Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-08-15

1t was my pleasure and privilege
to command the LIST Battalion 12Oth
Infantry during the Third Army
Maneuvers just completed in the De-
Soto National Park near Hattiesburg,
Miss. Vance county's, Company G, be-
ing one of the Rifle units of this
Battalion.
Company c, entrained at Hender-
trained at Brooklyn, Miss, August 1,
1888 at 1870 p. m. The company was
engaged in regular camp routine dur
ing Monday evening and Tuesday.
Unit was ordered to march to An
drews Chapel, distance of eight
miles Wednesday morning, camped
there for the night. At 11:20 p. m I
was ordered to Regimental Headquar-
tiers and issued the following order by
Colonel John Hall Manning. "The
Battalion will entruck at a. m. and
proceed to Red Creek securing two
bridges crossing Red Creek and hold
the enemy's forces south of this
creek" After a hasty conference with
the officers of the Battalion it was
decided to assign the south bridge to
OOLlpdIy ~, Will OHC P1dIOOII SO111-
pany D, machine guns attached and
the north bridge about four miles up
stream to Company A, with one
platoon Company D, machine guns at
tached and to hold Company B, in
reserve. The remainder of this article
deals only with the movements and
mission of Company C.
Vance county's Company c, COM
manded by Captain Conrad B. Stur-
ges. 1st 1t Gilbert M O'Neil, second
in command, and End 1t. George Dur
wood Williams, Supply Officer, as
sisted by list 1t. S. B. Satterwhite,
Of Roxboro, N c., and End 1t. T. T.
Swain of Raleigh, N. c., attached re-
serve officers, handled the mission as
signed them in a most satisfactory
manner, holding the enemy south Of
Red Creek until ordered by the Di-
vision Commander to withdraw to a
position miles north of Red Creek
and l mile in rear of the Divisions
main line of resistance. The bridge
was held by Company G for So hours.
Captain Sturges had his position so
well organized that he was able to
hold all Brown forces south of the
creek without losing a man.
Having held the position against su-
perior forces and stopping every eff
fort of the Brown forces to cross the
creek in such an efficient manner, the
Commanding General of the Third
Field Army selected Captain Sturges
as the outstanding Junior Officer of
the Both Division to represent the
-
to make five minute talk before g.
600 Officers commanding the Blue and
Brown forces.
The other movements and missions
of Company c are listed below from
the official records of the Battalion.
August 4. 500 a. m. Company c.,
reached position on Red Creek. $50
a. m. Advised Battalion Commander
of location of all combat groups.
600 a. m. Reported positions of two
Brown machine guns nests and sew
eral combat groups of riflemen. 1888
a. m Requested artillery fire 500 yds.
south of bridge where the Browns
were attempting to construct pom
toon bridge, artillery fire was placed
on this location in 4 1-2 minutes after
requesting 11:15 a. m. Hostility for
the day was called off and the COM
pany moved to its bivouac area 1000
yards north of bridge. f
August s. 2:10 a. m. Company G, re-
sumed positions held before along Red
Creek.
4:25 a. m. Patrol sent one mile down
creek to investigate a reported at
tempt to cross Red Creek by the
enemy. Sol a. m. Company B, and one
platoon Howitzer Company ordered TO
reinforce Company c. ~
o:45 a. m. Four prisoners and
enemys truck containing dinner for
Company F, 167 Infantry of the
enemy forces was captured.
9:35 a. m. Hostilities ended for the
uay, Company C, moving back to
their area.
August 6. $50 a. m. Company c, re-
occupied positions held yesterday
along Red Creek
500 a. m. The battalion withdrew
rom the front lines going into the
Division Reserve.
August 4. 1855 a. m. Battalion was
otdered to organize as a defensive po-
Si.lon along the Williby Road south
OF Bluff Creek to repel the enemy ele-
"ents which had broken through the
MAN line of resistance.
AUGUST .00 ~