Information generously shared by Dennis Aslinger
Soundex code R165. The name RAYBURN is Scottish in origin. Other early Roane County, TN RAYBURNs were as follows:
Lucresa RAYBURN m. John MCNUTT on 25 MAR 1819
John RAYBURN m. Lucinda AMOS on 24 DEC 1829
Sally RAYBURN m. John JINKINS/JENKINS on 29 SEP 1831
Sally RABORN m. David CHADWELL on 29 MAR 1838
The 1890 veterans census lists the following:
James RAYBURN, Roane Co., TN, Paw Paw Ford P.O., Pvt B Co 16th TN Cav (Confederate), served from 26 APR 1862 to MAY 1864
Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn Family
Samuel Taliaferro RAYBURN, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives was born in Roane County, Tennessee in the Bradbury Community on 6 Jan 1882. His family moved to Texas in 1887. Sam worked his way through East Texas State College at Commerce, taught school and became a lawyer. He served in the Texas legislature from 1907 through 1913. He was elected to the House in 1912 and served for 48 years, a record tenure. He became Democratic Leader of the House in 1937 and Speaker of the House in 1940. He held that post for 17 years, another record. He was advisor to Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy. Sam was called "Mr. Democrat" and described himself as a "Democrat without prefix, without suffix, and without apology". He died in Bonham, TX on 16 NOV 1961. It is said he pronounced his middle name "Tolliver".
Sam's grandfather John RAYBURN (m. Lucinda AMOS) came to Tennessee from Virginia as an orphan with an uncle of another name. [Tennessee Cousins, Worth S. RAY says that Sam's great grandfather was Thomas Rayburn]
John RAYBURN had two daughters who died young and three sons; James, who never married, Charles, who moved to Coffee County, TN and raised a large family, and William Marion RAYBURN.
William Marion RAYBURN was six months old when his father died. William served in the Confederate cavalry under Gen. Nathan Bedford FORREST. He married Martha Clementine WALLER (1846-1927) on 14 MAY 1868. The had the following children, all born in Roane Co., TN except as noted:
1. John Franklin RAYBURN
2. Charles RAYBURN
3. Katy RAYBURN m. W. A. THOMAS
4. Lucinda RAYBURN
5. James RAYBURN (twin of William)
6. William RAYBURN (twin of James)
7. Meddie Bell RAYBURN m. S.E. BARTLEY
8. Samuel Taliaferro RAYBURN
9. Richard Asby RAYBURN
10. Thomas RAYBURN
11. Abner RAYBURN b. in Texas
Snyder E. Roberts, in his book Roots of Roane County says two other families of RAYBURNs were in early Roane County, TN and were not related. Some family members at the annual RAYBURN Family Reunion held in Lenior City, TN say that Mr. Sam referred to their parents as his cousins and that their parents said that he was a cousin. The challenge in connecting the two families lies in finding a Virginia-North Carolina link between the two families.
JOHN RAYBURN (1730)
From Surry County, NC. Also listed as "RABON". John had siblings: Robert, Charles, George, Richard, Henry, William, Nancy, Mary, & Elizabeth. Married to Mary PARRISH.Children:
1. Mary RAYBURN b. 15 MAY 1757 in Surry Co., NC
2. Thomas RAYBURN b. ca 1760 in Surry Co., NC d. 6 FEB 1843 - 5 JUN 1843 m. before 20 OCT 1788 (Surry Co., NC deed) Sarah ___. see below.
3. Sarah RABON b. ca 1762
4. Silvanus RABON b. ca 1763 d. ca 1853 (Overton Co., TN?) m. Francis/Patience ___ (2 marriages?). Listed in the 1st census of the U.S., Surry Co., NC, Salisbury District, 1790.
