Russell Thomas Stewart: A Retrospective

Russell Thomas Stewart was born September 16, 1889 in Buffington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He was a son of John Galbreath Stewart and Mary (McKee) Stewart. He was probably born on, or near, the Stewart homestead, a farm originally settled by his great great-grandparents, John and Margaret (McFarland) Stewart about 1796. When Russell was five years old his father died, and his mother moved the family to Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.

At the age of twenty on December 24, 1909, Russell married Grace Allen Davis, a daughter of Albert and Anna May (White) Davis of Fayette City, Pennsylvania. Grace was only fourteen years old when she married. A year later they had a daughter, Violet May Stewart. Sadly, Violet died of pneumonia just two years later. They also had a second daughter, Anna Mae Stewart, born just before Violet died in 1913.

Russell and Grace divorced or separated sometime between 1913 and 1916. Grace remarried in 1916 and took custody of their daughter Anna. When he registered for the draft on June 6, 1917, Russell reported he was single and supporting his mother. He was an unemployed laborer. At one time he was a meter maker, and perhaps employed at Westinghouse Electric.

Russell was drafted and assigned to the Army’s 80^th Infantry Division, known as the “Blue Ridge Division” because most recruits were from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. He reported to Camp Lee, near Petersburg, Virginia on October 6, 1917, at a time when uniforms and equipment were in short supply. He likely trained in his civilian clothes initially. His army serial number was 1828386. ¹

Training continued at Camp Lee until mid-May, when the Division was ordered to France. Russell boarded the Zeelandia, a Dutch passenger ship converted for use as a troop transport.² It sailed May 18, 1918 from Newport News, Virginia on its first voyage as a transport. As the convoy neared it’s destination, Saint-Nazaire, France, it came under attack by up to seven German U-boats. Although windows were blown out by the concussion of the Zeelandia’s own guns, no enemy torpedoes hit the convoy. They safely made port May 31, 1918.

Russell was one of 255 men in Company M, one of four companies in the 3^rd Battalion of the 319^th Infantry. The 319^th had many recruits from Pittsburgh. It was part of the 160^th Brigade in the 80^th Division. He seems to have remained with Company M, and for that reason, we can approximate his movements while in France.

On June 4^th Russell was promoted to Private First Class. The Division also moved inland through Calais and on to Desvres. They crowded into the French “40 hommes/8 chevaux” rail cars. These light “40 and 8” cars could carry 40 men or 8 horses.³ By July 4^th the Division traveled from Desvres to the area of Bouquemaison in the Somme. Here they were attached to the British VI Corps for a few weeks of training. A constant stream of artillery, trucks and troops flowed through Bouquemaison. The observation balloons at the front lines were visible from here, and at night, he could see the flash of cannons.

July 22^nd they marched from Bouquemaison to La Bazeque Farm, only seven miles from the front. Russell’s regiment was attached to the British 2^nd Division, VI Corps for yet more training. This time he spent short periods of time actually in the front-line trenches in the Ayette Sector.

They left La Bazeque Farm and marched through Frévent, Autheux, and on to Bernaville by August 21^st. Here he boarded another 40 and 8 boxcar, this time bound for Châtillon-sur-Seine.⁴ Russell may have glimpsed Paris as the train passed there. Some companies in the regiment passed Paris during the night and saw nothing but dimmed street lights camouflaged against air raids. There and then, Russell was an eye witness to the birth of America as a preeminent super-power. Control of our infantry divisions passed from the British and French, to the Americans. We now had a very large army deployed on foreign soil and we were in control of it.

September 2^nd Russell again boarded the 40 and 8 boxcars at Châtillon-sur-Seine, this time bound for the area near Ligny. This was the Saint-Mihiel salient, where an offensive had been planned. Instead, the salient was to be cleared only enough for a major offensive later in the month. Upon reaching their destination, the men “took to the woods,” literally running from the box cars to the surrounding woods to avoid detection by the enemy. Marches now were under cover of darkness, with absolutely no lights allowed, not even luminous watch dials. Russell spent his days confined to the woods and his nights finding his footing in pitch darkness. Verdun loomed in the distance.

