“There’s Gold in Them Thar Archives!” The World War I Diary of Albert S. Johnson

This month's blog post is the first of an occasional new series, entitled “Thar’s Gold in Them Thar Archives!” which will highlight little-known collections here in SPCO that may be of interest and value to our visitors and researchers.

This month, in honor of Veterans Day, we feature a post on the World War I diary of Albert S. Johnson.

This post is dedicated in honor of all those who have served—and especially, those who did not come back home.

“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Abraham Lincoln

Gettysburg Address

November 19, 1863

Buried deep within the countless boxes and files here in Special Collections sits a lone folder. That folder contains 2 small booklets, each of which is little bigger than the size of your hand. But those tiny booklets contain the story of the extraordinary journey of a young officer who served on the front lines in combat during the First World War- Albert S. Johnson.

Johnson, barely into his early twenties when he wrote the diaries, served as

a lieutenant in the 345^th Machine Gun Battalion, part of the 360^th Infantry Regiment in the 90^th Infantry Division.  Originally from Tennessee, at a young age his family moved to Texas, where he grew up in Waxahachie in Ellis County. (1)

When the United States declared war with Germany in April 1917, Johnson was a student attending the University of Texas at Austin.  He quickly volunteered for service in the Army, and was sent to Camp Funston in Leon Springs, Texas, where he received his commission as a 2^nd lieutenant on August 15, 1917. Two weeks later, Johnson reported to Camp Travis in San Antonio, where he was assigned to the 90^th Infantry Division. (2)   

It was at Camp Travis that Johnson began his diaries, which he would keep until after his return from the service in 1920.  The diaries are a perfect illustration of the life of a typical combat soldier not only in World War I, but in all wars.  It faithfully recounts the long stretches of boredom, punctuated briefly–but sharply–by intense action; the hard work, and at times, almost mind-numbing lack of sleep; the hunger and constant exposure to the elements, all complicated by the risk of facing death at anytime, anywhere.

Some selected excerpts from the first volume of Johnson’s diaries follow:

(3)

“Aug. 29, 1917.  Reported at Camp Travis San Antonio, as 2^nd Lt., Inf., O.R.C. [Officers’ Reserve Corps]  . . .

“Sept., 3.  Was sent to 180^th Brigade Hdqrs to act temporarily as aide to General W.H. Johnston. . .  

“Sept. 5, 1917. Received first recruits for national army. They are a mixed outfit, containing men from every walk of life. They all seem depressed.

“Sept 7. My Company, C, of 360th Reg. received its first batch of recruits. Three are Mexicans and several are Bohemians. Two are not speak[ing] English.

“Oct 31^st 1917  The Brigade went on a night practice march at 11:30 P.M. We covered 21 miles returning to the camp at 7 A.M. The weather was very cold; the men suffering more from cold feet & hands than from fatigue. The Staff officers walked practically the entire distance, leading the horses.

“Nov. 10. Captain H. [Money?] of British Army reported to 180 Brigade as Instructor. He is a member of Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and has been Brigade Scout Officer. He will teach Scouting and Sniping. I also met Major Porter, Captain McConnell & Captain James of British Army.

“Porter is a young fellow about 26, very snappy and attractive. He was a law student before the war but is now a trench mortar specialist.

“Captain McConnell is a large, red-faced Irishman. He is a giant physically, a hard fighter and also a hard drinker.  His hobby is the bayonet, and nothing delights him as much as narrating how he stuck 14 Bosch in one raid. “It’s Jolly good sport to stick about 14 inches of steel in a German Pig, see him turn pale, and to feel the cru[n]ch of the bayonet as it hits bone.”

“Captain James, the oldest of the lot, is a scientist of note, and naturally he delights in teaching the use of and defense from a gas attack. He is very inquisitive of Americans and Mexican habits and customs.

“Nov. 13. Lieutenant [Bounerant?] of the French Army reported for duty with our Brigade. He is a rather quiet man of pleasing appearance. His English, while somewhat stilted, is grammatically perfect, which is explained by the fact that he was an English teacher in a French University before the war. He is an automatic rifle expert, has served through 3 ½ yrs of struggle, and been wounded twice.

“Wednesday June 5^th, 1918. At 3:00 P.M. The 345^th Machine gun bn marched to Camp Travis railway tracks . Mother & Mr. Terry [Charles R. Terry of Corsicana, Johnson’s step-father] were there and I told them goodbye. Gen. Johnston told me goodbye, shaking hands and saying he would meet me in France.  At 3:30 the troop trains, with Co’s A&C aboard, pulled out of Camp Travis onto the [M.K&T.?] Ry. line. I was made Officer of Day soon after leaving, and had to inspect trains once every hour. We passed through Austin without passing station at about 7 P.M.  At Taylor about 400 people were at station and gave us a very hearty welcome. One citizen passed out $90 worth of cigarettes to the boys. (4)

“Saturday, June 8^th. Reached Cleveland about noon. Seems to be big city but did not get to see much here.

