New-York tribune., 1921-11-29
Whittlesey, of
Lost Battalion.
Missing. 6. at Sea
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have some one else attend to hearing
yesterday in case which he has been
conducting, and he left his work, so far
as could be seen, In perfect order.
1t was apparent to Colonel Whittle-
sey's friends that he had planned his
trip and it's fatal termination in ad-
vance Nevertheless, as his plan ma
tured there were hours when he shook
off completely the melancholy which
some of those close to him had noticed
and seemed to be happier than at any
time in many months.
One of these occasions was last
week, when his father, who is old and
far from robust, came to the city from
vitation. Colonel Whittlesey's spirits
were high during his fathers visit.
He made no mention of the impending
voyage.
Colonel Whittlesey had dinner
Thanksgiving Day with his old friend
Mr. Pruyn. He was more than ordi
narily cheerful and his friends re-
marked upon it. He said nothing of
the trip on which he was to embark in
forty-eight hours
Friday evening, the evening which he
knew to be the last he should pass in
New York or with friends, Colonel
Whittlesey went to theater with a
young woman. He said nothing Of his
departure on the morrow.
His brother, Meier Whittlesey, Of
this city, started for Pittstield as soon
as the news was received here. An
| other brother, Elisha, lives with his
parents in that town.
| Colonel Whittlesey was thirty-seven
years old. After his graduation from
Williams College he went to Harvard
| Soh J, ,,c
in 1908. He came to this city and
entered upon practice with Mr.. Pruyn.
Among First to Enter Camp
When war was declared and the call
came for candidates for officers train
ing at Plattsburg, Mr.. Whittlessey was
among the first to respond. His eager
ness surprised those who knew him
only as young man distinguished
mostly by his silence and modesty
Those who knew him better knew that
he had been thinking of the subject
for months and that his decision prob
ably was made the instant he knew
that war had been declared.
From Plattsburg he went to Camp
Upton. He went overseas as major
in the 30Sth Infantry. 1t was as MA
stand with the "Lost Battalion" which
won him the Congressional Medal OF
Honor, nationwide admiration and tht
burden Of woe which brought an end tt
his life.
The "Lost Battalion" never was lost
but it was owing largely to the courage
and inspiring qualities of it's com
mander that enough of its men go
back to the American lines to inform
3 the world of the fact.
1t consisted of 463 officers and me-
9 80 tba Q0Qth Infantry opd Cornnoru
: of the 307th. Major Whittlesey was Il
g command. His second was Capital
George G.. McMurtry jr., of this city
0 who also received the Congressiona
Medal Of Honor.
Q Under their leadership the "lost" bat
g talon set out along the route assigne
n to it and reached its objective. 1t ha
u lost contact, however, with the unit
: on either side of it, and the night c
y a swamp Of the Argonne Forest b
es vastly superior forces of the enemy
a Each man had 220 rounds of ammun
IA tion and one days rations. They hel
out for FIVE days On the fifth day tn
- German commander sent written r,
II quest for their surrender.
y GO to hell!" was sthe reply of tn
i, sedate young lawyer in command
u, u, the battalion, according to the apocr,
D. phal history OF the war
!. The next day they were relieved ar
=. marched out under arms, such as WEI
"a a left Of them, haggard mob of skel
,a ~. tons. For four days they had SUI
10 sisted upon leaves and roots. One hui
:. dred and seven had been killed. Ha
70 of the battalion were casualties.
40 30 Colonel Whittlesey came home on tl
% transport Plattsburg, reaching this eli
- three days after the armistice we
=, p, into effect The role of hero w
.T ~ forced upon him at the pier and
- never was able to evade il thereafte
II though he never made speech or
~ public utterance of any kind relati1
- to his experience in the Argonne wit
~ out paying tribute to the courage
D those who went through the ordeal wi
=, him or succumbad to it.
v He came back with profound estcr
,e for the qualities of the enlisted me
If of the expeditionary forces. He nev,
ID failed to voice it and it was undoub