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
On November 6th the 1st battalion took up the pursuit in support of the
Battalion Michel of the 325th Regiment of Infantry, advancing via
Brazicourt and Rapeire to Hill 150 near St. Pierremont. Company C having
passed on into the front lines at the Brazicourt Farm, upon arrival near
St. Pierremont were ordered on the morning of November 6, 1918, to
attack and occupy St. Pierremont, cross the Serre River and take up a
position along the railroad track. The mission of the company was
successfully accomplished in spite of the strong resistance of the
enemy, St. Pierremont being occupied, the river crossed and three pieces
of enemy artillery as well as several machine guns taken. For this
operation Company C was cited and awarded the French Croix de Guerre
with a Palm, the highest French citation received in the regiment. The
battalion continued the pursuit until arrival at Mont Plaisir, when it
was ordered back to Fligny, where it was in cantonment at the taking
effect of the armistice.
The 3rd Battalion took up the pursuit on November 5th, resting in the
open fields the nights of the 5th and 6th. The battalion in moving up
advanced via Bosmont and Mont Plaisir and passed on into the front lines
at the Rue Larcher on November 7, 1918. In the afternoon of the 8th
orders were received to deliver a cover fire for French units which were
to make an attack on the village of Logny, which was strongly held by
the enemy. Company M, having been assigned for this work, moved out from
Hurtebise and advanced to a position where the cover fire could be
effectively delivered, and opened fire. About this time word was
received from the French commander that his troops could not advance on
account of the severe shell and machine gun fire, and Company M having
arrived at a position where it was safer to go ahead than to retreat,
attacked the town and drove the enemy therefrom. For this action
Lieutenant Osceola A. Browning, commanding Company M, and several others
received the French Croix de Guerre and Sergeant Lester Fossie both the
Croix de Guerre and the American Distinguished Service Cross. On
November 10, 1918, the advance and pursuit was continued. At Etignieres
the battalion was temporarily stopped by intense shell fire. On November
11, 1918, the pursuit was again taken up with Resinowez as the principal
objective. Later the objective was changed to Gue d'Hossus, Belgium,
which objective was reached a few minutes before the taking effect of
the armistice, an enemy combat train of about 50 vehicles being captured
about this time.
A few days after the armistice, the regiment began to move southward,
taking station in villages in the vicinity of Verneuil-sur-Serre.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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