September 16^th Russell had his 29th birthday bivouacked in the woods between Ippécourt and Souilly, France. He arrived at 3:30am after marching through the night. On September 23^rd he entered the front line trenches. For two days his battalion was temporarily attached to the 33^rd Division to relieve the 131^st Infantry Regiment.⁵

September 25^th Russell was lying with his face pressed to a dirt road. Overhead was the continuous deafening roar of high explosive enemy artillery shells, some landing nearby. He was marching to the front-line, but the road was clogged with thousands of men and everyone had to wait. Under orders not to break ranks, there was nowhere to run anyway. Later that night Russell would be in position at Le Mort Homme (Dead Man’s Hill) near Bethincourt. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was about to begin. Several hundred yards to Russell’s left were units of the 77^th Division, about to become famous as the “lost battalion.”

On September 26^th a deafening, continuous artillery barrage pounded the enemy for four hours from 1:00am to 5:00am. A more intense barrage pounded for 30 minutes followed by a rolling barrage, where shells began exploding 100 meters further ahead, every 4 minutes. Russell’s regiment, not having slept, climbed up out of their trenches and followed this rolling barrage forward. Russell went “over the top” later in the morning and his company faced less resistance.⁶ They achieved their objective, although in the confusion, his company and another exactly reversed their intended destinations.

The fighting continued and on September 27^th Russell was near Dannevoux, pinned down by a heavy enemy artillery bombardment both day and night, with periodic machine gun fire and snipers. The enemy artillery was on higher ground across the river to the east. In places their fire was enfilading, meaning it was lengthwise down our line from the side. The battle was intense, but they slowly advanced the front to the Meuse River.

By September 29^th Russell and his regiment were relieved by another regiment. He made his way in the dark early that morning, in a driving rain and by noon everyone was 10 kilometers rearward, and able to get a hot meal. However they were held in reserve for the 37^th Division and could be called up on a moment’s notice. Luckily most soldiers spent no more than a few days at the actual front-line. The constant machine-gun, sniper, and artillery fire prevented them from sleeping or eating and they soon became exhausted and ineffective. In the last three days, Russell’s regiment alone lost 63 killed, 26 died later of wounds, and 218 were wounded.

October 7^th Russell was about to learn what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object. He was in the front-line again, this time at the Bois des Ogons (Woods of Ogons) north of Nantillois, France. The artillery and machine gun fire was constant day and night all around him. The Germans were under orders to hold this place at all cost. The State of Pennsylvania erected a memorial at Nantillois after the war in honor of what their boys from Pittsburgh did here.⁷

October 8^th Russell was having a whiz-bang time, but not in the sense we think today. He endured constant high-explosive artillery and machine gun fire, poison gas clouds and whiz-bangs. “Whiz-bangs” are light artillery shells that travel faster than sound. They heard the whizz going by before they heard the bang of the cannon itself. Russell wore his gas mask most of the night. Each day he faced intense enemy resistance as the front line inched northward hour by hour.

October 9^th Russell found himself one mile behind enemy lines. His company and two others had advanced, but their sister companies were stopped by enemy machine gun fire. They were so far behind enemy lines they surprised the German garrison at Cunel and took nearly 200 prisoners.⁸ They searched the village building by building, then continued to advance until they came under shelling from our own artillery. Sensing their advance had been too easy, they suddenly realized the enemy was about to close in behind them. They pulled back. Five in the battalion were killed, 36 wounded and 40 were missing. However back at headquarters, the runners could not find these companies and all 600 men were presumed dead or captured for a time that night.

October 10^th Russell and his battalion was relieved by a sister battalion. By October 12^th he made his way rearward for several days of rest. Nearly everyone suffered some effect from poison gas. During this “rest” period, they trained daily in new tactical formations and attack methods. They were issued the new Browning Automatic Rifles, one of the first assault rifles.⁹ Over a half million rounds of ammunition were shot during these few days of training. At the end of the month 2,000 men arrived to replace casualties of the previous two battles.

October 31^st Russell may have said, “Let’s Roll!” After the horrific battle at Nantillois, Russell had “rested” these past three weeks. There were new weapons issued, new tactics learned, and a sense the war would soon be over. He was again marching to the front. His brigade was assigned to lead an attack the next day.

November 1^st Russell followed another rolling artillery barrage and moved forward to attack. A sister regiment made no progress all day due to overwhelming machine-gun fire. Russell was able to reach Imécourt, where his battalion met stiff resistance. Some units continued forward and pushed 2 kilometers further on the road to Sivry-les-Buzancy. Russell’s battalion remained in the area surrounding Imécourt, and defended it from several German counter-attacks all afternoon and into the night with some hand-to-hand combat.

