Finding the Lost Battalion: Beyond the Rumors, Myths and Legends of America's Famous WW1 Epic

by Robert J. Laplander

Since its release in 2006, ‘Finding the Lost Battalion’ by Robert J. Laplander has become the benchmark work against which all things Lost Battalion related have been measured. Now, in this updated 3rd edition released to coincide with the centennial of America’s entry into WW1, Mr. Laplander again takes us to the Charlevaux Ravine to delve deeper into the story than ever before! Meticulously chronicling what would become arguably the most famous event of America’s part in the war, we find the truths behind the legend. Spanning twenty years of research and hundreds of sources (most never before seen), the reader is led through the Argonne Forest during September and October, 1918 virtually hour by hour. The result is the single most factual accounting of the Lost Battalion story and their leader, Charles W. Whittlesey, to date. Told in an entertaining, fast moving style, the book has become a favorite the world over! With new Forward by Major-General William Terpeluk, US Army (Ret).

Genres: History, World War I

724 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2006

Reviews

[Sweetwilliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brother sent this book to me as a gift. When it arrived I was a bit intimidated. It is the size and weight of the phone book of a metropolitan area and the print is small. My brother told me not to worry. He saw the author Robert Laplander lecture on C-SPAN and he said he was riveting. That was enough for me to decide to spend the next 2 months of my life reading a book about an event that took place in the WWI that I had no idea about.

I read books like this so that I might appreciate the sacrifices made by the ones who came before us. Sometimes the appreciation and inspiration is overshadowed by my rage for the mismanagement by General Officers and a system that put our men needlessly in harm’s way and at a disadvantage. This is especially true in the Great War. The pages are full of acts of heroism and self-sacrifice but it also contains instances of mismanagement with dire consequences. For example, just prior to the Meuse-Argonne campaign, replacements arrived without training. Instead of training the men, they were put in quarantine. They hadn’t even firing the standard issue Enfield rifle. They had no idea how to insert the magazines. Many were issued no rifles at all. They were told to tag along and wait for one to become available. I thought only the Soviets did this? Furthermore, the Battalion was issued weaponry in the pitch black of night that they had never used before, hours prior to stepping off. Finally, they were goaded into taking an objective in the Charlevoix Ravine without being properly supported. Whittlesey and his direct superior knew that they were being lied too and all the officers were aware of what was going to happen before it happened. It had happened before. The Divisional commander didn’t care about the welfare of his troops. His only concern was gaining a few more yards of worthless mud at whatever the cost. This kind of stuff is all too typical of General officers in WWI.

Much of this book is riveting. When you get to the part where Whittlesey is cut off in the Charlevoix Ravine clear your calendar because you will not be able to put it down. The air drops to resupply Whittlesey were all unsuccessful but the aviators did call in artillery fire to break up a German assault before it happened and they did do a nice strafing run or two which picked up the men’s spirits. Meanwhile the friendly ground forces on the flanks of the Lost Battalion made futile efforts to link up which only added to the casualty list of the AEF. After many brave efforts an officer was threatened with a court martial for not successfully linking up with the Lost Battalion. The threat was made by the Divisional Commander whose lies put them in that predicament in the first place. My favorite passage of the book is when this wounded officer read this order to take his men and make another attack and link up or receive a court martial. The officer said “What men. They’re all dead” and he threw the order in the mud and limped off bleeding to the aid station. He had done enough.

As I said, the book is intimidating so thank God that the Author, Robert Laplander can write. Some of my favorite passages of all time are in this book. At times it can be a bit laborious at times but you will glad that you made the effort. There is so much here. It is a great lens into WWI tactics at the regiment, battalion, and company level. It is outstanding scholarship and a tremendous history.

Yes, this is a tribute to Charles Whittlesey and the men of the Lost Battalion but it is also a testament to the author Robert Laplander, the foremost historian of the Lost Battalion. Laplander spent multiple nights in the Charlevoix Ravine, trying to reach out and touch the souls and talk to the ghosts of the men of those companies of the 308th Regiment. He sure touched my soul with this masterpiece. Five stars.

[Peter Szabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laplander's book on this important saga in U.S. military history is basically a masterpiece. He takes this nearly hundred-year-old event and breaths remarkable life into it. His research is encyclopedic, and his commentaries on and corrections of some past misconceptions hugely helpful. What I think makes this book really potentially of interest to any reader with a passion for U.S. military history, or the history of the U.S. in World War I, or the general history of the U.S. in the first part of the 20th Century, is how well written it is. I was starting some research on my grandfather, who fought in WWI, and was in the 308th Infantry. I thought I'd pick up a book on the Lost Battalion, of which family lore said he'd been a part. When Laplander's book arrived, I was at first deflated. Some 575 pages. And smallish print to boot! But I tell you that once I started this book I simply could not put it down. This is Laplander's true genious. Not simply the deep and dogged research. But, in addition, the storytelling. The way this story is told, the way it builds, is riveting and very satisfying. This is why I'd strongly recommend it.

[Rhea]

This book really sheds some light on the Lost battalion and WWI history. It tells what really happened.

[Joel Ungar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long and detailed

My great uncle was likely in the Lost Battalion, and he died a week later. While this book is long and detailed and at times difficult to follow, it was still engrossing.

[Carla Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I really appreciated the author’s commitment to telling the truth. This book really lays out the horrors of war! I’m glad I read it and I wish more people knew this story.