History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With MexicoSweeney, William Allison
History
History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With Mexico
Sweeney, William Allison
African American soldiers; African Americans -- History -- 1877-1964; World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, African American
After six weeks training at this place, the regiment entrained enroute
to the front, arrived at Ligny-en-Barrios (Meuse) on June 13, 1918, and
moved up toward the lines by easy stages.
On June 21, 1918, the regiment began occupying positions in the Saint
Mihiel Sector, completing the occupation on June 24, 1918. This being
the first time the regiment had been actually in the lines, the division
commander deemed it advisable to intermingle our troops with French
troops in order that officers and men might observe and profit by close
association with the veteran French troops. Thus the units of the 1st
and 2nd battalions, which had been assigned to the front lines were
intermingled with platoons and companies of the 325th regiment of
infantry.
Many valuable lessons were learned while in this sector, which was
exceptionally quiet at the time. Except for occasional shelling and some
scattered machine gun and rifle fire, nothing of interest occurred while
in the sector, and there were no casualties.
On the night of June 30-July 1, 1918, the regiment, having been relieved
in the sector, began withdrawing, and on July 3, 1918, the withdrawal
had been completed without any losses.
After resting a few days in the region of Lignieres (Meuse), the
regiment entrained en route to the Argonne Forest, arriving behind the
lines on July 6, 1918, the 1st Battalion, under command of Major Stokes,
moving up immediately into the reserve positions at Brabant (S.
Groupement Courcelles) and later into the front lines in the Center of
Resistance de la Foret, Sub-Sector Hermont.
The 2nd Battalion under command of Major Hunt took station at
Rarecourt, the latter moved up to Locheres (Plateau of Gorgia) at which
place the Major located his Commanding Post. From this position
companies of the 2nd Battalion were sent into the lines alternately, the
companies being relieved after a five days' tour of duty.
On July 12, 1918, Colonel Franklin A. Denison, who had commanded the
regiment up to this time and had become incapacitated through illness
contracted during the strenuous days incident to the preparation of the
regiment for service in the lines, was relieved from command on this
account and Colonel T.A. Roberts, cavalry, assumed command of the
regiment.
The 3rd battalion under command of Major Williams, was held in reserve
at Vraincourt, and only Company M of that battalion was sent into the
front lines. This company took up positions in the supporting point at
Buzemont on August 7, 1918, and remained until August 14, 1918.
On August 1, 1918, the Stokes Mortar platoon under command of Lieutenant
Robert A. Ward took position in the lines in the sub-sector Vaquois, and
on August 4, 1918, took an active part in a coup-de-main arranged by the
French. His mission, filling in the gaps in the French artillery
barrage, was so successfully accomplished that his entire platoon was
highly commended for their work by the commanding general of the
division.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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