Duty, Honor, Privilege : New York's Silk Stocking Regiment and the Breaking of the Hindenburg Line [Hardcover]

Stephen L. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001

On September 29, 1918, a regiment of volunteers from New York State, many of them rich boys from Manhattan, attacked the famed Hindenburg Line, one of the strongest defenseive systems ever devised. In the tradition of the Union Army's heroic assaults on Confederate entrenchments during the closing battles of the Civil War, the doughboys hurled themselves at the center of a desperate but still powerful army. At a frightful cost, they broke the enemy and, just as their Union forebears had done, helped bring a terrible war to a close. Interweaving extracts from letters, diaries, and previously published accounts, DUTY, HONOR, PRIVILEGE follows the patrician 7th New York Regiment from the spring of 1917 when war is declared, through its merger with the plebian 1st regiment from Upstate New York (forming the 107th), to training with the British in France aand the heroic attack on the Hindenburg Line. Finally, we witness their triumphant welcome-home parade, still believed to be the biggest parade in New York City history.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This well-told story of wealth and privilege, inspirational patriotism, and courage recounts one of the most heroic and socially fascinating --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Stephen Harris is a freelance journalist and editor of the Journal of Olympic History. He lives in Weybridge, Vermont.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 374 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's Inc; illustrated edition edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574882015
• ISBN-13: 978-1574882018
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerfully visual history ... a very good story, June 20, 2001

By 

William D. Fisher "History Buff" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Duty, Honor, Privilege : New York's Silk Stocking Regiment and the Breaking of the Hindenburg Line (Hardcover)

This book is well written, well researched and well titled. I devoured it in three sittings. While the First World War has been eclipsed by the Second World War for most Americans, this story captures a fascinating piece of America's earliest military history as a world power. I particularly enjoyed the vivid descriptions which the author used to recreate the past. The arduous conditions the men experienced in South Carolina, where they trained at a partially built national cantonment, are so well drawn it unfolds like a movie. Their surroundings in the U.S. and abroad are brought dramatically to life. The troopship's approach to the French sea coast and entry into Brest harbor, the march through the city and the French countryside complete with the smells of tree blossoms, the troop trains, the billets, etc. were all wonderful. The graphic descriptions of life in the training areas, the reserve areas, marching to the front, entering the trenches, enduring incessant bombardments, making nighttime forays into "No Man's Land" and fighting the big battles was gripping.

The author's diligent research makes this a good read and good history. This reader became convinced that what was known as the Silk Stocking Regiment was far more than spoiled rich boys playing war. When they entered the war they may have been naive, but they rose to the challenges they faced with great courage. Despite suffering terrible casualties they fought valiantly. Their parent unit, the 27th Division, did not fight with the main American forces, the A.E.F., in France. It was assigned to the British Expeditionary Forces (B.E.F.), ultimately under the command of an Australian General, but that did not dampen their fighting spirit.

These soldiers enjoyed broad public support of the people of New York, both upstate farmers ("apple knockers") and New York City socialites, because it blended men from both. The book goes to great length exploring the pedigrees of many of the men of the historic old New York 7th Regiment. It leaves no doubt that many of the men came from the highest class of American society. We are also introduced to some of the "apple knockers". The story proves to be a very interesting social history. The trials, accomplishments and valor left this reviewer feeling very proud of these American soldiers. That feeling of pride is tempered with sadness for the many lives of these fine men which were given so unselfishly.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, February 20, 2003

By 

Mitch Reed (Washington DC, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Duty, Honor, Privilege : New York's Silk Stocking Regiment and the Breaking of the Hindenburg Line (Hardcover)

Being a native New Yorker and a lover of history I was pulled into this book. With few "unit histories" of the Great War, this one is a must for any serious reader. The unit, made up from the elite of NYC, and men of more humble backgrounds from upper NY, forged a unit while not heralded, most certainly worthy of this book. The story, while never quick moving, will be interesting for the serious reader. The unit saw serious action in breaching the Hindenburg line while attached to the British. Good for the serious student.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stirring reaccounting of a moment in history, December 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Duty, Honor, Privilege : New York's Silk Stocking Regiment and the Breaking of the Hindenburg Line (Hardcover)

Not to be forgotten the men of L Regiment. Thank you Mr Harris for the insight to a time before I was born and frankly of a different type of men who had so much to give and so much to lose but honor and duty were so important to them all. This was a wonderful book and if you lived as I did in the Hudson River Valley the memories of all of this are so important to me.