Later the battalion held a front line position at Monthois, and
it finally formed a salient in the line of the 9th French Army
Corps. It was subjected to a long period of gruelling fire from
the Boches' famous Austrian 88s and machine guns, and an
incessant barrage from German weapons of high caliber.
The regiment moved south to the Vosges, where the battalion took
up a position in sub-sector B, in front of St. Marie Aux Mines,
where it was situated when word of the armistice came.
The record of the Negro warriors from the District of Columbia is
very succinctly contained in a diary kept by Chaplain Lieutenant
Arrington Helm. It relates the activities of the unit from the
time they sailed from Newport News, March 30, 1917, until the end
of the war. It is also a condensed account of the major
operations of the 372nd regiment. The diary follows:
March 30—Embarked from Newport News, Va., for overseas duty
on the U.S.S. Susquehanna.
April 17—Disembarked at St. Nazaire and marched to rest
camp.
April 21—Left rest camp. Base section No. 1 and entrained
for Vaubecourt.
April 23—Arrived at Vaubecourt at 7 p.m. Left Vaubecourt at
8:30 p.m. and hiked in a heavy rainstorm to Conde en Barrois.
April 25—Assigned to school under French officers.
May 26—Left Conde en Barrois at 8 a.m. in French motor
trucks for Les Senades.
May 29—Our regiment today took over the sector designated
as Argonne West.
May 31—In front line trenches.
June 20—Changed sectors, being assigned to the Vauquois
sector, a sub-sector of the Verdun front. The 157th Division is
stationed in reserve. The enemy is expected to attack.
July 13—Left for Hill 304 on the Verdun sector. Colonel
Young has been relieved from command and Colonel Herschell Tupes
has assumed command.
July 25—Left Sivry la Perche to take over Hill 304. Arrived
at Hill 304 at 9 p.m.
August 16—Heavily shelled by regiment of Austrians opposing
us. Two Americans and one Frenchman in the regiment killed.
August 20—Lieutenant James Sanford, Company A, captured by
the Germans.
August 21—Fight by French and German planes over our lines.
Very exciting.
September 8—Left Hill 304. Relieved by 129th infantry of
the 33rd Division. Hiked in rain and mud for Brocourt.
September 14—Arrived at Juvigny at noon.
September 17—Left Juvigny for Brienne la Chateau at 8 p.m.
Passed through Brienne la Chateau and reached Vitray la Francois
this afternoon. The city is near the Marne.
September 18—Hiked to Jessecourt. All colored officers left
the regiment today.
September 28—Arrived at Hans. The regiment was in action in
the vicinity of Ripont. The third battalion took up a battle
position near Ripont.
September 29—The third battalion went over the top. The
Germans are in retreat. Our positions are being bombarded. The
machine gun fire is terrific and 88 millimeter shells are falling
as thick and fast as hailstones. We are unable to keep up with
the enemy. This afternoon it is raining. This makes it bad for
the wounded of whom there are many.
September 30—The first battalion is now on our right and
advancing fast despite the rain and mud. The machine gun
opposition is strenuous. Our casualties are small. We have
captured a large number of prisoners.
October 1—Our advance is meeting with increased opposition.
The enemy has fortified himself on a hill just ahead. The ground
prevents active support by the French artillery. Still we are
giving the Germans no rest. They are now retreating across the
valley to one of their supply bases. The enemy is burning his
supplies. We have taken the village at Ardeuil. Our losses have
been heavy but the Germans have lost more in killed, wounded and
taken prisoner than have our forces. On our right the first
battalion has entered the village of Sechault, after some hard
fighting by Company A.
October 4—The Second battalion is going in this morning. We
are resting at Vieux three kilometers from Monthois, one of the
enemy's railroad centers and base hospitals. The enemy is
destroying supplies and moving wounded. We can see trains moving
out of Monthois. Our artillery is bombarding all roads and
railroads in the vicinity. The enemy's fire is intense. We expect
a counterattack.
