USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 119
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After the cessation of hostilities the men who had composed the 4th Alabama returned home, and as there was no regiment bearing the name 4th Alabama, they became a part of other regiments of Alabama State troops.
Upon the disbanding of the 3rd Alabama Infantry Regiment, E. H. Graves, with the assistance of others, organized the 4th Ala- bama, and was commissioned colonel, June 19, 1911. Companies were organized in
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various localities and under the guidance of Capt. W. P. Screws (later Col. W. P. Screws, q. v.), the regiment soon became an efficient organization.
Upon the call of President Woodrow Wil- son for the mobilization of the national guard for Mexican border service, June 18, 1916, the regiment was assembled at Vandiver Park, Montgomery. At that time it was composed of the following units: Headquarters com- pany, Montgomery; Supply company, Mont- gomery; Machine gun company, Montgomery; Sanitary detachment, Birmingham; Company "A," Montgomery; Company "B," Abbeville; Company "C," Pell City; Company "D," Bes- semer; Company "E," Decatur; Company "F," Gadsden; Company "G," Ozark; Com- pany "H," Alexander City; Company "I," Opelika; Company "K," Birmingham; Com- pany "L," Alabama City; Company "M," Oxford.
Shortly after mobilization the regiment was mustered into Federal service by Capt. W. P. Screws, and intensive training set in. When "Orders" were received to move, the unit was in excellent shape.
On October 22, 1916, the whole regiment en- trained for Nogales, Ariz., where it arrived October 26, 1916, and went into camp just out- side the city, on the Tucson highway. Several days were spent in constructing camp, after which the men got down to "daily grind." Long hikes were undertaken, new drills practiced, and training in reconnaissance. One hike of 125 miles was made to Tucson and return, of which Captain W. H. Amerine says in "Ala- bama's Own in France," "The regiment left Camp Stephen Little at Nogales November 21, hiked 1812 miles with full packs the first day, and arrived at Tucson November 24. The next day it was reviewed by the brigade and regimental commanders. November 26 it was started out on the return, reaching Nogales November 29, after having partici- pated en route in a war problem with the Second Alabama Infantry.
"The Third Battalion, while at Nogales, built a system of trucks for an entire regi- ment, the first task of its kind undertaken by a modern infantry organization in the United States. It was patterned after Euro- pean models."
Finally the Alabama Brigade was ordered home. The regiment left Nogales, March 16, 1917, and reached Montgomery, March 22, and again went into camp at Vandiver Park.
It was thought by citizens and soldiers alike that the Alabama units were to be mus- tered out of the service, but owing to con- tinued hostilities between the Allies and the Central Powers of Europe, including finally the interest of America, the United States declared, April 6, 1917, that a state of war existed between this country and the Central Powers of Europe. The regiments which formed the Alabama Brigade were therefore not mustered out of the service.
Lieut .- Col. W. P. Screws upon the resigna- tion of Col. E. H. Graves in 1917, was elected colonel of the Fourth Alabama Infantry Reg- iment and remained in command until its
final demobilization at Hattiesburg, Miss., May 18, 1919.
The units of the regiment were distributed throughout the State on guard duty, leav- ing camp about April 7, 1917, but by June 7, the regiment was reassembled and the men began intensive training for war with Ger- many.
On August 5, 1917, the Alabama Brigade was drafted into Federal service. An order was received on August 14, 1917, designating the 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment as the 167th United States Infantry. The strength was set by the order at about 3,605 men and to build the regiment to that number men had to be transferred from the First and Sec- ond Infantries, and First Alabama Cavalry regiments. In the change a mass of clerical work was entailed and much confusion pre- vailed. To give a full complement to the regiment the following officers were trans- ferred: 2nd Lieut. Ben. F. Moore, of Bir- mingham, First Cavalry; 1st Lieut. Hugh E. Lester, of Birmingham, First Cavalry; 1st Lieut. R. B. Kelly, of Birmingham, Second Infantry; 1st Lieut. William A. Jeffries, of Andalusia, Second Infantry; 1st Lieut. Louis R. Morgan, of Cornettsville, Ky., First In- fantry.
The field officers of the new regiment were: Colonel William P. Screws, of Mont- gomery; Lieut .- Colonel Walter E. Bare, of Gadsden; Major John W. Carroll, of Ozark; Major Hartley A. Moon, of Birmingham; Major Dallas B. Smith, of Opelika. The san- itary detachment was under command of Major John W. Watts, of Birmingham, for- merly of Montgomery. The regimental adjutant was Capt. Robert Joerg, Jr.
