Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17015
Date
1918 December 25
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The train pulled on a siding a few miles outside of Chaumont shortly after daylight and remained there until nearly eight o’clock while the party had breakfast in the dining car. A detachment of soldiers from the 77th Division and from the 26th were on guard duty alongside the train. The President on looking out of the window of his car was saluted by a husky young New York City doughboy. The President wished him a Merry Christmas, which plainly delighted the infrantryman, who again saluted and smiled very happily. Following breakfast the train proceeded to the Chaumont station, where was gathered General Pershing, surrounded by members of his staff and a number of other Generals, who had been invited to be present at the review. Leaving the train the party were escorted to waiting motor cars and driven to the Hotel de Ville, where the city authorities had arranged to formally welcome the President to the city of the American Army government in France. Passing through the courtyard between lines of soldiers standing stiffly at salute, the President and Mrs. Wilson passed upstairs into the main council chamber of the Hotel de Ville. There were four addresses delivered—all in French. The first was by the Mayor of Chaumont; second, by one of the chief councilmen, and the other two by French officers. The President listened very gravely to the speeches and afterward made a very pleasant little speech expressing his gratification over the welcome.
Leaving the Hotel the motor cars were re-entered and the trip was resumed to a field midway between Humes and Langres, which had been selected as the scene for a Presidential review of units representing the American Expeditionary Forces. A stand had been erected to the side of this field with a plank wall leading across a muddy course directly to it. The weather was extremely cold. All along the route American infantrymen had been standing stiffly at salute, while gathered about the field were several thousand who had not been chosen to participate in the review, and who were interested spectators. There was also present a large gathering of French people from the countryside. The scene was most inspiring. As far as the eye could reach American soldiers in campaign uniform stood in unbroken ranks, lined up facing the stand. General Pershing escorted the President and Mrs. Wilson to the seats that had been reserved for them directly in front of the stand. Seated behind the President were Generals of Divisions—American and French—the French Ambassador and Madame Jusserand and a number of invited guests. General Pershing personally introduced the President to the troops in a brief speech. The President then addressed the men. The first half of his speech naturally was designed for continental consumption, but the latter half was a wonderful tribute to the valor and patriotism of the men who stood before him and no one who listened to the President’s speech will ever forget what it all meant. (SEE SPEECH)
Immediately after the speech was ended, the troops passed in review. The mud was very deep. Directly in front of the stand there was a small hummock with a little stream of water in such position that as the regiments came down in company front formation, the men were forced to waver and break, just sufficient to spoil the alignment. Instead, however, of detracting from the spectacle, this presented a very human touch that added to the impressiveness of the review. All branches of the service were represented in this review, but the chief hit was made by the tanks, which lumbered away from far across the field, and swinging around, passed directly in front of the stand. A couple of humorists in one of the tanks got a real laugh when they swung the turret of their tank to “Eyes Right”, as they moved past in front of the President.
Following the review General Alexander, commanding the 77th Division, which was made up entirely of New York City draft men, and trained at Camp Upton, Long Island, presented Mrs. Wilson with a small replica statue of the Statue of Liberty, the statue having been adopted by the Division as its shoulder designation.
The President and Mrs. Wilson shook hands with a large number of soldiers and officers. The motor cars were then re-entered and a trip made to Montigny le Roi, where the headquarters of the 26th Division had been established. The 26th Division was the first National Guard Division to arrive in France. It was made up entirely of New England troops, and formerly was under the command of Major General Clarence Edwards, who was relieved shortly before the armistice. The President on arriving at the Division was chagrined and very much surprised to find that his request made personally to General Pershing in Paris—that he be allowed to have dinner in the field with the soldiers themselves—had been ignored, and that instead he was slated to eat as the guest at the mess of the officers of the 26th Division Staff. For a little while the President seriously considered whether it would not be well to decline to mess with the Division Staff, not that he did not appreciate the fact that these men had a fighting record, but because it had been his dearest wish to spend the day with the doughboys themselves. However, after considering the matter he decided that as the plans could not be changed at that late hour, it would be just as well to let the program be carried out as arranged. Dinner was served in a room in one of the oldest chateaus in this section. The divisional staff had done the best they could to get the customary “turkey and trimmings”, but had found it impossible, so they served chicken with celery and other food more or less American in character. However, they demonstrated their Yankeeism in the dessert, the cooks having prepared wonderful pumpkin pie—the typical New England kind, sweetened with molasses. Everyone enjoyed the dinner.
