The Delta of the Triple Elevens
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William Elmer Bachman >> The Delta of the Triple Elevens
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After a two and one-half hour lay-over the march was resumed, a
distance of thirty kilometers having been set for the day. The route
was through Montigny in the afternoon and at 5:15 p. m., under a cover
of darkness the convoy reached Champlitte. Through the town the road
stretched, past a large chateau, then came a long hill, down which the
horses and mules galloped, wild with hunger and fatigue. It was a dark
night and difficulty was experienced in keeping to the unknown road.
In making the descent of the hill leading from Champlitte several
riders and mules almost struck the edge of the elevated road and had a
narrow escape from going mounted over a precipice.
It was about 6 p. m. when stop was made at the base of the hilly
road, where orders to remain for the night were issued. There were no
stable accommodations, or nothing ready to receive the animals. A
picket line had to be erected in a muddy ravine. The animals had to be
led to a nearby stream and watered by bucket as there was no shallow
approach to the stream. As the animals were watered and lead to the
hastily thrown up picket-lines they began to bite and kick each other.
A miniature stampede resulted until the several hundred nose-bags were
adjusted and hay shook out along the picket line. Then all horses and
mules had to be blanketed for the night. The detail secured the
blankets from the auto trucks and started the task, which took
considerable time and which was finally accomplished at the risk of
life and limb. A limited amount of picket line had been erected and
the mules especially were tied in very close proximity. To get between
them and blanket the frisky jacks was to dodge bites and hoofs in all
directions.
Mud was kicked up in all directions while the animals were receiving
attention. It was a tired, muddy and dirty lot of soldiers that
finished their tasks at the picket line at 11:30 p. m., and started to
march up the dark hill to Champlitte; to the old chateau that was to
house the troops for the night. It was midnight when the troops got
something to eat from the rolling kitchen. Then they stretched out on
the floors of the old chateau to rest for the night.
Next morning was Saturday. It was decided that the convoy would remain
over at Champlitte and rest for the day. There was but little rest,
however, as everybody was kept busy caring for the horses and mules;
watering, feeding and grooming being in order. When it came to
grooming the mud was caked thick on all hides.
It rained Saturday night. The guard detail at the picket line had a
merry time chasing mules that broke loose and started to roam over
adjacent hills.
All hands were up and on the job at the picket line at 5:30 a. m.,
Sunday morning, December 22nd. It was 8:30 o'clock before all sections
were watered and fed, the picket lines packed in the trucks and things
made ready to start. With the sections lined up on the road ready to
start, count of the mules was taken and it was discovered that five
were missing. An hour's wait resulted until all mules were present and
accounted for.
The drive continued through the rain, until 11:30 p. m., when the town
of Pierrefitte was reached. Detailed work in throwing up a picket
line in the yard of an old chateau and duties equally as strenuous and
similar to the first night's stop at Champlitte, were in order until
all the animals were cared for. Bean soup was served for the battery
mess and the night spent in the chateau.
During the night the rain turned into a sleet storm, attended by a
strong wind. The wind and the sleet caused a stampede at the picket
line. Morning found the picket lines completely demolished, and horses
and mules roamed all over the lot. They were tied in all shapes and
forms, the halter shanks being twisted in knots galore.
The battery men were up and doing at 5:15 Monday morning. It was 10 a.
m. before all the animals were captured and tied up properly. The
first section got started on the march shortly after 10 o'clock.
Sleet, rain and snow continued to fall during the day. Through large
expanses of open road, the convoy journeyed. The sleet drove in the
faces of the mules, causing them to gallop at top speed. The riders
had their strength severely tried and tested in keeping the situation
under control.
Stop was made about 3 kilos from the town of Bourbonne where the
animals were watered at a stream. The convoy entered Bourbonne at 3:30
p. m. and found to its great joy that the town housed an American army
veterinarian section and had stable accommodations. The stable
facilities lightened the work of the convoy and it was 5 o'clock when
the men went to the town to seek quarters for the night. The large
auditorium of the American Y. M. C. A. had been scheduled as the place
of abode for the night. When the outfit applied for admission a
conflict of dates was brought to light. It took great persuasive
force, bordering close unto mob rule, before the officious officer in
charge of the Y. M. C. A. was induced to allow the tired and muddy
party to break in upon the quietude of the few sections of troops
occupying part of the Y. M. C. A. for the night.
