It was organized as a single battalion in 1891, increased to a regiment and sent to Cuba in 1898, every officer and man in the regiment being a Negro.  Upon its return, over half of the city of Chicago turned out in greeting.  Until July 12th, 1918, the regiment had never had a white officer.  Then its Colonel, F.A.  Denison, was relieved on account of illness and a white officer in the person of Colonel Thomas A. Roberts for the first time was placed in command.  Shortly before the armistice two other white officers were attached to the regiment, in the persons of Major William H. Roberts, a brother of the colonel, and Captain John F. Prout; Second Lieutenant M.F.  Stapleton, white, also served as adjutant of the First battalion.

The 370th received brief training at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, and landed in France April 22, 1918; going within a few weeks into actual service.  Like nearly all of the new regiments arriving at that time its operations were confined mainly to trench warfare.

Trench warfare continued until July 6, when the men got their real baptism of fire in a section of the Argonne and were in all the important engagements of their portion of the Champagne and other fronts, fighting almost continuously from the middle of July until the close of the war, covering themselves with a distinction and glory, as Knights in the warfare for Mankind, that will endure as long as the story of valorous deeds are recorded.

Like the other regiments of the 93rd Division, the 370th was brigaded with the French; first with the 73rd French Division and later under direct command of General Vincendon of the 59th Division, a part of the famous 10th French army under General Mangin.  Shortly after the signing of the armistice, the division commander sent the regiment the following communication: 

     Officers, non-commissioned officers and men: 

Your efforts have been rewarded.  The armistice is signed.  The troops of the Entente to whom the armies of the American Republic have nobly come to join themselves, have vanquished the most powerful instrument of conquest that a nation could forge—­the haughty German Army acknowledges itself conquered.  However hard our conditions are, the enemy government has accepted them all.

The 370th R.I.U.S. has contributed largely to the success of the 59th Division, and has taken in bitter strife both cannon and machine guns.  Its units, fired by a noble ardor, got at times even beyond the objectives given them by the higher command; they have always wished to be in the front line, for the place of honor is the leading rank.

     They have shown in our advance that they are worthy of being there.

     Vincendon.

“Black Devils” was the name the Prussian Guard who faced them gave to the men of the 370th.  Their French comrades called them “The Partridges,” probably on account of their cockiness in action (a cock partridge is very game), and their smart, prideful appearance on parade.