Description:

BATTLE OF SOISSONS FRENCH FORCES ADVANCE MAP, OWNED BY COL. WILLIAM J. DONOVAN
WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883-1959) 'Wild Bill', American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert Axis military operations. During World War I, Donovan served as colonel of the U.S. 165th Regiment, originally the famous 69th New York Infantry 'Fighting Irish'. The regiment would distinguish itself at the Second Battle of the Marne, the Ourcq River during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Donovan himself would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in mid-October, 1918. Enormous, finely-detailed French ‘Plan Directure', or artillery map, 54 x 80 in., constructed of four sheets joined at the center, providing a 1:20,000-scale view of the environs of the communes of Fisme and Joncehry-sur-Vesle, an area which was the subject of the Allied counterattack towards Soissons beginning on July 18, 1918, after the failure of the German Champagne-Marne offensive at the Second Battle of the Marne on July 14-18. Despite its large size, the map bears hand-drawn annotations showing a very small portion of the offensive undertaken by the French Fifth Army on July 18, focusing on the villages of Anthenay and Olizy, just southwest of Ville-sure-Tardenois. The map shows the objective lines for the first and second phases of the assault, with an ‘outpost line' to the north of the villages, all indicated in red, green, and blue indelible pencil, and black ink. The connection between this map and Donovan's 165th Infantry Regiment is unclear, as the assault shown was undertaken solely by French forces; the 42nd Infantry Division, to which the 165th belonged, was committed further west near Chateau-Thierry, where it saw heavy fighting at La Croix Rouge farm before crossing the Ourcq River. The map shows folds overall, with some notable tears internally and to the edges, still in very good condition, making for an impressive display – if you have the wall space! This example, along with other maps and documents, was contained within two of Donovan's footlockers purchased by our consignor and previously sold by us.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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