Prompt: Discuss the decisions made by the commanders and soldiers during the battle.

Would
you have chosen to do things differently?
Kendall Ammerman
B. Harkins
American History 11 Hon (3)
6 January 2016
The Lost Battalion
In 1918 Major Charles Whittlesey and his 500 men were sent blindly in to the Argonne
forest to attack the German forces. Major Charles Whittlesey (a former New York lawyer) led his
men into the forest under the command of General Alexander having no idea what they were
penetrating towards. Whittlesey and his men are exposed on both sides, outnumbered, and cut off
from the Allies as well as all food and water. The men need to be resupplied. The battalion called
for help and were lied to, told that support was already ahead of them and they needed to take the
causalities and push forward into the Argonne forest. Whittlesey and his men push forward
knowing they are walking into a death trap. When things could not get any worse they do. The
battalion loses contact with HQ, so they have to rely on carrier pigeons to communicate. This
triggers reporters to refer to the battalion as the Lost Battalion. Each attack weakens the
battalion, yet Whittlesey refuses to surrender. The 200 men left of the battalion are about be
defeated when they are finally relieved after five hard fought days. Over 500 men entered the
Argonne forest with Charles Whittlesey and only 200 came out. General Alexander finds these
loses acceptable.
If I was in the same position as General Alexander I would react differently. I would still
encourage Whittlesey and his men to penetrate into the Argonne forest but I would not lie and
say that the other forces are ahead. This gives the men false hope. If I was put in Major Charles

Whittlesey position I would not do anything differently. Whittlesey and his men push into the
Argonne forest with courage and perform to their best ability under the given conditions.
Although they lose more than half of their men they play a big part in the rest of World War I.
The Lost Battalion is an inspiring story of Charles Whittlesey and his 500 men during the closing
weeks of World War I.