USA > Indiana > Public men of Indiana : a political history, 1890-1920, v. 2 > Part 10
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officer of the United States Army-in order that a report of the condition of the National Guard may be made to the federal government as well as the State authorities. If an organization fails to main- tain the standard required by the government, fed- eral recognition and support is withdrawn, and the organization mustered out of service. The work required by the government and State to maintain a National Guard at a high standard of efficiency, the paper work relative to monthly, quarterly and semi-annual drill and other reports, the federal semi- annual and State semi-annual pay rolls, the appoint- ment of commissioned officers and noncommissioned officers, and the enlistment and discharge of men in the organization, has more than doubled that of former years, and provisions should be made for an increased force with adequate compensation.
In peace the routine of office work relates very largely to the records of men from Indiana who saw service in the Mexican, Civil, Spanish-American and Mexican Wars, also the War with Germany. Owing to the fact that additional pay is granted men for re-enlistment, and for officers who have served more than five years, it is necessary for the Adjutant- General's Office to furnish certificates, when called upon, showing the date of enlistment, discharge, and, in fact, the complete record of military service of all men from the State of Indiana. In view of the fact that these certificates must be made in quad- ruplicate and each bears the seal of the office. this has become an important feature of the work of this office, especially when it is considered that more than 6,000 of these certificates were issued during the past year.
In time of war, the work thrust upon the military branch of the State government is greatly increased. The calls of the federal government upon the State,
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which are made through the office of the Adjutant- General, must be answered, records copied, forces marshaled and boards organized. Upon the recom- mendation of the Governor, the Adjutant-General was appointed Draft Executive for the State of Indiana and served until May, 1919, when the records were transferred to Washington. Notwithstanding this fact, hundreds of letters are being received both from individuals and from officials at Washington, which require investigation into the records of the office for the information wanted. This work re- quires additional labor and time by the employes of the office. The Adjutant-General also served for many months as Disbursing Officer for the United States in the State of Indiana. As Draft Executive of the State the Adjutant-General had complete charge of the four district boards and the 123 local boards for the different divisions in the various coun- ties in the State of Indiana, in the work required under the Selective Service Regulations directed by the Provost Marshal General of the United States.
INDIANA STATE MILITIA
The State Militia is composed very largely of men who were beyond the age limit of the Selective Service, and consequently could not get into active service in the Great War with Germany. The ma- jority of the members of the State Militia were men actively engaged in business-professional, com- mercial and industrial. They had professional and business training and it did not take long to bring about an efficient force through military training. The men were loyal and responded to every call made upon them, and they put forth their best efforts at all times in perfecting themselves in the work of the School of the Soldier, the Company, the Battalion and Regiment. Too much praise can not be given
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to the enlisted men of the State Militia who gave the best that was in them, and this produced a high degree of efficiency in the organization.
INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD
On the call of the President, the National Guard of the United States was drafted into federal service August 5, 1917. The strength of the Indiana National Guard on that date was 10,419, including officers and enlisted men.
