Folder 35

General note:

Nov 11. Letter to Father from Springfield. Begins with morning of Nov 8; their battalion took the lead because the colonel had faith in Bootz who was their acting major; orders were to push hard and get through no matter what the cost and get to the Meuse even if only one man made it which seemed like a “childish” order to him; met heavy artillery resistance in rough terrain from the other side of the river, also met with gun fire; tells how an officer joined them from the same hospital where Donovan was convalescing and told him how Donovan had been enthusiastic over Wheatley’s conduct on Oct. 14th and 15th which made him feel good; soon they were advancing in the open where they were met with heavy gun fire and took losses but the only contact he had was the “laces in his breeches were cut” without any harm; Germans withdrew and several surrendered before they came upon more resistance and ammunition exhausted; decided to rush using bayonets even though they had asked for relief; many Germans retreated although some bayoneted ; they reached a ridge and could see the Meuse, reorganized and went forward; patrol from 1st Division ran into them; after Armistice there was discussion who reached that point first, them or 1st Division which made the claim; he states they knew they were first. Their other battalion arrived and took the lead towards the river when the met heavy artillery fire from the other side; settled for the night and received orders that the French were going to relieve them; they were opposite Sedan; headquarters found out Germans pulling back, French given honor to move forward and they began their movement towards the rear, “the fighting of the 165th Infantry over for all time.” Ends letter stating his suitcase arrived but stuff was gone, replaced with junk; asks Father to look in his desk for his discharge papers and wants to find out name and rank of officer who paid him last at Camp Devens.

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