The fightin' Yanks; a book of plain facts, written with the intention of perpetuating the deeds of the boys of the local battery

Dedication

TO THE BOYS OF BATTERY F, WHO STOOD THE BRUNT OF ALL GERMAN CHARGES, DEFEATING THE PRUSSIAN GUARDS IN FOUR DIFFERENT BATTLES, AND ON START- ING THE TURNING POINT OF WAR AT CHATEAU THIERRY ON THE 18TH DAY OF JULY, 1918, WHICH ENDED SO SUCCESSFULLY ON THE llTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1918;

TO GENERAL CLARENCE R. EDWARDS, THE BELOVED COMMANDER OF THE FIGHTING AND UNDEFEATED TWENTY-SIXTH OR YANKEE DIVISION ;

TO THOSE WHO MADE THEIR SUPREME SACRIFICE, AND THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER WHO WAS LAID TO REST IN THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT ARLINGTON.

Chapter I

IT was in the remarkable years, the years of 1917-18, that the United States gathered its army of youth to check the powerful Teuton Army from invading France, and after a year's struggle, returned home victorious.

On the 28th day of March I enlisted in Battery F of the Tenth Connecticut National Guard, beinglocated in Stamford at the time of its return from the Mexican border in the year 1917. The battery was sent to Bridgeport to do guard duty at Seaside Park, where the boys liked it very well. Being near a beach made it more like taking a vacation than playing the part of soldiers. Here we were taught to ride horses and the use of field pieces until late in July. The battery was ordered to move to Mantic, Connecticut, on the 15th of July. It was a four-day hike that the battery made, the weather being very hot, which made it very unpleasant. Horses dropped out of the line of march, being overcome with the heat.

On the last day of the hike we stopped four miles from Mantic. While resting, the boys discovered a brook and had gone in for a swim, which helped them a great deal in cooling off. The horses refreshed and the boys feeling tip-top, the march was continued and camp reached at 7 P. M.

AT CAMP.

After establishing the battery street, many of the boys were very tired and worn-out, as it was no joke or pleasure of any kind to be out in the hot sun for four days.

A large number of the boys turned in for the night, but the majority of them bad gone into the Y. M. 0. A. which was in the camp. Then came the old story. We had come across a crowd of what we called "Pie Eaters," who were of a Cavalry Troop.

As we walked into the V. M. C. A. some one out of the crowd said: " Here comes a bunch of rough-necks." On hearing this remark we no doubt had to clean house, for being called rough-necks meant that we had to show them that we were such as called by them, and we did, for there was a freefor-all. The results were that the poor " Pie Eaters " had left the Y. M. C. A. to ourselves.

At this camp the battery was stationed only for three weeks, when it received orders to pack for East Boxford, Massachusetts. On arriving at Boxford we were put to work, which lasted until our departure for France. We were now made part of the newly organized One Hundred and Third Field Artillery of the Fifty-first Field Artillery Brigade, of the Twenty-sixth United States Division, otherwise known as the New England or Yankee Division.

PLEASURE IS WONDERFUL WHEN WE HAVE IT.

At this camp we drilled very hard until the eighth day of October. It was just a week before our sailing for France that I had taken the pleasure of going home for seven days, as I knew that the battery was to sail for France and God only knew if we were to come back, and while home on my sevenday A. W. O. L., known as "Absent without leave," I really did enjoy myself.

On my return to camp I was notified to attend a court martial, together with Private Harry D., Private Bull C. and Private Max R. There we were tried and found guilty of being absent without leave. For an excuse Private Harry D. gave as follows : " I was married, Major." The Major said : "Twenty dollars fine." Next on the stand was Private Bull C, who had no excuse, so he was fined |40.00. Next on the stand was Private Max R., who also had no excuse, so he was fined f 40.00. I, being the last to be tried, which had given me time to frame an excuse, which I did, thinking that Private Harry D. had told the Major that he got married and only paid a fine of $20.00, so I thought of giving the same excuse. The Major said : " What is your excuse and why did you leave camp without a pass?" I then told the Major that I had gone to get married ! The Major asked : " Well, did you? " I replied : " Why, certainly ! " The Major then said with a smile, " Very well, twenty dollars fine for you. It was the talk of the outfit, and the boys did believe for a while that I was married.

Chapter II. Off For France

The battery left Boxford, Massachusetts, on the eighth day of October, arrived at Harlem River, New York, the following morning, and proceeded down East River on an excursion boat, the " Grand Republic," which arrived at Pier 60, North River, where we boarded the S. S. Baltic. As we were shown our staterooms, we were invited for lunch, as no doubt the boys were hungry, not eating since leaving camp the previous day.