The 1st Regiment, Indiana Field Artillery, was assigned to the Rainbow Division and became the 150th Field Artillery, 67th Brigade, 42d Division. This regiment was sent to Camp Mills, Long Island, September 9, 1917, where it remained until October 18, when it sailed for overseas on the transport Presi- dent Lincoln. It arrived at St. Nazaire October 31, being a part of the first 60,000 troops in France. This regiment was the second complete regiment equipped with 155 material in Europe. The regiment trained at Camp de Coetquidan, France, and after weeks of training in field service and firing, moved up to the first line and defended Dombalse, Luneville-Baccarat Sectors, Lorraine, France, operating as a part of the French 5th Army from February 21 to March 23, 1918, when they were transferred and became a part of the French 6th Army, operating in the same terri- tory until June 21, 1918. This organization was a part of the first American division to occupy the first all-American sector. From July 4th to 14th, the regiment defended the Esperance-Souain Sector, Champagne, France, operating as a part of the French 4th Army, and from July 15 to July 17, 1918, it took part in the Champagne-Marne defensive. It was then transferred and took part in the Aisne- Marne Offensive (Chateau Thierry) from July 25 to August 11, supporting the 42d Division of Infantry
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on 181/2 kilometer gain, and later supporting the 4th Divisional Infantry. From September 12 to 16, the regiment took part in the St. Mihiel Offensive, as a part of the first American Army, and on September 17 it was transferred to the Essey and Pannes Sector, Woevre, France, and remained there until Septem- ber 30. October 7th found the regiment supporting the 1st and 32d Divisions in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and from November 5 to 9 it supported the 1st, 2d and 42d Divisions. In the drive to Sedan, the 150th Field Artillery supported the 42d Division, reaching Sedan November 8th. This was the farthest point reached by the American forces before the armistice. After the signing of the armistice the regiment was designated as part of the Army of Occupation and marched to the Rhine-300 kilo- meters away-through Belgium, Luxembourg, and through the Ahr Valley, arriving at Regimental Head- quarters, Neuenahr, December 16, 1918, where it was a part of the 3d American Army. On April 7, 1919, the regiment was ordered home and sailed from Brest, France, April 17, arriving in New York April 24. The muster-out took place at Camp Taylor, Ky., on May 24. The 42d Division made a wonderful record, it having gained 601/2 kilometers against the enemy during the war, which record was only beaten by one other division, which had 64 kilometers to its credit. This division gave up 118 prisoners to the enemy during the war, which is the record for a combat division. The 150th Field Artillery had 365 casualties in men and 600 in animals.
The other organizations of the Indiana National Guard were sent to Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and were formed into a division with the troops from West Virginia and Kentucky. The division was known as the 38th Division. Why Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was selected as the train-
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ing camp for the Indiana National Guard is not known. It is in the heart of a cut-over pine district, and the products of the region are goats, sand and pine stumps. A poorer country would be hard to imagine. It was generally known that the location of the division there was a gold mine to the com- munity-prices were immediately increased. It is believed that the Merchants' Association at Hatties- burg was at least partially responsible for the long stay of our National Guard at that place. A resident of Hattiesburg remarked that no one knew what it meant to have troops there-they needed the money. The Indiana troops were there 51 weeks.
When our National Guard arrived at Camp Shelby, the organizations were reassigned as follows :
Original Designation
Designation Under New Assignment
Ist Regiment of Infantry.
151st Regiment of Infantry.
2d Regiment of Infantry.
152d Regiment of Infantry.
3d Regiment of Infantry.
137th Regiment of Field Artillerv.
4th Regiment of Infantry.
139th Regiment of Field Artillery.
1st Battalion Engineers.
113th Engineers.
Troop A, Ist Cavalry.
Headquarters Co., 151st Infantry.
Troop B, Ist Cavalry.
Battery F, 139th Field Artillery.
Troop C, Ist Cavalry.
Company L, 152d Infantry.
Troop D, Ist Cavalry.
Company M, 152d Infantry.
Field Hospital No. 1.
149th Field Hospital.
Field Hospital No. 2.
150th Field Hospital.
Ambulance Co. No. 1.
150th Ambulance Company.
Ambulance Co. No. 2.
152d Ambulance Company.
Ambulance Co. No. 3.
149th Ambulance Company.
Ist Bn. Signal Corps.
113th Field Signal Battalion.
Cos. L. M. and Mach. Gun 4th Inf.
139th Machine Gun Battalion.
After the assignment to the 38th Division, the Indiana troops, with those from the other states. were given intensive training in all branches of the service, and soon acquired a proficiency which was recognized and reported by the Inspection Officers in the regular service. Notwithstanding the fact. this division was not ordered overseas until the latter part of September, 1918. In June of that year. however, 5,500 privates were taken from the 38th Division and sent overseas and at various times
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additional troops were forwarded and were used as replacement troops. These men saw active service and the record of their service is one of which Indiana can be very proud. To bring the 38th Divi- sion up to strength required, the vacancies in the organization were filled with men inducted into service through the Selective Service Boards and by voluntary enlistments. The majority of these troops were from the States of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The 137th and 139th Field Artillery Regiments re- mained at Camp Shelby, until the 15th of September, 1918, when they were ordered overseas. They moved by rail to Camp Upton, Long Island, New York, for embarkation. The regiments debarked at Liverpool, England, October 15th, and from there went to France, landing at Cherbourg, thence by rail to the artillery training area, where they remained until after the armistice was signed. Shortly after the armistice was signed, the regiments were returned to the United States, arriving on December 24, 1918, and demobilizing at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Jan- uary 20, 1919. While these two regiments did not see active service at the front as organizations, they helped to fill the ranks of the depleted divisions at the front by furnishing well trained and disciplined men to take the place of those lost to their organiza- tions.
