THE armistice, expected though it was, came as a shock, and left everyone for the moment bewildered. The matter-of-fact Americans noted it generally in their war diaries and reports merely as a matter of fact, without comment. The introspective Germans inclined to indulge in a little philosophic comment. One report says the news was received "on the enemy's side with jubilant shouts, by us in silent joy." Another says that the news "ran along the lines like wildfire, its progress marked by shouts." Still another— "the thunder of the guns ceased, and the men, unable to speak, clasped hands in silence".¹

The withdrawal of the German troops began at once, some moving on the same day. The Americans, like all the Allied troops, remained in place, to allow contact to be broken and a neutral zone to establish itself between the armies. In anticipation of the armistice, plans had already been made for the advance, and orders had been drafted for organization of a Third Army (General Dickman) as the American Army of Occupation. It included six Divisions, organized in two army corps, to which another corps of three divisions was added later. The 2d Division was designated as one of the six, and assigned to the III Corps (General Hines). The advance was scheduled for 5.00 A.M., November 17th. Meanwhile, the troops had an opportunity to catch up with events—to take account of stock, to refit and re-equip.

Marshal Foch's telegram to commanders-in-chief, conveying the news of the armistice, read:

"Hostilities will be stopped on the entire front beginning at 11.00 A.M., November 11th (French time). The allied troops will not go beyond the lines reached at that hour on that date until further orders."

This message was at once sent on to all first line troops, with orders to make no advance and do no firing after the hour named. Two things were necessary for full compliance with the orders.

First, the precise line held had to be determined and made of record. Secondly, a check must be made to determine precisely when fire and pressure actually ceased. Both these points would be of importance in future negotiations.

In the 2nd Division, the line held was recorded as stated at the end of the preceding chapter. As for the hour of cessation, message after message went out, insisting that officers must be sent all along the line to verify this. Necessarily, in a line measured in hundreds of miles, shots were fired after the hour specified. Every such case brought instant protest, and Marshal Foch's headquarters had to consider each one.²

Later, the division inspector was ordered to make a complete investigation and place his findings in writing. This he did, incorporating in his report briefs of sworn testimony, from numerous witnesses ranging from brigadier general to private. His conclusion was that all firing ceased promptly at 11.00 o'clock.³

A check of war diaries shows the same thing. Every unit in actual contact with the enemy, with one exception, reports receiving and executing the order, and that one unit was not firing at or after 11.00 o'clock. The case is of some interest.

It will be remembered that patrols of the 5th Marines had pushed up as far as the western outskirts of Moulins. Shortly before 11.00 o'clock Captain Dunbeck, commanding the 2c1 Battalion, became worried about his men there, and called upon Captain Blake, of the 1st Battalion, for assistance in locating them. These officers, with some of Captain Blake's men, moved out toward Moulins, and were thus out of reach of the message announcing the armistice. When they approached the village they found a small celebration going on there—the Germans cheering, setting off flares and waving white flags. Thus informed of the news, the Americans returned to Senegal Farm.⁴

It is probable that some of the cases of firing after the armistice, reported by the Germans, were due to this same kind of celebration in the American lines, for the V Corps found it necessary to give stringent orders in regard to discharge of fireworks.⁵

The first announcement of the armistice was, of course, by telephone messages to headquarters of the brigades, transmitted forward by all means available. It was confirmed and made of record by a formal division order, issued at 10.00 A.M.⁶ This order definitely fixed the status of affairs, and the attitude to be maintained, as follows:

"The enemy will be kept under close observation and the troops will be held in constant readiness for immediate action. There will be no communication allowed between our troops and the enemy troops. Fraternizing" (the first appearance in orders of this word, which became so familiar later) "will be absolutely prohibited. The present status is one of a temporary cessation of hostilities and is not that of peace."

