FILE NUMBER 76

REPORT ON 3R0UP RESEARCH

GROUP IX

SUBJECT

OPERATIONS OP THE Mth INFANTRY, 6th DIVISION IN THE OFIENSIVE.

Reported by LLOYD C. PARSONS 1 Captain Signal Corps, 3d,Bn« 54th Inf«) MARCH ITINERARY OF THE 64th INFANTRY (as par t o f th s 6t h Wriwion ) IN THE ARGOHNE OFFENSIVE, 38 Oot. ­ 11 »T . 1911,

28 Oct, RPJUXJUARTOR8 AND SPECIALTY C0TJTANIE8 • SAINTB MfNNEHOULD to NEUVE

TOILERIE 7 miles,

1st A 31 BATTALIONS ­ OIVRY -an ­ AROCNNE to CAMP BANGES * RAOUES,

respeotiTely , Ti a CHARMONTROIS l^ABBE IS mllat*

3d BATTALION ­ GIVRY ­ en ­ ARGONNE Yi a BEVAL t o TRIAUOOUBT

• • 9 mlltf, 29 Oct. REGIMENT (last 3d Battalion) - n^bhanga, 3d BATTALION - TRIAUCOURT to CAMP BAUPHIN 9 miles, 30 Oct« No change, 1 NOT. CLERir)Nl - an ­ ARGONNE area to LES IHLETTES 11 miles, 2 Nov. LES ISLETTES to BOIS de BOTJZON 16 miles, 3 Nov. BOIS de BOUZON to biromc 4 Km. southeast of GRAND FRE. 13 miles. 4 NOT, 4 Km, southeast of GRAND PRE to near BUZANCY * 13 miles, 5 NOT. From naar BUZANCY to 3 miles. 6 NOT. AUTHE to STE. PIERREMONT (on: the raaroh) 4 mils** 7 NOT, STE, PIERREM^NT to ' 5 miles. 8 NOT. NO change. 9 NOT, STONNE to AUTHE 9 miles, 10 NOT, J AUTHE to 9 miles, 11 NOT. VERPEL to CHATEL CHEHERY 10 miles, 12 NOT, CHATEL UHKHM to MDNTFAUCON 9 miles, 13 NOT, MONTFAUCON to BELINCOURT 5 xailes, 14 NOT, BELINCOURT to FORT'DUAMONT 14 miles. 15 NOT, FORT BUAMONT to BEAUMONT • 7 miles, 16 NOT, BEAUMONT to SPINCOURT 16 miles, 17 HOT, NO change, 18 NOT. SPIHCOURT to CAMP FORNEAU (Billy) 5 miles, 19 NOT, CAMP FORNEAU to BELLEVILLE (Near Verdun) 14 mi les, 20 NOT, NO change, 21 NOT, BELLEVILLE to BLERCOURT ,.. • 12 miles,

(1) m e NO, re. aa Nov. No ohange.

93 No/. REOIMKNT (!«•• » Battalion) BLTOCOURT to AUTRRCOURT .•«• 8 mLUe.

3d BATTALION - BLTOCOURT to IPPICOURT

94 NOT. NO change.

Nov. REGIMENT (lees 3d A 3d Battalions) AUTFJSCO'JRV to CHARMON­

TOIS I 1 ABBE 13 ml lit.

3d BATTALION - AUTRECOURT to LE CHATELIER 3d BATTALION - IPPI COURT to BEVAL

96 NOT. All unit* snored to REVIGMT • • 16 miles.

37 NOT. REGIMENT (l«tft thr«a battalions) - RBYIONY to MOCLAIN .. 2D mil«§.

1st BATTMUON • REVIOIIY to VALCOURT

3d BATTALION - RWIGNY to HOERICOURT

3d BATTALION - REVIGNY to VILLIERS • en-LIEU

88 Nov. REGIMENT (le«s throe battalions) MOCLAIN to LA N3UVILLE - a -

REMY ,. 14 mi lea,

1st BATTALION • VALCOURT to ROBERT I^AGNET

3d BATTALION - HOERICOURT to LA;iEUyiLLE - a - REMT

3d BATTALION - VILLIERS - en * LIEU to ROBERT MAGNET

39 NOT* REGIMENT ( less 1st A 3d BATTALION) - LA - NSUVILLE - a ­

REMT to NULLT 13 miles*

lat BATTALION - ROBERT M4GNET t o NULLT 3d BATmALION - ROBERT MAGNET tc TERMILLT

30 NOT. No change.

1 Deo. REGIMENT (less 3d Battalion) - NULLT to LEVIGNT 11 miles,

3d BATTALION - TERMILLT to ARSONVAL

3 Dec, REGIMENT (less three battalions) - LEVIfflTT to AILIEVILLE^ 10 miles.

1st BATTALION - LEVIGNT to JAUCOURT

3d BATTALION - LEVIGNT to DOLANCOURT 3d BATTALION - No cfeange.

