Glass. 
 Book. 
 
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 V 
 

 WITH THE 
 
 351st 
 
 (N FRANCE 
 
WITH THE 
 
 51st 
 
 FRANCE 
 
 (A DIARY] 
 
 COMPILED BY 
 
 SERGEANT WILLIAM O. ROSS 
 
 — AND — 
 
 COKPORAL DUKE L. SLAUGHTER 
 Battery "B'* 35Ist Field Artilery 
 
 ^^;sf:^i^j5^^j^ 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 T3-1E AFRO — AMERICAN COMPANY 
 BALTIMORE. 
 
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 ■^'IT TOOK THE 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
 ^ TO M4.KE THE KAISER LAY HIS WEAPONS DOWN 
 
 'IT TOOK THE 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
 
 TO MAKE THE KAISER SHED HIS CROWN 
 
 ^WHEN THE 351st BEGAN TO STRUTT HER STUFF 
 
 ^ OLD KAISER BIhL SAID, "THE GOINGS TOO ROUGH 
 
 ir TOOK THE SSlst FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
 TO MAKE THE KAISER. LAY HIS WEAPONS DOWN." 
 
 ^A* ^^* "^ ^* ^* jt^ '^* 
 
 JUNE 16 — There was moving and rumors of moving. 
 Already the 368th Infantry was on the high seas, and our 
 daily programs for the past three weeks were sufficient 
 evidence that we were soon to follow. Quoting the "La- 
 treen Herald," some said that we were to move, first to 
 Camp Upton, (New York) where we were to pass thru a 
 more thorough physical examination, and which exami- 
 nation would require at least ten days, v/hiie others, with 
 the "latest Latreen," had it that we were to sail from an 
 "Atlantic port" in less than a week. 
 
 And this was Sunday after the second greatest day 
 of festivities that Camp Meade had witnessed since it had 
 given birth to the two regiments: the 368th Infantrv and 
 the 351st Field Artillery. 
 
 The first great clay was when the 368th gave its 
 parting reception and friends from one hundred miles 
 around and even further, had made their last, and some 
 their first and only visit to the old camp. This, however, 
 was Sunday, after our great day, for on Saturday. (June 
 15) we were in the glory of our feasting, dancing and 
 other similar activities which were wont to precede such 
 
occasions ; and now we had come to the last few hours 
 of parting — houi-s of soft regret. 
 
 Passing in review, and some for the last time, while 
 thousands of mothers, wives, sweethearts and dear 
 friends looked on, the 351st, with muffled martial tread, 
 swung through the estwhile Company streets of the 368th 
 Infantry, up the sandy hill, past the bandstand and into 
 the waiting cars. 
 
 A mass of gushing black smoke, a creaking, grind- 
 ing strain of engine wheels and amid a multitude of wav- 
 ing, tear-stained hankerchiefs, the waving of a thousand 
 hats and hands of as many different. styles and hues, our 
 double-header pulled out. As the white tops of the solid 
 mass of barracks faded away behind the towering pines, 
 we waved farewell to old Camp Meade and to one lone 
 guard who walked his post on the outskirts of the camp. 
 
 Now as the train came to a slow-down at the great 
 Philadelphia station (B. & O.) the gates flew open and 
 in surged another multitude of relatives and friends to 
 say their last good-bye. Here the ladies of the Red 
 Cross served us to sandwiches, block cream and ciga- 
 rettes. But soon the City of Brotherly Love, too, was at 
 our backs and we were making for the State of New Jer- 
 sey. 
 
 JUNE 17 — Up the Hudson River we were ferried to 
 Hoboken, where, outside the big warehouse door, in mod- 
 est majesty lay the "Great Northern." Here in the ware- 
 house, we were again served by the ladies of the Red 
 Cross; this time to hot coffee and buns. Through the 
 warehouse door and up the gangplank no less than two 
 thousand Yanks streamed — the 317th Sanitary Train 
 from Camp Funston, a detachment of Signal Corpsmen 
 and a detachment of Engineers, both white and both 
 from Camp McClellan (Ala.) and the 351st Field Artil- 
 lery from Camp Meade. As we passed onto the gang- 
 plank each man was given a slip of paper bearing the 
 following instructions: 
 
U. S. S. GREAT NORTHERN 
 
 SAFETY REGULATIONS 
 
 IN FORCE AT ALL TIMES 
 
 Troop Space 4C Bunk No. 78 Abandon Ship, Unit 2 
 
 Nothing to be thrown overboard. 
 
 Nothing to be thrown in the Heads. 
 
 All refuse to receptacles provided. Dumped only as or- 
 dered. 
 
 = IN FORCE ALWAYS WHEN AT SEA. 
 
 Screen lights at sunset. 
 
 After sunset, no smoking on weather decks — no lights, 
 no matches. 
 
 The ship carries very little fresh water. Use sparingly 
 
 All watertight doors to be kept closed, except for 
 access. 
 
 Do not open air ports. 
 
 Ship's company berth only as assigned. 
 
 IN FORCE ONLY IN SUBMARINE ZONE: 
 Do not take off any clothing. 
 Keep warmly clad. 
 
 Keep your life belt on day and night, at all times. 
 No hammocks for ship's company. 
 Ship's company camp out nearest to station^ as ordered 
 
 WARNING ! 
 Failure to comply: court-martial charges. 
 
 W. W. PHELPS, Captain U. S. Navy. 
 Commanding U. S. S. Great Northern. 
 
Hustling to our assigned bunks each man soon had 
 his pack unslung and was ready to explore this g-reat big 
 transport. 
 
 JUNE 18 — ^Today we spent in rambling, both on 
 and below deck. The mess hall is in the salon. Swinging 
 tables fill that space where ordinarily tables with legs 
 could not easily be placed. The meals are prepared in 
 huge copper kettels, bread is baked on board the ship 
 and the toilet arrangements are excellent, with that one 
 common exception — salt water. The upper deck is cov- 
 ered with rafts and on the "aft" a large box sets which 
 we think contains an aeroplane. Four six inch guns crown 
 her decks "fore" and "aft"; also two machine guns and 
 two one pounders. Watch stations are numerous — about 
 ten — from which guards keep watch for submarines. The 
 sailors are ever busy with their endless chain of ropes 
 but seemingly never accomplish much. In the offiers* 
 dining room there are Negro and Japanese boys wearing 
 white coats which contrast beautifully with their dark 
 skins. We may sail tomorrow as soon as the oil is pump- 
 ed in from the oil boat which has lain along side us for 
 the last two days. 
 
 JUNE 19 — The gangplank drawn, the port holes 
 closed and she swings for open sea. No sign of life 
 on the decks — a guard against spies. Through the port 
 holes we wave good-bye to patriotic passengers on ferry 
 boats plying between New York and the Jersey side. 
 
 Below deck it was smothering to us who were acr- 
 customed to the open air of army life, therefore, after 
 we were about five knots off the coast we were ordered 
 on deck. The scene had changed from "the silvery sands 
 of old Camp Meade" to that of a blue sea; and some- 
 where beyond this great ocean that stretched away be- 
 fore our eyes, lay a world of misery, tumult and unrest, 
 and of which we, too, were soon to become a part. Close 
 on, behind, the Sister Ship was drawing up; destroyers 
 on either side, were gliding through this mirror of emer- 
 
X^^~-^&^' '^ * 
 
 - ^-^tl^^-S. 1 
 
aid blue while from above we were guarded by patrolling 
 aeroplanes. 
 
 Surely we were off, and as Gotham's towering sky- 
 line faded in the deepening twilight mists, we waved 
 good-bye to the Statue of Liberty and threw one last fond 
 kiss. The stars and moon came out; the sea was calm, 
 and in the excitement of our first night out no less than 
 two thousand Yanks stood guard. There is no more 
 thrilling experience than that of watching for submarineg 
 in a treacherous sea. 
 
 JUNE 20 — We wake to find ourselves well into 
 the deep waters, and after a very early morning rain 
 the .wind is fair. The sun comes up — a sight most beau- 
 tiful. Our Sister Ship glides placidly along abreast, while 
 on either side are torpedo destroyers. The floating 
 cloud patches waste away, the sun breaks through a sil- 
 very haze and as the blue sea unrolls to view, far down 
 to the southeast flashes a scouting aeroplane. On board 
 there are the cheerful and the sea-sick, and while the sea- 
 sick grovel in their more sickening corners the cheerful 
 swarm the decks, their eyes bent toward the skyline, still 
 on guard for lurking submarines. Once today our ma- 
 chine guns blazed away at sharks and at night when all 
 was dark they fired again, but at what, no one knew as 
 no one could see. 
 
 JUNE 21 — Our third day out and the weather favor- 
 able — slightly cold and a light wind. This morning we 
 will have a little target practice. The gunners are very 
 busy preparing for action, bustling about getting the pro- 
 jectiles ready and getting the powder charges in shape. 
 Now our Sister Ship (a transport by day but by night a 
 ghostly shadow against a hazy sea) takes a zigzag course 
 and drops a long rope to which is attached an instrument 
 which acts like a spray in the water. Our gunners get 
 the range, deflection and elevation, and soon the guns 
 belch forth. The target is hit and the ship's vast cargo 
 of human freight is set clamoring with rasping applause. 
 No greater comfort can come to us than the knowledge 
 
ORDNANCE COMPANY 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
of good gunners aboard, and as our ship speeds on, there 
 iseems to come over all a feeling of security. In the af- 
 ternoon we listened to a band concert by the 317th Sani- 
 tary Train Band. From 3:30 to 4:00 p. m., we had 
 physical drill which was preceeded by a morning inspec- 
 tion similar to those Saturday morning inspections back 
 in camp. 
 
 JUNE 22 — The waves roll high for the sea is rough. 
 A fellow can hardly stay on foot; the wind is sharp, and 
 those who are on deck wear raincoats or overcoats. Just 
 to think of it — the 22nd of June and at Camp Meade it 
 was too hot to wear a blouse. But such is life on the sea 
 for newcomers, and eastward, ever eastward we sail on. 
 After evening mess the dining room was crowded to its 
 limits with both soldiers and sailors to listen to a very 
 interesting program. At 8 the program began. Among 
 us were some very good talent and very soon the dangers 
 of a submarine infested sea were forgotten. Every one 
 was enjoying the best concert we had witnessed in a long, 
 long time, and it w^s not until 10 o'clock that our enjoy- 
 ment came to an end. But now as we enter the WAR 
 ZONE every one must be quiet and as the night grows 
 old the boys scatter to their bunks and are soon fast 
 asleep. 
 
 JUNE 23 — This is a perfect morning; the blue sea 
 glitters and flashes under the hot siJn, unruffled by wind 
 and only bursting into a long line of creamy foam where 
 it licks the camouflaged sides of our swiftly gliding trans- 
 port. It is warm and the sailors tell us we are passing 
 through the Gulf Stream. This morning I think of home 
 and of the pleasures of my delightful Sundays — a fine 
 breakfast, and then the remainder of the day my own, 
 to "sport it" too, just as I choose. Our band is entertain- 
 ing on the upper deck — some national airs and some sa- 
 cred music made spicy by a little of our old popular rag- 
 time. The applause is great. 
 
 It is now afternoon and as we bask in the warm siin- 
 shine on the upper deck, the alarm for abandon ship drill 
 
is sounded. Every man is up and off in a flash, to get to 
 his unit. Just as all were about settled a snot was fired. 
 Many of the fellows were terribly frightened for they 
 thought a mine or submarine had struck our transport. 
 Another shot was heard, but our nerves were more steady / 
 and we waited only to find that the shots had been fired 
 at a bouy. Another shot, but this third one passed thru 
 the remains of what had once been a bouy. Again we 
 had a feeling of security for now we knew that wherever 
 old Fritze might chance to show himself, if he even dared, 
 he would be greeted with a warm reception. 
 