At noon the S. S. Baltic was towed out of the pier and into the deep, blue ocean. Our next stop was at Halifax, N. S., where we anchored for two days awaiting a convoy, which was made up of thirteen ships. On a Sunday the convoy made up and started for Liverpool, England.

A VERY PLEASANT TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Rolling over the monster waves, which were as high as the ship at times, this no doubt made many a fellow feed the fish which were about the ship almost the entire trip.

To pass away the monotony of hanging around, the higher command suggested that the boys have rifle drill, which we did, and in spare time there was a great deal of amusement, such as boxing, wrestling and other sports.

On the eighth day out in the ocean we sighted four torpedo destroyers, which had come forward to escort the troop-laden transports through the submarine or danger zone.

On the 24th day of October we landed in Liverpool, England, and left by train the same day for Southampton when we reached camp at 2 A. M., which was a mudhole. Here we were packed fourteen in a tent which could only accommodate seven men. Not only that, but for breakfast we were given a half cup of tea, a slice of bread and jam; for dinner, a half cup of soup, a slice of bread and jam; for supper, the same as breakfast. To make it worse, a very few of the boys had any money, as we did not get paid before leaving good old U. S., so we could not buy any food.

I sold a pair of gloves to an English soldier for a half-crown, for which I bought a package of cigarettes and a little fruit. While at this camp the boys were invited out on five-mile hikes. I, being on special duty, was rather fortunate and got out of these hikes. Instead of going out hiking, another soldier and I would go out into the woods to pick acorns.

ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND INTO FRANCE.

On the 29th day of October we embarked on the Viper for its voyage across the English Channel. It was a mean trip across the Channel, as the water was very rough and everybody, officers and men of all ranks were rolling around "sea-sick." We were all sick. The Captain of the boat said it was one of the meanest trips that he had ever made. It was an all night trip, where on a calm sea a boat can cross the Channel in three hours.

It was bright and early when we landed in Le Havre, France. I could hear the boys say: "Show me the Hun and we will clean out all of the Kaiser's army," more or less thankful that we were out on land. After an all night trip, for breakfast we were given a piece of cheese, a hardtack or cracker, and a piece of French chocolate.

At this time it rained very hard, and to that we had to hike nine miles to a muddy camp overlooking the English Channel. On reaching camp we had lunch, which was very appetizing, although we had only beans. Corporal John M. and I went out to get some cigarettes at a canteen. While at the canteen we met an English soldier and asked him if he would give us some cigarettes. This soldier replied with an answer such as this : " Go and buy your cigarettes." I asked him why so rude? Well, the Englishman got hot-headed, so an argument started. The results were that the Englishman had no cigarettes left and received a good Yankee beating. After the brawl we started back to camp with the cigarettes only in time to pass them around to the boys, who were in need of a smoke as well as we were. After a good and enjoyable smoke the boys turned in for the night.

Chapter III. At The Training Camp

The following morning we started hiking to the Railroad Station, which was eight miles from camp. Here we entrained for Guer, near Rennes, where we detrained on the first day of November. From there we were taken by motor trucks to Camp De Coetquiden, or better known by the soldiers as " Camp Quityourkiddin." At this camp I was instructed on the use of telegraphy, the laying of telephone lines, observing shell fire and all other signal work. The boys had a very hard and stiff training period here. Every morning at four-thirty the boys had to be up and on the job. The first thing on the list of the day's work was a hike to the stables, feed the horses and then back to camp for breakfast, which consisted of a bacon sandwich and coffee. After breakfast back to the stables and off for a day's work or training.

We were now in the Northern part of France and the weather was very cold. Almost every day we had rain or snow. The boys were without money up to this time, which made it kind of hard, as not being able to buy anything. It was in the early part of January that we were paid off, every soldier receiving three months' pay. While the boys had money there was all kinds of life and sport in camp. Private Alec C. came into the barracks feeling good one night, and to him it seemed as if the whole world was in motion. We found him asleep in his bed and then the fun began. We got some rope and tied him to his bed, then hoisted him to the roof of the barrack, then we would let him drop to the floor. This we would repeat until he sobered himself. By this time all the lights went out, as it was 10 P. M., and taps were sounded, meaning that every soldier should be asleep. Then the fun began, as the boys did not go to sleep. Instead, shoes and anything that was within reach was thrown around, which caused a riot. The next morning there were only a few of the boys who answered first call, for those who took part in the mix-up could not find their shoes or other wearing apparel until the break of day, which was just seven ox-lock. This meant a punishment for all those that did not answer Reveille.

The following Sunday night the boys came in as gay as ever, having the Sunday afternoon off, with the exception of the boys who had to remain in camp and look after the horses.

