Colonel Duncan, commanding the Third Battalion, was ordered on September 30 to attack along the canal from Mont des Singes to the Pinon Braucourt road. The fighting in this section continued until the evening of October 4 before it was certain that the enemy had been driven across the canal. During this advance the patrols of the regiment were out nightly around L’Écluse and along the canal. The 370th drove the enemy from this triangle several times, but it was difficult to remain where it was as it was the target of severe artillery and machine fire from two directions. This attack of the 30th is memorable in the annals of the 370th as it was against the Hindenburg line and was driving back the famous Prussian Guard, the flower of Emperor William’s army. On account of the orders’ being delayed in transmission, the advance started in broad daylight. It was led by Colonels Roberts and Duncan with other officers close by their sides. As they passed through a shell-torn ravine, German machine-gun bullets rained upon them, but they pressed forward, finally engaging in a hand-to-hand struggle and driving the enemy before them. The fact that some of the new troops got separated from their units in the night caused the rumor to be circulated that the regiment as a whole was demoralized. This was found to be not true, as all the objectives were gained and the morale of the men in the front line was good at all times.

The regiment took part in the general advance of the division on October 12, pushing back the German line 70 kilometers. In this advance the cities of Laon and Crépy were captured. The First and Second Battalions were complimented by the commanding general, the First for its passage of the strong position in Bois de Mortier and its successful reaching of its objective, and the Second for a well conducted march in pursuit of the enemy via Anizyle-Château to Cessières, which was reached late on the night of the 12th. Here the division stopped for twelve days, ten of which were spent in cleaning the town and the last two in supplying the men with much needed clothing. During these days the First and Second Battalions were in the St. Gobain forest and the Third at Mauneux Farm.

After this brief period of rest from fighting, the division went into the front line again, the First and Second Battalions going in near Grandliep, with the Third in reserve near Chambrey. There were no engagements between October 24 and November 3, but on the latter date a large shell fell and exploded in the midst of Company A at Chautrud Farm where the men were gathered around the kitchen. Thirty-four were killed and fifty-two wounded.

On November 5 the enemy began a general withdrawal with the French following closely. The three battalions of the 370th continued in pursuit, alternating in the front line position. Company C of the First Battalion, Captain James H. Smith commanding, took a German battery consisting of three field pieces (77 cannon) and two machine-guns, for which it was proposed for an army citation. The Second Battalion helped to take Beaume and Aubenton, while the Third had crossed the Belgian frontier when the Armistice was signed. On November 10 the regiment celebrated the evacuation of Signy le Petit, a town which had been occupied for four years by the Germans, who marched out four hours before the parade through the town with a French soldier carrying the Stars and Stripes and Color-Sergeant Mark P. Freeman, a Negro, carrying the Tricolor of France.

After the Armistice the regiment did road work and fatigue duty, cleaning up the villages and towns where it was stationed. With the French the relations were always most cordial; all had been comrades, working and fighting together for a great cause. In spite of the difficulties of language, which were often serious, the regiment showed marked improvement as the operations progressed. It played an important part in the activity of the division, as its numerical strength was nearly half of that of the infantry of the whole. During most of the advance to the Ailette and north of the Hindenburg line, the battalion operated separately, but for three weeks in front of the Ailette the regiment functioned as an organization, and it did as much work as any other regiment in the 59th Division. Valuable and necessary service was also rendered by 125 men of the regiment’s depot company who were attached to the divisional artillery, and by 75 who were attached to the engineers.

On the day that the armistice was signed General Vincenden commended the men of the 59th Division for helping to vanquish “the most powerful instrument of conquest that a nation could forge.” In referring to the “Black Devils,” he said: “The 370th R. I. U. S. has contributed largely to the success of the 59th Division and has taken in bitter strife both cannon and machine-guns. Its units, fired by a noble ardor, go at times even beyond the objectives given by the higher command; they have always wished to be in the front lines, for the place of honor is in the leading rank. They have shown, in the course of our advance, that they are worthy of being there.” As the officers and men were leaving the French command, he further thanked and commended them in General Order No. 4785, which especially complimented the intrepidity of Colonel Duncan and said to the men in closing: “The blood of your comrades who fell on the soil of France, mixed with the blood of our soldiers, renders indissoluble the bonds of affection that unite us. We have, besides, the pride of having worked together at a magnificent task, and the pride of bearing on our foreheads the ray of a common grandeur.”

Prominent among those to whom these words were addressed and among those who received citations were Sergeant Charles T. Monroe of the Headquarters Company of the regiment, Sergeant Mathew Jenkins of Company F, and First Lieut. William J. Warfield of Company L. Sergeant Monroe displayed extraordinary heroism in action at Mont-de-Sanges, September 24, 1918. A private at the time, in the absence of a platoon commander he took charge of a platoon of Stokes mortars, directing the work of the men under heavy shell fire. Although the shelling was at times so intense that the guns were buried, Sergeant Monroe and his men worked unceasingly in placing them back in action. He himself was buried by the explosion of a shell, but on being dug out, continued to direct the work of his men and to inspire them by his fearless example. Sergeant Jenkins, on September 20, 1918, was in command of a detachment that was ordered to attack the German line. After rescuing, under fire, a wounded comrade, he charged with his detachment, took a fortified tunnel, and, being far in advance of his lines and without rations and ammunition, held the position for more than thirty-six hours until relieved, making use of captured guns and ammunition to repel the attacks made upon him. Lieutenant Warfield’s exploit took place near Ferme de la Rivière, September 28, 1918. Although separated with his platoon from the company, he continued to lead a stubborn resistance against enemy machine-gun nests, successfully capturing a gun and killing the crew. Although severely wounded, he still continued to command, refusing relief until his objective was reached. Altogether the regiment received twenty-one Distinguished Service Crosses, sixty-eight French Croix de Guerre, and one Distinguished Service Medal.

The 370th was released from the French command and returned to the American Army December 12, 1918. After the change it encamped at Soissons until December 23, then at Le Mans until January 8, 1919, and then at Brest until February 1, when it sailed for America, arriving at Camp Upton nine days later. As the men of the 370th turned towards their native land, they did so with pride in the achievements of their regiment and with the knowledge that it had lived up to its tradition. It had served on two fronts and had participated in the Oisne-Aisne offensive, the last great battle of the war. While patrols had gone forth both day and night, only one man had been taken prisoner. Because of such a record, all Chicago turned out on February 17 to do honor to the “Old 8th.” Offices and stores were closed for the day, bells and whistles welcomed the heroes home, and at the Coliseum, where the regiment went after leaving the station, thousands gathered that they might see the war-scarred and medal-bedecked soldiers and hear something of their experiences. After this great meeting, there was in the afternoon a regimental parade down Michigan Avenue in full war equipment, amid the plaudits of all Chicago. At the close of the parade the regiment entrained for Camp Grant at Rockford for demobilization. This was completed March 12, and thus the noble record of the 370th became history.

371ST INFANTRY

The 371st Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel P. L. Miles, was organized and trained at Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. C. It was composed mainly of North and South Carolina men and was officered largely by Southerners. The commanding officer was interested in the welfare of his men, so also were many of the junior officers; and in spite of some discouraging circumstances the soldiers were faithful in their work. Especially had there been strong protest against having Negroes trained in Columbia; but in the end all such fears proved to be unwarranted, as the conduct of the men was above reproach. At the end of their training period citizens from all walks of life gave testimony to the fact that they had been a credit to their race and to the uniform they wore, and the Columbia State said that South Carolina was proud of the regiment and that when the men went to France they would carry with them the best wishes, the prayers, and the blessing of the best people of the state.