History 119th Infantry, 60th Brigade 30th Division U. S. A. Operations in Belgium and France 1917-1919 TUritten at the request of the lPilmington Chamber of Commerce, and Published by that Organization in Honor of Col. John Uano. Metts and His Qallant Men and as a Contribution to American Historu Walter Clinton Jackson Library The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Special Collections & Rare Books World War I Pamphlet Collection Gift of Greensboro Public Library History 119th Infantry, 60th brigade 30th Diuision U. S. A. Operations in Belgium and France 1917^1919 IDritten at the request of the UJUmington Chamber of Commerce, and Published bu that Organization in Honor of Col. Jnhn UanB. Metis and His Qallant Men and as a Contribution to American Historu Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation http://www.archive.org/details/history119thinfa00inconw — To the Parents and Friends, and, in Honor of Those Brave and Noble Men of the 119th Infantry, of Whom it Can Truly be Said That They Performed Their Duty Honorably and Gloriously. This History of the 119th Infantry, 60th Brigade, 30th Division, U. S. A., was compiled by Captain C. B. Conway, of Danville, Va., and Lieutenant George A. Shuford, of Ashe- ville, N. C. It was their effort to write only of Facts, that the records of the deeds of true and brave men may be given. To them is due the thanks and appreciation of the officers and men of the Regiment. Due to the loss of the list of the officers and the fact that a full and complete list cannot be published, the names of officers are not made a part of this record. It is fitting to call attention to Major John Hall Man- ning, who as Operations Officer, rendered most excellent service; Major William S. Privott, Major Graham K. Hobbs, Major Robert S. Lamb and Captain Otho Robinson, who as Battalion Commanders, showed courage and ability of marked degree in fighting and caring for their commands in battle and at other times. Captain Jere Cooper, as Regimental Adjutant, and Captain Fred L. Black, as Supply Officer, were most efficient. John VanB. Metts. ** ORGANIZATION OF 119th INFANTRY. The 2nd North Carolina Infantry which went into Fed- eral service June 16th, 1916, and spent six months on the Mexican Border was never mustered out upon its return, but proceeded to Camp Sevier, Greenville, South Carolina, August 1st, 1917. When the 30th Division was organized about Sept. 19th, 1917, the 2nd North Carolina Infantry was designated the 119th Infantry and assigned to the 60th Bi.^de. A short while afterwards, the 59th Depot Brigade at u Camp Sevier was broken up and t e majority of the person- nel of A, B, C, D, H, I, K, ano L Companies of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry was absorbed into the 119th Infantry. Later about 800 men (North Carolinians) were trans- ferred from Camp Jackson, S. C, to the Regiment; and about 700 men were transferred from Camp Dodge and Camp Gordon aud assigned to the 119th Infantry. On or about September 5th, 1917, several Reserve Offi- cers were transferred from Ca^p Lee, Va., to the 30th Divi- sion which w ea under organization, and a number of these attached the 2nd No.th Carolina Infantry. Some of these officers were later transferred to other Divisions, but thos^ rp- : n the x. 'mem were permanently as- at the time it was lllC ^ ?1 o) l llvth Infantry, ordered to France was as foil. .*s: f About 1 8^° uie^ om the State of North Carolina, 900 fro.. e, and /00 from the States of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin. Iowa, Kc ... y, Minnesota, Ohio aV TRAINING OF RE TEMEN f AT CAMP SEVIER, SOUTH CAROLINA. Upon the completion of organization of the 119th In- fantry, the Regin. sm lu .went a most strenuous training preparatory to its final training received in France. A system of trenches was constructed by the 105th Engineers and these used extensively by the Regiment, in order that the men might become -mewhat familiar with trench life. : 2 History of ngth Infantry and their tactical use. A large target range was also con- structed and on this the men were trained in the art of shooting accurately and rapidly, in order that they might protect their own lines in time to come. In the late fall of 1917, several British and French Instructors were attached to the 30th Division, and a few of these were sent to the 119th Infantry, who gave valuable instructions resulting from their own personal experience in France. These instructors were specialists in their work, and this Regiment was fortunate in getting one for each branch of its training, namely: musketry and bayonet, gas defense, grenades, sniping and observation, stokes mortar, one pound- er, and signal work. Beginning at about the 1st