 This evening, at sundown, off our starboard side, at 
 quite a distance, two ships leaped in sight. That condor's 
 vision of two thousand Yanks bent to seaward and swept 
 the skyline with a single glance. They gave us no signal 
 and our transports fired. Not until we had fired ten 
 times did we get the signal that these were Allied vessels. 
 Soon all was quiet again. But as we were in the war zone 
 we kept constantly on watch. After a good mess we 
 were entertained in the mess hall with the movies. 
 
 JUNE 24 — A pleasant morning with a calm sea be- 
 fore us. About eight o'clock the signal came to the gun- 
 ners that a noise was heard off the bow. With the quick- 
 ness of an eagle, they pounced upon an object about eight 
 hundred yards away (a whale) and fired. We were not 
 able to determine the result of the fire, but no whale was 
 afterwards seen. Whales have been known to capsize 
 very large vessels or to injure them in collisions to such 
 an extent that they are put out of commission, therefore 
 gunners always fire on them, but now (in time of war) 
 gunners fearing treachery fire at almost anything. 
 
 I am beginning to feel like a sailor, now, after four 
 days out. Tomorrow we hope to pull into port. 
 
 Tonight is a busy night for me as I am Sergeant of 
 the Guard with a detail of twenty-five privates and two 
 corporals. We are in the most dangerous part of ihe 
 war zone and every guard and every member of the crew 
 must be constantly on the alert. We are to meet a tor- 
 
 9 
 
pedo destroyer and a convoy tonight and ail troops are 
 ordered to make reveille at 3:15 a. m., as there might be 
 an alarm sounded and every one must be in his unit with- 
 out unnecessary rushing or crowding. 
 
 JUNE 25 — At 11 o'clock I came off guard and lay 
 down upon the deck for a few hours rest. I had hardly 
 fallen asleep when the alarm sounded. The boys came 
 pouring out on deck and pushing in and out until they 
 found their proper places. There are no convoys in 
 sight yet and the sailors tell us that we are about five 
 hundred miles off the coast of France. Day Is breaking, 
 but no sun, for it is cloudy. We are anxiout'/, and, may- 
 be, a little too anxiously, awaiting for convoys to put in. 
 their appearance. I am still Sergeant of the Guard and 
 it keeps me hustling to get my men together, gei their 
 mess, and have them posted on time. 
 
 Now as the convoys draw in sight, the entire ship is 
 wild with joy. It is nine o'clock and as thcv draw up, 
 two take their places alongside the Sister Ship and two 
 alongside us. The journey is fast drawing to its end 
 and so far all is well. Submarine fears are ended and 
 although the submarine chasers are swaying lo and fro, 
 switching and turning all around us, just as if they were 
 on the heated trail of some undersea demon, we fear no 
 evil for the very sight of them strengthens our sense of 
 security. As twilight time comes stealing, and the shad- 
 ows of our many convoys lengthen, the crew begins to 
 screen the lights and no smoking is allowed. Most of the 
 fellows are growing weary now and as they had only a 
 short night's rest, and must get up at 2 ;30 a. m,. they are 
 seeking out their bunks in cozy corners near the smoke 
 stacks. 
 
 JUNE 26 — Answering the alarm we were up and out 
 on time. Early this' morning the band gave a concert — 
 cheering the boys over the "last, long mile," and trying to 
 shorten the journey. Towards noon we were met by a 
 French destroyer, so now we have an abundance of pro- 
 tection. Now^ aeroplanes and even a dirgible come into 
 
 10 
 
view, giving renewed energy and adding more cheer to 
 the anxious Yanks. 
 
 Behold the lighthouse and then the land ! 
 
 As we enter the great port of Brest we see numerous 
 vessels laying outside the wall — the breakwater. Our 
 ship anchors. 
 
 Brest sits on a hill that is dotted with myriads of 
 smoky gray houses that look out over the waters. Sloping 
 away on one side it is flanked by a vast wall giving the 
 appearance of a fort, while on the other side it slopes 
 away only to return to the water's edge. Soon the crew 
 is busy unloading the ship and details from each battalion 
 are sent to help them and to stand guard. The boys are 
 at a loss as how to keep up with the time. The days are 
 long, and the sun sets at 8:30 p. m., but, seemingly, it is 
 never dark. The moon comes out in its brilliancy and 
 appears to be just over the hill. 
 
 JUNE 27 — Reveille at 4:00 a. m. The boys were 
 astir with more vigor than during the past week, and as 
 the ferry boat which was to take us over to the wharf, 
 drew along side the ship, we were prancing like horses 
 in our anxiety to get unloaded. 
 
 It was nine o'clock as we drew up to the wharf. 
 Colored stevedores were busy on the docks, and as far as 
 we could see along the waters' edge. Many of them 
 turned aside from their work to greet us and to stare. 
 Old Boche watched us too, as he stood under guard, a 
 prisoner as he should have been long years ago. Our 
 Battery was soon formed and the entire Regiment began 
 its hike (the first on foreign soil, and now, as the 351st 
 F. A., A. E. F.) through the streets of Brest and out to 
 the Pontanazen Barracks. 
 
 ''Cigaretts for pa pa" and an "Oh! la, Ja." from 
 some high window were our first introduction to the land 
 of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity." We notice that 
 almost everyone wears black and we take it that it is be- 
 clause the French are mourning for their dead heroes. 
 
 11 
 
The boys wear aprons which cover their clothing from 
 the knee up. We see in a little hovel, near the road, a 
 number of women washing in the water of a pool, and as 
 some kneel and rub others are pounding the linen with a 
 wooden paddle. No young men are to be seen for they are 
 in the trenches. The young women are cordial, and from 
 her window one yelled to us in plain English, "hello 
 boys!" 
 
 As we turned to the left on the high road, in the dis- 
 tance a high wall with an arched entrance flashed into 
 view. This was Pontanazen Barracks. But outside the 
 wall in the tents we rested and for several days we were 
 here in the dust and filth of this foreign camp — so dif- 
 ferent from Camp Meade — no water, poor food and nu- 
 merous other things which enter into making a soldier's 
 fare miserable. 
 
 When we broke camp and hiked back to the little 
 station where we were to board the train for some city 
 further inland, we were very much surprised and amused 
 too, at the sight of the little dinky engine and the cramp- 
 ed-up and shabby little box cars on which we were to 
 make the trip. "Hommes — 40 and Cheaveux — 14" read 
 the capacity sign, and sure enough we were piled into 
 these miserable little cars 40 to a car. Thus we began 
 our first journey by rail in France and great was our dis- 
 comfort. Taking the route through LeMans and down 
 through Poitiers, traveling would have been a pleasure 
 but for our cramped-up positions. The scenery was beau- 
 tiful. On our second morning out of Brest, we were per- 
 mitted to get out of our cars at the station of a very pret- 
 ty little village, where we washed, filled our canteens 
 with water and were served to hot coffee by French sol- 
 diers. The coffee was not sweet. The scenery was in- 
 deed beautiful; the rivers, mountains, valleys, forests 
 and acres of excellent crops. And we wonder now, with 
 all the men at the front, how the harvest will be. One of 
 the beautiful little towns in which we stopped to feed 
 reminds me of Camden's (N. J.) beauty. Ilere, too, the 
 
 ' 12 
 
people were cordial, but many stared at us as if they had 
 , never before seen an American soldier. This was Mont- 
 morillion and on a large bridge under which the train en- 
 tered to the station, many French women and children 
 crowded and stared at us as we fed our hungry selves. 
 
 JULY 4th. — We were not here long but piled back 
 into the skimpy box cars and were soon again on our 
 journey. The train came to a stop at the little station of 
 of Lathus. We were given orders to detrain. Slinging- 
 packs, we were soon on a road march. Just about one 
 mile from the station we came to a large diamond shap- 
 ed field where cows were grazing. Marching in we lined 
 up according to batteries and were ordered to pitch tents 
 Soon we had changed this beautiful field from an idle 
 plot of weeded soil upon which village cows grazed to 
 that of a hustling, bustling American Artillery Camp. 
 
 In the way of a Fourth of July Celebration everjr 
 Battery was treated to rich French wine of which every 
 member drank freely. 
 
 JULY 5th, — The French are celebrating their In- 
 dependence Day and although Lathus is a very small 
 village, it is very noticeable that they are having a gala 
 day. Our pieces arrived today and we are overjoyed. 
 In the afternoon many visitors from "kilometers" around 
 came in to see us to get some idea of the American sol- 
 diers' camp life. They were very friendly and sang for 
 us. Our band in return played for them. This was a 
 day of introduction for us ; the beginning of acquaintan- 
 ces which grew to be real sincere in their natures, and we 
 began to show our appreciation even on this first day by 
 walking home with some of our new acquaintances who 
 lived nearby. 
 
 JULY 6.— Now, after almost three weelcs of rest we 
 are entering our real training as members of the A. E. F. 
 The gun squads are being picked, instrument and tele- 
 phone details are being formed while others are study- 
 ing the care of horses. But there are new formations 
 to learn~gun drills and practice artillery drills for a hors6 
 
 13 
 
drawn artillery regiment. Old squad-righting is no more 
 and but for a five-mile hike to the river on Sundays and 
 Wednesdays all is heavy artillery. 
 
 JULY 7 — Now at it in real earnest, we are learning 
 about the deflection, range elevation and different pow- 
 der charges, while telephone men are stretciiing wires 
 all over the field. A school for those who wish to learn 
 to speak French is held every afternoon and those who 
 had a little previous knowledge of the language are in 
 attendance. 
 
 JULY 8 — The Battery oflEices have been concentrat- 
 ed over the nearest wine shop on the main street, while 
 Headquarters are located nearer, and in a more spacious 
 building. Details are busily engaged getting these of- 
 fices straightened out while others attend to the hauling 
 of the water and the building of a guard house. After 
 retreat we are permitted to leave the camp in details and 
 to visit on the main street where we pass the time with the 
 little French madamoiselles and gather around the tables 
 of the wine shops. We have learned of "cognac" the 
 very popular but strictly forbidden Frencii drink, (for- 
 bidden because of its highly intoxicating quality.) But 
 there are wines and beer, and oceans of both — soft drinks 
 — but we have no French money, nor have we learned to 
 count it. Most of us, when purchasing any article, ex- 
 tract a hand-full of money of a small denomination and 
 hold it in our hand while madam takes out the price of a 
 drink. She, too, is just as ignorant as to how to count 
 our money and very often takes two American dimes for 
 fifty centimes each, or, as many quarters (counting each 
 to equal the French franc) as she would charge us francs 
 if we had the French money. 
 
 JULY 9 — There is no rest, of course, in this army, 
 and today, just as on many others, we are hard at it. 
 Daily drills and physical exercises and inspections of all 
 kinds. The boys are learning to speak the language and 
 cjuite often after retreat they are seen promenading in the 
 
 14 
 
lanes near the hedges with the madamoiselles. Band 
 concerts are given every afternoon in the church yard on 
 the main street. 
 
 JULY 14 — Today the boys left for LaCourane, to the 
 machine gun school, to the telephone school and others 
 to get horses in Toulouse. 
 
