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IN addition to the commendations of the 90th Division which have been set forth in the previous

text, the following additional complimentary communications, among others, were received:

LETTER FROM GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,

AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES:

“American Expeditionary Forces

Office of the Commander-in-Chief

April 26, 1919.

MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES H. MARTIN,

Commanding 90th Division,

My dear General Martin:

It gives me much pleasure to congratulate you and, through you, the officers and men of

your Division on the splendid appearance that it made at its inspection and review on April 24 at

Wengerohr. The smart appearance of personnel and the good condition in which I found the

horse transportation and artillery are sure signs of the high morale that permeates all ranks. This

is only what one would expect of a division which has such a fine fighting record.

Arriving in France towards the end of June, 1918, it underwent, until the end of August,

the usual course of training behind the line. It was then placed in the Villers-en-Haye sector and

there took part in the St. Mihiel offensive where it attacked the strong positions on the

Hindenburg line immediately to the west of the Moselle River. In these operations it was

entirely successful, mopping up the Bois-des-Rappes, occupying the town of Vilcey-sur-Trey,

the Bois-de-Presle and the Forét-des-Vencheres, and advancing to a depth of 6½ kilometers. On

the night of October 21 the Division entered the Meuse-Argonne offensive, taking the town of

Bantheville and the high ground north and northwest of that town. In the tremendous attack of

November 1 it continued its splendid record, piercing the Freya Stellung, crossing the Meuse and

taking 14 villages in its very rapid advance. The Carriere Rois, the Bois-de-Raux, Côte 243 (the

capture of which was vital to the advance of the division on the left) and Hill 321 were the

scenes of desperate fighting on the opening day of the attack. On November 2, Villers-devant-

Dun was taken, and the following day the Bois-de-Montigny, Bois-de-Tailly, Bois-de-Mont,

Bois-de-Sassey and the town of Montigny-devant-Sassey were taken, and a very deep and rapid

advance being made. On the 4th, Halles was occupied. By November 10 the infantry had