A detachment from the 305^th Engineers was assigned to repair the road between Imécourt and Sivry the afternoon of November 1^st. They were driven off by enemy gun fire. Russell’s battalion, and specifically Russell’s company, was sent to this very area to defend the road and probably also the army engineers trying to repair it.¹⁰

November 2, 1918. Russell was killed in action. He and his battalion led an attack to clear the woods northwest of Imécourt, France, which was successfully completed by 4:00am. This decisive battle precipitated the German retreat from the area and removed the resistance that prevented two other American divisions (50,000 men) from advancing. Ironically this, the last battle for the 319^th Regiment, claimed Russell’s life after all the torpedoes, 40 and 8 boxcars, marches, heat, cold, dust, rain, mud, darkness, sleeplessness, hunger, trenches, craters, barbed wire, noise, high explosive artillery shells, snipers, machine guns, rifles, whiz-bangs, poison gas, death, blood and body fragments he had endured. Another few minutes and he probably would have lived to come home.¹¹

November 11^th the Great War ended. Back in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania Mary (McKee) Stewart and her children were happily awaiting the return of her son, Russell. It would be another three weeks until on December 5^th Mary received the telegram every mother dreads. Her son Russell had been killed in action a month earlier on November 2^nd.

The 80^th Division is the only American division that took part in all three phases of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. In total, it had 5,234 casualties between September 21st and November 11th. It was during these battles it earned the motto: Only Moves Forward.

During the war, bodies were generally buried near where they fell. Russell was buried in a make-shift cemetery on the grounds of the Chateau d’Imécourt, along with 17 other soldiers.¹² After the war and into the 1920s, remains were exhumed and identified. The family could choose to have them brought home, or reburied in a national cemetery in France. Russell was exhumed and subsequently reburied April 15, 1919. He was again exhumed and reburied December 24, 1921 in his final resting place at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial near Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France. Ironically, he is only one mile from Cunel, the village he raided October 9^th so far behind enemy lines.

Were it not for a photocopy of his mother’s tattered telegram, I never would have known, investigated or discovered his amazing story and all the horrific days he courageously endured.¹³ A truly remarkable man, and I think, no braver man ever walked the Earth.

Mike Voisin
Grandnephew

Further Reading

This post is a summary of my discoveries about Russell Stewart, but my past articles explore them in greater detail. Please see:

• Zeelandia, January 28, 2020, is about the USS Zeelandia, the troop transport on which Russell Stewart sailed to France.
• Intersection at Imécourt, January 21, 2020, highlights a newspaper article about the battle where Russell Stewart was killed in action.
• A Grim Task: Reburial, June 1, 2019, documents the disposition of Russell Stewart’s body.
• Memorial Day Tribute, May 25, 2019, has a homemade video of Russell Stewart’s final moments.
• Adding Perspective to History, November 15, 2018, is a detailed look at Imécourt, France the day after Russell Stewart died there.
• Someone Will Remember For You, November 2, 2018, uncovers the actual details of how Russell Stewart was killed in action.
• There is No Glory and No Flying of Flags, August 21, 2016, highlights the poignant words of someone who was there.
• Corporal Pollock’s Account, August 3, 2016, highlights the diary of a soldier temporarily attached to Russell Stewart’s regiment.
• Violets are Blue, July 23, 2016, explores the mysteries of Russell Stewart’s wife and children and why he indicated he was single on his draft registration.
• Russell Stewart: Only Moves Forward, June 30, 2016, explores Russell Stewart’s military career and the movements of his battalion.

Consolidated Bibliography

This is a comprehensive list of references from my past articles about Russell Stewart. Many of these sources will be useful to those researching the 319^th Infantry and their own relatives.

