Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-03-27
The Last Days Fight.


On the evening of November 10th,
1918, the second battalion of the 356th
Engineers was ordered to proceed by
forced march to point on the Meuse
river, where we were to effect cross
ing at any cost, in order to take a
strip of timber situated to our north
and east, the position being strong
one. The battalion marched along
the main highway which ran nearly
parallel to the river in order that they
might reach their point of crossing in
the shortest time possible.
During the advance along this road
the battalion was subjected to an ex-
tremely heavy Smelling from German
batteries located on the opposite side
of the river. A large farm house,
situated to the right, was converted
into first aid dressing station, and
shortly after this our crossing the riv-
er was carried out in most orderly
and systematic manner, each one do
ing the part assigned him in cool
and creditable way while shells were
falling like hail stones, exploding in
the air, in the water, as we'll as on the
banks of the river, the pontoon
bridges being nearly destroyed by the
density of the she'll fire. However,
the engineers were equal to the occa-
sion by replacing the scattered parts
each time, and to add to the confu-
sion the fog was of the densest. In
addition to all this, the Germans COM
menced sending over gas, making it
necessary for the men to wear their
masks, rendering it impossible to dis
tinguish an object, no matter how
close it might be, causing no small
number to be drowned by missing the
bridges.
We all got over the river near the
ed to point about three hundred
yards from the river, and halted in
low and swampy place, the water and
mud being knee deep. The tempera.
ture at this time was at the freezing
point and great many of our SOL
diers suffered frozen feet, as we re-
manned there nearly four hours be-
fore receiving the order to advance in
the direction of our objective. Our
advance from this position was over
fairly steep rise, and then along a
road which was raked with German
machine guns, making our advances
extremely slow and difficult to main
tain. The dampness and fog made it
impossible to locate their gun inn
placements, so that we might silence
them.
At this point our battalion made
fifth division, it being our duty to leap
frog them and carry on the drive,
which was accomplished without de-
lay. We then proceeded with our
drive, gaining our objective, while at
all times being subject to the heaviest
of artillery and machine gun fire and
gas, making the going through the
timber extremely hard. We sur
mounted all these difficulties, reach
ing our final goal about O'Clock A. NJ.
the morning of November 11th. Then
we were directed to dig ourselves in
to await further orders. At nearly
noon we were ordered to form in
line of combat groups for the purpose
of advancing on town on our left
and cleaning it out. After we had
proceeded but very short distance
we were again halted and ordered TO
stand by our guns. At the expiration
of few moments our commander re-
ceived the word that the armistice
had been signed, effective at II o'clock
and all firing was to cease at that
hour. We then returned to the point
where we had previously "dug in"
and proceeded to celebrate the great
victory with whatever means at hand.
Will close, hoping soon to return to
the good old U. S. A.!
PRIVATE HERBERT LLOYD,
90. F, 356th Inf, A. P. 0. 761.