104th Field Artillery

August 1917 - April 1919

Organized in 1867 as Battery K, 1st Regiment of Artillery in the New York National Guard, the 104th Field Artillery was mustered into Federal service in 1916 during the Pancho Villa Expedition. It trained in La Gloria Texas, and was stationed in McAllen, in the southern tip of the state where it guarded the US border. During the expedition, the battalion suffered from 120 degree heat, a typhoid outbreak, and a hurricane.

With the entrance of the United States into the First World War in 1917, the battalion was again mustered into Federal service on August 5th, 1917, and designated the 104th Field Artillery. The battalion’s troops trained at Camp Wadsworth in South Carolina where they lived in tents and trenches to mimic conditions on the Western Front and trained with live fire. Meanwhile, the battalion’s officers trained in Western Europe to become familiarized with the terrain.

Once the 104th Field Artillery reached Europe, it did not serve under the 27th Infantry Division that it was technically attached to, but under the 33rd Division, and then the 79th Division. The 104th Field Artillery was stationed near Verdun, opposite the Hindenburg Line, and partook in the Saint Mihiel Salient Offensive, September 12-15, 1918, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, September 26 - November 11, 1918.

The regiment was demobilized in April, 1919.

Other Resources

Items in bold are in the museum's collection.

“A brief history of the 27th Inf. Div., 1775-July 1945.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=NTg4MA==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MTA0dGggRmllbGQgQXJ0aWxsZXJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

“Armories, Albany, 104th Field Arty.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=MTY2Mw==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MTA0dGggRmllbGQgQXJ0aWxsZXJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

“Artillery - U.S. 75 mm Gun, Model of 1916.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=MjMxOQ==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MTA0dGggRmllbGQgQXJ0aWxsZXJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

Bakker, Pamela A. The 104th Field Artillery Regiment of the New York National Guard, 1916-1919: From the Mexican Border to the Meuse-Argonne. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company Inc., Publishers.

“New York State Adjutant General's Office Abstracts of National Guard Service in World War I.” New York State Archives. Summary: The series consists of abstracts for officers and enlisted men in units of the New York National Guard who were mustered into the U.S. Army during World War I. Each individual's entry includes: U.S. Army serial number; date and place of commission or enlistment; muster dates (N.Y. and U.S. with rank, company, and regiment); and date, rank, and reason (type of discharge or transfer) for leaving service. Sometimes additional remarks detail service overseas, promotions, or service conduct. https://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=ead/findingaids/13721.xml;query=.

“New York State Adjutant General's Office National Guard Muster Rolls.” New York State Archives. Summary: This series consists of muster rolls for each division and brigade in the New York National Guard, as well as all organizations in the New York Naval Militia. Information provided generally includes: name; rank; whether present or absent at annual muster; date of rank; date and rank of original entry into service; and remarks on any change in status. Each roll also lists names of men gained or lost since the last annual muster, by discharge, promotion, expulsion, transfer, removal, desertion, or death. NOTE: Only Naval Militia muster rolls are available for the period 1942-1954. https://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=ead/findingaids/13726.xml;query=.

New York National Guardsmen. “Training Camp Activities at Camp Smith.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=MTAwNjA=&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MTA0dGggRmllbGQgQXJ0aWxsZXJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

Petton, H.W. “Battery C, 104th Field Artillery: Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, SC, Nov. 25, 1917.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=ZDhjMmE5MjktYTE3Yi00M2Y0LWJmYjYtZDIxZWRlNmIxN2Vi&rID=NjMy&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MTA0dGggRmllbGQgQXJ0aWxsZXJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.

“The 104th Field Artillery in the great war, 1917-1919.” New York State Military Museum. http://catalog.nysmm.org/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MWUzZjNjOGQtZjA1My00MDA3LTk0ZDMtN2E5ZmNkZWM1ZWUw&rID=OTI3MA==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=MTA0dGggRmllbGQgQXJ0aWxsZXJ5&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==.