3 Dec* REGIMENT (less three battalions) - AILLEVILLE to CRAMPIGN0L,,15miles,

1st BATTALION - JAUCOURT to CRAMPIGNOL

2nd BATTALION - DOLANCOURT to ANSONVILLE

3d BATTALION • A&SONV

(3) file No, 76.

4 Deo. REGIMENT (less three battalions) - OHAMPIONOL *o CUNHN .... 13 alies,

l» t BATTALION - 0HAMP1QNOL t o fONTETTE

34 BATTALION - ANS0NVILL5 to OUNFIN

3d BATTALION - 8HAMPIGNOL to FOOTETTI

5 D*o. REGIMKNT (!••• 1st & 3d Battalion*) - CUNTTN to VANVEY 31 ml lit,

i»t BATTALION - TONTETTE to VANVEY

BATTALION - TOOTETTE to MAI SET - la- DUO

6 Deo, HEGIMENT (lost thrte batUlloa«) - VANVEY to MDNTMDY?W 13 mll##.

l» t BATTALION - VANVEY t o MINOT

31 BATTALION - VANVEY to ST. B80INB - las- MOINES

3d BATTALION - Conrpaniat & - le - DUO to MONfl-

ICYKN ani "M11 to ESSA30IS.

REFERENCES:

R.R, 176-178 & PK

: MEZIERES» METZ & DIJON sheets , scale 1/330,000 filed in C, & G. S.

(3) No. 75. OR - 1C33.

"OPHUTIONR OF TOE 64th INFANTRY, 6th DIYIHION, IN THE MTO3B - AROOmff! OFFENSIVE - Oot 98 - Nov. 11, 1918."

"GENERAL HFJUDQUARTOR8 AMERICAN EXPEDITIONABT FORCEH. January 18, 1919.

HtOM: The Cfcief of Staff, TO: The Comranding General, Sixth As*ilofin Division, (Through minding General, First Amerioan Army).

SUBJECT: Appreciation of the Sixth Division.

• • • • • EXTRACT * • • * • The Corm&nier- in - ChieJ&as not failed to note with great pride the soldierly achievements of tha Sixth Division. The fbllowing remarks concerning the Sixth Division aro of record at these headquarters: The Sixth Division detrained in the CLERMONT region in the latter part of October, 1918, On account of the vory serious lack of animals and motor vehicles in the Division there was a rery great doubt on the part of the higher staffs as to whether or not the Division could be utilised during the coming offensive. Nevertheless, with less than 1,000 animals and with.very little truck transportation, the Division advanced into the reserve position for the First Arny Corps* From November 3d to November 6th the Sixth Division closely followed the rapid advance of thje First Corps without complaint or even remark. The Infantry of the Division nude long marches on congested roads, pulling by hand their machine gun carts and carrying on their backs, or doing without, supplies for which transportation should nonrally be available. Upon the termination of the successful advance towards SEDAN, the Sixth Division innediately turned south and after a long march arrived east of VERDUN, ready and willing to perform any task which might be assigned to it* That the Division was not engaged east of VERDUN was due to the fact that at the moment of its arrival the amistioe becaa* effective. Altogether the porformance of

the Sixth Division during the first eleven days of November, 1918f standjs out as oi*o-f the finest examples of the fortitude and soldierly spirit Jilt No, ?S«

displayed by the American soldier during this war. It It not unjust to

say that tha duties of the Sl*th Division during this period required more disolpllne and soldierly determination than many engagements with

the eneny*

» » * • • • • • • • •

(Signed) JAMES W. MoANDREW, Vfcjor General United States Amy." (!)•

"AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY F0RCE8 OFFICE OP THE COMMANDER - IN * CHIEF, April 11, 1919.

Mfejor General Walter H# Gordon, Conrcanding Sixth Division, A* E* F*

My dear General Gordon:

• • • • • EXTRACT • • • •

It (the Sixth Division) Joined the First Army in the Meu»e-Argonne

offensive and was the reserve division in the First Corps from November

1st to the date of the armistice. Daring this time the Division was ex**

posed t* the eneny's artillery fire, and was used to fill a gap between

the left of the Pint Army and the Fourth French Army, tfhich woe operatin

to the west of the Argonne

sincerely yours,

(Signed) JOHN J. PERSHING." (3)