Before the convoy resumed the journey on Tuesday morning, December
24th, army veterinarians examined all animals in the convoy party.
Many loose shoes had to be fixed by the blacksmiths, while twenty-two
of the horses showed symptoms of lameness else had developed sores
that barred them from continuing the journey. The veterinarian section
also took over a number of the sound horses and mules.
The first sections got started from Bourbonne at 9 a. m. Twenty-six of
the men, under Capt. Smith, were detailed to take the lame horses to a
nearby remount and exchange them for sound animals. It was 11:30
when the detail of twenty-six left Bourbonne with the thought of
overtaking the remainder of the convoy.
The main convoy rode hard all day. It was the day before Christmas and
it was raining. Stop was made for the night at Clefmont, where stable
accommodations were secured for the horses, while the mules had to be
picketed.
The detail of twenty-six that was following had difficulty in finding
the road the convoy had taken. It was dark when Clefmont was reached.
The main detail had sent out a guard with a lantern to locate Capt.
Smith and his detail, but the guard got on the wrong road; leaving the
detail with Capt. Smith passing out Clefmont in the blackness of the
night. By a stroke of luck, however, inquiries from French peasants
finally steered the lost detail on the road where the advance guard
with the lantern was located.
After caring for the horses the convoy spent Christmas eve in an old,
dirty, combination barn and dwelling. Reclining on bunches of live
straw that was found in the building, the soldiers dreamt of Christmas
eve back home, wishing they were there, instead of where they were.
Christmas morning, Wednesday, December 25th, dawned clear and cold.
Clefmont was left behind at 9 a. m., when the soldiers determined to
drive hard so that the trip could be terminated by noon. The route lay
through Longchamp. As the morning wore on a snow storm developed.
Through the snow the riders pressed on, until 1 p. m., when
Cirey-les-Mareilles was reached. Orders were to leave the majority of
the animals at Cirey. A detail of Battery E men were on hand to meet
the convoy and assist in caring for the animals at that point.
Relieved of their charges, the members of Battery D secured auto
trucks to take them to Blancheville. It was a relief to get washed and
cleaned up, as there was very little washing and shaving done during
the five days on the road. It was a pleasure, also, to be back at the
old stamping ground. And, to think it was Christmas. A few peaceful
hours during the afternoon and evening were enjoyed by the convoy
detail. A large amount of mail had accumulated while the men were on
the road. It was Christmas mail, in which cheering words were received
from the home folks. Christmas boxes despatched through the Red Cross
came into their own. It was a rejuvenated bunch that partook of
Christmas dinner in the battery's old mess hall at Blancheville at 5
o'clock that night.
[Illustration: BATTERY D ON THE ROAD
Passing Through a French Village.]
[Illustration: ABOARD THE EDW. LUCKENBACH
Battery D Homeward Bound.]
[Illustration: AT BUSH TERMINAL, BROOKLYN
Home. At Last.]
CHAPTER XX.
ON THE ROAD TO BENOITE VAUX.
During the month of January it was reported in official circles that
the 154th Artillery Brigade was to accompany the 79th Division into
Germany as a unit of the Army of Occupation. The artillerymen were
enthused with the prospects of joining their division and getting in
the midst of the big scenery. The movement, however, never
materialized. The outfit was forced to bear a disappointment like unto
the shattering of expectations of getting in on the finale of the
fighting.
As has been recorded, as early as October, 1918, the instructors had
decided that the 311th artillery was in a position to take up active
front-line duties. Several weeks previous the infantry and machine-gun
regiments of the 79th Division had entered the fight and made their
famous attack on Montfaucon, one of the most difficult positions to
take in the Argonne sector. Twenty-seventh Division artillery had
furnished the support at Montfaucon. The 79th Division artillerymen
were eager to replace them and aid in the fighting of the division
along the Meuse river.
After the holiday season Battery D spent its time in Blancheville with
mounted hikes forming the mainstay of the schedule. Each day the
outfit looked for orders to join the division and proceed to German
territory.
The horses and mules brought to the regiment by the convoy, were
distributed to the various batteries. Driver squads were immediately
reorganized and great preparation attended all the hikes.
