consolidate the position. Its commanding officer, Lieutenant Robert C. Murphy, was wounded by high
explosive on October 26 and died two days later.
Lieutenant Albert Garther, Company A, who had joined the regiment at Bois de Sivry, was killed
by a machine gun bullet. He had received his commission at an Officers’ Training School in France.
The success of the 179th Brigade in establishing its position, and in sticking to it without a single
man wavering or yielding an inch (this success coming at a period of the operations of the 1st Army
when straggling had become a curse), won the highest commendation of the higher commanders. The
commanding general of the army sent the following congratulations:
“The army commander directs that you convey to the commanding general, officers, and men of
the 90th Division his appreciation of their persistent and successful efforts in improving the line by
driving the enemy from the Grand Carré Farm and the Bois de Bantheville.
(Signed) H. A. DRUM.”
To this message the commanding general of the 3d Army Corps added the following:
“The difficulties under which the 3d Corps has labored to improve its position have been
numerous and great, and the part the 90th Division took in establishing the present advantageous
position of this corps is deeply appreciated by the corps commander, and he adds his congratulations to
those of the commanding general of the army for the vigorous and untiring efforts of the personnel
thereof, whose resolution and fortitude are worthy of the best traditions of the American.
(Signed) J. L. HINES.”
That night word came down from corps headquarters that intelligence reports pointed to an
enemy withdrawal for ten miles opposite our front, and orders were given to gain and keep active
contact with the enemy. Patrols from the 357th Infantry soon gained contact of the liveliest sort and
were forced to retire to our lines. Lieutenant Bateman of Company I was taken prisoner. Two
companies of the 3d Battalion, 358th Infantry, succeeded in crossing the Andon brook before being
halted by machine gun fire along the Aincreville-Bantheville road. Major Terry D. Allen, commanding
the 3d Battalion, was cited in a division order for his coolness and bravery in this action.
At 11 o’clock on October 24, following an artillery preparation, a further attack was made to
mop up positions from which the enemy continued to harass us. The result was that the top of Hill 270
was established as No Man’s Land. During the brief struggle the 1st Battalion alone took forty-one
prisoners and six machine guns. But the 1st Battalion also suffered heavy losses, particularly in the
fighting around Grand Carré Farm. Companies E, G, and H, 2nd Battalion, which had been sent up to
reinforce the 1st Battalion, also participated in the successes and losses. Lieutenant Henry C.
DeGrummond, Company K, and Lieutenant Edmund K. Whitaker, Machine Gun Company, 357th
Infantry, received machine gun wounds. Lieutenant Whitaker was wounded while making a
reconnaissance for his guns to protect the 1st Battalion’s right flank. Corporal Charles F. Chaffin
continued his work and carried out his orders. Lieutenant DeGrummond was wounded before the
advance got under way.
The Germans retaliated during the afternoon with a mustard gas concentration. Captain William
F. Cooper, commanding the 3d Battalion; Lieutenant Ed. McCoy, his adjutant; and Captain Joseph M.
Simpson, 357th Machine Gun Company, were evacuated. Lieutenant W. B. Johnson, regimental
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