1. Silvanus RAYBURN, Jr b. ca 1785 Surry Co.
2. Thomas Silvanus RAYBURN b. 4 SEP 1786 Surry Co. d. ca 1866 Roanoke, TX m. Patrick Co., VA 13 OCT 1807 Mildred THOMPSON b. ca 1787 MD (known as Thomas RAYBURN, Jr. when he lived in Roane Co., TN)
3. daughter b. 1788
4. Robert RAYBURN b. ca 1790 NC d. >1860 census m. <1820 Nancy Sarah (Sally) RAYBORN (dau. of Polly Henson RAYBORN who was the dau. of Joseph & Linnie Osburn HENSON)
5. Sarah RAYBURN b. ca 1792 NC m. ___ LANIER
6. daughter b. 1793
7. daughter b. 1795
8. Patience RAYBURN b. ca 1797 NC
9. Richard RAYBURN b. 1799 d. 1880 Clay Co., TN m. Ann BROWN and/or Nellie Ann POWELL b. ca 1812
5. Henry RABON - no data
6. Robert RABON - no data
7. John RAYBURN, Jr b. ca 1775 in Surry Co., NC
Thomas RAYBURN b. ca 1760 d. FEB-JUN 1843
Son of John RAYBURN & Mary PARRISH. Married to Sarah __ d. 1830/1840. Came to Roane County, TN (ca 1807) from Surry County, NC and is buried in an unmarked grave in the RAYBURN Cemetery according to Volume I of "Cemeteries of Roane County, TN" (in the Kingston, TN Library). Served on the 1st Roane Co., TN grand jury. Listed in the 1st census of the U.S., Surry Co., NC, Salisbury District, 1790. Thomas RABON listed in a Bladen Co., NC deed, 31 DEC 1770 and "of Orange Co." in a deed dated 31 MAY 1771. Thomas RAEBOURNE and Thomas RAEBOURNE, Jr appeared in Orange Co., NC court in FEB 1778. Appears in Surry Co., NC deed books in 1785, 1789, and 1791 variously as RABON, RAIBORN, etc. Roane County voter in 1826. Thomas and his sons Thomas Jr, Joseph, and Jessee were enumerated in Capt. MATLOCK's and Capt. WALKER's Company in Roane Co., TN in 1812. Thomas RAYBOURN, Jr. signed a petition in Roane Co., TN in MAR 1817 and a Thomas "REYBURN" was a Roane Co. juror in MAR 1819. Thomas purchased 124 acres from Daniel Rather for $250 on 15 DEC 1807, purchased 225 acres from George GARDENHIRE for $900 on 15 DEC 1807. Witnessed a deed (Joseph & James HANKINS) on 11 JAN 1804 in Roane Co., TN. The will of Thomas RABOURN was dated 6 FEB 1843, signed with an "X", and probated in Roane Co. on the first Monday (5th) of June 1843. The will was witnessed by Robert S. GILLILAND, Anderson H. CROWDER and Thomas R. COOLEY.
The executor was Anderson H. CROWDER (friend & neighbor). Thomas left his land to his two sons and money from the sale of personal property to his "beloved" daughters. The sale yielded $91.1925 and after expenses each daughter received $12.00. Children were listed as follows:
1. Jessie James RAYBURN b. 1778/1785/1795 Surry Co., NC d. 1860 (Roane Co. Mortality Schedule; farmer, cause of death unknown, sick for 25 days) m. 1st 27 Mar 1818 Roane Co., TN Susannah FUNK m. 2nd 19 Jul 1832 Roane Co., TN Barbara SMITH TALLANT b. 1800 in VA d. 1885 Roane Co. Jessee RAYBOURN signed a petition in Roane Co., TN in Mar 1817. Jessee died intestate and owned a tract of land on the Clinch River adjoining W.G. SMITH. Children from 1850 Roane Co., TN census, Roane Co. Estate Book I, pg 57 for Barbara and from Roane County, TN Chancery Court case in 1885 "Burns, G W vs J.J. RAYBURN, et al, 1885":
1. Franklin "Frank" RAYBURN, moved to Cass Co., IL.
2. Sarah RAYBURN m. ___ CHADWELL
3. Nancy RAYBURN m. ___ CLOUD
4. Mahala RAYBURN m. ___ GOODPASTURE, moved to Morgan Co., IL
5. Margaret RAYBURN m. ___ BONE, moved to Moultrie Co., IL
6. John RAYBURN, moved to Concord, IL
7. Joseph "Joe" RAYBURN d. <1875 Humbolt, KS m. 23 OCT 1860 Scott Co., MO Emma Belle MINER. Emma m. 2nd APR 1879 Joplin, Jasper Co., MO James COOK.