The latter part of January an official order was issued citing the
individual members of Battery D as entitled to wear a gold service
chevron, an indication of six months service on foreign soil. With the
award of the gold stripe came the selection of the Lorraine Cross as
the divisional insignia and the granting of leaves of absence to visit
the beauty spots of France, with Paris included in the schedule as a
possible three-day leave center. The first men left the battery on a
fourteen day leave, at Blancheville. A waiting list was established
and passes were issued in order of application. During the remainder
of the battery's stay in France names were on the leave list.
The famous Mediterranean Riviera was the favorite leave center,
although St. Malo and Grenoble were cited in official division
orders. Many of the members of Battery D got the opportunity to
spend a vacation in the Southern part of France, where the land is
sheltered by the mountains from the North winds, and lit and warmed by
a resplendent sun in a sky, the azure of which is seldom dulled by
clouds. Nice, Monaco with its Monte Carlo and a trip across the
Italian border near Menton, were included in the majority of the leave
itineraries. While en route to the Southern clime it was customary for
the soldier on leave to mistake trains; get on the wrong train and
find himself landed in the City of Paris. This, in most cases, was the
only opportunity the majority had of seeing the French metropolis,
although a number of three-day leaves to the capital city were granted
battery men.
Leave privileges in the A. E. F. kept the French railroads busy. The
demand for furloughs became so popular that troop specials to the
leave centers came into being and opportunity of individual travel was
curtailed. Scores, however, took advantage of the troop specials to
the land of vacation ease.
While Battery D was in Blancheville Lieut. Hugh M. Clarke was
transferred to the Supply Company of the regiment and Lieutenant Leo
C. Julian, of Lakeland, Fla., was attached to the battery.
The horses were the main care of the battery. Forage was scarce, which
caused the animals to become mean-tempered as they gnawed at the
hay-racks and discovered that about one pound of hay had to do each
horse a day while the forage scarcity lasted.
Many of the battery members received severe kicks while attending to
stable duties. The most serious injury through a kick was inflicted
upon Private Frederick M. Bowen, of E. Rutherford, N. J., who was sent
to the Base Hospital at Rimaucourt with injuries that separated him
from the outfit and sent him home as a casualty.
When the hikes became a daily occurrence at Blancheville stable duties
were set for the entire battery to share in. Watering and feeding was
done immediately after reveille was dismissed each morning.
On January 3rd the battery was ordered to pack everything to take to
the road. The rolling kitchen accompanied the battery caravan that
left Blancheville to return again to the village after a 7 kilometer
hike. A similar hike was held the day following, when it was announced
the regiment was to move forward and join the division for the trip
into occupation territory. The same day a detail of five men were
were dispatched to the new billeting area to make ready the new
battery location.
It was decided that the battery would proceed to the new area by
taking to the road in march-order. The battery was ordered to be ready
to move by January 9th.
On January 8th another hike with everything packed was accomplished,
the outfit getting back to Blancheville at 12:30 p. m. All the
materiel was left out along the road leading from the village that
night, so all that was needed for an early start the following morning
was for the horses to be hitched to the guns, caissons and
supply-wagons.
The battery left Blancheville at 7:30 a. m., Thursday, January 9th,
proceeding to Andelot where the entire regiment assembled on the road
for the journey. A detail of men were left at Blancheville to cleanup;
overtaking the outfit later on single mount.
After leaving Andelot the route was through Vignes and Busson; halt
for noon-mess was made at the latter place. A distance of 22
kilometers was set for the day's journey, terminating at the village
of Epizon, which was reached at 3:30 p. m. The regiment parked its
materiel and established its picket line in a large grain field, then
had to wait for two hours until the supply train brought up the
forage. The battery men found sleeping quarters for the night in the
barns and sheds of the village.
The outfit was astir at 4:45 o'clock the next morning and was moving
on the road at 8:30 a. m. Stop was made at noon at Soulaincourt, where
the 311th passed the 211th motorized French artillery regiment, going
in the opposite direction along the narrow road. In the afternoon the
regiment passed through the town of Montiers and went into park for
the night at 6 p. m., at Morley. The village furnished an abundance of
haylofts for the artillerymen to crawl into the straw for the night.
Saturday, January 11th, found the regiment ready to resume the journey
at 7:15 a. m. The trip continued through Le Bouchon, Serenier and
Stainville, the latter place being the noon-mess stopover junction.
