The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-11-01
and vinton through the hand. I was

all in, could hardly get my breath, but
I had to stay. Parker and Vinton also
stayed. Jim Todd was not touched.
We knew we had to go on, and some
of us who had been wounded, remain
ed, while Preston went in. I have seen
Teer here in this hospital. He was
operated on today. The slug had
buried in his shoulder, and he really
is in bad shape.
We remained at this railroad station
all night in the rain, and flanked Oh
| three sides by machine gun nests
1t. Rausen Of / company was killed
here and Tom Lake, whose company
had in the meantime come up into
the valley, was killed by high ex-
plosive shell. That night Sunday
the enemy threw large numbers Of gas
shells into the place we were in, and
I was again gassed. The next morn
ing QMonday) with half my company
gone, most of them wounded, however
we got orders to move up the railroad
track ahead. We went right into the
machine gun nests, the operators OF
whom, when they saw our determine
ton. left their guns and ran, and we
had lots of fun picking them on. The
fun did not last long though, because
as soon as what few Germans who
were left, got out of reach, here come
another artillery barrage, worse than
the one before, and as soon as we got
in the open the machine guns opened
un again. I believe every mali in the
German army carries machine gun.
We went ahead though and captured o
big German guns artillery. We
reached the crest of another hill and
were there held up. I had to crawl
on my stomach for 300 yards. just like
a snake. Every time raised my body
to make a move, zip, zip, went the ma
chine gun bullets. When we reached
the hill, things died down a little and
I was by this time completely ex-
hausted. Our battalion was being re
lieved and four OF my men carried me
in In all, during the two days, Sun
day and Monday, our battalion ad-
vanced about I've miles, without the
aid. of a single friendly artillery shot
or any other help. We killed lots Of
Germans, captured lots OF them and
captured any quantity Of material and
six big guns. left Jim Todd in COM
mand of the company with Parker and
vinton. Jim was all right when I lefs
and believe he got back safe, as we
were to be relieved about the time J
left. am proud Of all my officers and
Of all my men. The whole regiment
fought like veterans and with fierce
ness equal to any white regiment
This was the first time any of them
had been under aimed shell and ma
chine gun fire. and they stood it like
moss-covered oIdtimers. They never
flinched or showed the least sign Of
fear. All that was necessary. was to
tell them to go and they went. Lots
were killed and wounded, but thew
will go down in history as brave sol
diers.
We were lighting with the French in
the Champagne under General Gou-
rand. Tom Lake will be buried in the
valley near the little town Of Ardeuil.
Forest and south Of Mouthois.
AS for myself, I will never Under
stand how I came out as well as did
OF course I don't know what effect
the gas is going to have on me. Don't
know whether I will ever be able to
go back into the line or not. Am very
short Of breath, and my chest and
throat feel right raw. / am very COM
fortably located. The hospital seems
to be good one. It is an Officers hos
pital, and is full, nearly all the pa
tients being from our regiment.
believe this offensive will drive the
Germans out OF France and that the
war will be over pretty soon. God
knows I hope so, for it certainly is
hell on earth, If there is such thing.
With all the hardships I have been
writing you about, all Of them COM
bined cannot equal one hour Of this
last. For four days and nights I was
under deadly FIRE. and did not sleep
two hours during the entire time, and
it raining nearly al the time.
You can continue TO write me in the
same way. Even il am given some