After beirg relieved in tho GARARDMER Sector in the Vosges Mountains,

the nights of October 9th & loth by the First French Division (3), the

regiment staged and trained baok of this sector at ST* MAURICE, FRESSE

and LE THILLOT, Department of Vosges, for about two weeks. Finally orders

were reoelvod transferring the regimmt (as part of its division) to the

First American Corps and it was ordered moved by rail to an unknown des«

tination (4)« Units of the regiment entrained during the. nigjht of 26-37

1» RR 155-167; SS8j P 380. 2. RR 162.163; OOB 95; 3. RR 83} SS 7{ P 238; BIE; DF 155J HAEF 264* 4. SS 8 A PK 2. nit No, 76. of Ootober (6). Regiment*? headquarters and the speoialty oonjpanies w«rt detained on tho 36th at SAINTE MENNEHOULD and nardhed to HEUVF TOILERIE

(near CLERMONT). The lit & 3d Battalions, under the oonnand of Ifejor

Thocas H. Monroe, detrained on the 28th at OIVBT - en • AROONNE and were a*rched to CAMP BAWVKS & CAMP HAOUES (both near CLtfHKONT) respectively (6)

Th> 34. Battalion , do training early in the afternoon of the san* day, with

no nap, no gfcid*, no supplies, no transportation nor any information at to

'their destination,, tat out to find the regiment* It hiked until dark when

it bivouacked for the night Juet outside of TRIAUOOURT, Knowing the direct­

ion of the front lines of the First Army from the cannonading, and, know­

ing that it was destined for that front somewhere, started hiking the morn­

ing of the 39th along a good road generally in a northerly direction. This

road (the Triaucourt - Clermont road) led tho organization by noon that

day to the division bivouac area south of the CLTCRJT)NT - S7# MENNEHOULD road (7).

Tfcile the organization was in the CLERMONT aroa (headquarters area

Of the 43d Dirision at the beginning of the Argonntf offensive) (6), it

wae in Army reserve, although under orders as reserve troops of the 1st

Corps, for the reason that it was not yet within tho corps area (9). As it

advanced north on the 1st of November it was considered as having passed

to the 1st Corps reserve (10)« It was transferred from army to corps re­

serve officially by the provisions of F. 0* ^95, 1st Army, dated 30th Oct­

ober (11).

It may be h^re stated that the division was unsupported dfcthis time

by artillery as the 6th Field Artillery Briagde had not been present with

the division since it had been in France and it did not Join until the 6th

of December (12), However, the 1st Corps, expecting to use the division in

combat in extending the corps zone of action to the BAB River on the 6th

of November, attached to it the 153d Firld Artillery BrifeAe from the 78th

Division (13), This artillery attachment was effective from the 6th to the

8th of November

5. RR 84} SS 8j FK. 9, CAA 108} S00} HAEF 333* 6. RR 84, 176, 10. USWW 136j GC 175} S00. 7. VK. 11. S00, B. RR 85; PK* 12. 00B 95, 97} DF 154-155} 13, TO 356 ; SS 9 file No. 76.

VRttl* the regiment bivouacked nsar ClflRMWT on the 39th & 30th 14 re­ vived its field equipment of rolling kitchens, ration, medioal and water Barts which it had not had up to this time. Tha division (less the fielA trltsade) was issued 1000 of the 3300 animals naeded to fil l its • These animals were convaletoent remounts ••cured from the French ivay »nd tha strenuous service danoandsd of them during the next two weeks tillod fully ona-tft£rd of them • Of those aninals the regiment was alloted mcnigh. to dreur their rolling kitchens, water, ration and medioal carts only Leaving none available for field or combat trains or for the drawing of •chin* gun and howitser weapon oarts all of which had to be drawn by hand Die writer reoalls his battalion combat train (less the kitchen section) >onsi»ted on November 1st of 5 "Liberty" trucks, three of which he newr a«v agpin after that date. (14), It is no wonder that with such a lack of n*w«port*tion the "higher staffs" had great doubt as to whether or not -he organization could be utilised during the Agronne offensive (15)» On October 31st the division received orders to follov/ up the 77th 78th Divl*io» which were in contact with the Fourth French Aragr, and tc Upport these divisions (16), At this time the heights to the north of the IREwers stil l in the hands of the Germans and the "jump off" on the 1st f November, following a seventy-two hour barrage, was to break this his ast stronghold in the Argorme (17),

Regimental orders were issued to start the rrarch forward oarly on the of the 1st of November* The regiment arose at 3:30 A.M., messed, acked and WAQ ready to march before daylight but although the men waited or whe-t summed hours no movement was made before the middle of the aftern­ oon, then, &t last, it started what it later found to be a 36 day hike overing a, distance of 339 miles (18). No reason is known for this long deny n getting started axcepting the division had, at the start, to inarch over he same one-way road. Later the infantry followed "single file" a poor rail over tho Argonne hills enroute to I/ES ISLET7ES leaving the motor A transportation to struggle alogg this muddy one-fay road (19), The became yrery weary at the start having to wait under oardh pack 11 ljlours to get started. It was rumored that this first division march order

