Hampton B. Ball's History of the 1st Battalion, 326th Infantry - 1918
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History of the 1st Bn 326 Inf. During Meuse-Argonne Offensive. [September 25 - October 4] During this period the Bn. was stationed in the woods west of [ms illegible: 1 wd] and Raucourt. The Div. was first in Army and then in Corps reserve. [October 5] Breakfast was eaten at daylight and at 7:30 hours the Bn. started north. The Reg. arrived at Camp [ms illegible: 1 wd] about 14 hours. This camp was partially occupied by Amer. Negro troops. The night was spent there. [October] 6 The Bn. left Camp [ms illegible: 1 wd] about 11 hours and arrived at a point near and east of [ms illegible: 1 wd] St. Louis about 15 hours. The Bn. pitched tents for the night there. [October 7] The day was spent in exploring old German trenches and dugouts orders to move were received at 18 hours and at 22:30 the Bn. started north. The roads were knee deep in mud and the night dark. [October 8] At bout 2 hours the Bn. armed at a point on the road southwest of [Montblainville]. The banks of the road were steep and covered with underbrush. Tents were pitched as well as possible. the kitchens arrived at daylight. At 21 hours orders were received to relieve part of 28 Div. and the Bn. started thru dark muddy roads. [October] 9, At about 5 hours the Bn. met guides from 28 Div. and by 670 hours the relief was completed. After artillery preparation and
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with artillery support the Bn. attacked at 8.30 hours. The 77 Div and French troops were on the left and 3rd Bn 326 Inf on right. Q and C Cos were in front B and D in support. [October] 10 C. Co. advancing without opposition approached La Benogene and arrived on a line east of town. Shortly afterwards American troops were seen on the hill to the west. A patrol from C. Co. met these troops, a detachment from 77 Div., in La Benogue. Shortly after all of C. Co. entered the town with the 77 Div. The town was shelled and C. Co. had heavy casualties. About 10 hours A, B, and D. Cos moved towards Marcq and entered the town at 23 hours. [October] 11 At 4 hours the Bn. moved to Pylone where the [ms illegible: 1 wd] were met and the day and night spent there. There was intermittent enemy shelling. Major [ms illegible: 1 wd] was evacuated and Capt. Knowles took command of the Bn. [October] 12 The Bn. relieved the 2nd Bn. 326 Inf the relief being completed at 19 hours. Bn. Hq and Co. B. at Marcq, and the rest of the Cos. in reserve. horses were heavy from enemy shelling with H.E. and gas. [October] 13 At about 4 hours our patrols and [ms illegible: 1 wd] reported that the enemy was massing on the north bank at the [Aisne] river, presumably for a counter attack. A machine bun barrage was immediately sent over by us and later our artillery shelled the enemy, who did not attack. Our position was continuously shelled with H.E. and gas. [October] 14 At about 7 hours the 77 Div. commenced to move North thru Marcq. This Bn. withdrew and started to move to the support of the 3rd Bn 326
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who were to example a flank attack on St. [ms illegible: 1 wd]. En route orders were received for the Bn. to proceed to Somerance and take up the position as Div. reserve. The Bn. arrived at Somerance about 22 hours having mantained severe losses on the way from enemy artillery fire. The Bn. had hardly settled for the night on the road south of Somerance, when it was subjected to heavy and accurate shelling by the enemy with severe losses. It was necessary to move at once and reach shelter. [October] 15: At 7 hours orders were received to attack. The Bn. moved north west towards St. [ms illegible: 1 wd] and relieved 3rd Bn whose front was on Hill 182 and on the line west of this Hill. Only a slight advance was made by this Bn. [October] 16. The Bn. attacked about 6 hours towards Champigneulles and advanced accross the Agron rive to the railroad cut Southwest of Champigneulles. The casualties were heavy on this date. The farthest advance of the 326 was made. Capt. Knowles was evacuated and Capt. Bain took command of the Bn. Later Capt. Bain was evacuated and Capt. Ruge arrived from Reg. Hqrs. and took Command. [October] 17. The Bn. was reorganized, the units having become badly mixed and the holes along the road were joined to form a trench. The enemy
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shelled constantly with H.E. and gas. Machine guns were swinging at the slightest movement of individuals. The rain was continuous and every one had been wet for days. [October] 18. The Bn. moved to on the road to the West and extending east from St. [ms illegible: 1 wd], orders having been that we would follow the 2nd Bn. who were to attack again. This order was countermanded and the Bn. remained in the position under constant shelling and machine gun fire. None of the officers were left all being evacuated wounded or gassed. The strength of the Bn. at this date was less than 300. [October] 19 During the night the Bn. relieved the 2nd Bn. in the front lines. [October] 20-30 the Bn. took part in [ms illegible: 6 wds] each position. The Bn. was under constant shell fire and also under observation of the enemy planes. Patrols were out every night and easily established contact with the enemy who was close in front of them. [October] 31 On the night of [October] 30/31 the Bn. was relieved by a Bn at the 77 Div., the strength then being about 180 men including 40 replacements and about 25 or 30 men who had returned from the hospital. The Bn. moved back to a position in the Argonne forest near [ms illegible: 2 wds]. On the night of the 31st Capt. Bain relieved Capt. Roge or Bn Comdr., the later being evacuated. [November] 1. The Bn moved by marching to Le Claon.
Details
| Title | Hampton B. Ball's History of the 1st Battalion, 326th Infantry - 1918 |
| Creator | Ball, Hampton B. |
| Source | Ball, Hampton B. History of the 1st Battalion, 326th Infantry. 1918. Ball, Hampton B., Papers, 1918-1919. C3935. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this 'History of the 1st Battalion, 326th Infantry' Hampton B. Ball described the actions of the 326th Infantry during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Ball, a native of Troy, Missouri, served in the 82nd Division, 326th Infantry regiment during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Division, 82nd; World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France--Meuse; Artillery; World War, 1914-1918--Trench warfare; World War, 1914-1918--Chemical warfare; Argonne, Battle of the, France, 1918; United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 326 |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Meuse-Argonne Offensive |
| Site Accession Number | C3935 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Language | English |