davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30

"Argonne,' says Ward Greene, who
has followed the sd through every
move it made in the war, will go down
in history as one of the bloodiest fought
by Americans in any war and which,
had it not been for the SD Division,
might never have been the momentous
victory it was for the Yanks Without
boasting, without claiming undue credit
for the division, it is an authenticated
fact that it was it's big flank push on
October Z, when the American drive
had come to a standstill, that caved in
the German lines and made it possible
for the Yanks to sweep the enemy back
to the banks of the Meuse
incidentally, it was this attack
which liberated the famous "Lost Bat
talon" of the Nth Division, the story
of which has been told at least dozen
times without any mention by name of
the 3d.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
Major General George B. Duncan

TALON of the 32Sth relieved the second
battalion in NoToy, and the advance
was renewed. With the Goth Division
pressing forward the third battalion of
the 32Sth, with Company C Of the 321st
Machine Gun Battalion in support, made
a daylight sortie to protect the 9Oth's
flank.
This was one Of the most gallant of
the S2d's efforts in the fight The ground
over which they now advanced sloped off
to level valley, in which lay the town
OF Wanderers. Across this glaringly open
country the enemy artillery had full
sweep of the battalon's flank
So, with big shells bursting in their
ranks, and the men falling on all sides
like pins in bowling alley, these gallant
troopers swept down the long hill and
into Wanderers, driving the enemy be-
fore them and occupying the high
ground to the north of the village.
There was hand to hand fighting here,
bravery to make the heart leap and the
blood quicken. With the Germans still
Smelling the town with all the guns they
could bring to bear, the battalion dog
gedly held its ground until nightfall
when, its ranks frightfully decimated, it
was relieved by the first battalion, Major
Boyle commanding, which continued to
hold the line, still under bombardment,
until on the morning of the 18th of
IA i
battalion from the Goth Division, where
upon what was left of the 328th re-
turned to the SD Division.
For its work at st. Mihiel the division,
aside from Che congratulatorv orders
already referred to, was honored
through the citation Of the battalions
which took Wanderers, and a division
citation was also given Lieutenant
Colonel Emory j. Pike, division ma
chine gun officer, who especially dis
tinguished himself in handling the ma
chine guns in the Wanderers affair.
Colonel Pike was struck by piece of
flying shrapnel in that advance and
later died of his wounds.
Likewise, the artillery Of the sgd
was first seen in action in this engage :
ment and was awarded honors for it's
splendid work.
Came now the Argonne September
"a began the movement toward the
north. Orders were for The SD Division
to assemble in the vicinity Of Clermont,
west Of Verdun.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
Almost Cut
To Pieces

The drive was lnauGurated September
20. With the exception OF one regiment.
the 327th Infantry, the SD Division was
not called into the engagement until it
had been under way Il week. The 327th
went III under temporary assignment to
the LIST Army Corps, and it's function was
to go forward and close the gap between
two divisions which were driving ahead.
right and left, through the forest. 1t
was thus employed in minor movements.
though constantly under heavy shell fire,
until October g. when, the impetus
gained at the outset having somewhat
spent Itself in a maddening struggle of
ten days, with the divisions initiallv en-
gagged almost cut to pieces. the drive
through the Argonne anu up to The val
ley OF the Aire had come to a standstil.
Here was perilous situation. To the
utmost OF their resources the ener,v had
thrown their strength AGAINST he Amer
leans, and with disastrous result. There
is nothing more inspiring. moe dtvas.
tating, more Illustrative OF the best and
worst of modern warfare. than is con
tanned in the record of those first fen
days Of the fighting In the Areonne.
The desperate expedient decided upon
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30