8. Elizabeth RAYBURN d. <1885, moved to Topeka, KS
By 2nd wife:
9. Thomas RAYBURN b. 1833 TN, moved to Scott Co., IL
10. Susan RAYBURN b. 1834 TN m. ___ NEWMAN
11. William RAYBURN b. 1837 TN d. <1885
12. Esau RAYBURN b. 1840 TN. Esaw RAYBURN, Roane Co., TN, Paw Paw Ford P.O., Pvt H Co 3rd TN Inf (Union), served from 3 MAR 1861 to 3 MAR 1864, record says "head bursted"
13. Mary "Polly" RAYBURN b. 1845 TN m. ___ DRISKELL
2. Joseph RAYBURN b. 1789 NC d. 1850/1860 Roane Co., TN m. Polly MARNEY b. 1798 VA d. 1850/1860 Roane Co., TN see below
3. Patsy RAYBURN m. James L. HANKINS
4. Margaret "Peggy" RAYBURN b. ca 1799 NC m. 28 FEB 1828 Roane Co., TN John RATHER
5. Mary "Polly" RAYBURN m. 6 SEP 1825 Roane Co., TN William ANDREW
6. Sarah "Sally" RAYBURN b. ca 1796 Surry Co., NC m. 10 AUG 1822 Roane Co., TN Joshua COOLEY b. ca 1798 VA (son of William COOLEY?)
7. Rebeccah RAYBURN m. 18 SEP 1818 Roane Co., TN Isaac FUNK
8. Frances "Franky" RAYBURN b. ca 1800 NC m. 18 APR 1818 or 19 AUG 1819 Roane Co., TN William BAILEY
9. Betsey RAYBURN m. 1811 in Roane Co. to Abner WATERS
Joseph RAYBURN b. 1789 d. 1850/1860
Son of Thomas & Sarah RAYBURN. Born in NC, died in Roane Co., TN. Roane Co., TN juror in JAN 1819. Signed a petition in Roane Co. in MAR 1817. Married to Polly MARNEY. Roane county voter in 1826. Joseph purchased 150A for $200 from John T. HANKINS on 9 OCT 1823.
