sent for C, A and D Companies. Things
were immediately packed and the truck train moved out. After a ride through
beautiful country and quaint towns and villages the train arrived in Champlitte
(Haute Saone) at 3:00 A. M. The Zone Major was awakened, and by sleeping
some men in the tpucks and some in the mess shacks, the hours of darkness were
passed. At dawn, billets were located and the business of getting settled was again
in full swing. For the next few days, truck trains were busy bringing up the
remainder of the Regiment. On Monday, July 29th, all the troops had arrived
with the exception of K Company which came the next day.

Owing to the fact that Champlitte was not large enough to billet all the troops,
it was necessary to quarter L Company in Margilley and I and K Companies in
Neuvelle, both towns being close at hand.

Just as soon as the quarters were made habitable, the business of intensive
training for the day the Regiment would go into action against the enemy was
commenced.

Rifle ranges were selected, gas masks, steel helmets, trench knives, etc., were
issued and long drills in the hot sun with gas masks carried and helmets worn
became daily occurrences. At times gas masks were worn for long periods and
everyone became accustomed to them. Close and extended order drills were carried
on, varied by problems in attacks executed by units from platoons up to and
including the entire Regiment. Divisional Terrain exercises were held. While at
Champlitte, Captain Brondelle and Lieutenant Comoy, of the French Army, were
attached to Regimental Headquarters and were to stay with the Regiment during
its entire time of training and, after that, accompany it in action. As these officers
were able to speak English fluently and naturaUy were familiar with the French
methods and the country, they were of great assistance on many occasions.

On August 4th, the Regimental and Battalion Intelligence Sections left for a
school established at St. Broingt-le-Bois, where aU the Intelligence personnel of the
Division were given a two weeks' training in scouting, observing, etc.

III

•3 J!

H

22 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

On August 10th, Colonel Brown, who had been made a full colonel, was at-
tached to the Regiment. Lieut.-Colonel Stevens, at one time in command of the
1st Battalion as major, was assigned. Later, both of these officers left for other
duties and Major Pepper was rexommended for promotion to lieutenant-colonel to
fill the vacancy. A number of lieutenants were promoted during the period of ,
training at Champlitte. About the latter part of August the advance school
detachment rejoined the Regiment.

While in Champlitte retreat was held by the Regiment as a unit in front of
the picturesque Hotel de Ville. The civilian population all turned out each after-
noon to watch the ceremony and listen to the band, while nearly every evening in
the square the band gave concerts, which were thoroughly enjoyed by the soldiers
and civilians alike. The days at Champlitte will be remembered as busy and
pleasant ones.

On September 7th rumors were current that the Division had orders to move
and they materialized that night. Oyrieres was designated as the railhead. It
was about two and one-half hours' march from Champlitte. At 11:00 A.M.,
Sunday morning, September 8th, the 1st Battalion started to entrain. K Company
did all the loading for the entire Regiment and by Monday all troops had entrained.
The trains proceeded via Langres and Chaumont. At 2:00 P. M., Monday,
September 9th, the train with Regimental Headquarters arrived at Revigny, where
orders to proceed to Longeville, about 5 kilometers east of Bar-le-Duc, were received.
About an hour later the train arrived at Longeville, where the 1st Battalion was
already billeted. C Company was to do all the unloading for the Regiment at
this point. The 2d Battalion arrived at 12:30 A. M., Tuesday and bivouacked
till daylight. The 3d Battalion arrived about 9:00 A. M. and marched to Savon-
nieres, about 3 kilometers in the direction of Bar-le-Duc.

General Nicholson called on Colonel Sweezey shortly after noon the same day,
Tuesday, September 10th, with secret orders that the Division was to take over
a sector within a few days. That night the Colonel went to Division Headquarters,
secured more information, stopped at Savonnieres on his way back, and woke up
the Battalion, Company and Platoon Commanders, for, in the morning, a recon-
naissance party from all battalions was to go up to the trenches and look over the
sector. It was late in the night of Wednesday, September 11th, before the recon-
naissance party returned. On Thursday, September 12th, Field Order No. 2 —
79th Division was received and at 6:30 P. M. the battalions formed and took
positions along the north side of the Bar-le-Duc road, the column being headed
west or toward Bar-le-Duc.

About 8:00 P. M. a French captain arrived, foDowed shortly after by 240
French trucks, driven by Anamites or men from French Indo-China. The trucks
passed on so that the tail of the truck column rested at the same point the head
of the infantry column did. No argument could persuade the French officer to
change this disposition, so that the column marched about a mile farther and, when
the head of the truck train was reached, all hands were loaded and the trucks started.

The many months of drilling and training at home and abroad were now at
an end and the 313th Infantry was on its last lap of the long journey to the trenches.

CHAPTER VI

EL

A

I

LL night long the trucks ran in total darkness while
from the eastern horizon, illumined with intermittent
flashes, came the roar of distant guns; for over to the
right the great St. Mihiel push was In progress. At
seven o'clock the next morning, September 13th, the
trucks discharged their passengers and the Regiment,
less the 1st Battalion, marched to Camp Pommieres,
the 1st Battalion proceeding to Camp des Fouchelles.
During the day the troops rested in the woods, being
careful to keep under cover from hostile aircraft.
The regiment occupying the trenches was the 371st U. S. Infantry (colored), which
was attached to the French Army. In American uniforms and equipped with
French helmets, gas masks, rifles, etc., they made a strange appearance. At the
Regimental Headquarters of the 371st Infantry were two rattiers (rat hounds)
which had been issued to them by the French.

In the afternoon, Colonel Sweezey and his staff had a conference with Colonel
Miles, of the regiment to be relieved at Verrieres, where the dug-outs of the Regi-
mental P. C. (post of command) were located. That evening, Friday, the 13th
of September, at six o'clock, guides met the battalions and the relief commenced,
each company moving in column of half platoons with 50 yards' distance.

. The sector covered considerable ground, the frontage being more than two
kilometers and the depth extending for about three kilometers. It was not until
2:40 A. M. the next day that word reached the Regimental P. C. that the relief
had been completed and all units established in their proper positions. The troops
on the right of the Regiment were the 315th U. S. Infantry and on the left, the
346th French Infantry.

The 2d Battalion held the left of the Regimental Sector with Company H in
the outpost position. On the right, the 3d Battalion had Company K in the out-
post. These outposts were in old trenches which ran, in the open, parallel to the
woods where the enemy's trenches were located. Each battalion had two com-
panies in the main line of resistance which was at the edge of the woods, about
two kilometers from and parallel with the Boche. The remaining company of
each battalion was encamped in shelters and dug-outs farther back in the woods.
Observation Posts were manned by both Battalion and Regimental Intelligence
Sections. A system of runners was established and liaison established within the
Regiment and with units on the right and left. These details having been com-
pleted, the Regiment settled down to the business of war and of becoming accus-
tomed to the new conditions. It did not seem at all terrible. But for the men
in the outpost positions, which spread like a net across the entire front, and for
the necessary patrols that visited and connected these small outpost groups, things
were rather exciting at first, to say the least. The Boche was quiet, however, and ex-

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

Viae oS Monlfaucon from Seelor 30i. The 3t3lh Injaniry Allocked on Seplember Wlh, 1918, ilarting

aevertd Kilomelers io the Right <^ Avocoart — ihe Touin in the Foreground. Paxting Ihrwah

the Woods Shown at the Right en-rouU to the Heavily Fortified HeighU of Monlfaucon itself

cept for the flares sent up at night, it was hard to realize that a deadly enemy was
lurking in the shell-scarred woods. With the exception of some artillery and greater
aerial activity, the sector had been very quiet. No gas nor raids had been put over.
This order was not destined to last long, however, as subsequent events proved.

In the foreground of the 2d Battalion sector were the ruins of Avocourt, while
above the tree-tops to the north, or directly in front, rose the Heights of Monl-
faucon, soon to be famous in American history. The ruined town could be plainly
seen, and through powerful glasses one could occasionally distinguish a man in
its streets, approximately six kilometers away. It was from this vantage point
that the Crown Prince had watched his armies make their terrible but futile attacks
on Verdun in 1916. It was indeed historic ground on which the 313th U. S. Infantry
received its baptism of fire.

While in the line the companies in each battalion were shifted about so as Io
give rehef to the outpost companies, the duty of constant vigilance demanding a
tremendous tax. Sleep was almost impossible, especially during the hours of
darkness when there was need of great watchfulness. The 2d Battalion held the
left sub-sector for the entire time the Regiment was in the line. The right sub-
sector, which was held by the 3d Battalion at first, was manned by the 1st Battalion
on Wednesday night, September 18th, the 3d Battalion being withdrawn to
Camp Bretagne in the woods back of the lines.

A number of gas alarms were sounded but apparently Uiey were false. During
one relief a German plane flew over the lines and dropped a few bombs.

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 25

The French, on the left, had sent over a large raiding party without success,
but still, things were very quiet in front of the Regiment until 1:15 A. M., Fri-
day, September 20th, when a raid was put over by the Boche on the extreme left
of E Company in the outpost position. The raiders were driven oiF after shots
were exchanged, but they returned again in about an hour and were again repulsed.
On neither occasion had they penetrated the lines and only two Americans were
wounded. After daylight the body of a 2d lieutenant of the 1st Division Prussian
Foot Guards was found outside the parapet. He was identified by his papers as
the son of a major-general and the information gained from his papers showed
that one of the best regiments of the Prussian Guards had come into the sector.

At exactly 5:30 A. M., Sunday morning, September 22d, a heavy barrage was
laid down by the enemy in back of the forward position. This gradually moved
toward the line of resistance. The intense fire did lots of damage to the trenches
and placed a barrier between the outpost and main line of resistance. The barrage
kept up for an hour and thirty-five minutes and, under its cover, a strong raiding
party of Germans came over. They attacked the 1st Platoon of E Company, who
were holding in and around the viUage of Avocourt. During the fighting the
platoon leader of E Company, Lieutenant Geis, was slightly wounded and three
of his men also. One man was killed and one captured. The Germans suf-
fered more heavily, as they left nine dead, including an officer, and carried oS
eight of their own, either dead or wounded.

The right sub-sector was raided at the same time by a large force. A German
corporal, who was captured, said that three companies took part in the raid.
A Company, who were holding the outpost, finally drove the enemy out and
caused them considerable losses. A Company had three men killed and one
officer and six men wounded. One man was captured by the raiders. This man
was eventually released after the armistice, returned to the States on February
4th, and died the next day.

On Saturday night, September 21st, at 11:45 P. M., with the exception of
A and E Companies, the Regiment was relieved by units of the 146th, 148th and
129th U. S. Infantry. The 129th U. S. Infantry took over the outpost or line of
observation. The purpose of this was to make it appear to the enemy, in case
they secured prisoners, that one regiment was covering the entire front, and thus
conceal the concentration of troops that was in progress. A and E Companies
were relieved Sunday morning, September 22d.