October 5—The enemy's artillery has opened up. We are on
the alert. They have attacked and a good stiff hand to hand
combat ensued. The Germans were driven back with heavy losses. We
have taken many prisoners from about twelve different German
regiments. We continued our advance and now are on the outskirts
of Monthois.
October 6—The enemy is throwing a stiff barrage on the
lines to our left where the 333rd French Infantry is attacking.
We can see the Huns on the run. The liaison work of the 157th
Division is wonderful; not the slightest gap has been left open.
Our patrols entered Monthois early this morning and were driven
out by machine gun fire, but returned with a machine gun and its
crew. We will be relieved by the 76th infantry regiment at 8 p.m.
We hiked over the ground we had fought so hard to take to
Minnecourt, where the regiment proceeded to reorganize.
October 12—Left Valmy today and continued to Vignemont.
October 13—Arrived at Vignemont. Hiked fifteen kilometers
to St. Leonard.
October 15—Left St. Leonard for Van de Laveline in the
Vosges. We arrived at Van de Laveline at 10:15 p.m. and took over
a sector.
November 11—A patrol of Company A took several prisoners
from a German patrol. Received word of the signing of the
armistice at 11 a.m. today. Martial music was played. The colors
of the regiment are displayed in front of the post command.
It is related that the Washington fighters, as well as the other
members of the 372nd regiment, received the news of the armistice
with more of disappointment than joy, for they had made all
preparations to advance with the French through Lorraine.
CHAPTER XIX.
COMRADES ON THE MARCH. BROTHERS IN THE SLEEP OF DEATH.
POLICY OF SUBSTITUTING WHITE OFFICERS—INJUSTICE
TO CAPABLE NEGROES—DISAPPOINTMENT BUT NO OPEN
RESENTMENT—SHOWED THEMSELVES SOLDIERS—INTENSER
FIGHTING SPIRIT AROUSED—RACE FORGOTTEN IN PERILS OF
WAR—BOTH WHITES AND BLACKS GENEROUS—AFFECTION BETWEEN
OFFICERS AND MEN—NEGROES PREFERRED DEATH TO
CAPTIVITY—OUTSTANDING HEROES OF 371ST AND
372ND—WINNERS OF CROSSES
Changing from Negro to white officers was in accordance with the
military policy of the American Government; the generic
inspiration and root being found in national prejudice, incident
to the institution of slavery and the spirit of racial caste and
narrowness, that still disgraces it. Doubt was pretended to be
entertained of the ability of the colored man to command, and
although there were not lacking champions for the policy of
placing capable Negroes in command of Negro units, the weight of
opinion; superinduced and fostered by racial prejudice, inclined
to the opposite course.
In the light of the fine record made by such Negro officers as
were given responsible commands, let us hope for the future honor
of the nation; preening herself as being in the vanguard of the
progressive commonwealths of the age, that a policy so unjust,
narrow and unworthy will; as quickly as feasible be abandoned. In
favor of Negro commanders is the additional testimony of high
French generals, who knew no color distinction and could see no
reason why a Negro should not command his own race troops if he
had intelligence, courage and military skill. Indeed there are
not wanting in the annals of French warfare brilliant examples
where men of African blood commanded not only mulattoes and
blacks, but heroic whites as well. It is not of record that those
white Frenchmen showed any reluctance to follow such leaders or
viewed them with less affection than they did their white
officers.
One should not say that the Negro troops would have fought any
better under the men of their own race. They achieved all
possible glory as it was. They simply did their duty whether
their officers were white or black. But that they did not fight
any the less valiantly or efficiently under men of their own race
is abundantly proven by the record of the 370th, or the 8th
Illinois as the soldiers and their people still prefer to call
it; and other units which had Negroes in responsible
positions.
That there was disappointment, chagrin and anger in the rank and
file of the Negro soldiers when their own officers were taken
from them and white men substituted was natural and quite to be
expected.
However, there was little open murmuring. While the Negro
regarded the removal of the officers who had trained him and
were, in a sense, his comrades, unfair and uncalled for, his
fighting spirit, seemed to burn with an intenser heat; a
determination to do his best to show and shame the spirit that
robbed him of his own race leaders, and at the same time convince
his white commanders of the stuff he was made of.
