The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-07
ACCOUNT OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FIRST DIVISION

quick and accurate. All times the or
derss could not be received in time
for preliminary preparations and bar
rage tables were prepared as they
were being flred. Neither the eneny's
fire nor the difficulties OF the terrain
in any degree deferred the supporting
batteries or diminished their fire. The
assault OF 1870 was made by the
Second brigade, supported by all the
available artillery. When the troops
came within 500 meters of the town;
the fire OF the enemyS fr0m the front
and flank became annihilating AMI
they dug in for the night. The morale
was excellent and the troops were In
good condition. Notwithstanding the
lack of food and water, which it had
been impossible to deliver under the
| heavy fire. The assault was ordered
renewed at daylight on July 81. Gen
eral Buck, the brigade commander
placed himself in the front wave and
The regiments swept over the position
with great gallantry, capturing or kill
ing the entire defending force. Many
machine guns and battery Of II m/m
guns We're found in the edge of the
town. The First brigade advanced
at the same time. encountering and
overcoming the most intense resist
ance. BY night, the line had advanc-
ed to include the Sucerio and the
outskirts of Buzancy. cutting the rail-
road and the main high road running
south from Scissors into the enemy's
salient During the day, the division
gained from l Ia TO kilometers. The
effect upon the enemy of the days
advance soon became manifest That
night, the sky behind the enemy's line
reflected the fires of many burning
{, IN m, ~ nr 1,,v, nd lag
which he had concentrated for his
offensive Of July Is, and his retreat
/ began in great haste,
LONG IN LINE.
On July %, the orders from the
army required the division to organize
and hold the ground gained. That
night, the division was relieved by the
18th Scottish division. The irst divi-
sion had remained IN line longer than
the ether divisions of the corps. Dur
ing five days, 1t had fought desper-
ately and had gained eleven kilo-
meters. 1t had captured 1875 officers,
1875 men, 1917 MIN and 155 mfm
guns. 800 machine guns, $500 rifles.
30 mcrtars and large quantities OF
small arm and artillery ammunition.
1t had taken the towns of Missy,
Plossy and Berry le-Sec. and in con-
junction with the r'irst Moroccan divi-
sion, 1t had occupied tho outskirts Of
Buzancy. II had effectually cut the
railroad and the high road Iunning
south from SCISSORS. The casualties
of the division amounted to 2s5 Off
GERS and 1855 men killed. wounded
and missing. They included rs per
cent of the infantry field officers. 60
per cent OF the infantry officers AMI
so per cent of the enlisted strength
Of the troops engaged. The division
here gave proof of the high morals,
the excellent training and fortitude.
of the officers and soldiers that had
been acquired in the sectors OF AnsatA-
VILE and Cantigny. None but the
best disciplined and most seasoned
troops could have preserved their
cohesion and continued to make sue
cessful assaults under thu losses
sustained by the successive fresh
enemy divisions. 1t became necessary
to use the First regiment of engineers
in the line and they bore their share
of the lighting. All reserves were en-
ployed fer the advance. OF Ju!y 81
and it became necessary to form n
new reserve from elements OF the
trains and from newly arrived re-
! placements. The infantry were as
| semb1ed on the morning of July %
/ in the woods south of Coeuvres, where
they were given hot food and rest.
The small companies that remained
spoke eloQuently OF the ordeal through
which they had passed. but the bands
were playing and the troops were all
in good spirits. They would have been
ready to re-enter the fight within
forty eight hours, IL such action had
! been necessary. The artillery was
left in the line to support the advance
OF the 18th Scottish division at day
light on July %. 1t was withdrawn
during the night Of July 23-z4, when
the British artillery was ready 70
take over the missions. After a few
days. rest in the Dammartin area. the
division entrained and proceeded to
! the vicinity of Toul. On the 5th and
/ Moroccan division in the Saizerais
! sector where II remained for two
] weeks, nader the 32nd French Army
corps. During This time, the casual
ties of the division amounted to 81
men killed. wounded and missing
! Upon being relieved by the soth
American division. the infantry pro-
ceeded by marching and trucks to
the Vaucoula1rs area for training in
open warefare and for receiving re-
| placements and equipment. The ar
tillery remained in the sector to sup
| port the Goth division. At this time
! General Buck and General Hines were
promoted to be major generals and
were assigned to the command of
I other divisions. Brigadier Gen eral
Frank Parker. who had been In COM
mand of the 18th infantry, and Briga-
der Genera Frank NJ. Bamford who
had been in command Of the 18th in
I fartry, were assigned to the command
| OF the First and Second Infantry
brfgades. respectively.
After training for one week. the