On August 28, 1917, the regiment left Vandiver Park, Montgomery, for Camp Mills, Long Island, N. Y., where the "Rainbow .Division" was being assembled. Soon fol- lowed days, weeks, and months of company drills, battalion drills, regimental drills, and finally the whole division was put through maneuvers.
On November 3, 1917, the troops began going aboard ship at Hoboken, N. J., for the journey to France. Arriving on November 19th at Liverpool, England, the regiment was soon entrained for Winchester, England, where it took board for La Harve, France.
At Vaucouleurs on November 28, 1917, the regiment went into quarters. This place was the first division headquarters of the "Rain- bow Division" in France. A month of in- tensive drills followed.
December 31st the regiment moved to vicin- ity of Chalons. Division headquarters were at Ralamport; regimental headquarters at Faverolles; the first battalion at Marac, the second at Leffands and the third at Villiers- sur-Suize.
Moving to Brouville, 12 kilometers behind the front lines, the regiment received its first air attack.
On February 21, 1918, the regiment moved into the trenches near Ancerville, close to Lorraine, and side by side with the French the 167th Infantry got a glimpse of the front.
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Capt. James A. Webb says: "It was just about that time, I think, that all of us began to realize that a gas mask was something other than a fool nuisance."
On the night of March 4, 1918, a patrol of the regiment in an encounter in "No-Mans' Land" captured the first German prisoners taken by the Rainbow Division.
The first man of the regiment to be killed was "Dude" Ables. Lieut. Edmond P. Glover was the first wounded and later died. The men now got down to the real business of war.
Being taken out of the lines the regiment was given a week's "rest," which consisted of in- numerable little police jobs and trench cleaning.
When the outfit returned to the trenches it was placed near San Mawrice, "but it was quiet there and far less was going on than dur- ing the first period at the front." Soon the organization was returned to the Baccarat Sec- tor, and remained in the front line trenches 110 days.
On June 19, 1918, the regiment was ordered out of the line, and marched back forty kilo- meters to Thaou, where it took train for Vitry-la-Ville. The regimental headquarters were at St. Martin-Aur-Champs, the First Bat- talion at Suippes, the Second at Sangy, and the Third at Prigny.
After spending a week in getting reequipped and in maneuvers, the regiment started on June 26, 1918, for the Champagne sector. Ar- riving at Camp Poggi, the outfit enjoyed a good rest.
On the night of July 4, 1918, the regiment hiked to Suippes, and on the night of the 5th took position in the Champagne Sector. On the night of July 14 the Germans started their famous drive for Chalons. The 167th Infantry bore a great part in stunning the rush of the Huns. It was in this battle that Lieut. Hoxie Fairchild won the French Cross of the Legion of Honor, Officers rank. The exploit of Lieut. Fairchild was "on a miniature scale, with what Joffre did at the first battle of the Marne, be- wildered the enemy by attacking them when by all rights he had been licked." During this engagement Sgt. Brock Hill, of Gadsden, a member of Company "E," brought down a German flying machine with an automatic rifle. It was not until the night of June 19, 1918, that the regiment was withdrawn from the lines and sent back to Suippes. There they spent a few days in rest, getting replacements, and new equipment.
In a short time the regiment was ordered to march to and join the divisions "clearing the Marne Salient."
When the Germans began the Chateau Thierry drive the Rainbow was in the Baccaret sector. When they were brought to assist in cleaning up the Marne Salient the 2nd and 3rd American Divisions were opposing the Germans. June 26, 1918, at "Croix Rouge" farm (Red Cross) the men went into action against the Germans. "By this time the Americans were well established as veterans and were doing more than their share of the work in hand. Observation officers who had seen several years of fighting, and French officers who had been
in the war since its start, say there was no more bitter or intense fighting during the entire war period than that which faced the Rainbow Division at Croix Rouge farm. But the divi- sion went to it as it had done in fts previous engagement and the German lines before them crumpled and gave in, and what had been a steady falling back became more of a rout, and where ground had been required before by the hundred yards, it was now being retaken by the miles, five and six miles a day."
The 167th Infantry went into action at 4:50 P. M. July 26, 1918, at Foret de Fere. Orders stated that the Germans were retreating and that no artillery assistance would be needed. Marching to the attack the First Battalion was on the left, the Third Battalion on the right and the Second in support.