1. Sally RAYBURN m. 29 SEP 1831 Roane Co., TN John JINKINS (per Gertrude BAUGHARD)
2. Amos Marney RAYBURN b. 15 AUG 1824 d. 17 MAR 1885 m. Lucretia Ann SMITH 4/7 FEB 1849 in Roane Co., TN see below
3. Elizabeth RAYBURN m. Samuel EBLEN
4. Margaret RAYBURN b. ca 1829 in Roane Co., TN d. >1850
5. Samuel RAYBURN b. ca 1830 in Roane Co., TN d. <4 APR 1870?
6. Malinda RAYBURN b. ca 1832 in Roane Co., TN d. >1850 m. 24 MAR 1852 Washington H. JOHNSON
7. Joseph RAYBURN b. ca 1833/4 in Roane Co., TN d. >1860 m. 10 SEP 1853 Roane Co., TN Caroline BLACKBOURN b. ca 1838 Roane Co., TN
1. Mary E. RAYBURN b. ca 1855
2. Sarah M. RAYBURN b. ca 1856
3. Joseph P. RAYBURN b. ca 1859
8. Robert RAYBURN b. ca 1835 in Roane Co., TN d. >1850
9. Thomas RAYBURN b. ca 1836 in Roane Co., TN d. >1850
10. John RAYBURN b. ca 1838 in Roane Co., TN d. >1850
11. Julia RAYBURN b. ca 1843 in Roane Co., TN d. >1850
Amos MARNEY RAYBURN b. 15 AUG 1824 d. 17 MAR 1885
Son of Joseph RAYBURN and Polly MARNEY. Married to Lucretia Ann "Luky" SMITH (her mother thought to be a Montgomery) on 7 FEB 1843 in Roane County, TN by William E. ELLIS, JP. Buried at Poplar Springs Cemetery, Roane County, TN. Listed as a farmer in the 1860 Roane County (3rd District), TN census. Amos was administrator of the estate of a Samuel RAYBORN (deceased) and signed probate in Roane Co. on 4 APR 1870 with his mark.
1. Elizabeth Jane (Betsy) RAYBURN b. 4 FEB 1844 d. 21 AUG 1906 m. Samuel EBLEN b. 1 OCT 1827 d. 23 JAN 1911
2. Sydney Ann RAYBURN b. 1845 (1850 census says "Sydnia A.", 1860 census says "Syney A.") m. J.H. WRIGHT
3. John SMITH RAYBURN b. 20 FEB 1849 d. 10 AUG 1930 m. Minerva Catharine WHEAT in Roane Co., TN on 13 NOV 1869 see below
4. Mariline RAYBURN (Marilyn?) b. 25 AUG 1852 d. 11 FEB 1929 m. Henry C. LIMBURG (1860 census says "Marilin")
5. Joseph Robert RAYBURN b. b. 5 OCT 1859 d. 18 SEP 1896 m. Elizabeth Gertrude FERGUSON
1. C.W. (Willie) RAYBURN b. 24 SEP 1887 d. young
2. Nannie Elizabeth RAYBURN b. 19 JAN 1889 d. 12 DEC 1973
3. Hassie Gertrude RAYBURN b. 15 MAR 1892 d. ca 1976 m. Charles LADD
4. Jessie H. RAYBURN b. 9 APR 1894
5. Robert Lee RAYBURN b. 17 MAY 1896 d. JUN 1955
4. Alma A. (Allie) RAYBURN b. ca 1864 d. young
5. Nancy L. (Nannie) RAYBURN b. ca 1868 m. Bill CATE
6. "Cajar" (Micajah?) RAYBURN d. young
John SMITH RAYBURN b. 20 FEB 1849 d. 10 AUG 1930
Son of Amos MARNEY RAYBURN and Lucretia Ann SMITH. Married Minerva Catherine WHEAT on 13 NOV 1869 in Roane County, TN. Lived in the Wheat community (Oak Ridge, TN) all their lives. Buried at Poplar Springs Cemetery, Roane County, TN. Listed in 1860 (as John F.), 1880 and 1900 Roane County, TN censuses.
1. Mary Jane RAYBURN b. 13 SEP 1870 d. 17 SEP 1965 m. 1st 28 NOV 1895 in Roane County to Thomas Alexander SMITH b. 2 AUG 1852 d. 26 NOV 1897, buried at Lawnville Cemetery, Roane County. m. 2nd John CALDWELL. Listed in the 1880 and 1900 Roane census. Lived with father in 1900. One child by second husband, Lela CALDWELL b. 24 Oct 1913 m Glen GREENE.
2. Sam Houston RAYBURN b. 6 DEC 1872 d. 4 OCT 1954 m. Pearl Lockie RUSHING b. 2 APR 1879 d. 14 FEB 1976. Moved to Texas at a young age.