“Here I met Red Cross girl named Helen Chase (Case). She was a good looker and seemed to be classy as well. We are running along side shore of Lake Erie and the scenery is wonderful. Templeton [Lt. Hoyt D. Templeton, Supply Officer of the 345^th Machine Gun Battalion]  and I had long “bullfest” during afternoon. Passed through Buffalo, N.Y. about dusk. People at train station were very enthusiastic and Red Cross was giving cards and chocolate as usual.  Seems to be a very smoky place- Lots of factories . . .  (5)

“Sunday- June 9^th  We are traveling through N.Y, state along Hudson River on N.Y. Central and Lake Shore R. Rys. The Catskill Mountains are on the right and the beautiful Hudson only 50 feet from the tracks on the left. Villages are scattered all along the River banks. People are enthusiastic and gave men good welcome. We near New York City at about 2 P.M. . . . and stopped at New Jersey Ferry at 3:30 P.M. Here we unloaded all baggage, loaded it on Ferry, and had an hours trip around N.Y. harbor. N.Y. skyline is . . .  great , and we had excellent view of entire waterfront. Several large transports and a couple of battleships are in harbor. We passed under 3 of the Brooklyn Bridges and landed on Long Island. Here we disembarked and loaded luggage on train.  After a 20 mile ride we arrived at Camp Miles, detrained, and march to the section of tents allotted to us. Our baggage arrived on [rest of?] trucks and by 9P.M. the cooks had supper ready. This camp seems to be thoroughly disorganized, the drainage is bad and the weather is damp & cold.

“Tuesday June 11^th.  Work of checking clothing & equipment continued . . .  I slipped away to N.Y. City about 7 P.M. Went over in jitney in about 1 hr. went to McAlpine Hotel- one of largest in America. We took in several downtown Cabarets and walked up & down Broadway Fifth Ave & several other famous streets. Century Grove is some swell place. About 3 A.M. eat breakfast at downtown restaurant . . .  and arrived back in camp about 6 A.M. Certainly some night!

“Thursday June 13^th  At 2 A.M., we marched out of Camp Mills to Ry Depot. The night was pitch dark, rainy & cold.  The company lost its way marched around half of the camp, stumbled into several mud holes and double timed a mile but finally reached the station. There we had to stand on platform for an hour.

“We entrained about 4 A.M. and were carried to Long Island station where train stayed until 9 A.M. The officers got off to a nearby lunch room and managed with some difficulty to corral some ham & eggs, & coffee. We were pulled out of station by Pennsylvania Ry by Electric Locomotive and carried through famous Hudson River Tunnel. After a three hours ride we arrived in Philadelphia. Train ran up near docks & we detrained onto American soil for the last time on this trip,- and certainly the last time for many of us no doubt. Quite a crowd of civilians were alongside to give us a good send off. We marched into large shed where Red Cross served us sandwiches, coffee, cakes & Ice cream. They also distributed newspapers to men and pinned a carnation on each of us as we stepped up gangplank. The Red Cross had certain[ly] been of great service to the men and they all appreciate it. I stepped on board the “City of Belfast” at 3:30 P.M., was assigned a stateroom, and saw that company got straightened out in the forward hold. The ship weighed anchor at about 5:30 P.M. and started down Chesapeake] Bay. Had wonderful dinner at 8 P.M.

“Friday June 14.  Woke up to find we were anchored off coast of Delaware. However, we soon started out to sea, steering north and about 10 miles from shore. A heavy guard has been put on to look for submarines. We are required to wear life belts and sleep in clothing as several ships have been sunk in this location and it is considered a danger zone.

“Saturday June 15^th. Still running up coastline. Water is rougher and I am about sea sick. By night I am really sick and unable to eat supper. Officers are having some loaded poker & crap games and so are enlisted men for that matter.  . . . We have breakfast at 9 A.M., physical drill 9:30-10- non-com school 10-11, officer’s school 2-4 P.M. Spend most of time reading.

“Wednesday- June 19^th  Men have been complaining about food for several days. I went to Stewart and had him add more sugar & coffee to ration. Also allow our cooks to help in kitchen. Has rained all day and is storming tonight. Waves are pretty high and one came over forward holds. Heavy fog enveloped us and completely shuts out rest of convoy. 

“Thursday- June 20^th  Went on as Officer of Deck at 6 P.M. Have to make inspection of 8 posts every hour and report to Captain on bridge every 2 hours. This keeps one quite busy, and is a disagreeable job as it is no cinch clamoring over the slippery decks in pitch darkness. About 8 P.M. a strange ship is sighted off to the port side. It does not answer signals and our battle cruiser breaks away from convoy and steams out to meet the stranger, stripped for action.  It’s certainly a pretty sight to see it and I believe every-man of us hoped the stranger to be a German cruiser so there would be a fight. However, it turned out to be a Belgian Relief Ship so the incident closed ignobly . . . .

“Monday-June 24. Went back on “Black watch” at 11A.M.  Mess is getting rather monotonous. Same thing every day mutton, mutton, and more mutton.  Watched interesting incident among Hindos [Hindus]. One of them had headache and the “Healer” rubbed a deer horn on a rough piece of iron until he had made a solution resembling mustard. This he applied to the sufferers brow. The latter immediately got up and began to smile believing the cure to be effected . . .  