The prompt withdrawal of the German troops soon terminated most of the opportunities for direct personal communication. Radio messages were a different matter, and communications by this method began to cross the lines. The corps found it necessary to reiterate the orders as to communication, specifically mentioning radio, and directing that German messages be ignored.⁷

No change in troop dispositions were made in the division on the day of the armistice except relief of the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry, in support east of the river, by the 3d Battalion, 5th Marines. Units were collected and reorganized, and checks of losses for the period November 1-11 begun. An accurate list, of course, could not be made until later; after arrival on the Rhine, the figures reported were:—killed, 11 officers and 391 men; wounded, 82 officers and 2,290 men; gassed, 3 officers and 85 men; missing, 1 officer and 435 men; total, 97 officers and 3,201 men.' These corrected figures, however, give no idea of the actual fighting strength of the regiments on the Meuse. The continued exposure to cold and rain, and the lack o of and properly prepared food, had caused much sickness, and American units on November 11th were a mere fraction of what they had been on October 31st.

On the 12th orders were issued for the better organization of the line held. The 5th Marines, across the Meuse, was to remain in place, simply organizing its lines in depth and making provision for the comfort of the men. In the region of Mouzon, parts of all three of the other infantry regiments were in line, for the 3d Brigade had been here when the 6th Marines moved in to attempt a crossing. All troops of the 3d Brigade were ordered back to support positions in the region of Beaumont and Yoncq, and the 6th Marines assigned to occupy the front line. These movements were made on November 13th.⁹

The French being now in a position to take over the Sedan-Mouzon line, the 77th Division became available to relieve the 2d and 89th Divisions. This was ordered on November 13th, and accomplished on the 14th; the division enjoyed a new experience, the relief of front lines in broad daylight, without regard to German outposts and airplanes. Almost as much of a novelty, too, was fair weather, with a short period of which the region was now favored. The order for this movement was the last issued to the 2d Division by the V Corps. It provided for relief of all front line battalions by the 77th Division, and transfer to that division of all troop quarters east of the Meuse, except Pouilly and Stenay, which places remained in the possession of the 2d and 89th respectively as points for crossing the river. Otherwise, no changes in quarters were made. The III Corps assumed jurisdiction, and ordered readiness to cross the armistice line. The time set for this crossing, on the whole front from Switzerland to the sea, had been set by Marshal Foch at 5.00 A.M., Sunday, November 17th.¹⁰

At that time began the Anabasis. Changing the names and descriptions of scenery, Xenophon's war diary form will apply. "Enteuthen exelaunei stathmous hex, parasangas eikosi . . ." That is to say, the first phase of the march was to the German border, which, for the 2d Division meant sixty miles, from the Meuse to the Sure, crossed in six marching days with one rest day. Division headquarters moved first to Stenay; then successively to Virton and Arlon, in Belgium, to Brouch, Mersch and Larochette, in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg—a delightful little independent state about the size of Rhode Island. At the splendid old fortress of Montmedy the division crossed the famous Metz-Carignan-Mezieres railway, upon which the eyes of the whole army had been fixed for the last two months. At Mersch, a town of considerable importance, the people were cordial and enthusiastic, and made the arrival of the troops an occasion of public celebration. Other divisions, following on in second line, report that the street decorations were still in place, and so remained for weeks after.

Here the road entered the hill country, and the scenery became increasingly beautiful. Larochette (or Fels, for Luxemburg uses any language it happens, and towns often have two names, one French and one German) is an especially picturesque spot, a nook in the hills, marked by fine old castle ruins. November is not the best month for sight-seeing, and the beauties of nature were not fully appreciated. Hills are all very well to look at, but carrying a heavy pack over them, or nursing tired horses and worn out motors up and down, is not stimulating to the artistic sense. But everyone did appreciate passing from the devastation of war into a peaceful, prosperous-looking country. The new clothing and equipment helped, too, although there were dissenting voices to this last item, when men found that their new shoes, English-made, did not fit. Fortunately, the weather, although cold, continued fair, and the hill roads were dry.

General Kilbourne joined here, and assumed command of the 3d Brigade.