1. 1900 United States Federal Census, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12861-87011-66?cc=1325221 : 5 August 2014), Pennsylvania > Allegheny > ED 535 Wilkins Township (excl. Wilkinsburg & E. Pittsburg Boroughs) > image 5 of 49; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. William Dyer, Roscoe, Washington, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1660; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 241.
3. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626. Roscoe, Washington, Pennsylvania. William Dyer, Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0097; FHL 2341897.
4. Al G. “Bud” Harris Obituary, Reed Funeral Home, Canton, Ohio, Reed Funeral Home (http://www.reedfuneralhome.com : downloaded 19 July 2016), March 31, 2007.
5. American Battle Monuments Commission, American Armies and Battlefields in Europe: A History, Guide and Reference Book (US Government Printing Office, 1938), American Battle Monuments Commission, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Publications, (https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe/meuse-argonne-american-cemetery : downloaded September 7, 2018), pages 170, 186, 276.
6. American Battle Monuments Commission. 80th Division: Summary of the Operations in the World War. United States Government Printing Office, 1944, pages 21, 40-41, 44, 45.
7. “A detachment of the 305th Engineers, at work repairing this road [Imécour-Sivry road], had previously been driven off.” “The 3rd Battalion, having reached Imecourt, sent Companies L and M to the northern edge of the town. They entered the fight to the left of Companies F and H.”
8. Arbitration Between the United States and Sweden Under Special Agreement of December 17, 1930: The “Kronprins Gustaf Adolf” and the “Pacific” Oral Arguments, Washington, May 9 – June 2, 1932, Volume 1, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1932, pages 38-41. Google Books (https://books.google.com/books?id=QVMSAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA39&lpg=RA1-PA38 : viewed 23 January 2020).
9. Buzancy [France] 1:20,000, Sheet 60, Pritzker Military Museum and Library, Hunter Collection, Map 00857, Item 600996, OCLC 932128955 (http://cdm16630.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16630coll8/id/134 : viewed September 6, 2018).
10. Camp Lee, Va. Back from bayonet drill. Our boys in camp are becoming experts in the use of the bayonet under able Allied instructions, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1860 – 1920 (http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-bdf2-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99).
11. Card Register of Burials of Deceased American Soldiers, 1917 – 1922, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774 – 1985. Record Group RG 92, NAID 6943087. National Archives Catalog (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6943087 : downloaded 27 May 2019), Stanysewski – Stockhoff, #1363 and #1364.
12. Carte Postale. Geneanet (https://www.geneanet.org/cartes-postales/view/319707#0 : downloaded 30 May 2019).
13. Carte Postale. Geneanet (https://www.geneanet.org/cartes-postales/view/319708#0 : downloaded 30 May 2019).
14. Census Records, database, MyHeritage, WorldVitalRecords (http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/ : downloaded 19 July 2016), Davis, David F. and Davis, Mamie and Davis, Grace, Roscoe, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Harris, Eugene, Canton, Stark, Ohio.
15. Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Historical Films, ca. 1914 – ca. 1936. Record Group 111: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1860 – 1985. Historical Film, No. 1341, produced 1936. National Archives Identifier: 24844. Local Identifier: 111-H-1341 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24844). YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK_1Xe7iTKs : downloaded 23 January 2020).
16. Doyle, Charles J., Field Where Home Boys Lie Photographed, an article in The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Sunday, February 9, 1919, page 47 (section 6, page 5). Google News Archive (https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mG1RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BGgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2431%2C1364060 : viewed 2 January 2020).
17. Embarkation and Debarkation of the 80th Division, 1918-1919, article in The Service Magazine, Volume 8, Number 4, July 1927. 80th Division Veteran’s Association, (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 7, 2018), page 34.
18. Fight on Bridge to Stop Woman from Jumping, an article in The Pittsburgh Sunday Post, October 19, 1913, Page 1, Column 3.
19. Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com/ : Downloaded 16 August 2016), John Ashby “Ashby” Williams, Sr (1874-1944), Memorial 64601385.
20. Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com/ : downloaded 19 July 2016), Al G. Harris (1935-2007), Memorial 99909057.
21. Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com/ : Downloaded 30 May 2016), PVT 1CL Russell T. Stewart, Memorial 55961495.
22. Florida, Marriages 1830-1993, digital images, FamilySearch, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ : downloaded 12 July 2019), Image 824 of 1785, Duval County > Marriage applications, 1949 Nov-1950 Jun; citing multiple County Clerks of Court, Florida, 24 February 1950.
23. From the edge of Bois de la Pultiere, looking S. by W. (205º azimuth) (mp. co-ord. 310.1-285.9 Dun-sur-Meuse) showing partly ruined town of Cunel, Meuse, taken by 80th Div. about Oct. 9, 1918, in Argonne-Meuse drive, Dec. 1918, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1860 – 1920 (http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-bda4-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99).