There was a Pvt. Ike G. and the boys did love him not. Ike was afraid of a horse, a cannon and most anything. He was a conscript, and was placed in our battery a week previous to our sailing for France to help fill out to war strength. Every soldier was happy but Ike, so we kept teasing him. He had to get even with some one, so he picked on me. At that time I was the youngest soldier in the barracks and Ike thought he would have it out with me. No doubt there was a little bout staged for the boys. The results were that my opponent was knocked cold. Only an hour after the argument when Ike came to me and said he was sorry that he picked on me, as he knew that I had it on him, not only that but we all had to be friendly. After that the boys would keep teasing Ike and as he would go to sleep the boys would pull the legs out from under his bed, throw shoes at him or anything that was within reach. Never did we have as gay a time as here with Ike. The following morning Pvt. B was taken sick and as the First Sergeant, Carl P., went around rousing the boys out for Reveille he saw Pvt. B. in bed. He said, " Get out and answer that call," to which Pvt. B. answered: " If you see me out for any formation it will be on a stretcher." At the next call the battery was lined up for stable call in the company street, but Pvt. B. was not there. Only a minute later we could see Pvt. B. being carried by in a stretcher. A week later he died. Within a few days of Pvt. B.'s death, Mechanic H. died. This was a very poor start in

France, as it made two men that we had lost before even going into the firing line.

LED AN EASY LIFE FOR THREE WEEKS.

On account of Pvt. B.'s death we were confined to our quarters for three weeks, being that Pvt. B. had died from a disease which I care not to mention, we had to be held under quarantine and the doctor's orders, being examined daily. This was very easy, as we all had our meals brought to us. None of the boys dared to kick, as life was very easy while in quarantine.

Chapter IV. Off For The Firing Line

•On the fifth day of February we entrained for the front. It had taken fifty cars to carry the Stamford soldiers to the firing line. A battery train comprises seventeen flat cars, two employee cars, one officers' coach and thirty-six box cars, the latter with the famous lettering, "40 Hommes,8 Chevaux.'' meaning " 40 men or 8 horses." These are the A. E. F. traveling luxuries, which the men who rode in them so often will not soon forget. (Side door Pullman. )

On the seventh day of February the battery arrived at Pommiers (just outside of Soisscftis), where it detrained. After an all night hike finally arrived in its echellon. The battery did ! But not I, as I was lost near the firing line with a wagon, seven horses and four men. Just our luck that it rained heavily. At that time Pvt. S. was driving the wheel team of the wagon, who was half asleep at all times, also our famous lead driver, Pvt. B., who was in the same mood of going to sleep. Pvt. Willis H. was riding on the seat of the wagon covered with canvas and out of sight, as the officers did not allow any one to ride the wagon. Not only that we were lost, but Pvt. B. had to lead his team of horses into a ditch, which brought Pvt. S.'s team off the road -and into the ditch, and then we were set for the night. If Pvt. S. did not fall asleep we would not have been in the mix-up. After a few minutes of arguing and trying to pull the wagonout of the ditch, Lieutenant S. came along looking for us. It was so dark that I could not see my hand in front of me. On reaching us Lieutenant S. asked if we were F Battery men. I said yes. He then asked who was in charge of the wagon and how was it that we were lost. I told him that I was in charge of the wagon and explained the accident. The Lieutenant then asked " why we don't move." I told him that it was impossible, as the wheels were too far in the ditch for the horses to pull out. I then*had to pay the penalty for it by guarding the wagon for the rest of the night until a detail of men could be sent up to get the wagon out on the road.

OUT OP THE DITCH AND BACK TO THE BATTERY.

At was bright and early when a detail of men came and helped pull the wagon out of the ditch. Pulling the wagon out, we started on the road to the battery echellon, when we were greeted by enemy aeroplanes, which was our baptism of war. This occurrence was very exciting to us, seeing a combat in the air between French and enemy aeroplanes. After a short hike we reached the battery echellon, which was near " Braisne," where I had the first warm meal since leaving the training camp. It was a very good dinner, as we had corned beef hash, bread and coffee. Immediately after lunch I went to sleep and never got up until the next morning, when I was ordered to report to the Captain.

When I reported to the Captain, he asked me why I did not feed my horse before I went to sleep. I told him I had no excuse, only that I had forgotten! That did not help me any, and I was ordered to remain in camp and not allowed to go any place for two weeks, only work around the picket line. But he soon forgot what he told me and in a few days I was sent up to the firing line and put in charge of three men digging a dugout.

THE BATTERY GUN POSITION.

