WWI AEF 1st Orders Sending U.S. Troops into the Trenches at Front - Oct. 1917

Description

THE FIRST FIELD ORDERS SENDING U.S. TROOPS INTO THE TRENCHES AT THE FRONT
6 pgs., approx. 8-1/4" x 10-1/2", headed
"SECRET, OPERATIONS SECTION, Field Orders No. 4,  Headquarters First Division, American Expeditionary Forces, France, October 23rd, 1917"
, detailing the movement of troops and artillery to the front, to relieve units serving there. Orders the 2nd Battalion of each regiment in the Division (the 16th, 18th, 26th and 28th Infantry Regiments) to go to the front. Provides specific instructions regarding uniform and equipment each soldier is to take, rations and forage, rifle and pistol munitions, Ammo and rations dumps. Provides detailed schedules for infantry and artillery, and more. By command of Major General William L. Sibert, by H. E. Ely, Colonel, General Staff, Chief of Staff.
Also included are 2 additional pages of interest.
The first is from the 9th Army Corps, 18th Division, H.Q., Oct. 23, 1917 - a "Report on what has occurred from noon October 22nd to noon Oct. 23rd" - detailing all the action at that Divisions sector of the front, involving French and German infantry, artillery and aviation, and includes this account of the first American artillery firing in action, noting
"This morning, the Americans fired, for the first time, on men who were working at the Bavarois Salient"
, detailing the number of shells fired of each caliber.
The last page is dated May 29, 1917, being
"SECRET. Copy No. 50. ATTACK ON THE MESSINES WYTSCHATE RIDGE. 2nd ANZAC CORPS INSTRUCTION No. 1. GENERAL PLAN OF ATTACK".
Also includes the original envelope these papers were in - a War Department envelope from the Disbursing Office of the A.E.F., with a typed note on the front: "FIRST WRITTEN ORDERS SENDING THE AMERICAN TROOPS INTO THE TRENCHES", and notes that these were compiled by Private Evans Merchant, Q.M.C. Detachment, Chaumont, France.
A couple of pages have some paper loss (apparently old insect damage), with no loss of text (see photos). The envelope is torn and stained
.
SCARCE.
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS. [186]