 JULY 15 — A corporal from each Battery was sent to 
 gas school today, Corporal Holloman being sen:: from our 
 Battery. Other details were sent into southern France to 
 get trucks. We think they went to Bordeaux. 
 
 AUGUST 4 — Today we "pulled off" a great track 
 meet: sprinting, high and broad jumping, fatigue races, 
 tug of war and similar stunts. Many vis::ors came as 
 spectators and many as the result of a direct invitation. 
 It can be very readily seen that we are maKrng progress 
 with our French. Tomorrow will find quite a number of 
 us attending their religious services for they are as inter- 
 esting as they are strange, and on Sundays especially are 
 there many pretty visitors in the village from neighboring 
 towns and from their homes in the country. 
 
 AUGUST 5 — Today we listened to an excellent 
 sermon by our Chaplain, Lieutenant Woolfork, and had 
 song service. After noon mess we were allowed to go 
 out of camp. Today the Madamoiselles are all ''dolled 
 up" and instead of the clumsy wooden shoes they are 
 wearing their high heeled boots. They also Iiave on hats 
 which is part of their Sunday dress. Ordinarily they go 
 "without hats even in the rain. Many have come in from 
 neighboring towns in their dainty little carts and some 
 on bicycles. Today we hiked to the river for a bath and 
 to wash our soiled clothes. Many men, women and chil- 
 dren watched us while we washed ourselves nor did they 
 seem the least bit embarrassed. In the afternoon our 
 band gave a concert. The boys, and many of them with 
 their French sweethearts, were the happy audience. 
 
 Money is running low. No pay since we struck 
 France — gee !' 
 
 15 
 
AUGUST 11— The 312th Field Artillery (white) has 
 made its appearance in the town. Now it so happened 
 that a certain sergeant is very much in love with a little 
 wine shop madamoiselle near the bakery. He has helped 
 her serve the boys to wine and beer and has made quite 
 a trade for his little fiancee. He says they are married 
 and when we ask her she replies in the afilrmative. To- 
 day the wine rooms were crowded, both up and down 
 stairs, with both white and colored soldiers. 
 
 Friday was payday, and in French money. Most 
 likely intoxiated, a white soldier inquired, "where is that 
 'nigger' waiter?" Then pandemonium reigned. A free 
 for all fight started, and in a very short while the whole 
 village was in an uproar. The Colonel was sent for, but 
 our Colonel was out of the city. Very soon irie Colonel 
 of the 312th came on the scene pleading and begging 
 the boys that they do no mischief. A double guard was 
 ordered out. While the fight progressed, the band was 
 called out to attract the boys from the thickest part of 
 the fray. Finally the crowd was dispersed and the "poor 
 white" was taken limping to the camp by his comrades. 
 One of our boys received a stab wound in the leg. Later 
 we learned that the "poor white" was taken ill and pass- 
 ed over. 
 
 Our boys were ordered back to camp, but we all are 
 in the same camp and as they returnecl they sang and 
 yelled and whooped. In their pup tents could be heard 
 the snapping of triggers and as the night grew on they 
 formed in groups where from time to time hardier spirits 
 uttered profane and ear-burning oaths. 
 
 AUGUST 12 — At 4:00 a. m., we were awakened, 
 rolled our packs, had mess by the light of a great barn 
 fire and, of course, policed up. Then to the step of our 
 excellent band music we marched through tlie main street 
 of Lathus and into the same little dinky jbox cars which 
 had brought us here just eight weeks ago. As we passed 
 near the church I saw some women crying and I wonder- 
 ed just how many times they had experienced this sad 
 
 16 
 
parting during- the four years that so many of ^their own 
 boys had left them. "Death awaits you too. ihe same 
 cruel death that has claimed so many of our sons and 
 for whom now our nation mourns," is what they seemed 
 to say as they stood bidding us good-bye with tears in ' 
 their eyes, 
 
 iWe have learned to love Lathus and even though 
 there are not enough girls for all the fellows, we like La- 
 thus all the more. Now we are leaving Lathus to the 
 whites and most likely forever, but we leave feeling that 
 in return for their genuine hospitality we will fight the 
 harder as each day we draw nearer the front. 
 
 At the station our sweethearts and friends came to 
 say good-bye, and we left Lathus feeling that we were 
 leaving our own homes. The trip was a short one this 
 time, through many more beautiful and interesting vil- 
 lages and towns. We stopped only once or twice to eat 
 and fill our canteens. Begging cigaretts, many children 
 greeted us at nearly every station. We threw them cig- 
 aretts, tobacco and pennies. 
 
 After an eight hour ride we pulled into LaCourtine. 
 Getting off the train we were formed and marched thru 
 the main street up to the camp. Unslinging our packs 
 as we entered the large rooms of the spacious barracks, 
 we were soon comfortably settled and fixed Tor a good 
 night's rest; 
 
 AUGUST IS^This is Camp LaCourtine, one of the 
 largest artillery camps in France. The town proper nes- 
 tles in the valley away up in the mountains. Around 
 the station is LaCourtine proper, but, there is "High 
 Town" up on the hill, just as large and just as pretty. The 
 barracks cover many acres, stretching from near the 
 heart of the city along the lake until they reach the foot 
 of the mountain which we climb to get to the range. To- 
 day, while we were not on detail, we were exploring 
 both in camp and in town. The 58th (white) artillery 
 is here, but they are planning to leave. They tell us that 
 the 349th and 350th (colored) are soon to come here„ 
 
 17 
 
They wear their gas masks and steel helmets at all times, 
 even sleeping in them, and tell us that we, too, must dcr 
 the same before we leave for the front. 
 
 There are beaucoup I'vin shops and tonight they are 
 doing a rushing business. 
 
 AUGUST 14 — The telephone details, machine gun- 
 ners, horsemen, truck drivers and all other details have 
 rejoined us. We have brought our horses from Lathus 
 and are beginning to receive an abundance ol harness. 
 We are busier than ever now and have formed an in- 
 strument detail. Out in the park the boys are still in 
 artillery drills and very soon they say our pieces (guns) 
 will be moved to the range. In the afternoon, after re- 
 treat, I attended the m.ovies at the excellent Y. M. C. A. 
 building. This is indeed a lovely building- a big canteen 
 and lunch room in one end where we are served to sand- 
 wiches, peaches, pears, and hot chocolate; while at the 
 canteen, we buy cigaretts, tobacco, cakes and the like. 
 Over to the commissary we are permitted to buy in bulk — 
 boxes of cigars, cartons of cigarettes, cans of jam, towels 
 and the like. Upstairs is the movie and vaudeville room. 
 The reading room is in the long wooden barracks across 
 the street, behind which is also a room for Indoor games 
 — pool, billiards, checkers and others. Behind is the ten- 
 nis court and in front a large drill ground where in the 
 afternoons we play ball. 
 
 AUGUST 15 — Hiking around the mountain sides we 
 drink in the real beauty of the country for kilometers 
 around. The gun squads drill in the park; the telephone 
 details are stretching wires everywhere; the machine gun 
 squads are busily running here and there with their guns 
 while the horsemen are harnessing and unharnessing 
 lame and sickly horses. We bathe in the stream that 
 runs into the lake and eat on the side of the road that 
 comes up by the hospital. Many vendors of fruits, nuts 
 and the New York Herald and Daily Mail come and stand 
 at the gates of the camp from earlv in the morning until 
 late in the eveninp-s. In the evening's we are permitted 
 
 18 
 
to leave the camp. Many go to the "Y" to enjoy the 
 movies, to the reading- room or to the barracks of indoor 
 games, while those of more venturesome natures, go to 
 High Town where they eat twenty and thirty franc meals 
 and drink their fill of the delicious wines and champagne. 
 
 AUGUST 16 — Our new guns have come in, and to 
 me, they look too pretty to shoot, but shoot them we 
 must, and off to the range we go. We have placed them 
 in position far up the mountain side and tomorrow we 
 will try our hand at firing. The 349th and 350th Regi- 
 ments have moved into the barracks below us and they, 
 too, are hustling their pieces into position while behind 
 us near the guard-house the 317th Trench r.Iortar Bat- 
 talion is as bus3^ as a bee trying to get their stumpy little 
 pieces in shape for the drive against the Kaiser. In a 
 very interesting ball game between the 58th F. A. (white) 
 and the 349th F. A,, the latter were winners. At night I 
 attended the movies and the vaudeville — soldiers, both 
 white and colored, performing. 
 
 AUGUST 17—1 am Chief of Section of the 1st Pla- 
 toon, and now the real fun begins. We are to shoot for 
 the first time today, and all are nervous. The shells are 
 brought up, the powder charges arranged, the primers 
 and fuses are gotten in readiness and we sluff our ears 
 with cotton. The shells are very heavy, some weighing 
 as much as seventy-five pounds. 
 
 FIRING DATA. 
 
 Executive; Elevation 2305. 
 
 Chief of Section: 2305. 
 
 Ex: ''Deflection 450." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Deflection 450." 
 
 Ex. ''Shell F. A." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Shell F. A." 
 
Ex. "Fuse S. R." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Fuse S. R. 
 
 Ex. "Charge 0." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Charge 0." 
 
 Ex. "Battery Right." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Battery Right." 
 
 Ex. "Six Rounds." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Six Rounds." 
 
 Ex. "Fire at my command, 30 second intervals." 
 Ch. of Sec. "Fire at my command, 30 second in- 
 tervals. 
 
 Gunner. "Set." 
 No. 1. ' "Ready." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Stand Clear." "No. 1 Gun Squad in 
 order, sir." (Salute.) 
 
 Ex. "Fire." 
 
 Ch. of Sec. "Fire." 
 
 All stand clear and old Gussie belches forth for the 
 first time. A wicked whistling across the sky as the ter- 
 rible projectile takes its course through the air. An- 
 other order comes down and we repeat the feat. We 
 fired about twenty-five shots today and at night, after 
 taps, about twenty-five thousand words were exchanged 
 in the excitement of this our first experience. 
 
 AUGUST 18 — Now that we are getting acquainted 
 with LaCourtine, the girls begin to attract us and many of 
 us visit nearby towns to pay calls. It is getting too cold 
 to bathe in the stream and now we go to shower baths 
 twice each week at the hospital. After retreat, in the 
 ?oattery street, the boys play football — kicking the ball — 
 while others go to the movies or remain in their squad 
 rooms and "roll the bones." We have now four regular 
 and four reserve gun squads. They go out alternately 
 and fire every day. The horses are being trained (rather 
 
exercised, poor devils) and now we must wear our gas 
 masks and steel helmets twenty-four hours each day. 
 
 AUGUST 19 — We go on long hikes wearing our gas 
 masks and visit the gas proof dugouts. This afternoon 
 we went to the gas house where every fellow was led in- 
 to a room filled with gas and then made to remove his 
 mask. Out on the range the boys are still at it while even 
 there the madamoiselles come to visit them, and Oh! la, 
 la. Sweet Pa Pa. (Compre?) 
 
 SEPTEMBER 8 — Today we are digging in new po- 
 sitions while the rain pats us on our backs. Tonight we 
 may get more cognac. The boys back at the barracks 
 still squads right and go on long hikes, wearing their gas 
 masks. The guards have been given instructions 
 to arrest all men found not wearing their gas 
 masks and helmets. Our barrack bags are being takeri 
 from us and all extra, equipment. It is rumored that we 
 are soon to leave for the front. Next wee:c we v/ill lay 
 a barrage at night, and then the regulars rest up while 
 the reserves go in for real practice. 
 
