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
"They never flinched under fire, always stood by their guns and
made the famous 155 millimeter French guns, with which we were
equipped, fairly smoke.
"I have been a regular army man for many years, and have always
been in command of white troops. Let me say to you that never have
I commanded a more capable, courageous and intelligent regiment
than this. It would give me the greatest pleasure to continue my
army career in command of this regiment of Negroes.
"Not only was their morale splendid but they were especially ready
to accept discipline. They idolized their officers and would have
followed them through hell if necessary.
"Fortunately, though many were wounded by shrapnel and a number
made ill by gas fumes, we suffered no casualties in the slain
column. About twenty-five died of sickness and accidents, but we
lost none in action.
"When the armistice came our hits were making such tremendous
scores against the enemy that prisoners taken by the Americans
declared the destruction wrought by the guns was terrific. On the
last day and in the last hour of the war our guns fairly beat a
rat-a-tat on the enemy positions. We let them have it while we
could."
Lieutenant E.A. Wolfolk, of Washington, D.C., chaplain of the regiment,
said:
"The morale and morals of the men were splendid. Disease of the
serious type was unknown. The men were careful to keep within
bounds. They gave their officers no trouble, and each man strove to
keep up the high standard expected of him. From the time we reached
France in June, 1918, until the time we quit that country we worked
hard to maintain a clean record and we certainly succeeded."
At the Moselle river, Pont a Mousson and Madieres, the regiment first
saw action. The first and second battalions went into action immediately
in the vicinity of St. Genevieve and Alton. The third battalion crossed
the river and went into action in the vicinity of Pont a Mousson. That
was on October 31st. The balance of the regiment's service corresponds
to that of the brigade, already mentioned.
As already gleaned from the reports of generals, regimental officers and
the testimony of the chaplain of the 351st, the artillery boys created a
good impression and left behind them a clean record everywhere. It has
remained for the officers of the 349th regiment to preserve this in
additional documentary form in the shape of regimental orders and
letters from the mayors of French towns in which the regiment stopped or
was billeted. The following are some of the bulletins and letters:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account