1. Eva Estelle RAYBURN b. 2 SEP 1898 d. 22 OCT 1985 m. Richard ROGERS b. 7 JUL 1896 d. 8 AUG 1982
2. RDC RAYBURN b. 24 NOV 1899 d. 9 MAR 1996 m. 1st Robert LOCKRIDGE, m. 2nd William MCANALLY, m3rd John CAMPAGNA b. JUL 1909 d. 11 MAR 1996
3. Leakman RAYBURN b. 1902 d. 28 APR 1925 m. Irene MCGARROH
4. Opal May RAYBURN b. 1904 d. 11 APR 1923 not married
5. Lloyd Leon RAYBURN b. 21 JAN 1908 d. 23 AUG 1983 not married
6. Clarice Naomi RAYBURN b. 21 SEP 1917 m. William SEHNERT
3. Frank Austin RAYBURN b. 19 JAN 1875 d. 9 NOV 1965 m. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ellender BRIGGS
1. William Smith RAYBURN b. 10 NOV 1898 d. 5 MAR 1955 m. 1st Parzetta BUNCH, m. 2nd Jessie HENDERSON, m. 3rd Pearl RYANS
2. Minnie Lee RAYBURN b. 30 JUL 1900 d. 27 DEC 1993 m. Floyd CAUDLE
3. John Roy RAYBURN b. 17 FEB 1902 d. 13 MAR 1988 m. Dollie Gertrude CLARK
4. Nannie Malinda RAYBURN b. 14 OCT 1903 m. Claude TONEY
5. Thomas Burton RAYBURN b. 17 FEB 1906 d. 12 MAR 1995 m. Lois WILSON
6. Dessie Minerva RAYBURN b. 19 OCT 1907 m. Earl FOX
7. Mary Emma RAYBURN b. 25 JUN 1910 d. 18 SEP 1914
8. Dorothy Louise RAYBURN b. 27 APR 1914 m. Thomas Burton NASH
9. Jennie Faye RAYBURN b. 9 FEB 1918 m. Edward HARRISON
4. Lucretia (Lukie) RAYBURN b. 21 APR 1877 d. 24 AUG 1963 m. Rev. J.C. CATES
1. Vellie CATES b. 10 AUG 1900 d. 21 SEP 1946 m. Tom TANKERSLEY
2. Willard CATES b. 8 OCT 1902 d. 15 JAN 1993 m. Blanche KOLB
3. Arthur CATES b. 4 NOV 1904 m. Leona HARRISON
4. Birdwell CATES b. 25 JUL 1906 d. 3 DEC 1989 m. Hazel FRESHWATER
5. James CATES b. 9 SEP 1908 d. 23 JUL 1987 m. Zora BUSH
6. Bertha CATES b. 29 APR 1910 d. 19 JAN 1995 m. Forest NEERGAARD
7. Odis CATES b. 7 MAR 1913 m. Edna MILLER
8. Mattie CATES b. 25 DEC 1914 d. 16 AUG 1996 m. George BROOKS
9. Edgar CATES b. 3 AUG 1916 d. 15 DEC 1953 not married
5. Catherine (Katy) RAYBURN b. 28 MAR 1879 d. 9 DEC 1905 m. James N. HARVEY
1. Lewis HARVEY b. 11 JUN 1899 m. Dorothy ___
2. Verna Dicie HARVEY b. 23 MAR 1902 d. 13 AUG 1945 m. Asa CREEKMORE
3. Fanny Bell HARVEY b. 20 JUL 1903 m. Roy DAVIDSON
4. Gracie Jone HARVEY b. 31 DEC 1904 m. George Thomas SCARBOROUGH
6. Nannie Matilda RAYBURN b. 26 SEP 1881 d. 14 JUL 1961 m. Charles Alonzo FRITTS
1. Lela Blanch FRITTS b. 8 NOV 1901 d. 21 AUG 1972 m. Raymond MARTIN
2. Charles Boyd FRITTS b. 9 SEP 1904 d. 21 AUG 1944 m. 1st Mary Irene HOOKS, m. 2nd Ella WOODY
7. Mattie Elizabeth RAYBURN b. 6 FEB 1884 d. 11 NOV 1961 m. John A. NEWMAN
1. Bonnie Ethel NEWMAN b. 23 JUN 1904 d. 17 DEC 1925 m. William Fred BUTLER
2. Bessie Maude NEWMAN b. 12 FEB 1907 d. 12 JUN 1990 m. David WHALEY
3. Frank Edward NEWMAN b. 28 APR 1908 m. Bertha Lena COLLINS
4. Annie Lee NEWMAN b. 1 NOV 1909 m. Homer EDWARDS
5. Floyd NEWMAN b. 22 OCT 1911 d. 19 JUN 1988
6. Willie NEWMAN b. 29 APR 1913 d. 12 JUL 1923
7. Elmer NEWMAN b. 28 MAY 1918 m. Elizabeth STRICKLAND
8. Allie RAYBURN b. 30 JUL 1886 d. 9 JUL 1955 m. William Dawson HARVEY
1. Bertha Lucille HARVEY b. 13 AUG 1905 d. 27 SEP 1905