 SEPTEMBER 9 — Today we fired from 7:30 a. m. 
 until 4:30 p. m. For almost a month now we have been 
 battling away here, striving against ignorance and pre- 
 paring to meet old Fritze. After retreat the band plays 
 in the Battery street or may render a concert in the band 
 stand in front of the "Y." It is rumored that we are to 
 give up the horses and get tractors. Today the 312th 
 suffered the loss of three of their gunners when the 
 breech block of one of their 75s was blown off. 
 
 OCTOBER 1. — The tractors are here and the tractor 
 drivers are as busy as bees, learning to "strutt their stuff." 
 Tonight we laid a barrage and the entire Regiment was 
 present to see the boys in action. The rocket signal went 
 up and the pieces were turned loose. The entire sk3^ 
 was ablaze and the noise of projectiles whistling through 
 the air sounded like a thousand racing freight cars sweep 
 ing down some long incline. The colonel (Colonel W. H. 
 
 21 
 
BATTERY "A" 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
.Carpenter, for now Colonel Cole has left the Regiment) 
 was well pleased and complimented the boys highly, 
 
 OCTOBER 4 — Battery ''A" lost one of their men to- 
 night he was run down while assisting a detail that was 
 moving their gun in a new position. The Spanish Influ- 
 enza is raging and our boys are getting a daily spray of 
 nose and throat; the squad rooms are mopped out every 
 day with a disinfectant water. Our blankets are given 
 a thorough airing when the sun comes out and it is not 
 raining, and thus every precaution is taken to protect the 
 boys from the rages of this awful epidemic. The boys 
 of the 312th are dropping out six and seven a day. The 
 ''Y" has been closed and every wine shop made to close 
 its doors until the epidemic is checked. 
 
 OCTOBER 12 — We attended the funeral of Private 
 David F. Walker today. The entire Regiment, headed 
 by the band, marched to the hospital where friends act- 
 ing as pall bearers, bore the body to its last resting place, 
 while the Regiment headed by the band marched behind. 
 After brief remarks by the Chaplain, the casket was low- 
 ered into the grave, the rifles fired over the body and 
 taps blown. This was a repitition of a similar ceremony 
 upon the death of Private Willie Lee of Battery A. 
 
 Many of our boys are being sent to the hospital while 
 others are being mpved into separate barracks and there 
 quarantined. 
 
 22 
 
IN 3EEMOKY OF 
 
 WHO BIED OF PNEUMONIA 
 AT LA COURTINE. FRANCE 
 
 PRIVATE DAVID F. WALKER 
 
 Asleep where the hill slopes away to the West, 
 And the wind whispers through the pines ; 
 
 Beneath the green French heather 
 Until the end of time. 
 
 They buried him on the side of the hill 
 That slopes away to the West; 
 
 For over the sea where the red sun sinks. 
 
 Are the friends whom he loved the best. 
 
 The same fleeting rays which dimly shine 
 On his newly sunken grave ; 
 
 Kiss the cheeks of a wife and mother 
 
 In the land of the free and the brave. 
 
 And when victory shall herald the day of peace 
 
 Throughout the realm of man ; 
 They'll write his name on the honor roll 
 
 Back in his native land. 
 'First of the Battery to pay the price 
 
 Of victory beyond the sea; 
 First to answer the bugle's call 
 
 From time to eternity. 
 
 "At rest!" has been given, and also "At ease," 
 
 By the General who rules supreme, 
 A friend we knew and loved is. gone 
 
 The past is as a dream. 
 A comrade has fallen from out our ranks 
 
 But hi's spirit spurs us on, 
 'Til we wake to victory and peace 
 
 On the day of the Judgment Morn" 
 
OCTOBER 13— The 349th and 350th Artilleries are 
 talking about moving to the front and are bringing their 
 pieces in. Surely we are to follow, but there is no "La- 
 treen" to that effect yet. Tonight they are having a swell 
 banquet — chicken and all other dainties Lliat they are 
 able to get here where everything is scarce and as high 
 as the sky — and cognac too. These two regiments are 
 highly thought of, because of their excellent sTiowing on 
 the range, an^d for their splendid ball teams. The 350th 
 also have the best talent of any regiment that has yet 
 been put on program at the "Y." 
 
 OCTOBER 20 — Every single horse in the camp has 
 disappeared and we are motorized beyond a doubt. The 
 horsemen now are relieved of their picket line duties and 
 are again hiking with the other boys. The boys are not 
 permitted to leave the camp without a pass, and only 25 
 percent of a Battery each night-another step to check the 
 spreading of the "Flu." The 349th and 350th Artilleries 
 have moved out and are on their way to the Front. Every 
 fellow in the regiment has been given notice to dispense 
 Math all useless junk for we too, are to leave for the front 
 in short. We are having daily inspections of all kinds 
 while they continue to spray our throats and make us 
 wear our gas masks and helmets. 
 
 OCTOBER 25 — Farewell Battery entertainments are 
 the fad at the "Y" now and Battery "A" is pulling or its 
 stunt tonight. With its Jazz Band and Sergeant Gres- 
 ham they are making the hit of the season, in the din- 
 ing hall sandwiches, cakes and hot chocolate are being 
 served. — What a wonderful night. 
 
 OCTOBER 26 — Tonight was our night of entertain- 
 ing. With Sergeant Pettigrew in charge and Sergeant 
 Harry Hunt Jr., acting master of ceremonies we pulled 
 off the most spicy entertainment of the season. Pianc' 
 and vocal solos, readings, glee club and quartet music 
 made spicy with buck and wing dancing and with the 
 silly songs and sayings of "Midnight" (Eldridge Horn- 
 beak) and "Day Break" (Harry Singleton.) We were 
 
also banquetted and highly complimented by our acting 
 Captain, Lieutenant P. J. CantwelL While we sing and 
 dance and feast, details are moving our pieces to the sta- 
 tion where they are being loaded, for we are off to the 
 Front tomorrow. 
 
 OCTOBER 27 — 10 a. m., and we are bidding good^ 
 bye to Camp LaCourtine. All day we travel through 
 beautiful Southern France. We see many soldiers of all 
 nationalities and also many German prisoners. Some are 
 clad in shabby mismatched uniforms while others wear 
 grass green suits or gray uniforms. They all wear round 
 caps with red bands and two buttons on, one red and the 
 other black. This is really like a pleasure trip, 
 
 OCTOBER 28 — It was about 11 o'clock tnis niorninp; 
 that we drew into Froard watching an airplane eombat 
 from the doors and windows 'of our swell French box cuis. 
 There was no doubt about it, "old Boche" was on the look 
 out and we knew it. He escaped unharmed, but no 
 harmed, but no one was surprised when he returned to- 
 rng'ht with his "buddies" to raid the town. We had un- 
 loaded our pieces and rolled them around on the road 
 that runs along the canal. We had been assigned to our 
 billets, messed and were up town making merry, when 
 suddenly we saw unleashed searchlight beams leap to the 
 floating cloud patches above and to the else unlighted 
 siy; then a fraction of a second later and the red flame 
 stabs of our anti-aircraft gun Drojoctiles as they bursted 
 overhead gave the assurance that our forces were on the 
 job. The beams of the searchlights swept the sky and be- 
 low multitudes of frightened citizens hastened to and fro 
 through the crowded streets. The more curious than 
 bold American soldiers sauntered up and down, from 
 wine shop to wine shop where uneasy barmaids fretted 
 because the doors were being opened and tried to ex- 
 plain, in French, the dangers of an unscreened light. 
 
 The electric cars running to Nancy were stopped and 
 the lights dut out, but not until I had ridden In walking 
 distance of this beautiful city, which since the beginning 
 
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of the war had been a constant victim of air raids. Here, 
 too, the population was in an uproar while "old Fritze" 
 was "strutting his stuff." Without any great damage 
 he was driven off — Nancy suffering the death of seven of 
 her citizens and Froard escaping by a hair's breath. 
 
 Thus ends my first year in the service, and as I lie 
 down to rest, I hear the distant booming of howitzers. 
 We are indeed in the valley of the shadow, iind hence- 
 forth it must be shoot to kill. 
 
 OCTOBER 29 — At 2 p. m., we began our journey 
 to the real front. The rest of the Battery will follow 
 tonight, but we, of the gun squads, are headed straight 
 to the front, while the Battery is to rest in reserve at Ville 
 au Val. After about seven hours journey we arrived at 
 Belliview Wood, the scene of one of the most terrible bat- 
 tles of the war. It was night and we were not able to see 
 much of this historic place, but we were able to feel its 
 importance. We had mess here, after which we resum^ed 
 our journey and arrived at our gun positions at 10 p. ra. 
 It is dark and as we place our guns in position we can 
 hear the booming of cannons and the whistling of projec- 
 tiles through the air. Our pieces in place, we retire for 
 the night, in an old French barn where we try to make 
 ourselves comfortable for the night. 
 
 BACK WITH THE BATTERY— This was our first 
 night's march. Packs were loaded on trucks and the Bat- 
 tery swung across the canal, through Pompey's unlighted 
 streets. No one was to smoke, no one was to even light 
 a match. All conveyances were without lights and but 
 for a clear sky with its myriad of sparkling stars we were 
 cloaked in darkness. About midnight we crossed the Mos- 
 slle and struck the high road to Vile au Vail. There 
 crouching on the slope of the hill were our barracks. Our 
 spirits grew lighter as we neared this haven of rest, but 
 we were to be sadly disappointed, for the news swept 
 down the line that the barracks were already occupied 
 by doughboys and that we must sleep without on the 
 ground. Lieutenant Rogers had made his bed on the 
 
 27 ^ 
 
side of the road and those who had preceeded us in trucks 
 (details of men who could not make the trip by foot) had 
 taken possession of all the surplus shelter that this little 
 muddy hole afforded. Disgusted and sorely wc souc^ht 
 out the m^ore comfortable spots, and even there, where 
 frost had already fallen, lay ourselves down, while others 
 noisily, profanely, full of horse-play and ear-burning jests 
 tramped all night up and down the muddy road. 
 
 Morning broke, revealing a mass of frost covered 
 khaki blankets from under which crawled an entire regi- 
 iment, bewildered and stiff with cold. A sip of good, hot 
 coffee to drive out the chill and we were smiling again. 
 About- noon the doughboys moved out and we took pos- 
 session. 
 
 OCTOBER 31— The forest lay dim and hushed be- 
 yond the fringe; on one side stood Pont a Mous,':on from 
 which Joan of Arc raised her head to kiss the drifting 
 clouds, while behind us St. Genevieve rose a gnostly mass 
 of shattered walls; whispering leaves, crisp with Au- 
 tumn's frosts, and crackling twigs sounded sharp as a 
 shower of stones in the stillness. Great trees that once 
 reared their majestic heads to mingle their foilage and 
 shut out the light, were now but shattered slumps; every 
 creeping, flying, walking creature, save man. awed, 
 frightened or murdered, had left this a wilderness of hu- 
 man frightfulness. And this is the front — the valley of 
 the shadow of death — by day an abode of vague mur- 
 murings deeper than silence; by night a burning hell. 
 
 "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Our 
 gas shells go over and their's come back. Five nights 
 we have sent over these missives of death. At first we 
 got immediate replies but now Fritze seems to be thin- 
 ning out in this part of the fray and while we use to 
 wake to find the roads shattered and shell torn, it is only 
 an occasional whistling through the air we hear now 
 and we wait to learn that it is only a dud. Wounded 
 and gassed doughboys pass us going back to the hospital. 
 On the road an occasional ammunition or rood truck is 
 
 28 
 
] • — J^ivordun. 
 2. — Liverdun, (tunnel entrance) 
 3- — Pont-a-Mousson, (near front) 
 
 4. — Xancj'. 
 