Mans Land and then charged, killing as
they advanced. The Hun line was
pierced for distance of six hundred
metres and the expedition was completely
successful Hand hand combats, bay
onet fights and the blasting of the enemy
from his position with hand grenades
made the raid one of the most pictu-
rescue and spectacular Of the brushes
which had occurred in that compare
lively quiet sector. One entire platoon
of Germans was wiped out three ma
chine guns captured, and quantity Of
supplies and equipment carried back to
the American lines, which fully iden-
titled the unit.
For the brilliancy and gallantry of
the raid the troops participating were
cited in division orders.
A period of comparative inactivity
followed, while all hands made ready for
the launching of the all-American often
sive at St. Mihiel. The division now
went into the Marbache sector, which,
astride the beautiful valley of the Mo-
selle offered opportunity for rest and
training for the big work ahead 1t was
here that the 18th Artillery Brigade,
which up to now had been separated
from the division, rejoined its old
friends.
Battle and death came even in this
sector of rest, however. Just inside the
divisions front line lay the city of Pont-
a-Mousson. On clear days the formula
BILE fortress Of Metz could be seen,
twelve miles away. Lorraine vineyards
stretched out across the horizon. But
German aeroplanes constantly lowered
overhead, bombing the trenches inter
mittently, and from the American
trenches were launched from time to
time brilliant raids like those which had
characterized the stay in the Lagney
sector. In one of these raids Captain
William Sirmon of the 325th earned the
Distinguished Service Order by gallant
ly rescuing a eomrade who had been
wounded.
There followed the drive on ST. Mihel
Ward Greene. recounting the exploits Of
the 82d in this affair, says:
"T'he reduction Of the st. Mihiel
salient by the Americans in the second
week Of September, 1918, is recognized
as one Of the great achievements Of the
war. II was especially notable because
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
They're the Men Who Wiped Up the Argonne
Hun the Blow That Made Him Yell for Peace

Whitman this inspiring day in the his
tory of the division:
"Our appearance already had been
heralded in the morning papers, and
crowds had gathered early to see the
Yanks. In the courtyard at Yelling
ton Barracks we stacked arms and
broke ranks. Here we were in the
home of the Scots and Coldstream
Guards. Our host was Major Lord)
Stair, who had been a prisoner in Ger
many for two years. He entertained
the officers, and the soldiers took care
of our men for lunch.
"At / o'clock horses were brought
for the regimental commander and his
staff, the gates of the courtyard were
thrown open and the parade started
Our band led the column, but each bat
talon was also given a British band,
with bagpipes and all the trimmings"
This, it will be remembered, was the
first appearance in London streets of an
organized body of American soldiers
since the United States had cast in it's lot
with the harried Allies of Europe. Great
was the JOY thereat, and the occasion
one upon which the future historian may
linger. Continuing, Colonel Whitman
saws
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
But the Division
Commander Said No

But Major General G. 3. Duncan, COM
handing the division, heard about it,
and squelched the petition, just as his
division had crushed the Boche. The
New York boys, under the regulations,
will be mustered out where they belong,
that is to say, in New York. And if
they will just let New York know when
they are to arrive, Little Old New York
will do it's best to make up for the seem
ing neglect.
The 82d Division took form and shape
at Camp Gordon, Ca, in the early days
of Americas participation in the war. By
March, 1918, it had found its footing"
War Department inspection declared it
fit for the battlefront, and April found
it on the move.
No cheering crowds or brayng brass
bands marked its departure from Cor
don. In grim silence, like the relent-
less grinding of the fates, its perfectly
adjusted units filed down the trail for
the performance Of it's mission.
Division Headquarters got away from
camp first--April 10. Thereafter in
fantry, machine guns, artillery, supply
and ammunition trains, signal corps
and quartermaster's outfit--the arti-
lery last-broke camp at the rate Of
two battalions a day. Camps Mills,
Upton and Merritt sheltered the division
for brief period Of resentful and dis
gruntied "rest." April 20 saw the first
81 the boys aboard the transports. BY
Nay Il the last man was afoat.
Germany had just launched her last
desperate drive--that in which the Hin
denburg line and the German military
heart alike we're ultimately broken and
me Hun menace ended. Men felt that
tnc supreme crisis was approaching.
Almost despairing appeals came from
me Allies for Americas support NOV"
Early on the morning Of May 8 the
Sz1th disembarked at Liverpool, and
siter march across the city, which
VAS memorable In Itself for the demon
Msation accorded the "Ail-Americans,"
pIr1eseded via Winchester 10 Waterloo
nsstiOp, London,
wHrd Greene, historian Ut The 82d.
'"ss describes IN the words of Colonel
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
The London
Parade