2. Walter Frank HARVEY b. 7 SEP 1909 d. 2 SEP 1969 m. Margie Lynn BALLARD
3. Willie Hubert HARVEY b. 17 SEP 1912 m. Beatrice KILMAN
4. Horace Clifford HARVEY b. 2 NOV 1917 m. Marie KILGORE
5. Viola Estelle HARVEY b. 29 APR 1920 m. Curtis CHITTY
6. Retha Laeuna HARVEY b. 3 JAN 1923 m. Robert HOWELL
7. Minnie Jo HARVEY b. 10 SEP 1926 m. Charles T. SULLIVAN
9. Amos MARNEY RAYBURN b. 1889 d. 1952 m. Rebekah Zelpha Ann POSTON
1. Wilbur RAYBURN m. Rosalee FARMER
10. Laura Evelyn RAYBURN b. 1892 d. 3 MAR 1979 never married
11. John (Jack) J. RAYBURN b. 28 MAY 1895 d. 18 FEB 1919 Pvt. Battery D, 12th Field Artillery, 2nd Div., U.S. Army. Died in France of "pneumonia fever" after the end of World War I. Jack was buried first in France and was moved over a year later to Poplar Springs Cemetery in Roane Co., TN. Never married. Jack left a memoir/diary transcribed below.
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Diary/Memoir of John (Jack) Rayburn
Jack Rayburn, son of John Smith Rayburn and Minerva Catherine Wheat Rayburn, was born 28 May 1895 in Roane County, TN, and died 18 Feb 1919 in France. He had served in World War I as a Private in Battery D of the 12th Field Artillery, 2nd Division, U.S. Army.
Note: The narrative apparently began as a diary but there is no evidence of regular entries and appears to have possibly become a memoir. The text has been edited to correct some spelling and to add punctuation, which was entirely absent . Grammar was left largely intact. Other clarifications are in parentheses. Dates of battles at Chateau Thierry and the St. Mihiel Salient were confirmed by Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia.
June 14, 1917
I joined the army at Harriman, Tenn. Was sent to the recruiting station at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. There we had training until June the 14. From there we were sent to Washington, DC at Fort Myer, Virginia. We joined Battery D, 12th Field Artillery and had training for six months until December 19, 1917. From there we were sent to Camp Merritt, New Jersey. Was there until January 10, 1918. On January 11 we aboard (boarded) the Elimpice (Olympic?) and hailed for Europe.
We landed in Liverpool, England on January 19 (1918). From there we took a train to Winchester, England. Was there for six days. On the 24th we took a train to Le Havre. There took a boat across the channel into France (Le Havre is in France! He likely left Southampton and landed in Le Havre). We had a long hike into a rest camp. There stayed for 2 days. From there we took a train for 3 days ride. We landed in Valdan, France January 29, 1918. There we took training on the 75 (mm?) field pieces for something near six weeks. On March 17, 1918 we hiked to Benonsan about 18 miles. We hiked nearly all night long, was cold and raining. It was quite a bad time on us boys. There we loaded on the train and had a 2 days ride. Got off the train near Fire Breather Camp about 12 miles from the front line trenches.
