Betrayal At Little Gibraltar : the Secret History Of A German Fortress, A Treacherous American General, And The Battle To End World War I

"A painstakingly researched account of World War I's violent Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the 100-year-old cover-up at its center traces the efforts of AEF Commander-in-Chief John J. Pershing to capture the near-impregnable German Montfaucon and the inside betrayal that cost untold lives"--NoveList.;Prologue: words tongued with fire -- Part I. The stakes -- "Horrors from the abyss" -- Harry Parkin's affidavit -- Little Gibraltar of the Western Front -- "Do you wish to take part in the battle?" -- "This appalling proposition" -- "Feeling like crusaders" -- Training for disaster -- "An ominous, dread inspiring place" -- Part II. Battle and betrayal -- Toward Montafaucon and into a trap -- "The 79th is holding up the entire First Army" -- "Bayonet and rifle butt, pistol and trench knife" -- "All America is behind us" -- "Regardless of cost" -- The cost of "regardless" -- Relief and disgrace -- Into the cyclone ... once again -- Redemption on Corn Willy Hill -- Making good ... at last -- Part III. The war after the war -- Controlling the narrative -- Bullard, Bjornstad, and Booth -- Betrayal at Little Gibraltar -- Denkmal: remembering the lost doughboys -- Epilogue: "Some could, some could not, shake off misery." A vivid, thrilling, and impeccably researched account of America's bloodiest battle ever—World War I's Meuse-Argonne Offensive—and the shocking American cover-up at its heart. The year is 1918. German engineers have fortified Montfaucon, an elevated fortress in northern France, with bunkers, tunnels, and a top-secret observatory capable of directing artillery shells across the battlefield. Following a number of unsuccessful attacks, the French have deemed Montfaucon impregnable. Capturing it is the key to success for General John J. Pershing's 1.2 million troops and his plan to end the war. But a betrayal of Americans by Americans results in a bloody debacle. In his masterful Betrayal at Little Gibraltar , William Walker tells the full story for the first time. After a delay in the assault on Montfaucon, thousands of Americans lost their lives while the Germans defended their position without mercy. Years of archival research show the actual cause of the delay was a senior American officer, Major General Robert E. Lee Bullard, who disobeyed orders to assist in the direct assault on Montfaucon. The result was the unnecessary slaughter of American doughboys during the assault. Although several officers learned of the circumstances, Pershing protected Bullard—an old friend and fellow West Point graduate—by covering up the story. The true and full account of the battle that cost 122,000 American casualties was almost lost to time. A "military history for all libraries" ( Library Journal ), Betrayal at Little Gibraltar tells of the soldiers who fought to capture the giant fortress and push the American advance. Using unpublished first-person accounts—and featuring photographs, documents, and maps—Walker describes the horrors of combat, the sacrifices of the doughboys, and the determined efforts of two participants to solve the mystery of Montfaucon. This is compelling history, important to be told, an "as valuable account as Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August " ( Virginian-Pilot ). The work of a lifetime: A vivid, thrilling, and impeccably researched account of America's bloodiest foreign battle ever-World War I's Meuse-Argonne Offensive-and the 100-year-old shocking cover-up at its heart. The year is 1918. German engineers have fortified Montfaucon, a rocky butte in northern France, with bunkers, trenches, and giant guns. Following a number of bloody, unsuccessful attacks, the French deem Montfaucon impregnable and dub it the Little Gibraltar of the Western Front. Capturing it requires 1.2 million American soldiers, and 122,000 American casualties. But at the heart of the victory is a betrayal of Americans by Americans. Now William T. Walker tells the full story in his masterful Betrayal at Little Gibraltar. In the assault on Montfaucon, American forces became strangely bogged down, a delay that cost untold thousands of lives as the Germans defended their position with no mercy. Years of archival research demonstrate that the actual cause of the failure was the disobedience of a senior American officer, Lieutenant General Robert E. Lee Bullard, who subverted orders to assist the US 79th Division, under the command of General John J. Pershing. The result was unnecessary slaughter of American doughboys. Although several officers discovered the circumstances, Pershing protected Bullard-an old friend from West Point days-and covered up the story. The true account of the battle was almost lost to time. Betrayal at Little Gibraltar tells vivid human stories of the soldiers who fought to capture the giant fortress and push the American advance. Using unpublished first-person accounts-and featuring photographs, documents, and maps that place you in the action-Walker describes the horrors of World War I combat, the sacrifices of the doughboys, and the determined efforts of two participants to pierce the cover-up and to solve the mystery of Montfaucon. Like Stephen Ambrose and S.C. Gwynne, Walker is writing popular history at its best A Painstakingly Researched Account Of World War I's Violent Meuse-argonne Offensive And The 100-year-old Cover-up At Its Center Traces The Efforts Of Aef Commander-in-chief John J. Pershing To Capture The Near-impregnable German Montfaucon And The Inside Betrayal That Cost Untold Lives,--novelist. Prologue: Words Tongued With Fire -- Part I. The Stakes -- Horrors From The Abyss -- Major Harry Parkin's Affidavit -- Little Gibraltar Of The Western Front -- Do You Wish To Take Part In The Battle? -- This Appalling Proposition -- Feeling Like Crusaders -- Training For Disaster -- An Ominous, Dread-inspiring Place -- Part Ii. Battle And Betrayal -- Toward Montfaucon And Into A Trap -- The 79th Is Holding Up The Entire First Army -- Bayonet And Rifle Butt, Pistol And Trench Knife -- All America Is Behind Us -- Regardless Of Cost -- The Cost Of Regardless -- Relief And Disgrace -- Into The Cyclone ... Once Again -- Redemption On Corn Willy Hill -- Making Good ... At Last -- Part Iii. The War After The War -- Controlling The Narrative -- Bullard, Bjornstad, And Booth -- Betrayal At Little Gibraltar -- Denkmal: Remembering The Doughboys -- Epilogue: Some Could, Some Could Not, Shake Off Misery. William Walker. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 395-429) And Index. Prologue: words tongued with fire Part I. The stakes. "Horrors from the abyss" : Major Harry Parkin's affidavit Little Gibraltar of the Western Front "Do you wish to take part in the battle?" "This appalling proposition" "Feeling like crusaders" Training for disaster "An ominous, dread-inspiring place" Part II. Battle and betrayal. Toward Montfaucon and into a trap "The 79th is holding up the entire First Army" "Bayonet and rifle butt, pistol and trench knife" "All America is behind us" "Regardless of cost" The cost of "regardless" Relief and disgrace Into the cyclone...once again Redemption on Corn Willy Hill Making good...at last Part III. The war after the war. Controlling the narrative Bullard, Bjornstad, and Booth Betrayal at Little Gibraltar Denkmal: remembering the lost doughboys Epilogue: "Some could, some could not, shake off misery."