Person:Carlton Knott (5)

Carlton V. Knott
Served in the U. S. Army in World War I.
Private Co. B, 308 Inf., 77 Div.
Son of Mrs John Phiefer of Raymond. He was born at Perham, Minnesota, October 4, 1893. He lived in Kandiyohi County from 1895 until in 1914 when he went to Idaho. He was inducted from Couer d'Alene, Idaho on 30 June 1918 and sent to Camp Lewis, Washington and there assigned to 116 Depot Brigade. Later he was transferred to Co. G., 158th Inf. at Camp Kearney, Ca. Sailed for France from Hoboken, in July 1918. Was killed in action in the Argonne-Forest offensive. Was a member of the famous lost Battalion when killed.

From letter written 11 July 1918, Co. 52, Battalion 13 166 D. B., to his mother:
"They kept us boys pretty busy the first week we were here, getting located and all, but now we are having it a dood deal easier. First in the morning we go out on the field and go through some exercises to get our joints loosened up and believe me they sure do a man good. Then we go in for half an hour or so and then we go out and train and drill until dinner at 12 o'clock and at 1 o'clock we go out drilling until about 3:30. We then come in and wash up and stand at retreat at 4:45 and eat about 5:30 and then no more till morning."
"And say, talk about eat. I eat all I can hold every meal and then between times. I guess I average about 3 pints of milk and about 4 or 5 cakes about 6 inches around and about 3 inches thick, so you see we are kind of forgetting there is such a man as Hoover. And growing fat too, my uniform is getting smaller every day. I can feel it."
"I sure have felt fine sine I came to Camp. They vacinated me for small pox, and typhoid fever. The small-pox didn't make me sick and the sore is almost gone, but the other made me fel kind of light headed for awhile, but it didn't last long."
"I heard from George [his brother] yesterday. He sent a picture of some neighbors and--and the kids in a group, but I couldn't tell any of them. The boys sure have grown some. I would have liked to gone to see them before I left C. D. A. but I was not sure where they were, at Sand Point or Kootinia. He did not say in his letter."
"I wrote to Ann too, the other day, also to Ray [sister and brother], so you see I have for once in my life been a good boy and if I would have had Ethel's address [another sister], I'd have written to her too. But if I don't begin to receive some answers soon, I'll not spend so much postage again, so you better warn them, Ha, Ha."
"I met a young fellow here about my own age and a lodge brother that I have been chumming with since I came here. He's a pretty nice fellow and he has never been away from home before and I guess he finds it kind of nice too, for he is always at my elbow if I want him, all I have to do is say, "Well Al, lets go for a walk and I start out and before long he's there. Ha. Ha. Its kind of funny, but he'll get over that."
"I don't know if they intend to keep us here at Camp Lewis after quarantine or not. A soldier of U. S. never knows anything, but to obey orders and he sure has to be able to do that, I have found that out already but I don't mind that. I kind of like the jump and snap of it. When an officer speaks, you are supposed to act and not stop to think it over. Believe me if you do, you'll get 2 days at K. P. (translated K. P. means Kitchen Police) which means wash dishes and wait on table and I don't like that. They sure have things fixed up pretty nice here for us. The Y. M. C. A. has several buildings and the K of C. have a great big one. That's where we are tonight. There is never room to sit down and write at the Y, as they have singing or some-thing going on there every night."
"There was a bunch of boys left camp today for some other camp. I think it was in Virginia, but no one knows. Others are going tomorrow for somewhere they don't know themselves."
"Well, Mother dear, this leaves me in the best of health and growing fat. Bye, bye."