Camp until the 24th. From there we hiked to the Verdun Front. There we went into position. We spent something near six weeks. This was the first fighting the 12th Field Artillery done. We had quite a few battles but was not very bad fighting. On the 13th of May we was relieved off the line. We started out hiking for several days before reaching our next camp. We were back taking our rest but a few days. The Germans started a big drive on the front line near what is called Chateau Thierry. We were called on (to) help stop the drive. The Germans were trying with all their might to reach the city of Paris. The 2nd Division was quite a ways from where they were making their drive. We took a train for about 12 hours ride. Unloaded off the train. As we were hiking for the front we met women and children moving out of their farms on the account of the big advance of the Germans. After 2 days and nights hiking we reached the front line of Chateau Thierry late on the eve of June the 4th. We was in akian??? by 7 O'Clock that night.
We were fighting side by side with the Frenchmen. They said we never could stop the Bosh (Bosch was a WWI term for the Germans). I never will forget the time...had been firing for about 2 hours and our Captain told us boys harness and hitch the haft to retreat. But before we got our horses to the guns he (gave) a order to hold our ground. We was firing for 72 hours without ceasing. We fought them for 10 days and nights before we got them started back. We were in Chateau Thierry for something near 35 days. We were relieved and helt a reserve position for a short time.
On the 17th of July General Bosh (the Germans) wanted to start a big drive and on the 17th the 2nd Division and the Frenchmen started a big drive on Soissons Front. At 4 O'Clock in the morning the guns begin to fire. It was a continual roar. At 7 O'Clock that night we had made an advance of 5 miles capturing lots of prisoners, artillery, and machine guns, all kinds of ammunition. We had great success for 5 days...our guns was lined up hub to hub. On July the 21st the 2 battalions of the 12th Field Artillery made an advance, going over the top with the 2 waves of infantry, getting in 1 kilometer of the Bosh. Went into akian??? but the enemy got direct observation on us and we lost quite a few men. Had to fall back a short ways to save our artillery. This was the first time in history for the artillery to go over the top with the infantry. That day I never will forget...there was dead laying thick with lots of wounded. In a few days we were relieved and it (was) welcome relief believe me.
Were sent back to a French town where there had not been any American soldiers. We were there until August the 1st. Throughout the month of August we moved up on what was called the Toul Sector near the city of Nancy. It was a very quiet front and we did not have very much fighting to do while on this front. About the 4th of September we were relieved of this front by another American division and was sent back through Nancy down on the canal near Ex Zule (Laxou?). Were there on a rest for a few days.
On the 9th we were moving up to another front that was St. Mihiel. On the morning of the 12th of September at 1 O'Clock we started the drive. This was the front where the Germans had all of the big concrete dugouts but they did not last very long believe me. At 7 O'Clock that morning we had made an advance of 4 miles that took us over where the nice houses were at. This position had been helt by the Germans since 1914. On the 2nd advance was where we captured all kind of eats, ammunition, phonograph. We had music of all kind but there was none like the Fr (?) cans (?) that came over it. Was a very hard battle for us. We were driving toward Metz. Was very close in one place and the Bosh put up a very hard fight. Were there for six days. On the 1st of the month we were relieved and had but a few days rest. We was called on to help on another front.
On the 1st of October we landed on the Champagne Front. On the 2nd we started the drive. The Germans helt a large hill that the French could not take from them. They had taken it but could hold it but a few minutes. The French had fell back behind it. We fought several days fighting before taking the hill. This was called the Mt. Blink Ridge. This was one of the biggest (battles) that was fought in the European war. It will long be remembered by the boys of the 2nd Division. The ground was torn all to pieces by shell fire and fields were covered with wounded and the dead.
The Armistice was signed at Compiegne, France on 11 Nov 1918. On 17 Nov 1918 allied troops began reoccupation of German held portions of France and Belgium.
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