“June 29  we steamed into harbor of Liverpool early in morning. Certainly an interesting city with miles of wharfage on both sides of river. Crowds on ferries cheered us . . . American flags fly from many buildings. We disembarked at 3 P.M. and marched through streets of city to Ry. Station. Immense crowds lined the streets and cheered us during entire parade. It was by far the best reception we have ever received. At station a message was presented to each of us from King George wishing us good luck.  . . .

“June 30 . . .   Left Winchester at 9 A.M. marched into city and entrained at 11:30. After short ride we arrived at Southampton, Eng[land], where we detrained at docks.  Late in afternoon we embarked on the ship “Londonery” [Londonderry] but finding it to be wrong one, debarked and embarked on “King Edward III”.  We were very greatly crowded and men were stowed like rats in lower decks. We left the dock at 7 P.M. and steamed out the harbor. Passed a hydroplane station where machines for coast protection were kept.  It was a beautiful sunset although it was the kind that makes you a wee bit homesick and lonesome. Reminded me of a sunset on plains of Montana.  We picked up several fast destroyers as convoy and started across channel through midst of most dangerous submarine zone in the war.

“We officers slept on floor of saloon without any cover or pillow!

“During trip 2 submarines were located but all of our convoy were lucky enough to get by without being hit.

“July 1^st 1918.  Landed at port of Cherbourg, France, at 7 A.M. and marched out to a Rest camp. While here I visited famous Chateau de Tourlaville, which served as setting for Dumas’ “Three Musketeers”. Went down into dungeon an inspected racks on which prisoners were burned alive. It is certainly a gruesome hole. However the building and grounds surrounding it are very romantic and beautiful.

“July 2^nd, 1918. Left camp at 4 A.M., marched to “Gare” and boarded trains. Man are crowded in boxcars and officers in dilapidated Third class passenger coaches . . .  Train moves very slowly yet very roughly and bumping is as bad as when riding buckboard wagons down a rocky hill side.

“Country around Cherbourg is rather disappointing  and unattractive, but improves as we move southward into better part of France. Saw lots of soldiers just out of trenches at ____, and shook hands with a French general. Also saw many german prisoners who are being worked at repairing Ry lines. They are mostly [small?] men, and all look happy and contented. (6)

“Spent night sleeping in box car on several barrack bags. Was certainly the roughest bed I ever tried to sleep on.

“July 3^rd  Went through edge of Paris at 2:30 A.M. and circled around half of city. All was dark except for few street lights and anti-aircraft searchlights. The city was raided during night but I did not see the air battle. Stopped at city of ____ at 7 A.M. and were furnished coffee at Station. Our goods and hardtack is still holding out although we are already tired of it. Scenery is much more attractive than Northern France. Cities are all along Ry lines and crops look fine. A wreck ahead of us held train up for five hours at ____, is heart of mountains of Southeastern France. We all went to tavern. Certainly is a beautiful country.  Passed through a tunnel 4 miles long, which makes it one of longest in world. 

“July 4^th, 1918. Arrived at Is-sur-Tille about 2 A.M. slept on floor with only my coat as cover. Had fine breakfast at Red Cross stand, served by a girl from Tennessee. It certainly made us all feel good to see someone from the States, and also to see a breakfast of ham, eggs, toast, and coffee. . . went up to Q.M. to buy some “Go to H---” caps. [Another name for a flat cap. See   https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/90730/is-the-term-go-to-hell-hat-in-common-usage]  . . .  We reported to Provost Marshall [sic]- a Captain of 161 Infantry who seemed to be a good scout, he gave us a fine lunch and sent us in to city of Is-sur-Tille. There we registered at Red Cross Hotel for Army officers. It was a large, comfortable, home-like place managed by Red [Cross] women. The meals were better than an American or French hotel charge a dollar for, yet the price was only 1 franc. The Rd Cross is certainly doing a wonderful work over here and deserve the highest praise and support. Went down to city after dinner and had my hair cut by a french barber. Never again! I expected to have my head or ear cut off every second. He finished the job in 7 minutes. . . . We all went to café and celebrated the Fourth with some good eats and light wine. All of houses here had American flag flying in honor of our holiday.

“July 5^th, 1918. We went to station at 6 A.M. and were finally put on train at 8 A.M. An  army nurse and French Captain were in same compartment, and the party of us had quite an interesting time trying to make ourselves understood in half English and French. We finally discovered that we were on wrong train as it was going away from our destination . . .  Met a Capt. and wife who were in same compartment. He had been in French cavalry for 30 years and was a pleasant fellow. His wife was of the nobility and spoke English fluently. They left us at Chateau   carrying about a dozen articles of baggage with them. We got off at ____, had supper at Tavern, and made trip to Poissant with driver on Ford Machine Gun Cart. This place was our Bn. Hq  . . .  “C” Co. is billeted here so we were at home at last after quite an interesting and adventurous trip . . .