Great crowds lined the streets and
we had a continuous ovation. We
marched past the War Office, where
Lloyd George looked down upon US;
past the American Embassy, where our
platoon of the Headquarters Troop
stood as guard of honor; past Carlton
Terrace, the home of many Americans,
where our bands played Maryland
Dixie and 'Suwanee River
eve marched at attention all the
way, which caused comment from the
British officers. Bayonets had been re-
moved in Difference to the British Gus
tom, which permits one regiment only,
the Kings Own, to parade in London
with bayonets fixed"
There was a temporary halt just be-
fore Buckingham Palace was reached.
Then, as the Guards Band burst into
the strains of "God Save the King
his majesty emerged from the palace
gate and advanced to the curb. where
he reviewed the regiment on foot as 1t
marched proudly by in column OF
squads. At his side were Queen Mary.
the dowager Queen Alexandra, Princess
Beatrice and the Duke Of Connaught
At the invitation Of the King, Colonel
Whitman dismounted after the head Of
the line had passed, and stood with the
royal party during the review AS the
line swung along, King George, paying
high compliment to the appearance OF
the Americans, asked wonderingly:
care there many more like these men
in the United States?"
'And are they eager to get into the
fray?" added Queen Mary.
"History," says Colonel Whitman,
closing his narrative of that first day of
the 82d on European soil, "has answered
both questions"
While the boys of the SD took their
final training, their officers in squads
were escorted forward to the British
trenches around Albert and Amiens, and
given first hand instruction in the tech
nioue and meaning of modern warfare.
1t was the hope and the expectation
then that the division be brigaded with
the British in the then impending drive
to regain the lost ground in Plcardy.
The hone did not bear fruit. May 20
the division was inspected by Field Mar
shall Haig. Then, May 20, enthusiasm
SCARED when Pershing himself reviewed
the boys, and let fall hint to the officers
of the division that events we're so shap-
ing themselves that if conferences then
under way so decided, not with the
French nor with the British, either,
would the 82d be brigaded, but that those
men who were pouring into Europe from
every section Of the United States would
! be compactcd into one great army which
would fight as national unit under
| supreme command.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
Hottest of All
Corners

For twenty-five days-the longest
time, it is said, that ary division has
served in the front lines without even
a few days rest-the SD fought
through the Forest Of the Argonne as
it had never fought before The d.
vision lost $500 men in killed, wound
ed and missing 1t suffered from bull
lets, it suffered from hunger, it suf-
fered from cold, it suffered from shells
and gas and machine guns and all the
horrors the Hun could bring to bear
1t was, for fact, almost wiped out.
Yet it captured, in turn, 845 prisoners,
sixteen cannon, 121 machine guns,
many minenwerfers and large quaint
ties Of stores. 1t cleared the Argonne
of the Boche that blocked it's path, it
slew them wholesale, it broke the ia
nous kriemhild- Stellung line and,
when it was finally relieved, it finished
the war with enough glory to last all
days.
With the German driven out of this
section of France and deprived in large
part Of his captured territory; with
the famous Kriemhild- Stellung line,
his heaviest bulwark in that section Of
Y the Western front. broken, and 81 path
way opened for drive through Lux
eniburg, there was brave hope and in
very truth splendid chance that the
movement might eliminate IN 80 pre-
t.,a.s .ata af ttaa
through Belgium back into Germany
that, If his army was not indeed capt.
ured, his hasty return to his own ter
ritory, where he could be held at bay,
would be inevitable
This was the grand scheme of the AL
lies on the eve of the drive through the
Argonne Forest. 1t was a formidable
F undertaking. Every device of the Hun
commanders, supplemented by the natu-
raj defences of the forest, had been ex-
erted to make it impregnable. 1t is one
of the most dense forests of all Eu-
: rope. And, in addition to this blanket
ing of heavy woods, hills and deep ra-
vines intersect the forest at frequent in
tervals, and these latter, at the season of
( the year when the drive was launched,
were deep with mud from the heavy
autumn rains. Supplementing these
natural defences, barbed wire barbados
twenty feet high had been erected by
+ the enemy, the hills and the surrounding
towns and villages had been fortified and
machine gun nests studded the wood
land.
1t was through this devils caldron
that the Allied command decided to at
tempt the drive, and it was to the Amer-
can troops that the honor of leading it
was awarded.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30

