New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the world war, 1917-1918, Part 17

Author: Wall, John P. (John Patrick), 1867-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: New Brunswick, N.J. : S. M. Christie Press
Number of Pages: 246


USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > New Brunswick > New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the world war, 1917-1918 > Part 17


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On Aug. 12th we again moved, this time to Fos- seaux, with the purpose in view of going into a quiet sector in front of Arras-Cambrai road, but our friend, the Hun, pulled back due to an attack on the south and before arrangements were again made we were ordered south to the American sector for which we were all duly thankful.


This time we had a three day ride and if we were ever tired of anything we were of that old freight train. However our route lay through Amiens, the outskirts of Paris, Chateau-Thierry, Chaumont to Passevant (Haute Saone) which at least gave us something new to look at and in the cases of Amiens and Chateau-Thierry a little different idea of war than we had before.


From Passavant we started gradually north to- ward the fun. We would march for two or three days then rest four or five, then march again, so that by September 5th we were at Courcelles, near Chatenois. Here on September 10th we took a camion train for the actual front. The trucks were Whites driven by Chinamen and it took 2,000 of them to move the whole division. Some sight when they all got going.


We rode from four in the afternoon till six A. M. on the 11th when we were dumped out in a woods, wet of course, as it was raining most of the time.


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NEW BRUNSWICK


Here we remained all day. That night we moved forward again to another woods, we had no idea where we were, but when at 1 A. M. of the 12th the barrage for the St. Mihiel drive let loose, believe me, we knew we were near something.


We weren't in the actual drive but were in Corps reserve. However, we took over the line of the 2nd and 5th Division as soon as they had reached their objective, which was daylight on the 16th.


Our regiment was to the right of Thiacoutr, near the village of Vieville-en-Haye. Here we held the line until October 5th. During this time we were under constant shell fire and had several counter at- tacks launched against us, both without results ex- cept as to casaulties which were rather heavy.


My company was relieved by Co. H, and in that way I had a short visit with "Skill Waker" who was top sergeant. I also heard that Smith was pretty badly smashed up and had been evacuated.


While my hattailon was in division reserve I met McClosky and heard from Potter who were in the 307th M. G. Battalion, and also met Russell Morris of 156th Brigade Headquarters.


We were in the line here on September 26th for the big barrage at the beginning of the Argonne Drive. The barrage being of much larger extent, than the attack in order that Jerry wouldn't know the big barrage at the beginning of the Argonne Drive. The barrage being of much larger extent just where the attack was coming.


On October 4th we were relieved by the 90th Division and began our terrible hike to the Argonne. We thought we were coming out for a rest but were sent right into a worse scrap.


We marched all night of the 4th, 5th and 6th, then on the 7th had another ride in a camion train debarking in the woods near Clermont-en-Argonne. Here we stayed till the 11th when we moved forward in the Argonne forest and took our position of Corps reserve behind Grandpre.


Our division took over the line from the 77th on the night of the 15th and from then on until the 27th made an attack every morning at day break. During this time the 311th Infantry aided by the 312th cleared Grandpre, Talma Ferme and Hill 204 on which operations hinged the success of the 1st Army offensive of November 1st.


The fighting on Hill 204 was extremely severe and even after capture was exposed to constant shell fire. My own company dropped from 145 to 38 men in the period from October 25th to November 1st.


On November 1st we again attacked and reached our objective late in the afternoon, immediately afterward I was hit by fragments of a shell and have been in the hospital ever since. Cos. G. and H. in which were many New Brunswick, Metuchen and Milltown boys, were the Companies with mine in the attack of Nov. 1st, and they also suffered heavy losses. Perry of Milltown was one of those killed.


I have heard from them that they continued for- ward until November 5th, having reached the out- skirts of Sedan before being relieved by the 42nd Division.


Think this will give you a bit of an idea of our work.


Sincerely,


CHARLES H. REED.


CAPTAIN REED MEETS RUSSELL MORRIS AND GETS ALL THE NEWS FROM HOME


One hundred twenty-four


History of Company H 113 Intantry, A. E. F.


Compiled and written in France by Sergeant George H. Cruttenden and Corporal Frederick Unbekant, of Co. H., 113th Infantry, American E. F.


DEDICATED


To those members of this Company who made the Supreme Sacrifice-who gave "their today that we, who survive, may have our tomorrow."


