and artillery fire of the enemy and how it was impossible for any troops to advance against it, but in
spite of these stories and in spite of the fact that the woods were full of dead Germans and Americans
the regiment supported the daylight attack of the 357th Infantry on October 23rd, as they pushed
forward into Bantheville. That night orders were received to advance without artillery preparation in
conjunction with the 7th Infantry on our right and the 357th Infantry on the left. Companies I and K
were to make this advance for the regiment. They advanced from the Bois de Rappe over a kilometer,
receiving heavy fire from the right. When it was found that they alone had been able to go forward they
were forced to stop their advance, which they did just at daylight, and took up a position across the creek
and along the road to the west of Aincreville.
Here again was an opportunity given for the men of the regiment to show what was in them. The
order to advance was given after midnight. The men of these companies leaving their shell holes in the
blackness of the night advanced in the face of machine-gun fire and with every opportunity for dropping
behind and of getting lost, but when the check was made at daylight no stragglers were reported. All
had had the courage to go forward in spite of many plausible excuses for getting lost. During this period
there was intense artillery fire over the whole regimental area. The newspapers were announcing that
the enemy was short of ammunition especially the artillery, but here it seemed that they had an
overabundance of all kinds of ammunition. It was in this position that considerable losses in killed and
wounded were sustained from heavy artillery bombardment, machine gun fire and rifle snipers. The
enemy had taken every advantage of the terrain, which specially favored the defense by using machine
guns and artillery at short range. Under very adverse conditions this position was held until relieved by
the 359th Infantry on October 30th, the relief being successfully made without any losses.
The Regiment thought it would have the honor of taking Sedan, but the enemy artillery
continuing to arrest the right flank, and for some reason the army to the east failing to take care of this
artillery, our direction of attack was changed. The division itself started toward Dun-sur-Meuse to
capture the dominating heights of the Meuse held by the enemy.
The Regiment had suffered very heavy casualties not only in its losses of men but in its loss of
officers as well, and Colonel Leary in command, realizing the value of the work of the officers yet
remaining, had on October 17th, made recommendations for their promotion based on gallantry in
action. The promotions were secured on October 29th, giving the 1st and 2nd Battalions each a new
Major, promoted from Captaincy, and to the Regiment twelve Captains promoted from 1st Lieutenants,
and twenty 1st Lieutenants promoted from 2nd Lieutenants.
At 12 hour November 1st, the 1st Battalion moved northwest taking up a position in the woods
northwest of Andevanne, meeting considerable shellfire and losing a number of men, also taking a small
number of prisoners. On November 3rd the regiment passed through the 360th Infantry and began
advancing in the direction of the Halles-Montigny Road, the 1st Battalion being in the front line was
followed at 500 m distance by the 2nd Battalion, who in turn was followed at 500 m distance by the 3rd
Battalion. This advance was preceded by artillery fire and a splendid barrage but no resistance was met
and the objective being reached ahead of time the Regiment continued its advance reaching a position on
the bluff overlooking Halles, an advance of 11 km over a most difficult terrain. Hills and gullies and an
almost impenetrable thicket and wood made this advance a difficult one, but the splendid artillery
preparation had practically cleared the woods and nothing but the terrain and the necessity of preserving
the ordinary cautions of the formation was needed during the day.
On the night of the 4th of November the 1st Battalion again advanced from Halles to Boulain
Woods, occupying Côte 205. The next morning the 2nd Battalion gradually filtered across the valley to
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