December 1st was the day set for crossing the German border, along the whole front, and so the division remained in place until then. Regular drills were resumed, but rest and refitting were the principal orders of the day. Replacement of old equipment by new continued, and cleaning and polishing went on continuously. The appearance of the troops improved rapidly. November 28th was Thanksgiving Day, and was duly observed. A number of Distinguished Service Crosses, awarded to men of the division, were received, and presented with proper ceremony. The division was quartered in a well wooded and well watered agricultural country, its outposts along the Sure from Beaufort up to the junction with the Our, its left boundary crossing that river at the massive castle of Vianden. On the right was our 32d Division lying along the river down toward Echternach, beyond the region known locally as Little Switzerland. On the left were French troops, but these accompanied the march only a few days. Their army of occupation was farther south, marching upon Mayence. Ours, in the center, was directed upon Coblenz. The English, to the north, were to move along the Dutch border to Cologne contact with them would be established upon approaching the Rhine.

On December 1st the German boundary was crossed, and the division entered the hilly, almost mountainous, Eifel country, north of the Moselle, to which its numerous streams are tributary. Restrictions on display of flags were removed, and the troops marched with colors, standards and guidons uncased. The right of the army was moving down the Moselle Valley, through Treves, where an advanced station of American General Headquarters was established.

Division headquarters moved first to Mettendorf, then to Rittersdorf, then to the large and beautifully situated town of Prum, where they remained for three days while the troop units moved on through the hills. The rains had begun again, the roads were slippery, and the steep grades difficult to negotiate. The first march, which was long, taxed the strength of the troops heavily; later ones were shorter. The inhabitants, while reserved, showed no signs of hostile feeling.

Gerolstein was next, with its conical hill, its overshadowing cliffs, and its castle ruins then Nohn and Adenau. The division had now crossed the divide of the Eifel, and reached the picturesque valley of the Ahr, its corridor to the Rhine. Up to this point, the division had been able to find several roads, and march in several columns now all had to follow the river road, down through Altenahr, shut in by steep hills, to Ahrweiler, surrounded by vineyards, where division headquarters opened on December 7th. On this day the outposts lay along the Rhine, from Oberwinter to Brohl, the hundred-mile march from the boundary completed. Contact had been made with the British troops on the left.

In this region the division lay for three days. On December 13th, it crossed the Rhine, and established headquarters at Heddesdorf, a suburb of Neuwied.

	Rail head of 3rd. Army Corps showing many 3 1/2 ton trucks lined up to be loaded with army rations and transported to different organizations. In background can be seen depot where rations are stored. On the left is station sign of Neuwied, Germany. December 24, 1918. Heddesdorf, Germany.
	U.S. Army 2nd. Division and 3rd. Army Corps rail head at Heddesdorf, Germany. U.S.A. freight cars on left. December 24, 1918.

Bridgeheads on the right bank of the Rhine, at Mayence, Coblenz and Cologne, had been laid off with a radius of thirty kilometers, or about nineteen miles, with a neutral zone of ten kilometers outside. The distance between Coblenz and Mayence being only sixty-one kilometers in an air line, these two bridgeheads were practically continuous; about a third of the Coblenz semicircle was made a part of the French command at Mayence, and garrisoned by French troops. The rest of the semicircle was American. This American area was divided into three divisional sectors, with boundary lines radiating from a headquarters area at Coblenz. The other divisions of the Third Army were placed on the left bank of the Rhine and along the Moselle. The line of march of the 2d Division brought it, in first line, to the Rhine below Coblenz, at the extreme northwestern point of the semicircle. It therefore was assigned to the river sector of the bridgehead on that flank; next to it, in the center sector, was the 32d Division, and beyond that, in the right sector, the 1st Division. These three divisions now constituted the III Corps. The 2d Division outpost line thus faced northwest, and measured seven miles, from a point opposite Sinzig, at the mouth of the Ahr, to the village of Rahms.

