Sidelights on Negro Soldiers

by Charles H. Williams

The 372nd Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Stuart, Newport News, in January, 1918, of infantry troops from the First Separate Battalion of Washington, D. C., the Ninth Separate Battalion of Ohio, First Separate Company I of Maryland, First Separate Company K of Tennessee, First Separate Company M of Connecticut, and Company L of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment. These organizations had survived since the Spanish-American War by reason of the enthusiasm of a few commanders who had held them together from year to year in spite of handicaps, until the call to arms in 1917.

Every one of these units had made an interesting record. The First Separate Battalion of Washington was the first unit of district guardsmen to be mobilized for duty on the Mexican Border in 1916. It served for four months, spending a part of the time at Naco, Ariz., where it guarded waterworks. On March 29, 1917, just before the United States entered the war, it was mustered into the Federal service and called to guard the White House, the Capitol, and other Government buildings and railroad properties around Washington. The Ninth Ohio Battalion was composed of companies from Springfield, Cleveland, and Columbus. It was called to the mobilization center in 1916, but was not ordered to the border. In July, 1917, when the regiment was called to service, efforts were made to raise it to war strength, which was finally reached at Camp Stuart. The First Separate Company of Maryland was organized in the 80’s by Capt. William R. Spencer, who commanded it for nearly thirty years. In 1917 it first went to Pittsburgh for guard duty, but later was sent to Camp McClellan, Anniston, Ala., where it served at the remount station until it was ordered to France. While at Camp McClellan it participated in a review of thirty-five thousand men and was conceded by the reviewers to be the best drilled company in the line of march. Company K of Tennessee, commanded by Captain Hadley, was the only National Guard company of Negro men in the South. It trained at Camp Sevier, Greenville, S. C., before joining the 372nd at Newport News. Company M of Connecticut was one of the two National Guard companies in New England composed of Negro men. During the years of its existence it trained in camp with the Connecticut National Guard, which as early as 1904 it accompanied to Manassas, Va., for the Bull Run sham battle. During the maneuvers an unfortunate incident occurred, two troopers in the unit opposing this company being injured, and it was withdrawn from further participation in the event. Company L, of the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, was the only Negro company attached to a white regiment in the United States; and William J. Williams, the first captain, was the first Negro to receive that commission in the United States Volunteer Army. This company served in the Spanish-American War, and it was mustered into the Federal service on the day that the United States declared war on Germany. It was first sent to Fort Smith, N. H., where it remained until July. Thence it was moved successively to Framingham, Ayer, the Watertown Arsenal, where it was raised to war strength, then to Westfield, and thence to Camp Greene, Charlotte, N. C. In January, 1918, it was ordered to Camp Stuart to join the other National Guard units preparatory to the formation of the 372nd Regiment under the command of Colonel Glendie B. Young. While organization was being completed, the men were given three months of intensive training in all forms of offensive and defensive tactics.

On March 30 the regiment sailed for France, arriving at St. Nazaire on April 13. It was stationed in one of the rest camps outside the city, details doing stevedore work at Montoir until the 21st, when the regiment was ordered to the Givry-en-Argonne training area, where it was billeted at Condé-en-Barrois. Under French officers intensive instruction was given in the use of hand and rifle grenades, machine-guns and automatic rifles, trench construction and battle formations; and during this period the regiment was reorganized in accordance with the French table of organization and became an integral part of the 63rd Division of the French Army.

Leaving Condé-en-Barrois on May 27, the 372nd proceeded to towns in the Meuse and Vosges Departments, there to await operation orders. These were received on June 6, the different battalions being assigned to the sub-sector Argonne (Meuse), which was placed under the command of Colonel Young. The First Battalion was located at La Noue and Les Islettes as reserve to the 63rd Division, the Second at Camp Kapp and Basse Chevrie, and the Third at Courtes Chousses. There were no large offensive operations in this sector, but patrols from both sides gave the regiment its first real opportunity to see modern warfare.

