The 151st Field Artillery Brigade

In Short

This memoir records the journey of the 151st Field Artillery Brigade from its formation at Camp Devens in 1917 through rigorous training, transatlantic transport, and final deployment to the St. Mihiel sector during the First World War. Drawing on official records and collective memories, the author traces how diverse civilian recruits transformed into a cohesive, disciplined military unit capable of operating complex artillery under fire. It has endured as a candid, unpretentious account of citizen-soldiers adapting to unprecedented global conflict, capturing both the tedium of camp life and the sobering weight of combat.

The Story

The narrative opens in April 1917 following the United States' declaration of war against Germany, capturing the sudden establishment of Camp Devens, Massachusetts, where men from across New England gather to form the 76th Division. These recruits, possessing diverse backgrounds but a shared ignorance of military affairs, undergo a relentless routine of drills, inspections, and physical conditioning. Amidst homesickness and the monotonous friction of camp life, the men adapt quickly, learning the value of teamwork and the precise mechanics of military organization. Leadership changes occur as experienced officers are promoted, while tragic reminders of the war's perils strike close to home, such as the torpedoing of Colonel William S. McNair's transport ship.

Following months of preparation, including a lively horse show and final inspections, the division receives orders overseas in July 1918. The artillery units embark on crowded transports like the Winifredian, navigating a camouflaged convoy across the North Atlantic to England, and subsequently crossing the English Channel to France. Settling in Gradignan and Camp de Souge near Bordeaux, the brigade reorganizes as corps artillery, trading outdated equipment for French 75s, American 4.7s, and French 155-millimeter long rifles. They endure sweltering heat, dust, and demanding firing problems under the command of General McNair, who eventually relinquishes his post to Brigadier-General Richmond P. Davis before taking command of the First Army's artillery.

In October, the brigade moves forward to the St. Mihiel sector, attached to the French Second Army. Here, the reality of the front materializes through enemy air raids, subterranean dugouts, and endless nocturnal reconnaissance across a lunar landscape devastated by gas and shellfire. The regiments occupy battery positions in ruined woods and devastated villages, establishing vital communications and supporting infantry raids with calculated barrages. As November progresses, the brigade intensifies its support, firing thousands of rounds to neutralize enemy batteries and protect advancing infantry through freezing mud and relentless rain.

On the morning of November 11th, advanced battalions push forward into the Plain of the Woevre, ready to sustain a general offensive, when news of the armistice arrives at 5:45 a.m. Ceasefire orders halt the thunder of artillery, and the 303rd Band plays taps followed by national anthems, dissolving the din into profound stillness. Following the armistice, the brigade engages in policing ruined French villages, staging entertainment, and waiting through tedious months of garrison duties and administrative tasks. Finally, in April 1919, the men board the Santa Rosa at Pauillac and sail for Boston, concluding an intense chapter of national service that permanently altered their understanding of duty and self-sacrifice.

How It Unfolds

The formation at Camp Devens Recruits arrive at the newly built cantonment in Massachusetts, where their total lack of military experience is rapidly replaced by a grueling daily routine of drills, inspections, and physical conditioning. They navigate the friction of communal life, transforming from independent citizens into a disciplined collective.

The voyage overseas In July 1918, the troops board crowded transports and sail across the North Atlantic in a camouflaged convoy. After landing in England and crossing the Channel to France, they establish headquarters near Bordeaux and begin intensive training with new artillery pieces.

Preparation at Camp de Souge The brigade endures sweltering heat and punishing sand while mastering advanced gunnery, signaling, and large-scale firing problems. General McNair departs for a higher command, and Brigadier-General Davis takes charge as final readiness inspections pave the way for the front.

Deployment to the St. Mihiel sector Arriving at the front in October, the artillery units occupy battered positions amidst ruined forests and subterranean dugouts. They endure enemy air raids, master nocturnal reconnaissance, and establish complex communications networks across a landscape scarred by war.

Combat support and the armistice The brigade delivers heavy counter-battery fire and protective barrages to support infantry raids through freezing mud and gas attacks. On November 11th, advanced units push onto the Plain of the Woevre just before the armistice is declared, silencing the guns and giving way to solemn reflection.

Return to the United States After months of garrison duties, village policing, and theatrical performances in France, the brigade receives orders to return home. They endure a lengthy wait at Camp de Souge before finally embarking from Pauillac on the Santa Rosa in April 1919.

The People

Colonel William S. McNair embodies experienced leadership, surviving a German submarine torpedo attack on his transport ship before taking command of the brigade and instilling high confidence through rigorous training. When promoted to lead the First Army's artillery, he leaves behind a finely tuned organization. Brigadier-General Richmond P. Davis succeeds him, driving the brigade through demanding multi-day firing problems and positioning them effectively for front-line combat. Colonel Conklin and Colonel Platt command individual regiments, selecting clever headquarters sites like Swiss chalets or German shelters and guiding their men through grueling nocturnal deployments. Captain Lefferts faces the hazard of enemy gas shells in the field, representing the constant dangers encountered during operations. The individual American soldiers, Yankee citizens plucked from diverse civil occupations, transition from frustrated, homesick novices struggling with mess kits and mud into highly proficient artillerymen capable of executing complex barrages under fire. Though they face exhaustion, gas attacks, and the heartbreak of losing comrades in the final moments of conflict, they emerge fundamentally changed, having learned the profound value of teamwork and self-sacrifice for a common cause.

In Its Own Voice

Reflecting on the relentless repetition of camp routines at Devens, the author captures the cadence of daily military existence:

To-day is a repetition of yesterday, to-morrow will be a repetition of to-day.

Describing the devastated landscape of the Western Front where the artillery units established their positions, the text notes:

The country looked like pictures of the moon sometimes reproduced in scientific magazines because of interest but never on account of beauty.

Summarizing the ultimate transformation and enduring ethos of the citizen-soldiers who served, the volume concludes with a defining sentiment:

NOT WHAT WE DID, BUT WHAT WE WERE WILLING TO DO.

What It's Really About

The book explores the profound metamorphosis of democratic citizenship under the pressure of total war. It examines how individual liberty and civilian identity are temporarily subsumed into a vast, synchronized military machine driven by a single national purpose. Beyond the technical mechanics of artillery and regimental movements, the text investigates the psychology of collective endurance, exploring how men from diverse backgrounds find meaning in monotony, hardship, and shared danger. Ultimately, it questions the true cost of war, balancing the grief of final casualties against the quiet, enduring pride of a difficult task successfully accomplished.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers seeking an unvarnished, authentic window into the First World War will find this regimental history remarkably grounded and free of romanticized wartime propaganda. Reading it feels like sitting down with an honest veteran who refuses to sugarcoat the miserable mud, the biting cold, and the sheer administrative absurdity of military life, yet maintains a deep reverence for the men he served alongside. While its focus on technical artillery data and organizational rosters can occasionally read like a dry chronicle, its passages of personal reflection and vivid environmental description richly reward the patient reader. It captures a specific historical moment when America's civilian population mobilized on an unprecedented scale, preserving the internal voice of citizen-soldiers who traded personal comfort for collective duty. What stays with you long after finishing is the poignant contrast between mundane camp complaints and the sobering, profound realization of what those men were willing to endure and sacrifice when history called upon them.