17. RR 88: SS 8, if: & 19. SS 8; RR 89. 4. Tile No. 76.

ssu<*d on a n»jor front had directed all organisations to clear the joint on this one-way road at the oata* time. The writer does know that the our infantry regiments of the division approaohed the Initial point at tpprcxinmtoly the sam* time and that later those regiments moved out in the order of seniority of their oolunn oomnanders- the 54 :h Infantry col- aim being then oon^anded by a major - moved last (80). By e*r* • ~wi*ing of he 3d of November the regiment traversed the Argonne woods 18 kilometers o LFS ISLKTTSS, its march objective, with no more serious casualties then ha loss of all of lto medical cart* and such a delay to the kitchen sections that they did not arrive until just before the regiment started inarching the next morning (21). One incident happened during this stage of the advance which exarcpli. fies tha difficulty of night marches. Due to the nature of the trails through the Argonne woods and the hills thereof i t was necessary for the regiment to murch single-file* The column coimn&nder had the only map with the regiment although all battalion contenders knew the name of the town of destination. The order of ix^rch was: 1st Battalion, 3d Battalion, 3d Battalion then the speciality companies. Upon reaching the crest of the illls in the forest (about 9:00 P.M. 1st lov.) the head of the oolumn in iescanding increased its gait. The result was that the column became broke:l the commander continuing on with one and one-half companies while the remainder halted as the leader of tha rear section of the column, a privat beoame confused, had lost contact with the leading section and so stopped. After an hour the cause of the delay to the rest of the column was dis­ covered by the staff of the 3d Battalion and with great difficulty, but wi 10 loss of distance and but littl e additional time, was ablo to conduct th< naroh of the balance of the regiment, less a company and a half, into LES [BLETTEB although without a map nor any idea as to where this town might b Ihue by a coincidence, a very embar&ssing situation was saved and the nec­ essity vividly shown for at least Issuing maps at least to battalion com­ oanders. After 6 hours r»est and a fcreukfast from the rolling kitchens which

30. FK. 31. HI 89} ?K; 00B 95-97. 33. PK. 6. File No. 75. had Just oau^ht up with the troops, the rogimant moved cut at BtOO AfM.f 3d November, in a rain along a good road which grtw much worse at the I crossing of what had been the old "Hindentourg Line" was reached. At 3t00 . M, the r^imtnt w*s halted on tha xtytyl for three hours moving on at dknc and aftar two hourt of miserable hiking ever a practically ittpassabla road it arrived at and bivouacked in old Garoan raosrvo billets at BOX BE dt >n BOUZON (aS)t Thit l*lt along tha road was oauted by the divitionft rooepti of newt of the advance of tha 77th and 78th Divisions and a change in the plant to havo the 6th Division "junp off" jutt beyond GRAND PRE, The new mission attigned was that of supporting the divisions ahead at well at to support the point whore the lines of the First American Army and the Four French Army joined (34), During the 3d of November the Division received a two days inarch

order the contents of which wore latar in the d*y published in F#O# #89, 1st Corpt, to assnble in the region of BRIOUENAY, The rapid retreat of the Germans had rendered the occupancy of tho wCorps Position of Security* reviously occupied by the 83d Division and in turn relieved of this duty y the 6th Division, in this vicinity no longer necessary (25). The 3d ttalion received orders to form the brigade advance guard for the march BRIQUKNAY. As the Corps had ordered the march to ttoke place over uzw occupied roads and aeros3 country the advance guard was given orders to abandon their packs (lass reserve rations) to lighten their loads on the oarch which was forseen to be a hard one* It was planned to haul this eq­ uipment to the troops later by motor truck but existing road conjestion precluded this. The result was that the lack of shelter tents and blankets /orked a hardship on the organisation until they could individually salvage enough of these articles to replace those taken frorr them (36)« The regiment moved out at 5:00 P.M., 3d November, by trails and acres} country marching in the rain and inky darkneas. It passed near CHATEL CHE- about midnight. During the night shell torn, muddy roads were travers­ ed and the regiment became badly separated due, in part, to the fact that rt of it became lost for an hour or so by following a trail not shown on

• RR 93$ PKi SS 8; OOB 95.97 • RR 93; SS 8. • RR 94} SS 8$ OOB 95-97. «. PK Wlo No. 76, th<* maps of Battalion Corm*nderti. At 3:00 A, M., 4 November, the last of the regiment reaohad a teo^orary bivouao near CHEVIFRfl only to havo rev~ oille sound at 5:00A.M. The rolling kitchens had not arrived to th* regime breakfasted bj' preparing what individual ratione the. men carried and th*

their nmroh for BRIQ1TTOAY, Hero supply tr*ffio on roade was so oon->

Jested that the troops wure forcad to march in the muddy fielde

Tha roomily of the 4th of November o*wned clear and the regiment ed through GRAM) PRK about eleven A.M. (38), Beyond the town of GRAND PRS the roads become more and more muddy and conjefted. The road led over the ridge where the original plans oalled for the 6th Division *o "Jump off*.