On June 21 the 372nd was transferred from the 63rd to the 35th French Division, the latter having relieved the 63rd. On June 27 the commanding officer of the 35th Division ordered the 372nd to relieve the 123rd French R. I. in the Vauquois Sector (Meuse). This relief, which was made by the battalions going into the line separately, continued until July 3, when it was completed. On July 2 the regiment was again transferred, this time to the 157th “Red Hand” Division. It was immediately ordered to occupy new positions in support, and from July 11 to 14 it relieved the 49th French R. I. in sub-sector Courcelles. The First Battalion on the night of the 11th moved to Bois de Fenchères, the Second and supply company on the following night to Camp Demougin at Brabant, and the Third and headquarters company to Lochères. On July 4, 1918, Colonel Herschel Tupes relieved Colonel Young in the command of the regiment.

The 372nd moved into second-line positions on July 18. The First Battalion was stationed at sub-sector West, the Second at Vigneville, and the Third at Bois de Bethelainsville. On the 26th the regiment moved into a sub-sector of Hill 304 in the Verdun region, where it relieved the 333rd French Regiment. This relief was completed on the 28th, with the First Battalion in the front line left of sub-sector 304, the Second on the right of 304, and the Third in reserve at Camp Dormandie. The regiment remained in the Verdun region throughout the month of August. Here it took part in no offensive operations except active patrol duty; yet the men were under constant bombardment, which made the line of communication difficult to hold in order. Detachments took part in two attacks, which were accompanied by artillery operation put over by the 333rd French Regiment. On both occasions the men of the 372nd were praised for their conduct under fire. Sub-sector 304 was organized and consolidated for the first time by this regiment.

While in this sector the Negro officers, many of whom had been with their units for years, were removed. It was natural that the removal of those who had helped to organize and promote their organizations should affect the morale of the regiment for a time, but the men finally adjusted themselves to the changes and the work of the regiment proceeded.

On September 8 the 129th U. S. Infantry relieved the 372nd. The battalions marched to Bois de Brocourt and Bois de Fouchères, where they remained until September 12, when orders arrived to leave for the training area in Brienne le Château. Four days later they were ordered by train to Vitry-le-François in Haute-Marne, and thence they proceeded by night marches through Jussacourt, Contault-le-Maupas, Dommartin-sur-Yevre, and Mes Maigneaux to Hans, ten kilometers west of Ste. Menehould, where they arrived on September 25.

In the big offensive the attack which had been scheduled for the Fourth Army began at 5.25 on the morning of September 26. The mission of the 157th French Division was “to exploit the successes after the initial breaking through attack had attained the assigned objectives.” The 372nd was ordered to advance at 3 in the afternoon. The headquarters and headquarters company occupied the north bank of Marson Brook, and the three battalions were on the south of the brook. On the 27th the First and Third Battalions marched north to new positions in Ravin d’Hébaterne, while the Second Battalion was held in reserve for the 157th Division. On the 28th the Second Battalion advanced to Ripont by Corduroy road. The Third was ordered to attack north of Ripont Rouvroy road, which it did at 11.30. Stubborn resistance was offered by the enemy from their entrenchments on Crete-des-Observatoires, but after hard fighting, which lasted the entire afternoon, this position was rushed and cleared. The Third Battalion captured in this advance 60 prisoners, one 105-calibre field-gun, two 77-calibre field-guns, 2 anti-tank rifles, and large quantities of material and small arm ammunition. The Third Battalion continued its advance until night, reaching the woods south of Bussy Farm, three and a half kilometers north of Ripont. Its ranks had been greatly depleted in the day’s operations.

On September 29 the First Battalion was ordered to attack towards Moulin, L’Avébrune, and then towards Challerange, but after starting the attack it was obliged to leave its direction of attack and advance toward Sechault because of the strong resistance from that direction. The town was finally captured, the First Battalion of the 372nd assisting. Because of the casualties suffered by the First and Third Battalions, they were ordered at nightfall to the woods south of Bussy Farm, where they were reorganized into one provisional battalion.