Anne-Louis Toussard of the American Revolution

Last month and this month, I wrote quite a lot on this man in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog.  I had never heard of him before and came across an article about a letter he had written describing the big hurricane that hit New Orleans in 1812, while he was the French consul there.

It turns out he was a major force in early American history, especially during the American Revolution, but also later in the young country's history.  He was one of the French who saved the fledgling country.  I probably should have written about him more in this blog.

Just a short summary of some of what he did:

A French artillerist who served  in the American Continental Army under Lafayette and was given a commission.    He wrote an artillery book which became the training basis of the American Army as well as the one who pushed for a school to train officers (that became West Point).

You can go click on the My Blogs section to the right of this to read more about him, especially if you're really into the American Revolution.

This man should be as well known as Lafayette, but sure isn't.

--Cooter

William J. Snow-- Part 4: Post World War I

Back in last month, I was writing about Army General William J. Snow, the father of Lt. Col. William A. Snow, who engineered Snow's Cut in North Carolina near Wlmington.  Always, reaching the Snow's Cut Bridge on US Highway 421, meant you were entering Carolina Beach, my favorite all-time beach.

Major General Snow was a major figure in the U.S. Army's artrillery in the first part of the 20th century.  Much like Anne-Louis Toussard was for the Continental Army and early 1800s U.S. Army (I've been writing about him in my Cooter's History Thing blog last month.

AFTER WORLD WAR I

After World War I, Wiliam Snow continued to serve as Chief of U.S. Artillery.  This position was codified by law in 1920.  He served until retiring in 1927.  

During this time, he oversaw the artillery branch's postwar reorganization, including the beginning of testing and experimentation to determine how to transition from horse drawn equipment to mechanized and modernized processes for directing and  controlling  indirect fire to improve speed and accuracy.

--Cooter

William J. Snow-- Part 3: Of Huge Importance in the U.S. Army's Field Artillery (and Anne Louis Toussant)

In July, 1917, he was selected to command the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and promoted to brigadier general.  At the school, he began the process of   reorganizing and modernizing the  program of instruction to meet the increased  demand for officers created by World War I.

In September 1917, Snow was assigned to command the 156th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.  In February 1918, he was selected to serve as the first Chief of Field Artillery, an unofficial position created to oversee the field artillery branch's wartime mobilization and training and was promoted to major general in June.

In this role, he created a system of training centers and replacement depots, which enabled the artillery branch to meet the wartime demand for qualified artillerymen.

William J. Snow was obviously a very important man in the field artillery branch of the U.SA. Army.  Of interest, currently I am writing about a man named Anne-Louis Toussard in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog.  He was of great importance to  the American artillery in the American Revolution and wrote a book about artillery used in the 1800s by the United States.  He also was very important in the creation and early days of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.  Well worth a trip over there to read about him.

Just Some More RoadTripping Through History.  --Cooter

Some More on MG William J. Snow-- Part 2: All Sorts of Field Artillery Positions

In 1910, he played a key role in organizing the United States Field Artillery Association; he became its first Secretary and the first editor of the Field Artillery Journal.

In 1910, Snow was assigned to the Militia Bureau as senior inspector and instructor of National Guard artillery units.  Promoted to major in 1911 and from 1911-1914 commanded  2nd Battalion, 3rd Field  Artillery at Fort Myer, Virginia.

In January 1915, he was assigned to 2nd Field Artillery (Mountain) at Camp Stotsenburg, Philippines. and in June 1916, was  assigned command of the 1st Field Artillery Regiment at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.  Then promoted to lieutenant colonel in June and colonel in July.

On April 1917, the same month the United States entered World War I, he was assigned to command the 4th Field Artillery, which he led during training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and at a temporary camp at Syracuse, New York.

--Cooter

Some More on Major General William J. Snow: 1890 West Point Graduate and Early Service

William Snow graduated from West Point in 1890, ranking #24 out of 54 students.  Thirteen otther of his class went on to become generals.

Snow received his commission as 2nd lieutenant in the field artillery and was assigned to the 1st Artillery Regiment.

During the Spanish-American War he performed coast artillery duty at Fort St. Philip (it gained fame during the Civil War when Farragut ran past it and Fort Jackson on his way to capture New Orleans).  He was pomoted to 1st lieutenant.  Next, he served as quartermaster of the 7th Artillery Regiment at Fort Slocum, New York.

The regiment was ordered to the Philippines during the insurrection and served there until there until May, 1901.

Next, he was promoted to captain and stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was made commander of the 20th Field Battery (Horse).  It was later redesignated as the Battery E, 6th Field Artillery Regiment.  From  1907 to 1908 he attended the Army War College and then returned to the 6th Field Artillery where he served as adjuatnt.

--Cooter

Major General William J. Snow

From Wikipedia.

WILLIAM J. SNOW  

(December16, 1868 to February 27, 1947)

Career U.S. Army officer who reached the rank of major general.  Served as Chief of Field Artillery for seven years in the 1920s.

Native of Brooklyn, New York.  Graduated from USMA in 1890 and commenced a long career in the Army's field artillery branch.  Served in New York early in his career, then graduated  from the artillery school at Fort Monroe.  During the Spanish-American War  he was involved with coast artillery in Louisiana.

Served in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War before returning to the States to command a battery at Fort Riley (Kansas).  Then spent several years on duty at the Militia Bureau and commanded a battalion at Fort Myer (by Washington D.C.)

He commanded  the 1st Field Artillery Regiment in the period immediately preceding World War I.

