John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History - Motivation matters - The Battle of Trenton 26 December 1776 - A bold, desperate Christmas gamble that changed history (Part 2 of 2)

Last time we discussed events leading up to General Washington’s decision to take his shrinking, tired and battle weary army across the Delaware River into New Jersey to attack the Hessian forces settle in for a long winter’s nap in Trenton. Let’s row!

A German immigrant, Emmanuel Leutze, painted this artistic masterpiece in 1851. He actually painted three nearly identical versions. The first went to a museum in Bremen, German, where allied bombings destroyed it in 1942. This is the second, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The third was slightly smaller and hung in the White House 1979-2014, and is now in the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, MN. (Which looks like a very nice museum!)

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It is great art, but lousy history. The river here is less than 300 yards wide. Washington’s army crossed at night, not daylight, the “Betsy Ross flag” was not adopted until a year later, the boat is too small and vastly different from the “Durham boats” used, and too crowded, and the weather is far too nice. But, the symbolism is wonderful. Again, great art, lousy history and too many people learn their history from movies or pretty pictures, not facts.

A more accurate depiction is probably this one by Mort Kunstler, an excellent modern military artist, depicting the flat ferry boats used to transport mostly artillery and horses, but not the Durham boats used by most troops.

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Okay, so they crossed an icy river on a bunch of boats, in rain and snow and wind, so then what?

Pennsylvania artist Harrington Fitzgerald (1847-1930) painted this version Washington’s crossing about 100 years after the Revolutionary War. Instead of showing the actual crossing, Fitzgerald shows the Continental Army on the New Jersey side of the river regrouping and preparing to march on Trenton. Fitzgerald spent much of his life working for a family-owned newspaper, but studied painting under several notable American artists, including Thomas Eakins and John Singer Sargent. Fitzgerald is best known for his works depicting the landscape of Valley Forge.
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Now, this is starting to look COLD, wet, windy. Even an unopposed landing is complex, especially getting units formed up from different boats. Dang, the weather sucks.

Trenton was about 10 miles from the crossing site, in the cold, wet, freezing weather. The troops had been up all night waiting to cross. Thanks to Murphy’s usual contributions, they were running several hours late. Time to move out! 

Washington’s army marches to Trenton.
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Don Troiani is one of the best contemporary American military artists (my other favorite is COL Donna J. Neary, USMCR, (Ret)) with superb attention to detail, and thoroughly researched arms, equipment, uniforms, and the geography and tactical situations depicted.

(The landing and march paintings above are both from the Museum of the American Revolution, which is truly outstanding if you ever visit Philadelphia. Troiani is also a serious collector of military antiques, enhancing his painting details. He discusses his collecting, paintings and work with the museum in this 62 minute video.)

As Washington’s men hurried towards Trenton, the chill wind was at their backs. The artillery unit in the foreground had been lucky enough to get some new clothing issues from Philadelphia, so are better dressed than many. Captain Alexander Hamilton (age 19 at the time) leaning back in the saddle at left, commanded 30 New Yorkers with their two gleaming bronze six pounder howitzers which were among the 18 artillery pieces brought across the river to play a key role in the battle.

Hessian commander, Colonel Johan Rall [sometimes Rahl] was competent, experienced, and senior, but his Hessian superiors and peers hated him for those factors and also his not being of their higher social status, so cooperation was nil. Pennsylvania and New Jersey militia had been pestering the Hessians with nightly harassing fire, so the Hessians were already tired and jumpy, and used to their outposts being attacked. Thus the first shots on 26 December were not considered significant until they realized it was a major assault. The 2,400 Continental soldiers were split to surround the town on both sides while the main body moved through Trenton. This became a running battle as the 1,500 Hessians tried to form up under direct artillery fire with shot and canister from multiple directions, directed by Henry Knox, along with infantry support. Colonel Rall was mortally wounded, living barely long enough to surrender his force to Washington, with a plea that they be treated humanely. (They were. It’s usually the American way.) Hessian losses were 22 dead, 86 wounded and nearly 900 captured (some of whom later escaped). American losses were miraculously only FIVE WOUNDED, and zero dead. One of the wounded was future president, James Monroe in the final attack to seize the Hessian artillery.