The Rhine crossing was made by ferries at Linz and Hönningen, and by a military bridge at Remagen. Most of the troops thus came into the neutral zone, but were at once drawn back into the bridgehead. The 4th Brigade, with headquarters at Niederbieber, was quartered in the northern portion of the divisional area, and made responsible for the outpost line; the 3d Brigade, in second line, was grouped about Bendorf.¹¹ The initial distribution of troops and duties was tentative only, and numerous modifications were made in the first few weeks. Pending complete occupation of the area, it was necessary to control traffic across the river, and in particular to forestall any attempt by the Germans to transfer military supplies from the left to the right bank. To this end, guards were placed upon all river crossings within the divisional area, and maintained from December 15th to December 30th.¹²

Early in January the troop dispositions had taken a fairly permanent form, and remained without material change for three months. Orders were issued¹³ prescribing the attitude to be assumed by all troops in case of a surprise attack, an expected attack, a counter-attack, or an advance deeper into Germany. The 4th Brigade, with the 15th Field Artillery, was charged with defense of the outpost zone; the remainder of the division was in corps reserve. In the event of an advance, the 1st and 32d Divisions were to move at once; the 42d Division to cross the Rhine in the 2d Division area and join the first line of advance; the 2d Division would march in second line. It was still kept clearly in all minds, that hostilities were only suspended, not terminated, and that troops must be ready at any time to resume operations.

Meanwhile, fighting gave place to training as the principal occupation of the American Expeditionary Forces. Parallel to the training schedules, and really as a part of them, ran a recreation schedule, consisting in a large part of athletic competitions. An educational system was set up, providing instruction of almost every grade and class, and culminating in the "A.E.F. University," established at Beaune (Cote d'Or). Numerous leave areas were established, equipped with living accommodations and recreation facilities, and regular leave trains were run to transport the allotted quotas of the various units to and from them. Distinguished persons of all degrees—American and foreign, civil and military, visited the armies and especially the Army of Occupation in increasing numbers, and were received with due ceremony. Parades, reviews and inspections were of almost daily occurrence, in honor of these visitors, for the conferring of decorations, or for the routine purposes of higher commanders. Quarters were ample and comfortable; supply was abundant.

A new duty now imposed itself upon the troops—control of civil affairs. Every commanding officer, of every grade, became responsible for supervision of civil government in his own territory, and for regulation of relations between troops and inhabitants. The "burgermeister" and other local authorities were retained in office, made responsible to the proper military commander and constituted the channel through which military orders reached the people. Except for such orders, the customary routine of civil life remained unchanged; personal relations between soldiers and civilians were restricted to the absolutely unavoidable. To supplement the ordinary courts, special provost courts were set up in each division, proceeding directly against civil persons for violation of the regulations established by the military government. The position of the "burgermeister" was most unenviable, interposed thus between his own people and their foreign rulers; but generally he accepted the situation philosophically, and administered his office in good faith and with good judgment. American commanders appreciated his position, and made it no more difficult than was necessary.¹⁴

Training was naturally for maneuver in the open field, the only kind of operations in prospect for the Army of Occupation. As in time of peace, most of the time was left at the disposal of company and battery commanders, under supervision of superior headquarters. Stated days were reserved for training in the larger units. Maneuvers and demonstrations, with forces of various sizes, were frequent. Several field exercises were held for the entire division, using complete headquarters and communication troops, other troops merely outlined. Target ranges were established, and much firing done, both infantry and artillery; this was enlivened by numerous competitions, large and small. The most important of these, of course, was the American Expeditionary Forces' championship, fired at Le Mans in May. In this the 2d Division headed the list, of twelve divisions competing.¹⁵ Athletic exercises for all the men formed a part of the daily drill schedule. In addition, teams were formed for competitions, within and without the division, in all the usual American sports. The 2d Division won no army championships, but took its share of corps honors. The most conspicuous competitions were in the horseshows [sic], division and corps.¹⁶

When the division once became fully established in its area, there was little shifting of quarters for several months. The only notable change was in February, when the 17th Field. Artillery took over from corps troops the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, on the heights opposite Coblenz. In April, however, an important change occurred.