While the Regiment had been in the line, great preparations for the attack
that was to begin soon were being made. Guns, tractors, ammunition and sup-
plies were hauled into the woods and gun emplacements constructed. Both French
and American artillerymen, field and heavy, and even French sailors, were busily
engaged. The weather was hazy but the Boche was getting more active in the
air, all the time trying to see what was going on. Cannon of various calibers were
literally packed in with only enough space between them to man the guns. Great
care was taken to camouflage the work.

After all units were relieved, the Regiment was assembled in a shelter camp
in the Bois de Lambechamp and Camp Bretagne. Here the menmanaged to relax

26 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

after their spell in the trenches and good food was served in large quantities. The
weather was bad and everything was wet and soggy, but there was excitement in
the air. It was apparent to all that something big was to come off. That was
easy enough to guess, but just when it was to be was not known. Ammunition
and pyrotechnics were drawn and all excess baggage was salvaged. The paper
work was increasing. The office at Regimental Headquarters consisted of a type-
writer on a box, placed in front of the pup-tent occupied by the Adjutant and
Intelligence Officer. The Colonel's quarters consisted of another shelter tent
nearby.

CHAPTER Vn

N Wednesday afternoon, September 25th, following a
meeting of the Division, Brigade and Regimental Com-
manders, at which General Pershing was present,
Colonel Sweezey assembled all the officers and ser-
geants and told them of the task before them. The
attack was to start the next day and the 313th Infantry
was to have the honor pasition of the drive, as the
heavily fortified heights of Montfaucon were in the
Regimental sector. The Regiment was to be in the
front line and on the left of the Division sector. On
the left of the Regiment the 37th Division were to attack and on the right of the
313th Infantry the 314th Infantry were to be in the front hne. The 2d Battalion
was to be on the left of the front line with the 3d Battalion on the right. C Com-
pany was to function as "moppers-up" and G Company as Regimental Reserve.
A, B and D Companies of the 1st Battalion were to be the Brigade Reserve.

At 7:00 P. M., or shortly after the orders had been handed to the Battalion
Commanders, the Regiment left the Bois de Lambechamp and started through
paths, which had been prepared through the woods, to jump-off trenches facing
the Bois de Malancourt. It took nearly all night before the last troops had reported
that they were in position. Finally, at 4:10 A. M,, everything was set.

The artillery started firing at 11 :30 P. M. on the 25th, and the sky was literally
abletze with flashes. At2:30A.M., on the 26th, the real bombardment commenced,
for it was at this hour that the Coast Artillery and heavy guns of different l>'pes
opened up. It is believed that this concentration of artillery was the greatest in
the world's history. There was an average of one gun to less than eight meters
of front. To the men wailing in the trenches, the rush of shells through the air
sounded like a succession of express trains passing overhead. From far in the
German lines came dull thuds as the projectiles landed and bashed in the dug-outs,
trenches, shelters, etc. The noise along the entire front was terrific. To add to
the uproar, the Boche bombarded the American front line in return. During the
night word was sent out that the "H" hour was to be 5:30 A. M. Just before this
the 75*3 were to bombard the German fire trenches and then follow it up with a
rolling barrage.

Bayonets were fixed, the screen of smoke was sent out by the troops of the gas
and flame regiment who were attached, and promptly at 5:30 the first assaulting
waves went over the top. The battalions were attacking in column of companies,
H on the left and K on the right, each company maintaining an interval of 10
to 15 meters between men, with a total frontage of about 800 meters. The bom-
bardment of the heavies had ceased and the troops walked across "No Man's
Land" hugging the barrage. It was difHcult going, as the "No Man's Land" of

" Monlfaua>n"

Greatly redaerd phoiogmph of an actual ballle ntap lurd by 3 1 3th Infantry in attacking Monlfaucon.
In lower r^U hand comer the "jumpH>ff " trendies are thown

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

Stxiion qf Fronl Line and " No-Man' t Land." Part of lAe 3t3th "Jumped off" from (hit Point
on September 26th. 1918

four years was literally pockmarked with shell holes and obstructed with number-
less bands of tangled, twisted barbed wire that had to be cut.

The front trenches were soon passed by the first lines and, although men were
dropping from the German artillery fire, no resistance, excepting some machine-gun
fire, was met at first. Well into the Malancourt woods, however, a withering fire
of hidden machine guns and snipers was met. The thick woods made it difficult
to maintain the line intact, but the battaUons kept pressing forward. Enemy
machine gunners and snipers were taking their toll and a number of them were
soon captured and others met with a worse fate. The fire was still intense, but
the attack had to proceed and the fine could not halt to search out all snipers and
machine-gun nests.

Although the fire was bad enough in the woods, it got very much worse as the
troops passed out into the open space between the Bois de Malancourt and Bois
de Montfaucon. Major Langley, commanding the 3d Battalion, was shot through
both legs and Major Pepper received a mortal wound in the head. The latt«r's
Adjutant, Lieutenant Patterson, lay dead in the woods to the rear. In the mean-
time. Lieutenant Steinman of E Company, had his platoon practically wiped out
trying to maintain liaison with the 37th Division on the left.

A temporary halt bad to be made and an organized attack was started against
the machine guns that were blocking the way. Only a few of these were in the

30 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

immediate vicinity, as the woods and trenches on all aides were hiding places for
the machine gunners and snipers. The Colonel, who had come forward rapidly,
was bending over a map with Lieutenant Schauiller, of the Regimental Intelligence
Section, when a sniper got the latter in the hip.

Captain Ingersoll, of H Company, had heen wounded several times in the
attack that was organized to clean out the snipers and was taken to the rear, where
he later died. The troops following were having hard sledding, as the woods were
literally swept with rifle and machine-gun fire, to which was added H. E. (high
explosive) and shrapnel.

The Regiment was reorganized and the heavy bands of iron-staked wire
passed. About 2:00 P. M. the attack on the Rois de Cuisy started. SmaU French
tanks were coming up by now and the woods were penetrated and captured. Refore
4:00 P. M., practically all troops had reached the northern edge of the woods.
Some patrols and smaller groups were already there.

The day's casualties had been heavy, the men very tired and a great many
were out of water. Regimental Headquarters were now in telephone communi-
cation with Rrigade and the Corps ordered an immediate attack on Montfaucon,
which loomed up several kilometers to the north across the open, rolling country.

In the meantime the 1st Rattalion came up and joined the Regiment and at
dusk the attack started with five small tanks ahead. The line advanced silently
for a few himdred yards, when a fusillade of machine guns opened up. Major

Seclion 1^ " No-marCt Land" in Fronl of Ihe BoU de Malancouii

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

Putnam, commanding the 1st Battalion, was shot through the head and killed.
Some troops penetrated almost to the town of Montfaucon and one company
reached the outskirts. The majority of the troops stayed out in the open all that
night, some of the rear elements retiring to just inside the woods. Outposts were
established and preparations made to repel any counter-attacks, but none
materialized. Thus the first day ended. Colonel Sweezey was the only field
officer left. Captain Flynn, of A Company, was now in command of the 1st
Battalion, Captain Burgwin, of Company E, of the second, and Captain Lloyd, of
L Company, had the 3d Battalion.

At 7:30 A. M., the second day, Friday, September 27th, the attack on Mont-
faucon was resumed with the 2d Battalion on the left, 1st Battalion on the right
and the 3d Battalion in support. It was not long before a heavy machine-gun fire
was met. Snipers were also busy. In the meantime, the tanks had come up and
the attack progressed in spite of the rain of machine-gun bullets. Finally, at 11 :00
A. M., the Regiment entered Montfaucon, the 2d BattaUon through the outskirts
of the town to the left or western side and 1st and 3d Battalions through the streets
and eastern edge.

At 11:45 A. M., the capture of the town was reported to Division by pigeon.
The Regimental P. C. was advanced to the eastern slope of the hill near the ceme-
tery at 12:50. The snipers were still active and the shelling very heavy. Request
for artillery fire on the Bois de Beuge to the north was made. A battalion of the

MonifoxKon — Pholo taken from haif a mite away

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

Vimitfnm German Obsenxdian Post on the HciglUt of Montjauam Showing the Open Country uhifh

Ihf 3i3lh Infantry Patted Over Under Ueatj Ariiltery and Machine Gun Fire. Note

the Excellent Observation Uie Enemy had of Practicatly the Entire Ground

3l6th was also requested to take up a position on the north edge of the town,
where a gap appeared, while the 313th was being organized for a further advance.

The advance was resumed at 3:30 P. M. The 37th Division had run into
heavy machine-gun fire and was forced to withdraw slightly. The 314th was
suffering very heavy shell-fire over to the right.

The Regimental P. C. had been moved forward as the advance proceeded and
was located in a shell-hole on the top of the hill, where a wonderful view of the
country to the north was obtained.

About midway in the valley, between Montfaucon and Rois de Reuge, the
line ran into extremely heavy machine-gun and H. E. and shrapnel fire. One
H. E. landed within a few feet of the Regimental P. C. and wounded the Ad-
jutant slightly in the neck. It became necessary to move the P. C. back to the
former location near the cemetery.

As darkness approached, it was decided to hold for the night along the northern
edge of the hill and the Regiment held in that position with the exception of some
troops who were further out as the advance line of observation, and some had
even penetrated to the Rois de Reuge.

The second day ended, but there was no rest forthcoming, as the town and
hill especially were heavily shelled and gassed most of the night.

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 33

Captain Hughes, the Regimental Supply Officer, came up with the trains, but
was shelled out of his position in the orchard. He later got up ammunition.

The troops were suffering from lack of water, especially the wounded, but
fortunately some was secured from a well in town. It had been impossible to get
rations and the food carried in the packs had been consumed before this; and,
together with the lack of food and rest, the troops were in a pretty exhausted state.
During the night the artillery were called on for a harassing fire on the Bois de
Beuge. The Regiment was now practically without artillery support, as the ad-
vance had been so rapid that the guns could not keep up over the shell-torn ground
and roads. The engineers were frantically endeavoring to build and repair the
roads to enable the traffic to advance.

During the day, in clearing the town, the Crown Prince's observation post
was discovered. A house had been reinforced with steel girders and concrete, with
a thick concrete tower running through it. It was nearly shell-proof, except from
a direct hit by a heavy gun, and a wonderful field of view in all directions was
obtained from it.

CHAPTER VIII

T 2:00 A. M. Saturday, September 28th, a battalion
commander of the 316th Infantry arrived with orders
to reUeve the 313th Infantry. Shortly afterward,
Colonel Charles, of the 316th Infantry, arrived and at
7:00 A. M. the reUef was completed and the attack
again started. The 316th had proceeded about one
thousand yards when a terrific artillery fire was put
down on the 313th at the northern edge of Mont-
faucon. Captain Drayton, at the Regimental P. C,
was struck in the leg and was carried to the rear by
four Boche prisoners. Colonel Sweezey gave the order to advance and the Reg-
iment followed the 316th to the Cierges-Nantillois road north of the Bois de
Beuge, where they were held up by machine-gun and artillery fire. In the mean-
time the French supporting tanks had withdrawn. It was finally decided to take
up a defensive position on the Rois de Beuge ridge. The 37th Division, on the
left, had dug in in the meantime and were holding for the night.

