The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-23
LETTERS BROUGHT CHEER

"I recall one instance, while we were in that terrific fighting of the Argonne, and had been driving hard at the enemy, we were soaking wet. It was pouring down rain and we had uncovered fox holes for protection from the rain and the Hun bullets. That was during Octo Der Il to 1S We had received many let ters from our friends in Birfninghani and each time that l would undertake the reading of these letters the whole German army seemed to know it and it looked like they would concentrate their whole machine gun and shrapnel fire on my little ho ne, until finally my adjutant. Lieutenant Johnson from Massachusetts, asked me-. for Gods sake, major, put that mail up, for every time you begin reading they begin firing.' But l would not listen to him, and if l had waited to read my mail, there were chances that might never read it. but this was not the sole reason. I knew there were messages of good cheer, good wishes and good luck from some of you and there was nothing that could have been better at that time. This fighting was upon that little wooded hill known as Cote De Chattilon and the one which had been told must be taken. regardless of everything.
 We had attacked this strongly forti fed position three days prior and had successfully gained advantageous po- sition, but we had not gained that posi- ton which had been assigned as our ob- jective. However, we were fighting for 1t bitterly each hour and were being met by heavy enemy fire and resistance on all sides and 1t seemed that to reach our destination would be impossible. but such had never been the with us and my officers and men as well as my self were thoroughly convinced that we would not falter here. Not even could we push small patrols forward without heavy losses Tn front of us was a sea Of wire and trenches and the Germans. Thought that no human being could cross ; that defense.
 When we first arrived at this point the first day we captured prisoners from the Forty-firSt German division, and be- fore we had been there three days we had captured prisoners from the Forty first, Thirteenth and Fifty-second divi- sions. From an observation post which was manned by members of my battalion I had received information that the Ger mans had increased the men on various trench posts from two to five men each. As this position was being defended stronger and stronger each day by rush ing reserves there, it became an evident fact that the Hun intended to defend tLis-the pivot of his entire line-to the bitter end. This made it doubly neces- sary that his line of resistance be broken.
 z ATTACK SUCCESSFUL
 We had attempted every method cf advance during the day without success and had made many such attempts by night until finally the orders came to take the Cote de Cha tillon within cer- tain period regardless of any obstacles. On receipt of this order, I immediately reorganized parts of my battalion, leav- ing the rest to hold the original posi- ton until we had reached our objective. T. led my men against this position at the designated hour of attack and with in five hours had cleared it of the en- emy. thereby breaking his line and mak- ing it possible for troops of K and l. companies to carry the advance further and driving the enemy before us It was not mere bravery alone that did this, but that spirit of renewed inspiration had been brought about by many mes. Ages from home the night before for all of us. This again established for us that giori- ouSsfec0rd of never having failed.
 This IS only one of the many instances where your letters have inspired all the nhe6 e& to victory and we have always been Successful in our drives as know you have. While this is an Alabama regiment it has many Birmingham men