York's famous Machinegun finds a home

[Brad Posey]

This is a very interesting statement that York gave the 82nd Division in 1919. Here he says he thinks he had 146 prisoners. This agrees with LT Flynt’s field message where he witnesses 146 German prisoners being marched through Apremont on their way to the rear. From these two documents we know that York picked up additional prisoners at the Regimental P.C. which appears to have increased the number to 146. Where the additional prisoners were added to the column to bring the final total in Varennes to 208 is unknown.

Here is York’s additional statement to the 82nd Division:


Corporal Alvin C. York
Supplementary Statement Taken by the 82nd Division
“His Own Life Story and War Diary”
Pg. 268 - 269

Supplementary statement by Sergeant Alvin C. (1,910,426) York, Company G, 328th Infantry:

“After the German captain made the Germans remaining on the hill surrender and the firing stopped, Corporals Early and Cutting came toward me. Corporal Cutting said: “I’m hit and hit bad” and Corporal Early said: “York, I’m shot and shot bad. What shall I do?” I told him: “You can come out in the rear of our column with the other boys.” Private Donohue helped Corporal Early out to the edge of the woods, where they met a stretcher bearer from G Company with a stretcher, and Corporal Early was carried back to Chatel Chehery, when the German prisoners carried him to the ambulance. Corporal Early was shot through the lower body. Corporal Cutting was shot three times in the left arm. Private Muzzi was shot in the shoulder. Corporal Cutting and Private Muzzi walked out themselves. No German wounded, as far as any of us know, came out with our prisoners. The wounded German lieutenant was brought out. I think afterwards by German prisoners who went back for him. When we got back to the Battalion P.C., the prisoners were counted by Lieutenant Woods and Lieutenant Garner. Lieutenant Woods told us to take them to the Battalion P.C. and Colonel Wetherill told us to take them to Brigade Headquarters at Varennes. Another group of prisoners were added to those we had and I turned over at Varennes 208 prisoners to the Military Police, and a receipt was given to Corporal Clark, who joined us after the fight was over. The prisoners which were captured and which were counted at the Battalion P.C. by Lieutenants Woods and Garner, I am told, amounted to 132. I counted them roughly by myself and thought there were about 146.”

[Brad Posey]

The statements of some of the other men in the patrol, that is those who were not still in the hospital, are also found in the York Diary. Private Beardsley, who was a member of York’s automatic squad (Chauchat machinegun) issued two statements in 1919.


Here is Beardsley’s first statement:

Private Percy Beardsley
Affidavit 26 February, 1919
“His Own Life Story and War Diary”
Pg. 245 – 247

2nd Bn. 328th Inf.
82nd Div. America E.F.
Frettes, France, Feb. 21, 1919

Affidavit of Private Percy (1,910,246) Beardsley.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, Private Percy (1,910,246) Beardsley, first being duly sworn according to law, says that he was present with Sergeant Alvin C. (1,919,426) York, northwest of Chatel Chehery on the morning of October 8, 1918, and testified to the distinguished personal courage, self-sacrifice, and presence of mind of Sergeant Alvin C. (1,910,426) York, as follows:

“On the morning of the 8th of October, 1918, Sergeant York was a corporal in G Company, 328th Infantry, and I was a member of his squad. Our battalion, the 2nd Battalion of the 328th Infantry, was attacking the ridge northwest of Chatel Chehery. The battalion had to manoeuvre across the valley under heavy machine-gun fire which came from our right and left as well as in front of us. Very heavy fire came from a hill on our left flank. Sergeant Parsons was our platoon leader and he told acting Sergeant Early to take three squads and go over and clean out the machine guns that were shooting at our left flank. He circled the hill first in a southerly and then in a southwesterly direction until the noise of the machine guns sounded as if it were between us and our battalion. We went down the west slope of the hill into a ravine filled with heavy underbrush and there found two Germans and fired at one of them when he refused to halt. We were following the one who ran and came onto a battalion of Germans grouped together on the bottom and slope of the hill. Those nearest us were surprised, and, thinking they were surrounded, started to surrender, but a lot of machine gunners halfway up the turned their machine guns on us, killing six and wounding three of our detachment. All three of our other non-commissioned officers were shot and there was left only Corporal York and seven privates. We were up against a whole battalion of Germans and it looked pretty hopeless for us. We were scattered out in the brush, some were guarding a bunch of Germans who had begun to surrender and three or four of us fired two or three shots at the line of Germans on the hillside. The German machine gunners kept up a heavy fire, as did the German riflemen on the hillside with the machine gunners. The Germans could not hit us without endangering the prisoners whom we had taken at the very first. A storm of bullets was passing just around and over us. Corporal York was nearest the enemy and close up to the bottom of the hill. He fired rapidly with rifle and pistol until he had shot down a German officer and many of his men. The officer whom Corporal York shot was leading a charge of some riflemen with bayonets fixed down the hillside towards us. Finally the German battalion commander surrendered to Corporal York, who called the seven privates remaining up to him and directed us to place ourselves along the middle and rear of the column of prisoners, which we had assisted him in forming. When we moved out some Germans on a near-by hill continued to fire at us. Corporal York was at the head of the column where he placed two German officers in front of him. A considerable number of German prisoners were taken on our way back over the hill. Corporal York made them surrender by having the German battalion commander call to them to give up.”

