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MN00004714lID111I1111N1N1I1111III1N (1 IN U.S. A~Y MsujRrP?o -uvN~y ~n&tOi NUL -s. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 301 sT ENGINEERS. Being a reprint of the history appearing in the New Year's Edition of the "Topo Zeitung" with slight revisions and an additional chapter of activities of the regi- ment since-AJanuary 1st, 1919. Headquarters 301 st Engineers Topographical Office as$o#. 15 May,- 1919, 1%to 39-7 MANSCEN Loop,=S200Q Bd 30 t#t Leonard #r w,%O657-&2 -2- Inbex. Page Chapter I Camp Devens ......... .. 3 Capt. Arthur W. Walbron. Chapter II The Trip to France.......... 7 Major Elwin S. Warner. Chapter III S. O. S. in the A. E. F. ......... 9 Capt. Cebric Powers. Chapter IV The St. Mihiel Offensive anb the Toul Sector . 11 Major Maurice H. Pease. Chapter V The March Into Germany . ....... 15 Capt. Arthur L. Shaw. Chapter VI With the Army of Occupation ....... 19 Lt. Chas. J. Lawson. The cartoons anb frontispiece brawn by Corp. Cowan. The half tone illustrations are reprobuctions of photographs taken by Master Engineer Pomponio, Regimental Photographer. C>llJiliiJ lllil~i - 3- Chapter I. Camp Devens. "To the 301 st Engineers-Assigneb." The officers will all remember the thrills experienceb when their orbers were issueb anb how fortunate they were consibereb by those "attacheb." They robe from Boston that memorable bay in August on their never to be forgotten frienb the B. & M. anb reporteb, it will be remembereb two bays aheab of time, which was a great bisappointment to most of them for they neebs must return to two more full bays of riotous living in Boston or nearby towns. The 301st Engineers became a fact on September 1 st 1917 when the officers reporteb to their then Commanbing Officer, Col. Francis A. Pope. Attacheb to the regiment from the training camp were a number of officers who were with it for some weeks, attacheb to the bifferent com- panies as assistant instructors. This brought up the officer personnel to nearly bouble its rateb quota, but as the oportunity presenteb itself anb the exigencies of the Service calleb for more anb more traineb officers the "attacdeb" men grabually left the regiment for other fielbs. Some were of course highly specializeb, as was Captain, later Major Moore; who be- came a factor in bribge besign for the A. E. F. Many went to the National Guarb bivisions, some to the new National Army outfits, which were at that time unber training, but wherever they went, coupleb with the close bonb of fellowship breb of the ol bays at Belvoir, these men will always have an interest in the 301st anb it in them for now all "have reache their objective" anb share the glorious victory. All the officers betaileb to the so calleb "Conscription Troops" pos- sesseb to a greater or less begree the feeling that the strong arm woulb of necessity be the only methob of hanbling the expectant incorrigibles but they bib not have long to think it over nor to prepare. On September 5 rolleb into their camp the first five per cent of Rhobe Islanb's contingent. Happily their expectations were not realizeb for to them came as fine a lot of men as Rhobe Islanrb coulb probuce. All were pickeb men with no semblance as yet, it is true of their solbierly qualities, for a man never looks a solbier in "cits". These men were assigneb to "D" Company where a nucleus was establisheb for abbitional troops in the regiment. They numbereb about 100 men. Several have been commissioneb anb well reporteb althougt lost to the 301 st, anb, of the others, nearly all -4 4- have become high ranking "non-coms" in staff or line. All through September anb October "Rhobe Islanb's finest" continueb to pour in until in the early part of November the organization was practically to strength. Officereb anb equippeb, they were beginning to make something of a showing as troops. About November 1st came the live stock (horses anb mules) with perhaps four McClellan sabbles anb a whiffletree or two. It was then through "horse exercises" the regiment bevelopeb its far fameb broncho busting tenbencies anb several of the officers, as well as the men, after they left the hospital attesteb to their success along these lines. Now came the inauguration of schools, both for enlisteb men anb officers. They were unber the supervision of the commanbing officer anb instructeb by members of the officer personnel, assisteb by the French Commission. Practical work was unbertaken anb valuable instruction given not only to the regiment but to the whole 76th Division in trench con- struction, shelters, wiring, mining, bemolition etc. Winter at Camp Devens was not conbucive to tropical pursuits anb the regiment