The 113th Engineers left Camp Shelby for France, September 5, 1918, and after refitting at Camp Mills, sailed from New York Harbor on the U. S. S. Finland September 15th, landing at Brest, France, September 28th. After a short stay at the miserable "Rest Camp" at Pontanezan Barracks they moved into the Zone of the Advance, Service of Supplies for con- struction. The various units and sub-units were scattered from Verdun on the north to La Valbonne,
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Department Aisne on the south, with the Regimental Headquarters at Latrecy, Haute Marne, October 5, 1918. On February 15, 1919, leaving the Service of Supply, the regiment moved into the Saizerais Dis- trict, near Pont-a-Mousson, as a part of the 7th Regu- lar Division. This district was a part of the old devastated area and a most uncomfortable stay was had until the Division was changed into the Colombey-les-belles District, with Regimental Head- quarters at Uruffe, the first of April, 1919. At the end of April the First Battalion of the 113th Engi- neers joined the Army of Occupation in Germany with headquarters at Konz, where they remained until rejoining the regiment in the Lamans Area on the way home. The remainder of the regiment left Uruffe May 24, 1919, for home, and, with stops at LeMans and at Brest, sailed on the U. S. S. Great Northern, June 12, 1919, landing in Hoboken June 19th; moved to Camp Merritt, N. J., where the regi- ment was subdivided into groups and sent to the various camps for discharge. The regimental head- quarters and most of the Indiana men were mustered out of United States service at Camp Sherman, Ohio. June 24, 1919. During the nearly two years' service, the regiment served with the fullest eredit with the 38th and 7th Divisions; Advance Section S. O. S., the 8th and 9th Corps, and with the 1st, 2d and 3d Armies. Their record should be one of satisfaction to the American soldier and the American engineer.
The 151st and 152d Infantry landed at Havre. France, and were sent from there to LeMans. Here the officers were separated from the enlisted men and from their organizations. All of the enlisted men were sent into a stockade along with men from practically every State in the Union. These men were not assigned to any unit but became a part of thousands of men that were unassigned in this large
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stockade or camp. When men were needed for re- placements in any of the departments, either the active fighting lines or in Service of Supplies, they were drawn from this camp, regardless of what State they were from, or with what organizations they had formerly served, and were sent to the front or to any point from which a request for men had been re- ceived. As can readily be seen, this plan completely disrupted and destroyed all organizations, and the morale of the troops necessarily became very low. The feeling among all of the men was that they had been treated unjustly and unfairly in being separated from their organizations and the officers with whom they had served since they were drafted into federal service. It is very difficult to obtain official records which will show where the Indiana troops were sent, but investigation in the offices of the War Depart- ment at Washington shows that a very large number of the men from the Indiana Infantry Regiments be- came a part of the 1st Division, and were connected with that organization during the great advance. Many of them afterward were in different units which went to make up the Army of Occupation. The record further shows that the Indiana troops were among the best trained, best schooled and best disciplined of this vast army on the German frontier. It is impossible to get a complete record of these men, as to what organization they were transferred, the date on which they were returned to the United States and the camps at which they were discharged.