ARTHUR LORENZ, killed in action, Alsace, August 21, 1918. JAMES E. MADDRAH, killed in action, Alsace, August 21, 1918.


HAROLD S. WEST, killed in action, Alsace, August 21, 1918. ERNEST C. MOHL, killed in action, Alsace, August 21, 1918. JOHN I. BOYD, killed in action, Argonne operations, Octo- ber 12, 1918.


ARTHUR L. GOWEN, killed in action, Argonne operations, October 16, 1918.


JOSEPH PATRICK, killed in action, Argonne operations, October 16, 1918.


WALTER K. WILLIAMS, killed in action, Argonne operations, October 16, 1918.


WALLACE J. BRYMNER, killed in action, Argonne opera- tions, October 24, 1918.


VITO NISTICO, killed in action, Argonne operations, October 25, 1918.


ANDREW KOLLAR, died of disease, October 4, 1918. JOHN E. ROSS, died of disease, October 4, 1918.


LLOYD J. HARTMAN, died of disease, October 4, 1918. JOHN H. PETERMAN, died of disease, October 5, 1918. HOWELL B. TETTERMER, died of disease, October 7, 1918. JOSEPH E. GRIFFITH, died of disease, October, 1918. ANTHONY MUSCAL, died of disease, October, 1918.


GEORGE H. WOOD, died of disease, October, 1918. WILLIAM C. HAMPTON, died of disease, October, 1918. RAYMOND S. TICE, died of disease, October, 1918.


NEW BRUNSWICK


TRAINING IN THE STATES


On March 28, 1917, nine days before Congress formally declared that a state of war existed between the United States and Germany, the 2nd Regiment, N. G. N. J., was called into service.


After a period of outpost duty, the regiment was ordered to Camp Mcclellan, Anniston, Ala., to train for service over-seas and arrived at the Southern cantonment, October 3rd. Two hundred and fifty men were to constitute a full war strength company, according to war department orders, so immediately the work of the re-organization began. On October 12th, companies F. of Elizabeth, H. of New Bruns- wick and M. of Somerville, were consolidated, form- ing Co. H. of the 113th Regiment of Infantry, 29th Division, U. S. Army, with Charles C. Gordon as Captain.


Following the completion of the reorganization, Co. H. followed the schedule of intensive training as laid down by the Division Commander. Every men- ber of the Blue and Gray who outlived the war and returned home, will never forget these long eight days spent in drill; days when we marched and doubled time over cotton fields with a hot southern sun bathing all in prespiration. Those were the days we longed for the cool breezes of Jersey. In November, Captain Gordon was transferred to Wash- ington and Lieutenant Kollar, formerly of M. Co., Particular stress was laid in the drilling of the bayonet, grenade, assault formation and protection against gas. Competent English and French instruc- tors, who had seen active service, brought the les- be interesting. assumed command. A divisional hike to Talledaga, Ala., took place during this month. It was bitter cold, practically the whole hike, quite a contrast to the scorching days experienced during the early days . sons of the war back to us and the work proved to of our stay in Alabama, but nevertheless, the typical Dixie country, through which we passed, with its beautiful, stately mansions and its humble little homes sheltering a colored family with a dozen black kinky-haired picanninies were all a novelty to us and thoroughly enjoyed. Practically every man in the company had a camera of some description with him on this hike and they snapped pictures right and left. To a casual observer, we must have appeared as a staff of newspaper men taking pictures for the journals. Captain Harry O. Warren was assigned to the command of the company this month.


On a few days after we had finished our sixty mile march, Co. H. moved their tents to the rifle range, and became a service company for the regi- ment, which was to shoot for the following two weeks. During this time the inclement weather and the frigid winds caused the boys much suffering and all faith was lost in the "Sunny South" we had so often read about in geographies and fiction. Work- ing in the butts, raising, lowering and marking the targets was a job that almost froze our hands. Act- ing as scorers on the line was even worse for there we were subject to the full blast of the wind and driving rain, icicles formed on our campaign hats and bolts froze in the rifles. At intervals in the


firing we passed the time away and incidentally got warm by sliding on ice covered ponds. The natives could not understand why it could get so cold in their State of Alabama and were greatly surprised. How- ever, they were due to have a greater surprise, when later, snow fell and covered the ground with a blanket of white.