“July 6^th, 1918. Company spent day in cleaning up and washing clothes.  Lt. Lain  [1^st Lt. Claude B. Lain, Co. B of the 345^th] appointed “Town Major” which gives him supervision over police, sanitary and diplomatic relations with inhabitants through their Mayor. The village is situated in deep valley with steep hills on two sides and a creek running through its center. The houses are grouped around a fountain and water trough.  Buildings are of heavy white stone, the walls being from 2 to 4 ft in thickness. However, the entire place is considerably “run down” and sadly in need of a general renovation. Most of natives have either been killed in war or moved away as those left are either old men, women, and children . . . There is one store  . . . run by the Mayor where light wines are to be obtained, and that is about all too. The schoolteacher acts as Postmistress and newspaper seller for the town. (7)

“Sat  Aug 17, 1918. We received orders to pack up and start for front, which everybody is very glad to do as we have now been in training nearly a year . . .  

“Sun, Aug 18 We left at 7 A.M. and marched all day through a beautiful valley and along the banks of a small winding river . . .  My company made the 2 day hike without losing a man. I was placed in charge of the aerial defense of the train and was very busy getting guns mounted . . .  We traveled all night by rail. I slept on floor of flat car in some straw with horse blanket over me. We reached T____ at 8 A.M. and detrained. Here I slipped off for a few minutes and got a cup of coffee and sandwich from Red Cross stand.  We marched to some buildings on outskirts of town and were billeted . . .  Huns pulled of an air raid about 12 P.M.

“Tues August 19, 1918.  Spend day in cleaning up and working on M.G. [Machine Gun] . . . At about 6 P.M. we are ordered out, and leave on trucks at dusk. During trip we are bombed by Hun planes but no damage done. Arrive at about 11 P.M. and sleep on wet ground along creek bank. Nearly froze but managed to get a little rest.

“Wed, August 21, 1918. I am acting Co. Com’d’r.  Day is spent in M.G. drilling, washing clothes and taking bath. We march  out at 9 P.M. the pace is terrific and men fall out every few paces from the infantry but we didn’t lose a man. We reached out [our] destination about 1 P.M. and were guided to our new positions by 3 P.M. the men were excited and expected to go into midst of hard battle. They seemed rather chagrined to find everything quiet and peaceful.

“Friday Aug. 23, 1918. Lt. Graham of ____ infantry  was killed by an accident with a grenade and several men wounded during night.

“Sat. Aug. 24, 1918 . . .  We were shot at by German sniper as we left front line.

“Monday, Aug 26^th . . . Aerial activity is great, there being several fights every day, and the “Archies” boom away all day at planes [an “Archie” was an anti-aircraft gun. See http://www.worldwar1.com/heritage/wordswar.htm]. A German plane was brought down today.

“____Aug. ____  I made visit to front lines and inspected M.G. Emplacements . . . Went on fighting patrol with Lt. Martin [probably 1^st Lt.  Edwin B. Martin, Intell. Officer, 3d Bn., 360^th Infantry] into “No-Man’s-Land” We stumbled over shell shot walls, fell into trenches and shell holes, and finally worked our way into a position from which we were to ambush the Huns. After waiting for over 2 hours I fell asleep and was awaken[ed] by a heavy artillery barrage turned loose into German front line. Simultaneously a gas alarm was received and we began working our way back through our outpost line with our mask on and a rain beginning to fall. Arriving safely at Bn Hq at 3 A.M., I slept till next morning. (8)

“____ Aug ____.  Day spent in reconnaissance of terrain and organizing platoon position. Have a very good “dug-out” as P.C. [Post of Command] my room has polished table, large wall mirror, shelves, pictures on walls, and large upholstered chair. All of squads also have comfortable quarters. we are in midst of  . . . forest and . . . do not leave to stay in trenches except during shelling. We are on high hill and have wonderful view of surrounding valleys and low hills. Can see both own and enemy’s line for several miles . . . There is considerable aerial fighting and some intermittent shelling of our position.

“Monday Sept. [2] Lts Allen, Northrup and myself went on a patrol with Lt. Fisher. We had gone only 200 yards from our front line when 2 grenades were heaved at us and a volley of pistol shots fired.  The Huns were only a short distance away and seemed to be in front and on our right, but our patrol was so scattered that we were forced to withdraw without firing a shot. I saw two of German rifles fire but had no rifle to reply with. It was my first time to really be under a dangerous fire and my impressions were mostly those of expectation, curiosity, and amusement. I do not think that any of us officers were afraid, for we would look at each other and grin everytime a bullet came close to us.

“Sept.  My platoon relieved by 1^st Platoon Co. D . . . Platoon was shelled heavily as it went back to “J”.

“Sept  . . . We had just unpacked when an order came to move back to “Rest”. We were about as sore as could be for the men had just moved into a deserted house and bought fresh straw.  To add to our discomfort a cold drizzling rain began to fall. After our carts were filled with equipment we had to wait until 9 P.M. for our relief. When we finally started, we ran into an artillery train in middle of town and about 30 minutes of confusion and cussing was required to get out of town. Then started a hill climbing contest with the rain, mud, and wind all aiding the hill. After about an hours climbing Corp. Ferguson announced that he was lost. Another hour was required in finding the right road. We had hardly reached it when we hit a steep grade that balked our mules. Then followed 2 hours of  cussing . . . [pulling] stubborn mules, hauling carts up by man power alone until everything except the water cart and “four going” wagon which had to be left behind. We reached the hut in which our Co was billeted and [85 or 185] men piled up in space intended for 80 and slept until morning.

