MARBACHE SECTOR, NEAR PONT-A-MOUSSON—ST. MIHIEL OFFENSIVE.
During the last two days of July, 1918, the units of the brigade
entrained for a 24-hour railroad journey which took them to an area
around Nancy, with headquarters at Villers-les-Nancy, where they
remained resting and refitting until August 9, 1918.
On August 7, 1918, information was received of the promotion of Brig.
Gen. Lejeune to the grade of major general, and of Col. Neville to
the grade of brigadier general, both to date from July 1, 1918.
Col. Albertus W. Catlin arrived in the United States on board the
_America_ on August 3, 1918. Col. Catlin, having been wounded on June
6, 1918, during the first attack on Bois de Belleau, was admitted to
Hospital No. 2, Paris, France, on the next day, was discharged on
July 22, 1918, granted two months’ sick leave, and sailed for New
York from Brest, France, on July 25, 1918.
On August 5, 1918, movement of units of the brigade was started for
the occupation of the Marbache subsector, near Pont-a-Mousson, on
the Moselle River. By August 8, 1918, the movement was completed,
with Headquarters established at Scarponne just across the Moselle
River from Dieulouard. The sector was quiet and occupation uneventful
except for an enemy raid which was successfully repulsed and
prisoners captured.
On August 8, 1918, Lieut. Col. Earl H. Ellis was appointed adjutant
of the Fourth Brigade, relieving Lieut. Col. Harry R. Lay, who had
been detailed as inspector general of the Second Division.
The relief from the Marbache sector was completed on August 18, 1918,
and the brigade moved to an area about 20 kilometers southeast of
Toul, headquarters being established at Favieres. Intensive training
for the impending St. Mihiel offensive was indulged in here.
The brigade started to move from this area on the night of September
2, 1918, and after a series of night marches, during which time
headquarters were established at Pont St. Vincent, Velaine-en-Haye,
and Bouvron, the brigade arrived just outside of Manonville,
headquarters being established in Manonville. From September 12 to
16, 1918 the brigade was engaged in the St. Mihiel offensive in
the vicinity of Remenauville, Thiaucourt, Xammes, and Jaulny as a
unit of the Second Division of the First Corps of the First Army.
Headquarters during these operations were successively at 1 kilometer
north of Lironville, Thiaucourt, and finally at Manonville, on
September 16, 1918.
On September 20, 1918, the brigade moved to an area south of Toul,
with headquarters at Chaudenay. The brigade remained in this area
until September 25, 1918, when it moved by rail to an area south of
Chalons-sur-Marne, with headquarters at Sarry.