Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-05-04
TWO MARINES WIN MEDAL OF HONOR

party of the rebels got 4 hearty recep-
ton from another cOmpany's outpost.
One of the rebels was found dead in
front OF the marines position, and the
whole party would have been gagged
if a dog, which was with the outpost.
had not barked, giving away the posi-
ton of our men. The dog was sent
back TO the base the next day.
Il guess the rebels were heartily dis
gusted with night attacks, for we were
never again troubled after dark. One
of our guns on the right flank did not
have enough elevation. Lieutenant
Randall, the regimental adjutant. was
taking bath few yards in front of
it when the firing started. We went
into action very quickly. and stream
of steel jackets passed through the
lieutenants hat, which was hanging
on tree just over his head. Mr.. Ran
dali said he dispensed with the rest of
his toilet.
Our only casualty was n mule. He
was shot in the leg and had to be
killed. AS we We're behind the crest
OF steep hill, the enemy, who were
on much lower ground and close, fired
very high. During this engagement
colonel Pendleton came around and
gave us few words of encourage
ment.
Trouble With Ammunition.
"On June 20. we got under WAY once
more. After marching two kilometers
the advance guard was fired on by
small bands of the enemy. We. could
hear the Bent Merciers roaring and
the steady pounding of the Colts up
ahead. Ii WAS n sound that we had
become well used to. When the ma
chine guns would stop our faces would
get long. and then the smiles would
break out when the guns started again,
assuring us that there was no jam and
all was well. A private in the Thirty
first company was killed in this Skin
miSh.
Our expert riflemen were sore be-
cause they could never get Il rebel on
their sights; for the rebels always
fired from cover. 1t was the machine
guns that made them sick; 1t was so
easy to comb out a patch of woods.
Difficulty had been experienced all
along with our ammunition. Some of
il dated back as far as 1907. 1t had
evidently been reloaded many times,
with the result that the shells were
swelied in many instances; also the
brass shells were rOughened and cor
roded from this relOading. When the
barrels got hot the shells would stick
in the chamber. We did what we
could during two days halt-cleaning
the guns and pulling all the shells out
OF the belts and cleaning and wiping
them with slightly oiled rag.
"On the morning of July 3 we again
got underway, with everyone feeling
like new man. Firing on the advance
guard began early in the day. Our
captain obtained permission to take
our platoon forward. We kept the
guns on the carriages until within a
few yards Of the firing line. then trans
ferred them to the tripods and imme-
diately opened fire. The enemy were
using mostly Old-fashioned breech-
leaders, with big lead slugs. Jams
were frequent with us, and each gun
wore out couple of shell extractors.
We found it good policy to change bar
rels in case Of jam in the chambers.
In that way we found we would be
only minute out of action. A party
of the enemy were seen up the road.
and Corporal Johnson started to put
his gun in action. A big lead slug
tin cans, we called them-came richo-
cheting down the road directly for u.s.
Shooting Mighty Close.
johnson saw it while kneeling be-
hind his gun. He ducked almost prone,
but the thing took u low skip and hit
him in the jaw, passed down and
lodged back of his shoulder. The gun
crews promptly gave the place where
the shot was fired good combing. We
continued to advance under cover of
the bushes and trees. A battalion of
infantry was deplOyed as skirmishers
on each side Of the road, and we were
concealed by turn In the road and
high trees and bushes. Directly across
the road was huge log. At our end
Of the log Benet MERCER ba, iust