The 113th Sanitary Train, which was a part of the 38th Division, left Camp Shelby, September 19, 1918, for New York, arrived at Camp Mills September 22d. and sailed for France October 6th. They were routed via Liverpool, where they arrived October 17th, and were sent from there to camp at Winchester, Eng- land, and then to France, where they disembarked
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at Havre October 22d. They then entered the Divi- sional Training Area, near Nantes. November 10th they were moved to Thesse and became a part of the training school for Sanitary Troops and later were reduced to the Train Headquarters of twelve men, Field Hospital Section Headquarters and six men from each company. The men not included in this cadre were used as replacements for other divi- sions and hospitals, and were returned to the United States as members of other organizations. The various headquarters, together with the cadre of each Field Hospital and Ambulance Company, were sent to Joinville November 28th, and became a per- manent cadre of the Curel Area. The command entrained and arrived at Brest, France, on Decem- ber 29th, for return to the United States, where they arrived January 21st. The organizations were sent to Camp Merritt, N. J., and from there to Camp Tay- lor, Ky., where they were mustered out of federal service about February 26th. The services of the entire Sanitary Train, both officers and men, were honest and faithful, and the complimentary reports of the efficiency of the Sanitary organizations show the splendid work performed by these troops. This is particularly true of the work performed after the arrival of the troops at Camp Shelby, and continuing through the stay of the organizations at that place.
The 113th Field Signal Battalion left Camp Shelby for service overseas and sailed from Hoboken Octo- ber 6, 1918. They arrived at Liverpool October 17th. where they entrained, arriving at Winchester October 18th, thence to South Hampton, where they sailed for France on October 20th, and were sent to the Amer- ican Rest Camp at Cherburg, and afterward to Vallet. near Nantes, and again became a part of the 38th Division. When the division was disbanded, this organization was sent to the Signal Corps replace-
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ment depot for the A. E. F. The enlisted men were divided up and placed with the different organiza- tions and used as replacements. A large percentage of the organization sailed for the United States April 23, 1919, arriving May 6th. The different detach- ments were held here until May 16th, when orders were received to disband the battalion and the ma- jority of the Indiana men were sent to Camp Sher- man, Ohio, where they were discharged May 22d to 24th. The officers of the original battalion, after being taken from it on their arrival in France, were assigned to different headquarters in the Service of Supplies, Inspector General's Department, Regi- mental and Brigade Headquarters and a number of them were assigned to the 309th and 312th Field Signal Battalions. It would seem that the same course relative to the breaking up of all Indiana units was followed in the Signal Corps as in the Infantry Regiments.
The First Squadron, Indiana Cavalry, was or- ganized pursuant to instructions from the War De- partment, and, like other units of the National Guard, proceeded to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where they arrived September 13th, and was the first complete unit to arrive at Camp Shelby. On October 22d the Squadron was broken up-Troop A being assigned to the Headquarters Company, 151st Infantry, Troop B to Battery F, 139th Field Artillery, Troop C to Company L, 152d Infantry and Troop D to Company M, 152d Infantry. The major portion of the squadron was sent overseas as replacement troops in June, 1918.
Why it was necessary to completely disrupt Indi- ana regiments has never been explained, and no explanation has ever been offered as to why a splendid division of troops, thoroughly trained, was kept in camp in the United States at a time when
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they were repeated calls for troops to resist and check the forward movement of the German Army. The men taken as replacements rendered good service, were disciplined and well trained, and re- ports of their service in every organization to which they were assigned are in every way very creditable. These men were returned to the United States with different organizations and as casuals and were dis- charged at various times and at different camps throughout the United States.
The troops which Indiana furnished in the Great War were a manly set of men, thoroughly loyal in every way, well disciplined and well trained, and at all times rendered splendid account when called upon, either in active service in the field, in the line, in the Service of Supply which was the great army necessary to build up and sustain that line.
A great many of the officers who were drafted into service as members of the National Guard were, in a short time, separated from their organizations and sent to various camps where they became instructors or were placed at the head of certain detachments or organizations. In one case a colonel was placed in charge of a Depot Brigade and had in his command more than 6,500 men. It would seem that if he was competent to handle such an organization, he was certainly qualified to remain at the head of his regi- ment. The officers of the guard were well trained, intelligent, and brought to their many duties a will- ingness and an earnestness for which they were commended by their superior officers. No offi- cers in either the National Guard or National Army rendered better service than those from In- diana.