The battery gun position was in a small ravine, just outside the village of Ostel. The village of Vailly lay between Braisne and our gun position. This gun position had originally been built by the Germans, who evacuated it during the successful " Chemin des Dames " offensive of the French the preceding year. At this time I was detailed to take charge of three men to reconstruct a dugout in Ostel, which was just half a mile forward from the battery gun position. I then had the honor of saying that I was closer to the front line trenches than any other soldier in the battery. But that was only for that day, as the next day Lieutenant W. O'D. had gone out on observation work which brought him to the edge of " no man's land." On return from the front line I asked him why he did not call on me to go with him. He then told me to have patience and take my time, that I would have my share and more. We remained working at the dugout for four days, and it was very cold, being in February. From the echellon to Ostel the distance was nine miles, and it was no joke riding a horse those cold mornings out to Ostel. After repairing the dugout, I was assigned to my regular duty with the signal section.

LETTING THE ENEMY KNOW THAT STAMFORD WAS IN THE WAE.

On March third, the battery pulled off a surprise attack on the Germans. That the entire action was a complete success became clearly evident when the news came back that two German officers and twenty men were taken prisoners during the operation, with slight damage to our own forces. The infantry of our Division and in conjunction with a French officer executed the attack and won praise of their French Corps Commander for the excellency of our first offensive.

By relentless camouflage discipline, the position, which was very well concealed naturally by the thin line of trees which grew along the upper edge of the ravine and on both sides, was made so successfully to appear unoccupied that during the entire time of occupation, thirty-seven days, not one shell fell near the position. The machine gunners were always on guard, one man constantly patrolling the position during the day with field glasses in hand, with instructions to identify every plane that he sighted. Whenever a hostile plane came close enough to be identified, he was immediately given a reception of machine gun lead which lasted until the plane got out of range. The guard also used a whistle. The officers and men had been carefully instructed that it meant " Stand where you are or stay under cover." No one moved until two blasts of the whistle (which meant release) were blown, indicating that the enemy plane had gone. Pvt.'s William F. and Gerrit Z. were the operators of the machine guns.

On March 15th we blew up a German battery of a large calibre with concrete gun emplacements, also an ammunition dump.

OUT OF THE LINE WITH A LUCKY DEPARTURE.

On the 17th day of March orders were received to evacuate our position on the 18th. On the 19th the battery, after an all night hike, entrained at Pommiers, the same loading platform near Soissons where it had detrained in February.

It was then that the terrific bombardment began along the entire Soissons-Chemin des Dames front in preparation for the huge offensive which developed so dramatically the following morning, when the whole world shuddered at the swift advance of the enemy. Our first battery position near Ostel. originally German, had become German again only a day after we left very leisurely.

Chapter V. In The New Sector Called Toll

After a twenty-four hour train ride, we detrained and lay over night. In the morning we started on a two-week hike. That night we were billeted at Soulaine, leaving there Monday morning for Bouzancourt, where. the night was spent, and the hike resumed the following morning for the village of Soncourt, and so on day after day, marching on the average of twenty miles daily and billeting in whatever local barns or other space that was available. On the third day of April the hike was over and the boys were not sorry, either. During the hike it rained every day. After each day's hike the boys would pass away their spare time by scraping the mud from their clothes and equipment.

The new battery position was situated about one mile northeasi of Boncourt, just to the rear of the crest of a steep ridge. It was difficult to approach, due to the steep grade of the road which ran to the top of the plateau which lay in front of the position. Also the poor and muddy condition of the road, which led around to the kitchen at the foot of the hill and to the rear of the position, was such as to make access very difficult for the water cart and supply wagons that had to come this way.

PLACING THE GUNS INTO POSITION.

The first platoon was placed into position on the night of the third day of April, and the remaining guns were placed in position the following night. They were brought to the top of the hill out in the open fields, and gradually brought down by a winding course. Then the twelve-horse teams were unhitched and the guns dropped backwards into their emplacements with the aid of blocks, timbers and lowering ropes controlled by the sturdy and earnest men of the gun crews and team drivers, who, directed by their section chiefs and superintended by officers, installed their guns without a mishap and in good time. Here I did not have to go through all the labor that the majority of the men did, as at that time I was detailed to establish telephone communications with all for guns and Battalion Headquarters. There was plenty of shrapnel at this position, for this reason: the dugouts being built in a steep reverse slope which were secure against any enemy shells except those with greal angles of fall. The Germans knew this and figured the best way to reach us behind the crest would be by using timeburst shell or shrapnel; and this they did frequently. This position had been previously occupied by the French and had been located by the enemy prior to Battery F's arrival. Nevertheless all efforts were made to make the place appear abandoned by enforcing the most rigid camouflage discipline. Paths were wired, guns were never fired while the enemy's planes were overhead, except when absolutely necessary; circulation was reduced to a minimum, and the guns and men's dugouts were well camouflaged.