There was much disappointment in the ranks of the District of
Columbia battalion, when the place of its old leader was taken by
Major Clark L. Dickson, twenty-seven years of age, one of the
youngest—if not the youngest—of battalion commanders
in the American army. But their disappointment was soon allayed,
for Major Dickson made an enviable record. He received the Croix
de Guerre with this citation:
"Most efficient officer, valorous and intrepid, acting in dual capacity as regimental adjutant and operation officer. Displayed the utmost energy in issuing operation orders during the period between September 26th and October 6th, 1918, and especially distinguished himself in crossing a roadway under violent artillery fire to give assistance to a wounded brother officer. His clear view of the situation at all times and the accuracy with which he issued the necessary orders required of him, contributed largely to the success of the regiment."
Many of his men have stated that the citation only hinted at the
real accomplishments of Major Dickson.
In the rigors of war and the perils of battle, men serving side
by side, forget race. They simply realize that they are sharing
hardships in common; are beset by a common foe and are the
subjects of common dangers. Under such circumstances they become
comrades. They learn to admire each other and willingly give to
each other a full measure of praise and appreciation. The Negro
soldiers generally, have expressed unstintedly, approbation and
praise of their white officers; and the officers have been
equally generous. Here is an appreciation by one of the officers
of the 372nd regiment, Lieutenant Jerome Meyer of Washington,
concerning the men of that organization:
"Casualties were heavy because the colored lads fought to the last, cheerfully accepting death in preference to captivity. Their adeptness in mastering the throwing of hand grenades and in operating the machine guns quickly won them the esteem of the French. Remember, that the colored lads were quite new to warfare. But in the Champagne they fought with a persistence and courage that enabled them to hold permanently the ground they gained and won for many of them their decorations. Not a few of the prisoners taken by the regiment declared that the Germans were in positive fear of the Negroes, who, they complained, would never quit even under terrible fire."
One of the outstanding heroes of the 372nd regiment was Sergeant
Ira Payne, of 325 Fifteenth Street, Washington, D.C. He won the
Croix de Guerre and the Distinguished Service Cross, and
according to his comrades, "was not afraid of the devil himself."
His story as related by himself on his return home, follows:
"During the fighting at Sechault the Germans were picking off the men of my platoon from behind a bush. They had several machine guns and kept up a deadly fire in spite of our rifle fire directed at the bush. We did our best to stop those machine guns, but the German aim became so accurate that they were picking off five of my men every minute. We couldn't stand for that.
"Well, I decided that I would get that little machine gun nest myself, and I went after it. I left our company, detoured, and, by a piece of luck got behind the bush. I got my rifle into action and 'knocked off' two of those German machine gunners. That ended it. The other Germans couldn't stand so much excitement. The Boches surrendered and I took them into our trenches as prisoners."
Not a long story for such an able and courageous exploit, yet it
contains the germ for an epic recital on bravery.
First Sergeant John A. Johnson a colored member of Company B, was
decorated with the Croix de Guerre with palm for exceptional
bravery during a charge over the top, and for capturing
single-handed, two Hun soldiers who later proved valuable as
sources of information. Sergeant Johnson's home was at 1117 New
Jersey Avenue, Washington, D.C. He was equally reticent about
boasting of his deeds.
"Near Sechault during the time the District men were making a big effort to capture the town," said Johnson, "I was put in the front lines not fifty feet away from the enemy. A greater part of the time I was exposed to machine gun fire. I suppose I got my medal because I stuck to my men in the trenches and going over the top. Quite a few of the boys were bumped off at that point."
Another hero was Benjamin Butler, a private. The citation with
his Croix de Guerre read: "For displaying gallantry and bravery
and distinguishing himself in carrying out orders during the
attack on Sechault, September 29, 1918, under heavy bombardment
and machine gun fire."
"I did very little," Butler said. "During this fight with several others, I carried dispatches to the front line trenches from headquarters. They decorated me, I suppose, because I was the only one lucky enough to escape being knocked off."
