The 367th Infantry came into existence at Camp Upton, N. Y., during
the latter part of October, 1917. Sixty per cent of the soldiers who
composed this regiment were from the State of New York, the South
furnished 20 per cent, while the remainder came from New England
and the West. It was commanded by Colonel Moss, a regular army man,
originally from Louisiana, and an authority on military tactics, having
published several books on the subject. He took charge of the regiment
on November 2, 1917, and spent the winter in giving it what is said to
have been the most thorough training of all the drafted regiments. He
also christened the organization with the name of Buffaloes; this name
had been given to colored soldiers by the Indians, in the early western
pioneer days, when colored troops made it so interesting for the Red
Men in frontier warfare, as to remind them of the buffaloes of their
own great western plains. The name was finally adopted by the entire
92nd Division.
[Illustration: SCENE OF DEVASTATION IN WAR-TORN FRANCE]
On June 10, 1918, the regiment embarked for France, landing at Brest
on June 19. They rested for a few days in dog tents, pitched on the
cold wet ground at Camp Pontanezen, and then entrained for Haute
Saone, where they were given seven weeks’ intensive training in trench
warfare and gas instruction, along with the other regiments of the
92nd Division. Several officers, both white and colored, were given
additional training in the American Training School at Gondrecourt.
On August 22, the regiment took over its first trenches at the front in
the Vosges Sector, where they remained until September 18, during which
time numerous raids, patrols, etc., were planned and executed.
One of the interesting things that happened to them while in this
sector, was the dropping of propaganda literature from German aircraft.
The following circular was picked up by them on September 3, 1918:
TO THE COLORED SOLDIERS OF THE UNITED
STATES ARMY
“Hello, boys, what are you doing over here? Fighting the Germans?
Why? Have they ever done you any harm? Of course some white folks and
the lying English-American papers told you that the Germans ought
to be wiped out for the sake of humanity and Democracy. What is
Democracy? Personal freedom; all citizens enjoying the same rights
socially and before the law. Do you enjoy the same rights as the
white people do in America, the land of freedom and Democracy, or are
you not rather treated over there as second class citizens?
“Can you get into a restaurant where white people dine? Can you get
a seat in a theatre where white people sit? Can you get a seat or a
berth in a railroad car, or can you even ride in the South in the
same street car with the white people?
“And how about the law? Is lynching and the most horrible crimes
connected therewith, a lawful proceeding in a Democratic country? Now
all this is entirely different in Germany, where they do like colored
people; where they treat them as gentlemen and as white men, and
quite a number of colored people have fine positions in business in
Berlin and other German cities. Why, then, fight the Germans only for
the benefit of the Wall Street robbers, and to protect the millions
that they have loaned to the English, French, and Italians?
“You have been made the tool of the egotistic and rapacious rich in
America, and there is nothing in the whole game for you but broken
bones, horrible wounds, spoiled health, or death. No satisfaction
whatever will you get out of this unjust war. You have never seen
Germany, so you are fools if you allow people to make you hate us.
Come over and see for yourself. Let those do the fighting who make
the profit out of this war. Don’t allow them to use you as cannon
fodder.
“To carry a gun in this service is not an honor but a shame. Throw
it away and come over to the German lines. You will find friends who
will help you.”
After leaving the Vosges Sector, the organization was sent to the
Marbache Sector, where it joined the other regiments of the 92nd
Division just outside of Toul. It was here that the First Battalion
distinguished itself by coming to the rescue of the 56th Infantry on
the left. Captain Morris, and Lieutenants Hunton, Dabney, and Davidson
were instrumental in having the terrific fire which was being directed
at the regiment, turned onto their own organization, thus enabling the
suffering troops to retire to safety; they were at the same time able
to hold their own ground and take over the territory of the retiring
soldiers. For this action the Battalion was cited in glowing terms by
a French General, and awarded the Croix de Guerre. It was also given
special mention by Major General Ballou.
Staff officers of this regiment tried very hard to prevent entrance
of men into French homes. One medical sergeant tells of order issued
in French and English, fixing penalty for such at living on bread and
water in pup tents for 24 hours, and being forced to hike 18 miles with
pack.
After the signing of the Armistice, the regiment was sent to the
forwarding camp at Le Mans. Here some interesting things happened by
way of race discrimination. On January 21, 1919, General Pershing made
a visit to the camp for the purpose of reviewing the troops. Following
is a memorandum posted for the benefit of the colored troops: