Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-03-26
Of 1l5TH
WRITES Or SERVICES
In Letter To Former Associate,
Tells OF What Maryland Regi-
ment Accomplished In War
MAY RETURN IN JUNE.

IA brief account of the services In
France dc the iI5th Infantry ~ which
the Guardsmen from Annapolis and
other parts of Maryland belonged, is
given lii 4 letter which was written by
Col Milton al. Rockford, commanding
that now famous regiment, to Major
Hugh n Riley Of this city Col. Heck
ord and Major Riley served together
fDr many years III the old First Regi-
ment. Maryland National Guard. in
Guiding the duty on the border in the
summer and fali of 1916.
Col Reekord. writing under the date
OF March S. said in part We landed
at Brest, and from there were sent So
Aisace where we were on the line for
sixty days. 1t was exceedingly inter-
esting and we learned quite grea
deal regarding trench warfare. Then
the big drive north of Verdun having
been ordered, We were sent up there
to take our part for IT. Far several
nights We marched III tho rain and
dark. resting In the day.
.0n September 26th, we were army
reserve, then corps eserve and then
into the actual fgh@ng cast ef the
Meuse. II was hard going have
pictures to show you to support the
statement. The great hills along the
Meuse are covered with thick woods
ard these were held By strong ma
chine gun nests Besides, the Huns
|had sufficient artillery 10 make things
very unpleasant and many of my men
went out from bursting shells
I'VE were In the line for twenty-one
days, during each of which some fight
Ing was going on. and upon six differ
ent days separate and distinct battles
were fought The regiment did splen-
aid work; the outfit did all and more
than was asked Of ii. If you could
only see the ground over which these
men had fo advance you would UNI
Slerstand. Throughout the entire time
tie Huns kept raking US with artil-
lery fire, and II there Is anything more
iisconcarting, don't know what II Isl.
These shells would cover the entire
area, and take their toll each day
possibly only d few q day, bnt II was
d constant drain.
THE weather, too, was bad: very
wet, and at night when the men would
dig, Iii Tor protection, the holes would
I'll with wafer, and under such con
aitions there could be no real comfort
After twenty-one days we were re-
lieved and then we leceived a large.
consignment of replacements and
many had only little training
On the tenth day Of November, the
Eorder came 10 attack east of Metz and
on the morning Of the eleventh, we
were actually forming the regiment
when d message advised lis that the
armisfice had been signed and the reg
fment would not move.
Since then we have been drilling
hard; having manoeuvers and ter
rain exercises. and. In fact. acting Just
as IL the war was to continue.
There have been many changes
since the regiment left the states I
do hope We Will get home IN june,
which at present is the monthsdesig
mated for our return. Z
Col. Rockford was the only National
Guard ofsfcer TO retain his command
OF an infantry regiment in the 18th
division in character, ability and
physical qualifications, he was ideal
ii qualified FOR his position. and Il
was great satisfaction to those who
| had loved ones Ia the 1i5th to know
that they we're under the command of
such splendid officer. He has made
good In every particular. and holds
Il the affection and respect Of every offi-
Ger and man who served under him.
Col. Reckord's home IS ii Bel Air.