NOMEWHERE in France, eager for
a sight of home and just little
~ bit hurt over New York's SEEM
ing indifference to their splendid
achievements in the war, are 10000 Man
haitian and Brooklyn lads-proud mem
hers of Duncan's SD Division, which
helped clear the Argonne Forest of the
Hun. They fought at ST. Mihiel and
Chateau Thierry, but the battle in the
Argonne Forest is the most brilliant
level in their crown. And if in the
press of events the vital part they played
has not yet received fit recognition from
the folks at home this is to notify them
that they have not been forgotten.
When the history Of the war comes to
Be written those twenty-five days of con-
slant fighting in the Argonne, in which
the SD was literally shot to pieces, yet
held its ground, will require chapter
by itself.
When the fighting was over, of $4,000
men who went smiling into the fray but
1000 remained standing on their feet.
That's the record of the SD.
That they should be proud of their
achievements, these boys of the 82d Divi-
sion. is natural. Pershing himself was
nroud. and in general orders commended
the division for it's work. That hereto
fore the work of the division has not re-
ceiyed more recognition is due to the
fact that it went over the seas from
Camp Gordon, Georgia, where 1T was
trained away from the watchful metro
politan eyes.
The S2d is one of those splendid units
which was recruited from the original
draft. Formed originally from Georgia,
Alabama and Tennessee regiments, when
the wedding out process came New York
was called upon for rep dement's, and
forth from Manhattan and Brooklyn or
from Mills and Upton went 10000 en-
thusiastic men,. from Brooklyn 5000, the
remainder from Ma Nattan. When the
wedding out continued other sections Of
the country were called upon until
finally, when the division was pro-
nounced fit for service overseas, New
York and California, Maine and Florida
and all the states between had represen-
tation in its ranks, and, bearing the proud
designation of the "All-America" Di-
vision it Jared forth across the waters.
Wherefore, when these heroes found the
honors going elsewhere with small credit
allotted to them, being wrought up to
high tension, they just naturally got
sore. And since New York didn't seem
TO care, though it does whole lot, their
minds--that is, the minds of the New
York ads-reverted to Atlanta, Ca.
which in its pride over this "All-Amer-
lea" division, which was trained almost
within stones throw Of Peachtree
Street, had adopted the S2d.
Forthwith petition was drawn up
over there where the warrors tasks are
ended and men chafe to be about the
arts Of pcace-and in this petition it
was set forth that inasmuch as New
York didn't seem to care, "by these pres"
ents it is requested that we be returned
to Atlanta and mustered out there, and
we'll go home quietly and New York may
90 hang" or some other more fitting
snidiariv larouaOe
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30

was to send the SD against the salient
on the right and drive in between the
18th and the 1st. While the SD was en-
gagged in that effort the French were to
push from their side, and thus crush the
Zoe between them. 1t was a fiankinx
plan which would expose the SD Divis-
ION to counter attack and concentrated
machine gun and artillery fire from both
west and south. Crowned by success.
however, the plan would free the Ar.
come OF the Hun and clear the path for
the drive on Sedan, which it was be-
heved would mark the beginning of the
end
They marched all the night of October
o. through quagmiress and with a heavy
ram beating a tattoo on their sstin' he'll
NETS. There had been no reconnaissance.
no artillery assistance Cold. hungrv
footsore, at dawn on the morning of the
'th the l64th Brigade, under command
OF General Lindsey, with the l63d Bril-
gade, under General Cronin, in reserve.
advanced to the attack. The 325th In
fantry, commanded by Colonel Ely. led
the way, with the 32Sth, under Colonel
Wetherill, close behind.
Coats and blankets had been thrown
on by the men. Enthusiasm ran nign.
Yet not one but did not know the chances
he was taking. Set smiles on their
faces, bayonets fxed-into the grim.
dark, dank and CHASTITY forest the legion
plunged. Like soldiers on parade" one
officer afterward described it.
1t wasn't a battle of minutes or of
hours, but of days, which ensued. Ma
chine gun bullets swept the advanc;np
columns IN sheets They charged through
villages, fought through morasses. ford
ed swollen streams, bayoneted machine
gunners at their posts, used their rifles
as clubs when they came to grips with
the foe in wire entanglements. Hunger
and thirst joined hands with the enemy.
Gas attack followed charge and charge
succeeded gas attack. From overhead
boche aeroplanes rained bombs down
upon them. Their comrades fell on every
slde-the cries of wounded rose above
the shrieking of shrapnel and she'll
Pressing steadily onward. the 164th
Brigade slowly relieved the pressure Of
the Hun and made sure the advance of
the Americans through the Argonne.
The sd was making good.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30