Private Percy Beardsley

Sworn and subscribed before me at Frettes, France, this 26th day of February, 1919.
Edwin A. Buckhalter, 1st Lieut. 328th Inf. Bn. Adjt.

[Brad Posey]

Here is Beardsley other statement he gave in 1919:

Private Percy Beardsley
Affidavit 26 January, 1919
“His Own Life Story and War Diary”
Pg. 249 – 251

Hq. 82nd Div., American E.F., France
26 January, 1919.

Private Percy (1,190,246) Beardsley, Company G, 328th Infantry, being duly sworn made the following affidavit.

“On 8th day of October 1918, I was a member of Corporal York’s squad in G Company, 328th Infantry. When we were under acting-Sergeant Bernard Early to clean out the machine guns on our left, I was following behind Corporal York. I saw two Red Cross Germans and when they started to run, we fired at them. One of them stopped and gave himself up. We followed after the other German and about 20 paces from where we had first sighted these two Red Cross Germans, we ran into a bunch of Germans all together in an underbrush on the slope of the hill. When we appeared, Germans came running out of the brush and machine-gun trenches in every direction. There seemed to be about one hundred of these Germans. Some of them held up their hands and shouted “Kamerad” and gave themselves up. A few shots were fired at us and a few men on our side fired back. After this, all the Germans in sight stopped firing and came in around us, having thrown down their arms and equipment. Before we could line them up in a column and move them out, German machine gunners, whom we had not seen before this, commenced firing down the hill at our men. This fire came mostly from the opposite our own right flank. We had six men killed and three wounded in a very short time.

I was at first near Corporal York, but soon after thought it would be better to take cover behind a large tree about fifteen paces in rear of Corporal York. Privates Dymowski and Waring were on each side of me and both were killed by machine gun fire. When the machine-gun fire on each side of my tree stopped, I came back to where the Germans were and fired my pistol two or three times. I saw Corporal York fire his pistol repeatedly in front of me. After I came back from the tree I saw Germans who had been hit fall down. I saw German prisoners who were still in a bunch together waving their hands at the machine gunners on the hill as if motioning for them to go away. Finally the fire stopped and Corporal York told us to have the prisoners fall in columns of twos and for me to take my place at the rear.”

This statement was read to Private Beardsley after being taken, and he stated the same was correct.

I certify that the above is statement made by Private Percy (1,190,426) Beardsley, Company G, 328th Infantry, to which he made oath before me.

G. Edward Buxton, Jr.
Major, Inf., U.S.A.
Division Historical Officer.

[Brad Posey]

I appologize, I got the order of Beardsley's statements backwards. The last one I posted is Beardsley's first statement.

[Brad Posey]

The following are summaries or excerpts from the other witness accounts found in the York Diary:


SUMMARY: Konotski says that York killed no less than 15 Germans and took the German battalion commander prisoner.

SUMMARY: Saccina says he fired three shots when they initially encountered the Germans in the ravine and afterwards was busy guarding prisoners. He says he could not see any of the other patrol members during the fight.

SUMMARY Donohue says that he fired one shot when they initially encountered the Germans in the ravine and afterwards was busy guarding prisoners. He said that during the fight he could see Wills, Saccina, and Sok.

SUMMARY: Wills says that he was busy guarding prisoners during the fight and only saw Donohue, Saccina, Beardsley and Muzzi. He also said that Swanson was near him when he was shot and that he could hear York, but not see him shouting to the machine gunners on the hill to surrender.