“Sept. At 1 P.M. the big All-American offensive started with a tremendous Artillery preparation which fairly shook the ground. It was one continual roar that reached its greatest intensity at 5 A.M. when the dough boys went over the top the firing continued until about 8 A.M.

“Sept. Walked over to G____, where saw Templeton, and incidentally lots of Hun prisoners and our own wounded. When I got back found company ready to move to front. we started out in rain and marched all afternoon. Passed many big guns firing and many more more guns, supplies, troops and prisoners crowding the road.  Several dead man and horses were lying by road side. At about 6 P.M. after hiking about 8 miles we arrived within 200 yards of old positions on hill side. We had no shelter so we layed [sic] down in rain under brushes and tried to sleep but were awaken[ed] at 11 P.M. and started hiking again. We reached old position after going in a circle for a couple of hours and spent most of night trying to get shelter from cold rain.

“Sept.  Was rudely awaken[ed] by Captain with information that we were going “over the top” at 8 A.M.  The Co. was so scattered that only about 18 men of platoon could be raked up so  gave them the 4 guns and went blithly [sic] over no-mans-land under protection of artillery fire. However the Huns had “beat it”. After advancing over a couple of miles of shell holes, barbed-wire, and stumps we came under heavy shell fire and were forced to take shelter in shell holes and ditches. Capt [Alles?], Lt. Allen and myself got a slight dose of gas. My platoon was lucky enough to get in 2 dugouts and to find a couple of good gun emplacements.

“Sept. Spent day in dodging shells and making range cards, etc., in preparation for advance. Several men in other outfits have been bumped off by shell fire. I fired at several Germans on opposite slope and at a Hun plane that was attacking our infantry.

“Sept. Sunday.  Platoon ordered to move forward in support of A Battalion.

After carrying our guns and equipment about 2 miles we came in sight of German positions and decided we would stop. Huns were shelling us very heavily . . . Several of men had been knocked down by shells and we were glad to start back. We had just stopped to rest in woods when 6 shells landed in midst of us, wounding Davis and Wyse in feet. We started to carrying them back and 3 Hun planes opened fire on us at about 100 ft height with M.Gs. was heavy fire but we got through O.K. was certainly hard job carrying wounded to Red Cross station. Quite an eventful Sunday, taking it all in all . . .

“Sept. Company moved back to old 1^st Pl[atoon] position to rest. I was pretty sick with 105° fever so went to hospital spent night and rejoined camp next day. Spent next 2 days in bed trying to get well.

“Sept. Co moved forward again and took up “D” Co. positions at front. Only 1 dugout and it leaks. However I annexed another D.O.  [dugout] and 1 store house, which put all of platoon under shelter.

“Sept. Spent day constructing bunks and improving positions.

“Sept. Went down into town of N____ where men found lots of grapes, peaches, potatoes, flour, and even canned fruit. We are now living in great style on German provisions.

“Sept. 25^th  Am still sick and self doctoring does not seem to help me much. Was ordered to Bn Hq about 6 P.M. and ordered to take 1 section M.G’s on a Bn raid in Hun territory . . .  We started at 10:30 and marched single file through woods, valleys and over hills until 5:30 A.M. we were under shell fire most of way and received some gas. Night was very cold and men suffered greatly from exhaustion. We have jammed up on a road and about ready to deployed [sic] when Germans opened a very heavy barrage on us. The suddenness of it caused infantry ahead to stampede. Major K____ [probably Maj . Kimberling] drew his gun and threatened to shoot first man to retreat. My men were very cool and kept well together in squads. Shells were falling in midst of men, killing and wounding many. I was knocked down by very close explosion. A  Lt Colonel [perhaps Lt.-Col . Charles W. Tillotson of the 360th Infantry] appeared on scene and begged men to be calm and to form for attack. He ask[ed] Lt Gray [probably 1^st Lt. Jessy F. Gray, Co. A, 360^th Infantry]  and myself to lead an attack against hill in front. Corp. Abago shot through leg at this time and I received slight scratch on hand from fragment. Gathering all of men I could get into skirmish line we started forward. When we hit real line of German barrage many more men were hit. Machine gun fire very heavy against us.

“We finally reached top of hill and could go no further as we only had handful of men & both flanks were unsupported we lay on ground and mounted machine gun. Hun areoplane [sic] flew low over us and gave artillery exact location. Then H.E’s [High Explosives] literally covered us up.  Most of men were hit and after infantry had retired we started back down hill, taking wounded with us. Another trip had to be made after Griffith and we had terrible time getting him in. about 1 P.M. Co’s E&F were ordered to old positions and we went back to our old platoon positions. Changed my blood soaked clothes for clean ones and went to bed. Corp Abago, Griffith, and ____ were wounded out of my section. (9)

“Tuesday Oct. 1^st. I moved P.C. up in small room on top of hill. After lots of cleaning and sweeping we made place real cozy.

