The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-02-28
BY RIGHT OF HERITAGE
Southern Born Division Commanders
IN the World War. Who They
We're and What They Did.

L. D. c. Prize Essay by Mrs. ). W.
Kelly, Wythville, Va, III Confeaef-
ate Veteran.
This title to modern article was
selected because the one poin1 that
Impressed me most in sorting OF. the
facts necessary to chronicle OF tbs
kind was the date of birth of these
soldiers Of our Southland, now Vetef-
ans of World war, no longer merely
Southerners, but great Americans all
The figures, 80, 81, SO, 80, on
up to the seventies, with very 1e"
in the ffties. were before my eyes;
and I pictured the babies born Just
before or during the struggle between
the state growing into boys who As-
tened to the battles of history beng
fought over by men, strong, Vahan''
and unconquered IN their pclde-meh
who fought for cause they thought
right and returned home to live over
again for the children the glory thSt
was theirs"
Held ever before them as models
and examples were that gentleman
scholar, and soldier, Robert T. Lee
whose greatest monument today IS
that empty niche in the Hall Of Fame
the wonderful strategist and leader
Jackson: the brilliant young Stuart;
the romantic Mosby, and on through
the list that never grows old to the
Southern born. Was it any wonder
then, that boys who grew to young
manhood in that twenty years after
the war claimed their heritage?
No disloyalty TO the Southern cause
theirs when they decided to follow the
flag of united country. They have
brought added honor to the flag OF
their fathers, for the meager history
of these men that I have been able
to piece together is one of which Sou
therners and united Americans can
well be proud.
Justly we are pCoud OF tHe men
who commanded our armies in 1861
to 1862, and justly &re we proud OF
the men who helped to command ou1
armies in 1917 to 1913, those armies
whose marching feet obliterated for
ever the Mason and Dixon line.
The South furnished to the World
war the commander in chief Of our
army and navy, Woodrow Wilson; at
least. half interest in the general IN
active command of the whole army,
John J. Persh;ng; and the greatest
soldier of the war, Alvin York. Of the
Tennessee mountains, one of the sew
enty-eight Medal Of Honor men Of
the World war. He but carried on
his heritage Of bravery.
Just for minute to go back to
those tense days in April, 1917, on
coming, victorious Germans with only
war-weary Allied veterans and un-
tried Americans to stop them. 1t IS
such a few short years. Have we foE-
gotten? Foch called upon Pershing
for the First division to go into action
on the ridge north of Montdidier, to
cover the Paris-Calais railroad.
Here was a post of honor, posi-
ton that must be held at all costs.
Do you remember who commanded
that division? Robert Lee Bullard,
who was born in Alabama in 1851, a
child of the Civil war. He was told
to hold, but four weeks later left the
trenches to take Cantigny, a swift
and splendid achievement. Here was
Americas real baptism of fire and
the first milestone of Pershing's army.
Frank Simond's history,)
Lieutenant General Bullard COM
manded in turn the first division to
take its place in the front line in
France, the Third Army corps, and
the second army. He took part II
the operations in the reduction of the
Marne salient, the Meuse-Argonne
offensive, and was in commnad of the
Second army when the German resis-
tance west of the Meuse was shatter-
ed. He received the Distinguished
Service medal for his services as COM
mander Of the Second army.
Frank Simonds says, in his account
Of the Meuse-Argonne achievement,
that four of General PershiHg's sub
ordinates deserve mention in any
study, however summal Of these
four two are Southern 5o.o. One IS
Lieutenant General Bular.,. already
mentioned; the other, NJ Gen.
Charles p. SummeraI of Florida.
In the World war SummeraIl COM