Evening journal., 1919-06-04
mSrORY OF COMPANY ~.

ON September 81, 1918, Company "k',
59h pioneer Infantry, with a total
strength OF six officers and 23l men,
eniralned at Foulain llauie-Marnel for
Clermont (Meusel, arriving at the lat
ter point early in the morning Of sep
tember 2s. 1915
Orders were received on September
80 1918, 10 proceed 90 Esncs and report
to a detachment Of the 27th Engineers
FOR duty on narrow gauge railway con-
siruction. This was accomplished on
the same date by marching a distance
Of thirteen mHes. The duties of the
company at this place were TO pre-
pare road bed for connecting a
French with a German narrow gauge
railway system which had just been
captured by the American forces. The
point where work was performed was
about Z kilometers northeast Of Esnes,
and the time engaged was from Octo-
Der 4. 1918. to October Z, 1915 During
the entire stay at this point the com
pany was under shell fire. including
considerable gas.
on October 3. 1918. orders were re-
ceived from Engineer headquarters Of
the First Army to report 10 Captain
Owit Horton. Company "Fr. 26th Engi-
neers. on army water supply at Reel
court After receiving the compliments
Of Lieutenoni-Coioncl Payne. Engineer
Officer in charge Of the light railway
system. the company marched TO Reci-
'ourt. arriving there about > p. m, on
October :. 1918
Two details were drawn from the
company on October 3. 1918. one con-
sisting OF b enlisted men with Lieutcn-
ant Herbert W. Wier IN charge. who
proceeded 10 the BOis de Nl0ntiaucon,
about kilometers south Of Nl0ntfau-
con. the other with as enlisted men.
commanded by Lieutenant u. B Gala
CHER. was stationed in the Bois de
Cheppy. about kilometers north or
Avoucouri Each Of these details in
stalled a water tank. and did the neces-
sary paving to permit access TO the va
rious nlling points. They were assist
ed in this work by plumbers end pipe
filters from the 26h Engineers. Both
these detschmonis were under shell lire
snd air raids during the entire time
they were engaged Lieutenant Wier's
detail reported back to company head
quarters on October 10, 1918.
on October Q. 1918 another detail
81 30 enlisted men. With Lieutenant
John J Laffcrty in charge. was sent TO
Montfaucon for the purpose Of install
ng a pumping station at that place.
Al this time the enemy was making
fonifaucon a target for the artillery
and the detail was under she'll fire con-
tinuously. Details were being drawn
from the company at different inter-
walls. one under the charge Of Ser
veants George A. Hudson and William
Coover installed tanks, horse
.roughs and pavements at Gesne. Cier-
yes. Somerence. st. Georges, Bayon-
vile. Sammouthe and Baumont. This
detail az times was very-close 20 the
front line and always in considerable
danger
on October u. 1918. Lieutenant Cal
lasher's detail moved from the Bois de
Cheppy 10 one and a half kilOmeters
north OF Montfaucon and joined forces
with that Of Lieutenant Lahierty. They
Installed a pump. tank and about four
hundred feet Of four-inch water pipe
and did considerable paving. They also
constructed a 1850 gallon w1ter tank
at NantillOs.
The company was ordered TO move
IT'S headquarters from Recicourt TO
Cierges on October 26. 1918. and this
was accomplished by marching part oi
ME distance and being met by trucks
" the 26lh Engineers. Daily details OF
4 enlisted men were sent from this
,lace TO Nontfaucon to locate a leak in
he faulty water main that had been
captured by the Germans Another de-
lail OF one officer and 20 enlisted men
vas sent TO Romagne 10 install paving