--Cooter

America's Long Line of Military Heroes-- Part 6: The Pitiful Battle of Blandensburg

Only one president, James Madison, filled his commander-in-chief role under fire, and he did so with notable ineptitude.  On August 24, 1814, Madison assumed command of an artillery battery north of Blandensburg, Maryland, and directed its guns on the British as they advanced on Washington, D.C..

The American forces, though more numerous, were routed.  In his and their defense, they were mostly militia fighting against trained soldiers.

The president fled, the capital was put to the torch and the battle became "the greatest disgrace ever dealt to American arms" and "the most humiliating episode in American history."

Well, I don't know about the last two quotes.  But it was definitely embarrassing.

--Cooter

Last Casualties of World War I-- Part 1: So Sad, 2,738 Deaths On last Day

From ANSWERS:  "Who Was the Last Casualty of World War I?"

Even after word reached units that the war was to stop at 11 a.m., firing continued right up to that time.  Some Allied artillery units continued firing so as to use up ammunition so they wouldn't have to cart it off.  Allies also wanted to ensure that should the fighting start again, they would be in the best possible situation.

As mentioned in the last post, there was also the "honor" of firing the last shot.

As a result, there were 10,944 casualties on that last day, including 2,738 deaths.

All For Nothing.  --Cooter

Another WW I Hero Pigeon, President Wilson-- Part 2

President Wilson was born in France and first assigned to the U.S. Army's newly-formed Tank Corps, delivering messages to tank battalions commanded by Col. George S. Patton in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel.

Soon afterwards, the pigeon was assigned to an infantry unit operating  near Grandpre during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918.

On the morning of October 5, his unit came under fire and Wilson was dispatched with a message that the unit needed artillery support.  During his 25-mile flight to headquarters, German soldiers spotted him and  began firing.  Wilson was hit several times, losing a leg and getting a wound in the chest, but he managed to deliver the message in a record 25 minutes.

He survived his wounds and was retired and sent to the U.S. Army Signal Corps Breeding and Training Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where he would live another eleven years.

--Cootgeon

WW I's "Lost Battalion"-- Part 3: Saved By Cher Ami

The American's of the "Lost Battalion" suffered many hardships.    Food was scarce and water was available only by crawling, under fire to a nearby stream.  Ammunition ran low.

At times they even bombarded by Allied artillery.

Every runner sent out by Whittlesey either got lost or was captured by the Germans.  Eventually he had to rely on carrier pigeons.

In one incident on October 4, a carrier pigeon delivered inaccurate instructions, causing a bombardment on their positions by friendly fire.  The unit was saved when another carrier pigeon named Cher Ami got through with this message:

"We are along the road parallel to 276.4.  Our artillery is dropping  a barrage directly on us.  For heavens sake stop it."

Despite this, the "Lost Battalion" held its ground and other Allied units were able to break through German lines, forcing them to retreat and what was left of the "Lost Battalion" saved.

Quite the Story.  --Cooter

Wisconsin's Camp McCoy

I have been writing about Camp McCoy/Fort McCoy in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog.

From www.mccoy.army.mil.  Fort McCoy History.

Named after General Robert Bruce McCoy who was instrumental in getting the post established.  After the Spanish-American War he envisioned the site as a place to train artillerymen.

In 1906, Secretary of War William Howard Taft proposed the construction of four large camps across the U.S. for the training of regular Army and National Guard units.

In 1909, Camp Robinson and Camp Emory Upton were established.  The site soon proved to be an excellent field artillery training site and was much-used for that purpose.

Improvements and additions were made between 1910 and 1919.  This included rifle ranges, office buildings and storehouses.  Until 1919, the camp was a favorite for artillery and at one time was described as the  largest, most modern and beautiful installations in the nation.

It continued to grow through World War I with the construction of barracks, mess halls, stables and  warehouses.

Field artillery units trained there throughout the war and into 1918.

--Cooter

Battle of Hamel in World War I

From Wikipedia.

In Saturday's post I wrote about this battle.

Took place July 4, 1918.  Successful attack by Australian and American infantry against German positions around the northern French town of Le Hamel.

Many of the tactics employed, such as the use of combined arms, illustrated the evolution of military tactics, from the massed attacks used earlier in the war.  All of the Allied goals were achieved in just 93 minutes.

Sixty of the new, highly maneuverable British Mark V tanks were used.  A creeping artillery barrage by over 600 Allied cannons was also employed.  Much effort went into coordination.

--Cooter

World War I Chronology, October 1917-- Part 2: Marines Organized, First U.S. Artillery Fire

OCTOBER 23--  U.S. 5th and 6th Marine Regiments in France are organized as the 4th Marine Brigade, part of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division.

OCTOBER 23--  C Battery, 6th Field Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, fires the first U.S. artillery shells of World War I.  The same day, D.H. harden, of the 26th Infantry, becomes the first U.S. combat soldier wounded in action on the Front.

--Cooter

Illinois' Camp Logan-- Part 3: Echelon and Aiken

Echelon Target System and Aiken targets were used.  An Echelon Target System was a rifle range with various distances to the targets.  Soldiers would qualify at the 200 yard one and proceed every 100 yards to as far as he could successfully hit the Aiken targets.

Use of Camp Logan by the Illinois National Guard was heavy from 1902 on.

There was also live fire by artillery and Gatlin guns.  During World War I, the nearby Great Lakes Naval Training Station took over Camp Logan for overflow.  The WPA made improvements from 1934-1937.

Great Lakes used the base again during World War II.

The caretakers cottage and pump house from the 1890s are still there.  there is also a flagpole, 2 garages, headquarters, one barracks as well as one tool and two store rooms remaining from the 1910s.

--Cooter