It was about this time that rumors of the Division sailing for France by Christmas was spread through- out the Company. It was the cause of much betting and excitement and each day brought in a report such as "we must be going to move, they're taking the shoes off the mules," or "it's official, take it from me, for Captain Newell (Supply Co.) told some officers and a Sergeant in F. Co. over-heard him and told me," and so it went on, most of the men grasp- ing at each bit of news and feeling more elated every day. But Christmas came, the first one away from home and it found the company still in its two long rows of tents in Camp Mcclellan. Christmas week was a week of continual holidays. The mess hall was decorated with greens and paper bells and the great day was celebrated by having an excellent dinner, followed by speeches, singing, dancing and a general good time. After the seven days of rest and enjoyment, the Company again went back to the old grind.


On April 22, 1918, the second divisional hike start- ed. Gadsden, Ala., about 35 miles from camp, was the destination. Good weather favored us on this hike, and we saw the South in all the glory of spring, quite unlike the last hike in December, when everything was barren and bleak and the miles passed unnoticed, except by the few always present "crabbers," who complained of their heavy pack. The people of Gads- den welcomed us royally. Their homes were always open for the boys in O. D. and one night a block dance was given in our honor. On the homeward trip, Co. H. lead the Division one night in a 22 mile hike and not a man failed to complete the gruelling march. In fact, the entire regiment did wonderfully well and General Barber, Brigade Commander, con- gratulated us on our excellent morale and endurance.


May 13th, the company went into the practice trenches for two days and nights; gas masks were carried, steel helmets worn and everything in the trenches was made as realistic as possible, even to living in dug-outs, the establishment of sniper and machine gun posts and a night raid in which lachry- matory gas bombs were used. In fact conditions as nearly as possible like those to be encountered in active service were prevalent.


One hundred twenty-six


IN THE WORLD WAR


Transfers, appointments to O. T. C. and men chosen for immediate service overseas had so dwindled the company that many replacements were needed to fill it up to war strength again. The week of May 20th brought many drafted men to Co. H., they came for the most part from the States of Connecticut, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas, and once more we had four full platoons. It was at this time known to all that our stay in the U. S. was limited and a happier bunch could not have been found in all of Uncle Sam's camps. Our final days at Camp Mcclellan were filled with inspections and reviews. On June 5th we bid adieu to the camp which for eight long months had been our homes. The day all of us had patiently waited and longed for had arrived at last. After noon mess, the 3rd Battalion and companies G. and H. fell in and pro- ceeded by the 114th regiment band, marched for the last time through the camp's streets. At 2:00 P. M. companies G, and H. entrained at divisional head- quarters and soon after the train started in motion, amid cheers and "Good-byes" of the many specta- tors. As we slowly rolled past our old drill field the boys howled and cheered and acted like a bunch of kids just finishing their school year. No one but the officers knew where we were bound for and all of us thought that our destination would be Tenafly, New Jersey, at Richmond, Virginia, tho, we all were disappointed on finding out we were being taken to Camp Stuart, Newport News, Virginia.


Early on the morning of the 7th, the train came to a stand still at the camp and the men awoke from their sleep to find long rows of barracks surrounding them in all directions.


Most of the time at the embarkation camp was occupied by the equiping of the men and inspections. It was just one week after our arrival in Camp Stuart that we left it-June 14th, 1918 at 1:30 A. M. Troops marched silently through the city and even though it was in the wee small hours of the morning, a few people were out to wish us "Good-bye" and "Good-luck." At dawn after a rather long hike interrupted by frequent halts, we reached the dock and passed from the soil of the good old U. S. for nobody knew how long. The wonderful organiza- tion-the American Red Cross-was on hand with its rolling coffee wagons and distributed hot coffee and sandwiches to the chilled, hungry boys. The company boarded the "Pennsylvania" a James river excursion boat, and after a half hour sail, we were landed on a pier at Norfolk. A short time later a huge transport painted battle-ship gray and mount- ing four six inch guns, steamed up and made fast to the landing. The Princesss Matoika, the name of this vessel which was to carry us over the seas, was a former German vessel, commandeered by the Japanese Government, and loaned by them to the U. S. for the transportation of its soldiers. After a


long tiresome wait, H. Company fell in, executed "Right by File" and as each man gave his name and rank to an officer he ascended the gang plank and followed his sailor guide down the almost perpendi cular stair-ways, to the bowels of the ship and was assigned a bunk. The bunks were arranged in tiers of three and put as close together after allowing for a little passageway as was possible to do so. Very little daylight penetrated the "Hold" and the odor was disagreeable, reminding one of being in the New York subway on a hot sulphury day. For the re- mainder of the afternoon of the 14th and through the whole night the working of loading equipment and supplies was carried on.


