The sun., 1919-01-12
HEADQUARTERS TENTH INFAN-
TRY BRIGADE, AMERICAN
E. f., Is NOVEMBER. 1918.

E+NcRANDlsl- his orig
MI ade is In receipt OF the high
- ~ congratulatory letter of
Nov. II from the Chief OF STAFF.
First Army, the citation in Corps
Orders. and n copy of General Orders
No. 20, Headquarters Fifth Division.
setting forth the operations OF the divi
sion in forcing the Meuse River and
the Canal, and in the offensive which
carried our troops twenty-one kilo-
meters into the enemys country and
had a decisive effect upon the opera
lions of the entire First Army.
:. All of these letters and orders are
general in their terms and fail to set
forth the specific service OF this brig
ade In this final campaign Of Ameri-
can troops before the announcement of
the armistice.
NOVEMBER BIRD.
.. On November orders we're re-
ceived to force the Meuse and the
Canal and prepare for pursuit Of the
enemy to the northeast. The task OF
forcing a crossing was assigned to the
9Th Infantry, Col. II. j. Hunt, COM
mandlnS. and the cd battalion major
Courtney II. Hodges), and the Sd bat
talon First Lieut.. Guy l.. Hartman)
were designated to lead the operation.
Magnitude Of the Task.
It was necessary to cross the Nat
basin Of the river bridge under heavy
machine gun and artillery fire, reach
the Canal, bridge II, and cross in the
very face OF the enemy, who occupied
the opposite bank and overlooking
heights at a close range with heavy
line OF machine guns. rifiemen. 81 nm
guns and direct fire artillery.
The movements Of the enemy were
concealed by the Bots de Chatillon,
whereas our operations were exposed
over distance of 100 meters, except
under cover OF darkness. In spite OF
these tremendous difficulties, the river
was spanned on the night OF November
and Company + and one platoon Of
Company G, 9th Infantry, with Com
pany f, 9TH Engineers, approached the
Canal, when they were met with n
hurricane OF fire. Pursuant to plans,
our men rushed forward and threw
themselves against the bank of the
Canal and began the battle to suppress
the defenders on the other side. Short
y
light footbridge into place and TO
start another when the fire of the
defenders swept back the bridging de-
tail and made further work OF crossing
by these avenues impossible.
During the next day the fight 10
cross continued by all tho means in
our power. Rats were constructed
long telegraph poles were dashed
together and made ready for trans
portation on machine gun carts &c
another point OF crossing in the Bots
de Chatilon, and Lieut.. Hartman's
battalion set out at dusk TO force q
crossing thereat.
At Gao p, NJ. November 4, as hc
moved toward his objective, detach-
ments of T. and c. companies 9Th In
fantry, of Major Hodges's battalion, led
by First Lieut.. James Casey and Capt
Marcus u. O'Neal, 9th Infantry
rushed across the fuutbridSes already
constructed, and turning to the rgh
and left overwhelmed the machine
gunners and dashed inward to a poin
from which they could defend the
brldgehead.
Break Finally Is Made.
Accomplished, the break in the enemy''
lines had been made. and the crossing
Of the brigade which meant so mucl
to the success OF the Third Corps anC
the First Army was now only a ques
ton Of hours. In this gallant manne
the first troops of the 9th Division
attained the right bank OF the Meusc
forded the Canal and began the ad
vance to the east, which has won 81
much praise from the army, corps ant
division commanders.
L. In the meantime Lieut.. Hartman
with his battalion had crossed til
Mouse further to the east and, pro
tected by operation OF IIodges's bat
talon, silently placed his poles an
RATS In the Canal. lie gained foot
hold on the east bank and at ono
began his assault In the wood nOtwith
standing the darkness. capturing ma
chine gunners and forcing the pre-
cipitate retreat of the enemy Tn
complete capture of the Bots d
Chatilon the next morning Wit
ninety-siX prisoners who remained I
defend II, twenty-four heavy an
forty-five light machine guns, 81
minnenweTfers and ten onc-pounde
cannon, Indicated the strength and or
gsnlzation OF the defence which wa
shattered by our fire and disorganize
by the sudden rush of our men.
The importance of the feat OF thes
two battalions in relation to the sui
sequent operations OF the division an
OF the corps cannot be overestimateC
NOVEMBER ).
All tho rest OF the brigade wa
pushed across during the night, an
on the morning Of the 9Th attacked
clean sufficient ground for the crossn
OF other troops
The Keiser battalion. 9Th Infantr.
occurred Hill 22s. Tho nth Infantr!
under Col. II, II. Peck. assisted wit
great dash and fearlessness by Lieut.
Col. West, took Liny dcv't Dun an
Hin geo, and then. in cooperation wit
other troops OF tho 9th Brigade, al
sisted In the capture OF Iilll 292 an
Dun sur Mouse.
AZ the end OF the days operation