A French Lieutenant guided the First Battalion into position in an old German trench. Then, the Major ordered them forward 600 yards to occupy other deserted German trenches. Terrific shell fire met them in their new position in the trenches. Consequently, the battalion received many casualties. The men stayed in the trenches during the night of September 29. At noon on September 30, the battalion was ordered to advance. The First advanced three kilometers through the woods through shell and machine gun fire and artillery barrages. The Battalion dug in and stayed all night under fire.
On October 1, the French Artillery came up and put over a barrage. Unfortunately, the barrage fell short and the battalion was caught between the German and French barrages. Hastily, the First Battalion was compelled to withdraw.
The Regiment was soon after relieved by a French unit and taken by train to the Marbache sector. Major Elser, Commander of the Second Battalion, made no charges against his Black officers and verbally assumed responsibility for the failure of his battalion. There was for a time strong talk of a court martial for him. Major Merrill made no charges against the men in his battalion. On September 28, on account of the two breaks in the line of the Third Battalion, Major Norris ordered five of his Black line officers court-martialed for cowardice and abandonment of positions. The line officers consisted of: a Captain, two First Lieutenants, and a Second Lieutenant.
Only one case, the Second Lieutenant, had been decided when this report was taken. He was found guilty by the court-martial. Upon review of the Second Lieutenant's case by General Headquarters, he was acquitted and restored to his command.
Colonel Greer, in his letter to Senator McKellar on December 6, wrote:
"From there we went to the Argonne and in the offensive started there on September 26, had one regiment in the line, attached to the 38th French Corps. They failed there in all their missions, laid down and sneaked to the rear, until they were withdrawn."
Colonel Durand, the French General who commanded this action said in a French General order:
"L'Honneur de la prise de Binarville doit [resonir]au 368th R.I.U.S."( I give praise to the honor of Binairville to the 368th Regimental Infantry, United States)
Colonel Greer, Commander of the 368th, issued in General Order No 38, Headquarters, 92nd Division (same day as his letter to Senator McKellar):
" The Division Commander desires to commend in order the meritorious conduct of Private Charles E. Boykin, Company C, 326th Field Signal Battalion. On the afternoon of September 26, 1918, while the 368th Infantry was in action