Leaving for France Co. H. had the following officers: Captain H. O. Warren, 1st Lieut. A. I. Lit- tell; 1st Lieut. E. C. Stover; 1st Lieut. C. F. Burr, and 2nd Lieutenants A. E. Meyer and P. Stevenson, the latter two being graduates of the O. T. C. and being assigned to the company in May.


THE VOYAGE TO FRANCE


On the morning of the 15th we were still in Port. At 10.00 A. M. the anchor was raised and the ship slowly slipped away from the dock. Everyone was ordered below deck until the convoy was reached and when allowed to go up on deck again, we noticed we were one of five transports. A cruiser was in the lead, destroyers and submarine chasers were on either side while above us soared hydroplanes. The big six inch guns, two fore and two aft, were loaded and their noses pointed outward, gun crews took their posts and look-outs scrambled up the long rope ladders to the crows nest and everything was pre- pared for business.


At this time, German submarines were operating very close to the shores of the United States and it was not long before we had reached the danger zone. We passed out of sight of land and the sea and sky met on all sides, life preservers were worn at all times even when we slept. A half hour before dark, everyone was made to go to his bunk and from that time on, smoking was absolutely forbidden-not a light dared to be shown. After singing old camp songs down in the "Hold" on their first night at sea, the men went to their bunks to be awakened next morning by a thundering report as a shell was sent across the water in the direction of an enemy sub- marine. The siren sent out its weird warning sound and the men stood by their bunks. When the bugle sounded assembly they went quickly and orderly to the deck where they all sat down. Boats on all sides opened fire and the semblance of a big battle was in progress. Every time a shell pluged into the sea, a high stream of water would spout up, somewhat like that made by a whale when he is "Blowing," the men took the fight calmly, in fact they joked about it. As each shot was fired someone would yell "Mark 8" or make some other such remark. What


One hundred twenty-seven


NEW BRUNSWICK


worried them most was the fact that the events of the morning had postponed the serving of break- fast. Recall blew in about an hour, but still the ves- sels of the fleet kept to their zig-zag course. It was unofficially reported that three submarines attacked us and that two of the number were destroyed. That afternoon eight more transports, that had sailed from New York, joined us, making a total of 13. Chaplain Coon conducted religious services on the fore deck and it was an impressive sight to see hundreds of un- covered heads bowed in prayer with only the lonely sea to witness. Sunday, June 16th is a day which will always live in our memories.


The weather was excellent practically all of the voyage and the sea often being as smooth as the waters of the Hudson River. All day long the boys could be found squatting in every part of the crowd- ed deck, reading, singing or playing cards. Some whiled away the time by joshing, those boys, who for the first time in their lives, were away from home and in consequence a few of them almost broke their necks looking for the Lusitania monument while others packed all their equipment and pre- pared to get off at the Canary Islands. Every day an "abandon ship" drill took place and it was so well organized that every man of the four thousand aboard was upon deck and ready to take his place in life boat or raft in about four minutes.


A week after our submarine battle we were still sailing. Each day we would wake to find the same scenes, the same surroundings and one would think that we had not moved a bit during the night. France seemed to be just "Over the hill" but we were a long time reaching the crest of that hill. Once in a while the sailors would run a hose on deck and an impromptu shower bath was rigged up. These salt water baths were certainly enjoyed by the men. We were kept in touch with the outside world, thanks to the wireless, and every day the baseball scores and war news were read to us.


On June 24th we had reached the danger zone again. We entered the mine planted bay of Biscay and immediately orders were issued to wear life pre- serves which for the past week had been discarded, in addition, each man was required to wear his car- tridge belt, less all equipment other than a canteen filled with water. The commander was taking all precautions should the worst happen. The roughest part of the voyage was experienced in the bay, the ship rolling, tossing and plunging and waves sweep- ing high over the decks.