“Wednesday Oct 2.  Spent day reading & writing letters. Made report to Bn. Hq. on raid. Pl[atoon] received some chocolate candy. Still have Grippe. [Known as influenza or the flu, “grippe” is an older term coming from the word French grippe, which literally means "seizure". See https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/grippe]

“Oct. Co. moved up into Line of Observation and had a hard time making relief under Trench mortar fire. No trenches here only ditches and fox holes.

“Oct.  Spent morning at Capt Chatkin’s [Capt. Louis L. Chatkin, Co. C, 345^th] P.C. building with Capt & Buell.  [Lewis?] and several men were sent after ammunition and got pretty well drunk on coniac [cognac].

“Oct. We were relieved by 360 M.G. Co. in pour of rain. Guns, etc. were carried to [Novey?] where I met other platoons and carts and we made trip back to rest billets in [JeJaineville? Probably Joinville, France] arriving there at 3 A.M.

“Oct. We received orders to move out on Divisional relief but did not leave until 6 P.M. . . . We arrived at billets in wood about 2 A.M. Was an 18 mile hike but we did not mind it as we were going to rear.

“Oct. We went into town and spent day shopping and eating. Certainly feels great to be back in civilization and to sleep in a real bed . . . Had not had a meal for 24 hrs. and only succeeded in bumming a cup of coffee from artillery kitchen. Rested all day.

“Oct. We marched out of “rest” billets for the [Oerdeur? [Odeur?] front. After marching through Argonne forest on the “Road from Avancourt to Montfacon [Montfoucon, where a monument now stands to commemorate the American victory during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. See https://www.abmc.gov/Montfaucon] we bivouaced [bivouacked] for night. Steady rain falling as usual and mud is knee-deep.

“Oct. At dark we moved out on march toward front. Some of carts were cut out of line by truck and got lost. Had [provoking?] time getting them up with column. We bivouaced [sic] on hillside across from Montfacon.

“Oct. “Jerry” tossed a few G.I. [“GI in this sense was an abbreviation for “galvanized iron” and was used as a nickname for large German artillery shells. See http://www.worldwar1.com/heritage/wordswar.htm] over, wounding 2 of our men- Harrison and Wilke- and making rest of us stick near fox holes . . .

“Oct. Went up to front with Major Kimberling [Maj . Henry R. Kimberling, Commanding Officer of the 345^th] and other officers to arrange for a barrage. We had quite a warm time dodging shells from Romagne to 357 P.C. in support lines. Lt Owen [2^nd Lt. Archie A. Owen, Co. D, 345^th] & I were sent out to reconnoiter positions for guns. Shelling is intense all over this area and this battalion has not even had opportunity to bury its dead. Passed 2 runners who were only killed a few hours before on a sunken road. After walking through dense forest for a couple of hours Lt Dunbar [probably 2^nd Lt. James V. Dunbar, co. B, 357^th Infantry] gave us a guide who led us to position. We climbed up observation tower and were sniped at by Germans whom we could see in trees not over 300 yards away. We picked positions for our guns in edge of woods first below military crest of hill. They are practically in the outpost line and in plain view of Huns. Altogether this is a very nasty position and I expect “Boco” [beaucoup, a French word meaning “a lot” or “much”. See https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beaucoup] trouble before this is over. Spent night at Major Alexander’s P.C. [Maj. Aubrey G. Alexander, Commanding 1st Battalion, 357^th Infantry] (10)

“Oct. returned to Co this A.M. Kennedy shot Holmes (Cook) through hips with accidental discharge of automatic.

“Oct. Lt Owens [possibly 1^st Lt. Morgan Owens, 358^th Infantry] & I took 48 men from C&D Co. up to dig barrage positions. We left at 3 P.M., acquiring shovels, etc. . . .  and reaching Romagne just at dark in midst of “beautiful” H.E. & Gas shelling. After very irritation and tiresome trip we reached barrage positions. Finishing at 3 A.M. we started back. Machine gun fire caused us to abandon regular road and thereby get lost. Finally reaching a road we started in what we thought was direction of the rear. Stumbling into . . .  a destroyed village we stopped to rest. Suddenly a machine gun opened fire on us from the direction we were going. This settled all doubts as to where we were so we did a rapid retreat until Romagne was reached. Arrived dead tired in camp at 7 A.M  [W]as one of worst nights I have ever experienced! (11)

Oct.  2^nd Bn 360 Inf & our Co left camp at 5 P.M. for support line. We bivouaced [sic] on sunken road looking from the [Bautheville?] to [Iracide Covre?] Farm. This sector has been mentioned daily in communiques as having most violent artillery duels on the entire front.