That night the P. C. was established in the open on a railroad embankment
close to the woods, and the officers and men lay down in the mud and rain trying
to get some much-needed rest. About UKW P. M,, the Supply Company got the
rolling kitchens, water carte and wagons up and some warm coffee, beans and other
food distributed. Some of the men were too exhausted to even go for their share.
It was the first food anyone had had out^de of the reserve rations since Wednesday
afternoon.

Sunday morning, at 2:00 A. M., an orderly arrived from Brigade Headquarters
with ordeiB to attack at 7:00, the 313th to support the 316th at 800 meters. The
Regiment agtun moved out, this time with the 3d Battalion, under command of
Captain Morris of K Company, Captain Lloyd having been wounded. Regimental
P. C. was moved to the eastern edge of the Rois de Reuge. The whole area was
under heavy H. E. and gas, both phosgene and mustard being shelled in constantly.
Many casualties were occurring and it could be seen that the 37th Division,
over to the west, were having a hard time of it, too. General Nicholson was on
the field and was in consultation with Colonel Sweezey. At about 11:00 A. M.,
the Brigade on the left of the Regiment was seen to faU back from the crest of the
hill they bad reached. The regiment on the right was also driven back off the
ridge by heavy shell fire. At this time, the 316th Infantry in front of the Regiment
was seen to be withdrawing and came back through the lines of the 313th Infantry
to the position of the Regimental P. C. The 313th held its position, but the ranks
were seen to be looking to the rear as if questioning what to do and why they were
the only ones standing fast. At this instant the Brigade Commander gave the
Regimental Conmiander orders to proceed and take command of the front line,
leaving the two regiments in the positions they were now occupying. The General,
upon arriving, had been informed that the 313th Infantry was actually in front.

36 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

" Can you advance with them? " the General asked of the Regimental Commander,
to which he received an immediate response in the affirmative. The Regiment
then took up the advance with' the troops disposed in the original formations.

Upon approaching the woods, very heavy machine-gun lire was encountered,
and upon reaching the woods they were found to be heavily gassed. Boche planes
immediately signaled the location to their artillery and the Regiment soon found
itself under a cross-fire of artillery from both flanks and front, which together with
machine guns and snipers, made it hot. The Boche had good observation aU along
from a balloon oflF to the right on the heights of the Meuse. Furthermore, they
had managed to conceal snipers and observers in the rear of Montfaucon and it
was a long time before they were all put out.

Across the clearing and north of the Bois de Beuge lay another woods and the
heavily fortified Madeleine Farm, a full five kilometers north of Montfaucon. The
Regiment pressed forward despite the terrific opposition which the Boche were
putting up, and penetrated into the Madeleine Farm. The casualties were heavy
indeed. Lieutenants Rupp of G Company and Watters, of B Company, were both
instantly killed while leading their platoons into this stronghold. Without more
artillery the situation appeared hopeless, the casualties increasing all the time.
The Boche had only vacated recently, as a mess of fresh vegetables, wine bottles,
etc., on the table gave mute testimony.

Somewhat after 4:00 P. M. word was passed that a counter-attack was expected
from the left, and orders from the Brigade were received to prepare a defensive
position along the northern edge of the Bois de Beuge. The withdrawal was neces-
sitated by the fact that a barrage was to be laid down on the line 82, being north
of the edge of the Bois de Beuge, which was away in the rear of where the front line
was. The withdrawal was effected slowly but the casualties were extremely heavy.
Captains Rupp and Riley, of C and D Companies, respectively, were killed within
a few feet of each other. Captain Du Barry, Regimental Intelligence Officer, suf-
fered a bad wound in the leg. Major Jackson, who had continually been going
from one man to another on the field giving first aid, was badly wounded by a shell
shortly after going back to his aid station.

That night the Regiment dug in, as did the 37th Division on the left and the
314th Infantry on the right. The positions were shelled all that night and everyone
was hoping for a relief. The human body would stand only so much, and besides,
the Regiment was greatly depleted in numbers.

The next day, Monday, September 30th, was spent with the fines holding
where they were the night before, as the Regiment was to be reUeved. During the
afternoon, the 7th Infantry of the 3d Division came up and took over the sector.
While coming in they suffered heavily from shell fire that was continuaUy sweeping
the area. By evening the reUef was completed and what remained of the Regi-
ment marched to Malancourt, where the trains were waiting and, after some hot
food, the troops bivouacked in a cold rain on the hillside to wait for daylight.

Montfaucon had been won, but the price paid had been heavy. The Regiment
lost 45 officers, of whom 12 were kiUed outright or died of their wounds, and some
1,200 of the men were killed, wounded or missing.

n

*J

CHAPTER IX

ARLY Tuesday morning, October 1st, the Regiment

formed and marched via Esnes and Hill 304, a scene

of utter desolation, to the Boia d'Esnes. The going

was difiBcult as the men were footsore from having

had wet feet for days, and had to leave the roads many

times to let the unending stream of guns, ammunition,

ambulances and vehicles of all kinds pass. Upon

arriving at the edge of the woods an artillery regiment

undertook feeding the whole Regiment, for which all

were extremely grateful. In the afternoon shelter

camp was pitohed in the woods. The band played, which did a great deal to cheer

up the troops. The rest was not for long, however, for on Thursday, October 3d,

orders were received to march to the Bois de Nixeville.

The Regiment moved out at 6K)0 P. M., the first elements arriving at the
destination at 3 :00 A. M. on October 4th. It was nearly daylight when the last ones
were in. All hands bivouacked in a drizzling rain. About 2:00 P. M. the march
was resumed and the troops arrived that evening at Genicourt and went into billets,
part of the 1st Battalion going to Camp Brancarville, and the Machine Gun Com-
pany into the Adrian Barracks nearby. The troops were pretty well fagged by now;
but on October 5th orders were received for a reconnoitering party to leave the next
day for the Troyon Sector where the American lines had held after the drive stopped
in the St. Mihiel Salient.

Colonel Sweezey called the officers and the sergeants together and told them ot
the sector to be taken over, and at 6:00 P. M., October 6th, the Regiment marched
to Rupt, arriving about 11:00 P. M. Here a very muddy camp was occupied until
the next night.

Begimiing the next morning small detachments started for the trenches where
troops of the 26th Division were holding the main lines and French troops the
outposts. During the night, the main body marched out and started the relief,
with the exception of the outposts. The Regiment again went into the front line
with the 3d Battalion on the left (center of reliance Providence) and the 2d on
the right (C. R. Augusta). The 1st Battalion was disposed in the rear with two
companies, B and D, on the left, and A and C on the right. The relief took a long
time, as the sector was very large. It was completed before daylight.

Regimental Headquarters were established in the woods at P. C. Marengo,
and after the battle out of which the troops had just come, the sector seemed quiet.
The Bocbe shelled the position freely at night, however, and a number of gas
casualties occurred. Mustard gas was laid in thickly in the ravines. A number of
men, who had taken sick after the exposure during the battle, had to be evacuated.
An officer from each company was required to go to the 2d Corps School, and
with the sadly depleted personnel, it was fortunate that a replacement of fifteen
2d Lieutenants and one Captain was received.

40 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

In this sector the line of resistance ran along a series of hills overlooking the
vast plains of the Woevre. The recently captured German trenches and dugouts
were occupied.

Below on the plains and far out toward the German lines, French troops were
in outpost positions in the trenches in and around Fresnes, Tresauvaux, Champion
and Saulx. Communication could only be maintained and supplies carried out to
the French after dark. The work was hard for the troops in the line of resistance,
as the food had to be cooked in the rear and carried up to the lines at night to the
companies along the ridge, for the Boche had excellent observation during the day.
Also day and night details were required for the engineers to buUd roads and
trenches for the entire time the Regiment was in.

Shortly after dayUght of the day the 2d BattaUon got into position a horrible
accident occurred at the 2d Battalion P. C. The hill on which the P. C. was located
was honeycombed with mine gaUeries, many of which had been used by the Boche
for storing ammunition and supplies. Captain Barber of the Medical Corps and
Captain Augenstein of the Dental Corps were reconnoitering the mouth of a dark
gallery entrance trying to locate a place for the Battalion Aid Station when the
former dropped a match accidentally. This set fire to a large quantity of Boche
flares and other pyrotechnics and the officers were so badly burned that they both
died within a day or so after reaching the hospital in the rear. Both of these officers
had come through the heavy fire at Montfaucon without a scratch.

Shortly after the Regiment took over the sector, A and C Companies relieved
the French outposts in Saulx and Champion, and B and D reUeved the French
in and around Fresnes. During the night of October 13th-14th, A and C were
relieved by Companies of the 2d Battalion. The 3d Battalion had already reUeved
B and D at Fresnes on the 12th. The sector was now entirely garrisoned by the
313th Infantry with the 2d and 3d Battalions in front and 1st Battalion in support.
Excepting for the usual patrols and the working parties, there was little activity.
The artillery of both sides did considerable firing, but only a few casualties occurred
in the Regiment.

Sickness was taking its toll, and on Saturday, October 12th, Colonel Sweezey,
who had been very ill ever since Montfaucon, was evacuated with very high fever.
Lieut.-Colonel De Lamater, formerly of the 27th Division, being temporarily
attached to the Regiment, took command. He later became G-1 of the Division
and was replaced by Lieut.-Colonel C. B. Moore on October 15th. That same day
Captain Morris, who took command of the 3d Battalion when Captain Lloyd was
wounded during the Montfaucon drive, was evacuated on account of pneumonia;
and Captain Norris, who had joined the Regiment on October 11th, succeeded him
in command of the battalion. On October 20th, Captain Gibbons of B Company
was placed in command of the 1st Battalion. Captain Flynn of A Company was
also evacuated on account of sickness. The Division was now in the 2d Army.

During the night of October 16th-17th, a prisoner, evidently a deserter, was
taken in Fresnes. He was from the 82d Regiment Landwehr, 13th Division. On
October 21st, at 7 A. M., a German soldier was found in the lines and taken prisoner.
From information gained it was thought that a raid might be expected. All troops

42 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

were on the alert all night and the battle positions taken up. It did not materialize,
however, although a barrage was laid down in the front of Fresnes at 11 P. M.
On Tuesday, October 22d, a heavy barrage was put down by the Germans on the
137th Infantry over on the left. It started at 4.30 A. M. and lasted for about one
hour.

On Wednesday, October 23d, Roche planes flew over the Unes dropping prop-
aganda printed in EngUsh and entitled "What Are We Fighting For?" They
eventually found out. During the day reconnoitering parties from the 130th U. S.
Infantry, 33d Division, arrived from the sector north of Verdun, and the following
day the 2d Rattalion, 313th U. S. Infantry, was relieved. The next night the 3d
Rattalion was also relieved. Just before this, a Roche mail carrier of the 365th
Regiment Musketeers, having lost his way, entered the line by mistake, and was
taken prisoner. On October 26th Regimental Headquarters left the P. C. Marengo,
and the various units of the Regiment were assembled in the woods near Rupt-en-
Woevre. Here Colonel William C. Rogers of the Division Military Police and
Trains was waiting with orders and took command of the Regiment, relieving
Lieut.-Colonel Moore, who went to Headquarters 1st Army.

