The battle of Booby's Bluffs

Preface

THIS IS a series of six solutions to the same problem, each solution starting with the lessons learned by the errors in the previous solution. The six solutions are designed to teach the application of the principles as developed in the World War, showing the best methods of using the combined arms. Naturally, it is impossible to include every principle in these six solutions, but it is thought that the most important are shown.

It will be noticed that each solution portrays the actions of a certain type of regimental commander.

The reader will at once see that the general plan of these six solutions is the same as in "The Defense of Duffer's Drift," a story of the troubles of a platoon commander in defending a stream crossing during the British-Boer War.

Prologue

THE BLUES (east) and Reds (west) were at war. This was nothing new. The Blues and the Reds are always at war. They have been at war since the beginning of wars. It is said that in the time of Augustus Caesar the Temple of Janus closed its doors because the Romans were no longer at war; but this cannot apply to the Blues and Reds. They are still at war and, in my opinion, they will always be at war. The Reds seem to have remarkable recuperative powers, because although they are invariably defeated by General A, commander of the Blues and the most remarkable military genius of all time, yet we always find them ready to tackle General A again at the first opportunity. Sometimes they are assisted and sometimes opposed by the Browns, a neutral nation, but generally they are alone in their unsuccessful efforts to hamper General A. Truly, one cannot help admiring the morale of these poor Reds; always they are defeated, always they come forward again. Defeat never lessens their morale. They hope that they will win out next time. Possibly, they have hopes that a stray bullet may kill General A, or possibly they are righting with the courage of despair and want to end 5 it all. At any rate, they are always ready for the next fight.

However, this time it was real war, and I, Major Single List, was in actual command of the First Battalion of Colonel R's Regiment, which had just relieved another regiment on the line and was now going into battle for the first time. For years, I had heard of the campaigns of General A, and had hoped that if I ever was lucky enough or unlucky enough to go into battle I would have him as commander. And now it had happened. We, the Blues, had driven the Reds steadily westward until they were holding a line along the Monocacy River to somewhere near the mouth of Booby's Creek, thence northward along the general line of Booby's Creek. Their line was not clearly defined, but we knew that they were making a last stand to hold General A east of the passes of South Mountain, so that when their expected reinforcements materialized they could advance safely through these passes and deploy in the open country to the eastward. Naturally, General A had decided that this must be prevented. We were to make a final attack and drive the Reds back into South Mountain, capture and destroy as many of them as possible, and block the exits of the passes.

By daybreak of this day, June 19, our

Prologue 7

regiment had finished relieving the other regiment, and my battalion was now in a fairly concealed position somewhat east of the road running north and south about on coordinate 345. My battalion command post was established in the cellar of the farmhouse at 345.8-729.4. I visited my companies in position, found everything O. K., then returned to my command post and tried to sleep. I was not very successful. This was my first battle, and I was somewhat excited over the prospect. My troops were likewise somewhat excited, as shown by the fact that many useless inquiries were made of me ; so many in fact that I was unable to sleep before noon. After noon I managed to sleep a little, but was wakened about 3 o'clock by an orderly from Colonel R with orders and maps, and with a message directing me to report to regimental headquarters at 6 o'clock for a conference of the regimental field and staff officers.

Immediately I looked at the maps and orders received, and saw that they were the plans for an attack the next day. Evidently we were to report to Colonel R's headquarters for a conference on the subject. A glance at the orders showed that Colonel R had decided to make the assault in column of battalions, and that mine was to be the leading battalion. We were to attack due west, the northern boundary being coordinate 730 and the southern boundary coordinate 729, making my area a strip 1,000 yards wide and of such depth as I could force the Reds to give up. The attack was to commence at sunrise June 20 (4.30 o'clock) . The orders and plans were plain enough, but I did not know just what to do about them. I gazed at the map and orders until my eyes were weary and the whole thing became a blur. I was very tired, the weather was hot, and I was very sleepy. So, to make a long story short, I went to sleep. In thus going to sleep I had three reasons: First, I was sleepy and needed the sleep; second, I was to report to Colonel R at 6 o'clock and he would explain the whole scheme of attack to us, and I wanted to be fresh and clear-headed when I was at his headquarters; third, I wanted to give my subconscious mind a chance to work out the solution to my real war problem. Many times I have found it best to let my body rest and my subconscious mind work. Others have told me that they also find that their subconscious minds can work out problems which they cannot work out in moments of real wakefulness. So I went to sleep and my subconscious mind evolved a series of solutions, each of which impressed me at the beginning as entirely satisfactory ; but events showed

Prologue 9

that, although I learned something by each solution, yet all of the solutions were not by any means such as would have been approved by General A.