Don Troiani’s rendition of Colonel Rall being hit while trying to form up his troops.
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American military historian and artist H. Charles McBarron (1902-1992) provided his interpretation of the battle, depicting the attack on Hessian artillery in which James Monroe was wounded.

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The results were decisive. The victory was significant not only for the immediate morale boost, but for the fact that 1,200 muskets, six cannons, and large supplies of uniforms and food were captured when the Colonials needed all they could get.

I very much like artist Don Troiani’s comment:

“And for the Holiday Season we have the most important American history Christmas of them all, the Battle of Trenton in 1776 which certainly could be described at the battle that saved American Independence. Here is depicted the death of Colonel Rall commanding the Hessian Brigade defending the town. Following the this up with another victory at Princeton , the crumbling rebellion was given new hope and General Washington's bold move assured his place as one of the greatest Americans of all time.”

The victories at Trenton and a week later at Princeton were unbelievably bold, and fortunately for our freedom today, they were successful. Perhaps today we can smugly make memes about the Battle of Trenton, but at the time it was a deadly serious opportunity upon which our ultimate victory rested.

Thomas Paine’s contribution to the focus on independence, and his motivational words right before the Trenton campaign were major contributions, but he did much more. Paine went on to write a total of 13 installments of “The American Crisis” by 1780; worked with Congress to execute the war; continued his (then considered radical) advocacy leading to the Northwest Ordinance; writing on “The Rights of Man,” and “The Age of Reason.” He became involved with the French Revolution, narrowly escaped the guillotine, and was finally released from French prison with help from James Monroe, one of the victors at Trenton, who perhaps recalled the effects of Paine’s writing which made that possible.

“At the time of his death, most American newspapers reprinted the obituary notice from the New York Evening Post that was in turn quoting from The American Citizen, which read in part: ‘He had lived long, did some good, and much harm.’ Only six mourners came to his funeral, two of whom were black, most likely freedmen.” (Source)

I’d show a photo of his grave, but he was denied burial in a Quaker cemetery near his home, so buried instead on his farm. Ten years later, an admiring radical exhumed the skeletal remains and took them to England for “a heroic reburial on his native soil.” But after 15 years that had not taken place, and eventually the remains were lost, although there were unconfirmed claims by some that they possessed his skull or right hand. (Source)

For a much better account of the entire Revolution up through Trenton and Princeton, I MOST STRONGLY recommend Rick Atkinson’s superbly researched and incredibly well written “The British Are Coming!” (Available via ABEbooks.com for under $10.00 - Best money you will spend this month!)

For a U.S. Army professional analysis of the Trenton operation go here.

NOTE: As an American I see this as a huge win for the good guys. However, the losers sometimes have very different view on these events. For those wishing to see what the Brits think check out their analysis at here. That site is excellent for virtually every significant battle in British history.

Merry Christmas, 1776, indeed!

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John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History – Motivation matters – The Battle of Trenton 26 December 1776 – A bold, desperate Christmas gamble that changed history (Part 1 of 2)

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We’ve all chuckled at the smug memes boasting like this one. But there is a lot more to the story.

Christmas day in 1776 passed with no deaths, but it was a miserable day for the insurrectionist Continental forces under George Washington. The next day, December 26, 1776 was the eventful day that paid off. But, how were men motivated to do what they did?

 

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English born Thomas Paine(1737-1809) could be called “the father of the American Revolution,” and perhaps deserves credit for victory at the Battle of Trenton. He was a fascinating guy, a “staymaker” (corset maker) by trade but occasional privateer, grocer, customs tax collector, school teacher, designer of iron bridges, and political activist with rebellious, radical political philosophies. He fled England to avoid debtor’s prison, after meeting Benjamin Franklin who connected him with Philadelphia associates. Paine arrived in Philadelphia in November 1774, sick with typhoid, but eventually recovered and became editor of the new Pennsylvania Magazine, the first commercially successful magazine in the colonies. As “…a publication [which] should become a ‘nursery of genius’ for a nation that had ‘now outgrown the state of infancy,’ exercising and educating American minds, and shaping American morality” it touched on many political topics. An early issue even had an article on the abolition of slavery. Thomas Paine’s popular essays clearly shaped public opinion, or at least fueled the debates, and stoked the desire for liberty. (Source and further information on Paine)

Open rebellion in the American colonies actually began on April 19, 1775 by forcibly repulsing the King’s Army attempts to seize arms and ammunition. The rebellious colonials had certainly not defeated the most powerful military and naval forces in the world at that time, but did far better than either side expected. Remarkably, they had avoided utter defeat, and continued to at least partially win some engagements such as Bunker [Breed’s] Hill, and successfully besieged Boston.