The flow of troops homeward had been continuous, utilizing the full capacity of ships available. Temporary units, of course, were the first to go, regular divisions going to the end of the roster; although mutual transfers of individuals were encouraged, permitting those to leave who were most anxious to do so. In April it came the turn of the 32d Division, the right-hand neighbor of the 2d, to sail for home. Boundaries were rearranged, and the bridgehead divided into two division sectors instead of three. The old 32d Division sector was divided, between the 1st Division on the right and the 2d on the left. The new dispositions, and the necessary changes of quarters were completed on April 24th.¹⁷

With all of its training and other activities, the Army of Occupation never forgot that it might resume operations. The peace negotiations were followed with close attention, and every delay or gesture of resistance on the part of the German delegates was at once reflected in renewed discussion of advance. The revised plan, after the withdrawal of the temporary divisions from the Army of Occupation, was for the 1st and 2d Divisions to cross the neutral zone side by side; other divisions to cross the Rhine at and below Coblenz, extend the right and left and connect with the French and British. The remaining troops of the Third Army along the Moselle, would move up to the Rhine in support. The French 2d Cavalry Division was attached to the III Corps, marching immediately on the left of the American 2d Division.¹⁸

In May, friction in the peace conference became acute, and the German delegates flatly refused the demands of the Allies. The orders, so long prepared, were placed in effect, and concentration for the further advance was ordered to commence on June 17th. All construction work was at once discontinued; athletic teams and entertainment groups were broken up; movement of civilians across the outpost lines was stopped.¹⁹

The French Cavalry Division took over the outposts of the 4th Brigade and the left section of those of the 3d Brigade. The 3d Brigade, in its turn, took over those of the 1st Division, and thus provided the screen behind which the assembly of both divisions was made. The 4th Machine Gun Battalion, of the 2d Division, was attached to the 1st Division. The village of Wolferlingen, on the perimeter of the bridgehead, was fixed as the boundary point, and each division concentrated on its own line of advance. The 2d Division planned to move out in two columns, each of a reinforced infantry brigade—the 3d Brigade with the 15th Field Artillery on the right, 4th Brigade with the 12th Field Artillery on the left. Each column had also a company of the 2d Engineers and a detail of military police. The remaining troops of the division, in a reserve column, were to follow the 3d Brigade.

The general alignment of the national contingents was to be fixed from day to day by Marshal Foch. All troops were to march prepared for action, with all dispositions for security. In case of armed resistance by organized troops, it was to be promptly overcome. Any form of opposition by the civil population was to be suppressed by such means as necessary and the offenders were to be summarily dealt with. The inhabitants were to be required to continue their civil pursuits; civil officials to continue their duties.²⁰

But the recalcitrance of the German delegates was short-lived. On June 23d they announced their willingness to sign the treaty as drafted, and all troop movements were suspended. On the 28th the signature took place, and the troops returned to their former stations.²¹

This was the last important duty of the 2d Division in Europe. Other activities there were, but mostly of a ceremonial nature—notably, participation by a picked detail in the Paris ceremonies on the American and French national holidays, July 4th and 14th. For these occasions a composite regiment of infantry was made up from what remained of the American Expeditionary Forces. The 2d Division quota was two companies at war strength, every man conspicuous for both appearance and military record. In every respect, this regiment was an extraordinarily fine body of men, and compelled admiration wherever it went.

During the period of occupation, several important changes in commands had been made. The most conspicuous was that which brought General McCloskey back to his old division, and placed him in command of the artillery brigade, relieving Colonel Moore. Colonel McKell assumed command of the 12th Field Artillery, which had been temporarily commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Holabird; and Colonel McCabe succeeded Colonel Dunlap in the 17th. Colonel Van Horn relinquished command of the 9th Infantry to Colonel Arnold, promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel in the same regiment.

During this period also, the 2d Division Association was formed, and publication of the "Indian Head" commenced, both of which institutions still flourish.

On July 3d orders were received, effective July 5th, passing the division from the jurisdiction of the Third Army to that of the Services of Supply, for transportation home. The troops were promptly relieved from all other duty, to devote themselves to preparation.