Each is given just as it was evolved by my subconscious mind. The reader will notice that each solution was begun with the utmost confidence in its ultimate effectiveness. That is one thing about my subconscious mind, it is always satisfied with what it has evolved until it comes to grief, then with remarkable alacrity it evolves something else. At any rate I slept, and my subconscious mind evolved many consecutive solutions.

AT 6 o'clock I attended the conference of field and staff officers at u Colonel R's headquarters. He read over the order to us, and explained it in full. I was a little impatient, because it appeared as if Colonel R thought we could not read or at least could not understand a field order. Several times he asked me if I understood my part. I always replied in the affirmative. Once or twice he asked me if I was sure that I understood; but I would not allow him to get me into a controversy. I had long ago decided that I would avoid any arguments with him. He seemed of a cruel nature and a jealous disposition. He did not understand how to handle the American soldier ; and it appeared to me that he was jealous of me because I was so successful at it.

I always tried to get close to the soldier and understand his methods of thought. Every one of my men knew I was ready to lend him a helping hand, and even money. This generous care of my fellow-soldiers had often been a cause of dispute with Colonel R.

Our colonel was a good soldier, but he had lost the milk of human kindness. On one occasion I had a great argument with him because I had not reported two boys who had indulged in a shooting scrape in one of the company streets. To me it was simply an overbubbling of youthful spirits, but to Colonel R it was a crime. It is true that one of the boys had been shot in the arm and had been in the hospital for two weeks, but that was a mere trifle.

On another occasion Colonel R had spoken to me in a very tactless manner because I had allowed three of the boys to leave camp and visit the city the night before a maneuver. They stayed out until 4 o'clock, and naturally were unable to go through the strenuous work of the next day.

As I remember his words, he said: "Major List, you have no discipline in your battalion. I am not sure that I should not relieve you and send you to Bluey for reclassification. You think that you are thoughful of your men, whereas if you persist in your course you will cause the loss of many lives in battle. It is a serious error to think that even the best men can be good soldiers without a rigid course of training. It is a mistaken kindness to mollycoddle soldiers. You will have men who are inefficient and who will be unable to attend to their duties in the stress of battle. You must understand that bravery is by no means the only quality demanded of an officer. I can find many officers who will lead troops in battle, but I can find few men who can see that they are properly fed and furnished ammunition and taught to shoot. The days of spectacular charges and gallant deaths are past. Nowadays, you are shot by men you do not see ; and the worst possible thing for a major to do is to step out in front of his troops and expose himself to an unnecessary death. You should be in front only when they are being misled. You should never go in front of them in order to show your personal bravery. I do not doubt your personal bravery, but I seriously doubt your personal efficiency."

I did not say much in reply. He had just discovered that the score of my battalion on the target range was the poorest of the three battalions; and I could not deny it. But there were reasons for this poor showing. The noble citizens of the neighboring city had given a festival in honor of the troops soon to go overseas, and this festival had come just on the day that my battalion shot for record. It had been necessary for us to hasten our target practice in the morning so that the boys could be free to go to the city in the afternoon and evening.

I did not take the trouble to explain all of this to Colonel R. He would not have understood because he has no heart for his fellow-man. Also I felt sure that he was jealous of my undoubted popularity with the boys. I think that he feared that if the matter were put to a vote among them, I would be Colonel List and he would be Major R or Captain R or even Private R. However, I felt that the United States authorities should know what manner of man was commanding the regiment. So I wrote a letter to my personal friend, Senator Sorghum, and told him that I felt sure that the regiment had lost its heart through the relentless grinding of Colonel R, and that if it did not make a good showing against the Reds in the coming campaign he would know where to place the blame. There was no real insubordination in this letter and no one could criticise my motive. I felt that my duty to my country demanded that when the regiment failed in battle he should go to the Secretary of War and give him the reason for the failure. I was very careful to tell the Senator not to mention my name.