Insurrectionist Redoubt on Bunker Hill, waiting for the British attack, by Don Troiani, 2000.

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This was done by people who showed up, mainly as volunteer militia forces. People who “make things happen” as opposed to the other people who “watch things happen,” or the least involved who merely “wonder what happened.”

 

Bunker Hill was a taste of what Patriot forces could do: bravely stand up to regulars under repeated waves with good small unit leadership. But in the end, logistics were the determining factor as they exhausted their ammunition and were forced to retreat from their position, made worse by the lack of skilled commanders to coordinate reinforcements or replacement troops to hold their hasty fortifications . Repeated attacks had cost the British attackers a shocking 268 dead and over 800 wounded, before they drove the locals from the field. Despite this success, the Brits lacked the will and fresh forces to occupy the field and returned to Boston. The total patriot losses were only about 500, mostly wounded. Hostilities were serious, and people on both sides were dedicated to their causes.

The remainder of 1775 saw Boston besieged by the colonials, while acts of revolution took place as far away as Ninety-Six, SC and Great Bridge, VA. Colonial forces advanced on Montreal and Quebec, Canada but discovered that colonists in the Great White North showed no interest in fighting for independence. A Navy and a Marine Corps were established on paper and slowly grew.

In January, 1776 Thomas Paine published (anonymously) a 47 page pamphlet “Common Sense” which became an instant “influencer” and topic of discussions across the colonies, advocating for Independence from British rule, setting the agenda for that year. This was immensely popular, selling unprecedented numbers, and causing spirited discussions in taverns and elsewhere, building support for self rule.

Since 1775, “My A** Rides In Navy Equipment.” Marines landing in Nassau, Bahamas.

The Bahamas in March are a nice place to go for a boat ride. Pennsylvania in December, not so much.

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Militarily, in 1776 naval forces engaged the Brits in the Bahamas, and the Brits departed from Boston. Fighting continued in the Carolinas, and elsewhere. Independence was declared on July 4, 1776. New York was the major city in the colonies, and Washington attempted to fortify it with an army that was too small, too untrained, and too ill-equipped. The British forces from Boston and the home islands concentrated against New York in a massive fleet, dispersed on the numerous waterways, and slowly forced Washington’s forces from Long Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan and White Plains to fortifications at Fort Washington on the NY side of the Hudson River and Fort Lee on the New Jersey side, and then out of those strong points. Control of Lake Champlain was ceded to the British after a valiant battle at Valcour Bay. In almost every case, the Colonial forces could not defeat the British, but slowed British advanced and inflicted casualties, before retreating to fight again another day in another place. But, “winning by not losing” takes a toll on morale, strength and supplies.

While British Imperial reinforcements steadily poured in, struggling militias straggled in and out of the Continental lines for short terms around Boston or New York. Many were farmers, and untended crops would result in starvation or ruin for them, their families and neighbors. Likewise merchants and tradesmen could ill afford endless duty away from home. A marvelous soldier’s record “Private Yankee Doodle” by Joseph Plumb Martin really gives a feel for life in the ranks.

Worse, the militias, and the small number of more or less “Regular” Continental soldiers with longer enlistments were exceedingly poorly supported by their fractious and feeble new Congressional government. Congress had little ability to raise funds, less to procure essential supplies and almost no means to distribute supplies to where they were needed. Arms were mostly what men brought with them, or captured, or were occasionally delivered from European agents or supporters. Cannon were desperately scarce and almost unique in their ammunition needs. Powder mills were few and small. Communications moved at the speed of horseback, or slower by sail. Grand strategy was impossible, and even tactical success was difficult under the conditions.