Private Charles E. Cross of 1157 Twenty-first street, Washington,
D.C. was awarded the Croix de Guerre, his citation reading: "For
his speed and reliability in carrying orders to platoons in the
first line under the enemy's bombardment on September 29, 1918."
In some cases he had to creep across No Man's Land and a greater
part of the time was directly exposed to the enemy's fire.
Private William H. Braxton, a member of the machine gun company
of the regiment, whose residence was at 2106 Ward Place,
Washington D.C., received the Croix de Guerre for "displaying
zealous bravery."
"An enemy party," reads his citation, "having filtered through his platoon and attacked same in the rear. Private Braxton displayed marked gallantry in opening fire on the enemy and killing one and wounding several others, finally dispersing the entire party."
"The men who stuck by me when death stared them in their faces," said Braxton, "deserve just as much credit as I do. I was only the temporary leader of the men."
Corporal Depew Pryor, of Detroit, Michigan, was awarded the Medal
Militaire, one of the most coveted honors within the gift of the
French army, as well as the American Distinguished Service Cross.
Pryor saw Germans capture a Frenchman. Grabbing an armful of
grenades, he dashed upon the Germans killing, wounding or routing
a party of ten and liberating the Frenchman.
Sergeant Bruce Meddows, 285 Erskine street, Detroit, Michigan,
brought home the Croix de Guerre with silver star, which he won
for bringing down an aeroplane with an automatic rifle.
To have forty-six horses which he drove in carting ammunition up
to the front lines, killed in five months was the experience of
Arthur B. Hayes, 174 Pacific Avenue, Detroit, Michigan. He
returned home sick, with practically no wounds after risking his
life daily for months.
Sergeant George H. Jordan of Company L, whose home was in Boston,
Mass., won the Croix de Guerre and palm for taking charge of an
ammunition train at Verdun, when the commanding officer had been
killed by a shell. He saved and brought through eight of the
seventeen wagons.
Lieutenant James E. Sanford of Washington, D.C., one of the early
Negro officers of the 372nd, was captured in Avocourt Woods near
Verdun, August 19 , 918. He was endeavoring to gain a strategic
position with his men when he was met by an overpowering force
concealed behind camouflaged outposts, he was taken to Karlsruhe
and transferred to three other German prison camps, in all of
which he suffered from bad and insufficient food and the
brutality of the German guards.
| U.S. FLAG AND 369TH REGIMENT FLAG, DECORATED WITH CROIX DE GUERRE AT UNGERSHEIM, ALSACE, FRANCE. |
| THE 369TH INFANTRY IN REST BILLETS AT MAFFRECOURT, FRANCE. HENRY JOHNSON. ONE OF FOREMOST HEROES OF THE WAR. WITH HIS FAMOUS SMILE. IN RIGHT FOREGROUND. |
| THE JOKE SEEMS TO BE ON THE LAD AT THE LEFT. |
| A FEW OF THE MANY GUNS CAPTURED FROM THE GERMANS. |
| AMERICANS IN PRISON CAMP. PRISONERS ARE AMUSED LISTENERS WHILE JOVIAL NEGRO FIGHTER RELATES AN EPISODE OF WAR LIFE TO A GERMAN OFFICER. |
| ARTHUR JOHNSON, A DOUGHBOY OF THE 8TH ILLINOIS (370TH INFANTRY), WINNER OF CROIX DE GUERRE AND THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. |
| GAME PROBABLY IS STRIP POKER AS TWO MEN HAVE ALREADY DISCARDED THEIR SHIRTS. ONE HAS A LARGE SAFETY PIN FOR INSTANT USE. BUT THEN, NOTE THE HORSESHOE ON HIS SHOE. |
| KITCHEN POLICE ON BOARD THE CELTIC. THERE IS ALWAYS SOME DUTY FOR UNCLE SAM'S MEN ON LAND OR SEA. |
| MINSTRELS ON BOARD THE "SAXONIA." TYPICAL GROUP ORGANIZED ON THE TRANSPORTS TO ENTERTAIN WOUNDED BOYS RETURNING FROM FRANCE. |
| FOUR CAVERNS, STUDDED WITH IVORY, FURNISH HARMONY IN THE TRAINING CAMP. |
| LIEUT. MAXOM AND HIS BAND, WHO SAW DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN FRANCE. |
| GROUP ON EDGE OF PIER WAITING TO ENTRAIN FOR DEMOBILIZATION CAMP. PART OF THE 351ST ARTILLERY UNIT SPECIALLY MENTIONED BY GENERAL PERSHING. |
| SALVATION ARMY LASSIES HANDING OUT CHOCOLATE TO TWO SOLDIERS OF 351ST ARTILLERY. . |
| HEROES OF 351ST ARTILLERY GREETING FRIENDS AFTER DEBARKING FROM THE TRANSPORT LOUISVILLE. |
Major Johnson led his battalion of the 372nd in an attack in the
Champagne which resulted in the capture of a German trench, 100
prisoners, an ammunition dump, thirty machine guns and two
howitzers. He received the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of
Honor decoration from the French, as well as the Distinguished
Service Cross from General Pershing.