While in camp the troops were rested. There were some French showers in
the town and details were marched down to take baths. New equipment and under
clothes were issued. A large number of replacement troops with varying degrees
of experience and training were assigned to the Regiment and materially increased
the depleted ranks.

Meantime a number of promotions of officers came through. Captains Elliott
and Morris, and some 1st and 2d lieutenants were advanced one grade. Major
Elliott remained temporarily with Regimental Headquarters. Lieut. Rradlee, for-
merly of R Company and for a short time Regimental Intelligence and Operations
Officer, now acting as Regimental Adjutant, was later promoted to Captain. Lieut.
Clark, who was now the Intelligence and Operations Officer, having been trans-
ferred from his duties as 3d Rattalion Adjutant, was also promoted to Captain.
Lieut. Kirk of K Company, later Captain, was appointed Personnel Adjutant.
The original field and staff officers in nearly every case had to be replaced owing to
casualties and sickness.

On Sunday, October 27th, the 1st Rattalion had orders to move to Genicourt
and the remainder of the Regiment to Les Monthairons on the Meuse. The troops
arrived late that night and were just being billeted when orders were received to
push on to Verdun. It was a bit discouraging to find that what was thought to be
the end of a night march was only a half-way halt. Rut the column moved out
over the congested roads and slowly made its way northward, reaching Verdun
about 3:00 A. M. on Monday. The Headquarters Company was billeted in the
jail; the rest of the Regiment, minus the 1st Rattalion, were put in the citadel,
the 1st Rattalion moving on to the Jardin Fontaine, part of the enormous system
of permanent barracks outside the city walls.

The city and citadel were under long-range shell fire and a few casualties
occurred. The city was extremely interesting and small groups of men were allowed
to do some sight-seeing. The city was full of American and French soldiers. While

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 43

it had been subject to years of shell fire, the great bcirrier of hills surrounding the
city gave certain parts of it protection from the longest-range guns. It was not as
badly wrecked as one might have thought.

On Tuesday, 29th October, word came that the Regiment would again relieve
part of the 26th Division who were holding a sector north of Verdun and east of
the River M euse, and after dark the troops moved a short way outside the city
and occupied French ccunps in three different woods.

All the next day while the troops stayed in the woods, reconnoitering parties
went up to the Cote-de-Roches to arrange for a camping place for the Regiment
pending the taking over of the sector assigned. These parties came back with the
cheering news that it was the worst sector the 26th Division had ever occupied.
The 26th was the second Division of the American forces to arrive in France and
had been in action since February in different parts of the front. That night the
battalions and separate units made a march that will not be easily forgotten. At
times the roads were under a heavy fire, and searchlights swept the heavens when
the hum of Roche planes came from out the darkness above.

CHAPTER X

RRIVING at Cote-de-Roches about midnight, the 1st
Battalion bivouacked in shell hcJes in the rocky sides
of the hill and within a few hundred feet of the mouths
of a battery of ISS's of the 27th Division. The rest
of the Regiment arrived during the night and lay
down in the open with the 1st Battalion, the guns
firing directly over the bodies of the sleeping men.
The night was cold, but the troops, tired from the
long march, slept well. In the morning the kitchens
were busy serving hot meals along the banks of the
Meuse Canal, which was dry along this section. The next day the 1st Battalion
received orders to relieve part of the 104th Infantry, 26th Division, on Hill 360 emd
the battalion moved out to the east through " Death Valley " and effected the relief
by 11:00 P. M. It was extremely hard going, for the least noise drew fire. The
lines were only eighty yards apart at some points and the climb up the hill had to
be made very cautiously; but in spite of all precautions a number of casualties
occurred. C and D Companies went into the front line with B Company in support
and A Company in reserve in the Bois d'Ormont. Major Stuart S. Janney, who
had joined the Regiment while at Rupt, was now in command of the 3d Battalion,
which moved up into position in the Bois de Brabant in support of the Ist Bat-
talion. The Regimental P. C. was moved into a dugout near the Ormont Farm,
and as the entire vicinity was under shell fire at all hours of the day and nigbt, it
was not easy to maintain communication. The 2d Battalion was still at Cote-de-
Roches in Division reserve.

Life for the troops in the line and in support was hard. All food had to be
cooked back on the banks of the canal, several kilometers away, and taken up in
wagon trains over heavily shelled roads at night by the Supply Company. The
ammunition dump of the Regiment along this road was blown up one night, as were
several dumps of artillery ammunition. The food for the Colonel and Staff and
personnel had to be hauled over this same road, as nothing could be cooked at either
Battalion or Regimental Headquarters.

On November 2d, Major Elliott was placed in command of the 2d Battalion,
but the next day he was transferred to the 3d Battalion, as Major Janney had been
promoted to Lieut. -Colonel and gone to Regimental Headquarters. Things were
quiet enough for the 2d Battalion in the Cote-de-Roches, but the shelling was bad
at times even here, and a dozen or more casualties occurred. The 3d Battalion,
which was in support, was also having casualties from shell fire and gas; but for
the 1st Battalion and the Machine Gun Company up on Hill 360 things were bad
indeed.

The trenches of both sides ran through shell-scarred woods on top of the hill
and were deep with mud and water and obstructed with fallen trees and other
debris. Repair work was impossible. Even at night the least sound would draw

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 45

machine-gun fire from the Boche gunners only a few yards off, and the enemy were
shelling the position with direct fire. One gun was later found below the crest of
the hill on the German side where it could sweep the American lines at will. It
was impossible to move about during daylight. The ground between the lines
was thick with the bodies of the troops who had previously held the sector, French
Colonials, Americans and Germans. Some had lain there for months.

The hard conditions made an early relief advisable; so on November 6th, the
1st Battalion moved back to the Bois de Brabant, in support, the 3d Battalion
going into the front line, where they only stayed a few days, as the general situation
along the whole front had greatly changed. A couple of days later, the 26th Divi-
sion again took over the hill. The 3d Battalion moved out of the position with only
a few casualties to the Cote-de-Roches, and later to Molleville Farm as Division
reserve. The 2d Battalion had in the meantime been sent to reinforce the 138th
Brigade over to the left, followed shortly afterwards by the 1st Battalion. The
following chapter will give an account of their activities on the left of the Division
sector.

While in reserve the 3d Battalion was visited by Secretary of War Keppel
and the appearance of a civilian in such surroundings aroused considerable curios-
ity. On November 11th, the 3d Battalion was ordered back to Ormont Farm.

CHAPTER XI

URING the night of November 4th word came to the
2d Battalion to be prepared to move in the morning
to support the 158th Infantry Brigade, who were
engaged with the enemy on the left of the Division
Sector. Later, definite orders were received, and at
7:00 A. M. the Battalion moved northward along the
canal and proceeded via the mined town of Brabant
to the southern edge of the Bois de Consenvoye.
Captain Burgwin had received orders from the Com-
manding General of the lS8th Brigade to report to the
Colonel of the 316th Infantry. After this was done the BattaUon again moved
forward to the northern edge of the woods in portion to repel any counter-attack
the Germans might attempt.

Ahead of the Battalion lay a stretch of open, hilly country, bare of all vege-
tation and covered with shell-holes and trenches. Over to the right, a road ran
approximately noth and south along the edge of a thick woods, just inside of
which the German and American lines faced each other, about fifty yards apart.
Troops of the 158th Brigade were holding a line, which ran east and west, in the
open along the southern slope of Hill 378, then turned at right angles in the woods,
and ran south. The 158th Brigade had gained a foothold on the hill several times,
but had been unable to hold it and had suffered very heavy losses. They were in
an exhausted state and many of the wounded could not be brought in nor food
carried up, the artillery and machine-gun fire being so intense.

Before dawn on November 6th, H Company, of the 313th Infantry, who had
been established in the woods facii^ east, were moved over to the west and the
line in the woods on the right of the sector maintained by thin outpost lines. The
2d BattaUon was getting into position in the northern edge of the Bois de Consen-
voye facing the open country to the north. These woods were heavily gassed and
were under shell fire when the American barrage started, followed at 7:30 A. M.
by the Battalion attacking to the north to attempt to gain Hill 378. The enemy
fire and gas were so bad that the Battalion became somewhat disorganized and lost
the barrage. G Company and one platoon of E Company, nevertheless, gained
the hill and hung on to their new position tenaciously. It was impossible to
attempt getting all the troops up over the open ground, which was constantly swept
by machine-gun and artillery fire from both flanks and front. The Boche had
perfect observation. At 3:00 P. M., the Battalion was ordered to effect a relief
of the 316th Infantry on the southern slope of Hill 378. A battafion of the 315th
was to be in support. The relief was effected about dusk, but a number of casual-
ties occurred in spite of the fact that, as far as posable, the troops were moved up
along the edge of the woods. A lai^e number, necessarily, had to be kept in the
open so no part of the sector would be unprotected.

si

Si

■s-l

f1

48 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

The 316th were withdrawn and the 2d Battalion waited for morning for the
final assault that would push the Boche off Hill 378 for good. There was now
but one officer each to E and F Companies, while G and H Companies had but
one officer, Captain Luckie, of G Company.

The Bqche fire kept up during the night and the snipers were firing almost
point blank from the woods at the right.

During the night a heavy fog came up and even after dawn it was impossible
to see seventy-five yards ahead. Shortly after daylight, under cover of the fog,
the Battalion again attacked and jumped the hill and woods before the Boche
could defend it. The lines had been so close during the night that some prisoners
were taken within the American lines, where they had wandered by mistake. The
morning's attack caught them unprepared and the Unes had hardly started forward
when a number of Boche were captured in the Borne-du-Cornouiller. The attack
was pressed and the Battahon moved on northward to the SiUon Fontaine Farm.
Here it was decided to reorganize, and in the afternoon a further advance was
made to the Claire-des-Chenes trenches on Hill 329. These were taken about 7:00
P. M. and the lines established for the night. The Boche were holding in the woods
across from the trenches and were protected by heavy bands of barbed wire en-
tanglements in the gully. From their screened position they kept pouring a mur-
derous machine-gun fire along the line held by the troops and especially along the
road at the edge of the woods, which furnished the only means of communication
with the rear where the aid stations, telephones, etc., were located.

In the meantime, the 1st Battalion of the 313th Infantry had marched over
from the right of the Division sector and came into the Bois de Consenvoye under
a terrific shell fire. Company B alone suffered over twenty casualties coming up.
The 1st Battalion moved up northward and took up a position which faced the
Boche line, running north and south, in the woods to the rear of the 2d Battalion.