The Germans had not retreated but instead had entrenched themselves and when the regi- ment began to advance opened a withering fire with artillery and machine guns. Soon the sons of Alabama were fighting hand to hand with the Germans, who were striving desper- ately to hold their ground. The next day, July 27, the advance was begun in earnest. It was on this day that Capt. Mortimer Jordan (q. v.) was killed. "For nine consecutive days, with- out a sign of relief or replacements, half the time with no food, the regiment kept going." On August 2, 1918, the Division was relieved oy the 4th Division. The 167th was then placed in reserve in the Foret de Fere with the rest of the Division. The total advance of the regi- ment had been 19 kilometers. On August 20th the men went into billets. The towns where they were quartered were Montreiuil-aux-Lions and Bezul-le-guery, the latter on the Paris-Chateau Thierry road.
August 24 the regiment entrained for an unknown destination which proved to be a place about 200 kilometers "due south of Verdun," where it went into training again.
Orders arrived the 27th to move. Toule was passed on the morning of September 8. The men were halted and took up position in the Foret de la Reine (queen's forest). Officers were sent forward on the 10th of September for reconnoissance. On the night of the 11th the Rainbow took over the position held by the 89th. The St. Mihiel drive began exactly at 5 o'clock, A. M., September 12, 1918. The 167th Infantry bore its full part in this of- fensive. Many valuable and efficient officers and men were lost. The regiment was re- lieved on September 27, by the 166th In- fantry. On October 1, the outfit was moved by truck to Bulainville. The hike started toward the Argonne on October 4. The regi- ment bivouaced "in shell holes in Foret de Montfancon, three kilometers back of the vil- lage of Montfaucon."
On the night of October 10, the regiment relieved a section of the First Division, which it was easy to see "from the appearance of things that this group of men had had some of the fiercest fighting of the war." The Germans were entrenched behind heavy wire in the Kreimbelde Stellung, the attack was begun on October 17, and with the second and third battalions attacking, the first under
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Major George Glenn was held in reserve. When this fight was over it was found that "Alabama's Own Regiment had broken the Kreimbelde Stellung."
The 165th Regiment relieved the 167th on October 21, and the men marched back to Bois de Montrebeau. All during this time the men were subject to shells from our ar- tillery, who were firing shots and also to air raids.
The regiment moved again on November 1, and on the 3rd, camped between Imecourt and Verpel. It was at this point that the first news of the Armistice was received. It spread. like wild fire, but soon all hopes were shat- tered by an air fight within sight of the regi- ment. Orders were received and on the 4th of November the regiment started its march toward the Meuze. Advance parties were in daily contact with the Germans. On October 6, the 165th and 167th Infantry took the out- skirt of Sedan. The next day the units were shifted and the French were allowed to take Sedan. A regiment of the 77th Division re- lieved the 167th on the 9th. On November 11, 1918, the day of the Armistice, the regi- ment reached Bolt.
November 13 was spent at Imecourt; the 14th and 15th at Landrews at St. Georges, and from November 16 to 20, at Brandeville. The regiment started on its march to the Rhine country the 20th arriving at Sinzig on December 16, 1918. During the time that the 167th Infantry was a part of the Army of Oc- cupation, the first battalion, supply company and machine gun company were stationed at Sinzig; the second battalion at Westmen; and the third at Lohndorf.
Leaving for Brest on April 6, 1919, the regiment sailed for America April 16, arriv- ing on the 25th at Hoboken, N. J., where it was met by members of the "Fourth Alabama State Wide Welcome Home Committee" (q. v.).
In the above sketch of the 4th Alabama later the 167th Infantry, only a running nar- rative of the events participated in by "Ala- bama's Own" have been mentioned. Space would not be adequate to give any eulogy of the many deeds of heroism displayed by every officer and man in the regiment.
REFERENCES .- Files of the Stars and Stripes; "Alabama's Own in France," by W. H. Ameri- can; Army and Navy Record, April, 1920; and letters and manuscripts in the files of the Ala- bama State Department of Archives and His- tory.
FOURTH ALABAMA STATE WIDE WEL- COME HOME COMMITTEE. A committee appointed by Gov. Thomas E. Kilby of repre- sentative citizens from the localities which had companies or men in the "Fourth Ala- bama," or 167th Infantry, American Expedi- tionary Forces, actively participating in the World War. The following composed the committee:
Hon. Nathan L. Miller, Lieutenant Gover- nor, Chairman.
Abbeville-R. K. Stokes.
Alexander City-Benjamin Russell.
Anniston-H. M. Ayers.
