Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1919-02-07

one was very much worn out, but We
had not much more than settled down
before orders came to move up front
again. We started north and two
days later halted in the st. Mihie
section. Our boys went into the
trenches Immediately and we were SC
close to the Germans at this time
we all had to live in dugouts. You
could look right into the German
front line trenches from our advane.
ed posts and every time you stuck
your head over the top of trench
some Germans sniper would take a
shot at you.
The German line in this section
formed a wedge extending down to
st. Mihiel, and when we heard the
plans for the coming attack the Amer
leans were to make drive on this
wedge both from the east and west
with the idea of cutting off the main
body of the enemy and preventing
them from getting back to their own
troops. The boys | was with were to
go from Moulley to Hotton1 Chatel.
The night before the battle was to
begin the commanding officer tried
to get me to go to the rear as he did
not want me to be too much exposed
to danger but | thought it would be
more fun to stay with the boys, so
instead of going back went up front
to the most advanced hospital station
to help care for the wounded and as
sist the stretcher bearers bring them
in from the field.
The battle started the next morn
ing at one o'clock with terrific ar
tilley from our guns on the enemy
positions. This lasted until seven
o'clock when the infantry was to
move forward and try to get posses
sion of the German positions. When
onr boys went "over the top" / went
with them. ! must admit however,
that | did not lead the way. The
attack was such a surprise to the Ger
mans that they did not put up such
resistance as everyone expected
so we got what we went after with
comparatively small losses. We cap
tured lots of artillery and ammuni-
ton and took large number of pris-
oncrs.
In making my woy across what had
just been mo mans land" at the be-
ginning of the battle the going was
SO rough and the barbed wire entan-
clements so thick that a good portion
of my clothes were torn off as well
as some skin. That afternoon /
found a dugout which the Germans
had run away from just little while
before. In their haste to get away
they left behind lot of their equip
ment. found such articles of cloth
ing as | needed and lost no time in
the change. Then | made
meal off of German black bread, jam
and sugar which we also found in the
same dugout. Two days later when
| sot back to headquarters | had on
50 much Of the German uniform that
| could hardly tell by looking at my
self whether | was German pris-
oner or an American.
This WAS the second great victory
for the Americans land as these men
had been on the front nearly all the
time for more than six months we all !
thought there would be long rest !
and the men have an opportunity to
20 on leave to Paris. The army
thought otherwise. While
he Germans were on the run they
must be kept moving. A few days
alter we received orders to move on
% Verdun.
Verdun is the most historic spot in
france as well as the most strongly
certified. 1t was here that the Ger
nan Crown Princes army tried so
desperately for several months to
Freak through the French lines. Hun
lreds of thousands of men lost their
ives. The town and forests for miles
around are shot all to pieces, and the
ground is just one mass of shell holes.
The French say a soldier is not sol
lier until he has fought at Verdun,
10 everyone was rather pleased with
he order to go there and have try
1t things. If we had known just what
We were going into we might have
.elt little different about it.
I'M