From letter written 1 September 1918, France, to his mother
Co. G., 158th Inf., A. E. F.
"I hope you are as well off as I am, for I'm getting fatter and lazier every day and I sure am feeling fine. This climate has everything beat I have heard of. Just like a man would order it, to live, eat and sleep and grow fat."
"I was out and had a bill (?) of wild black berries yesterday and am going again today as it is Sunday and that means liberty day."
"I am trying to learn French, but it is some talk, all I can say is "Good Morning and Good Night." and a couple more little things like that."
"I haven't heard from Ray yet, in fact I haven't heard from any one for a month and for all I know there may not be any U. S. A. A person would think by the looks here that the U. S. A. has moved over here, Ha. Ha."
"If you know where uncle Wills boys are, let me know the Co. and Regiment they are in. I may be able to find them, but I can't find out a thing about where Ray is, no more than when I was there."
"They are threshing around here now. Some threshing rig too. The old hand feed and they put it in careful, heads first and all the heads on one side so the straw doesn't get broken up so much. It comes out just about the way it does in, only the grain is all out of it."
"Well Mother mine, don't worry about me. I'm O. K. and couldn't be better off anywhere. Tell Sis (Pearl I mean) to write or I won't own her as a sister any more and--won't like her any more, Ha. Ha. Well bye, bye."

On October 2nd, 1918, units of the 77th "Liberty" Division from New York advanced into the dense terrain of the Argonne Forest in France. History was made over the next 6 days as this unit, the "Lost Battalion", refused to surrender even though they were completely surrounded, constantly attacked, low on ammunition and supplies, had no food, shelter and limited access to water. Of the over 600 men first trapped in the "pocket", only around 200 walked out. They received 3 Congressional Medal of Honors (CMO), many Distinguished Service Crosses (DSC), and many other awards. Their leader, Major Whittlesey, was declared one of the three most important members of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) by General Pershing, Commander of the AEF. Two airmen received CMO's for their involvement in the event, the first attempted air resupply drop in military history. Others trying to relieve the battalion also received the DSC. A carrier pigeon, Cher Ami, received international acclaim for heroically delivering a message.

Carlton Victor Knott, age 23, resident 1925 [8th Ave N], Great Falls, Montana
Born 4 October 1893, Native born, Pern, Minnesota, USA
Occupation Chauffer, employed by J. D. [E]live, Great Falls, Montana
Has wife and child; married, Caucasian, no previous military experience
Physical description: Tall, medium build, Blue eyes, light hair, no disabilities except broken arches

Knott, Henry, 42, white male, born Holland, resident of state 7 years 4 months, resident this enumeration district 7 months, occupation Minister 12 months of year, both parents foreign born
, Bertha, 31, white female, b. German, occupation housewife, both parents foreign born
, George, 10, white male, b. Illinois
, Anna, 8, white female, b. Illinois
, Ethel, 6, white female, b. MN
, Raymond, 4, white female, b. MN
, Carlton, 1, white male, b. MN

Knott, Bertha, Head, white, female, born June 1864 in Germany, 35 years old, widow, has 7 children, 6 living, both parents born in Germany, immigrated 1872, farmer, able to read, write, speak English, rents farm
, George, son, born June 1885 in Illinois, father born in Holland, farm labourer, able to read, write, speak English
, Anna, daughter, born April 1887 in Illinois, at school 8 months
, Ethel, daughter, born May 1889 in Minnesota, at school 8 months
, Raymond, son, born Jan. 1891 in Minn., at school 8 months
, Carlton, son, born Oct. 1894 in Minn, at school 8 months
, Alvina, daughter, born May 1896, in Minn.
, Fred, Brother-in-law, born Feb. 1875 in Illinois, single, parents born in Holland, farm labourer, able to read, write, speak English

Knott, Bertha, RFD #1, 40, white female, b. Germany, both parents b. Germany, resident Minnesota 16 years 2 months, resident civil registration district 9 years 5 months, occupation farmer
, Raymond, 14, white male, b. Minnesota, fa. b. Holland, mo. b. Germany, resident Minnesota & registration district 14 years 4 months, farm laborer
, Carlton V., 11, white male, b. Minnesota, fa. b. Holland, mo. b. Germany, farm laborer, resident Minnesota & registration district 11 years 7 months
, Alvina, 9, white female, b. Minnesota, fa. b. Holland, mo. b. Germany, resident Minnesota & registration district 9 years 1 month
Etzinga, Anna, 18, white female, b. Illinois, resident Minnesota 18 years 2 months, present registration district 18 years 2 months