A second regiment of Field Artillery was or- ganized in Indiana, pursuant to authority from the War Department (acting by virtue of an act of Con-
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gress known as the National Defense Act) and be- came a part of the National Guard of Indiana Octo- ber 15, 1917. This organization was granted federal recognition January 10, 1918, and was known as the 2d Regiment, Field Artillery, Indiana National Guard. The regiment was recruited to war strength, was duly trained and disciplined, but was not called into federal service. Many of its members desiring to see active service secured their discharge from the organization and either enlisted voluntarily or were inducted into federal service by their local boards to take part in the War with Germany. On this ac- count the regiment fell below the required strength and was mustered out of service. The organization was composed of a very high type of officers and men, but the federal authorities declined to call the organization into federal service. The reason for this has never been explained. The inspections showed that the organization was thoroughly trained and the majority of the officers had attended the Artillery Training Camp at Camp Knox, Ky., where they showed their ability and efficiency and were given certificates for the splendid work accomplished by them.
NATIONAL ARMY
The majority of the men from Indiana, who were inducted into federal service by the operation of the Selective Service law, were sent to Camp Taylor, Ky., where they were formed into and became a part of the 84th Division. Many changes occurred by way of transfer to replacement and depot brigade organi- zations so that the men from Indiana were scattered among other organizations all over the American Expeditionary Force and none fought as a unit that could be termed a Hoosier organization. As in the case of the 38th Division, composed of the National
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Guard from this State, a full volume might be writ- ten. It would seem that every conceivable thing was done in the 84th Division which could be done in order to dismember, tear up, annihilate and break down any line of recognition that the State might claim therein. All authorities who saw Indiana troops in camp or in action agree that the Indiana soldiers were well set up, well drilled, well disci- plined and among the best appearing and the most eager and ambitious in their respective camps. They went into the game full of spirit, with plenty of snap and pep, but were, of course, somewhat disheartened because there were no permanent officers appointed to command their divisions and because their organi- zations were depleted from time to time, both in officers and men.
The records of the War Department show that, population considered, Indiana furnished more troops by voluntary enlistments in the different arms of the service than any State in the Union. The quota re- quired of her at different times was not only reached but in the majority of cases was exceeded seven or eight times. As an example of this may be shown the following facts :
Quota of enlisted men for the Regular Army. 5,400 Quota of enlisted men for the Navy. 800
Quota of enlisted men for the Marine Corps. 80
Total 6,280
On April 1, 1918, the voluntary enlistments in the three branches of the service in Indiana had reached 39,586. The strength of the Indiana National Guard, when it was returned from service on the Mexican Border, was 3,100 and when drafted into federal service on August 5, 1917, was 10,419 officers and en- listed men. In the enlisting of men for all branches of the service, in the Liberty Loan Drives, Red Cross Funds, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, Jewish Wel-
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fare and other campaigns, and all war work activi- ties, this State has made a notable record and one of which she can well be proud. So, having far ex- ceeded her quota in both men and money, she took first rank among all the States in the Union. With reference to the Selective Service work, Provost Mar- shal E. H. Crowder gave public recognition to the fact that Indiana was the first State of the Union to organize its draft machinery, and also to report to him the result of registration. In this connection the authorities of the Provost Marshal General's Office acknowledged that the operation of the draft ma- chinery in Indiana was highly efficient and generally praiseworthy. Credit for this condition of affairs is given to Governor Goodrich, Hon. Jesse E. Eschbach and Major Robert C. Baltzell.
HOME-COMING OF INDIANA TROOPS
After the signing of the armistice, immediate steps were taken by the Government to return to the United States the American troops in France who were not to be a part of the Army of Occupa- tion. The citizens of Indiana began at once to make preparation for the home-coming of her soldiers, sailors and marines who had rendered such splendid service in the Great War. Many Welcome Home celebrations were planned, committees appointed, and preparations of all kinds carried on in all the counties of the State. Every community entered into the work with an earnestness and zeal so that they could show the Indiana boys, when they returned, that they were welcome again to their Hoosier homes. Indiana welcomed her soldiers with pride and affec- tion, proud of the wonderful record which they had made in performing any and all duties called upon, and anxious to extend a heartfelt welcome to each and everyone returning home. The welcome which
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