Leaving the chateau the President made it very plain to General Pershing that he wanted to see how the men were cared for. He spent the entire afternoon visiting soldiers of the Expeditionary Forces billeted in barns and houses. At one place he climbed a ladder and entered a hay-mow, where half a company was quartered. The men were very comfortable, and the President chatted with them asking them as to their daily routine. Later on he visited a constructed cantonment where the beds were designed so that two men slept on a square-piece with a board between. The President remarked, in this connection, that if he had his choice he would rather sleep in the barns than in the houses themselves, as the barns seemed more comfortable. At one place on the route the President was held up by a number of boys who gave him a small memento that they had made themselves and expressed in French their love and affection for him. Ambassador Jusserand interpreted their remarks and the President was touched by the unaffected tribute. All along the road American soldiers had been lined at attention. Passing through a village in which was located a French interpreters school, the President’s automobile was halted by a score of French soldiers and young girls, who simply lined up shoulder to shoulder across the road and refused to give way when the chauffeur blew his horn. The soldiers opened the door of the President’s car, and a young girl pushed her way through the crowd, climbed on the step, and handed the President a bouquet, at the same time leaning over and kissing General Pershing. This caused quite a little amusement to the President.
Late in the afternoon the party proceeded to a French Chateau, where General Pershing maintained his headquarters. This chateau was a most magnificent structure. It dated back beyond French revolutionary times and was furnished with antique furniture, almost priceless in character. General Pershing had assembled to greet the President all of the members of his personal staff and the divisional staffs from the several divisions quartered in the neighborhood of GHQ. He also had invited in a number of men and women, French residents of that vicinity. General Pershing’s headquarters were extremely palatial in their character. They were a revelation to the President, who had been used to simplicity so far as Army Officers were concerned. The General had a very elaborate luncheon and a display of vintage champagnes for his guests, but owing to the lateness of the hour few of the members of the party were able to partake of the proffered hospitality.
Leaving Pershing’s headquarters a quick run was made to the Chaumont station, where the train was again boarded, and at seven o’clock that night we left for Calais.
DIARY ENTRY: .Arrived Chaumont 9.30—met at RR. Sta. by General Pershing and staff, Escorted to Town Hall or welcomed by Mayor President made a beautiful reply—Then motored about 25 miles to a field between Hume and Longue where the President with General Pershing staff—The President delivered a great speech to the soldiers—and never viewed about 8000 in passing review, Infantry—Artillery—Calvary—Signal Corps—Engineers—Ambulance—Tanks—etc—motored about 3 or 40 miles—luncheon—visited billets. Had tea at Genl Pershing’s Chateau—snowing—about 30 Brigadier Generals present—Genl P—has fine chateau—automobiles &fine special train—Left Chaumont at 6 p.m. for Paris Callais via Paris.
Leaving the Hotel the motor cars were re-entered and the trip was resumed to a field midway between Humes and Langres, which had been selected as the scene for a Presidential review of units representing the American Expeditionary Forces. A stand had been erected to the side of this field with a plank wall leading across a muddy course directly to it. The weather was extremely cold. All along the route American infantrymen had been standing stiffly at salute, while gathered about the field were several thousand who had not been chosen to participate in the review, and who were interested spectators. There was also present a large gathering of French people from the countryside. The scene was most inspiring. As far as the eye could reach American soldiers in campaign uniform stood in unbroken ranks, lined up facing the stand. General Pershing escorted the President and Mrs. Wilson to the seats that had been reserved for them directly in front of the stand. Seated behind the President were Generals of Divisions—American and French—the French Ambassador and Madame Jusserand and a number of invited guests. General Pershing personally introduced the President to the troops in a brief speech. The President then addressed the men. The first half of his speech naturally was designed for continental consumption, but the latter half was a wonderful tribute to the valor and patriotism of the men who stood before him and no one who listened to the President’s speech will ever forget what it all meant. (SEE SPEECH)
Immediately after the speech was ended, the troops passed in review. The mud was very deep. Directly in front of the stand there was a small hummock with a little stream of water in such position that as the regiments came down in company front formation, the men were forced to waver and break, just sufficient to spoil the alignment. Instead, however, of detracting from the spectacle, this presented a very human touch that added to the impressiveness of the review. All branches of the service were represented in this review, but the chief hit was made by the tanks, which lumbered away from far across the field, and swinging around, passed directly in front of the stand. A couple of humorists in one of the tanks got a real laugh when they swung the turret of their tank to “Eyes Right”, as they moved past in front of the President.