“Buell [2^nd Lt. Ralph H. Buell of Company C] and I lie down together . . . in ditch and try to sleep. “Jerry” gets nasty about 3 A.M. and shells terribly for 3 hours. We are nearly covered with dirt several times. A direct hit was made on Corporal [Carrique?] & Pvt. McKee. They are actually blown into small pieces of meat, only [Carrique’s?] hand and leg, and McKee’s head and neck are even found.  They were sleeping about 15 ft from me. Sgt [Pim-Stein?] was wounded about 11 A.M. I went into Romagne to our kitchen, ate dinner, and shaved. At dark Buell and I took Co up to Barrage positions and began preparing for nights work. We were [worried?] by intermittent shelling and machine gun fire all night. (12)

“Nov.  . . .  At 3 A.M. Hell broke loose in form of Allied Barrage. Our guns were lined up nearly wheel to wheel and the din was deafening. Machine Guns, Trench Mortars, gas projectors, and every caliber of artillery were firing as rapidly as guns could be worked. Jerry was also getting in some good counter-battery firing. Lewis, my orderly, made a trip through barrage and brought orders for our barrage. At 8 A.M. we went over top and caught up with our infantry Bn which was held up by machine guns in [Audevarme?]. We circled around village it attacked village in open. Had only real fun I have had during war. We rushed nest after nest of M.Gs and snipers, taking about 100 prisoners. Doughboys showed lots of Guts, dashing straight into muzzles of M.Gs. Darkness stopped us and we formed line of defense and slept in shell holes. Buell captured 3 prisoners while reconnoitering alone. Wright, Corp. Collier, Edwards  . . .  were wounded during advance.

“Nov 2^nd  At daylight we started forward but were quickly held up by heavy machine gun and sniper fire while we were on top of bald hill # ____ .  1^st Bn. 360 Inf was on our right and  meeting stubborn resistance in taking a wood. Over half of its officers were killed or wounded . . .  About 10 A.M. Bosch artillery got the range perfectly and the 155mm began to cover us with earth and fragments.  Pvt. O.O. Smith was killed as he attempted to leave a shell hole Pvt White was killed by an incendiary shell that made direct hit on 1^st Aid station. We were ordered forward and as we started to form were met by a hurricane of M.G. fire, the infantry losing many men.  The order was countermanded and we stayed in fox holes all day. Buell, myself, and 2 orderlies tried to sleep in one shell hole, but a steady rain made us miserable.

“Nov 3^rd 1918 . . .  The 179^th Brig [the 179^th Brigade, which, like Johnson’s unit, was part of the 90^th Infantry Division] went through us and meeting little opposition drove Huns back several miles. We started forward at dark and with Bn in single file marched in pouring rain until 12 when we struck tents in mud and actually slept soundly until awaken[ed] at 5 A.M.  . . .  (13)

“Nov. 4, 1918.  We moved into a wood where reserve positions were organized. Hun shelling is intermittent but is enough to keep us nervous. 1 doughboy killed while standing near my fox-hole P.C.

“Nov. 5, 1918. Fully 2/3 of our men are sick with dirrah [diarrhea].

“Nov. 6, 1918  Went to our kitchen got clean socks etc. from bedroll and took a good shave. While doing the later [latter] a Hun plane attacked us with his M.G. to say the least, it was hardly ideal conditions for taking shave . . .  Letter from Mother telling that Jim Goodfellow was killed in action on Sept. 15, 1918. (14)

“Nov 7, 1918.  We were moved back to . . . “Rest Billets” which meant pitching “pup” tents on hill-side as every building has been reduced to rock dust by shellfire. Got some candy from “Y”.  steady rain fell all day. We were bombed about 11 P.M. by Hun Planes, but suffered no casualties.

“Nov. 9, 1918.  We struck camp at 1 A.M. and started marching off to Rest Area at 2 A.M.  Night was very dark, cold, and muddy. As I had a bad case of digestion the hike was torture and my spirits were pretty “low”. We trudged on mile after mile in silence, passing “popping” lorries with swearing drivers, broken down wagons, dead horses, artillery stalled up to the hub in waxy mud and other columns of marching men as silent as us. “Flop” Lingle, Smith [probably 1^st Lt.  Charles P. Lingle, Co. H, 360^th Infantry and either 1^st Lt. George H. Smith, Co. C  or 2^nd Lt.  Theodore S. Smith, Co. D, both of the 345^th] (15) and I walked along together discussing our college days and many other subjects not quite so pleasant . . . About 5 A.M. we passed through the historic city of “Dun-Sur-Meuse, now dark and silent, except for the occasional glow of light emerging from some half destroyed shack where cooks were preparing breakfast but not for us we bitterly complained. A lone sentry presented arms as we crossed the temporary engineer bridge over the Meuse river. Major E. [possibly Maj. Hall Etter, Commanding 2d Battalion, 360^th Infantry] chose the wrong road and thereby caused us to hike 5 kilos [kilometers] out of way. What we said about it would have gotten a Courts-Martial if he could only have heard it. We were now passing many newly-made graves and several unburies Bosch. One Hun was lying by M.G. with bayonet wound in his neck, proving that one Bosch had guts enough to die at his gun. At one place we found 3 men & 2 horses piled together, all having been killed by one shell. About 9 A.M. we stopped in a wood and stayed until 3 P.M. We then moved forward into Mouzay under annoying shell fire. Smith and I started forward with company & 360^th Inf. To take over front line. Shelling increased until we were forced to take shelter in ditch by road side. A direct hit on road killed several and wounded many. A Blue Cross shell [Shells were color coded: Green Cross shells contained deadly chlorine, phosgene and diphosgene gas; White Cross shells held tear gas; and Blue Cross held chloropicrin poison gas, and Gold (or Yellow) Cross held mustard gas. See https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/history-and-philosophy-of-medicine/archives/wwi/essays/medicine/gas-in-the-great-war.html#:~:text=Shells%20were%20color%20coded%20in,'mask%20breakers'%20like%20chloropicrin.] hit in midst of us, gassing 12 of my men so badly that Med.[Medical] officer sent them to 1^st aid. Darkness added to the confusion and the terrain where we were to establish a line was very swampy and a mess of thick underbrush. While trying to find positions I fell in water and was drenched to my hips. The cold soon froze my clothing until my breeches were stiff. We finally dug-in along road side as we were unable to form a line, not even knowing direction of the enemy. Lewis, Inkstrom and I slept together. We were being shelled from front and both sides yet we actually slept soundly until midnight when an order came down for us to attack at 6 A.M. and push forward to the limit of our strength. Even with this bad news and the realization that in our exhausted and disorganized condition an advance would be fatal for most of us, we fell asleep again.