About noon the town of IE MORTHOJAME was reached and then passed. She march was continued through BRItyJTNAY *** *bout 4:00 PJvf. the column halted ne*r

BUZANCT. Tho 11th Brigade bivouacked on the east side of tho road and the

12th BriagA* on the west side. A sholtar carap was pitched. Very soon numer.> pus little fires were mode with which to do individual cooking and to uniL.

so the warmth therefrom to dry clothing and eqjiipment. As darkness came

n these littla fires became boacons and soon a few distant searchlights

egan playing across the sky bespeaking the fact that the camp fires had

ttaacted German combat aviation. Quick orders were given and as quickly

Executed to extinguish these fires but it was a little too late. Very soon

*ern»n bombardment aviation attacked the Division bivouac with bombs and

chine guns but luckily without serious results. The planes continued on

oward GRAND ?HS and ona of them attacked that tjj&n where Division Head-

were located killing Major Gray, Division 0-2, and wounding Major

ran Fleet of the 17th Machine Gun Battlaion, Captain Stettinius, aide to

iajor General Gordon, and several enlisted men (29).

On tho morning of November 6th the rolling kitchens, having ju*t arrived,

lerved breakfast and extra rations were issued to individuals for them to

sarry due to the experience of the uncertainty of such supply (30).

Before daylight on the 5tty,the division received orders to move forward

that day. The naroh was ordered to begin at 6:00 A.M. and the division was

o be prepared to pass through a front line division that night (5-6).

\ SS 8. 2B. 8S 9} RR 97-98; GO 180; PK. I. SS 8; PK. 30. RR 98; PK. Slle No, 76

Dlriiion headtwurters were to be established at AUTHEJ the 11th Brigade in tha Tioinity of ST. PIlKRJMMKPi the 13th Brigade, 318th Engineers, 6th

Held Signal Battlion and the 16th Machine Oun Battalion in the Tioinityr of AUTHE (31)• The regiment roachad AUTHE after thii relatively short hiki about noon and went into oamp. At dark it began to rain and the troope ! took refuge, rolled in one blanket apiece, under their shelter tente hoping for a nighti reet for a change, This though, was not to be for warning orders went out at 9:00 P.M. to strike camp at 11:00 P.M. and to form march column* on the road. Thie order was complied with but nothing farthi r happened and the troops stood in the cold rain and near knee-degp mod unti

4:00 A.M. when finally the details of F. 0. # 91, 1st Corps, dated 6 Nov­ ember, reached the Division and was transferred into action. Par. 3, (c) of that order read:

wTh3 6th Division will march at 24 hours, 6th November. One infantry brigade to the region of ARTAISE - le - VIVIERS by the ST. PIERREMONT ­

OCHES - STONNE - ARTAISE read; the remainder of the Division to the regioi of STONNE by the AUTHE - ST. PIERHEMDOT - - STONNE road,"

"The Division will be prepared to pass through a front line divisii or to extend the Corps tone of action west to the River, attacking in the direction of CHEVENGSS - FEENOIS" (32).

The 11th Brigade led the march followed by the 12th Brigade marching on the AUTHE - ST. PIERREMDNT road which showed on maps as a two-way road but was found, between ST. PIEHHEMDNT and OCHES, to be a vox^ poor one-wa; r road of the dirt variety and at that time q,uite de^p with mud. To make conditions worse the entire Division, with its transportation, was order a to uae this road. As it marched on it found other traffic moving south on the same road as well as finding the road blocked with small craters and with one battery of medltum howl tier mired to the hub. All motor transpor­ tation along this road was blocked for two days but the troops were able to march around it by taking to the adjacent fields. (33)« The regiment roached STONNF) at 9:45 A.M., (6 Nov). The D.th Brigade h~i received it s orders to proceed to ARTAISE to fil l the gap between the 31. SS 9} TO 357. 32. SS 9{ PO 356J RR 99} 00B *3-97. 33. SS 9j PK. Jlle No. 76

1st American and tho Fourth Frenoh Army oaused by the changed direction of advance of the 1st American Amy from tht north to the north east (54), At * 1 the f/th Infantry reached 3TONNE shells were falling on the road and naohinp

guns of the German raar oovering detachments could be distinotly heard (36|).