 5. — Lathus, Pos'toffice. 
 
 6. — La C'ciurtine. 
 
/ 
 
Route Taken by 351st F. A. to the Line of Battle. 
 
 Various stages ,n the travels of the 35 1 st and how thev wee accomphshed-Showing the route of the Steamship Great Northern fronrr 
 Hoboken, NcNV Jersey, to the port of Brest, France; showing the location of the most important cties and villages through wh.ch 
 
 it passed enroute to and from the Battle Front and the place where it was located when the Armistice was signed. 
 
 This Book and Map — Copyright by J. E. Moore 
 
1 • — ^P o n t - a - IVI o Li'.ss o u 
 2. — Cafe in Couterne. 
 3. — Cauterne. 
 
 ■i. — La thus 
 5. — French Peasants. 
 6. — Town near Port sur seille. 
 
seen, while on either side, telephone men tamper with 
 their tangled heap of wires. 
 
 NOVEMBER 5 — Transferred back with the Battery, 
 I am acting as 1st Sergeant, as 1st Sergeant Jackson has 
 gone on leave. I could not stay away from the boys, 
 however, and just had to go up and see how things were 
 rocking along. They are in the new positions and as 
 happ-/- as if they were feasting. "Old Boche" is ever on 
 the "alert, scouting in his elusive little airplanes, while 
 our anti-aircraft guns pump away at them for all they 
 are worth. The boys are delighted because of the good 
 chow they are getting now. "Nothing to do during the 
 day except eat and sleep, and at night throw gas shells 
 at old "Boche." 
 
 NOVEMBER 10 — We are beginning to feel like old 
 regulars. It is very seldom now that old Fritze returns 
 the fire, but instead he sends over his airplanes which 
 keep our anti-aircraft guns ever bleching away. Today 
 I saw- them (our gunners) bring down an enemy plane. 
 Shrapnel from our guns fell all around me. 
 
 Before we moved up to our new positions today we 
 had to locate and destroy an enemy machine gun nesu 
 This we did on the double, killing and chasing them from 
 their lair. We fired for about two hours preparing to 
 maiie our advance safe. When we had prepared and 
 camouflaged our new positions, the tractors came bringing 
 our pieces and very soon we were again ready for action. 
 
 Had a very exciting trip back to the Battery : Our 
 gas gave out, the truck was halted and old Fritze had. 
 shell? falling all about us. We had to duc}c and dodge 
 in every direction as dugouts were then too far awa3/'. 
 Several doughboys of the 365th were also with us re- 
 turning to the hospital as casuals. They had been 
 gassed and were even yet not out of danger. We man- 
 aged TO crawl through the barrage and reached our bil- 
 lets about 1 a. m. This was my closest call. 
 
 NOVEMBER 11 — 4 A. M., and we are laying a hell 
 of a barrage. The Infantries are to go over this morning 
 
 29 
 
and the whole forest screams with flymg shells. About 
 nine o'clock word reached us that this effort had failed — 
 the doughboys were late going over and lost about five 
 hundred men, 
 
 11 A. M., and we receive the following order: 
 
 "Headquarters 1st Battalion 351st i\ A., A. E. F. 
 November 11th, 1918. 
 "All firing will cease at 10:45 A. M., November 11, 
 1918. Battery Commanders will notify every man in 
 their organization that they will under no conditions have 
 any intercourse with the enemy in any way while :he 
 Armistice is in force. 
 
 "Battery Commanders will check up their Batteries 
 and organize their positions. Find shelters for the men 
 that are as comfortable as possible, but keep the organi- 
 zation in such shape that it can move on short notice. 
 By command of Major " 
 
 The boys are mad with joy, but somehow it is hard 
 to believe. Already som.e German soldiers are over this 
 side conversing with the boys — "Le Guerre Finis." 
 
 NOVEMBER 12 — We lost no time but moved in 
 from the front "tout suite." Today we mingle with the 
 French and drink to VICTORY. Never before has the 
 little village seemed so small. The wine shops teem, with 
 soldiers returning from the front as they thirst to quench 
 their four years' thirst for peace. 
 
 NOVEMBER 13 — Our Battery commander seemed 
 to be at a loss as to the nature of program he would fol- 
 low today. After a brief drill we passed through physi- 
 cal examination and were then ordered to roll packs pre- 
 .oaratory to making our first steps toward home. 
 
 NOVEMBER 14, 15, 16— Again on the road. Hard 
 sleeping on damp ground and poor food. From Ville au 
 Val we hiked to Belleville where for two nights we slept 
 on the damp banks of the canal. Even the air was damp 
 and we had to build big fires in order to keep ourselves 
 warm and dry. On the third day we were given orders 
 
 30 
 
to strike tents and roll packs. After a most punishing 
 hike of ten kilometers, we reached Pont a Mousson, where 
 in the deserted homes of a once happy and prosperous 
 people, we found shelter for the night. 
 
 NOVEMBER 18 — After yesterday's (Sunday's) rest 
 we are out early and ready for a short hike "sight seeing 
 tour." Today we passed through many shell torn vil- 
 lages, some entirely destroyed. The roads are dotted 
 with shell holes and on either side the trees have been 
 splintered to stumps by flying shrapnel. Thousands of 
 feet of barbed wire stretched along the side of the roads 
 and here and there the silence of the dead points out 
 to us the graves of our fallen heroes. We visit the strong- 
 ly built enemy dugouts and trenches where we find sou- 
 venirs of all kinds. The feeling comes over me that now 
 we have changed from a fighting unit to that of a tourists' 
 excursion. 
 
 Details are being sent back to Belleville to clean up 
 the pieces standing along the banks of the canal, across 
 the bridge from the big prison. Recently several soldiers 
 have been hanged here, and from along the banks of the 
 canal one may see the gallows from which they were 
 hanged. We have received word that our guns will not 
 be taken home with us. Already our tractors have been 
 turned over to a white regiment in the Army of Occupa- 
 tion. 
 
 Rumor has it that so many soldiers from each 
 Battery will be transferred to labor battalions and are to 
 be left in France. The gunners of the big gun which we 
 saw on rails at Belleville, told us that already so many 
 men from each Battery of their Regiment had been trans- 
 ferred and we begin to fear less we, too, may be 
 separated. 
 
 NOVEMBER 19 — Sight-seeing is proving to be a 
 Begimental pastime. Today, near the famous battlefield 
 between Pont a Mousson and St. Genevieve we saw the 
 graves of a thousand fallen heroes. Thousands of Allied 
 prisoners pass us as we hike, returning from Gerrnan 
 prison camps poorly clad, pale and foot sore they come-^ 
 
 31 
 
HEADQUARTERS' COMPANY 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
Italians, Belgians, English, Canadians, Algerians, alL all 
 — officers and enlisted men alike — some with a smile and 
 n song and some the very picture of death. Thru villages 
 raked by shell fire we tramp. Here we see a wrecked 
 church and there a shattered cemetery. Further on we 
 arrive at a chain of dugouts, the famous and much talked 
 of electric lighted dugouts. Here we put in the whole 
 afternoon. In these strongly constructed defenses "Old 
 Boche" was indeed a match for any foe and well had he 
 proven it. 
 
 NOVEMBER 20, 21, 22 — These days we spent in 
 cleaning up the front. Every bit of evidence of fighting 
 that can be removed, we are removing, while trucks come 
 up from Belleville and cart it off. Shells, powder, cam- 
 ouflage and every conceivable kind of equipment that a 
 soldier is liable to leave on the front during a hasty move- 
 ment, is being put in a pile and carted off. During the 
 days that we were in action only the gun squads, tele- 
 phone details and instrument details, together with a few- 
 extra details had seen service at the front. These num- 
 bered about two hundred and fifty men from each Bat- 
 talion. Now, however, it was up to the entire Regiment 
 to clean up, and so it was that many of the boys who had 
 otherwise been afforded no previous opportunity of com- 
 ing up, were offered this opportunity to see where the 
 regiment had met the enemy. It might be mentioned 
 here, however, that during the two weeks following the 
 signing of the armistice, many of the fellows went across 
 No-Man's-Land seeking souvenirs. 
 
 One afternoon our Battery visited Nomeny. Here 
 on the summit of the most prominent hill, stands the stat- 
 ue of Joan of Arc. This little village, built around the 
 statue, had also suffered from air raids, and the long 
 range guns of the enemy. Not only had they shattered 
 the ancient walls of this quaint little village, away up 
 in the sky, but even the statue bore evidence of having 
 suffered from flying shrapnel. From the highest position 
 we could see the great fortress Metz in the distance, 
 
 32 
 
■^J;:^^>>^' 
 
standing there a bulwark of German military achieve- 
 ment. Before leaving we were tempted to ring the bells 
 that hang in the tower and to write our names on them. 
 During these three days we visited Montauville near 
 which village the 367th' Infantry and the 350th Field 
 Artillery fired their last shots at the retreating Hun. 
 
 DECEMBER 8 — For two weeks we have been polic- 
 ing the area in which we are billeted, Pont a Mousson 
 before the war was a city oi 22,000 inhabitants. So 
 swiftly had the enemy swept down upon these people 
 that they were forced to desert their homes, taking with 
 them only what they could cart away and leaving the rest 
 to the pillaging armies. During the four years of fright- 
 fulness, in which time the city was alternately lost and 
 won, it suffered the pillaging of both friend and enemy 
 armies, and now, all that remains is what each had plun- 
 dered and thrown aside. In many of the dwellings we 
 find complete furnishings — bedroom sets, kitchen sets 
 and complete sitting room furnishings, but everything dis- 
 orderly and bearing every evidence of the pillagers' 
 bands. These are the homes that we must set in order, 
 burning the waste and sparing everything of value. This 
 indeed, is quite an interesting task for the curious minds 
 and in a sense we, too, repeat the act of pillaging, search- 
 ing every corner for souvenirs, and in the wine cellars 
 for what those who have preceeded us might have over- 
 looked. No wine was to be found, however, nor anything 
 of value for those who had come before us were skilled 
 in plundering, nor did they have to hurry in their task. 
 
 DECEMBER 15 — These are days of long hikes with 
 full pack^. Rumor has it that we are to hike forty kiio- 
 ■ meters to Maron where we are to get a train going West. 
 Every day, hike, hike, hike and every hike with full 
 packs. Today we hiked to Vandiers, through Pagny, 
 and Moselle, all shell-torn villages, and bearing every 
 evidence of four years of wicked, hellish warfare. Some 
 few French families have returned to their homes and at 
 Pagny and Moselle we find a Japanese unit quartered. 
 
 33 , 
 
BATTERY "B" 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
With Major Gilbert in charge, we have nianaged to irk 
 out the last of nine kilometers and with packs growing- 
 heavier, we begin to retrace our footsteps. This is in- 
 deed a task and many of us rather think we preferred 
 the dugout life to such as this. 
 
 DECEMBER 16 — Sunday and an opportunity for 
 just a little rest. I visited Mountaville today where I 
 met some friends of the 367th Infantry who were billeted 
 there. We spent the day in telling of our wild exper- 
 iences while in France and while on the irront. The 
 doughboys can tell some hair-raising stories and should 
 make swell entertainers when they get back to the States. 
 
 DECEMBER 18 — This morning we received our 
 emergency rations, four packages of hardtacks made in. 
 1863, and one can of monkey meat (corn "oeef.) These 
 rations we carry with us are to be used only in dire cases 
 of necessity. Any soldier who violates this order is sub- 
 ject to court martial. 
 
