THE WAR DIARY
Just as certain individuals keep journals of their lives, so the higher military units keep diaries of their existences. “The War Diary is a record of events kept in campaign by each battalion and higher organization and by each ammunition, supply, engineer, and sanitary train. Entries are made daily and should form a concise history of the military operations. A day comprises 24 hours covered
Each day’s record will commence with a march table, or statement of the operations or location of the organization, including an account of weather, roads, camp, health of troops, etc., and a statement of the supply of ammunition, rations, and forage. This will be followed by a chronological record of events, including time and place of issue and receipt of orders and messages, with a copy or a synopsis of contents.
It is of especial importance that the exact hour and place at which movements are begun and ended, and orders or important messages sent or received be noted. After an engagement, the war diary will contain a report of losses and captures and will be accompanied by a sketch showing the positions of the command at the most important phases.
Each day’s record will be attested by the commander or by the adjutant; and, with attached copies of orders and messages sent and received, will be forwarded daily to the next higher commander, who as soon as practicable, after the receipt thereof, will forward the war diary direct to the War Department.
Commanders of armies, or of units not components of a higher command, will forward their war diaries direct to the War Department.”[18] Thus these documents become the authentic material for our military history.
To go into the War Diary more specifically, let us tabulate what we might actually state therein. We should start with the heading:
War Diary,
3d Battalion, 72d Infantry,
3 May, 1920.
The date in this case would cover the whole period from midnight May 2/3 to midnight May 3/4.
Since a march would most likely be the first happening of any note after midnight May 2/3, the diary would start with a march table.
Reveille, 3-30 a. m.
Breakfast, 3-45 a. m.
First call, 4-10 a. m.
Assembly, 4-15 a. m.
Head of column moved out, 4-17 a. m.
First Halt at SQUARE CORNERS, 5-02 a. m.
Second Halt at LIBERTY, 5-51 a. m.
Third Halt at MILES RIVER, 6-41 a. m.
Fourth Halt at SMITH’S FARM, 7-47 a. m.
Message from C. O., 72d Infantry; received 400 yards west HOPE
FARM, 8-40 a. m.
Fifth Halt at Orchard near HOPE FARM, 8-47 a. m.
Extent of march: 13-2 miles.
Went into defensive position on SILERS RIDGE at 9-15 a. m. Right of I Company at SILERS FARM—Left of M Company at rail fence corner. Began building standing trench at 9-25 a. m. Dinner, cooked ration, 11 a. m. Finished trenches, saps, and entanglements 4 p. m. Supper, 4-30 p. m. Bivouacked 800 yds. in rear of trenches at 8 p. m. Enemy’s harassing patrol wakened command at 11 p. m.; otherwise no activity.
Weather: clear and cool. Slight rain between second and third halts.
Roads: good metal roads entire march.
Camp: Bivouac grassy gentle slope—dry ground.
Water: Spring 200 yds. rear of center of position—capacity for regiment.
Health: Command generally exhausted after march with full packs and with 60 rounds per man, and especially after digging. On sick report—16; absent sick—8.
Ammunition: On hand, including amount on persons of men—118,200 rounds. 1 ammunition wagon returned to LIBERTY at 12, noon, for refilling.
Rations: 4 days’ supply on hand.
Forage: 1 day’s forage on hand. 1 wagon returned to LIBERTY at 2 p. m. to refill.
Losses: 1 private, K Company, killed by enemy’s harassing patrol.
Captures: none.
Road and Position sketches covering day’s operations enclosed.
Copies of battalion commander’s march and defense orders, also copies of one message from regimental commander, enclosed.
By order of Major Jenkins:
H. E. BOTTOMLY,
1st Lieut., Bn, Adj. 3d Bn.
The original of the above is sent to the regimental commander and a copy is retained by the battalion.
The above data, supplemented with the sketches, messages, and orders enclosed, furnish a complete history of the battalion’s doings for the day.
Blanks are furnished from the War Department from time to time to enable Adjutants (whose duty it is to keep the War Diary) to fill in the data more quickly.