of January, 1918, detachments of officers from the 30th Division were sent each month to the School of Arms, at Fort Sill, Okla- homa, and the training for the officers continued until the Regiment was ready to depart for Overseas service. Between January 1st, 1918, and April 1st, 1918, the Regimental Commander was in attendance at a Brigade and Field Officers' School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. During his absence the Regiment was commanded by Col. F. LeJ. Parker, of the Regular Army, and his work for these three months greatly assisted in the building of the backbone of the Regiment. Many competitive drills and exercises were held during this time which assisted in establishing a keen spirit of competition, which the Regiment lived up to in later months. Upon the return of Col. J. Van B. Metts from the School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he resumed command of the Regiment and carried on the training until the 30th Division was ordered to France. ADVANCE SCHOOL DETACHMENT. Previous to the embarkation of the 119th Infantry, orders were received to detail twelve (12) officers and sev- eral non-commissioned officers to be sent to France as an Advance School Detachment. The following officers were detailed History of ngth Infantry 3 Major George K. Freeman, Major Roane Waring, Captain Graham K. Hobbs, 1st. Lieut. Charles Pichetti, 1st. Lieut. Frank J. Gilliam, 1st. Lieut. Edward L. Graham, 1st. Lieut. Chester O. Bell, 1st. Lieut. George A. Shuford, 2nd. Lieut. Holcomb Rogers, 2nd. Lieut. Hargrove Bellamy, 2nd. Lieut. Marion R. Wentz, 2nd. Lieut. James E. Faison. This Advance School Detachment, under the command of Major George K. Freeman, joined the general' detach- ment of the 30th Division, which left Camp Sevier, April 30th, 1918, at 2:00 p. m., on a special train of the Southern Railroad. This detachment went direct to Camp Merritt, N. J., via Charlotte, Washington, Philadelphia, and Jersey City, arriving at Camp Merritt about mid-night of May 1st, 1918. While at this camp the N. C. O.'s were equipped for foreign service. On the morning of May 7th, 1918, the detachment boarded a train which carried the party to Hqboken, N. J., where it filed on board the transport George Washington, a converted German liner. Shortly after noon on May 8th, 1918, this liner slipped out of New York Harbor and started on its long journey to France. The convoy con- sisted of three (3) converted German vessels, the George Washington, the America and the DeKalb, formerly the Cruiser Crown Prince Eitel Frederich. The voyage was uneventful with the exception of one day spent in target practice. About 7:30 a. m., May 17th, 1918, seven (7) American Submarine Destroyers joined the convoy to see it safely into port". On the last day out at sea just at sun- rise a submarine was sighted off the starboard side of the DeKalb. It at once submerged without firing. At 11:30 a. m., May 18th, 1918, the George Washington dropped anchor in the harbor of Brest, France. The Advance School Detachment debarked the following day, and marched to 4 History of ngth Infantry the Pantinzer Barracks, about 4 kilometers from Brest. On May 23rd, 1918, the party left Brest for Langres and arrived there May 25th, 1918. The entire detachment was here separated into different groups and commenced special training for which they were sent over. Some officers at- tended the School of the Line, the remainder the Specialist School. Upon the completion of the course the officers taking the Specialist and Line courses left Langres June 24th, 1918, and rejoined the Regiment which was stationed in the Racques Area, at Louches, on June 27th, 1918. Major George K. Freeman and Major Roane Waring were transferred from the School of the Line to the Staff College before the completion of the course. These two officers were not reassigned to the Regiment. EMBARKATION OF REGIMENT FOR OVER- SEAS SERVICE. Upon leaving the Training Camp at Sevier, S. C, the Regiment proceeded by special trains to Camp Merritt, N. J. Some of these trains moving over the P. & N. Rail- road to Greenwood, S. C, and Seaboard from there to Rich- mond, Va., then to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Jersey City, N. J. Other trains moving over Southern to Charlotte, Danville, Richmond, etc. The entire Regi- ment was assembled at Camp Merritt, N. J., on the 8th of May, 1918, and remained there for a period of three days, being equipped for Over-Seas Service. While there, the organization was split up into three different detachments; one remaining there, one ordered to Philadelphia, and the other ordered to Boston. Early on the morning of May 11th, Regimental Head- quarters, Headquarters Company, Machine Gun Company.