Birmingham-John M. DeShazo, Chas. E. Rice, E. W. Barrett, J. Ellis Brown, Judge Wm. M. Walker, Frank P. Glass, Sr., C. C. King, Brooks Forbes, Robert G. Hiden, A. L. Wall, Camp. G. B. Abrams, Benj. F. Moore, Bordon Burr, John Taylor, H. S. Ryals.
Bessemer-Dr. J. B. Vines, J. F. Hagner. Decatur-W. A. Bibb.
Gadsden-Stonewall Kyle.
Huntsville-R. E. Spragins.
Mobile-Dr. Harry T. Inge, John T. Coch- rane, W. H. Peck, H. H. Forcheimer.
Montgomery-Dr. R. H. McCaslin, William T. Sheehan, Gen. R. F. Ligon, Frank H. Mil- ler, Leopold Strauss, Julian Rice.
Opelika-G. N. Hodges.
Pell City-T. H. Rennie, McLane Tilton.
Ozark-Major John W. Carroll.
Selma-Lloyd Hooper.
Tuscaloosa-E. L. Clarkson.
New York-Col. Francis G. Caffey, Wm. C. Parker.
Upon the return of the regiment from Europe it was met in New York by Lieut. Gov. Nathan L. Miller and a committee composed of about forty Alabamians. The exer- cises were held May 2, 1919, in a theatre which had been provided at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, by Colonel Sanley, who was in command of the camp. Addresses were made by Governor Miller, Colonel W. P. Screws, Mrs. W. P. Screws and a number of others. Refreshments were served and great happi- ness was expressed by the soldiers at being back in the States, and at the success of the allied arms.
During the early days of May, Colonel Screws began to send telegrams to Montgom- ery giving approximate dates when the regi- ment would reach Alabama. Captain Ame- rine in "Alabama's Own in France" says: "May 8 the trains passed Roanoke, Va. 'Regiment Alabama bound,' the telegram said, and a great thrill went out over the State. About 1,400 men and 51 officers were en route to their native State and no more anxious to get there than were the people to see them. The day of Friday, May 9, saw the regiment at last on Alabama soil.
"When the Gadsden complement of the regiment on that day reached Etowah County seat, the wildest demonstration of joy ever witnessed there took place. The troops were headed by Colonel Screws and Colonel Bare, and by the 167th's band. It is Colonel Bare's home city and the inhabitants greeted him with open arms. He had begun his military career as a private in the National Guard and in France had won promotion from a lieutenant-colonelcy. Not in a place behind the lines, however, for the officers and men say he was always where shells and bullets were the thickest."
"The First Battalion, including Company 'E,' composed of Huntsville, Albany and Decatur men, stopped at Huntsville for an hour, where the pretty girls of Madison County, bombarded the soldiers with flow- ers. At Albany a crowd, which probably ex- ceeded the entire population ot Morgan
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County, gathered to do honor to 'Alabama's own.' "
The first contingent of the Regiment ar- rived at Birmingham 8:37 P. M., May 9, 1919. The other sections arrived shortly afterward.
Saturday May 10, 1919, was probably the biggest day from a patriotic or civic standpoint, that Birmingham has ever wit- nessed.
The parade moved promptly at 11:00 o'clock amid the cheers of the thousand who had assembled to welcome them.
After the parade food was served, mass singing was participated in, and the citizens took many of the men to their homes, or rode them about in their cars. Every place of amusement in the city was free to men in uniform. Hon. Borden Burr was general chairman of the Birmingham Reception com- mittee.
Before the arrival of the Regiment at Mont- gomery the statewide Reception Committee had sent the following greeting: "To the men of the 167th Infantry: With joy in our hearts we greet you and welcome you back to your homes again. You have proved your right to be acclaimed in Alabama as heroic sons of the State. We rejoiced at your achievements. We knew you as American citizens and we expected much of you. Our expectations have been realized. We con- gratulate ourselves and we congratulate you. "All of us are Alabamians and Ameri- cans. We may congratulate you and our- selves that, as Alabamians and Americans, you have done your part in winning the war.
"We are happy. We want to make you happy. If the simple tribute that our com- mittee has laid at your feet brings you to a realization that you are ours and we are yours and that we are proud of you, then we shall be happy indeed."