24. Graves Location of the 80th Division’s Dead, article in The Service Magazine, Volume 8, Number 4, July 1927. 80th Division Veteran’s Association, (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 7, 2018), page 25.
25. Gumbert, Earl Preston, World War I, Company D, 319th Regiment 80th Infantry Division-A.E.F., Opinicus Publishing Company (http://TheTroubleShooters.com : downloaded 28 Jun 2016).
26. Hartzell, Captain Arthur E., Meuse-Argonne Battle (Sept. 26 – Nov. 11, 1918), United States: Central Printing Plant, March 24, 1919, page 31.
27. Herr, Charles Ryman, Company F History, 319th Infantry: Pub. as a Matter of Record by the Officers and Men of the Company. Somerville, NJ: Unionist-Gazzette Association, 1920, pages 16, 54.
28. History of the 319^th Infantry, U. S. A., During 21 Months of Service, an article in The Pittsburgh [Pennsylvania] Gazette Times, Sunday May 25, 1919, section 6, page 10.
29. Hooper, Thomas W., The Truth of the Matter, Being the Efforts of Those Who Were in a Position to Know the Exact Accurate Historical Facts Concerning the Movements of the Eightieth in the A. E. F., an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 2, Number 4, February 1921, pages 15, 26. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
30. Hungry Soldiers Attack Red Cross Food at Station, article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 10 Jun 1919, online archives (https://Newspapers.com : downloaded 25 June 2016), page 10.
31. Johnston, Donnie, Mitchells Presbyterian set to celebrate 150 years in Culpeper, Culpeper [Virginia] Star Exponent, October 10, 2017, with portrait, (https://www.starexponent.com/news/mitchells-presbyterian-set-to-celebrate-years-in-culpeper/article_0068899d-b48c-5e4f-bcf6-11ff2a0acb09.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
32. Kephart, Larry R., Diary of William A Livergood. A tale of a soldier who served in the World War in France, (http://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2001/poppop.htm : downloaded 31 Oct 2018), citing Howard C. Spencer, photographer, 305th Engineers, 80th Division.
33. Leaps Into River with Her ‘Roll’, an article in The Pittsburgh Press, October 19, 1913, Page 1, Column 4.
34. Lists of Incoming Passengers, 1917-1938; Lists of Outgoing Passengers, 1917-1938, microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), Record Group 92; Fold3 (https://fold3.com : downloaded 21 January 2020), Zeelandia, 18 May 1918, Russell T. Stewart, Company M, 319th Infantry, 80th Division, Sheet 8, Number 160. The complete manifest and related ship’s paperwork can be viewed by paging backward and forward from Russell T. Stewart’s entry in the manifest.
35. Mazzella, Diana, The Soldiers of World War I, (https://magazine.wvu.edu/stories/2018/11/29/flashback-the-soldiers-of-world-war-i : downloaded 3 January 2020), citing West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.
36. Men on a United States transport watching an encounter with a submarine, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1860 – 1920 (http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47db-1155-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99).
37. Montague, Maj. James L., Memoirs: Second Battalion, 319th Infantry Regiment, Eightieth Division, A. E. F., an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 9, Number 4, July-August 1928, pages 18, 38. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
38. Moore, William Emmet and James Clayton Russell, U. S. Official Pictures of the World War, Showing America’s Participation, Washington, DC: Pictorial Bureau, 1920, about page 344.
39. Niesen, Dale R., Dale R. Niesen Collection, The 80th Infantry Division (http://www.80thdivision.com/ : downloaded 4 Jul 2016), Photos.
40. Ohio Department of Health, Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, & 1958-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Original Data: Ohio. Division of Vital Statistics. Death Certificates and Index, December 20, 1908-December 31, 1953. State Archives Series 3094. Ohio Historical Society, Ohio. Ohio Department of Health. Index to Annual Deaths, 1958-2002. Ohio Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Columbus, OH, USA.
41. Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Grace Allen Davis, William Lincoln Dyer, 24 Jul 1916, FHL 000894943.
42. Palmer, Frederick, Our Greatest Battle (The Meuse-Argonne), New York, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1919, pages 53, 275.
43. Part of Immense Crowd which Bade Farewell to Draftees Yesterday, an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 6 September 1917, online archives (https://Newspapers.com : downloaded 25 June 2016).
44. Peck, Josiah C., The 319th Infantry A.E.F. Paris: Clarke, 1919, pages 25, 32-33, 34, 37-38, 40.
45. Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Birth Certificates 1906-1911, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : downloaded 9 January 2020), Violet May Stewart, 4 December 1910.
46. Pennsylvania, USGenWeb Archives, Allegheny County, Military, World War I, (http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/military/wpa-ww1/chapter-16.htm : 3 August 2016).
47. Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948, database online, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, Ancestry.com (https://ancestry.com : Downloaded 6 July 2016), Stewart, Russell T; citing World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1934–1948. RG 19, Series 19.91. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg Pennsylvania.
48. Photographs taken by the “Griffin Group,” of areas occupied by American Troops during World War I combat operations, 1918 – 1919, National Archives Catalog, (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/532280). Also AEF GRS Data_WFL1 (http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d16223d89fb242ada81d9c886d607ba5 ), “AM802-80 Immecourt – Sivry Road 317th Inf. P.C. 299.7-289.9 2-26-19,” taken February 26, 1919 and “AM795-80 Ruined Chateau Immecourt 299.7 – 289.4 2-23-19.” François Depaix, e-mail to Mike Voisin, 10 November 2018.