In 1928 SGT Early issued this deposition to the New Haven, Connecticut Superior Court:

Excerpt:

“…..We jumped a little stream and suddenly unexpectedly discovered the headquarters of a German machine – gun regiment. There must have been at least one hundred Germans, including three officers and several non-commissioned officers. There were also runners, orderlies, and others. They were having breakfast and we completely surprised them. We fired several shots to intimidate them and rushed them with fixed bayonets. I was out in front leading them and, seeing the Germans throwing up their hands, I ordered my men to cease firing and to cover and close in on them. I then ordered my men to line them up preparatory to marching them back to our P.C.

In the act of turning around issuing this order, a burst of machine gun bullets struck me. I fell with one bullet through my arm and five through the lower part of my body. I called on Corporal Cutting to take command and get the prisoners out and if possible later on come back and get me.

A little later Corporal Cutting was wounded and Corporal York took command.

I was carried back with the German prisoners to our first-aid station. There I was operated on and some of the bullets were taken out and I was sent to the hospital”




This is the 1919 affidavit of LT Woods, who was at the Battalion C.P. when York returned with the column of prisoners:

“On the morning of Oct. 8, 1918, I was the battalion adjutant, 2nd Battalion, 328th Infantry. The Battalion P.C. had been moved forward from Hill 223 to a hillside across the valley and just west of Hill 223, the jumping off place. We heard some heavy and almost continuous firing on the other side of our hill and in the direction taken by Sergeant Early, Corporal York and their detachment. Some time later I personally saw Corporal York and seven privates returning down the hillside on which our P.C. was located. They had 132 prisoners with them, including three German officers, one battalion commander. I personally counted the prisoners when Corporal York reported the detachment and prisoners. Corporal York was in entire charge of this party and was marching at the head of the column with the German officers. The seven men with Corporal York were scattered along the flanks and rear of the column. Sergeant Early and Cutting, were both severely wounded, were being assisted at the rear of the column.”




And the affidavit of LT Cox, F company, 328th Infantry:

“On the morning of October 8th, I commanded a support platoon of F Company, 2nd Battalion of the 328th Infantry. Shortly after Corporal York and his detachment of seven men succeeded in capturing the greater part of a German battalion, I advanced with my platoon and passed the scene of the fighting, which took place before this capture was accomplished. The ground was covered with German equipment and I should estimate that there were between 20 and 25 dead Germans on the scene of the fight.”




The 1928 deposition given by SGT Parsons, Support Platoon Sergeant, G Company, 328th Infantry – York’s platoon sergeant:

Excerpt:

“Sergeant Early was in charge of the four sections, and Corporal York, Corporal Cutting and Corporal Savage were in charge of the squads. The thirteen private soldiers were privates Dymowski, Wiley, Waring, Wins, Swanson, Muzzi, Beardsley, Konotski, Sok, Johnson, Sacina, Donahue, and Wills. Led by Sergeant Early, as ordered, the men immediately advanced through the brush on the left flank and disappeared. A few minutes later we heard heavy firing from the direction which they had taken; and shortly after the German machine-gun fire ceased. It was after this that Corporal York and seven privates returned with 132 German prisoners. Corporal York marched in front of the prisoners and was in absolute command. Unquestionably, the silencing of these machine guns played a tremendous part in our success in finally reaching our objective.”




And finally the statement of York’s Company Commander, Captain Danforth. It does not state when this statement was taken and it can be assumed that this is a statement he provided personally for Skeyhill to use in his book.

Excerpt:

“At zero hour we began the advance, moving down the slope of Hill 223 and across the five-hundred-yard open valley toward a steep wooded hill to our immediate front. On our right was E Company, 328th Infantry; on our left Unit 5 of the 28th Division, though throughout the entire day we had no contact with these troops on our left.

Upon reaching about the centre of this valley we were stopped by a withering fire of machine guns from the front, from the unscalable heights of the Champrocher Ridge on our right and from the heavily wooded hill on the left. From this point the advance was very slow, the men moving by rushes from shell hole to shell hole a few feet at a time. At some point during the morning the fire from the left flank slackened and we were enabled to gain the hill to our immediate front, capturing a great many machine guns and driving the enemy to the west. During the progress of the fighting across the valley, I was with the assault waves and gave no orders for the employment of the support platoons, which had been ordered to follow at three hundred yards.