In justice to myself I must add that I also told the Senator not to make any effort to secure promotion for me; that I expected to win my promotion on the field of battle ; and that I felt sure that my record in future battles would bring to me all the promotion that I could desire.

Finally Colonel R finished the plans for the attack, after reading the field order several times, and we all went back to our posts. I returned to my battalion headquarters (the farmhouse cellar) and promptly went to sleep. I was tired and needed complete rest before the strenuous day of battle. I was soon sleeping as peacefully as Napoleon before Austerlitz.

At 3.30 o'clock my adjutant Lieutenant Swift waked me. He apologized for waking me, but said that he knew that the attack was to take place at 4.30 o'clock, and he supposed that I wished to go out and look over the ground before the attack commenced. He stated that he had been reading the orders and noticed that the barrage started at 4.30 o'clock from the north and south road about 800 yards west of my cellar, and he had notified the company commanders that they could expect me to meet them at the farmhouse in the center of our sector (345.2-729.6) at 4 o'clock. He also stated that various officers of tanks, machine guns, signal troops, and light mortars had reported during the night; but that he had told them to go to sleep in the next room (where the farmer kept his potatoes) and that I would wake them up at the proper time.

I was much displeased at the action of Lieutenant Swift in making arrangements for me to meet the captains at 4 o'clock. I had not slept as much as usual, and for the moment I was in a bad humor. Also this Lieutenant Swift was quite prone to usurp my powers as battalion commander. He was always taking it upon himself to give orders during my absence. I had told him time after time that I was commander of this battalion and that I would give all of the orders necessary. However, I was quite elated this morning at the prospect of a battle in which I would earn undying glory and have my name written on the pages of history alongside our famous soldiers, so I did not talk very severely to Lieutenant Swift. I only told him that I must again remind him that I was the commander of this battalion, and that he would in future make no appointments for me and give no orders in my name.

Incidentally, to soften my reprimand, I told him that he had done well to dispose of the various officers of tanks, machine guns, signal troops, etc., so smoothly, and that we would let them sleep, poor fellows. Probably they were as tired as we were. I never had the heart to make a fellow being do more work than was absolutely necessary. Of course, the poor infantryman must get up early and take the Red position ; but that was no reason why the officers of other services should not rest at every opportunity.

After I had disposed of Lieutenant Swift with a half reprimand, I found it necessary to frown also upon the freshness of my intelligence officer, Lieutenant Bright. He told me that he had been studying the map, and that he had talked with the officers of the regiment we relieved. As a result, he believed that the Reds were all on the other side of Booby's Creek, and were in force in the woods on the south side of the east and west section of the creek for 1,000 yards east of Hill 443. This was too much. I had forgiven Lieutenant Swift because he had disposed of the various officers of tanks, machine guns, signal troops, etc., but this suggestion of Lieutenant Bright was more than I could stand. It was not the first time that he had seemed to think that it was his duty to come forward and volunteer queer bits of information that he had gathered. At any rate, I did not waste time with him. I just told him that if I wanted to hear from him, I would call on him. Meanwhile he need not volunteer any information.

Thus you can see that I went out on the field in a fairly bad humor for a man who was to participate in his first battle. However, I summoned a smile as soon as I reached the vicinity of my brave boys, for it would never do for them to see that I was out of humor. How often have I heard my father read of the cheery smiles that made J. E. B. Stuart and McClellan popular. Their soldiers were always glad to see them, and cheered them whenever they rode down the line. In this case I did not feel that I could justly expect a cheer. I was not mounted on a horse and the sun was not shining gloriously; in fact, the dawn was just beginning to break. However, I felt that it would not surprise me greatly if some of the boys should give a huzza when they saw their major coming to lead them on to battle and victory. There were no cheers on my approach, and I decided that the nearness of the enemy prevented any such greetings. However, my reception was quite cordial. The four captains crowded around me to receive their orders. I did not waste time, but gave them as briefly as possible. I said: "You know all the drill regulations. We have been over this many times on the drill field. B and C companies form the firing line ; A and D companies form the support. Lieutenant Swift, you will form the battalion just east of this ridge in the center of our sector, facing west. They will be ready at 4.25 o'clock, as the attack starts exactly at 4.30." The captains and the adjutant saluted and each captain moved off to join his company.

