THE EVENING RECORD PRESIDENT SAILS FOR FRANCE TOMORROW GALLANT COMMANDER OFFICIAL MESSAGE RECEIVED Deceased Officer Well Known in Hackensack and Had Seen Service in Spanish-American War and on the Mexican Border -- Was Faithful Officer and Always Popular With His Men – News a Shock to Townspeople.
Ever since the first news came from France telling of the frightful loss of life in the 114 th Infantry, composed of Passaic and Bergen County boys, there were rumors that Capt. Doremus had been either killed or wounded. The Evening Record had been shown letters from more fortunate Company C. boys in which it said Capt. Doremus had been killed in action during the awful struggle against great odds in the Argonne Forest , said by French soldiers to have been the bloodiest battle in the whole war. But the report of the brave Captain's death was unofficial and though Mrs. Doremus heard of these rumors she fought bravely in the hope that he might have recovered from the wounds. As time wore on, she became little more resigned. “My only hope now is that there may be some error, for in a letter to Mrs. Rohrbach, of Passaic , Capt. Rohrbach tells of Captain Doremus company going into action on Oct. 30, and mentions Capt. Doremus being wounded,” said Mrs. Doremus this morning. Here is part of the letter in question: “We held down this position for four days, living in shell holes, with branches of trees over the top so aeroplanes couldn't see us and eating bread and corned ‘Willy,' and a can of tomatoes for a drink, because water was almost impossible to get up to us. Grover and I and Dittrich and Lieut. Royal and a few other men slept in the same shell hole and very seldom came out of it. “We were relieved by another regiment on the morning of Oct. 30 at daylight and we marched out without any casualties, although we got some shelling. Lieut. Heinsman was in command of Co. B all the time. Lieut. Kimmelman was in command of Co. G. but they were in another part of the line. It was just before we pulled out that Capt. Doremus of Co. C. was shot. His company had been pretty well shelled and lost quite a few men on the way up to there position the first night and they were in another part of the line on our right and I didn't hear of it until we got relieved. “I am informed that he was shot in the forehead by a German machine gun bullet just before his company was relieved and it is believed that he is dead, though he was brought down to a first aid station when he was first wounded. Nothing has been heard from him since. Most of those who were around his company believe he died. “Lieut. Sault just got back from school the day before we left the line and when Capt. Doremus was shot, he was sent up to bring his company out. He therefore had a few hours with the line. He is now back with the company.” If there is any discrepancy at all, it is simply in the date and there can be little consolation in that. Captain Doremus first became interested in military affairs November 1, 1897, when he became a member of company G. of the old Second Regiment. As a private of that company he served through the Spanish American War from May 3, 1898, resolving his discharge from the army November 17, 1898. The old company was then reorganized as Co. M and attached to the Fourth Regiment. He served with that company both as corporal and sergeant, receiving his promotion on January 22 and May 22, 1900, respectively. The company was shortly afterward transferred to the Fifth Regiment and designated as Co. G. He was {continued on page 3} |
CAPT. DOREMUS KILLED IN ACTION {continued from page 1} Promoted to First Sergeant on October 15, 1907; Second Lieutenant, August 17, 1911, and First Lieutenant, May 5, 1914. On July 17, 1916, while serving on the Mexican border with his regiment he received his promotion to Captain. Capt. Doremus left Hackensack with Co. G. March 26, 1916, on mobilization orders from the War Department, preceding the declaration of war with Germany . He was stationed at Passaic Park for awhile, finally going to Pompton Lakes and thence to Camp McClellan , Anniston , Ala. From there he sailed for France with his company last June. Capt. Doremus was born April 30, 1876, He was a member of the Spanish War Veterans and the Junior Order United American Mechanics. The deceased was generally popular in Hackensack and was much admired by his boys because of his good-nature and kindly interest. He was a good soldier and deserved his advancement. The deceased officer was for many years connected with the Niagara Fire Insurance Company of New York and the managers cabled to France to have rumors of the Captain's death confirmed. Capt. Doremus is survived by his wife, one son, his mother, and a brother and sister. |