Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-05

capable Of carrying on the attack.
At this time Company E had the
longest rest Of the war and during
the greater part Of the month of
August the boys were out of an
artillery range for the first time
since the February previous. except
for three days at Lafolagrande.
They spent about a week in the town
of Samren near lie Ferte and it was
at this time that Company E was
filled UP with requirements. the
greater part Of these men coming
from the middle west. These re-
placements proved to be excellent
soldiers according to report. BY
train the troops were conveyed back
to the town Of Marcenay near
Chatelione Surseine and there Com
pany E spent the greater part of the
month Of August getting the new or
ganization into shape for further
work. The 2Sth of August the SOL
diers left Aarsenay for the st.
Mihiel salient. A part of the dis
lance was made by train but about
two weeks of the journey was ac-
complished by marching in the night
time and hiding in the woods day
times. During these nights Of
weary marching the roads were
jambed with trucks. artillery. am
munition and infantry, all in one
highway and this made travelling on
foot very difficult. About the first of
September the company arrived near
the place where the attack was to be
made. The next IL days were very
busy ones for the officers, who had
to make many trips into the front
line for observation as well as to
the rear line for information. 1t was
in this sector that Shumway dis
tinguished himself. This attack
was we'll prepared for, the best Of
any so far and on the night of Sep
TENDER IL. Company E went into the
line. 1t was rainy and dark and
things were somewhat confused. but
by midnight everybody was in posi-
ton in dugouts with lanes cut
through barbed wire in front. At one
o'clock sharp, hell literally broke
loose and the artillery preparations
were started. The noise was ter
rife. but this cheered the men on
and filled them with abundant cour-
age for they knew support Of the
right kind was behind them. At
7.45 everybody was in position to
jump off. Z Company at this time,
and for the first time, had support
position but had one platoon in the
front line. At o'clock a. NJ. sharp
everybody moved forward and z
Company got outside Of the danger
zone without losing a man. Things
had been found much easier than
expected, in the attack, one man. a
Texan was killed and II were wound
ed out Of the company. After Com
pany E had gone about 1000 yards.
the capturing of Germans was be-
gun. The Germans at this time
were not putting up any resistance
scarcely at being taken. in great
contrast to their attitude in July.
During the first days fighting Com
pany E went about 10 killometers
and the battalions captured about
1000 prisoners. That night they
rested in an old German trench and
went ahead, at daylight the next
morning. BY noon they had driven
through to the Wovre Plain and cap
tured the town Of Melville, a German
rail head where much booty was
found. including a good supply OF
food. 1t was here that Company E
united with the organization coming
up the other side of the salient,
thus cutting off the st. Mihiel
Salient. Our troops were i'm
mediately relieved here by the
French soldiers and were taken
back where they rested for about
two weeks They then went in line
in front of the famous Leseparges
Ridge. After doing the usual front
line and support duty here for a
time they were relieved by the 10th
Division and started to hike to Yer
dun to take part in the operations
there. They went into line about
October 18th, taking over front line
position in front of Bots d. Haumont.
which they held for about one week.
During that time there were a large
number of casualties. The Ger
mans were within 200 yards of our
boys at that time and kept up their
up their machine gun and Smelling.
After doing their usual duty here in
tho brave manner which character
lied their labors in the World War.
the boys went back to rest in dug
outs in SIDE of a hill. but the
Germans still continued their deadly
work Smelling with gas and artillery
back in that position and many were
evacuated to the hospital.
Capt. Healy was gassed on Novem-
Der and the gas and exhaustion
proved too much for him and COL
lapse followed. What was left Of his
company, about 40 in number went
ahead with the Battalion which was
commanded by Major Shumway and
continued on with the remainder Of
the drives until the armistice was
signed. During this time Sergt.
Brooks Savage Of Skowhegan and
Sergt. Hillary Leclaire Of Jackman
were both wounded. When the
armistice was signed there were
great celebrations on the part Of the
Germans. who lighted wonderful
fireworks, etc. The men Of Com
pany E literally dropped in their
places and slept. so completely ex-
hausted were they.
The greater part Of the time after
the signing Of the armistice prior to
the return of Company E to the
States was spent at Montigny and La
Mons areas, where the men were
engaged in drilling. keeping in good
physical condition with very light
work and with considerable time,
each man to himself. 1t is probably
not necessary to add that the men