For the next half hour I walked up and down the ridge, or just east of it, where the whole battalion could see me and be encouraged by my coolness in the face of danger. I felt that each one should know that I was there to go forward with him to victory or death.

I walked along the front of the companies and joked with many of my personal friends. I remember especially that one excellent sergeant of B Company hailed me with a glad shout of "Hello, Single ! How do you feel in the face of the real thing?" and I replied with some cheerful remark to the effect that I was going home with my shield or upon it.

I then remembered the young son of one of my best friends, a Mr. Hale, vicepresident of the bank in my home town before I entered the military game, so I hunted him up and talked with him. He was very glad to see me, and entrusted me with many loving messages to his friends, and I will also say to his fiancee. He said : "Major, I know you will be with us in any danger, but I have a feeling that you will live through the battle, and I do not think that I shall do so. For the sake of your friendship for my father and for my family I want you to tell them all that

I died with my face to the enemy and with their names on my lips." I wrung his hand and promised to tell them that and much more in case any misfortune befell him. I had known him since he was a small boy, and I sincerely hoped that nothing would happen to him. We were still conversing when Lieutenant Swift came up to tell me that the battalion was ready to form. It was 4.22, so I wished young Frank Hale "Godspeed" and left him.

As I was walking with Lieutenant Swift over to the center of the line I had occasion to feel thankful that I had been so careful in the training of my battalion. In the last Infantry Drill Regulations some young upstart had written a statement to the effect that, in extended order, the company is the largest unit to execute movements by prescribed commands. But when I became battalion commander I did not feel at all disposed to relinquish my direct command of my companies, so I had trained my companies to execute the movements of extended order by battalion, with the same commands as in the former drill regulations. Thus I was sure that the attack would come off in the best possible manner. My boys were trained to the minute, eager and willing to fall upon the Reds.

At 4.25 o'clock Lieutenant Swift called the battalion to attention, faced about and reported, "Sir, the battalion is formed. " I told him to take his post, and commanded, "Rest," as I wished the companies to rest even to the last minute before going forward for the struggle which might last all day. I looked at my watch and marked the second hand as it slowly counted off the seconds until 4.30. The eyes of all of my soldiers were on me, and I felt that no one could criticise me for lack of coolness and courage. I calmly stood there, making a few commonplace remarks to Lieutenants Swift and Bright, who seemed anxious to suggest something, but they had learned that I was the commander of this battalion, so they kept quiet. At 4.29 I faced about, and everyone could see from my stern attitude that the time had arrived. I then watched the second hand, which was spelling time for us and eternity for thousands of Reds and for some of us.

Just at 4.30 I lowered my left hand (which carried my wrist watch) and started to command, "Form for attack." The most infernal racket burst forth. Shells by the thousand burst on the north and south road just west of me, and my command could not be heard more than ten feet.

I was dumfounded. Such a racket had never been heard in any boiler-shop or iron-foundry that I had ever visited. I could not think what had happened. How had the enemy known that we were to attack at this moment? I began to suspect treachery ; but I knew that there could be no treachery in my battalion. Possibly some Red spies had slipped over in the early dawn and had heard Lieutenant Swift's statement that the attack began at 4.30 At any rate we were lucky in that the Reds did not have our range, and as long as we remained where we were there need be no casualties.

I waited a few seconds, and was a little amused at the facial expressions of Lieutenants Swift and Bright. Being young men, they naturally were a little more prone to surprise than I was. I smiled to reassure them, and said, "It is all right, my boys ; the enemy has not our range, and we seem to be perfectly safe. In fact it is evident that they are aiming less and less accurately ; the shots seem to be falling shorter and farther from us."

Then Lieutenant Swift yelled in a most disrespectful manner: "The barrage ! It's our barrage, and it travels at the rate of 100 yards in four minutes. Of course, it is missing us more and more. We must catch it. If we don't take advantage of it our artillery will be of no assistance to us."

