Sidelights on Negro Soldiers

by Charles H. Williams

Just before the regiment left for overseas, the colored citizens of Columbia presented it with a flag (March 27, 1918). As the men marched through the principal street of Columbia in full uniform, they presented a wonderful spectacle. The transformation that had been wrought in many of them was almost unbelievable, and mothers, fathers, wives, and friends came from far to see their kinsmen on parade. After receiving the flag the regiment returned to camp, but it was soon on its way to France. William Slovens McNutt, in writing about its departure from Camp Jackson, said that while he was with some officers he heard a great shout outside and the thump, thump, thump of marching soldiers. On looking out he saw a Negro regiment passing in full array. The whole camp was quiet, and the only sound was that of the marching and the cracking of the packs. The black men from the cotton-fields were on their way to France. A big Mississippian standing near swore growlingly under his breath, gulped, and said: “I’m done talking about niggers. These boys have been fine soldiers here, and if they ever get back from France, I’m big enough to lick any man who don’t give ’em a square deal.” Then a soft, quavery voice somewhere in the ranks began the hymn, “Will there be any stars in my crown?” Others took it up, and soon the whole regiment was singing the old church song as the men tramped their solemn way out of camp to put their bodies to the chance of war on a foreign field.

The regiment sailed from Newport News April 9, 1918, arriving at Brest on the 23rd. For three days the men drilled, worked, and rested before their next journey to Rembercourt, the training area. One of its first duties was to clean up Rembercourt, and the soldiers were interested to find that the French people would not allow them to remove the cobwebs from the old barns used as billets because of the superstition that their removal would bring harm to the family. Some companies were trained at Marats-le-Grand and others at Marats-le-Petit in the Rembercourt area. Here under French instructors they did intensive work, learning the French system, and the rapidity with which they absorbed the new methods gratified both the French and the American officers. It took the men some time to get used to the French rations, and Colonel Miles meanwhile forbade the sale of French wines or any form of intoxicant to the men in his charge.

The 371st was assigned to the 157th French Division. Its training period lasted until June 6, when it was ordered to the St. Mihiel sector to join the 38th Division. While it was proceeding to carry out the orders and the regimental commander was making reconnaissance of the sector, the order was rescinded and the regiment was directed to return to the 13th French Army Corps. It then marched to Sivry-la-Perche, Bois Bourrus, Vigneville, and Bois de Bethlainville, where it supported the 68th Division from June 13 to June 22.

On the nights of June 22 and 23 the headquarters company of the First Battalion entered the front line of the Avocourt sub-sector, west of Hill 304, for its first experience in modern warfare. After July 14 the regiment moved into the Varrieres sub-sector in the same vicinity, and the Second and Third Battalions were in support. In this sector the regiment remained until September 14, most of the time with two battalions in the line and one in support, although for a short time the entire regiment was in the front line. During these days there was some nervousness on the part of the troops as they were constantly expecting an attack; but it did not take them long to become accustomed to the artillery fire, and their nonchalant attitude won for them the admiration and the confidence of the French officers.

The supporting battalion did the night work on the defenses destroyed by the artillery fire, and its nearness to the front line prevented any training of the regiment in offensive action. Outpost duty was done, and at one time the 371st covered as much as five kilometers, which was its own front and half the front of the 333rd French Infantry at its left. There were occasional raiding parties and nightly patrols, and daily there was harassing fire in the sector. Some men were killed or wounded in these raids, but on the other hand some prisoners were taken, much to the satisfaction of the French command.

The 371st, though inexperienced in war, occupied and defended its sectors, and provided for all means of liaison and supply just as a French infantry regiment was expected to do. More and more its discipline improved. On September 14 it was taken from the Verdun region by trucks to Helitz-l’Évêque, Champagne, for two weeks of training in offensive action, but on the first day of training new orders came and the regiment marched to Somme Bionne, Champagne, in the area of the great offensive which was to start on September 26. On the night of the 26th the regiment marched from the old French line at Boyan to Butte de Mesnil. At 12.30 on the 27th it was ordered to a position in readiness behind the crest line facing north between Butte de Mesnil and Maison Champagne Ferme. A position astride the Ripont-Gratevil road was reached before daylight. There was heavy gun fire and there were six casualties in the course of the march.

In accordance with operation order No. 20, issued by the 157th Division, the First Battalion of the 371st Infantry attacked at 6.45 o’clock on September 28 on a front of 500 meters on the axis Ripont, Bussy Farm, les Petit Rosières, between the 161st French Division on the right and the 2nd Moroccan Division on the left. Major Joseph B. Pate, commanding the First Battalion of the 371st, was ordered to fill an interval that was reported to have occurred between the 161st and the 2nd Moroccan Division. On receiving information from the commander on the right that no gap existed, the First Battalion attacked at the hour set, but machine-guns held up the advance for a while and caused a large number of casualties. At daylight it was discovered that the gap did exist, but defective liaison prevented getting the necessary aid or artillery support. As a result machine-gun nests had to be taken with rifle and bayonet at a heavy cost.

The French and the 371st, advancing on Hill 188, withdrew and marched to the right flank around the hill, as it was filled with machine-gun nests. The hill was finally taken by the First Battalion of the 371st with the assistance of a battalion of the 372nd Infantry. This encounter will always be remembered by the 371st, as it was here that the regiment lost the greatest number of men. Machine-gun fire swept the crest of the hill, but even this did not stop the advance. When night came a position had been reached 400 meters south of Le Pied.

Personal reconnaissance by the commander of the Second Battalion determined that Bussy Farm had been evacuated by the enemy. Acting in accordance with orders from the 157th Division, the Third Battalion of the 371st occupied this farm at 7 o’clock on the morning of September 29. At 9.15 on the same morning the entire regiment advanced in a column of battalions on a front of 500 meters’ distance between the battalions and 500 meters from the 372nd Infantry on the right and the 333rd French Infantry on the left. The Third Battalion of the 371st captured the villages of Ardeuil, Montfauxelle, and the railroad station, yards, and shops just north of Montfauxelle; and the advance of the regiment halted at these places for the night. During this advance Company K of the Third Battalion was on the extreme left near the French unit. Both were subjected to heavy fire from the hills before them. Captain Chester D. Heywood, who commanded the company, ordered an attack to clear the hill. This was successful, and thirty-five prisoners, including three officers, a 77 M. M. cannon with its ammunition, and a number of machine-guns were captured. On September 30 the regiment advanced in the same formation as on the preceding day, with the Third, Second, and First Battalions from front to rear in the order given. Trières Farm was captured by the Third Battalion, which was far in advance of the troops on its right and left. While in this position it was subjected to heavy fire and there were heavy losses. The Second Battalion was deployed to the right and met the same opposition.

On October 1 at 5 o’clock the regiment was relieved of front line duty and carried to the rear to reorganize. There it remained until October 6. Before entering the great Champagne campaign it had had no training in offensive operations for battalions, and the signal platoon had had experience only in a defensive sector. Lack of training on the part of the signal platoon prevented the regiment from obtaining artillery assistance even sometimes when it was sorely needed in the advance. In spite of this handicap the regiment carried the attack forward in advance of adjacent troops. No French troops led the way for the 371st. It marched into battle and maintained its approach formation under heavy fire without faltering. Many officers stayed at their posts even when wounded, continually encouraging their men; and on the other hand there were numerous acts of heroism and devotion to duty on the part of the men.