The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-08-28
THE BATTLE OF "TlN FORKS"
Bennington Rookie Writes of the Ma
neouvres at PIattsburg.

FlatlSDurS, Aug. Z4.-COmpanleS Il
and NJ of the 9th fought that which
will go down in history as the battle
of Tin Forks" and rearguard en-.
gagement ON the morning and after
noon respectively of August 2lst. The
thermometer was 9S degrees in the
shade. We of l. were marched through
the city OF Plattsburg and thence due
west to a point about IL miles from
camp. We had ammunition (blanks OF
course) and our full loaded packs,
some twenty pounds, | suppose.
(When | come home, | am going to
make up twenty pounds of bricks, fiat
irons. etc, with two shoulder straps,
and get nine pound iron rod and let
anyone who so desires try it out
cross country.
Quitting the highway, We were de-
ployed behind rail fence with scrub
stuff growing along it and a wood be-
hind,-permitting good getaway"
| II necessary. The captain, addressing
us, said that we were light force
sent forward by the commandments.
chief to hold the position, and the
enemy company NJ would try to get
us out. Their main approach would be
down the field which sloped UP a
gentle incline before us. To give
warning of any attempt to turn us or
the ilanks, he purposed sending small
| patrols out to the right-up the road
we had come, and up along the stone
fence to the left. This he did.
1t fell to me to 20 with my corporal
and three others to sneak up a couple
OF hundred yards or so back OF the
| fence at our left. In doing scout
work, the leader deploys his men, so
We were scattered back of the fence
at easy speaking distance.
Shortly, moving points appeared on
| the skyline OF the field. They were
| the scouts Of the enemy who presently
| appeared in force, prone on the crest,
in the grass. The plan OF attack was
an advance by platoons of II or i6
men each One platoon rises, runs
forward some yards, again falls prone,
and resumes firing out of the grass.
This is repeated by the several other
platoons in succession.
The enemy Company NJ had not
taken the precaution to investigate
what might be behind the stone fence.
and, though 1t was hardly our business
the chance was too good. We four
sneaked little farther up behind the
fence. and when the first platoon
moved down the field in the face of the
fire which came from Co l. behind the
fence before the grove, they were
struck on the flank from the several
rifles behind the stone wall
Well, II was glorious victory. We
assembled for lunch. AS the battle
was discussed over bacon and potatoes
which each man fried in the aluml
mum frying pan which Uncle Sam puts
in the pack, IL was decided that the
real execution of the day was done
with the tin forks" Therefore the
name.
] am sorry not TO be able TO stop the
story here, but the truthful historian
must record that on the way home N
| NVhiphlN hluuN u hllt ItdlbuuIu NClloI
and caught several platoons OF l. com
pany in solid formation on the high
way,-a great tactical blunder. SO the
honors were divided.
But II you want to know wha
caused both l. and NJ anguish tha
day, count the miles, (about III welgl
the pack and rifle, and look at tn,
thermometer. AS most of the mel
were wondering If they could make III,
| almost five mile trip home. and W,
were at the goas.youplease pace o
/ "rout-step." little fellow fron
, Georgia shouted, "Do you know m,
name" NO" II am Mr.. Fune
, Popp.' To which came the chorus
/ xiii him."