Sidelights on Negro SoldiersWilliams, Charles H. (Charles Halston)
History
Sidelights on Negro Soldiers
Williams, Charles H. (Charles Halston)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, African American
3. Each of the places named above has been raided, as has Epley also,
and patrols have penetrated north nearly to the east and west line
through Pagny. The enemy has been driven northward beyond Frehaut and
Voivrotte woods, and eastward from Cheninit woods across the Seilée,
destroying the Cheminot bridge, flooding the Seilée, and attempting to
destroy the Seilée bridge--evidence of the fact that he regards the
92d Division as an uncomfortable neighbor, and intends to avoid close
relations in future.
4. West of the river excellent results have followed energetic
offensive action. The enemy has suffered losses in killed, wounded,
and prisoners during the occupancy of this part of the sector.
The memorandum issued November 18, 1918, at the Division Headquarters
by Major General Ballou sums up his own estimate of the work he was
able to accomplish, as follows:
Five months ago to-day the 92d Division landed in France.
After seven weeks of training it took over a sector in the front line,
and since that time some portion of the Division has been practically
continuously under fire.
It participated in the last battle of the war with creditable
success, continually pressing the attack against highly organized
defensive works. It advanced successfully on the first day of the
battle, attaining its objectives and capturing prisoners, this in
face of determined opposition by an alert enemy, and against rifle,
machine-gun, and artillery fire. The issue of the second day’s battle
was rendered indecisive by the order to cease firing at 11 A.
M., when the Armistice became effective.
The Division commander, in taking leave of what he considers himself
justly entitled to regard as _his_ Division, feels that he
has accomplished his mission. His work is done and will endure.
The results have not always been brilliant, and many times were
discouraging, yet a well organized, well disciplined, and well trained
colored division has been created and commanded by him to include the
last shot of the great world war.
May the future conduct of every officer and man be such as to reflect
credit upon the Division and upon the colored race.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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