coordinates on the map of place of burial with name and identification tags. On September 17th,
Chaplain Charles P. Priest was assigned and joined the Regiment and immediately became absorbed in
the work of searching out and burying the dead, thus giving Chaplain Hoon his much needed assistance.
The works of Chaplains Hoon and Priest in these trying days in caring for the dead and giving moral
support to the living is praised by all. Chaplain Hoon was wounded in the execution of his duties and
evacuated October 27th. Chaplain Priest was cited in Division Orders for gallantry. Later he was
wounded in execution of his duty and evacuated to a hospital where he died of his wound. Later he was
awarded a Posthumous Distinguished Service Cross.
On September 25, 1918, Captain George B. Danenhour (Now Major) Commanding Company B,
was ordered to form a raiding party of 500 men to raid the Hindenburg Line west of Preny and Pagny.
There being less than 500 men in the 1st Battalion, 30 men from Company L, were sent to make up the
necessary strength of two companies, 250 men per company. Captain H. N. Peters commanded the left
company and 1st Lt. John P. Woods commanded the right company. The object of this raid was to hold
the enemy troops in this sector or even to draw support to the sector. It was also meant as a feint and
was part of the plan of the general attack which was being started in the Argonne by the entire Allied
forces, and in which the Regiment was to later take a more important and direct part.
The artillery fire began at 23 hour September 25th, and lasted six hours. At 22 hour 40 minutes
the enemy threw a creeping barrage on the outpost sector but did not penetrate the line. At 5 hour of the
26th, the raiding party began to advance from the edge of the woods in a northerly direction approaching
a hill and a camouflaged road extending southwest from Preny. The four platoons of the assaulting wave
advanced about 500 yards in the face of a great number of enemy machine guns and under extremely
heavy artillery fire. The enemy positions at this point were so arranged as to be almost a death trap.
The troops could be fired at from all directions by the enemy machine guns, and the enemy batteries of
77's and 150 caliber from the direction of Pagny were firing with open sights with disastrous results.
The raiding party suffered such tremendous casualties it was compelled to withdraw, and this was the
only engagement by the Regiment in which the wounded and dead were left to fall into the hands of the
enemy and forced the regiment to mark after the names of these gallant men the word “Missing”.
Among those thus classed were Captain Herbert N. Peters and Lt. Gilbreath, who fell at such positions
in the trenches as to make it impossible to reach them. Captain Peters was awarded a Posthumous
Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry in this raid. This raid though short in duration was very
costly, the Battalion having tremendous casualties in these few minutes.
As our troops were withdrawn to their original positions the enemy began massing their men
along the camouflaged road as if they were preparing a counterattack, and if they had known how thinly
the woods were held and that the 3rd Battalion had been called from its outpost position to support the
1st Battalion they would undoubtedly have attacked. The woods, wet with the daily rains, offered an
excellent opportunity for the Germans to drench them with mustard gas, which they proceeded to take
advantage of causing many additional casualties among our troops.
The success of the regiment during this month was largely due to the untiring devotion to duty of
the officers and to the initiative, and good judgment and courage of the non-commissioned officers and
privates, for in the woods it was impossible for the officers personally to handle their companies. While
in training all the non-commissioned officers had not had the responsibility or the opportunity to the
develop leadership, yet when responsibility was thrown upon them they met the situation with
promptness and courage worthy of the best traditions of American soldiers. Much credit is due to the
men of the Medical Corps and the Ambulance Drivers for the brave and efficient work they performed
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