A VERY ACTIVE SECTOR.

Trenches and redoubts in front of the Foret d'Apremont and enemy battery position, including the sector's famous " 72.19 mm." German Battery were our chief day to day targets. From the observatories located around the Foret de Lioville, which was built on the crest of the highest promontory overlooking the Apremont Valley," the observer could see on the right the historic Mont Sec, supposed to have been powerfully organized by the Germans, who now held it. Also, on the left, Camp de Romaines (the Roman Camp), originally built by the Romans. This cam]) stood out on the crest of its strong position, ;i wonderful observatory and stronghold for the enemy.

THE BATTLE OF SBICHPREY.

Tn this sector I was assigned to mounted courier duty. I received and delivered dispatches and orders for the day from Battalion Headquarters to the battery position. The enemy had many a chance to fire upon me every morning and afternoon. The road which I travelled over daily was in plain view and within reach of the rifle shot of the enemy. Very few used this road, as it was not permitted or open to everyone, only to men in the line of duty as runners, motorcycle dispatch riders or couriers and ambulance drivers. The hauling of supplies or ammunition had to be done under cover of dark. While out on the road with dispatches I was caught often by enemy shell fire. It seemed thai the enemy knew my line of work, and had seen the E Battery courier and I travel over the road at the same hours each day.

On the morning of April 20th, 1918, the second offensive acknowledged the battle of the American Expeditionary Forces, which had taken place at Seichprey, to the right, occupied by the Twenty-sixth Division. The attack was ;i surprise. The One Hundred and Second [nfantry, however, stood the brunt of the attack and put up a brave fight, and after losing the town recaptured it, compelling the Germans to retire to their original position. The Germans numbered eight hundred in this attack, who were all shock troops of the Prussian Guard. Only two hundred and fifty men of the One Hundred and Second Infantry met the shock troops in hand to hand conflicts. As could be seen after the battle that there were only a few of the enemy to retreat, the rest taken prisoners or remained out in the field, never to raise a rifle to their shoulders.

It was during this battle that we sustained our first losses. Pvt. Rogers A. Wilson and Pvt. G. Makris were both killed in action. Pvt. M. Dickinson was wounded while serving a forward 09 mm. gun to which they had been detached for service. First Lieutenant Walter O'D. was also wounded by a shrapnel ball.

COMEDY COMBINED WITH DANGER.

While I was walking up the crest of the hill, Lieutenant Walter O'D. was standing near his dugout, saying to Pvt. Tom L. : " Did you see that shell burst?" He had no more than said that when lie was hit in the right shoulder by a shrapnel ball which was made of steel and weighed four ounces. After Lieutenant O'D. was wounded he said: "Well, boys, I had that feeling that I'd get hit, and back to the rear for mine. But no hospital." Lieutenant O'D. then went into the officers' dugout. The Captain asked him what was wrong. but he only laughed and asked the Captain for some iodine. The Captain then poured the iodine into the wound. asking if it burned. Lieutenant O'D. said: "No, you d fool, it tickles! "

After the bombardment, Pvt. Willis H. went out to a shell hole where a shell fell but did not explode, only that the nose of the shell had fallen off. He picked up a few of the shrapnel balls and began playing marbles in the gun pit of the First Section, then in charge of Sergeant S. Just as the game commenced, we all heard a boom over in the German lines, which meant for all of us to get into shelter of some kind, and we sure did disappear in a very short time. We got into whatever shelter was possible, but the shell had already struck the Third Section shell abri above the dugout in which I slept. It was a miracle that there was no one in» the shell abri at the time, as most of the time the boys would be working there. Then another shell struck the Second Section dugout, penetrating five feet into the ground over the dugout bul not exploding. It was what we called a "dud." At the time the shell struck the dugout there were four boys in it. The third shell fell clean into the kitchen, but this shell did explode, and had blown the kitchen to pieces. Another shell liii the edge of the cooks' dugout, which was next to the kitchen at the foot of the hill; at this time there were nine men in the dugout, as it was lunch time. Before the shell fire had ceased, the cooks' dugout was struck four times, and was very close to caving in on the boys. If another shell had struck the dugout, not one of the boys would get out alive. The following morning everything was very quiet and peaceful. The sun was shining brightly; the birds were singing, and it was a Sunday. Gee ! but the boys did feel blue ! Thinking that they had to stay out in the wilds and no doubt sent their minds wandering back to good old U. S., the Sunday being Mothers' Day.