Brothers in Arms
Brothers in Arms is E. Alexander Powell's wartime tribute to Franco-American solidarity, written in 1917 to explain and celebrate the arrival of the French War Mission—led by Marshal Joseph Joffre and René Viviani—on American soil shortly after the United States entered World War I. Powell frames America's declaration of war as the fifth great struggle for liberty in its history, following the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War, and presents France's mission as a symbolic renewal of the alliance forged during the Revolutionary War, when Lafayette and Rochambeau aided the young republic. The book opens with a vivid account of the mission's journey up the Potomac aboard the Mayflower on April 25, 1917, past sites laden with American historical memory—Hampton Roads, Mount Vernon, Arlington—culminating in a ceremonial procession through Washington, D.C. Along Pennsylvania Avenue, statues of Franklin, Pulaski, Sherman, Lafayette, Rochambeau, Jackson, von Steuben, and Kosciusko seem to salute the French envoys, reinforcing Powell's thesis that the two nations' histories are intertwined. He dwells at length on Joffre himself, portraying the "Hero of the Marne" as a beloved, unpretentious figure whose simplicity and warmth won American hearts more than any display of martial grandeur could. Powell devotes substantial attention to refuting American misconceptions about France—particularly the stereotype of the French as frivolous or superficial—arguing instead that the true French character is sober, religious, frugal, and steadfast, as proven by three years of stoic endurance under German assault. He includes a poignant letter from a French soldier to his wife as evidence of this quiet fortitude, and quotes Viviani's address expressing gratitude for American solidarity. The latter half of the book shifts from commemoration to exhortation. Powell warns Americans against complacency, insisting the war will be long and costly despite Allied propaganda suggesting Germany's imminent collapse. He cites Germany's continued military strength, the desperate plight of France and Britain, and the danger of Russia's potential withdrawal from the war to argue that the conflict is a race between American mobilization and German attrition. He calls for total civilian sacrifice: paying taxes without complaint, growing food, curbing consumption, buying Liberty Bonds, and accepting government restrictions on business and daily life, citing West Point cadets who forfeited their furlough as a model of patriotic self-denial. The book closes with a stark hypothetical—imagining a German occupation of an American town, complete with hostage-taking and summary executions modeled on real German proclamations Powell witnessed in occupied Brussels—to impress upon readers the stakes of the war and justify unwavering national commitment to victory alongside France, "our brothers in arms."
By E. Alexander Powell · First published 1917 · Genre: Non-fiction, History, Political Commentary · 8,605 words
First lines
We fight once more for freedom. For the fifth time in our history we draw the sword in the cause of liberty. The Revolution won the freedom of the nation. In 1812 we fought for the freedom of the seas. The Civil War was waged for the preservation of the Union and the liberation of the slaves. We went to war with Spain that Cuba might be free. Now we enter the Great War to preserve democracy and to insure the freedom of the world. And France, after an interim of nearly seven-score years, is our ally once again. In order to draw closer the bonds of our ancient friendship, to hearten us in the tremendous task which we have undertaken, and to place at our disposal the knowledge for which she has paid in blood and tears, France sent to us across perilous seas a mission composed of her most illustrious men. She sent them as a reminder that she was our first friend among the nations and an old comrade in arms, and because her ideals and aspirations are identical with our own. It was as though she had stretched out a hand across the ocean and laid it on America's shoulder and had said, "Sister, well done."
What this Textopian page supports
Brothers in Arms is listed on Textopian as a historical account by E. Alexander Powell, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: E. Alexander Powell
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-fiction, History, Political Commentary, War Writing, Patriotic Literature
- Length: 8,605 words
- Structure: 1 section, 53 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Brothers in Arms by E. Alexander Powell
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Brothers in Arms?
- How does this historical account by E. Alexander Powell fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Non-fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Equipped For Service by Ambrose Bierce
- A Visit To Three Fronts by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- A Summer Journey To Brazil by Alice R. Humphrey
- With The Allies by Richard Harding Davis
- Of The Great White War by Thomas Burke
- A Sailors Life Under Four Sovereigns Volume 3 Of 3 by Sir Henry Keppel
Genres
- Non-fiction — The work is a factual historical account of the French military mission to the United States in April 1917, documenting actual events, people, and places with specific dates and verified details.
- History — The text extensively chronicles American and French historical relationships, past military conflicts, geographical history, and the context of World War I, with particular focus on the Potomac River journey and its historical significance.
- Political Commentary — The author makes sustained arguments about American political philosophy, national character, international obligations, and the moral imperatives for entering World War I, engaging directly with political debates of the era.
- War Writing — The work discusses military logistics, strategy, Germany's military capability, warfare economics, and the realities of combat, with direct testimony from witnessing French hospitals and battlefields.
Tags
World War I · military history · war correspondence · American soldiers · wartime memoir · firsthand accounts · military camaraderie · combat experience · soldier testimony · World War One · trench warfare · military journalism