Battle of Cantigny

Battle of Cantigny
Part of the Western Front of World War I
Battle of Cantigny
Date 28 May 1918 Location Cantigny 49°39′50″N 2°29′28″E / 49.664°N 2.491°E / 49.664; 2.491 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United States  France	German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Robert Lee Bullard	Oskar von Hutier
Strength
~4,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
1,603 casualties (318 killed[1])	1,400 killed and wounded [2] 250 captured[3]

The Battle of Cantigny, fought May 28, 1918^[4] was the first major American battle and offensive of World War I.^[5] The U.S. 1st Division, the most experienced of the five American divisions then in France and in reserve for the French Army near the village of Cantigny, was selected for the attack. The objective of the attack was both to reduce a small salient made by the German Army in the front lines but also to instill confidence among the French.