Military success was as much by luck as skill, with few officers having more than a smattering of military knowledge, sometimes self-taught from reading. The obese 25 year old Boston book seller, Henry Knox was an outstanding example, who had ventured to the wilds of Fort Ticonderoga and returned, to everyone’s amazement, with a huge supply of cannon and ammunition, just in time for the Siege of Boston. He earned the position as Washington’s Chief of Artillery, and continuously worked minor miracles “adding dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl” for the duration of the war.

But the year 1776, despite the bold Declaration, had been one of repeated setbacks as Washington’s troops retreated from one place to the next, the mice hunted by the British cat. For most of military history, the “fighting season” ends in late fall to resume in the spring, with armies settling in to “winter quarters” trying to survive and maybe become better prepared for the next year. As winter began in late 1776, the British set up several winter outposts across New Jersey to protect their new headquarters in New York. 

Washington’s battered and demoralized force had retreated across New Jersey to Pennsylvania as winter began to set in, with many enlistments due to expire in January. As Christmas approached, Washington decided it was essential for his tired troops to attack the Hessian mercenary troops already in winter quarters in Trenton. A victory might rally his demoralized forces and keep the war alive. But, a defeat would extinguish the American Revolution, and its leaders would be hung as traitors. 

He planned a three prong attack using his army as the main force, with smaller militia commands crossing a several miles to the south. They would cross after dark on Christmas night (25 December) march the 10 miles to Trenton and attack at dawn. In the end, the two militia prongs were unable to make the crossing, so it was all on Washington’s forces. 

Washington’s Plan, with Ewing’s Crossing (Red) and Cadwalader’s Crossing (Blue)
south of Washington’s Crossing (Green). Library of Congress
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It would take more than a snarky meme to motivate his men to fight again. 

Only six months earlier, “lives, fortunes and scared honor” had been earnestly pledged by men of standing, privilege, and wealth, no longer willing to submit to oppression by a government too far removed geographically and too disinterested in the problems in the daily lives of those who bore the burden of government demands, taxes and policies. Thomas Paine’s writing had helped motivate them.

Now, Thomas Paine delivered a broadside which saved the day. No, not a naval broadside of cannon fire, but the paper type, a large sheet printed on one side dated December 19th or December 23rd 1776. Barely two years after arriving in America, his broadside “The American Crisis” (noted as “By the Author of COMMON SENSE”) fervently laid out the challenges and rewards of continuing the fight for freedom. Washington got copies and ordered it read aloud to his entire army, prior to embarking on the Trenton attack. This inspiring piece boosted morale and commitment to the Revolutionary cause among citizens and soldiers. Here is the memorable opening -

These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine

patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that

stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like

hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder

the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we

esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven

knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if

so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an

army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has the right (not only to TAX)

but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,” and if being bound in that manner is

not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the

expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

(Source and full text- PDF)

Stirring words, but were they enough!

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To be continued in Part Two where we go over the river the through the woods to the Hessian’s houses.

Tired, But So Blessed With Family¹

OAFS Photo

So Spiderman was explaining to me the various house rules when it struck me, I can visit the kids anytime I want now. No worries about work, vacation time, etc., etc. Of course, the ability to pay for these excursions still has to be considered. But from my examination of our financial state, should be no problem at all.

So short rations lately here as far as the "free ice cream" goes, but most of us are busy with the holidays so we don't expect a lot of visitors over this time period. I'll do what I can to keep the lights on and provide something for your morning coffee.

To be honest, I've having far too much fun with my grandkids to worry about much of anything at all.

Sunday's post was a first, I posted from my cellphone. It was interesting, can't say I enjoyed it but hey, at least I posted, right?

I'll try and do better.

I've scheduled JB's Trenton story for Christmas and Boxing Day (it's a two-parter). He suggested doing so in order for me to relax and enjoy the holiday.

Good man that JB.

Anyhoo, I'll be back after Christmas with something new, I hope. Yes, the tank vignette is still in process. I promise, I will finish it. Soon.

To you and yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Aloha.

¹ Oh yes, I am. Good suggestion Tuna.

Well…Nuts

As I reported a while ago, I had to take my new (to me) Mac laptop in to the repair shop because the battery wouldn't take a charge. It's still there. No problem, I think to myself, my PC is still working I can write this post on it.

Not so fast, Buckwheat. It took 15 minutes to boot and then another 10 to load blogger to write this post. Every click of the mouse is followed by what seems to be an interminable wait.