Here the train of horses were watered by bucket. During the afternoon
Bazincourt, Haironville, and Bullon were invaded in order. The horses
were watered in the community watering trough in the village of
Combles at 3:30 p. m., after which the regiment proceeded to Veel and
stopped for the night. It rained heavy during the night, but the
outfit was fortunate in locating a number of army barracks in the village
that furnished a night's shelter.
Sunday, January 12th, it was raining when the troops answered reveille
at 5 o'clock. The rain turned into snow an hour later when the
regiment was ready to resume the journey. Under a canopy of snow the
troops passed through the city of Bar Le Duc. After leaving Naives in
the distance, stop was made at noon at Le Petit Rumont.
The cannoneers were forced to walk a great part of the distance. They
were also compelled to wear their field shoes on the march instead of
the rubber boots which the drivers wore. They trudged along the slushy
road with wet feet, while it grew colder and more miserable. It was
welcome relief when camp was ordered for the night at Violette and the
troops assigned to old hospital barracks for the night.
A farming community, named Benoite Vaux, in the Department of Meuse,
about twenty-five kilometers from the celebrated American battle
sector of Saint Mihiel, was selected as the new billeting district for
the regiment. Benoite Vaux was reached at noon on Monday, January
13th, after the regiment had been on the road for the day since 8 a.
m., passing through Belrain, Pierrefitte and Courouve.
Benoite Vaux was a quiet hamlet of a score of peasant homes and an old
stone church. The 2nd Battalion was stationed in and about the town;
Battery D was assigned to barracks that formerly were used as a French
army hospital. The 1st Battalion was scattered here and there on the
hills and in the woods outside the village.
CHAPTER XXI.
WAR ORPHANS AND HORSE SHOWS.
Almost every outfit of the A. E. F., in France, adopted a mascot--a
real, live mascot, to be sure; not out of mere pet fancy, but the
natural outcrop of the American spirit of benevolence. Through the
Bureau of War Orphans of the American Red Cross, units of the A. E. F.
made contributions to the Adoption Fund for French War Orphans. The
aid in each case was administered by the Red Cross to the welfare of
an orphan.
The members of Battery D adopted little four-year-old Denise Ferron
during the month of February, 1919, as their mascot, and, by
additional contributions a ward was selected in memory of First
Sergeant James J. Farrell. The second ward was three-year-old Georges
Lemoine, who was much in need of assistance.
Denise Ferron, with brown eyes and brown hair, was born April 25,
1914, the daughter of Madame Vve Ferron, of Fericy, Seine et Marne,
France.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferron had just established a butcher shop when war came
on. The father was then mobilized at the first call. He went to the
front where he was wounded. In 1916 at Verdun, he held the Croix de
Guerre and was mortally wounded in April, 1918.
When he joined his regiment his wife was left with no resources,
having given all of their earnings for the purchase of the butcher
shop. The difficulty to find meat and some one to help her, forced her
to give up her business.
She had another child, Simonne, who was born July 8, 1917. This
blonde, grey eyed brother of Denise was cared for by another A. E. F.
unit. As her children were too small, Mme. Ferron was not able to take
any work and her only means of support was a military allocation
amounting to 105 francs monthly.
Although his body rests in the American military cemetery at La
Courtine, France, the memory of James J. Farrell is revered in unison
by all who knew him and the family of Vve Memoine, Ville Billy, St.
Lunaire, Ille et Vilaine, France, who have come to know him in spirit
since the youngest son, Georges, was adopted. Georges Lemoine was born
February 1, 1915. He had five other brothers and sisters, viz; Pierre,
Louis, Marie, Marcelle and Anna, the oldest 15 and the youngest 6
years.
These children were in a truly lamentable plight. Their father was
a farmer but on such a small scale that what he got from his small
piece of land was insufficient for the needs of his family. He was
conscripted but sent back because he was the father of six children.
He had never been strong, and during the prolonged stay at the front
tuberculosis developed, from which he died on May 18, 1917.
Unfortunately his wife contracted this terrible illness. But before
she realized her plight she had taken over a neighboring farm, for she
was anxious to shoulder her burden as well as possible. This overtaxed
her strength and hastened her decline.