During the 7 November the change of direction of the 1st Army Corps was oonploted and the front lines so readjusted that the 11th Brigade was

"pinched out1* and returned to STONNE. This readjustment also pinched out

the front to such an extent that the 77th Diviaion took over the front of

the 43nd Division* The latter, with the 6th Division then at STONNE, the

78th Division which was in Amy reserve west of VARRENNE8, and the 60th

Division in tho region of were no longer needed on this front.

On the 8th November they were ordered south — the 6th Division being ordered to a now front wher^graater action w%s planned — that of the Second

Arny. (36). So, after bivouacing in freezing wet weather at STONNE on the

6th, 7th & 8th of November, the Division at 4:00 A.M., 9th November start­ ed marching south where they spent the nigfrt of the 9 th at AUTHE *nd the night of the 10th November at VEHFEL. Heavy frosts fell both of these nights

no little hardship was experienced especially by the members of the Thrd

battalion, most of whom, as yot, had not salvaged a shelter half and blanket

o replace those ordered abandoned at BOIS da BOUZON (37),

On 11th November (Armistice Day) tho ragimant was stil l on the march jreiersing as to direction the miserable night narch over the ridge at pHAT^i CHEHSRY by a hard day march. Long strings of heavy artillery also

going back were passed on the way. At 2*00 P.?^# the regiment slipped lown over the hill at CHATEL CHEITSRY into the town* A nftjor wae standing ilongside of the road as the men filed by. He announced, "It's all over Joys, the Armistice was.signed at eleven o'clock today." The regiment went .nto camp at CHATEL CHEHERY and that night the regiraai t celebrated the signing of the Armistice, Early on the morning of the 12th November reveille sounded and shortly afterwards the regiment started it s march to MONTFAUCON where it bivouacked rhat night* The night of 13-14 November fouhd the regiment in some FrMoh

. SS 9; RR 100; OOB 97-97. 36# FO 361; RR 100} SS9. . RR 100; PK. 37« RR 100; SS 10; PK, File No 76. oaope near BELINOOURT* late this af Umoon the rolling kitchens which bed beoome broken and lost in the recent campaign were replaced (38)« The 14th of November brought the regimant to the VEHDUN area. The Third Battlion cooped at old Fort IXJAMONT, ragimental headquarter* .v,id the Supply Company at CAMP NORMAJTOIE, the Fire-; Battalion at CA*

Battalion and the Machine Gun Company at FLEURY (39). This WSMI the first day that elemonts of the Division had worn its new division insignae - tho

6 pointed red star personally designed by the Division Commander, Major

General Walter H. Gordon (40).

This last, imrch of the Division has been in accordance with secret field orders from the First Artny to the effect that: "The 6th Division, with attached Fifld Artillery (153d Fiild Artillery) and aranunitio* will be moved by narching into the zone of the Second Colonial Corps (French) commencing on November 12thP (This order was received on 11th November before the Armistice became effective) "Special orders will issue cover­ ing th6 devil s of the movement",

"Upon the arrival of the 6th Division into the *one of the Second Col­ onial Corps it will be relieved from duty with the 1st Corps and be coir* attached to the Second Colonial Corps* It will betqployed to relieve the

36th U* S. Division and the 10th Division Infnnty Colonial (Frenoh), re­ lief to be completed at as early a date as practical11 (41) • This order meant that the 6th Division was to be moved to tho key position of the whole drive on this front• The plan for this action •*- a drive by the Second

American Army on MEZIERES and METZ had been adopted long before the Armis­ tice took place (42).

At this last camp was found a new Army ration (class I) ducgp which the

Division raided for it s first rations i t had i*d for two days* Every pne cade an atttopt to clean up as many had been unable to bathe for weeks and here a "tin can bath" wr.s available, (43)• Bie 13th Brigade (53rd and 54th Infantry regiments) relieved the 26th Division elements at It)RT DUAMQNT and those of the 10th Freneh Colonials adjacent thereto on the 14th November* On the mornire of the 15th Novem­ ber the forward march was continued in accordance with the above orders 38* RR 104; PK. 41, 3S 10J RR 135; 00B 95*97* 39. RR 105* 42t $310. 43.RR 105} File No. 75. which were still in affect, lh© duty of the regiment now beoawe to follow up the retiring German Army and take over all war material surrendered by them in accordance with the terms of the Armistice. That night most of regiment slept In shell holes around BEAUMONT (44). Hare for the first time in twenty days the troopa of the Division were served with three hot meals a day. Clothes and shoes of the men had become worn through and asidje from thisy an acute lack of drinking water, the bitter cold, the shortage of blankets, the spread of dysentary and the physical sluggishness and re* actions from the gruelling hikes, the Division was in good condition and the morale was very good (45), The next day the advance was resumed. The Germans were retiring rapidljy and as they went they, left behind large quantities of supplies in charge: of small details With orders to turn the same over to the Allied forcas as they camtup. The regiment Halted for the night at SPINCOURT. The next morning a detail of the 5th Division arrived to relieve the 64th Infantry which, with the rest of its Division, (leas attached artillery), had been transferred from the Second Colonial Corps to the 8th American Corps. Orders were then received to proceed by marching to the 14th Training Are in the Department of Cote df0r (south of Chattillon - sur - Siena).