So, I'm writing this on my iPad, which apparently doesn't insert the HTML code necessary for, oh I don't know, a web page.

Sorry, hopefully I'll have the Mac back in time for next week.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

juvat

Still Alive ...

OAFS Photo

Alive and exhausted.Long day at the wheel yesterday.

But we arrived safe and sound.

Now, as my grandson says, "Time to beat up Grandpa!"

Yes, let the beatings begin ...

The Solstice, or On the Road Again ...

Dawn on the Chesapeake
Photo by Dave Harp
Source

Happy Winter!

So I'm technically on Christmas holiday from work, no we don't call it that any more, I'm not technically retired until the first of the year.

But as I am footloose and fancy free, and have grandkids within a day's drive, we're off to the banks of the Chesapeake Bay. Hopefully it won't be as frigid as in that lovely opening photo, hopefully it will be warmer than this ...

OAFS Photo

Yup, Friday's weather was a bit wintery. Started as rain, switched to a mix, eventually had a couple of inches of heavy wet snow. Roads stayed good, which was fortunate as we went out to dinner courtesy of good friends. (To celebrate my retirement, aber natürlich, very nice Portuguese restaurant.)

But Annapolis got mostly rain, so we've got that going for us.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some grandchildren I need to entertain.

I'll be back ...

Said in a completely, non-Austrian¹, friendly sort of way.

Be well.

¹ Arnold Schwarzenegger is Austrian, not German. Just thought I'd point that out.

'Tis Done ...

A bittersweet day Thursday, the 19th instant.

Spent the day making sure the new kids knew where I'd put all of my accumulated knowledge, such as it is, in the official (unclassified) notebook for our project. Much of it was given in cookbook fashion, to wit ...

• Push the button on the bottom of such and such ...
• Make sure the light comes on ...
• Now click the right mouse button and select such and such in the menu presented ...

And much more along those lines. It's one thing to teach someone which buttons to push, it's quite another to try and convey what one should be looking for while doing so. I mean it's all well and good to see things when everything is working correctly, then there is the -

Uh, was it supposed to flash like that, freeze up, then start over?

Um, no, no, it really shouldn't do that. Try it again, success is "yup, it did it again," failure is "ah crap, it worked that time." Now we need to run it again, over and over, to see if the failure reoccurs. Oh yes, we need to turn up logging as well, so if it does fail, the developers can try and figure out why.

Passing that sort of knowledge along is much harder, it can take months, if not years, of experience to see a thing and say, "Well that wasn't quite right, was it?"

So I left them with, "if you see anything which seems even a bit off, show someone."

There's a lot of experience in the lab I left behind me, but the thing is, they have other things they need to be doing, not just shepherding the newbies through those difficult early months.

I mean if it was easy, we'd have these guys do it ...

Source

And based on my experience, those types tend to gravitate towards managerial roles.

That being said ...

Spent much of the day going around and saying bye to folks I know and people I've worked with. Sure I'll see some of them outside of work, it's not outside the realm of possibility, but I won't be seeing them frequently.

There are quite a few people at work that I will miss a great deal, good people, very good at their jobs, and a joy to work with. Them I will miss dearly.

Now, how about that cake?

Our boss ordered that cake early in the week, it's readily apparent that the cake decorator didn't really understand the assignment. Though they did remark that writing "quitter" on the cake was "mean." So maybe that's why they spelled it wrong?

(Also the cake decorator doesn't have a nautical background, otherwise they'd know that the phrase is "fair winds and following seas," yes, that finial "s" is important.)

The boss was somewhat mortified when she picked up the cake and saw the result. But being a very practical person (which makes her an awesome boss) she quickly realized that a messed up cake was better than no cake.

She was, of course, right.

My reaction made her feel better. "What I only get one following sea? And yes, I am quite the quitter. I see what you did there."

Oh dear, what will they do without me?

Probably get more work done, but they won't laugh nearly as much.

Time to reflect on my new state in life. It's different.

I am looking forward to getting more sleep.

Oh, the cake was absolutely delicious, so at least the baker knew their business.

Time for a ...

Ciao!

A Tale of Two Dogs ... Sort of

Kodi and Bear tucked away for a long drive.