49. Pscycological [i.e. Psychological] test at Camp Lee, Va., 11-1917, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1860 – 1920 (http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-be92-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99).
50. Raymond L. Thompson Papers, D.172, University of Rochester and the River Campus Libraries (https://rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/finding-aids/D172), Box 5, Reconnaissance Map and Aerial Photographs No. B1498 B1531, October 23, 1918, US-1AC-SQ1-B1525, François Depaix, e-mail to Mike Voisin, 10 November 2018.
51. Raymond L. Thompson Papers, D.172, University of Rochester and the River Campus Libraries (https://rbscp.lib.rochester.edu/finding-aids/D172), Box 5, Reconnaissance Map and Aerial Photographs No. B1498 B1531, October 23, 1918, US-1AC-SQ1-B1530, François Depaix, e-mail to Mike Voisin, 13 June 2019.
52. Rossire, Jr., Capt. Charles., The Truth of the Matter, Being the Efforts of Those Who Were in a Position to Know the Exact Accurate Historical Facts Concerning the Movements of the Eightieth in the A. E. F., an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 2, Number 3, December 1920 – January 1921, pages 14-15. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
53. Rossire, Jr., Major Charles, A Brief Diary of the 319th Inf., With a Short Foreword by the Author, an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 4, Number 4, February-March 1923, pages 7-10. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
54. Saint-Nazaire. 14-18. La véritable histoire du Sammy, Ouest-France (https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/saint-nazaire-44600/saint-nazaire-14-18-la-veritable-histoire-du-sammy-6061696 : viewed 27 January 2020).
55. Scene at Camp Lee, Va., clearing ground, 12-1917, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1860 – 1920 (http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-bdf6-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99).
56. Spencer, Howard C., Howard C. Spencer Scrapbook, Opinicus Publishing Company (http://TheTroubleShooters.com : downloaded 28 Jun 2016), World War I, 80th “Blue Ridge” Infantry Division.
57. Station List Headquarters 160th Infantry Brigade with the A. E. F., an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 8, Number 4, July-August 1927, page 30. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
58. Stewart, Dennis, Robert M. Stewart Family, MyHeritage.com (https://www.myheritage.com/site-148784861/robert-m-stewart-family : Downloaded 23 June 2016), “Thomas Russell Stewart.”
59. Stewart, Joshua Thompson, Indiana County, Pennsylvania: Her People, Past and Present, 2 Volumes (Chicago, Illinois: J. H. Beers, 1913), Volume I, Pages 705-706; digital images, The Internet Archive, Text Archive (http://www.archive.org/details/indianacountypen01stew : downloaded 9 December 2009).
60. Stewart, Robert M., Stewarts 1776-1979 (N.p.: n.p., 8 July 1978), Appendix, Copy of Western Union telegram to Mary Stewart indicating Russell Stewart was killed in action 2 November.
61. Stultz, Russell L., History of the Eightieth Division, A.E.F. in World War I, Lee S. Anthony, Editor, Descendants of the 80th Division Veterans, 2004.
62. Taussig, Joseph K., Diary of Joseph K. Taussig, Commander, Little, Naval History and Heritage Command (https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/publications/documentary-histories/wwi/may-1918/diary-of-captain-jos-0.html : viewed 25 January 2020), Sunday, May 19, [1918] at sea.
63. Taylor, Rear Admiral David W., Dutch Ships Manned by Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command (https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/publications/documentary-histories/wwi/may-1918/rear-admiral-david-w.html : viewed 25 January 2020), May 6, 1918.
64. The Record of the ‘80th’, an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 3, Number 5, February 1922, page 13. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018), a portion of General Order No. 19, Headquarters Eightieth Division, American Expeditionary Forces, France, 11 November, 1918
65. The University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas Libraries, Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, (http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/ww1/index.html : downloaded 19 November 2019), citing American Battle Monuments Commission, Summary of Operations in the World War, 1944, map 80th Division, Meuse-Argonne Offensive, October 23 – November 8, 1918.
66. Three More Boys Died for Country, an article in The Indiana (Pennsylvania) Progress, 18 December 1918, Russell T. Stewart killed in action, Page 1; online archives (Newspapers.com : downloaded 19 June 2016).
67. Two Soldiers of the 80th Who Still ‘Carry On’, an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 3, Number 5, July-August 1928, page 15. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
68. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, Canton, Stark, Ohio, various years.
69. U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, database, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : Viewed 9 January 2020), Grace A. Davis, Russell T. Stewart, Anna Mae Harris; citing Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Grace Joliet Apr 1971, Age 76, born 23 April 1895, No SSN, Social Security Administration, U.S. Social Security Death Index, FamilySearch (Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library).
70. Uniform grouping of Charles Rossire, eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWI-UNIFORM-GROUP-OF-DISTINGUISHED-SERVICE-CROSS-RECIPIENT-CAPT-CHARLES-ROSSIRE-/123019650565 : viewed October 1, 2018), sold item, $1,925.00.
71. United States Army Signal Corps, Catalogue of Official A.E.F. Photographs, Taken by the Signal Corps, USA (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1919). Google Books (https://books.google.com/books?id=DJZDAAAAYAAJ : accessed November 11, 2018).