The next day, November 8th, the positions were straightened out, and with
B Company attached to the 2d Battalion, a provisional regiment was formed by
having one battalion of the 315th in support. The lines here faced north. Another
provisional regiment was formed of the 1st Battalion (less B Company), who were
still holding the woods facing east, with a battahon of the 315th in support.

Shortly after noon both provisional regiments moved out, the 2d Battahon
and the Battahon of the 315th supporting it, swinging around to the right so that
it was facing east in a prolongation and to the left of the 1st Battahon Une. The
Boche had withdrawn all along the Une, having had enough in that particular sector,
and furthermore, a great push in an easterly direction was now going on further
north. On the left of the 2d Battahon were some troops of a French Colonial Corps.
The entire line kept advancing through the thick woods and underbrush, but no
resistance was met. It was hard going, for every foot of the hills, ravines, roads
and elaborate system of defenses, dugouts, etc., had to be examined for any lurking
enemy. A couple of machine gunners were taken. They had deserted from their
outfits and were waiting to give themselves up.

Shortly before dusk the town of Reville was occupied by the 2d Battalion
patrols and the main body took up a position on the hills facing the vast plains to

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 49

the east. The French held over to the left and the 1st Battalion were along the
woods and hills to the right toward Etraye. Patrols were sent out a kilometer or
more into the lowlands toward the retreating enemy, who were busily engaged in
destroying ammunition stores in the distance. During the night, which was quiet,
orders were received by both battalions to report the next morning to the Com-
manding Officer at Wavrille, over to the right in a southeasterly direction.

Shortly after daylight, November 9th, the movement began, and just in time,
too, for the Boche started shelling the hills with considerable accuracy. The short
march was made with good fortune, but soon after arriving at Wavrille, the town
was heavily shelled and a number of casualties occurred. The troops were moved
back into an ex-Boche camp in the ravines and stayed there until about 4:00 P. M.,
when both battalions started moving southward again to ''Death Valley** or Bois
de Brabant, where they arrived about dusk and bivouacked for the night. Early
on the morning of the 10th, orders were received to march to the woods near the
Ormont Farm. The Regimental P. C. was established in a shelter, which had been
occupied by the Boche a few days before. The ground showed the terrific fighting
that had been going on here, and many dead Boche were lying with their full equip-
ment on. They had been unable to get through the artillery fire that had been
pounding them. All day long the two battalions lay in the woods at the edge of
a clearing. The rolling kitchens came up and the troops were able to get some
much-needed rest and hot food. They had been going for a number of days and
been exposed to the wet and cold. Rumors of an armistice were in the air, but, as
someone remarked, "The dove of peace must have gone A. W. 0. L.*' During the
night the Boche put a few shells into the woods and sent considerable gas down
into a gully, but fortunately very little harm was done. That night Major Gibbons
received orders for the 1st Battalion to attack in the morning. The 2d Battalion
was ordered to remain in the same position ready to support the 1st Battalion.

CHAPTER XII

EL

I

TC

N the morning of November 11th, at 6:00 A. M., the 1st
Battalion moved out of the position in which they had
been since the preceding morning, with orders to make
a demonstration or flank attack against the left flank
of the enemy, who were holding the Cote-de-Romagne,
a high hill rising out of the swampy plains to the east.
The Battalion moved out in the direction of Crepion,
passed through the town and took up a position for
the jump-off. The left flank of the Battalion was at
the village of Chaumont-devant-Damvillers, and the
right flank at Ville-devant-Chaumont. The Boche fire was very heavy and no
sooner had the troops come into view than a barrage was put down. The BattaUon
kept pressing forward, the order being to ** mop-up" any of the enemy who might
remain in the villages or elsewhere. The soft, marshy ground was all that saved
the Battalion from appalling casualties, as the shells sunk very deep upon impact,
with the result that there was little dispersion of flying fragments. The bursts
seemed to throw mud, water and iron straight up into the air.

At sixteen minutes to eleven a runner from Regimental Headquarters caught
up with the Battalion Commander with orders to cease firing at 11 :00 A. M., French
time, hold the lines at the spot, and neither advance nor give way to the rear.
The Armistice had been signed and fighting was to stop. The Battalion still
pressed the attack vigorously and kept gaining ground, the artillery of both sides
were firing rapidly, and the Boche were inflicting casualties with machine guns that
were placed in depth along their front. At one minute to eleven, Private Gunther
of A Company was killed while attempting to rush a Boche machine gun. Promptly
at eleven the firing ceased and all was quiet along the front. Somewhat dazed by
the suddenness, troops rested on their arms in wonder.

In the meantime, at 9:45 A. M., the 2d Battalion, back in the woods, had
received orders to advance and vigorously attack the village of Ville-devant-Chau-
mont, and to cease firing and dig in at 11 :00 A. M . The Battalion moved out over
the roads that the 1st Battalion had gone down earlier in the morning. The shelling
was heavy to the east and just ahead when eleven o'clock came. The head of the
column had just reached the village of Crepion, and the troops were assembled
there. It was hard to believe it was over and the German armies and nation
crushed.

CHAPTER XIII

HE balance of November 11th seemed to impress differ-
ent people in different ways. At first it seemed strange
to be able to expose one's self without drawing fire.
The Boche was inclined to be friendly, but the men all
obeyed strictly the order against fraternizing and did
not pay any attention to the enemy, except that there
was no relaxing of vigilance. Boche would always
bear watching and everyone realized it.

When night fell, the bright camp fires burning on
both sides produced a strange yet welcome sight.
Later the Boche started sending up great quantities of rockets and flares by way
of celebration. None who witnessed it will ever forget it. The best Fourth of
July celebration seen in the past sunk into insignific€uice. After spending several
days in the ruins of Crepion the 2d Battalion went forward and relieved part of
the 313th Infantry who were holding the lines in front of Gibercy. In the mean-
time, the 1st Battalion was holding the lines where the halt was made when the
firing ceased on November 11th. The 3d Battalion was still in the vicinity of
Ormont Farm, in Divisional reserve.

During the next few days, a number of released prisoners, mostly Italians,
came through the lines and the troops were busy feeding and escorting them in
groups to a central point designated by the Division.

The work of policing the area and collecting salvage was begun and then the
1st and 2d Battalions were withdrawn from the front line and established in German
camps in the gullies between the hills in the vicinity of Moirey and Wavrille.

On Sunday, November 17th, Colonel Sweezey rejoined the Regiment and
resumed command. Colonel Rogers was assigned to other duties. On November
20th, the Regiment started moving southward. The Regimental Headquarters
had been established in the Citadel of Verdun. The 1st and 2d Battalions and the
Machine Gun Company marched to a point on the east bank of the M euse Canal,
north of Thierville, and there were billeted in dugouts that had been constructed
and used by the French Army. The 3d Battalion was scattered over a large area —
L Company to Abaucort to establish examining posts at Dieppe, M orainviUe and
Abaucort, to collect repatriated civilians and ex-prisoners of war and ship them
under guard to Caserne Neil, where M Company and Battalion Headquarters were
located; K Company was located at Pave and I Company at Dugny, the latter
to guard bridges between Dieue and Verdun and to forward the prisoners to con-
centration points. Large numbers of prisoners were coming in and it kept all hands
pretty busy. They were mostly Russians, some Serbians, Rumanians and Italians.
All were more or less dilapidated and fatigued, for, in addition to any hard treat-
ment they may have received while in the hands of the Germans, they had all been
marching for many days.

52 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

After spending two days in the dugouts along the Canal the 2d Battalion
marched to Dieue and Les Montharions, south of Verdun, and took over a number
of bridges to guard. G Company moved into the French stone barracks in Verdun
and established guards at the various gates and regulated traffic in the city. In
fact, they practically functioned as Military Police. In the meantime, the 1st
Battalion moved into the quarters vacated by the 2d.

On December 2d the three companies of the 2d Battalion moved north again
to Verdun and were billeted in wrecked houses practically all on one street. These
were patched up and made very comfortable. Nearly every room had a fireplace
of some sort. On December 21st the 1st Battalion moved into similar billets in
the city, with the exception of A Company, which was at Caserne Neil guarding
Russians. Major Gibbons, who had been evacuated the latter part of November,
rejoined the Regiment and later resumed command of the 1st Battalion, which
had been under the command of Major Monninger for several weeks, the latter
having been attached to the Regiment. On December 2d, I Company moved from
Dugny to Faubourg Pave near K Company.

Early in December training schedules were published and, with the exception
of companies on special duty, such as guarding bridges and prisoners, etc., close
and extended order drills were the order of the day. Practice marches were made
and soon battalion and company problems were inaugurated. Rifle ranges were
selected and target practice at short ranges was begun. Later Corps Terrain exer-
cises were held and an attack was made over practically the identical ground that
had been captured from the Germans the month before. This refers to Bois-de-la-
Grande Montagne, etc. The training and problems were to continue for the bal-
ance of the winter.

The stay in Verdun was very comfortable and the facilities for bathing were
very good and everyone was able to get thoroughly clean. A great slaughter of
cooties was made with the aid of the delousers. Y. M. C. A. canteen was estab-
lished and cigarettes and cakes and some reading matter were obtained. There
was also a Salvation Army c€uiteen and the nearness to Bar-le-Duc made it fairly
easy to obtain supplies. Things were indeed looking up and great preparations
were made for Christmas. Trucks were sent to Bar-le-Duc and Nancy for supplies
and one to Paris for turkeys. Owing to a breakdown the latter did not get back
in time for Christmas, but the birds were greatly enjoyed New Year's Day.

Leave trains were taking away details from every company for a welcome
change to Aix-les-Bains, and later leaves were granted to officers. The fighting
was over for good and schedules were worked out so that all men and officers would
get away eventually. Later some trains went to Nice and other areas assigned to
the American Army.

On December 21st, A Company relieved M Company at Caserne Neil and the
headquarters of the 3d Battalion and M Company were moved to Belleray . Orders
had been received to prepare a battalion to march in review before President Wilson
at Montfaucon. The 3d Battalion was selected and a provisional regiment, under
the command of Colonel Sweezey, was organized to represent the 79th Division.
Quarters were fixed up in the basement of the College Marguerite to accommodate

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 53

the Presidential party, as it was understood that the President was to spend
Christmas Eve in Verdun. It was, therefore, disappointing to everyone when
word came that the President's duties would not permit of his visit.

The city of Verdun was interesting at all times and the sight of many visitors
passing through made a pleasant change after the months spent in the field. The
city was pretty thoroughly explored by the troops and the wonderfully intricate
system of galleries and underground chambers in the citadel was a never-ceasing
source of wonder. Verdun and its surrounding forts form one of the most heavily
fortified places on earth and to have had such ample opportunities to see and get
to know the ground where the greatest battle of all times was fought will be even
more appreciated by the members of the 313th Infantry as time goes on. Services
were held Christmas morning in the great Cathedral which naturaUy had suffered
considerable damage from the years of shelling. The chimes were rung for the
first Christmas celebration since the war was started. Regimental band played in
the square, near the market-place, where the rolling kitchens were preparing for
the feast. Altogether, it was a most memorable day. It was not without regret
that the news that all but the 1st Battalion were to leave Verdun and the vicinity
was received.