SPINCOURT was left on the 19th of November and a nineteen days hike started to the new area. With the replacement of new rolling kitchens and their use over bettar roads after the Division narched out of the battle areas, maals became more regular. The men could also march on the roads which improved their morale somewhat. However, it rained every day and w» bitter cold and discomfort was the natural lot of the entirs force (46). On December 6th the regiment reached its new billet area in Cote d'Or and remained there until the first of its units left CHATILMB? - sur * SEINE on May 3rd for the Army of Occupation in Germany, Thus ended a hike of 339 mi la a made in the span of 36 days gaining for the Division its service cognomen of THE SIGHT SEEING SIXTH (47). The Division organic artillery (6th Fiald Artillery Brigade) joined it in the 14th Training Area on Dec. 6th and for the first time tinea its

44. ER 1061 PK. 46. HR 108*110} SS llj OGB 95-97. 45. SS 10! PK. 47. KR 130. 11. File No, 75. arrival in Prance it had some artillery of its own (48). In a flourishing editorial entitle* "ALL BUT THE CHANCE" the STABS &

STRIPES, the weekly newspaper of tha I» B. T.9 in their issue of Mar* 7, 1919, had the following to say about the 6th Division: "American divisions differed one from another as night from day, diff| ared in character, in methods, in personality - Just as people do. But in noting tbeir every marked differences in achievements, it should be borne in mind that thty differed also in opportunity. Perhaps history might hav shown that they differed chiefly in oppertunity," "When the whistle blew on Novenfctr 11th, it stayed not only r/hat wouli have been a'hlstory ntfking thrust toward and past METZ. It also stayed sox» divisional reputations that were only in the making. If that whistle had blown three months earlier, nftny of our famous divisions would have had n tales to tell at all. At least six of those whose racordu are most brilliant would now be unsung, and of these, one would have been Just a rather auus memory*" "Consider the 6th Division, which after a mild baptism in ALSACE, hi all over the nap of Franca looking for a scrap, just spoiling for a fight till they got to calling it the SIGHT SEFING SIXTH. It raced from CLERJrjO to the fringe of SEDAN only to find that le* rather than more troops were the need of the day there. Then, as rumor had it that there was going to be a good chance for a scrap down VERDUN way, the 6th turned and hustled over into Lorraine only to arrive breathless as the Armistice was signed.' "The 6th had an engagement with the enemy but the enengr didn9t keep it. The Armistice massed up a lot of promising young careers* And so when tho Medals of Honor aast given out and Distinguished Servico Crosses are pinned on, when some honor division narchos up a thronged Fifth Avenue re* member there wvre other divisions that had everything in the world a div­ ision ought to have except a ohancs." (48) General Pershing states in his memoirs, "Tho 6th Division pulled a large part of its transportation many miles by hand in attempting to read the rapidly moving battle front south of SEDAN*11 (49) • 46. SS 11 and file of STARS A STRIPES, AEF. 49* P 380.

12. File Ho, 76.

From the narrati •bove sot forth but a few lesions ean be gained. First, there i s one th*t although orders must be kept confidential, at lealst battalion corananders must be informed, if but msagerly, of the plans for the use of his troops. Too, it is hazardous to trust that all will go welll in any action if the officer personnel are required to traverse unknown terrain without even a n»p. The 54th Infantry can vividly furnish two exam­ ples where, due to the lack of information, plans of higher eonmanders might have been seriouely delayed had not "mere luck91 intervened at the ri£it time* Secondly, an organisation, e%en if but serving as a mobile reserve, cannot long be kept mobil* or serviceable to any high degree when required to do without a greater part of it s transportation. With the Sixth Division in this campaign they were so denuded of vital transportation that rations were more often done without than received* Medical carts were-lost so that water ohlorini station became impossible resulting in a divisional casualty list from dysentray of nearly 50$ due to the men being required to drink whatever water they could find (PK), 'Too, machine gun carts and howitxer carts, having to be pulled by hand caused them, with their arm­ ament and personnel, to fall from one to four days behind the troops they were supposed to support and had the Division been required to fight in tHe last phases of this oaopaign it would have mat serious battle casualties for i t would have been unsupported by these anus* The only anmunition available was that carried by the individual soldier. This was brought about duo tfc the animal shortage which caused the elimination of combat trains excepting for a few trucks of which many were never seen by the coxnaand after it started forward and the balance was delayed two days in tho traffic jam. It is doubtful if any sufficient replacement of aramm* ition would have teached the troops for four days. No combat force can be counted upon for worthwhile results in modern warfare unless, above all, it has, its weapons, good water and ammunition in reasonable quan* tity and these can only be had by advancing, second to the men, all of tht » transport involved in the supply of that© vital items.

