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| Major Charles Wittlesey |
To cut-off German soldier's supply in France and Flanders and hopefully end World War 1 the Allied forces launched one final offensive on September 26, 1918 that lasted until November 11, 1918. A major part of the attack is the Meuse-Argonne Offensive where the 77th Division of the American Expeditionary Force led by Major Charles Wittlesey was tasked to capture a part of the railway hub in Sedan. Under his leadership nine companies braved the German onslaught while being cut-off for six days.
In the morning of October 2, 1918, Major Wittlesey received orders to lead roughly 544 men of the 77th Division at 07:00 and march through the Ravin d’Argonne till they reach Ravin de Charlevaux. From there they would continue and take Charlevaux Mill. Behind the mill is the Binarville-La Viergette road, capturing it is a must because it is one of the major routes of German supplies.
At the evening of a day long of hard fighting Major Wittlesey and his men managed to reach and dug in their holes on Hill 198 in what would become “the pocket”. Unknown to them, the French were forced to fall back due to massive German counter offensive the same time they are digging their holes, leaving Hill 205 to the enemy. The same was the faith of the American division on their right flank, it was only realized by Wittlesey that they were surrounded by the enemy just before midnight. Their position, the pocket is at Charlevaux ravine. It have a steeply sloped hill that gives them the advantage against attacking Germans at the front and it is protected by one company, while both flanks are defended by the two best companies with support from the weaker ones. The rear was guarded by some riflemen and several machine guns. The flaw with their position is that they are dug in very close to each other with holes having too many men making them easy targets for snipers and mortars. The Germans on the other hand have made a fortress out of trenches, barb wires and shell holes in the Argonne forest. They had set up a network of trenches 550 yards deep frontline that served as a warning system. Next line was after a mile called by the Germans as “Hagen Stellung” which turned back all Allied offensive for the last four years. Following it is the “Hagen Stellung-Nord”, a machine gun covered and pre-sighted artillery target entrenched location. Both lines are called “Etzel Estellungen”.
In the morning of October 3, Major Wittlesey sent out runners to the French and American flanks that was supposed to be there, no runners came back. The Germans nearly double their numbers attacked from almost everywhere in the afternoon. Captain Holdermam, an officer with Major Wittlesey, tried to break through at the back of the pocket causing heavy casualties on them and with nothing he can do, Major Wittlesey ordered them back in formation. Waves of grenade attack and mortars followed by one last assault on 17:00 caused heavy casualty on both sides. The battalion’s communication was cut and had no supply.
October 4 was the worst day for the nine companies, unsure if the carrier pigeons made it out or if command knew their position, friendly fires or artillery started falling on them. Major Wittlesey released his final carrier pigeon Cher Ami carrying the message,
“We are along the road paralell to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heavens sake stop it.”
A shell exploded directly under Cher Ami instantly killing five soldiers and stunning the pigeon and fluttering midway the stream. As Cher Ami fly back home and out of the bushes the Germans was able to get a shot on the pigeon. Despite being shot through the breast, blinded by one eye and a leg hanging by a tendon Cher Ami flew 25 miles in only 25 minutes saving on what was left alive of the men. Soon after the shelling ceased the Germans launched another attack and caused more losses.
The situation continued until October 8, food was scarce, ammunition and medical supplies ran low, getting water from a nearby stream risks the men from getting shot, still no communication from command, sickness setting in and continued German attacks.
The Germans sent a message carried by an American POW on October 7. The message was
“The suffering of your wounded men can be heard over here in the German lines, and we are appealing to your humane sentiments to stop. A white flag shown by one of your men will tell us that you agree with these conditions. Please treat Private Lowell R. Hollingshead [the bearer] as an honorable man. He is quite a soldier. We envy you. The German commanding officer.”
Major Wittlesey decided that a reply wasn't necessary. Instead he ordered the white sheets placed for aircraft signals to be dropped so they wouldn't be mistaken as a surrender signal. At 15:00 on October 8, an Allied force broke through and relieved the whole unit and Major Wittlesey was immediately promoted to Lieutenant colonel.
Of 554 men that saw action in the Argonne forest only 194 came out alive, 197 were killed in action and approximately 150 were missing or taken prisoner.
Postscript : The 9 companies of the 77th Division that held the pocket in the Argonne forest were Companies A, B, C, E, G and H of the 308th Infantry Regiment, K Company of the 307th Infantry Regiment and C and D Companies of the 306th Machine Gun Battalion.
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