The 151st Field Artillery BrigadeRussell, Richard M.
History
The 151st Field Artillery Brigade
Russell, Richard M.
United States. Army. Field Artillery Brigade, 151st; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- United States
The plans for the early morning attack contemplated prearranged firing
by the Corps Artillery until 7.00 a. m. Information that the Armistice
had been signed having arrived at 5.45 a. m., the Heavy Artillery
Commander at that hour ordered no more firing, unless urgently called
for by some infantry unit which was in need of help or was being
effectively shelled. The advance Brigade P. C. at Creue was closed at
11.00 a. m. Ammunition had been brought up during the night and the
corps artillery stood ready with some of its guns advanced beyond the
main line of resistance, to support fully a further general infantry
attack.
At 10.55 on the morning of the Armistice, the 303rd Band at Creue
played taps, then the Marseillaise, then the Star Spangled Banner and
then Reveille. All that morning the artillery thundered and was still
thundering when the music started. When it stopped, all was still.
On the afternoon of November 12th I walked along our front between the
lines. The stillness of peace was upon the earth where but yesterday
the din of bloody battle reigned. Our lines were held by a series of
sentries walking their posts as if on parade. Over yonder the Germans
were doing likewise. The sun shone in gladness upon the scene. The air
was crisp and the reliefs were gathering wood for their fires. As the
shadows grew longer and the sun set in a blaze of glory, the figures
of the sentries grew dim, but their positions became identified by the
bonfires they had kindled which now alone marked the lines. As I turned
to go, rockets once used to call for a barrage or as a warning of gas
lit the sky. Thus ended the war.
SUMMARY
A resume of the history of the 151st Field Artillery Brigade during
its short term at the front shows a great variety of services and
connections.
Originally constituting a part of the Artillery of the Second Army,
the Brigade was attached on its arrival in the zone of advance to the
Second Colonial Corps of the French army in the Troyon sector, where
it served under General Blondlat, Corps commander and General Jaquet,
Chief of Artillery.
The Second Colonial Corps was relieved by the 17th French Corps,
General Hellot commanding, General Walch, Chief of Artillery. On
October 29th, the Brigade came under their command.
On November 13th the Brigade was assigned to the Fourth American Corps.
When the Fourth Corps moved forward at 5.00 a. m., November 17th, the
Brigade passed into the Second Army Reserve. When the regiments first
came into the St. Mihiel sector, the infantry holding it were the 79th
Division of the American Army, General Joseph E. Kuhn commanding;
the 39th French Infantry Division and the 28th French Regiment of
Dismounted Cavalry. On the 28th of October, however, the 79th was
relieved by the 33rd American Division, General George Bell commanding.
The 39th French Infantry Division and the 28th regiment of Dismounted
Cavalry were withdrawn and the sector of the 17th Corps was from
Vigneulles to Bonzee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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