13. File No. 76

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"A.E.F. In Battle" - Dale Van Every, 1928, 373 pages, D. Apple ton A Co. (C. A G. S# S# Library). "American Battlefields in Eurpjpe" - AmeHcan Battlefield Coninission, 1927, 274 pages, Govt. Printii^ Office. (C. A G. S# S# Library), "Conwanding an American Army", - Hunter Liggett, 1925, 197 pages, - Houghton Mlfflin Co. (C. & G. S# S. Library), "Caiqpaigns of the World War" - Fiebeger, 1921, 272 pages, U.S.M.A* Print* ing Office. ( C. & G. 8. S# Library )•

11 "Our 110 Days of Fighting - Arthur W. Page, 1920f 283 pages, Doubleday, Page & Co* (C. & G# S. S. Library) t •Final Report of General Pershing" - 1916, 95 pages, Government Printing Office. (C. & G. S# S# Library)* "Field Orders, 1st Amy Corps" «- 362 pages, Command & General Staff School Press, (C. & G# S. S. Library) • "The Great Crusade" - Jos* T. DicknHi, 1927, 300 pages, D. Apple ton & Co, (C. & G. S#'S# Library) • "History of the A.B.F," - Shipley Thomas, 1920, 525 pages, George H» Doran Pob# Co. (C# & G. S4 S. Library). "Military History of the World War" *> Hovrla&d, 1923, 408 pages, Command & General Staff School Press, (C# & G. S. S, Library).

Drder of Battle of the U. S9 Land Foroes in the World War" • 1931, Govent ment Printing Office. (C# A G. S. S. Library)• "My Experienoes in the World War" - Pershii^, Vol. II, 1931, 408 pages, Stokes Co. (Personal library).

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"Personalities & Reminiscenses of the War" - Bui lard, 1925, 337 pages, Double day, Page A Co. (C. A G. S, S. Library).

"Recollections of a Recruit" - Mabry, July 19J9, an official history of the 5th Infantry in the World War written by the rogimental chaplain while the regiment was with the A* F# in G, and published in Chicago, 111, 237 pages with naps and photographs, out of print, (Personal library).

"History of the World War" - Simftnds, 1920, 387 pages, Doubleday, Page A Co. (C. A G. S# S. Library). "Summary of Operations, 1st Array", edited by the Connand A General Staff School, 1916, General Service School Press. Pages unnumbered, (C. A G# 8. S. Library),

"Story of the Sixth" • History of the 6th Division in newsprint form written by oneof the division staff and publication financed by the division Y.M.C.A., my 1919, no longer in print* (Personal library ­ copy to be made by the C, A. 0. S. S# Library). Hie No. 75.

USWW "The United States in the World War*1 ­ Willoutfiby, 1931, 334 ptgee, Gen- eral Service Sohool Press* (C. & G. S. S. Library).

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"Laava§ from a War Diary*9 * MfcJ. Gen. James C Harbord, 1926, 399 pages, Dodd, Mead & Co* (C. & G. S# S. Library), "America's Part91 - Henry J. Reilley, Brig. Gen. O.H.C., 1936, 336 pages, Cosmopolitan Book Co., (C. & G. S« S# Library), 'The Last Fog* Months91 - Maj. Gen Sit F. Maurice, 1919, S51 pages, Cassell & Co., Ltd., London. (C. &. G. S. S, Library).

9 "It Might Have Bsen Lost * - Thos. C# Lonergan, 1939, 316 pftgos, G# P. Putnam Sona, (C, &. 0. S. S. Library). "A Guide to Military History of the World War"- Prothingham, 1921, 350 pages, Little, Brown and Co. (C, & G. S9 S# Library), "America In Fraace" ^ Palmer, 1919, 378 pages, John Murray Pub. Co, (0. & G, S. 8. Library).

"A Brief History of the Great War" - Hayes, 1936, 430 pages, Mfccmillan Book Co. (C. A. G. S# St Library).

"Without Censor"- T, M# Johnson, 1939, 395 pages, Bobbs Merrill Pub, Co. (C. &. G. S. S. Library).

"As They Saw Us" - edited by G. S» Voreck, 1929, 336 pages, Doubleday Doran Co. (C, A G. S, S, Library). "A.E.F." - Maj, Gen, Hunter Liggett, 1938, 335 pages, Dodd, Mead & Co. (C. &. G* S. S. Library).