CHAPTER XIV

HBISTMAS found all bands busy preparing for the
marcb to tbe Souilly area. On December 26th the
Regiment, minus the 1st Battalion, which remained in
Verdun doing guard duty, marched to Souilly, where
the troops were billeted in the <Ad hospital barracks,
which were later occupied by Division Headquarters.
Next day the marcb was resumed and, in spite of rain
and snow, everyone was exceptionally cheerful, as it
was beginning to look like a step toward home. Regi-
mental Headquarters, Supply Compimy, Machine Gun
and Headquarters Company and the 3d Battalion arrived at SeigneuUes and the
2d Battalion at Erize-la-Bruiee on December 27th.

After the towns were poUced and billets fixed up the training schedule was
again put into eflFect, and drills, maneuvers, schools, etc., were carried on until
about January 17th, when the Regiment moved to Conde-en-Barrois and the
vicinity. Here Major Morris, who had returned from hospital, assumed command
of the 2d Battalion. Conde proved to be much the best town the Regiment had
been in since leaving Champlitte. Two companies of the 3d Battalion were quar-
tered in Genicourt-sous-Conde; the Battalion Headquarters and the remaining
companies, as well as the Machine Gun Company, were in Hargeville nearby. On
February 3d the 1st BattaUon left Verdun and marched for two days, stopping at
Souilly overnight, and were finally billeted in new barracks. Camp Estriennes, out-
side of Rembercourt. The Regiment was practically assembled again for the first
time in months. Training schedules were in effect again dnd an elaborate rifle
range was constructed.

About the middle of March, information was received that the whole Division
would move shortly to the fourth training area between Neufchateau and Chau-
mont. This involved a five-day hike, and on March 28th the Regiment moved
out on the first lap of its long journey. That night all but the 1st Battalion were
billeted in Longeville, where the Regiment had made its last stop in September
before going into the trenches. The 1st BattaUon was quartered in Naives and

The next night Headquarters and most of the troops were at Stainville. The
weather all along had been cold and a good deal of snow and rain fell, adding much
to the discomforts of the march. The following night the Headquarters were in
Pancey and the companies were spread out in half a dozen small villages. The next
day's march was a gruelling one and part of the troops covered forty-two kUometers
over roads heavy with mud and slush. It was a pretty exhausted crowd that lay
down in hospital barracks at Rimaucourt that night. The 1st Battalion was bil-
leted in Roches-sur-Rognon, several kilometers out of Rimaucourt. The spirit of

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 55

the men was good, as they all felt each step was carrying them nearer home. The
last day's march of about fifteen kilometers, from Rimaucourt to Lafauche, was
made in the morning.

Here Regimental Headquarters were established in the Chateau and all of the
troops, excepting the Machine Gun Company, were quartered in the buildings of
the U. S. Base Hospital No. 117. The Machine Gun Company occupied the
French Barracks, about one kilometer distant. The balance of the week was spent
in fixing up the camp, building bunks, etc.

On April 10th the Division passed out of the Second Army and came under
the S. 0. S. Preparations were made for an early move toward the coast and on
Sunday, April the 13th, the work of turning in excess equipment, transportation,
etc., was begun.

The first week at Lafauche was not the only one spent in polishing up, for
shortly after arriving in the new area, word came that General Pershing would
soon inspect and review the Division. Great quantities of shoe polish, brushes
and pressing irons were bought, and never was so much elbow grease used in such
a few days before. Company and battalion inspections and reviews, with and
without the band, were almost hourly occurrences. Finally, after an all night's
rain, Satimiay, April 12th, dawned. All hands were up and about by 5:30 A. M.,
and 7:00 o'clock the column moved out. It poured all day and slickers had to be
worn, which was disappointing, to say the least, as everyone was dressed in
his very best and felt that no other organization could put up a better showing.

In spite of inclement weather it was a great spectacle and the Conmiander-in-
Chief expressed himself as pleased with the appearance of the men and seemed
well satisfied with the information gained in answer to his numerous questions
asked while inspecting the ranks.

After the Conmiander-in-Chief completed his inspection, he personaUy pinned
the Distinguished Service Cross on the breasts of those who had won them, and
then fastened the streamers, enumerating the actions in which the Regiment had
participated, to the pike of the Regimental colors. At the close of the review.
General Pershing addressed the assembled officers and thanked the Division for
its work in the line, and impressed upon all the importance of America's part in
the great conflict.

CHAPTER XV

1 N Monday, April 21st, the 1st Battalion and Head-
quarters Company marched to Rimaucourt and
entrained for the area near Nantes where most of the
Division was to remain until final sailing orders were
received. The 2d Battalion Supply and Machine Gun
Companies marched to Rimaucourt on Thursday,
April 24th, and were followed the next day by the
1st Battalion. The entire Regiment was moved in
three trains on different days to the new area, the trips
averaging about forty-eight hours, but were far more
comfortable than the long crowded trip of the previous summer, for the cars were
not filled to capacity and all could easily lie down at the same time.

The entire Regiment, less the 3d Battalion, was ordered to Cholet, a city of
about 23,000 inhabitants, and the 3d Battalion went to Mortagne-sur-Sevre, a
good-sized town situated about 10 kilometers away. The troops were comfortably
quartered in both places, especially the 2d Battalion, which was assigned to the

The 313lh Infanlri—Ln* 3d BallalionSlanding Betrtal in Choiel, May. 1919

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

Major John Eltiotl and Ojjieen and Sergtants of Ihe Third BaUalion

Caserne of the 77tfa French Infantry, a large stone building called the "Friedland
Barracks," one of three In the post. Headquarters Company were in a permanent
hospital at the other end of the city. Regimental Headquarters were established
in an empty house on the main business street, and after the long winter in the
muddy Meuse villages the dry stone pavements, hotels, cat&s and theaters of
Cholet seemed the acme of metropoUtan luxury.

The town of Cholet was in the Vendee or Royalist section of France and was
located about 40 kilometers south and east of Nantes. It was from this district
some of the very best of Napoleon's men came, and in the Great War the district
furnished two of the crack corps of the French Army. The people were most
hospitable and said the 313tfa Infantry was the first American combat unit to be
billeted there. Retreat was held each afternoon in the public square and the band
also gave several concerts in the beautiful municipal park. A wonderful show
that would have done credit to the Keith circuit was given by the men in the
municipal theater. The French inhabitants fairly filled the house.

Over at Mortagne things were going equally well and together with the fact
that some real sunny, warm spring weather arrived things were looking up indeed.

All was not play by a long shot, however, eis the many details of preparing the
paper work and securing and issuing new clothing preparatory for the required
inspection before orders to proceed to St. Nazaire would be received, made plenty
of work.

58 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

On Sunday, May 4th, the Regiment was inspected by S. 0. S. officials, but they
refused to pass it for transportation home on account of minor deficiencies in
equipment. Lack of toilet articles seemed to be the principal complaint, but on
Sunday, May 11th, when the next inspection was held not one man was shy so
much as a piece of shaving soap. In the meantime, the 2d Battalion had been
moved to Trementines, as the French required the Caserne.

On Tuesday, May 13th, the Headquarters and 1st Battalion left Cholet by
train for St. Niizaire; the 3d Battalion entrained at Mortagne the same day.
On Wednesday, the 14th, the 2d Battalion entrained at Trementines and picked
up A Company at Cholet, the latter having been left behind to polish up. Here
also the Supply Company and all others left behind on detail were entrained.
Finally on the evening of Wednesday, May 14th, the entire Regiment was quartered
in the various camps that go to make up the great embarkation center of the
Americans just outside of St. Nazaire,

Here things were humming and together with paper work, delousing, pfaydcal
examination, etc., the best part of the day and night was passed. There were plenty
of rumors as to just when and in what vessel or vessels the Regiment would sail,
but it was not until Thursday, the 15th, that orders from the Embarkation Service
were received, that part of the Regiment would go by the Paymndu on the same
afternoon. Major EUiott, who was designated as Commanding Officer of troops,
went aboard and also all of I Company, who were to furnish the necessary details

Headqunrlen Company al ChoM

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 59

and guards. The next day, Friday, May 16th, the entire 2d Battalion and K, M
and Machine Gun Companies went aboard, making a total of 1351 men and 27
officers. On account of lack of space a number of the 2d Battalion officers had
to be left back to proceed home with the rest of the regiment.

CHAPTER XVI

BOUT 4 P. M. on May 16th the Paymndu put out
to sea and the Antigone, formerly the North German
Lloyd Liner Neckar, of 9835 gross tons, was desig-
nated to take the remainder of the Regiment, consist-
ing of Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters and
Supply and L Companies and Ist Battalion com-
plete. This vessel was somewhat delayed in arriving
and it was not until Sunday, May 18th, that she
finally sailed.

The Paysandu which was formerly the old
Hamburg South American Steamer B<diia of 4817 gross tons and 19 years old,
was not in very good condition, as she had been laid up for years in South
America and it was impossible to get any speed out of her. She was only 375 feet
long and had no cargo in her and pitched and rolled constantly, causing a great deal
of seasickness.

But both ships' companies were better off as to meals and quarters than on

HeadqaarUrM Company
In Foreground Color-Sergeani Leidlieh and Colort. Photo taken at Neipport New$ immediately
ajler Landing from Trantporl "AiUigone"

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

the Leviaihan, and with plenty of
time on deck for all hands and
three meals a day the tedious days
passed. The Paysanda had most
of the Regimental theatrical talent
aboard and the Antigone the band,
so shows and concerts were given,
also the ships carried moving pic-
ture outfits and combined with the
boxing and wrestling bouts there
was some sort of amusement a good
part of the time. The barbers
were doing a rushing business all
the way across, as everyone natu-
rally wanted to be as spruced up
as possible for the homecoming.
On board the ships themselves the
high spirits of all seemed to put the
war with all it entailed pretty far
behind.

Finally on Thursday, May 29th,
the j4n/(9onpsteamed into Hampton
Roads and docked at Newport
News amid great whistling and all
manner of noises made by friends
and relatives of the men who had
been anxiously awaiting the ship in various sorts of chartered harbor craft.

The work of disembarking was quickly accomplished and the troops marched
about three miles to Camp Stuart. Here the good people of Maryland had made
elaborate preparations for feeding everyone and the men were much surprised and
delighted with it all. As in France the order of the day was delousing, issuing
cotton clothes and other articles, paper work Emd then some, and finally the troops
were separated into groups according to their home States and some were trans-
ferred to Camp Hill nearby as casuals. This was the beginning of the breaking up
of the Regiment.

On Sunday night, June Ist, the Paysanda dropped anchor olT Old Point
Comfort, and the troops disembarked the next morning at Newport News and pro-
ceeded to Camp Stuart and joined the rest of the Regiment. The same evening
the detachment which arrived on the Antigone sailed for Baltimore on the
Steamer Eskx which had been chartered by the home folks. After discharging
the men in Baltimore, where the reception the troops got resembled a riot, the
Es^ex steamed back to Newport News and picked up the remainder of the
Regiment shortly after midnight on June 3d.