Back in the day, when The Nuke was single and lived in Alexandria, VA, one of the highlights of each visit with her was taking her dogs out for a walk. Seems like a mundane thing but it's how we bonded with our "granddogs."

Now Bear (she's the brown one in the photo, she's a shepherd/chow mix) viewed each outing as an adventure, a thing to take her time on and enjoy every moment. Picture her stopping every few feet to smell something she found interesting. She was a big believer in stopping to smell the roses (and sometimes peeing on them).

Kodi, on the other hand (she's a pit bull/lab mix) viewed these outings as a mission. There was a destination, same place every time, and something to do at that destination. Mind you, she enjoyed these outings a great deal, but they were missions, not adventures.

While Bear was stopping and sniffing, Kodi marched on, head down, fixed in purpose and mien, determined to get the job done, then get back to the apartment.

Now today is my last day at work, my last day of full-time employment. Since 1972 I've been more like Kodi than like Bear. I was "on mission," I had a reason and a purpose for getting up everyday.

Now I can stop and "smell the roses" (no, I won't pee on them like Bear) and pretty much do what I feel like doing.

It feels a bit odd not having to head in to work any more, the novelty will eventually wear off, I'm sure.

That's all for now.

Blogging might get sparse as the holidays proceed.

We shall see.

Right now I don't really feel pressed to do much of anything.

Because I'm, ya know, retired.

Think I'll take the dogs for a walk ...

John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History - A Souvenir of the American North Russia Expeditionary Forces 1918-1919 (Part 2 of 2)

Composite photo showing full inscription on PVT Joyce’s souvenir shell case.

Author’s collection and photo

While PVT Joyce and the 339th Infantry were crossing the pond, General Pershing, in response to Washington directions, decided to divert 143 officers and 4,344 troops to North Russia, instead of France, and thus the “Polar Bears” adventure began. The 339th was the core of the American force, with additional engineers and medical troops. After arrival in England, the 339th were issued Russian Model 1891 Mosin Nagant rifles (made in America but stalled in the UK after the Russian revolutionaries repudiated the Tsarist contracts). Using those would make logistics easier when cooperating with loyalist “White” Russian forces. They left England on August 27th, and arrived in Archangel (near Murmansk) on September 4th to become part of a larger Allied force, with a lot of Brits, some Canadians and a smattering of French, and Polish troops, augmenting local Russian forces of dubious loyalty or effectiveness.

This force covered lines about 450 miles long, extending 200 miles south towards Moscow on the sole railroad, and on two rivers (which in the winter were frozen like you see on “Ice Road Truckers” except with small sleds drawn by horses or reindeer). 

So, how did sending Americans to Russia fit into the bigger picture?

While the west was busy fighting Germans in France, Russia was doing internal Russian stuff in 1917-1918, and the eastern front collapsed, freeing German troops for action on the western front. Something like this:

• February 1917 Revolution- Riots and mutinies in Russian Army and Navy- Tsar abdicates- dual governments take over.
• October 1917- “October Revolution” Lenin and the Bolshevik “Reds” take over. “Whites” oppose them.
• March 3, 1918- Treaty of Brest-Litovsk – Russia quits the war and cedes control of Finland, Eastern Europe, Poland and Ukraine. Read more about this important but little known treaty here.
• July 1918- Tsar executed 

The situation in Russia 1918-1920 showing effects of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Source

In the summer of 1918, there were massive amounts of supplies and arms in Archangel and Murmansk to be kept from the Russian revolutionaries, or possibly German forces seeking to open a naval base in Murmansk. In reality, the Russians had already looted the most valuable stuff from the warehouses, and the Germans were in no shape to move in that direction. Still, there were a large number of Czech troops cut off on the eastern front that the Allies hoped to rescue and transport to fight on the western front. It all sounded good on paper, and, President Wilson wanted to ensure the U.S. had some weight at the eventual negotiating table, so he ordered U.S. troops to North Russia and Siberia.

The Polar Bears basically ended up fighting back and forth along the railroad and rivers, heading inland from Archangel, spending the winter of 1918-1919 in sub-zero weather, living in impoverished villages waiting for the Bolsheviks to attack. The White Russians proved a fickle ally, aware that the Allies would leave someday, and they would still be there.

