The Story of the First American Soldiers to Go It Alone in Banging the
Huns
Because they were recruited in the New England States, the boys of the
26th Division were known as “Yankees” or the “Yankee Division” and they
set up pretty good claim to the distinction by acts of unit heroism not
excelled for dash, daring and effective service by any troops opposed
to the Huns. The “Yankee Division” was the first of the A.E.F. to
take part in a great offensive in France. It was organized under the
command of Maj. Gen. C. R. Edwards, Aug. 13, 1917; arrived in France
in September, and in January, 1918, was undergoing special training
on the Chemin des Dames front. It was assigned to the Toul sector and
was in position by the end of March. Ten days later the enemy struck
its first serious blow at the line, “a blow which turned out to be
far more serious to the Germans than to the New Englanders.” It was
the beginning of the five days fight known as the battle of Apremont,
though it really was the battle of Bois Brulé, the worst of the fight
being in the “burned wood” on the hill top where the 104th Regiment was
stationed. In an article in the Boston _Globe_ devoted to the 26th,
Willard F. De Lue says:
“From the very first day there had been artillery-action; in fact, the
Boche set up a row while the Yankees were coming into the line, before
they got their packs off. Now, at five o’clock in the morning of April
10, the Germans sent over a body of seven hundred or eight hundred
picked shock-troops against Colonel Shelton’s boys.
“But the Yankee artillery got the jump on them, and opened up with a
barrage that couldn’t have been better. It smashed the Germans’ attack
so badly that it broke down, and for the rest of that day, and for two
more, the Boches were content to throw over a heavy artillery fire.
“On the 13th, however, they were at it again. This time they planned
a little better. The center of the assault was directed against the
French units on the left of the 104th, and it wasn’t long before they
sent over a hurry call for a counter-attack by the Yanks. The 104th
responded handsomely. They swept through Bois Brulé right on to the
German flank, and relieved the pressure on the French line. But by that
time their own flank was threatened. So the Yanks suddenly changed
direction, and attacked by their own flank—a difficult maneuver, but
beautifully executed.
[Illustration:
_Courtesy World’s Work._