Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-07
Rock Island Artillerymen
+ Get First Taste of Heavy
Fighting in the St. MihieL


couville.
On the morning of the 18th the
battery as a whole moved to the
woods near GirOnville arriving
there at p. m. At 8 p. m Sept.
15>the battery started for its new
position in the Argonne. After
marching six nights Battery r.
men and animals in good cUndi-
ton. set at once in preparing for
the long and severe Neuse-Ar-
gonne offensive
On Sept &c from gun position on
Hill 29e the battery did It's part
in covering the advance or the
Ninety first division towards Very
The battery ceased firing at 1910
a. m. Sept. p, to advance through
AVocOurt to crossroads az Cheppy
Here Battery f pulled into posi-
ton and started Aring in Just nine
minutes. on Oct. 4 the battery aj-
vanced through Very 10 position I'm
Hell's valley, echelon remaining
two HlOmeters In rear Of firing
battery. The battery NJ sooner
settled in Hell's valley whom or
dered to lay down a harraEe on
the Bots de Money and Hin 255
for the advance OF two companies
OF the Goth infantry OF the First
division. 1t was at THE time that
the battery did its most rapid fr-
ing, and yet with all its speed the
barrage was perfect. The next day
we reioined the Ninety-Grst divls-
ion. The battery remained in thiG
position until Oct. II, having join
ed the Thirty-second division when
It relieved the Ninety-frst divis-
ion on Oct z. and participated IN
an the severe fighting during thss
period. working night and day. on
Oct. 10 the battery began a march
to Vile sur Cousances, just I'm rear
Of the lines, for rest and reequip-
ment.
Here the battery turned its
horses, or what was left OF them.
to the 122nd and 124th feld artil-
lery, and the 123rd field artillery
on Oct. 20 proceeded by marching
and trucks to railhead head Soul
ly. A. | p. m. the battery entrain-
ed for Vignory. arriveing there a.
l a m. Oct 30, approximately IS
from there by marching TO Dou-
laincourt, IS kiIometers distance.
Here the battery received in
place of horses. trucks and trac-.
tors. The signing of the armistice'
on Nov. IL found Battery + still in
Doulaincourts being equipped with
reconnaissance cars, motorcycles,
and the like. Although eager to-
again be at the front with this fine
kilometeTs distant, and proceeded
new equipment. such was not our
lot, but our consolation was that
we had delivered to the Hun 265s-
tons OF hot steel.
After the armistice the battery
was occupied with drilling, guard
duty and sports of all kinds. Bat-
terry F as usual tool9 more than its
share of the honors in the field,
and If their guidon is noticed IL
will be seen thereon some decora-
tons Affirming the above.
On Dec. 26 at 10 a, m. the bat
terry left Doulaincourt via motor
trucks for Stenay, France; arrived
at Naives p. m, leaving there at
8 a. m. Dec. q, arrived at VerduE
l D. M, leaving Nerdun at 2:30 p.
m, arrived at Stenay ut 1880 p.Vin.
Dec. 81.
Having drilled at Stenay until
Jan. Z. 1919, the battery left by
trucks for Lintgen. Luxemburg.
there to become a part of'the army
OF occupation, where it arrived in
the afternoon of Jan. 7. and here
rejoined its own division, the Thir-
ty-third. The battery remained in
the army of occupation but three
days, as the Thirty-third divisiOnt
became part of the Second army
until April 1. when the Thirty
third was again made n part OF the
Third army, or army OF occupa-
Lion.
During all the time Battery p
began its real trials It was and /
remains in comma Il OF Captain
Swedberg. and formed a part of
the not only now but always IA
nous Third battalion under COM
mand OF Major Ralph W. Cavan-
augh. II is a known fact that Bat
terry F is one of the most eXtraOr-
binary and efficient batteries in the
American EXpeditionary forces.
and that their initiative, Originate
ty and resourcefulness caused them
to be conspicuous, and We lay our
remarkable successes to the men
who performed their difficult tasks
so cheerfully and with such Cour-
age. and that we are Battery r or
the Third battalion, and part or
the highly praised and efficient
123rd field artillery, under COM
mand of Colonel Charles G.. Davis.
Evidence of the above can he found
in the many citations and COM
mendatiOns received.