About 2:00 P. M. on Wednesday, June 4th, the Essex arrived at Baltimore
amid a repetition of the din of whistles from vessels and factories and cheers from

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 63

the people quite the equal to that received by the first contingent. With the help
of the police the crowds gave way just barely enough to let the entire Regiment
form on streets outside the piers and the parade to the 5th Regiment Armory via
Baltimore, Howard and N. Charles Streets started.

Probably never in history were any troops coming home from a war more
truly acclaimed by their people. It was a wonderful demonstration of the way
Baltimore and Maryland felt. The men in line were practically all Marylanders,
as those from other parts of the country had been sent to their home districts from
Newport News.

It was a holiday in Baltimore by the Mayor's proclamation and it looked as if
everyone had turned out. At the Washington Monument the Governor of Mary-
land and Mayor of Baltimore and Generals Kuhn and Nicholson, who had come
from New York together with other distinguished guests, formed the official
reviewing party. Colonel Sweezey was given a tremendous ovation all along the
line as he led the Regiment. A caisson banked with flowers in memory of those
who had given their lives led the column and a large service flag showing the num-
ber of dead and wounded followed close behind.

Upon reaching the 5th Regiment Armory aU hands were dismissed until
early the next morning. Here a great banquet had been prepared by the Knights
of Columbus. At the Armory many of the men and officers who had been sent
home wounded were waiting and many friends met here for the first time since
parting on the field.

During the forenoon of Thursday, June 5th, the entire Regiment entrained
for Camp Meade and by early afternoon all were quartered in the same camp where
the Regiment had been formed and trained for the war.

The work of making out the necessary records for demobilization immediately
commenced and as fast as the Companies could be physicaUy examined and paid
off the men were discharged. This continued until Tuesday, June 10th, when the
last Company was discharged.

The officers became casuals on this date and some were given fifteen days'
leave prior to discharge. Some were immediately discharged.

The 313th Infantry had ceased to exist, leaving "a record throughout its
entire career to which its members may look back with pride and pleasure," to
quote the words of Major General Kuhn, Commander of the 79th Division.

AWARDS

AND

GENERAL ORDERS

Awards for Valor

The following officers and men of the 313th Infantry were awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross:

Major Horatio N. Jackson, Regimental Surgeon
Major Effingham B. Morris, Jr.
Chaplain John Carroll Moore
First Lieutenant Royal C. Johnson
Sergeant Harry E. Forrest
Sergeant Ernest W. Hitchins
Corporal George L. Brown
Private Roland W. Abrams

Posthumously awarded D. S. C.
Captain Harry IngersoU

Certificale of Merit, for Gallantry
Major B. Franklin Pepper

General Orders

The following is an extract from an official order issued by Colonel Wm. G. Rogers (tempo-
rarily in command of the 313th U. S. Infantry) on October 28th, 1918, at Verdun, France:

** Every member of the 313th Infantry belongs to an organization which has already
made a fighting record of which a veteran regiment would be proud. Your uniform and
equipment may show the unavoidable results of hard fighting, yet stand erect and
salute — salute like the soldier you are, a soldier of the 313th Infantry I Do you
know that the 313th was first *Over the Top' and the Regiment which took Mont-
fauconP"

The following is a copy of Field Message received by the C. O. 2d Bn. 313th Infantry, on
the morning of November 11, 1918, in the field:

From — Incite eleven

At —P. C. 30.1—81.2

Date —1 1—1 1—18 Hour 9 :45 No. 1 Runner

To — Incited one

You wiD proceed and atUck VILLE-DEVANT-CHAUMONT; hostiUties wiU
cease on the whole front at 11 H. to-day French time. Until that hour the operations
ordered will be pressed vigorously. At 11 Hour lines will halt in place and no man will
move one step backward or forward. He wiU stay exactly where he is. All men will
cease firing and dig in. In case enemy does not likewise suspend firing — ^firing will be
resumed, but no further advance wiU be permitted. No fraternization wiU be allowed.
Brigade and other commanders concerned are charged with the important duty of trans-
mitting these orders to troops and securing their strict enforcement. Rockets or other
signals may be used to notify front line of the arrival of 11 H. Just as soon as possible
after 11 H. determine exact tract of front line by co-ordinates and indicate exact position
of flanks liaison groups and notify these hdqs. at once.

Incffe Eleven

Do not forget to send us information of what happens. The 26th Division wiU be
on your right, the Ist Bn. 313th on your left.

Bradlee.

The following general order was issued by the Commanding General of the 157th Infantry
Brigade on November 15, 1919:

Headquarters, 157th Infantry Brigade
American Expeditionary Forces

15th November, 1918.
General Orders
No. 1

I. The cessation of hostilities on 11th November, 1918, found the troops of this command,
as heretofore, well out in advance of the troops on our right and left and conquering the enemy
over the most difficult terrain.

II. The Brigade Commander wishes to express to the officers and men of his command his
admiration for the courage, resourcefulness and cheerful devotion to duty, under conditions not

68 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

always the brightest or easiest, which they have always displayed in performing the tasks assigned
them, and to tell them of the great confidence in them that he has at all times entertained.

III. This Brigade has participated successfully in two attacks against the enemy and
behaved in each one true to the standard it had set for itself, a standard which the Brigade Com-
mander had learned long ago to expect as a matter of course.

IV. Experienced and proved soldiers of this Brigade, your General is proud to conunand
you and wishes to take this opportunity to congratulate all ranks on their achievements, to
thank them for, and share with pride in their contribution to the causes for our enemy's surrender.

V. This order will be copied for distribution in companies, will be read to the troops at the
first formation after its receipt, and published for two days thereafter on Company bulletin boards.

W. G. Nicholson,
Brigadier General, U. S. A.

Headquarters, 79th Division
American Expeditionary Forces

April 17th, 1919.
General Orders
No. 25

I. The following letter, dated April 13th, from the Commander-in-Chief to DiWsion Com-
mander is published for the information of the commands:

American Expeditionary Forces
Office of the Commander-in Chief

France, April 13th, 1919.
Major-General Joseph Kuhn,
Commanding 79th Division,

American Elxpeditionary Forces.

My Dear General Kuhn:

It afforded me great satisfaction to inspect the 79th Division on April 12th, and on that
occ*asion to decorate the standards of your regiments and, for gallantry in action, to confer medals
upon certain officers and men. Your transportation and artillery were in splendid shape, and
general appearance of the Division was well up to the standard of the American Expeditionary
Forces. Throughout the inspection and review the excellent morale of the men and their pride
in the record of their organizations was evident.

In the Meuse-Argonne offensive the Division had its fuU share of hard fighting. Entering
the lines for the first time on September 26th as the right of the center corps, it took part in the
beginning of the great Meuse-Argonne offensive. By September 27th it had captured the strong
position of Montfaucon, and in spite of heavy artillery reaction, the Bois de Beuge and Nantillois
were occupied. On September 30th it was relieved, having advanced ten kilometers. It again
entered the battle on October 29th, refieving, as part of the 17th French Corps, the 29th Division
in the (jrande Montagne sector to the east of the Meuse River. From that time until the armistice
went into effect, it was almost constantly in action. On November 9th, Crepion, Wavrille and
Gibercy were taken, and in conjunction with elements on the right and left, Etraye and Moirey
were invested. On November 10th Chaumont-devant-Damvilliers were occupied and on No-
vember 11th, Ville-devant-Chaumont was taken, a total advance of 9?^ kilometers.

This is a fine record for any division and I want the officers and men to know this and to
realize how much they have contributed to the success of our arms. They may return home
justly proud of themselves and of the part they have played in the American Expeditionary Forces.

Sincerelv vours,

John J. Pershing.

HISTORY OF 313th U. S. INFANTRY 69

Headquarters, 313th U. S. Infantry
American Expeditionary Forces

4th May, 1919.
General Orders

No. 27

I. Pursuant to instructions contained therein, the following comniunication received by
the Regimental Commander from the Commanding General of the Division is published to the
command for their information:

1. On eve of the departure of the 79th Division from France to the United States, the
Division Commander desires to record his appreciation of the services of the 313th Infantry.

2. Throughout its career it has uniformly demonstrated a high order of combat efficiency
under your leadership. First put to the test in line in the Avocourt Sector, two companies
demonstrated their mettle by successfully repelling two enemy raids, one made in large force,
with selected shock troops accompanied by heavy artillery preparation. During the first phase
of the Meuse-Argoime offensive it fell to the lot of the Regiment to attack the enemy *s justly
dreaded stronghold of Montfaucon, which it gallantly overran after a severe struggle. On
September 29, 1918, although exhausted and depleted by its previous efforts, the Regiment
again took up the front line under a galling artillery fire and reached the farthest point of the
advance of the Division in front of the Bois de Cunel.

3. During the last phase of the Meuse-Argorme offensive, the Second Battalion of the Regi-
ment was largely responsible for the exploitation of the success of the capture of Hill 378, and by
its advance beyond this hill and breaking through the enemy's Claire Chene trenches in forcing
his withdrawal from the heights north of Verdun.

4. The record of your Regiment throughout its entire career is one to which it may look
back with pride and pleasure. The Division Commander desires that you make known to your
Regiment his appreciation of its fine services.

By order of Colonel Sweezey: Thomas G. Bradlee,

Captain, 313th U. S. Infantry, Adjutant.

70

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

2nd Battalion 313th U. S- Infantry

CO. F STATIONS— SINCE ARRIVAL IN FRANCE

Station

Brest : July

Marcenay

Champlitte

Cyrieres September 9

a

u

u

u

u

u

u

LongeviUe

Verrier Sector (304)

Foret-de-Hesse

Montfaucon

Foret-de-Hesse October

Nixoille

Genicourt-sur-Meuse

Mouilly

Troyon Sector

Rupt-en-Woevre

Verdun

Foret-de-Chana

Cote-de-Roche

Grande Montagne November 5

Fort-de-Belleville

Dieue-sur-Meuse

Verdun December

Souilly

Erize-la-Brulee

Conde-en-Barrois January

LongeviUe March

Stainsville

EfEncourt

Rimaucourt

Lafauche A.pril

Rimaucourt.

