America in World War I: Sedan, the goal (b/w photo)

Sedan, the goal. "The actual fact is that nobody captured Sedan in this war. It was evacuated by the Germans under American and French artillery fire and, after the Armistice went into effect, French troops peacefully entered it. At least six American divisions and one French division were actively in the race. Four of the American divisions, the 2d, 77th, 80th and 6th, did not come within view of that city. The other two, the 1st and the 42nd, fought their way to the hills overlooking the city on November 7 and were to take it the following day if orders to withdraw had not come from Marshal Foch. Sedan, where Nepoleon III surrendered in 1870 with 100,000 men, was too rich in memories for the French to encourage its capture by Americans." Junius B Wood. Illustration for US Official Pictures of the World War, showing America's Participation, selected from the official files of the War Department by William E Moore and James C Russell (Pictoria Bureau, 1920). Gravure printed.