The last field order of the division²² was issued on July 12th, beginning as so often during active operations with the stereotyped phrase "the 2d Division moves to a new area," but going on to fix Cologne—Liege-Amiens-Rouen-Rennes-Brest as the itinerary. Transportation was provided in twenty-six trains, two on July 15th and four per day thereafter. Guns, wheeled transportation and animals were turned in, and only the men and necessary equipment remained to be moved. The trains were loaded and dispatched on schedule, and the last contingent arrived at Camp Pontanezan, Brest, on the 23d.

On the same day embarkation began, the 3d Brigade being the first troops to go. The last shipload, the 2d Battalion, 2d Engineers, landed in New York August 8th. All units, as they arrived, were sent to Camps Merritt and Mills for quarters.

August 8th was also the day of the homecoming parade of the division. All units, except the 2d Battalion of Engineers, which arrived too late, assembled at Washington Square and marched up Fifth Avenue to 110th Street. They were reviewed at 42d Street by the Commanding General of the Port of Embarkation, with a party of invited guests. At 110th Street they were reviewed by General Lejeune and staff, and the various commanding officers.

Upon return to Camps Merritt and Mills, the disintegration began. Many officers of the permanent establishment were relieved, for duty elsewhere. All officers and men, in service for the war only, were detached for discharge. The marine brigade was sent to Quantico. What remained, a mere handful as compared with the war time division, entrained under command of Colonel Myers, the chief of staff and senior officer remaining, for San Antonio, familiar ground to all the old regiments.

And here we take leave of the division.

At Camp Travis, an outlying region of old Fort Sam Houston, a fine infantry brigade made up of the 1st and 20th Infantry, joined to take the place of the marines and to form a new 4th Brigade. Numerous smaller changes have been made since. Reorganizations, large and small, have taken place from time to time. In the course of one of these the 17th Field Artillery, the heavy regiment, was withdrawn from the division, but later, in another reorganization, was restored to it. It proved impracticable, in our small peace time army, to hold the division together, and, while it still retains its name and organization, its troops are scattered from Texas to Colorado, and even as far as North Carolina.

The regiments are scattered, and men who were with them in war have almost disappeared from their ranks. It may be that further exigencies of the service may even dissolve the tie which now holds them together as a division. But the regiments remain, and on the regimental colors are the badges of the war service of the 2d Division. Every recruit when he joins, sees the ribbons and learns their meaning. More than this, each regiment, though its men change, perpetuates the wartime spirit of the 2d Division, which is the spirit of the Regular Army.

The 2d Division, A.E.F., took its place in France among the first of our units upon the battle front. It sacrificed its blood in the principal major engagements of the American effort, where it achieved distinction accorded to but few. Through its soldierly conduct, its discipline and its valor assumed a distinguished place among American troops and was assigned the enviable role of the spearhead in attack. The French rewarded its gallantry with citations, letters of commendations and decorations. It was known to the Germans as a shock division and in their estimates of the military situation on the American front they gave careful consideration to the location of the 2d Division.

In December, 1918, Colonel Arthur L. Conger, General Staff, was sent to Germany to arrange certain matters connected with the evacuation of prisoners of war. He visited the Headquarters of the III German Army. In a conversation with its Chief of Staff that officer remarked, "I fought in campaigns against the Russian Army, the Serbian Army, the Roumanian Army, the British Army, the French Army and the American Army. All told, in this war I have fought in more than 80 battles. I have found your American Army the most honorable (ehrlich) of all our enemies. You have also been the bravest of our enemies, and in fact, the only ones who have attacked us seriously in this year's battles. I therefore honor you, and now that the war is over I stand ready, for my part, to accept you as a friend."

The high esteem held by the American Commander-in-Chief for the 2d Division is many times expressed in his Final Report and his memoirs of the war.

The history of the 2d Division, A.E.F., is now an imperishable part of the drama of our military annals, where its deeds are recorded among those of the American Regular, deeds of glorious memory. And so, if each man continues to do his duty as in the past, our successors may sometime say to some future commander—