it marked the first all-Amercan blow
against the Boche For four years the
ST. Mihiel salient had been thorn in
the Allies side. Particularly at this
time, when it bulged out like bag into
the Allied lines, it constituted grave
menace. The Yanks were given the job
of obliterating it. How they did it his
tory has told. In two days they swept
forward through all the enemy defences,
captured their detectives, took 10000
prisoners and 443 guns, freed scores Of
French villages from Hun rule, and es-
tablished a new line that directly threat
ened Metz
1t is to be added to this that in thus
putting Metz in jeopardy the partci-
pating troops, including all of the 82d,
cleared away the ground in this sector
for the general advance which Marshal
Foch was planning when the Germans
saw utter rout facing them and opened
negotiations for the armistice.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-30
"HeH Turned
Loose"

In those two days Of inferno. flashes
of gallantry at intervals lighted the gem
eral gloom. For instance. in daring
charge that would challenge comparison
anywhere, the first battalion Of the
327th infantry, on the first day Of the
DIVISIONS operation In the forest dashed
forward and captured HI NO. 1870 lin.
der decimating enemy fire.
An officer who watched the movement
relates it;
1.-TWO companies Of the seth fnfan-
try, under command OF Captain Davis.
advanced across the valley TO reinforce
the right flank Of the second battalion.
32sth Infantry. They were under ter
rifle concentration of machine gun and
rifle fire. All hell seemed turned loose
upon them.
only forty men of those two COM
panies reached their objective.
"Yet we who were watching from the
rim of the amphitheatre saw the assault
waves advance across the open as if at
drill and with seeming Indifference to
the fact that men were going down like
tenpins before a ball"
Since the night of October the d.
vision had been engaged in constant
lighting. They had driven the Boche
through the wellnigh impenetrable
woods, and out into the clear. and were
hghtlng on open ground with the de-
termination of men resolved to make a
cleanup and bring bad Job to close
Their ranks had been pitifully reduced.
Battalions had shrunk to companies One
battalion which had entered the fight
with twenty-eight officers and a thou
sand men now numbered seven officefs
and l25 men. Another was reduced TO
three officers and IT'S men,
Then, November l. the high command
having taken note of the almost extinct
condition of the sgd, it was relieved BY
the goth Division. And none too soon.
The Argonne was practically the last of
the lighting engaged in by the SD.
! Eleven Gays later came the armistice
But, If only in those grueling TWENTY
tour days OF battle - not mentioning
what 1t had endured before-the SOD
had earned its place in history. At the
end OF the battle of Argonne, the divi-
sion OF $4,000 men in round numbers
had only 200 men on their feet.
For the rest, the SD Division, in what.
ever 1t was set to do, did it with the
same gallant dash and finish and SUCCESS
which characterized its work at st. Mi.
hiel, at Chateau Thierry, at .srgonne
Where so many men distinguished them.
selves by acts of daring, il is idle "a
draw comparisons. The division has Il,
share Of citations, and its honor NOR
rank with the best in the expedit;onays
force, or for that matter. with the hes
IN the grand army of the Allies.
New York is proud to have had WITH,
It's ranks the ten thousand brave ms,
who represented the metropolis in n.
SEC, and welcome awaits them ,,nn,
their return TO their homes. Bpt III,
people OF New Yors are no less pra,,,
! Of the entire division. '