72. United States Board of Tax Appeals, Reports of the United States Board of Tax Appeals, Volume 34, United States Board of Tax Appeals versus Koninklijke Hollandische Lloyd, (Royal Holland Lloyd), Petitioner, versus Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent. Docket number 78662, July 24, 1936, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1936. Google Books (https://books.google.com/books?id=ockpG95e-NUC&pg=RA113-PA1 : viewed 23 January 2020).
73. United States National Archives, Meuse-Argonne Offensive, September 26 to November 11, 1918, 80th Division, National Archives Identifier: 24921, Local Identifier: 111-H-1419, YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ6PtbHehcw : viewed November 11, 2018).
74. United States Navy, NH 103675 USS Zeelandia docked at Charleston, South Carolina, 1918-1919, Naval History and Heritage Command (https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/people—special-topics/african-americans-in-the-navy/african-americans-and-the-navy–wwi-to-wwii/uss-zeelandia-nh-103675.html : downloaded 25 January 2020).
75. United States Navy, NH 106384 USS Zeelandia in a harbor, 1918-1919, Naval History and Heritage Command (https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-106000/NH-106384.html : downloaded 25 January 2020).
76. United States Navy, NH 107311 USS Zeelandia Ship’s officers, 1918-1919, Naval History and Heritage Command (https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-107000/NH-107311.html : downloaded 25 January 2020).
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78. United States Navy, Zeelandia, #2507, 1918-1919, Naval History and Heritage Command (https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/z/zeelandia.html : viewed 23 January 2020).
79. United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : Downloaded 29 May 2016), Russell Thomas Stewart, 1917-1918; citing , Allegheny County no 11, Pennsylvania, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,852,387.
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81. United States, Veterans Administration master index, 1917-1940, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ : downloaded 20 January 2020), Russell Thomas Stewart, Stevens, Eugene A. – Stockwell, Joseph Maaz, dup roll 222A, pt. 2 of 4, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3M4-S796-X?i=5583&cc=2968245&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AWM27-12MM), Veterans Affairs master index, prior war file 76193916, RG 15, 1917-1940.
82. United States, War Department, 1789-9/18/1947, American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917 – 1918, Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs, 1860 – 1952,National Archives Catalog (https://catalog.archives.gov/ : downloaded 16 Janunary 2020). To find an individual image, search for “165-WW-n”, where n is the photograph number. You may need to try different combinations of punctuation and spacing in the number to get a match.
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84. United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509.
85. War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General, Cemeterial Division, Initial Burial Plats for World War I American Soldiers, 1920 – 1920. Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774 – 1985. National Archives Catalog (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/12007376 : downloaded 27 May 2019), 1919-3/15/1922.
86. West Virginia, Vital Research Records Project, Digital images, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, West Virginia Archives and History (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/ : Downloaded 12 July 2016); West Virginia State Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah, Record 10504; Dist. No. 210; Serial No. 241, Grace Stewart, 19 September 1945.
87. West Virginia, Vital Research Records Project, Digital images, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, West Virginia Archives and History (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/ : downloaded 19 July 2016); West Virginia State Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah, Page 356, Eugene Harris, Cambridge, Ohio and Anna Mae Stewart, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, 28 April 1934.
88. West Virginia, Vital Research Records Project, Digital images, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, West Virginia Archives and History (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/ : downloaded 29 May 2016); West Virginia State Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah, Film Number 869969, Image 382, Stewart, Russell and Davis, Grace, 24 December 1909;
89. Williams, Ashby, Experiences of the Great War (Roanoke, Virginia: The Stone Printing and Manufacturing Company, 1919), pages 78-79, 122, 123-124, 129, 137, 154-155.
90. Wise, Jennings C., General Brett and the Fighting ‘80th’, How the Gallant Leader of the 319th and 320th Regiments of Infantry and 315th Machine Gun Battalion Played a Leading Role of the Bitterly Fought Battles of the World War, Facts Presented to Congressional Committee in Effort to Win Merited Rank for General Who Led Pittsburghers Through Decisive Phases of War, an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 3, Number 10, August 1922, pages 7-9, 31. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018).
91. Wise, Lt. Col. Jennings C., The Surest Means of American Defense, an article in The Service Magazine, Volume 6, Number 6, November-December 1925, page 7. 80th Division Veteran’s Association (https://www.80thdivision.com/blueridge_wwi.html : viewed September 6, 2018), photo of Lt. Col. Wise.
92. Woman Leaps from Bridge, an article in The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 19, 1913, Page 4, Column 2.