The details of the campaigns, combat, weather, logistics, relations with the locals (who generally liked the Americans), the Red Cross, the YMCA, the allies are really well covered in 339th’s unit history by CAPT Joel R. Moore, LT Harry H. Mead and LT Lewis E. Jahns, The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki; Campaigning in North Russia 1918-1919, Polar Bear Publishing Co. Detroit, MI, 1920.

The digital version is available here, or in hard copy from ABEbooks.com for people who like to read physical books.

 

It includes a photo of a Trench Mortar crew on page 97. Possibly one of them is our PVT Joyce, but the quality of the digitized half tone image is marginal. They had at least 7 mortars.

Source

The History Guy’s “1918 Polar Bear Expedition” is a superb 17 minute summary, with many more details. He includes some of the video which used in Part I, while adding context and great commentary on the futility of the whole operation.

The final part of this video shows the 339th embarking in Archangel for their return to the U.S. in June 1919. Can you spot anyone with a 16” long shell case in his backpack? Ancestry.com documents include the muster list for the return voyage, and PVT Joyce’s discharge on July 18, 1919 and his later living in Wilmington.

VA Grave marker application.
Source

Veterans Administration records of headstone or grave marker requests are another great resource for historians or genealogists, and readily available on Ancestry.com. This confirms Pvt. Joyce’s military career, dates of birth and death, and identifies a relative. His grave marker (ordered above) notes his rank as “Mechanic” unit Headquarters Company 339th Infantry, and World War I, but no mention of service in Russia. (Source)

PVT. John J. Joyce’s grave in Wilmington, DE, with the marker ordered above.
Source

The AEF- North Russia had 553 casualties: 109 killed in battle; 35 died of wounds; 81 from disease (90% of those from influenza); 19 from accidents/other causes; 305 wounded and 4 POWS (released). Even after recovery operations post war, about 30 of the American dead remain in unknown graves in Russia.

Another excellent historical study of the expedition is Roderick Hosler, “THE AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN NORTH RUSSIA, 1918-1919,” published by the Army Historical Foundation.

Confirmation of the dubious value of excessive interventionism is found in the 84 page U.S. Army Campaigns of World War I Publication 77-50 “The Russian Expeditions 1917-1920.” It covers both the North Russia Expedition discussed here and the concurrent, but totally separate, “American Expeditionary Forces- Siberia” way over on the Pacific terminus of the Trans Siberian Railroad, about 5,500 miles away. (We might look at some artifacts and people from that theater some other time.) The Army summary is:

“In early 1917, the Allied coalition in the First World War was in crisis as German pressure pushed the Russian Empire to the brink of collapse. Desperate to maintain the Eastern Front against the Central Powers, the Allies intervened. However, with their resources committed elsewhere, they needed a source of military forces for deployment to Russia. President Woodrow Wilson agreed to supply American troops for two expeditions: the American North Russia Expeditionary Forces and the American Expeditionary Forces-Siberia. Unfortunately, there was no specific or long-term objective in Russia. Without a clear mission or tangible achievements, the expeditions eventually faded into the background.”

339th Infantry Distinguishing Unit Insignia
Source

Source for unit insignia description below:

The 339th Regiment Unit Crest, better known as a DUI or a unit crest, with the Regimental motto III TBIKB P B IIIAETB (Russian), which translates as “The Bayonet Decides” or “We Finish With The Bayonet” and is pronounced as if it were spelled "shtuk ryshayet" in English.

A polar bear on a blue background is copied from the unofficial Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the North Russia Expeditionary Force. The canton (inset at upper left) displays part of the coat of arms from the city of Cadillac, founder of Detroit, reflecting the fact that the Regiment consisted of a large proportion of men from Detroit (it was locally referred to as “Detroit’s Own”).

Private John J. Joyce’s souvenir shell case reminded him of his adventures in Russia. It should also remind all of us about the service and sacrifice of Americans in every clime and place. And, that national borders constantly shift around the world and that our involvement often accomplishes little.