Gov. Thomas E. Kilby issued the following proclamation of welcome:
"I have the liveliest emotions of delight in expressing this formal word of greeting to the 'Fighting Fourth' on its return to the state. It seems only yesterday when from the farm and workshops the splendid men making up this command rallied to the call of the country and went, first to the Mexican border, and later to France as a part of the now famous 'Rainbow Division.' The people of the state never doubted for a moment the quality of their courage, and they well knew the splendid account they would give of them- selves, should the opportunity be offered for active service. The months have come and gone, they have passed through a score of engagements, large and small, many of their comrades have been left on Flanders Field, many of them have received the highest decoration in the gift of their own country and from the Allies, many of them are maimed and now the survivors are again on the soil of their native country to receive the approval of an appreciative people.
"From our hearts we extend them a royal welcome. In all the records of great achieve- ment that are known, there are none that
will take higher rank or are more deserving of lasting commendation than the men of this regiment who have added new lustre to the pages of history. In the name of Ala- bama we greet you. In the name of Alabama, the richest blessings of a watchful Provi- dence, we beg in your behalf."
Speaking of the celebration one of the Montgomery papers of that date says:
"Marshaled by General Chas. R. Bricken, with Capt. Wm. C. Oates as chief aide, the pageant formed on Tallapoosa and Water streets following the public welcome cere- monies at the station, with its head lying at the intersection of Water and Commerce. Promptly at 10:30 o'clock the word passed down the long column to prepare to move, and shortly led by a platoon of mounted police it was in motion, winging into Com- merce and headed south ward.
"The first section, composed of the official escort, was led by the automobile carrying Governor Thos. E. Kilby and Chief Justice John C. Anderson of the Alabama Supreme Court, followed hy a car carrying Congress- man J. Thos. Heflin, of La Fayette, the ora- tor of the day, President pro tem J. Thos. Bedsole of the State Senate and Speaker Henry P. Merritt of the House of Represen- tatives. Other cars carried members of the Montgomery County Board of Revenue and Mayor W. T. Robertson and J. C. Tyson of the City Commission. Dr. Robt. H. McCaslin, chairman of the Statewide Reception Commit- tee and chaplain for the opening ceremony at the State Capitol, with Miss McDonald, reader, followed, and in turn a large number of au- tomobiles bearing the remnants of another noble hand of warriors whose tradition will ever be remembered in the South followed. A veteran of the Union army of the sixties occupied a seat with Veterans of the Con- federacy, again demonstrating the solidity of the union.
"The section was ended by an automobile carrying the youthful sponsors of the regi- ment in the persons of the Misses Thoring- ton, Le Grande, Thigpen, Anderson and Mc- Gough. A space here intervened, and then came the memorial to the dead, a handsome structure borne by eight stalwart heroes of the valiant regiment, the bearers being flanked by eight other battle-scarred veterans clasping ribbons of flowers attached to the arch. The appearance of this memorial was a signal for the uncovering of heads through- out the line of march, and in the center, numerals worked out in gold stars, the symbol of the dead, brought the impressive fact home to the great concourse that the great war had not been fought without loss to Alabama, the numerals testifying to the death, or absence unaccounted for, of 616 men of the 'Old Fourth' who started on their pilgrimage in the fall of 1917.
"The second section was preceded by Col. Wm. P. Screws and members of his staff, followed by the magnificent band of the regi- ment and in turn by the twelve units of the 'Fighting Fourth,' the Machine Gun Com- pany, Supply and Medical detachments hring-
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
ing up the rear and being followed by a long line of automobiles carrying casuals who had come to Montgomery to join their com- rades in arms. At the Victory Arch on Com- merce at the intersection of Tallapoosa the Memorial Arch was preceded by one hundred young women of Montgomery, attired in rain- bow hue costumes, bearing baskets of flowers on their arms, which they strewed before the advancing warriors. As the parade passed under the arch little Cupids, flanking the Goddess of Liberty, showered other roses on the men.
"Heading into Dexter Avenue the parade faced a solid mass of humanity which banked the street from building to building and it was necessary for mounted officers to pass up and down to cleave a way for the marchers.
"From Court Square to the Capitol the marching column passed through a solid mass of people, frantically cheering and shouting, the appearance of the remnant of some unit familiar to people of certain towns, being the signal for fresh outbursts. Proceeding to the head of Dexter avenue the column passed under the living Rainbow, formed by the young ladies who had preceded the fighters, and turning south on Bainbridge proceeded to Washington and there turned into the spacious Capitol grounds where the second phase of the return of 'Alabama's Own' was scheduled to take place. Here, too, it was necessary to delay the column while a way was cut through the surging crowd gathered for that ceremonial and it was some time after eleven o'clock before the presiding officer, Gov. Thos. E. Kilby, was enabled to open the exercises."
The following was the program of exer- cise on the Capitol grounds:
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