Footnotes

1. Photo from Dennis Stewart, MyHeritage.com, Robert M. Stewart Family (https://www.myheritage.com/site-148784861/robert-m-stewart-family : Downloaded 23 June 2016), Thomas Russell Stewart.
2. Photo from United States, War Department, 1789-9/18/1947, Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs, 1860 – 1952, American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917 – 1918. National Archives Catalog (https://catalog.archives.gov/ : downloaded 16 Janunary 2020). To find an individual image, search for “165-WW-n”, where n is the photograph number. You may need to try different combinations of punctuation and spacing in the number to get a match.
3. Photo from Larry R. Kephart, Diary of William A Livergood. A tale of a soldier who served in the World War in France, (http://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2001/poppop.htm : downloaded 31 Oct 2018), citing Howard C. Spencer, photographer, 305th Engineers, 80th Division.
4. Photo from United States, War Department. Army War College. Historical Section. World War I Branch. ca. 1918-ca. 1948, Record Group 111: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1860 – 1985, National Archives Catalog. (https://catalog.archives.gov/ : downloaded November 11, 2018). To find an individual image, search for “111-SC-nnnnn”, where nnnnn is the photograph number.
5. Photo from The 80th Infantry Division (http://www.80thdivision.com/ : downloaded 4 Jul 2016), Photos, Dr. Lee S. Anthony – WWI 80th Division Unit Digital Panoramic Collection.
6. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daily_Mail_Postcard_-_An_attack_-_Over_the_top.jpg : downloaded 4 July 2016).
7. Photo from one-thirteen, Pennsylvania Monument, Nantillois Meuse-Argonne Sector, Flikr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/one-thirteen/4644927280 : downloaded 4 July 2016).
8. Photo from The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “From the edge of Bois de la Pultiere, looking S. by W. (205º azimuth) (mp. co-ord. 310.1-285.9 Dun-sur-Meuse) showing partly ruined town of Cunel, Meuse, taken by 80th Div. about Oct. 9, 1918, in Argonne-Meuse drive, Dec. 1918.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1860 – 1920 (http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-bda4-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 : downloaded 15 June 2016).
9. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Val_Browning_M1918_BAR.jpg : downloaded 4 July 2016).
10. Photo from Larry R. Kephart, Diary of William A Livergood. A tale of a soldier who served in the World War in France, (http://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2001/poppop.htm : downloaded 31 Oct 2018), citing Howard C. Spencer, photographer, 305th Engineers, 80th Division.
11. Photo from Dennis Stewart, MyHeritage.com, Robert M. Stewart Family (https://www.myheritage.com/site-148784861/robert-m-stewart-family : Downloaded 23 June 2016), Thomas Russell Stewart.
12. Photo from United States, War Department. Army War College. Historical Section. World War I Branch. ca. 1918-ca. 1948, Record Group 111: Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1860 – 1985, National Archives Catalog. (https://catalog.archives.gov/ : downloaded November 11, 2018). To find an individual image, search for “111-SC-nnnnn”, where nnnnn is the photograph number.
13. Photo from Robert M. Stewart, Stewarts 1776-1976 (N.p.: n.p., 8 July 1978), Appendix, Copy of Western Union telegram to Mary Stewart indicating Russell Stewart was killed in action 2 November.