John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History - A Souvenir of the American North Russia Expeditionary Forces 1918-1919 (Part 1 of 2)

Soldier souvenirs sometimes have interesting stories, like this one, revealing a person, their unit and location, while others are anonymous tourist trinkets.  This is a British brass shell case for a 3 pounder naval gun, embellished with somewhat crude markings, often called “Trench Art.” In this case [pun intended] it was connected to an American soldier, whose WW1 service and combat was not in France, but in the Russian Arctic.

Author’s collection and photo.

“MECH” refers to John J. Joyce’s rank, “Mechanic” which was a WW1 Army way of designating troops with technical skills who got higher pay than their nominal military rank peers. Joyce was a Private First Class, and also “Mechanic” and both were used in his records.

 

This short video provides visual context for this whole story.  It starts with the 339th Infantry arriving at Archangel in September 1918, training in the local area, and their departure in June 1919. PVT Joyce is possibly one of the mortar crews shown from 1:03 to 1:29. 

Screen capture
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The brass case is from a British Navy 3 pounder Vickers gun, like the one below on a shipboard mount. In North Russia these were also mounted on armored trains and river boats as the Allies fought their way up and down those vital transportation routes. The Vickers’ muzzle velocity, range and trajectory were the best of several different 3 pounder guns of the era.  The case is 47 x 414mm rimmed (47 mm bore diameter by 414mm long, or 1.85” x 16.29”), and was made in 1918 by Royal Laboratories, bearing the naval inspector marking of the broad arrow over N. Although the Vickers 3 pounders were not used by U.S. forces, Joyce’s mortar job may have facilitated contacts with British artillery troops to get a few cases for souvenirs, likely in exchange for American tobacco or rations. The actual decoration may have been done by someone in the 339th infantry, or by a local civilian artisan entrepreneur, or perhaps by Joyce himself.

British Naval 3 pounder Vickers gun which used this type of case.
Source

John Joseph Joyce (1893-1964) lived in Delaware almost all his life. He was born in Wilmington on July 10, 1893 to a father from Ireland and mother from Sweden. At age 17, he and his 15 year old brother were both working in bridge construction.  In June 1917, when he registered for the draft at age 24, he was an asbestos worker in Detroit, described as medium height, stout build, blue eyes and light hair, and he was supporting his mother.

He entered the Army on November 20, 1917, and in June 1918 became part of the 339th Infantry Regiment, composed of draftees from the Detroit area and some from Wisconsin, training to fight the Huns on the Western Front in France. 

Joyce and most of the rest of the 339th Infantry sailed from New York on July 21st aboard the USS PLATTSBURG.  This was a former passenger ship built in Scotland in 1888 as a schooner rigged passenger steamship, with a hull more like a clipper ship, but with twin screws added, quite the classy ship when built. In 1893 she set a speed record for transatlantic crossing (later broken by other ships, and last set in 1958).  The ship was first called SS CITY OF NEW YORK, later SS NEW YORK, sailing for an American company. During the Spanish American War she was chartered as an auxiliary cruiser, renamed USS HARVARD, afterwards returning to commercial trade under her old name until chartered again in WW1 with the new name USS PLATTSBURG (SP-1645) where she made four voyages taking troops to Europe, and then seven bringing them home after the Armistice.

USS PLATTSBURG leaving drydock with new camouflage paint job, six weeks before PVT Joyce boarded.
(Public Domain)

When troops boarded USS Plattsburg, each was given a “Troop Billet Card” like the one below, assigning them to a specific bunk in a specific berthing compartment, along with washroom, latrine, and an abandon ship station. 

Source

Army passenger lists are a treasure for historians, listing every passenger, their unit, next of kin and their address. Ancestry.com or Fold3 websites provide access to these. The sailing list for USS PLATTSBURG departing New York on July 21, 1918 with the 339th Infantry included PVT 1st Class Joyce of the Headquarters Company, his service number and listed his mother at 524 Vandever Ave, Wilmington, DE.

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524 Vandever Avenue was the Joyce family home, which has changed little in the last 100 years. PVT Joyce returned there after the war, and after being a pipefitter for a while, spent the final 31 years of his life operating a tavern a few blocks away. 

 

(To be continued in Part 2 of 2)

Editor's Note: After I publish Part 2 of JB's latest interesting trek down yet another little known episode in our history, I'll get back to the tankers in the woods. This was too good to hold back, also, I ain't ready yet ...