 Major Moton, principal of Tuskegee Insiitute is here 
 in^company with Lester Walton of the New York Age. As 
 many of the boys as were not on details and especially 
 those former students and graduates of Tuskegee listen- 
 ed to a very interesting talk by him in the Infirmary court 
 yard. His talk was full of inspiration and good cheer. 
 Stating that the President had given him privilege to visit 
 France and speak to the boys of the race, he made a 
 strong appeal to the boys that they return to their homes 
 and settle down as men of the future to useful employ- 
 ment. With him leading, we sang his favorite song "In 
 Bright Mansions Above." 
 
 To make the day a more perfect one, my Christmas 
 parcel arrived. You can imagine the joyous feeling 
 which possessed me. I was reminded of my childhood 
 days when old Santa used to slip clown the chimney with 
 my goodies. 
 
 DECEMBER 19 — Awakened to reveille for the last 
 time in the grey French morning of Pont a Mousson, very 
 soon we had slung packs and were ready to move out. 
 
xVt ten o'clock, after our billets had been carefully in- 
 spected by the Colonel, the order was given to move out. 
 The First Battalion moving out ahead and the second 
 and third following, we were soon a long snaky line of 
 silently moving khaki. 
 
 And this was the beginning of that long and mucli 
 longer heralded hike. With forty-five minutes to hike 
 and fifteen minutes to fall out, we swung up the higli, 
 white roads that leads to Toul. It was on this road that 
 vve met a French artillery regiment, with 155mm howit- 
 zers and horse drawn. Here was another opportunity 
 to see the beauty of Franco, and it appeared all the more 
 beautiful for we were winding away toward the Golden 
 West. 
 
 In the evening, when the shadows were growing- 
 longer, the packs were getting more burdensome ; when 
 men ahead in the Supply Company and Battery "A" were 
 falling out by the wayside. Battery "B" was just begin- 
 ning to "get right" on this her long prepared for journey. 
 The shadov/s grow longer still, but in the distance the 
 towering steeple of a cathedral flashes in view. It is 
 Liverdun and below we see both canal and river as they 
 circle through the valley, while in solemn grandeur the 
 city on one side and on the other side the green topped 
 forest, look down with jealous eyes. This is in de eel the 
 mcst beautiful place we have visited. The river and the 
 canal vie with each other to make the whole a land of 
 beauty. 
 
 DECEMBER 20 — After a snatched sleep in hay barns, 
 for this was the only shelter Liverdun offered, we tum- 
 bled out to mess and as usual to explore the new town. 
 High town was a congested lot of closely built stone 
 dwellings with a main street which was hard to find, 
 while below lay Lowtown, along the railroad track and 
 on the banks of the river. Here we were given an op- 
 ponunity to "live high" and this is how we lived : 
 
 Breakfast of two dozen eggs (for six hungry men\ 
 S francs per dozen; roughly $3.20 in American money. 
 
 Mutton, pork chops or ham, 12 francs or $2.40. 
 
 35 
 
Jam, 3 francs or 60 cents, 
 
 French fried potatoes, 5 francs or $1.00. 
 
 Butter, 4 francs, or 80 cents. 
 
 Bread, 2 francs or 40 cents. 
 
 Beer, two bottles to the man $1.92. 
 
 All this, the average meal and three times a day- 
 amounting to $30.96 plus the three francs for preparing 
 tiie uncooked food and the china service. Divided, each 
 man paid his 25 francs per day or his 8 or 9 at each meal 
 -with no thought of the frightful total. Thus we lived 
 three days at Liverdun. 
 
 DECEMBER 21 — Today we ran short of ratioiri and 
 each man had to turn in his supply of emergency r;£.uions. 
 Nothing to do but rest, ramble and explore. Once today 
 the Battery hiked up the hillside for wood. Many of the 
 boys have learned that Pompey and Froard are but a few 
 Mlometers away, and up along the canal that runs over 
 the river many of them hike and search for mischief — 
 soldier like.. One, Private Farrington, fell into the canal 
 trying to avoid a collission with an auto. He wa,s not 
 jiurt but was thoroughly wet. Today I visited the big 
 ammunition plant on the road to the river. Here I saw 
 both men and women at work — not making shells, how- 
 ever, for now France has really begun to study war no 
 Biore. This, in time of war, was the object of many" air- 
 plane raids, for here were many thousands of 75 and 
 155 shells. 
 
 DECEMBER 22 — Out of our bunks of straw at 1 a. 
 m., long before dawn, and with full packs, we descend 
 the slippery streets on the side of the hill, while a cold 
 mist patted us in our faces. The Batteries formed and 
 the signal given, we began our journey out of Liverdun, 
 across the iron bridge that spans the river over \A/"hich 
 the canal runs. And now as we ascend the 1700 meter 
 bill and small flakes of snow begin to settle over our caps 
 and packs, -a song rings out upon the chilly morning air, 
 "There is rest for the Weary." Soon the top of the hill 
 is, reached and we strike a good road. The entire forest 
 
Yanks. But still it snows and as dawn breaks, far down. 
 rings with the joyous shouting of a thousand happy 
 the line we see a string of slowly moving soldier boys and 
 from them rises the puff of white vapor like the steam. 
 from a thousand panting buffaloes. Outrunning the 
 snow storm, we arrived at Maron about 8 a. m. Here 
 through an error on the part of our officers, we entered, 
 the French box cars overlooking the river. No sooner 
 had our mistake been discovered than we marched out 
 into the streets and again into the straw billets of Maron's 
 hospitality. 
 
 DECEMBER 25 — The day dawns and finds us pack- 
 ed like sardines in swiftly moving American box cars. 
 The car in which I ride smells of smoke and even so da 
 we who have had to let the smoke from a French coal 
 fire saturate our clothes. It is cold and we should pre- 
 fer being closer together and snug, but instead we are 
 cramped and piled against one another. Monkey meat 
 and hard tack is our breakfast, dinner and supper and 
 we shudder when we are reminded that today is Christ- 
 mas — the first Christmas of the new era of peace. To- 
 day for the first time we seem to have a feeling of having* 
 made a sacrifice and to have sacrificed all that is dear to 
 one on this day of the year. And all our Christmas cards 
 and letters have been fervently expressive of a Christmas 
 so unlike ours today. Despite all these thoughts how- 
 ever, we try to be light of spirit and as we swallow the 
 last bit of our Christmas dinner we choke down a sigh 
 and an oath. 
 
 DECEMBER 26 — This was Couterne, cleanest little 
 French town ever. I was frightened speechless this 
 morning when I met several fellows with whole loaves of 
 bread under their arms. Cognac was flowing freely and 
 every soldier's breath possessed that gladsome fragrance. 
 Every Frenchman was extending a welcome and so 
 crowded were the butcher shops that a fellow had to be 
 on his toes if he had any hopes at all of being served. 
 This was another of the beautiful little cities that had 
 
 37 
 
never before seen an American soldier, and as to them,- 
 as well as to us, this day was a holiday. The boys were 
 feasting for sure and while there had been no real Christ- 
 mas the day before, believe me, tne boys were celebrat- 
 ing their Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year. Eat- 
 ing, drinking and resting was our program, nor did a sin- 
 gle fellow shirk his part. 
 
 DECEMBER 27 — There will be no afternoon forma- 
 tions until after the New Year. We drill a little in the 
 forenoon and have physical exercises, but not much of 
 either because of bad shoes. Tonight we enjoyed a five 
 reel movie show in the schoolyard. 
 
 JANUARY 1 — New Year in the A. E. F. for us was 
 not unlike any other day with the exception that we 
 hiked six kilometers to Bagnoles for bath — the first since 
 we left Pont a Mousson. Bagnoles is a French summer 
 resort, a very, very beautiful little city nestling in the 
 wooded hills where the idle rich spend their summers.' 
 Here they enjoy the mineral water baths and it was here 
 that our entire regiment was bathed in this pool of chilly 
 water in the cold month of January. Many of the fel- 
 lows were quarrelsome but were all made to take the 
 bath, after which we hiked back to a New Year dinner 
 of salmon instead of the longed-ior extra New Year din- 
 ner of sweets and good things. 
 
 JANUARY 2 — We are back to our regular program 
 of regular drills, physical exercises and inspections. Our 
 billets are all being numbered and we are told that it is 
 in this area that all troops returning to ^he States will 
 rest before going to LeMans to delouse. The kitchen 
 has been moved from around the corner by the church, 
 down near the school house where we make all forma- 
 tions. It rains night and day and we have no fires for 
 we are billeted in barns filled with hay. 
 
 JANUARY 5 — Today four of us hiked ten kilome- 
 ters to LaFerte Mace. Here centered around the large 
 cathedral we met many madamoiselles who spoke fairly 
 
 '' ■ -38 
 
good English. Many of them are obsessed v/ith the idea 
 that all Americans are rich and even venture to tell us 
 that we are also rich. We blush and pass on. At a little 
 wine shop nearest the cathedral we enjoyed a dinner of 
 pork roast, French fried potatoes, salad and vin blanc. 
 It was very necessary that we reach cam.p at Couterne for 
 retreat, therefore bidding our new acquaintances au re- 
 voir, we purchased tickets, costing only 32 cents, and 
 boarded the 3 o'clock train for camp. 
 
 We arrived just as first call was being sounded, stood 
 retreat and thus ended the rare pleasure of our Sunday, 
 spent partly at home and partly at La Ferte. 
 
 JANUARY 6 — These are days of shoe shortage, food 
 shortage, wet clothes, no fire and continuous rains. Those 
 who have bad shoes and sore feet are placed on details 
 which remain around their billets and police up, while 
 those with good shoes take long hikes. We are learning 
 to love Courterne as we learned to love Lathus, and 
 every evening we visit the homes of friendly madamoi- 
 selles. After retreat the band gives a short concert in 
 front of the cathedral. 
 
 JANUARY 7 — A disciplinary camp has been estab- 
 lished and all those boys who have been A. W. O. L. 
 must be placed in this camp from 15 to 18 days. Here 
 their punishment takes the form of an 18 mile hike daily 
 with full packs, even on Sundays and holidays. Money 
 is running low again and they say we will get no more 
 pay until we reach Brest. A new order has been issued 
 which provides for a guard in every billet at night. This 
 is a nuisance, but the boys serve good naturedly. The 
 women wash our soiled clothes in the stream that flows 
 past our Battery office and when we offer them pay, they 
 refuse. It is getting cold and we go to the station for 
 wood, which we burn in the street outside our straw 
 filled billets. 
 
 JANUARY 8 — The soldiers are beginning to receive 
 new shoes. It continues to rain — a slow drizzle — and to 
 grow colder. Many of the girls invite us to their homes 
 
 89 
 

 
 
 BATTERY "C" 331st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
where they serve us hot coffee spiked with cognac. It 
 has been discovered that certain soldiers in a certain bil- 
 let have "cooties." The whole camp is being disinfected 
 while the men are being examined at the infirmary for 
 these pests. 
 
 JANUARY 15 — This is the day that we were hoping 
 to leave for Le Mans, but instead an order has been issued 
 that we delouse here so that we will not be detained at 
 Le Mans. The boys are very much disgusted with the 
 method of delousing and many are vowing that Ihey will 
 not go through this process. The announcement is made 
 that he who is inspected at the port of embarkation and 
 found with cooties will not sail. Bath houses are prepared 
 and each man is made to take a hot shower and to do 
 other frightful and irrating things — supposingly, going 
 through the delousing process. We are to leave for Le 
 Mans as soon as every man is put through this process 
 and every one is busy trying to get into shape. 
 