Following the review General Alexander, commanding the 77th Division, which was made up entirely of New York City draft men, and trained at Camp Upton, Long Island, presented Mrs. Wilson with a small replica statue of the Statue of Liberty, the statue having been adopted by the Division as its shoulder designation.
The President and Mrs. Wilson shook hands with a large number of soldiers and officers. The motor cars were then re-entered and a trip made to Montigny le Roi, where the headquarters of the 26th Division had been established. The 26th Division was the first National Guard Division to arrive in France. It was made up entirely of New England troops, and formerly was under the command of Major General Clarence Edwards, who was relieved shortly before the armistice. The President on arriving at the Division was chagrined and very much surprised to find that his request made personally to General Pershing in Paris—that he be allowed to have dinner in the field with the soldiers themselves—had been ignored, and that instead he was slated to eat as the guest at the mess of the officers of the 26th Division Staff. For a little while the President seriously considered whether it would not be well to decline to mess with the Division Staff, not that he did not appreciate the fact that these men had a fighting record, but because it had been his dearest wish to spend the day with the doughboys themselves. However, after considering the matter he decided that as the plans could not be changed at that late hour, it would be just as well to let the program be carried out as arranged. Dinner was served in a room in one of the oldest chateaus in this section. The divisional staff had done the best they could to get the customary “turkey and trimmings”, but had found it impossible, so they served chicken with celery and other food more or less American in character. However, they demonstrated their Yankeeism in the dessert, the cooks having prepared wonderful pumpkin pie—the typical New England kind, sweetened with molasses. Everyone enjoyed the dinner.
Leaving the chateau the President made it very plain to General Pershing that he wanted to see how the men were cared for. He spent the entire afternoon visiting soldiers of the Expeditionary Forces billeted in barns and houses. At one place he climbed a ladder and entered a hay-mow, where half a company was quartered. The men were very comfortable, and the President chatted with them asking them as to their daily routine. Later on he visited a constructed cantonment where the beds were designed so that two men slept on a square-piece with a board between. The President remarked, in this connection, that if he had his choice he would rather sleep in the barns than in the houses themselves, as the barns seemed more comfortable. At one place on the route the President was held up by a number of boys who gave him a small memento that they had made themselves and expressed in French their love and affection for him. Ambassador Jusserand interpreted their remarks and the President was touched by the unaffected tribute. All along the road American soldiers had been lined at attention. Passing through a village in which was located a French interpreters school, the President’s automobile was halted by a score of French soldiers and young girls, who simply lined up shoulder to shoulder across the road and refused to give way when the chauffeur blew his horn. The soldiers opened the door of the President’s car, and a young girl pushed her way through the crowd, climbed on the step, and handed the President a bouquet, at the same time leaning over and kissing General Pershing. This caused quite a little amusement to the President.
Late in the afternoon the party proceeded to a French Chateau, where General Pershing maintained his headquarters. This chateau was a most magnificent structure. It dated back beyond French revolutionary times and was furnished with antique furniture, almost priceless in character. General Pershing had assembled to greet the President all of the members of his personal staff and the divisional staffs from the several divisions quartered in the neighborhood of GHQ. He also had invited in a number of men and women, French residents of that vicinity. General Pershing’s headquarters were extremely palatial in their character. They were a revelation to the President, who had been used to simplicity so far as Army Officers were concerned. The General had a very elaborate luncheon and a display of vintage champagnes for his guests, but owing to the lateness of the hour few of the members of the party were able to partake of the proffered hospitality.
Leaving Pershing’s headquarters a quick run was made to the Chaumont station, where the train was again boarded, and at seven o’clock that night we left for Calais.
DIARY ENTRY: .Arrived Chaumont 9.30—met at RR. Sta. by General Pershing and staff, Escorted to Town Hall or welcomed by Mayor President made a beautiful reply—Then motored about 25 miles to a field between Hume and Longue where the President with General Pershing staff—The President delivered a great speech to the soldiers—and never viewed about 8000 in passing review, Infantry—Artillery—Calvary—Signal Corps—Engineers—Ambulance—Tanks—etc—motored about 3 or 40 miles—luncheon—visited billets. Had tea at Genl Pershing’s Chateau—snowing—about 30 Brigadier Generals present—Genl P—has fine chateau—automobiles &fine special train—Left Chaumont at 6 p.m. for Paris Callais via Paris.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1918 December 25, WWP17015, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.