Georgia in The Great War

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This page is part of The Great War 1914-1918 Project.

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Georgia in The Great War

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Jan. 31, 1917 Germany, in its final effort to win the war against the Allied Powers, announced publicly it was resuming unrestricted warfare. (the U-boats. United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany. However soon a German U-boat sank the American liner," Housatonic". A British steamer was able to rescue the 25 Americans on board!

This led states on the coast of the United States to start worrying a U boat might attack their ships or even fishing boats. Shortly 4 more Merchant marine vessels were sunk.

U-995.

Feb. 24, 1917, the release of a disturbing the “Zimmermann Note,” a coded telegram from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to Count Johann von Bernstorff, German ambassador to Mexico. This was deciphered which stated Mexico should be requested to enter the war as one of Germany's allies. In return, Germany planned to return Mexico's lost territories of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona to Mexico. When this was published, America was ready for war against Germany.

Fort McPherson

Fort McPherson was an U.S. Army military base located in East Point, Georgia, on the southwest edge of Atlanta, Georgia. Named after Major General James Birdseye McPherson, this fort was founded by the U.S. Army in September 1885. However, this site, had been in use by military units since 1835, and it was used as a Confederate Army base during the American Civil War.

During World War I, Fort McPherson was used as a camp for Imperial German Navy prisoners of war and as a training site for the Active Army and Georgia National Guard. A rifle Range was operated along the ridge where current Stanton road now exists. The Deploying officers and NCOs surveyed the local civil war entrenchments parallel to the Railroad along Utoy Creek to learn about trench warfare.

Camp Gordon

Camp Gordon was a World War I Camp first established in 1917 north of Atlanta at Chamblee, DeKalb County, Georgia. Named Camp Gordon after Lieutenant General John Brown Gordon CSA, Confederate General and Governor of Georgia.

Camp Gordon served as the training camp for the 82nd U.S. Infantry Division which was organized at Camp Gordon on 25 Aug 1917 under Major General Eben Swift. The 82nd began deployment to Europe on 25 Apr 1918 and completed it on 1 Jun 1918. While in Europe the 82nd had 8,300 casualties. After the war the 82nd was demobilized at Camp Upton 27 May 1919.

Camp Gordon was ordered abandoned in 1920 and disposed of in September 1921.

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Camp Hancock

Camp Hancock was a U.S. Army World War I National Guard Mobilization and Training Camp first established in 1917 near Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia. Named Camp Hancock in G.O. 95, 18 Jul 1917, after Major General Winfield Scott Hancock (Cullum 1223), U.S. Civil War and Mexican War General.

The first commander of the camp was Major General Charles M. Clement who formed the 28th U.S. Infantry Division from Pennsylvania National Guard units. The 28th entered Federal service 5 Aug 1917 and began departing for France on 21 Apr 1918. The 28th distinguished itself in combat, fighting sometimes hand to hand. The 28th suffered heavy casualties, including 2,531 killed, 13,746 wounded and 726 captured. The 28th returned to the U.S. and was demobilized in 17 May 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey.

At the end of the war the camp became a demobilization center until it was abandoned 27 Mar 1919 and turned over to a caretaker detachment.

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Camp Wheeler

Camp Wheeler was a U.S. Army World War I National Guard Mobilization and Training Camp first established in 1917 near Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. Named Camp Wheeler in G.O. 95, 18 Jul 1917, after Lieutenant General Joseph Wheeler (Cullum 1843), Confederate General during the U.S. Civil War and later a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army during the Spanish American War.

The first commander of the camp was Major General Francis J. Kernan (Cullum 2896) who formed the 31st U.S. Infantry Division and initiated troop training. The 31st arrived in October 1917 and departed for France on 1918-10-21. The 31st returned to the U.S. and was demobilized in Dec 1918. When the 31st arrived in France it was skeletonized and and its members were dispersed as replacements for other units leaving only a token number of troops in the 31st. The 31st did not see combat as a unit.

At the end of the war the camp became a demobilization center until it was abandoned in April 1919.

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Fort Oglethorpe

Fort Oglethorpe was built as a U.S. Army cavalry training post between 1902 and 1904 in Catoosa County, Georgia. Named after Georgia's early leader, James Oglethorpe. Fort Oglethorpe (1) in Savannah had its name changed back to Fort Jackson (3) in 1905 to avoid confusion.

The U.S. Civil War Chickamauga Battlefield borders Fort Oglethorpe on the south and during World War I the post expanded southward into the park. Three separate camps were established and many temporary buildings sprung up among the cannons and monuments on the battlefield. Camp Greenleaf was an Army Medical and Sanitary Corps training camp. Camp McLean was an officer training camp. By the end of the war, the post had expanded to over 1,600 buildings and had mobilized over 60,000 officers and enlisted personnel.

On 4 Jul 1919 post was designated the official headquarters of the 6th U.S. Cavalry, a designation that lasted until 1942. </center>

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Resources

• Georgia Encyclopedia.org - World War I in Georgia
• Today in Georgia History.org - World War I in Georgia
• Georgia History.com - World War I
• Archives.gov - World War I Draft Registration Cards Microfilm Roll List, M1509: Georgia (98 rolls)
• Family Search- Georgia Military Records
• slideshare.net - WWI (and Georgia's Contributions)
• Wikipedia - Fort Gordon
• raogk.org - Georgia Military Records Research Guide
• [Timeline?gclid=CjwKEAiAy7SzBRD_lv7quOnr6XUSJAAOLkW6kVgBgNa1EmnktLVWybEyvRbrOtTg874skro_BcffwxoCqe3w_wcB Interactive world war I Timeline]