Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-03-20
and rest our almost exhausted bodies.

But on we went to a new position.
Destruction was everywhere. The
roads were blocked with wagons and
dead horses. We passed the scene
winch but short time before had
been our objective" There were
shell holes everywhere. We pulled off
the road through field and again
went into position. The guns were
laid and it was just getting dark when
we laid down for aslittle rest, but it
was short. And so our work went on.
We passed the city of Colin and kept
on travelling northeast toward Fismes.
Our last position on this front was at
ST. GILES, a little city close to Fismes.
1t was while were in this position that
our Infantry crossed the Vesle river.
and it was Company G of the 121th
infantry, from Madison, Wisconsin,
that finally took Fismes and started
toward the River Aisne.
Our work ON this sector was done.
We pulled out and went to the rear
for a days rest. At ten O'Clock the
more northerly sector.
All night that procession moved on.
At daybreak the next morning we
stopped half an hour to feed the
men and horses. But it was a short
rest; we were soon on the road again
and continued our march the rest of
the day without rest or food.
Village after village went by, still
the caissons went rolling along until
we came to the ancient little village
of Pierrefonds.
We pulled into the woods above the
village and prepared for nights rest,
but Fritz was there with his bombing
planes almost before we were settled
He bombed us all night and it was
only toward morning that we got a
chance to sleep.
The next day we spent in exploring
wonderful castle down in the vii
lage. The castle was or ginauy built
by the Romans ard was partly de-
strOyed in the 18th century. 1t was
rebuilt again and was used by Louis
XIV and also by Napoleon. During
the war of 1871 the Prussians used it
as military headquarters. It has
been bombed continually during this
war, but it is made Of soft stone and
the damage has been slight. 1t is
more wonderful than any picture
ever saw Of a castle or any story that
I ever read about one.
SIX a. M, on August 20 found us
again travelling due east. We were
then about 80 kilometers north of
scissors. We crossed the Aisne river
about noon and then passed through
the shell wrecked city Of Vic-Sur-
Aisne. This place had once been a
beautiful city on the banks of the Ais
ne river, but there was nothing but
ruins left of it now. We passed on
through the city of St. Christophe to
the little town of Autreches. We eS-
tablished our main echelon here and
pitched pup-tents. 1t clouded up but
it didn't rain-nothfng less than
bombs. Fritzs aeropIanes were over
us all night.
of water but we just turned over and
went to sleep. We were up at $50,
watered our horses, ate our breakfast
and then fed and groomed our horses.
The cannoneers had the rest of the
day off because the next day would
find them in the lines again.
1t was my birthday-the day that |
became old enough to vote. How
would I celebrate? 1t was a day OF
rest. | was thankful for that, but
still I wanted to go some place or do
something out of the ordinary routine.
The. day was hardly begun when I
heard that three old pals of mine from
battery C had been killed that morn
ing about daybreak. 1t sure made
me feel bad, but it was all in the
game.
Just after dinner pal of mine and
] walked down to Vic-Sur-Aisne. We
looked the city over and started back
about 4 o'clock. We stopped at the
village of st. Christophe for drink
of water, but French soldier told me
w
he invited us to have some wine. We
had two bottles of WIN Rogue and
were about to leave when a French
sergeant came up and invited us to
stay for supper We didn't need
second invitation.
The party consisted of three
French soldiers, my pal and myself
The meal, which was served by an old
lady whose house we were then in,
was served to us in courses. The menu
of this birthday supper was: Sau-
sage and bread roast veal, cabbage
and brown potatoes, corn (canned),
cheese and bread, nuts, cigars, cigar
cites, wine.
We sat and struggled at a CONVEX
sation for long time after the meal,
and then the little party broke up.
But before we left we wanted to thank
the old French lady that had cooked
this fine meal We found her in the
yard, which before 1914 had been a
boo,+;f,,I r1Ioon h11+ WAS now nilPd full