Phiefer, John, head, white male, age 44, second marriage, married 2 years, born Holland of Dutch parents, immigrated 1885, citizenship=PA, speaks English, farmer, able to read and write, rents farm
, Bertha, wife, white female, age 45, second marriage, married 2 years, seven children, six living, born in Germany of German parents, immigrated 1872, speaks English, able to read and write
, Alice, daughter, white female, age 13, single, born Minnesota of Dutch parents, attends school
, John, son, white male, age 11, single, born Minnesota of Dutch parents, attends school
, Leonard, son, white male, age 9 single, born Minnesota of Dutch parents, attends school
, Sara, daughter, age 7, white female, single, born South Dakota of Dutch parents, attends school
, Clarence, son, white male, age 5, born Minnesota of Dutch parents
Knott, Carlton, step-son, white male, age 16, single, born Minnesota, Dutch father, German mother, attends school
, Alvina, step-daughter, white female, age 13, single, born Minnesota, Dutch father, German mother, attends school

Knott, Carlton J., Pvt., Co. B, 308 Inf,, Address: Raymond, Minn, date of death: 10/4/18, killed in action

Prinsburg Boy Fell In Last Battle
Carlton Knott Sleeps in Hero's Grave in Poppy Fields of France

News of the death of Pvt. Carlton V. Knott while in action on the field of battle in France came to his mother, Mrs. John Phiefer of Raymond on Wednesday of last week. Carlton was a native of Kandiyohi country, being born at Prinspurg Oct. 4, 1893. He went to war from Cour d'Alene Idaho for Camp Lewis, Wash June 30, 1918. He was transferred to California and Texas stopping in each camp only a short time. He sailed to France in September and went to the front just before the last victorious battles and advance of our troops and was in the thickest of the fight. But it was not to be his fate to return him with the other boys. But he is now put away in the poppy fields of France, with other heroes who gave their lives to rid the world of autocracy.

He is mourned and his memory will be proudly cherished by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. John Pheifer of Raymond, and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Joel Clough and Miss Alvina Knott of this city, Mrs. D. Edgings of Grenora, N.D., George Knott, who resides in Washington, and Raymond Knott, an aviator somewhere in France.

21 October 1919, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho,
Grand Lodge of I.O.O.F Proceedings, p. 167
Journal of Proceedings. The Odd Fellow's Soldiers' and Sailor's Relief Fund. Soldier or Sailor Member. Member of Couer d'Alene Lodge No. 34. Coeur d/Alene. $6.00
Total $6.00. Total pd [by] Lodge $45.30

Pvt Corlton Victor Knott
Birth 4 Oct 1894, Perham, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, USA
Death Nov 1918 (aged 24), France
Burial , Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, Skagit County, Washington, USA
[Has photography of gravestone]

File 35009, Knott, Carlton V., Serial No. 3140037, Pvt Co. B308, Killed in Action, 4 Oct 1918; cablegram 296

Burial 13 Oct 1918 - Grave No. 38, Plot B, American Cemetery, Binarville, Marne; Autority 2734, No. 745
Reburial 28 Mar 2019 - Grave No. 111, Section 5, Plot 3, Argone American Cemetery, Romagne sous Montfaucon, Meuse, Authority 10719, No. 1232; Marker R.B Sketch N0. 5759, Photgraph D-4242, has cross; ID tags with body

Emergency Address: Mrs. Berth D. Phiefer (Mother), Clear Lake Washington; notified 27 Jan 1919, 23 Jan 1920

Disinterment 24 May 1921, arrived Antwerp 21 June, shipped to Hoboken aboard the "Somme" 23 June 1921, arrived 5 July 1921; shipped 23 July 1921 to Mrs. Bertha D. Phiefer, Clear Lake, Wash. Received by her on 29 July 1921