Cholet "

Trementines May

St. Nazaire

u

u

u

u

u

VBD

Departed

15, 1918

July

18, 1918

21, 1918

a

29, 1918

29, 1918

September 8, 1918

9, 1918

a

9, 1918

10, 1918

u

12, 1918

13, 1918

u

22, 1918

22, 1918

u

25, 1918

26, 1918

u

30, 1918

1, 1918

October

3, 1918

4. 1918

u

4, 1918

4, 1918

u

6, 1918

6, 1918

u

7, 1918

7, 1918

u

23, 1918

23, 1918

u

27, 1918

28, 1918

u

29, 1918

29, 1918

u

30, 1918

30, 1918

Novembei

• 5, 1918

5. 1918

tt

21, 1918

21, 1918

u

22, 1918

23, 1918

December

2, 1918

2, 1918

u

26, 1918

26, 1918

u

27, 1918

27, 1918

January

17, 1919

17, 1919

March

28, 1919

28, 1919

u

29, 1919

29, 1919

u

30, 1919

30, 1919

a

31, 1919

31, 1919

April

1, 1919

1, 1919

u

24, 1919

24, 1919

u

24, 1919

26, 1919

May

10, 1919

10, 1919

tt

14, 1919

14, 1919

u

15, 1919

The Lorraine Gross

Story of the
79th Division Insignia

The Gross of Lorraine

Its Origin and Significance

Written from Data Furnished by

E. F. HENRI VIARD

B. A. Paris University

ImU lA}ndon Correspondent oj " Le Journal*'

Sometime Technical Translator to the

Ordnance Department^ A. E. F.

The Lorraine Cross, official emblem of the Seventy-ninth Divi-
sion, United States Army, was adopted shortly after the armistice ims
signed.

In all its war operations, the Seventy-ninth Division faced the
enemy in Lorraine, the province which the United States was pledged
to win back for France.

Victory, in the face of stubborn opposition, crowned the efforts of
the Seventy-ninth Division. It was only appropriate, therefore, that
the division should select as its emblem the ancient symbol of victory,
the Lorraine Cross.

The Cross of Lorraine

NATIONAL emblem of the independent Duchy of Lor-
raine for centuries, and even now a distinctive cogni-
zance of the Border Province of France, the double
traverse cross, known as the Cross of Lorraine, forms
part of the armorial bearings of no less than 163 noble
famiUes. And several military units engaged in the
war just ended adopted the cross as an emblem.
These units include, besides the Lorraine Detachment
of the French Army, the Seventy-ninth Division.
Before its adoption as an emblem by the reigning
house of Lorraine, the double traverse cross, now known as the Lorraine Cross,
had a long and interesting history. Important in the history of the develop-
ment of the shape of the cross with its two beams, the design being Byzantine
and emblematic of the triumph of Christ over Death, are ancient double traverse
crosses, each containing fragments of the Real Cross of the Crucifixion. They
are preserved in different sections of France.

The double traverse of the Cross of Lorraine comes from the substitution, for
the Titulus, or inscription originally used to mark the Cross upon which Christ
was crucified, of a plain horizontal arm. The origin of the double traverse cross is
Eastern, and, students of the subject point out, it undoubtedly represents the
Jerusalem Cross — the True Cross — with its main horizontal beam and the Titulus,
represented by a plain beam in the Cross of Lorraine.

Reliquaries containing parts of the Real Cross upon which the Savior was
crucified, including the reliquaries in Poitiers and Limoges, are double traverse
in form. On an enameled plate in the Treasury of Graz Cathedral, Hungary,
the figure of Saint Helena, cjedited with the recovery of the True Cross, is repre-
sented draped in a dress which is emblazoned with a double traverse cross.

The double traverse cross is found on seals of the Kingdom of Hungary and
the emblem, in its form, has been called tlie Cross of Hungary. Monsignor Danke,
a Canon of Graz Cathedral, states that the double traverse cross on the seals of
the Kingdom of Hungary dates from Andrew H, who was the father of Saint
Elizabeth, and adds that it is emblematic of the apostohc dignity of the Hun-
garian kings.

The double traverse cross came to have its association with Lorraine in 1477
after Rene H, reigning head of the Duchy of Lorraine, had defeated Charles the
Bold, Duke of Burgundy, at the Battle of Nancy. Rene was of the house of Anjou
and the emblem had been known as the Cross of Anjou to earlier members of the
house.

Succession to the Duchy of Lorraine came to Rene II thru the female line.
His mother was Yolande of Anjou, daughter of Rene I. Thru his father, Ferri

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 75

of Vaudemont, Rene claimed descent from the ancient dynasty of the Dukes of
Lorraine, who traced their history to Gerard of Alsace, and who had ruled the
Duchy uninterruptedly for almost four centuries.

At the time of the accession of Rene II, the neighboring Duchy of Burgundy
was ruled by Charles the Bold, who had made a reputation as a general and war-
rior. In the forwarding of his ambition for greater territory and more widespread
authority, he had roused the enmity of Lorrainers. In 1476, following the acces-
sion of Rene II, the Duke of Burgundy laid siege to Nancy and took the city.

Rene went abroad to hire troops, and, returning in the early days of 1477 with
considerable forces, especially Italian and Swiss mercenaries, gave battle to Charles
within sight of Nancy, whose soldier citizens sallied forth to his help. Despite
their assistance, Rene might have lost the fight had it not been for Campo Basso,
an Italian condettiere in the service of Charles the Bold, who, having some grudge
against the latter and being bribed by the other side, went over to the Lorrainers
at the critical moment.

The Burgundians were cut to pieces. Charles the Bold, in trying to break
away, was slain by a Lorraine oflScer who did not recognize him and who com-
mitted suicide when, the body of the famous Duke having been identified a couple
of days later from an old scar behind the ear, he realized that it was he who had
killed " so great a Prince," It might seem strange that the body of the Duke of Bur-
gundy should have remained unidentified for any time. The explanation is that
the Swiss and Italian mercenaries and, indeed, the Lorrainers, were out for booty.
The Duke's rich accoutrements were a tempting loot.

The Battle of Nancy was not only the greatest event in the history of Lorraine,
but one of the most momentous in the history of France and even of Europe,
although, perhaps, the whole scope of its effects has not been brought out ade-
quately by historians. If Burgundy alone was defeated, three parties benefited
by the victory, namely, Switzerland, for whom it meant final acquisition of
independence; the King of France, and the Duke of Lorraine. The disappearance
of Charles the Bold ensured at one stroke the Unity of France, which it rid of the
last ever-powerful vassal, and the independence of Lorraine. No doubt Louis XI
would rather have been the only profiteer by the death of his rival. No doubt,
also, he meant to get hold of Lorraine and, as the event proved, laid hands shortly
afterwards on the Duchy of Bar and tried to prevent Rene II from coming into
this comparatively small portion of Rene Anjou's inheritance. But his wily plans
were foiled by the very fact that, whatever his motives, he had made a show of
fostering and supporting the Lorrainer against the Burgundian. Had Lorraine
become a part of Charles the Bold*s dominions, even the Mighty House of Austria
would have been unable to keep it independent from France; Henry IPs efforts
would have been exerted against Lorraine, and Lorraine it is that France would
have occupied at the same time as the three bishoprics, Toul, Metz, and Verdun,
and before Alsace. France's influence made itself felt in the Duchy as early as
1552, but annexation was put off until 1766.

Not only did Rene II's reign ensure the independence of Lorraine, but it
secured the adjunction of Barrois, for there can be no doubt that the Duchy of

76 HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY

Bar would have been annexed to France right <away had not Charles VIII found it
politic to give back the territory confiscated by his father Louis XI as an induce-
ment to Duke Rene II not to press his claims regarding such parts of Rene of
Anjou's inheritance as Anjou and Provence which France wanted and secured
out of the deal.

Considering the importance of the battle of Nancy in the eyes of Lorrainers,
the historical value of the badge worn by their victorious ancestors at that famous
fight is easily understood.

That badge was a double traverse cross. We have Duke Rene IFs own word
for it. In the account of operation and conduct of the battle of Nancy, dictated
by the Duke himself to his secretary Joannes Lud, we read: "And I had on my
harness a robe of gold cloth, and the armour of my horse was also covered with gold
cloth trappings and on the said robe and trappings were three white double traverse
crosses."

The reason why Rene II adopted the badge is apparent from what has been
said in previous pages. The Burgundian badge was the St. Andrew Cross. To
differentiate his men from their opponents, Rene II naturally thought of the
conspicuously distinct double traverse cross his grandfather Rene I had brought
over from Anjou and made so much of.

In another account of the battle, to be found in the Chronicle of Lorraine,
written at very nearly the same time, the following passage occurs relating to the
period of the fight when Campo Basso and his mercenaries went over from the
Burgundian to the Lorrainer side. "They all tore off their St. Andrew crosses
and put on the Jerusalem one, which Duke Rene was wearing."

The Jerusalem Cross obviously is a misnomer, as proven by the context, the
very next sentence of which reads: '^And many of the Nanceans, sallying from
their city to take part in the pillage of the Bold One's Camp, were in great danger
of being slaughtered by the Swiss and by their own Countrymen because they
had not the double traverse cross on them." Again in several other passages the
cross is specifically described as a double traverse cross.

Curiously enough, the misnomer has not been made out by many of the
writers and artists who have described or depicted the battle where Charles the
Bold met his fate. In Mr. Pfister's exhaustive history of Nancy, for instance,
a plate is reproduced from the Nanceid, an epic on the subject of the great fight,
and on that plate Rene II is portrayed wearing a number of Jerusalem crosses on
his robes and horse trappings.

The two above-quoted documents, the Duke's own statment and the iterative
mention in the Chronicle of Lorraine put it beyond question that the crosses worn
by Rene II and his men were the double traverse cross he had got from his grand-
father.

January 5, 1477, was the birthday of the Cross of Lorraine. From that day
leasing to be merely reminiscent of Anjou, the double traverse cross became the
Lorraine National Emblem.

Joan of Arc, the " Good Lorrainer," as Villon calls her, is commonly represented
with the Lorraine Cross emblazoned on her breastplate. But the Maid of Orleans

HISTORY OF 313th U.S. INFANTRY 77

lived from 1412 to 1431, and the Anjou double traverse cross was brought to
Lorraine by Rene I only in 1435. It never was a Lorraine badge until 1477, when
Rene II originated it as such at the battle of Nancy.

For the sake of accuracy it may be mentioned here that it has been contended
that Joan of Arc was not a Lorrainer, her birthplace belonging to Champagne at
the time. Even as early as Villon, however, as shown by quotations, she was held
to be a Lorrainer, and a Lorrainer she will remain in popular imagination to the
end of time.

Since the war in 1870-71, which resulted in the annexation of part of Lorraine
to Germany, a significant use has been made of the old cross. Shortly after the
signature of the Treaty of Frankfurt, a meeting of the inhabitants of Metz was
held on Sion Hill, which Academician Barres calls, in one of his books, " Inspiration
Hill." As a result of the meeting, a marble monument was erected, having carved
on it a broken Lorraine Cross. An inscription in local dialect was added reading
"C'name po tojo" ("Twill not be forever").

Some of these days, now that the whole of Lorraine is French again, another
immense meeting probably will be held on Sion Hill to celebrate the fact that the
prophecy has come true.

And the American soldiers who have helped in making it come true, especially
members of the Seventy-ninth Division, will, when they hear of the celebration
across the water, look at the old badge they have been privileged to wear and
think of the memories associated with it.

This book should be retumed to
the library on or before the last jlate
stamped below.

A fine of five cents a day is inotirred
by retaining it beyond the specified
time.

Please return promptly.

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