THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE AMERICAN FORCES, JOHN J. PERSHING
THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLEFIELDS 1914-1918.
FOREWORD
THE present volume—No. 3 of the series: “The Americans in the Great War”—see Volumes 1 (“The Second Battle of the Marne”) and 2 (“The Battles of St. Mihiel”)—deals with the Argonne proper and with the Marshes of the Argonne, that is to say, the greater part of the country lying between the Battlefields of Champagne and Verdun, described in the Michelin Guides: “The Battles of Champagne” and “Verdun.”
The Argonne was never independent, administratively or politically. It has always been attached to a neighbouring State, large or small. Originally a border-land between Champagne and Lorraine, it belonged formerly to the three Bishoprics of Châlons, Rheims, and Verdun. Later it became the Comté of Argonne, with Sainte-Menehould as capital, but remained tributary to the three bishoprics. After the annexation of Champagne, the King of France and the Duke of Lorraine each took that part of the Argonne bordering on his territory. Later it was divided between the Province of Champagne, the Duchy of Bar, and the Duchy of Lorraine.