ich
required intelligence and nerve, as the likelihood was great that the
enemy's agents in this country would strike in the vicinity of the seat
of government. That such responsible duty was delegated to the Negroes
was a high compliment from the military authorities. The manner in which
they discharged the duty is shown in the fact that no enemy depredations
of any consequence occurred in the vicinity of Washington.

After a period of training at Camp Stewart, Newport News, Va., the
battalion was sent to France. Its colored commander was dead. Other
colored officers were soon superseded, leaving the chaplain, Lieutenant
Arrington Helm, the only colored officer attached to the organization.

Arriving at St. Nazaire, France, April 14, 1918, the battalion was soon
sent to Conde en Barrois, where it underwent a period of intensive
training with special preparation for sector warfare. The instructors
were French. Lessons were hard and severe, but the instructors
afterwards had much cause for pride in their pupils.

From the training camp the battalion and regiment proceeded to the
Argonne front, at first settling in the vicinity of La Chalade. It was
there the soldiers received their first taste of warfare, and it was
there their first casualties occurred.

September 13th the outfit withdrew and retired to the rear for a special
training prior to participation in the general attack from Verdun to the
sea. On the morning of September 28th the District of Columbia battalion
was sent to the front to relieve a regiment of famous Moroccan shock
troops. It was at this time that the Champagne offensive took such a
decided turn and the Washington men from that time on were taking a most
active and important part in the general fighting. They distinguished
themselves at Ripont just north of St. Menehold. They suffered greatly
during their valiant support of an advanced position in that sector.
Despite its losses the battalion fought courageously ahead. Prior to
that it had occupied Hill 304 at Verdun. It had the distinction of being
the first American outfit to take over that sector. The battalion fought
doggedly and bravely at Ripont and succeeded in gaining much valuable
territory, as well as enemy machine guns and supplies and ninety Hun
prisoners.

Later the battalion held a front line position at Monthois, and it
finally formed a salient in the line of the 9th French Army Corps. It
was subjected to a long period of gruell