Company B of the 372nd, took at Sechault in a raid, seventy-five
prisoners and four machine guns.
One of the distinguished units of the 372nd, was the old and
famous Company L of the Massachusetts National Guard. This unit
was assembled at Camp Devens and left soon after the declaration
of war for the south. It was stationed for a time at Newport
News, and was then incorporated with the 372nd, went to France
with that organization and saw its share of service throughout
the campaign. Other distinguished units were the well known Ninth
Ohio Battalion National Guard, and National Guard companies from
Connecticut, Maryland and Tennessee.
Brigaded with the 372nd in the French "Red Hand" division, was
another Negro regiment, the 371st, made up principally of
selectives from South Carolina. It was commanded by Colonel P.L.
Miles. Among the officers were Major Thomas Moffatt and Captain
William R. Richey from Charleston.
The regiment saw practically the same service as the 372nd under
General Goybet, was mentioned in divisional and special orders,
was decorated by Vice Admiral Moreau, Maritime Prefect of Brest,
at the same time the honor was conferred on the 372nd. The two
regiments were together for seven months. The men of the 371st
especially distinguished themselves at Crete des Observatories,
Ardeuil and in the plains of Monthois. Seventy-one individual
members received the Croix de Guerre and some the Distinguished
Service Cross. Among the latter were the following:
Sergeant Lee R. McClelland, Medical Detachment, home address,
Boston, Mass., for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil,
September 30, 1918.
Corporal Sandy E. Jones, Company C, home address Sumter, S.C.;
for extraordinary heroism in action in the Champagne, September
28 and 29, 1918.
Private Bruce Stoney, Medical Detachment, home address,
Allendale, S.C.; for extraordinary heroism in action near
Ardeuil, September 29, 1918.
Private Charlie Butler, Machine Gun Company, home address,
McComb, Miss.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil,
September 29, 1918.
Private Willie Boston, Machine Gun Company, home address,
Roopville, Ga.; for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil,
September 29, 1918.
Private Tillman Webster, Machine Gun Company, home address,
Alexandria, La.; for extraordinary heroism in action near
Ardeuil, September 29, 1918.
Private Ellison Moses, Company C, home address, Mayesville, S.C.;
for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30,
1918.
Private Hunius Diggs, Company G, home address, Lilesville, N.C.;
for extraordinary heroism in action near Ardeuil, September 30,
1918.
The two regiments, besides the regimental Croix de Guerre,
awarded for gallantry in the Champagne, won individual
decorations amounting in the aggregate to 168 Croix de Guerre, 38
Distinguished Service Crosses, four Medal Militaire and two
crosses of the Legion of Honor.
An incident of the service of the 371st and particularly
emphasizing the honesty and faithfulness of the Negro Y.M.C.A.
and the regiment's medical detachment, was the case of Prof. H.O.
Cook, a teacher in the Lincoln High School at Kansas City, Mo.
