The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-25

commanding the battalion, but the oo- l Ject1ve was made, the Hun had countcr | attacked, but was driven back That | night another company that had been kept back as reserve when the rest of the l battalion moved out, came up to our support. and as the captain was senior 1 he took command of the brigade. From l then on it was up and over dig in, get up and go or, and dig in. How tired we were, how sleepy But orders were al ways move forward and we moved. II was really astonished al the alacrlty with which the men responded when they were so exhausted. It was hell with those machine guns and Sss. I was knocked down, half buried, and stunned by shells. Once shell dented my hat, and glancing, struck my knee. It knocked me down and paralyzed my knee for a second, but it was only a bruise, barely breaking the skin and not even cutting the cloth of my brooches. It. was some merry party but I didn't get bit ot hand o-hand-not even a chance to use my 4o. I'm quite sure I got one with a rifle-otherwlse my score is blank and l wanted to hear the dirty vandal groan his last. But, myi the prisoners and machine guns we took! I never was SC tired nor so sleepy in my life. I got over being drowsy, but every once III awhile would drop off to sleep so sud denly that I never suspected it. I don't suppose ate enough in all the five days to make up for two meals I wasn't hungry, bad no appetite-there was too much excitcment-and it wasn't very pleasant to eat with a dead boche or American staring in your face. So lived on tobacco and water. was scared and all knocked to pieces by shell fire. but I never lost my presence ftr,tiJ Lo ,Jo kept my company together when other outfits went all to pieces, and when I came in I had good bunch of them still together and organized
 'Oh! that hike back; we had to march across and ur a valley that the boches were covering with a running lombard ment from end to end and back again l had over 5t men with me and brought them through without losing one. fd pick holes in the barrage-cross a holr low when the shells fell on my side--or watched the boche system, and double timed to be where the shells weren't fall ing, as soon as they changed the range. And then hike and hike, because we had to go back over all we'd advanced and then some. Every time I'd hit the ground at the rest I would fall asleep instantly. But finally we reached the place where we were to entruck and then a hot meal dNdlteu uS l never enjoyed so a cup or hot coffee. I lay down in the mud and rain and slept like dead man. By night the trucks came. Then an all night ride But I got here In time to eat a dozen eggs for breakfast and crawled in bed. I had hardly had time to think of how pleasant was the feel of clean white sheets before I was asleep. Three clock, and more eggs and milk. Then care Of the e. mpany. At 8 the whole bunch left of the officers in the brigade had a regu lar banquet in the chateau. Some feed! Today much work-reports of dead, miss. ing and wounded-replaceme of equip ment and clothes I am commanding the company. Captain Irwin was wounded by Q shell fragment that cut his upper lip almost away. Not serious, but will leave disfiguring scar.
 That I am here, whole and we'll, is due only to Gods kindness in answer to your prayers and those of the other dear ones who love me and have prayed for me. And so, mother mine, I love you as always and more, too. Your son,
 LYMAN"