 JANUARY 16 — Over night the stream has swollen 
 until now it is out of its banks, and the family which lives 
 across the bridge from our office is water bound. The 
 floor of the wash shed at the end of the alley which comes 
 out in front of the Cathedral is covered with water and 
 the women cannot wash. We go on delousing and get- 
 ting new shoes. 
 
 JANUARY 17 — Today we hiked to Bagnoles on 
 parade and while returning were caught in a rain storm. 
 The boys were thoroughly wet and there is no place to 
 dry. The men are beginning to make formations accord- 
 ing to height and it is rumored that the General will be 
 through soon and we are to pass in review. In the mean- 
 time we are eating salmon for breakfast, salmon for din- 
 ner and salmon for supper time. At some meals we 
 have coffee without a grain of sugar— barefoot coffee — 
 and some meals, no coffee at all. Yesterday it,v/as bare- 
 footed with no stockings — cold. 
 
 JANUARY 20 — It is rumored that our train will 
 soon arrive. Already the 349th has left Domfront for 
 
 40 
 
we saw them pass through, enroute to Le Mans today. 
 We all hesitate at the thought of leaving Couterne so 
 soon and we are promising our friends that some day we 
 will return to France and to Couterne to pay them a visit. 
 They have been like mothers, wives and sweethearts to 
 us and while we await the arrival of our rjox cars we 
 spend our idle moments enjoying the waining pleasures 
 of their genuine hospitality, 
 
 JANUARY 24 — This morning dawned clear and as 
 details load the officers' bedding and the office supplies 
 into the cars, our friends stand along the station front in 
 the warm sunshine and engage us in farewell conversa- 
 tions. Along toward 1 :00 o'clock we began our six hour 
 "ride to Le Mans. It is cold in the cars and no fires are 
 permitted. At 7:30 P. M. we drew into Le Mans. While 
 the regiment hiked out to the camp I remained in charge 
 of the baggage detail. 
 
 JANUARY 25 — At five A. M. I piled into a truck 
 and rode out to the camp where I turned in for a short 
 but pleasant nap. Quite early after mess I went in 
 search of some of my doughboy friends — 367th and 
 368th. The whole 92nd Division is here, as it is here 
 that all Divisions enter and are deloused before going to 
 the States, provided they are to sail from Brest. Here 
 soldiers have nothing to do but get cleaned up and 
 equipped for the trip home. We are already clean and 
 were placed in clean barracks instead of pup tents. Here 
 we saw, for the first time, the Infantry and Artillery 
 Buffalo. This is indeed a large camp but I am sick of 
 them all now and am anxious to go home. 
 
 JANUARY 27 — With lieatly arranged pack car- 
 riers the whole Division, banners flying and the music of 
 infantry and artillery bands playing, stands ready to pass 
 in review before General Pershing. The parade ground 
 is a vast sandy plane and in the back ground is a French 
 Artillery, 
 
 Just for practice we swing around the field once 
 die the band plays. Here we eyes right, and a little 
 
 41 
 
further; on we double time. It is cold and we hope it 
 will not be long until the General arrives. At last he has 
 come and the whole Division stands at attention in pla- 
 toon formations. We being the heavy artillery are on 
 the extreme left and are last to be inspected. He makes 
 it sna,ppy and compliments the whole Division. We are 
 glad when the time comes for us to pass in review and 
 overjoyed at the opportunity to "strutt our stuff/' in 
 front of General Pershing. 
 
 Each regiment filed out and back to the camp. It 
 was here that the biggest "bone" of our A. E. F. activitieB 
 was "pulled" when, even though on the tail end of the 
 parade, and with thousands of soldiers leading us, 
 Battery "B" lost its way back to the camp and went five 
 kilometers out of the way. 
 
 Nevertheless, because, of the congested roads, as so 
 many troops had preceeded us, we reached camp just as 
 Battery "A" was entering, and in time for mess. 
 
 JANUARY 28 — The boys of our battery have been 
 so fortunate as to escape Le Mans. I do not know the 
 results of the general examinations of our regiment here, 
 but evidence points to the fact that the 351st has stood 
 the test. As we stood in battery formation with full 
 packs and ready to move out the report of a revolver was 
 heard nearby. A fraction of a second later we were 
 informed that the revolver of a certain oflficer had been 
 accidently discharged, the ball passing through his tent, 
 through the wall of the barracks nearest his tent and 
 instantly killing Mech. E. Jones of Battery "D." Thirs 
 was indeed an unfortunate occurance but we resign our- 
 selves to the will of God and like soldiers pass on to other 
 duties. 
 
 Reaching a long string of American box cars, we 
 entrain, unsling packs and begin to make ourselves at 
 home. Maybe this is to be our last journey, by rail, iri 
 France. 
 
 On the following afternoon we . drew into Brest. 
 After mess, near the detraining station w^e slung packs 
 
 42 
 
and hiked out to the Pontanazen Barracks where we 
 were billeted in tents. 
 
 FEBRUARY 2 — Here for the last few days in this 
 most detestable camp, we have been putting on the finish- 
 ing touches. Thousands and thousands of soldiers are 
 here and they work day in and day out, not even stopping 
 at night. But every thing seems to be toward one end, 
 and they tell us that tomorrow we are to embark. This 
 is one of the strictest camps in France, discipline being- 
 enforced to the letter. Marines have charge of the ¥1, 
 P. duties and exact every military courtesy from both 
 officers and enlisted men. The kitchen here handles 
 from ten to thirty thousand soldiers at each meal. Bat- 
 teries and Companies must march up at attention and io 
 charge of officers when going to and fro through the 
 camp. When the men finish their mess they return to 
 their billets marching at attention and in charge of a 
 non-com. Each day kitchen details are sent ud to help 
 at this tremendous task of feeding so many soldiers. 
 
 Yesterday we were marched to the Pontanazen 
 Barracks Infirmary Headquarters where we were again 
 examined for cooties. And tonight as it rained news 
 came into the battery office that the third Battalion is 
 not to sail with the rest of the Regiment. 
 
 FEBRUARY 3 — We have been informed just what 
 to do with our beds and where to put our tv/o extra 
 blankets. Policing details have been busy today, and 
 while some were busy on the coal and wood "details 
 others were filling the water tank. We were paid oc 
 the first, and of course, many of us are passing away the 
 time playing poker. 
 
 Tonight details were sent to Brest to unload food 
 supplies from home (America) beef. pork, liver, bacon 
 •and every thing nice that we are just learning has been 
 sent across. We wonder where it goes as we never get 
 any. We had taken our mess kits and evidently were 
 to work quite late, but word is received that we are to 
 sailin the morning and back to the barracks we hasten 
 
 43 : -■' 
 
only to learn that our sailing has been postponed 24 
 
 hours. 
 
 FEBRUARY 4 — Details go down to the boat and 
 surely tomorrow we ar^ to embark. Tonight while we 
 wait for the "latest Latreen" Corporal Barnes brings it 
 back that we move out in the morning, but the Third 
 Battalion is not to sail with us. Three of our battery 
 officers are to be left behind and one enlisted man. 
 
 FEBRUARY 5 — Awakened at 4 A. M., we had soon 
 returned from mess, policed up around our tents and 
 rolled them from the sides. All fires were extinguished, 
 bed ticks and blankets turned in and now we stood in Bat- 
 tery formation on duck boards that ran the entire length 
 of our little narrow Battery streets. It was raining and 
 our packs grew heavy while water wet us from head to 
 foot. For an hour and fifteen minutes we stood there in 
 the rain, like beast of burden, while our billets were gone 
 through by the camp inspector. 
 
 When the inspection was finished we moved out 
 through the muddy streets in the rain, toward Brest and 
 to our waiting transport. But Brest was fully five kilo- 
 meters away and the warehouse on the water's edge, 
 from which we were to embark, measured no less than 
 six kilometers from our starting place. The roads were 
 all muddy and falling out was out of the question, there- 
 fore, on we trudged, stopping here and there for only 
 three or four minulres to put a pack in proper shape. 
 
 At last we drew into the warehouse, away down on 
 the edge of the water. Here we were made to stand 
 with packs still unslung while Batteries ahead, filed down 
 the gang plank and onto the ferry boat. 
 
 Beyond the breakwater the sea lay becalmed, and we 
 saw a short distance ahead, two large transports. Fin- 
 ally going aboard, the farthest one, we were overjoyed 
 at the opportunity to unsling packs and make ourselves 
 comfortable. 
 
 After mess we began our usual rambling — exploring 
 he ship. Formerly the St. Louis, it is now the Louisville. 
 
 » ^' ' i i •. 
 
 44 
 
W9^f^^ 
 
It is strongly built and has a very pretty mess hall, but is 
 not so spacious as the Great Northern. 
 
 About three hundred soldiers, all casuals and few 
 of the number, colored, beside a Company of the 368tb. 
 are on board with us. There are also several nurses 
 aboard who have seen service in the war zone. 
 
 Night comes down and from the decks we see the 
 gleaming lights of Brest as they loom up across the water 
 and like a million flittering fireflies are reflecting in the 
 wind rippled waters of the bay. Soon we are to bid 
 good-bye to France. The Colonel, radiant with joy, 
 walks up and down the deck, for we have all played out 
 part in the great big game, we have stood the test in 
 No Man's Land and are headed home again. And now; 
 as we turn to our bunks below, our last thoughts are of 
 home and our loved ones. 
 
 FEBRUARY 6 — I was on deck at 3 :30 this morning 
 and to my surprise the ship had begun her journey; hav- 
 ing pulled out of port at 1 :00 o'clock sharp. 
 
 What wonderful meals, and no one is seasick for 
 the sea is calm. It is not cold and we go on deck without 
 overcoats. We are told that it will take at least eight or 
 nine days to go over, but why should we care when we 
 are homeward bound? 
 
 FEBRUARY 7 — Once more there is nothing to do 
 but eat and sleep. The waves have begun to roll high 
 and both sailors and soldiers are sea sick. We learn that 
 many of the sailors are making their last trip for they, 
 too, hope to be mustered out upon reaching the States. 
 There is a large canteen on the after deck but the sea is 
 so rough and the ship tosses so much that very few 
 soldiers dare approach this part of the vessel less they 
 become sea sick. 
 
 FEBRUARY 11 — The waves continue to roll high; 
 we ran into a rain storm yesterday and today we ran into 
 a hall storm. The wind is blowing at an average of ninty 
 miles an hour and at times even the upper deck is swept 
 
 45 
 
BATTERY "D" 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
by the leaping water. When the wind blows from the port 
 side we are chased around to the starboard side while 
 the doors which open on the port side are closed and 
 made fast. If, then the wind changes and blows from 
 the star board side we scamper around to the port side 
 while the star board side doors are closed and made fast. 
 And more than once we have been compelled to stay off 
 deck altogether, because the sea is too rough. 
 
 This evening, during mess hours, there was in awful 
 list — 42 degrees to the star board side and 35 degrees 
 to the port. Hundreds of soldiers in the mess hall were 
 thrown back and forth across the floor. The lights went 
 out and as the ship listed the weight of the soldiers as they 
 held to the tables was too great and down came tables, 
 men, mess kits, spoons, knives and forks, and, together 
 with them, butter beans, coffee and hard tack, all flying 
 in every direction across the slippery floor. 
 
