ased)
Pvt. Spirley Irby
Pvt. Alfred Williamson
Pvt. William G. Hurdle
Pvt. Harry Pearson
Pvt. Alonzo Walton
Pvt. Leroy Davis
Pvt. James Fuquay
Pvt. Nathaniel C. White (deceased)
Pvt. Arthur Johnson

CHAPTER XVIII.

BLOOD OF THE BLACK AND WHITE IN ONE RIVULET OF DEPARTING LIFE

LINCOLN'S PROPHETIC WORDS--NEGROES ALONGSIDE BEST SOLDIERS IN THE
WORLD--HOLD THEIR OWN--THE 372ND REGIMENT--BRIGADED WITH VETERANS OF THE
MARNE--FAMOUS "RED HAND" DIVISION--OCCUPY HILL 304 AT VERDUN--NINE DAYS
BATTLE IN "BLOODY ARGONNE"--ADMIRATION OF THE FRENCH--CONSPICUOUS
COMPONENTS OF 372ND--CHRONOLOGY OF SERVICE.

They will probably help in some trying time to keep the jewel of
liberty in the family of freedom.--Abraham Lincoln.

Prophetic words uttered by the Great Emancipator concerning the Negroes
of America. The Negroes helped. They would have helped in much greater
measure had they been given the opportunity.

Fighting for the first time on the soil of the world's most famous
battleground--Europe--and for the first time brought into direct
comparison with the best soldiers of the world, they proved themselves
able to hold their own where tests of courage, endurance and
aggressiveness were most severe.

They fought valiantly in the vicinity of Chateau Thierry, on the Vesle,
on the Aillette, in the Argonne, and various other sectors; and in the
final drive at Metz. They vanquished the Germans who opposed them; the
heaviest fire of the enemy failing to stop their advance.

No part of the 93rd Division made a more gallant record than the 372nd
regiment. Throughout its service in France it was a part of the famous
French 157th Division known as the "Red Hand" division, under the
command of General Goybet. It was this division which first opposed the
Huns at the Marne in 1914. To brigade the Negro soldiers with such
famous veterans was a rare mark of distinction and placed the black men
on their mettle at all times.

The 372nd arrived in France on April 14 and went into training with the
French eleven days later. On May 29 the regiment took over a sector in
the Argonne and on June 20 was sent to the trenches just west of Verdun,
occupying the famous battle-swept Hill 304, and sections at Four de
Paris and Vauquois. On Hill 304 thousands of French and Germans had
fallen as the battle line swung back and forward. That this hill was
given to the Negroes to hold demons