Letter to General John J. Pershing from General Enoch H. Crowder - October 15, 1918
Transcript
October 15, 1918 General John J. Pershing, American Expeditionary Forces, France. My dear Pershing: Marshall Bullitt, who you will recall as Solicitor General of the Department of Justice under the Taft administration, saw me yesterday en route to your headquarters in response to an imperative summons from Davison, President of the Red Cross, who is at the present time with you abroad. Bullitt stopped long enough to explain how much he would prefer a legal appointment which he asked for a year ago and which was denied him. Bullitt is a man eminent at the bar of the United States. It would not have been possible to have appointed his superior. I have told him that just as soon as he had reported and arranged to the satisfaction of the Red Cross authorities and yourself for his successor I would act favorably and with great promptness upon your recommendation that he be appointed a Major and Judge Advocate. On all the great legal questions that have arisen or may arise in the aftermath of the war you could have no man at your service with broader and keener legal vision. Please take what I here say seriously. The country is wonderfully wrought up over the performances of your army. Their confidence in the American soldier and in yourself knows no limit. I am glad from the bottom of my heart to testify as to this and to tell you further how glad I was that you did not lose control of your line of communications, under what I know was a very determined assault. You seem to have handled affairs in that quarter quite as well as you handled St. Mihiel, so we will let the record stand there. On September 12th I registered slightly more than thirteen million men. I immediately set out on a 100-Day Drive to classify them militarily and industrially in that period. I am going to finish well within the period; indeed, have substantial progress to report right now. You need never contemplate a failure of our men. The influenza has arrested mobilization during this month, but I shall resume the November acquisition just as soon as conditions abate with an ample supply of men in Class 1 now assured as well as the requisition for this month and all subsequent months. Whether, when my detail expires on February 15th, I go back to the grade of Colonel is not yet determined. I have little doubt what the recommendation of the Chief of Staff will be. Baker returned yesterday but I have not seen him.
Transcript
[page 2] Yesterday the President sent his second note to Germany and succeeded in making it clearer than in the first note that we are standing for a complete result. It is, however, a little difficult to bridge the chasm between
Details
| Title | Letter to General John J. Pershing from General Enoch H. Crowder - October 15, 1918 |
| Creator | Crowder, Enoch H. |
| Source | Crowder, Enoch H. Letter to General John J. Pershing from General Enoch H. Crowder. 15 October 1918. Crowder, Enoch H. (1859-1932), Papers, 1884-1942. C1046. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | General Enoch H. Crowder communicated to General John J. Pershing the work he had encountered in registering almost 13 million men. Crowder also discussed Perishing's progress abroad, and the possible end of the war. This document is part of a collection compiled by Enoch Herbert Crowder, the Edinburg, Grundy County, Missouri native who served as Judge Advocate General. Crowder devised the Selective Service Act in 1917 which drafted America's forces during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | Crowder, E. H. (Enoch Herbert), 1859-1932; Draft; Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948; Saint-Mihiel, Battle of, Saint-Mihiel, France, 1918. |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Selective Service Act of 1917; Selective Draft Act |
| Site Accession Number | C1046 |
| 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. |
| Date Original | October 15, 1918 |
| Language | English |