Professor Cook, a Y.M.C.A. man attached to the sector which the
371st was holding during the great offensive in September, went
with the men to the front line trenches and rendered valuable aid
among the wounded until he was gassed. Owing to the fact that
there were no facilities at that particular time, for the safe
keeping of money and valuables, he carried on his person more
than 150,000 francs (in normal times $30,000) which boys in the
regiment had given him to keep when they went over the top.
After being gassed he was walked over for an hour before being
discovered. The money was found and sent by Sergeant Major White
also colored, to general headquarters at Chaumont. When Prof.
Cook was discharged from the hospital and made inquiry about the
money, it was returned to him. Not a cent was missing. Colonel
Miles recommended that General Pershing award Prof. Cook a
Distinguished Service Cross.
The men of the 93rd Division and other Negro divisions and
organizations will never forget their French comrades and
friends. It was a lad of the 371st regiment who wrote the
following to his mother. The censor allowed the original to
proceed but copied the extract as a document of human interest;
in that it was a boyish and unconscious arraignment of his own
country—for which he with many thousands of others, were
risking their lives.
"Mammy,
these French people don't bother with no color line business. They
treat us so good that the only time I ever know I'm colored is when
I look in the glass."
The 371st regiment had 123 men killed in action and about 600
wounded or gassed. The casualties of the 372nd consisted of 91
killed in action and between 600 and 700 wounded or gassed. Like
the other Negro regiments of the 93rd Division, there was
comparatively little sickness among the men, outside of that
induced by hard service conditions.
HEROES OF THE 371ST AND 372ND.
The names listed below are cross and medal winners. The exploits
of some are told in detail in the chapters devoted to their
regiments. There are many known to have received decorations
whose names are not yet on the records.
Cross of the Legion of Honor
372ND REGIMENT.
Major Johnson
Medal Militaire
372ND REGIMENT.
Corp. Depew Pryor Corp. Clifton Morrison
Pvt. Clarence Van Allen
Distinguished Service Cross
371ST REGIMENT.
Sergt Lee R. McClelland Pvt. Willie Boston
Corp. Sandy E. Jones Pvt. Tillman Webster
Pvt. Bruce Stoney Pvt. Ellison Moses
Pvt. Charlie Butler Pvt. Hunius Diggs
372ND REGIMENT.
Major Johnson Sergt. Ira M. Payne
Corp. Depew Pryor
Croix de Guerre
372ND REGIMENT.
Col. Herschell Tupes Sergt. Homer Crabtree
Major Johnson Sergt. Norman Winsmore
Major Clark L. Dickson Sergt. William A. Carter
Lieut. Jerome Meyer Sergt. George H. Jordan
Sergt. Major Samuel B. Webster Sergt. Bruce Meddows
Sergt. John A. Johnson Sergt. Harry Gibson
Sergt. Ira M. Payne Corp. John R. White
Sergt James A. Marshall Corp. Benjamin Butler
Sergt. Norman Jones Corp. March Graham
Pvt. Warwick Alexander Pvt. Joseph McKamey
Pvt. George H. Budd Pvt. William Dickerson
Pvt. Thomas A. Frederick Pvt. William Johnson
Pvt. John S. Parks Pvt. Walter Dennis
Pvt. Charles H. Murphy Pvt. Charles E. Cross
Pvt. William N. Mathew Pvt. William H. Braxton
Pvt. Ernest Payne Pvt. Nunley Matthews
CHAPTER XX.
MID SHOT AND SHELL.
IN TRENCH AND VALLEY—THE OPEN PLAIN—ON
MOUNTAIN TOP—IN NO MAN'S LAND—TWO CLASSES OF NEGRO
SOLDIERS CONSIDERED—TRAINED GUARDSMEN AND
SELECTIVES—GALLANT 92ND DIVISION—RACE CAN BE PROUD OF
IT—HAD SIX HUNDRED NEGRO OFFICERS—SETS AT REST ALL
DOUBTS—OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION—AT PONT A
MOUSSON—GREAT BATTLE OF METZ—SOME
REFLECTIONS—CASUALTIES CONSIDERED