 Down below, rifles slipped from their hangings and 
 flew across the floor; frightened soldiers tumbled from 
 their bunks and snatching life preservers made a wild 
 rush for the decks. 
 
 When, at last the ship moved on smoothly, the lights 
 came on and while the excitement abated, a thorough 
 inspection was made to see if any one had been injured. 
 Many of those soldiers who had been caught in the mess 
 hall trap were taken wounded, bleeding and sore to the 
 hospital ward. 
 
 It was a surprise to all that no one was severely in- 
 jured, but fortunately no one was, and while the storm 
 still rages we hug our life preservers and search for 
 missing mess kits and run away rifles. 
 
 There comes that yearning now for land and we 
 hesitate before going to our bunks, hoping that the storm 
 will soon waste away, 
 
 FEBRUARY 14 — We are entering smooth waters 
 and the boys are beginning to police up their general 
 appearance — getting their hair cut and their shoes 
 
 46 
 
shined. Even those who have been sea sick and storm 
 frightened are beginning to hop about on deck with a 
 smile on their faces. Tonight in the Mess Hall several 
 six round bouts of two minutes to the round were staged. 
 Both soldiers and sailors were entrants. The hall was 
 packed to its limits and soldiers and sailors even hung 
 from the bunk frames. The winners were given the 
 larger portion of a purse of $5.00 made up by the spec- 
 tators. During the intivals Sgt. Gresham with his silly 
 sayings made the fellows laugh. 
 
 FEBRUARY 15 — With just about an eighteen hour 
 journey before us, we began early this morning to roll 
 our packs. The boys were busy writing telegrams and 
 messages on the "welcome postals" which were issued us 
 by the Y. M. C. A. secretary on board the ship. Fighting 
 the "Flu," we continue the daily spraying of nose and 
 throat while below the decks we mop the floor with a 
 disinfectant. Today has been lovely — the sun shinning 
 brightly and warm. Away off our star board side, we 
 saw a vessel sailing in the same direction as we. It 
 finally disappeared and we wonder if it is the Harrisbury. 
 
 As the day grows older we grow restless and wonder 
 if it is not possible to pull up into harbor before mid- 
 night. The stiff wind that blows from the star board 
 side is very cold and we cannot loiter on deck, therefore 
 we, who cannot crowd into the concert vestibule where 
 the sailor's band is entertaining, are first on deck bending 
 our eyes to the skyline that we may be first to see a light, 
 and then down below with some startling"latest latreen." 
 
 After the band concert the boys were entertained in 
 the mess hall with jass band music, solos and again by 
 Sergeant Gresham with his most popular hits, "Good-bye 
 Joan of Arc, Hello, Miss Liberty," and "On the Trail of 
 the Lonesome Pine." 
 
 Then came bed time. There were those who retired 
 and slept well, but we who were more anxious to see 
 "Miss Liberty" stood watch until the old bark pulled 
 safely into port. For three hours our eyes followed the 
 trail of lights which in the distance lighted the horizon 
 
ahead of us like a chain of sparkling diamonds around, 
 some mammouth crown. And beyond those lights was 
 America, home and everything. Everything dear that 
 we had left for a while, in the great sacrifice, was there — 
 mothers, fathers, wives, sweethearts, our families and 
 ®ur friends. This was our dream come true, and on the 
 long ,ast mile of our journey these eyes of Mazda 
 briiliance were welcoming us as they danced and smiled. 
 We had returned and although storm tossea, weary, foot 
 sore, wounded and still pursued by that most dreadful 
 epidemic, Spanish Influenza, which even now we harbor- 
 ed, and to whom already too many had fallen victim, we 
 were jubilant for it was "Over over there" and we were 
 the victors. 
 
 Sweeter still, however, was the joy of being home 
 again and tomorrow should prove it. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the lights and with joyful 
 hearts we bad good-bye to the day that brought us here 
 and turned our fondest thoughts to the fullfilments of to- 
 morrow's hopes. 
 
 FEBRUARY 16 — Long before dawn we rolled our 
 packs, policed up and were out on deck. Both soldiers 
 and sailors were making ready to disembark. And when 
 day dawned, unrolling to view "Miss Libierty" and 
 Gotham's imposing skyline, we were overjoyed. At 
 eight o'clock we hoisted Old Glory while the band played 
 the Star Spangled Banner. Soon the Mayor and his re- 
 ception committee drew up on our port side, showering 
 the boys with tobaccoes and fruits, while on board their 
 ferry another band played popular airs. The decks 
 surged with eager soldiers who scrambled for a place 
 from which to view these our anxious mothers, fathers 
 and sweethearts. Wild with excitment we returned 
 cheer for cheer until our ears burned with the rasping 
 applause and our voices grew hoarse from the hearty 
 yells. 
 
 Enroute to camp (Mills, L. I., N. Y.) we were served 
 to cigarettes, cake, candies, sandwiches and all sorts of 
 
 48 
 
goodies by the ladies of the Red Cross, Salvation Army, 
 representatives of the Y. M. C. A. and K. of C. We were 
 
 ferried up the East River to and thence to 
 
 Camp where once more, in the "Land of the Free and the 
 Brave" we found comfortable barracks with warm fires 
 awaiting us, and plenty of food. 
 
 And this was the end of a perfect day, near the end 
 of a journey, too. Already we were coming into our 
 own. No sacrifice could have been too great for those 
 who now welcomed us home and for those who had sent 
 them to welcome us. But now, "Finis le Guerre" and fin- 
 ished is our first great day. We have reached the Gold- 
 en West — God's country and here ends our story — the 
 story of the 351st Field Artillery, America's first Black 
 Artillerymen, "Pittsburg's Pride" the boys who put to 
 flight the would-be spoiler of civilization, the boys who 
 had made the "Kaiser shed his crown." 
 
 "So here's to the Yanks of the 351st Field Artillery 
 
 Who stood the test in No Man's Land in the fight for Democracy. 
 All praise to the Allied Nations and to our own Red; White and Blue 
 
 And now it's up to the Stars and Stripes to make it good for you. 
 Tour gallant deeds are writ in gold across the page of time 
 
 And though some .other mark may dim, yours may forever shine? 
 Tour Division is set, a dazzling star in the Nation's martial crown 
 
 And you are the idol of the Brigade that put Bill Kaiser down." 
 
 49 
 
HEADQUARTERS 351st FIELD ARTILLERY 
 
 AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 
 
 GENERAL ORDER No. 3. 
 
 December 27, 1918. 
 When you landed in France you were acclaimed as 
 comrades in arms, brothers in a great cause. In the 
 days that have passed no man, no little child has had 
 cause to regret that first glorious welcome. Surrounded 
 by new and unusual conditions, beset by subtle tempta- 
 tions, you have kept your hearts high and with purpose 
 fixed on the high ideal of service, you have put away 
 those things that did not contribute strength for the task 
 at hand. You have been men. 
 
 Through rain and in tents or in cold billets you 
 have cheerfully pushed on to fit yourself for the final test 
 and at length you came to the front lines. There, under 
 fire by day and by night you served the pieces, sending 
 back gas for gas and shell for shell, two for one. The 
 orders reached the guns because you maintained the con- 
 nections; the ammunition was there because neither the 
 elements nor enemy stopped you. This n^ission has been 
 accomplished and you have been what America expects 
 her sons to be — brave soldiers. 
 
 Your first six months of service on foreign soil have 
 ended ; accordingly all Officers and enlisted men of the 
 351st Field Artillery are authorized and ordered to wear 
 one Service Chevron. As surely as this chevron stands 
 for something accomplished, just as surely it imposes an 
 added obligation ; it sets a new standard of soldierly 
 qualities; it is a reminder of what manner of men you 
 are. As you have earned it fairly and w^ell, so you will 
 strive to be worthy of it and of the things for which it 
 stands, every man a guardian of the good name of the 
 regiment. 
 
 By command of COL. WADE H. CARPENTER. 
 George C. Mather. 
 Captain F. A., U. S. A. 
 Adjutant, 351st Field Artillerv. 
 EDW. J. TURGEON. 
 
 Major. Infantry, U. S. Army. (A true copy) 
 
 50 
 
HEADQUARTERS 167th FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE 
 NINETY-SECOND DIVISION 
 
 1. In leaving the 167th Field Artillery Brigade to 
 take up other duties the Brigade Commander wishes to 
 record in General Orders the entire satisfaction it has 
 given him to have commanded the first Brigade of Negro 
 artillery ever organized. This satisfaction is due to the 
 excellent record the men have made. Undrtaking a 
 work that was new to them,they brought to it faithfulness 
 zeal and patriotic fervor. They went into the line and. 
 conducted themselves in a manner to win praise of all. 
 They had been picked for important work in the offen- 
 sive which had been planned to start after November 11. 
 
 2. The Brigade Commander will ever cherish the 
 words of the Commander in Chief, the compliments he 
 paid in all sincerity to this brigade while he watched it 
 pass in review last Wednesday. He wishes the Brigade 
 to understand that these words of appreciation were 
 evoked only because each man had worked conscientious- 
 \y and unflaggingly to make the organization a success. 
 
 3. The Brigade Commander feels that he shouid. 
 / also make acknov/leclgement in General Orders of the re- 
 markable esprit-de-corps displayed by the officers of the 
 Brigade. They were pioneers in a field where at the 
 start success was problematical. This being the first 
 Brigade of its kind ever organized, it has been only nat- 
 ural that the work of the men should have been featured. 
 prominently, yet the same prominence and the same 
 praise should be accorded the officers. While the Brig- 
 ade Commander takes this occasion to speak of their 
 splendid work, he believes that their greatest praise will 
 come from the men themselves, not only now, but ever in. 
 greater measure when they have returned to civilian 
 life and have secured the perspective of time and experi- 
 ence that will teach them how fortunate they were in 
 making the race's initial effort as artillerymen under 
 officers M^ho were both skillful artillerymen and sympa- 
 thetic leaders. 
 
 By command of Brigadier General SHERBURNE 
 
 HARRY KING TOOTLE 
 1st Lieut. F. A., U. S. A., Acting Adjutant. 
 51 
 
HEADQUARTERS OF 92nd DIVISION 
 AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 
 
 November 18. 1918 
 
 MEMORANDUM: 
 
 Five months ago teday the 92nd Division landed in 
 France. 
 
 After seven weeks of training it took over a sector 
 in the front line, and since that time some portion of the 
 Division has been practically continuously under fire. 
 
 It participated in the last battle of the War with 
 creditable success, continually pressing the attack against 
 highly organized defensive works. It advanced success- 
 fully on the first day of battle, attaining the objective 
 and capturing prisoners. This in the face of determined 
 opposition by an alert enemy, and against rifle, machine 
 gun and artillery fire. The issue of the second day's bat- 
 tle was rendered indecisive by the order to cease firing at 
 eleven A. M. — when the armistic became effective. 
 
 The Division Commander, in taking leave of what 
 he considers himself justly entitled to regard as Ms Di- 
 vision, feels that he has acomplished his mission. His 
 work is done and will endure. The results have not al- 
 ways been brilliant, and many times were not encourag- 
 ing, yet a well organized, well disciplined, and well train- 
 ed colored Division has been created and commanded by 
 him to include the last shot of the great World War. 
 
 May the future conduct of every officer and man 
 be such as to reflect credit upon the Division and upon 
 the Colored race. 
 
 By command of 
 MAJOR GENERAL BALLOU: 
 
 ALLEN J. GREER» 
 ^ v.. Colonel, General Scaff, 
 
 Chief of Staff. 
 
 52 
 
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