will remember with awe the bays anb nights from December 1st until spring When at times the thermometer broppeb to minus 30 be- grees anb lower; when barracks anb especially officers' quarters before steam was installeb, resembleb nothing so much as colb, very colb, storage plants. The spirit of the times was with the men, however, anb in spite of colb, harb work, anb sometimes hunger (for at that time the far fameb Q. M. cooks anb mess sergeants schools were in vogue), the 301st always came up smiling anb reaby for another try. By December 1 st it hab become a well bisciplineb, well organizeb anb most efficient engineer regiment, not only in its own particular line of work but presenteb a very crebitable appearance as line troops. On De- cember 1 st the regiment went to Provibence, the capital of Rhobe Islanb, was revieweb anb impresseb the State very favorably. About that time the entire regiment of the 14th Railway Engineers was attacheb to the 301st. Their personnel was without officers or non- commissioneb officers anb the 301st was commissioneb with the training anb equipment of those troops for overseas service. In a month, with crebit to all concerneb, the 14th Engineers left for France anb their recorb at Cambrai was one of which any organization might be prouO. Just before Christmas, evil times fell upon the 301st in that some- one in high commanb hab "looked upon it anb founb it goob" anb hab becibeb that there were not one but several excellent men in the regi- ment. Forthwith it was shot to pieces, losing a great many of its care- fully traineb anb efficient men to other organizations. However, throughout the long winter bays the men brilleb, hikeb), bug, stubieb anb) playeb. Nothing baunteb by their fast bisappearing ranks they continueb to perfect 04* of ". j p i 3 U - 6 -- themselves in spite of "betails". The Solbiers Club hab by that time been establisheab at Robbins Ponb anb that, with the Liberty Theatre anb the V. M. C. A. s gave both the enlisteb men anb officers plenty of entertainment. Came, too, their succesful regimental bances anb the inauguration of the 101st Engineer Banb which as they hab become a respectable an) knee- high regiment, they were properly rateb by the War Departement. Early spring foun) them very much "on the job" an) expectant of better things than garrison buty for there hab been vague whisperings 6f an early beparture for France, but up to that time nothing habmateria- lizeb. Competitive brill, bribge builbing, range working anbincrease) acti- vity in hikes (with full equipment now inclubing the much prize) rolling Stock) began to be the orber of the bay. Increaseb acivities in fielb fortifications were also to be noticeb. Colonel Pope at this time left the regiment for awhile through illness anb shortly after, Lieut. Col. Downing, the seconb in commanb, was promoteb to colonel anb transferreb. Major. Cassiy, a new acquisition to the personnel, became the commanbing officer. As the snow left anb spring a)vanceb, Pine fielb was cleare) anb how the regiment hab a real parabe where )aily programs of brill anb ceremonies were carrieb on with great satisfaction. The regiment was at that time presenteb with the regimental colors an) lacke?)only the necess- ary men. With the coming of spring, athletics began to play a prominent part in the regiment. Fielb bays, ball games, all out of boor sports were encourageb anb in abbition to the baily routine of rill, interesting features such as regimental setting up exercises, equitation, etc, were introbuce). tennis courts for the officers were laib out anb constructe) an? the camp began to take on the appearance of a permanent garrison. The next event of importance came in the late spring when the regiment went into the fielb) for a week's manoeuvres. This hike was most instructive an?) gave the men their first insight into actual fielb) conr)itions, which eventually became so valuable to them. Colonel Pope returneb) to the commanb), Major Cassib)y was relieveb), anb) the then Major Whipple was promoteb) to Lieut. Colonel anb) mab)e secon) in commanb). As summer brew on, rumors of the trip across became persistent. Replacements began to come in anb) the companies began to take on an appearance of completeness. Arounb) the well traineb) troops was built an efficient organization anb) the stage was set for an early ?eparture. It was not until the latter part of June, however, that b)efinite orb)ers were 'eceiveb that the b)ivision was to move. The abvance party of officers to prepare the way in France, was then organizeb) anb) went forwarb. On July 12 came befinite orbers to entrain for the port of embarkation b)uring the-early morning hours of July 14th.