At once it came back to me. Colonel

R had said in the conference of his field and staff officers that the barrage would start at 4.30 o'clock and move forward at once. Immediately I rose to the occasion. My voice could not be heard, so I opened my mouth several times and waved my hand. It made my heart bound to see how quickly the intelligent American soldier can adapt himself to circumstances. The majority of my men were volunteers and they understood at once what was wanted. Promptly B and C companies moved out in extended order, and A and D companies prepared to follow. At a double time B and C companies spread over the center of our sector, guiding center, one man per yard. This covered about 500 yards, leaving some 250 yards on either flank, which was to be covered by A and D companies as they advanced later at the prescribed distance of about 300 yards.

I took my position about 150 yards behind the center of the front line. The whole battalion moved forward in perfect order, guiding center, the front line some sixty yards behind our barrage.

My heart swelled with pride. Everything was working smoothly. It is true that some of the boys were falling, and my heart bled in sympathy ; but I gritted my teeth like a soldier, and marched proudly forward, calm and collected.

When we reached the crest, some four minutes after our advance had started, I halted for a moment and gazed upon the scene with my field glasses. The morning sun showed a perfect picture. One hundred and fifty yards ahead of me were B and C companies in a magnificent line, marching straight to the front as if on parade. Some sixty yards in front of them was our barrage, still going forward at the rate of 100 yards in four minutes. Behind me, 150 yards, and off to the right and left flanks, respectively, were the A and D companies, now in platoon columns. I felt that my weary days of work in the training camp were producing their reward. With a smile I placed my field glasses in the case and hurried forward to regain my position back of the center, midway between the two lines.

I heard Lieutenant Bright say to Lieutenant Swift, "Look at the shells bursting just this side of the creek. Either we have an extra wide barrage or it is their protective barrage in front of their line. My best information says that their line is west of the creek. If that is their protective barrage they will switch it as soon as they locate us, and then we will have an awful time." I saw nothing to justify Lieutenant Bright in this dismal prediction. I did not care to administer any further admonitions to him, so I calmly marched forward.

After about twenty minutes the left of my front line arrived opposite the trees, already mentioned, on the south side of the bend in Booby's Creek at 344.4-729.3, the barrage having passed this point. I saw a few men break from the left and start for the creek only some forty yards away, but a sharp command from a lieutenant or a sergeant called them back into line and they continued forward.

Evidently some of the Reds were in that creek bottom, but the platoon commander knew that I would send up some men from the support to clear them out. It was his duty to march straight ahead just as I had taught them day after day on the parade ground. I quickly turned to the left and waved forward a platoon from D Company, pointing to the creek bend. Not a second did they hesitate. Bravely they started forward, but luck was against me. I heard a rat-tat-tat from the creek bottom, then a continuous roll of rat-tat-tats. The left of my front line just crumpled up and lay down. It vanished.

The right, true to its training, immediately began to advance by rushes, straight to the front. Probably they had seen an enemy or something to their front. Steadily and surely they rose, rushed forward and fell, firing to the front. Each time fewer rose and rushed forward. Always some fell. But relief was at hand; the platoon from the D Company was only some 100 yards away. I signalled "double time," and they rushed forward and silenced the machine gun.

For a few moments I breathed freely. But not for long. Suddenly, 100 yards back of me, there was again an unearthly racket, shells exploding and iron splinters z-z-z-z-zing in all directions. Lieutenant Bright yelled "There it is! They have us located!" and truly it seemed so. One platoon of D Company simply disappeared. Half of another was blown into the air. Captain D, with rare presence of mind, commanded, "Scatter, boys, SCATTER!" 1 and the rest of the company abandoned all formation and rushed pell-mell for the creek bottom. On the right the enemy's counter-barrage seemed less effective. Possibly they did not have enough guns, and they made it thicker on my left.

I moved over to my right and placed myself between the two lines, and we continued to move forward. Personally, I felt that this showed great fortitude on my part. Practically half of my

X A command actually given in an American machine gun battalion in France.

battalion had been killed or wounded, and yet I had not sounded the retreat.

At Bull Run the Federal troops retired with much less loss than that. In fact in no one of our great battles had the losses been 50 per cent. Yet here was I, Major List, still pushing forward after over 50 per cent of my men had been killed or wounded.