These are passing incidents of the period the battery spent in Benoite
Vaux. Other incidents of import to the battery were the erection of
stables and the conduct of horse shows.
When the outfit arrived at Benoite Vaux there were stable
accommodations for some of the batteries encamped out in the woods but
Battery D, stationed in the village, was without accommodation for the
horses. For the first few weeks of the stay the horses were kept out
in the open on picket lines. The weather and the mud became very
severe and temporary stables were secured in a wooded section near
where Battery C was stationed. These stables were about two kilometers
from the battery billets. While the horses were stabled there the
soldiers had to hike the two kilometers three times a day and drive
the horses to the watering troughs in the center of the village.
Orders were soon issued for the battery to build stables in the
woodland on the opposite side of the road from the battery quarters.
The ground selected as the site was very muddy. The first duty,
therefore, was the opening of a stone quarry and the hauling of many
loads of cracked stone to form the base of the new stable. Between the
work of building the stables and preparing for the horse shows, the
time of the troops at Benoite Vaux was well occupied.
On February 21st, the 2nd Battalion of the 311th conducted a Horse
Show to pick entries for the regimental Horse Show which was
announced. In this show Battery D carried off a good share of the
ribbons. John E. Jones, of Hazleton, Penna., was awarded the blue
ribbon and a cash donation of francs, as first prize winner for
individual mounts. Concetti Imbesi, of Scranton, Penna., captured the
second place in this event and was awarded the red ribbon. Imbesi was
a prize winner in the hurdling, taking the yellow ribbon.
For the entry of 75 mm. gun and caisson with personnel, Battery D
took second and third places. The 2nd section of D took the red ribbon
and the 1st section received the yellow decoration. Each battery had
six mounted sections in this event. Battery F took first in this
event.
The battalion, as well as the regimental show, was held on a specially
constructed course between Benoite Vaux and Issoncourt.
In the regimental show, which took place on Monday, February 24th,
John E. Jones was adorned with the blue ribbon for guidon mounts.
Jones also finished third in the regimental hurdles, in which event
Imbesi also cantered from the track with the blue ribbon on his
bridle.
The officers of Battery D added their share to the trophies of the
day. First Lieutenant C. D. Bailey, in the officers' single mounts and
hurdles, captured second place in both events. The 2nd section of 75
mm. gun and caisson, the Battery D winner in the battalion show, was
ruled out of the regimental decision. Battery A took first in this
event, while the 1st section of Battery D got the yellow ribbon.
The Divisional Show was held at Pierrefitte on Thursday, February
27th. The best Battery D could do in the divisional competition was a
good record of two third places with the yellow ribbons. The show was
conducted in inclement weather, a combination of rain, hail and snow
worrying many of the high-spirited chevaux as they walked, trotted and
cantered over the course. Jones was judged third for guidon mount and
Capt. A. L. Smith got third for officer's saddle horse.
The official standing of the organizations in the regimental show was
as follows:
Headquarters Company 27
Battery D 18
Battery B 18
Battery F 13
Supply Company 10
Battery E 7
Battery A 5
Battery C 5
Medical Detachment 0
The points scored at the Divisional Show were:
311th Field Artillery 38
310th Field Artillery 29
315th Infantry 25
313th Infantry 15
304th Signal Battalion 10
304th Sanitary Train 8
154th F. A. Brigade Hqrs. 6
Headquarters Troop 6
314th Infantry 6
79th Military Police Company 5
311th Machine-Gun Battalion 5
316th Infantry 3
312th Machine-Gun Battalion 3
158th Infantry Brigade Headquarters 3
304th Ammunition Train S. O. L.
The Ninth Army Corps held a Horse Show at Lerouville, March 21, 1919,
with the 79th, the 88th and the 9th Army Corps Detachment, competing.
Honors were awarded as follows:
79th Division 137 points
88th Division 87 points
9th Corps Det. 26 points
At this show Jones, of Battery D, won third prize in the quarter mile
race.
The horse shows entailed a large amount of work. The soldiers were
kept busy shining harness, grooming horses and painting materiel. The
road between Benoite Vaux and Issoncourt, where the battalion and
regimental shows were held, was a stretch of mud. It was a serious
proposition to get the horses to the show-course without having them
look as if they had taken a mud bath.
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