“Nov 11, 1918.  About 3 A.M. Prep Northrup and his T.M. [Trench Mortar] platoon litterally [sic] fell  in the ditch on top of us, having become lost in effort to locate line. Prep and I “bulled” a few minutes but were soon dozing. About 5 A.M. an order came down not to attack at 6 but to await further orders. We were so exhausted, and sick, and hopeless that death had lost its terrors and we would have welcomed anything that would have ended our misery. we were lying in our fox holes trying to keep warm and to avoid flying shell fragments when word came that the war would stop at 11 A.M.  We did not jump up and shout as the newspaper correspondents claim but merely lay in our holes and with bewildered expressions ask each other could it be true. Shelling continued until about 10:45 A.M. the last one killing one and wounding 4 in company next to us. At 12 I went in to Mouzay and eating [ate] first meal in 40 hours. Buell and I rented a room and I changed into dry clothing, and slept in feather bed.  Only then did I begin to realize that “La Garre [Guerre] [est] finie.” [“The war is over”]

(Here the first volume of Johnson diaries abruptly ends.  Volume 2 of the diaries deals with his service in the Army of Occupation following the war through his homecoming to Texas, and will be presented in a later blog post.)

ENDNOTES

1. “Dallas Lawyer-Businessman Gen. Albert Johnson Dies”, The Dallas Morning News, 24 February 1981, sec. B, p. 5; Texas Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death certificate of Albert S. Johnson, State File No. 07975, 25 February 1981; World War I Draft Registration Card of Albert Sydney Johnson, 5 June 1917; US War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, World War I Service Card of Albert Sydney Johnson, Form No. 84c-1, 17 March 1921. Note that at various times, Johnson’s middle name was frequently misspelled as “Sidney”, perhaps to emulate the famous Texas Confederate general of the same name.  See National Personnel Records Center, Military Service Records of Albert Sidney Johnson and UTA Libraries Digital Gallery, Telegram from Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson to Amon Carter Jr., 25 June 1955, https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/text/20130997.       

2. Johnson World War I Service Card; and Dittmar, Gus C., They Were First (Austin: Steck-Warlick Company, 1969, p. 245.

3. All diary entries cited hereinafter are from the Albert S. Johnson Diaries, GA131, The University of Texas at Arlington Library Special Collections.

4. “Funeral Services for C.R. Terry”, Corsicana Daily Sun, 28 May 1937.

5. 90^th Infantry Division Association, “Annex No. 3, Roster of Officers of the 90^th Division on November 11, 1918”,  http://www.90thdivisionassoc.org/90thDivisionFolders/mervinbooks/WWI90/WWI9020.pdf

6. Note that beginning here, Johnson would frequently leave names of locations blank in his diary.  This was probably because he was either unfamiliar with the spelling of the place or unsure of his exact location. 

7. 90^th Infantry Division Association, “Annex No. 3”.

8. Note here also that as Johnson spent more time on the front lines in combat, he began to lose track of precise dates, so simply recorded the month instead.

9. 90^th Infantry Division Association, “Annex No. 3”.

10. 90^th Infantry Division Association, “Annex No. 3”.

11. 90^th Infantry Division Association, “Annex No. 3”.

12. 90^th Infantry Division Association, “Annex No. 3”.

13. George Wythe, A History of the 90^th Division (90^th Division Association, 1920), p. 7

14. This refers to the death of 1^st Lt. John James Goodfellow Jr. of Fort Worth, who was killed in action on September 14^th, not the 15^th as stated here. An Army Aviator with the 24^th Aero Squadron, he and his co-pilot Lieutenant Elliott Durand were killed in action on September 14, 1918 when they were shot down by a group of German Fokker fighter planes during aerial combat near Thiaucourt, France. The Goodfellow United States Air Force Base near San Angelo, Texas is named for him.

 See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55819962/john-james-goodfellow

15. 90^th Infantry Division Association, “Annex No. 3”.