About noon I left the assault wave and with one runner returned to bring up my support platoons, running into a group of forty-four Germans in the woods just outside our left flank, which group surrendered to my runner and me without firing a shot at us. I sent these prisoners to the rear, located my support platoons, returned with them to the front lines, and at 4 P.M. continued the advance to the corps objective wit the other companies of the 2d Battalion. The objective - the Decauville Railroad – we took at about 5 P.M. With the handful of men that were left we organized a position and held it throughout the night of October 8th and 9th.

On the morning of October 9th and about ten o’clock Corporal York with seven men reported to me on the railroad. Corporal York, when questioned about his whereabouts and activities during the previous day’s fighting, said that he had been sent with a detachment to silence some machine gun nests on the left of the valley, that this detachment had become heavily engaged, losing half its strength, and that he captured about one hundred and fifty prisoners. He stated that all non-commissioned officers of the detachment had been killed or wounded, that he had taken command and had shot a number of Germans during the engagement and that he carried his prisoners from headquarters to headquarters, finally delivering them to the military police many miles to the rear. His statement to me on the morning of October 9th was the first time that I knew anything of his fight on our left flank and offered the best explanation of why the fire from that point had slackened on the morning of the 8th.

After coming out of the lines I fully investigated this detachment’s fighting and recommended Corporal York for the Distinguished Service Cross and later, after more careful study, for the Congressional Medal of Honour.”

[Brad Posey]

Tomorrow I will post some maps and that will illustrate what the witness accounts as well as York’s own account tells us about that fight in the ravine.

After that I should be ready to discuss the archaeology and interpretation in greater detail.

I will see if I have a few photos I can add before I sign off tonight to make up for the seemingly endless text only posts I made tonight. Please note that these text documents are extremely important in understanding what happened that day in the ravine.

[Brad Posey]

This is a photo of York that was taken in 1919 at the site where the fight took place.

[Brad Posey]

Here is a photo taken in April last year from the German perspective on the slope above where the initial group of German prisoners were captured and where we believe the 1919 photo of York was taken.

[Brad Posey]

Here is the 1919 photo again.

[Brad Posey]

Due to slope precipitation and changes in vegetation over the last 90+ years it is difficult o match the 1919 photo with the modern landscape exactly, but this 1919 photo was certainly taken within a few meters of what I am showing here.

[Brad Posey]

Another view - another angle from the German perspective.


I will show some maps illustrating the York Diary tomorrow night.

[Napalm]

This just gets better and better...Nice one Brad

[Scott Powell]

This is the best thread i have ever read ,thank you so much for taking the time to post so much information

[Napalm]

This is the best thread i have ever read ,thank you so much for taking the time to post so much information

Hi Scott
What about Herr Fobke ? LOL

[Brad Posey]

While I am finishing preparing tonight’s discussion I will show you a statement written by a member of our group who is a battlefield archaeologist with the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. He was with us in April.

What he says here is important to keep in mind as we get ready to discuss my interpretation of what I believe really happened in that ravine on the morning of 8 October, 1918. Even within our group there are varying opinions about certain aspects and some of you may interpret these things differently than I do. But, that is the nature of archaeology and objective and transparent research. Nothing can be said with 100% certainty in this type of work unless we could be there to film the event from every angle as it transpired.

We all are in 100% agreement with each other that the York fight did take place at the old dam and we also agree with the location of the temporary burials of the 6 soldiers killed. Where we may have slightly differing interpretations is on who was standing where and which artifacts (cartridges) “might” have been fired by who.

Here is the statement from the project’s archaeologist:



“In general, I think we probably have true locations for the three graves, within a few meters in each case. I am not as interested as others in saying we know anything with certainty - in my business we deal with the evidence of silent objects and reasonable interpretations, and we can never be completely certain what we are looking at. I will say I am absolutely convinced that the York action took place in that ravine, in the vicinity of the earth dam. In many places in the Argonne it would always be impossible to confirm such a location, because the intensity of combat left far too much material to interpret (the Army officer’s site is in such an area). In that ravine, however, there was no general battle, and the artifacts indicate a minor, localized action with a German surrender and several US casualties. Comparison of the various historical narratives with the distribution of artifacts results in a remarkable agreement. The event exists now (for the very few who remember it at all) in the realm of national myth/legend, more the Gary Cooper version than anything else, but it is clear to me that it really happened much as it is described, and it happened in that ravine.”