It was a cheery sight when on the 25th a flotilla of American destroyers, fifteen in all, met and obli- qued on each side of us. Two days later, June 27th, at nine o'clock A. M. the dull outline of land could be made out far off on our starboard side and the men broke out with a rousing cheer. Gradually the green fields became distinguishable and we realized


our journey was nearing its end. Small fishing smacks were out in plenty and their French occu- pants waved us a welcome. The ship slowly passed through rocky cliffs, which stood as sentinels at the entrance of the harbor and soon we were in full view of our destination. Brest, one of the oldest cities in France lay before us with its hundreds of white stoned buildings sparkling brightly in the sun stretched out in two rolling hills. The trans- ports, one by one, dropped anchor and awaited their turn to disembark. Around us swarmed tiny boats, the water rippled with them, and their patched pink sails made a deep contrast with the green of the sea. Destroyers and patrol boats hurried through the waters and a French submarine added to the collec- tion of war craft. High up in the air, elephant observation baloons passed and once a large yellow dirigible sailed over us. After enjoying the scenes for many hours we at last made ready to debark. At seven P. M. about a thousand men crowded on a long flat boat and in short time we were landed on the soil of what is termed "La Belle France." At dusk the column was set in motion. Grizzled old sol- diers, unfit for service at the front, stood guard on the piers dressed in various colored uniforms of the French army. Up the hilly narrow streets of the city we passed. The women waved and cheered, old men doffed their hats and small boys followed asking for cigarettes and permission to carry our rifles. Little groups of girls greeted us by singing our old favorite song "Hail, Hail the gang's all here," and it was comical to hear the French pronunciations of our words. The stone dwelling rested almost on the curbs of the quaint unlighted streets and everything was so unlike the cities we had left some three thousand miles behind us. Soon we had passed from the city and had reached the more sparsely settled district. At 12:45 A. M. we came to a large field where we pitched shelter tents and went off to a much needed sleep. And so ended our first night in France.


The company did not drill during the short stay here and it gave the boys the opportunity of rambling through the country and fraternizing with their new friends. The farms were of particular interest. All the buildings were of stone, carpenters are practi- cally unknown over there, and in "the front yard" could always be found the oderiferous manure pile, some farms having larger piles than others, Erwin S. Cobb, the writer, who has spent considerable time in France, says that you can judge a man's wealth by the size of his manure pile. The occupants of these farms presented a queer appearance. They wore heavy, clumsy-looking wooden shoes and while some wore sport knitted socks, the majority used straw as a substitute.


BREST TO VAUX


On Saturday night, June 29th, we made ready to move and at 10:30 P. M. with the sky still red from


One hundred twenty-eight


CHARLES H. KNAPP


Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by direction of the War Department. The ceremony and presentation took place at Camp Gordon.


The citation follows: "Charles H. Knapp, first sergeant, Company B, 61st Infantry, Fifth Division, for extraordinary heroismin action northeast of Alncreville, France, November 2, 1918. First Sergeant Knapp, then private, took command of Company B after all the offi- cers were killed or wounded, and led his company to the attack. When held up by machine gun fire from the enemy, he led a party against it, capturing the guns and killing the crew. Again, on No- vember 6, at Cole St. Germaine, he assumed command of the com- pany and returned a strong counter enemy attack."


AMERICAN TROOPS ARRIVING IN FRANCE


HAGENBACK


From this town Co. H moved to the front line trenches before the attack of August 21, 1918. In the graveyard to the right of the church lie the bodies of four Co. H. men killed in this action


MOLLVILLE FARM 29th Division Going Into Action in the Argonne


312TH INFANTRY ON THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT


311TH INFANTRY ON THE MARCH THROUGH ST. MIHIEL


307TH ARTILLERY ON THE WAY TO GRAND PRE


THE RUINS AT MONTDIDIER


IN


THE WORLD WAR


the glorious sunset, Co. H. fell in line for a hot mess. It was four in the morning though, before the battalion began the hike to the Brest Terminal where we were to entrain. After a long hike made longer by being led astray by a guide, we arrived at the station and boarded the train. Fortunately we were to ride in passenger cars and not in the box cars so often written about in the stories of the war. The cars are divided into separate compartments, some having only hard wooden seats and some boast- ing cushions and finery according to the class of pass- age, and into compartment of our third class coaches (plain, hard benches) eight men and all their equip- ment was put, making things pretty well crowded. About 7:00 A. M. the train started, no one knew where we were going to, but imagined our trip would be long as three days rations, consisting of bread, beans, tomatoes "Corn Willy" and jelly were issued. However, all of us realized that we were starting on another lap towards the trenches.




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