Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-11

IN very interesting letter to the
Harrisburg Telegraph, written by
Sergeant G. r. Skunk. 1884 Regina
street, of Machine Gun Company,
112th Infantry, he recites the history
of his unit, in which are many
Harrisburg boys. Sergeant Skunk
says:
From July the date on which
the 2Sth entered the front lines until
November II the date of the armis-
tice, the 2Sth Division Pennsylvania
National Guard, served a total OF
III days out of 131 days in the
front line.
I'VE left our homes early in Sep
tembCr, 1917, and were sent to
training camp at Augusta, Georgia,
where we were known as the Penn
sylvania Land improvement Com
pany. After things were all fixed
up in fine shape we settled down
for intensive training which lasted
until May 1, 1918, when we were
sent to Camp Upton, l.. l., and from
there sailed for overseas. We land
ed in Liverpool May IA. marched to
railroad station and entrained for
Folkstone, England, stayed there
one-half day and were sent to Dover.
Left Dover May 16, and crossed
the English Channel to Calais,
L rance, where our IldTu WOlh DGBih'
We were quartered in an English
rest camp where fifteen men slept
in one tent ten by ten feet. Left
l p. m. May 19, marched four miles
to railroad station and entrained for
Lumbres arriving there at p. M.
hiking ten miles to Waterdale where
we were billeted in tents and still
hungry. Rations very poor all we
got was English hardtack and
cheese. Left Waterdale May % at
8 p. M. hiked to Auesques where
we received more hard tack and
! cheese, then hiked on to lie Vast.
Here we lived with the cows, the
bearded goat and the pigs shared
our DE Hote.p Left here June IL,
hiked three days arriving at Wav-
erns here we entrained for Trem-
blay. Left here June 23 for a hike
to Busieres where we stayed until
July 3, drilling every day. At a. m.
July call to arms sounded, moved
off at 2 a. m. hiked twenty miles to
Fays wood, arriving there at a. m.
left that same day at 2:30 p. m.
marching back eight miles to La
| Grande Forest" stayed here for the
night until $3.50 a. m. then continued
our hike back to Bussieres at 8 p.
m. call to arms sounded again NOV
ed off at o p. m. back to the Grande
Forest where we were held in re-
serve under shell fire all the time,
stayed in this position until July
s, then the second platoon moved
into a new position above "Chezy
sur Marne." Held these positions
until July 13 when we moved up
within six kilos of Chateau-Theirry.
I'VE were in these positions when
on the night of July IA, Jerry
10 driN nj r. a
loose all the iron rations' available
and from IL o'clock that night until
noon July 18th compelling us to
wear gas masks for ten hours. Our
casualties were heavy. Remained in
these positions until July IS, then
relieved by the 111th Infantry and
the 109th NJ. G. Bn., moved back to
"Courlorn." The first and third pla-
toons were sent to positions. then on
the goth, Jerry" had retreated and
we moved that night.
Left in trucks this time to "Charly
sur Marne." arriving there at II
p. m. At three p. m. we started
once more on hike through Bel
leau Wood and Chateau Theirry 12
hours back of Jerry" More casual
ties. 1t was a bright moon light
night and one would see many dead
Germans along the road, fires were
still burning. Pulled in large
woods for the night. moved two
miles further and pitched tents. at
a. ~. Jerry started shelling and we
had to dig in. After digging in we
received orders to move. left at
1880 a. m. July 23. filed through
heavy rain until p. m, arriving in
big woods near Etrepilly. The
woods was full of dead Germans
| and horses. Moved again at mid
night July 23 was supposed to go
into action 1920 a. m. but moved
back and forth all day. Stopping
at s p. m. in a wood back of Epieds
where we relieved the 26th Division.
Here we lost our first man (killed)
five minutes after entering woods.
Stayed here during the day. Jerry"
shelling occasionally. Moved at 8
p. m. four miles to rear. Just got
out in time for Jerry let loose his
iron rations and bombs again with
tons of gas shells.
From here we hiked to "Tere
Woods" arriving there at p. m.
| July 26, was held in these woods
under heavy fire until August 3, then
| moved at p. m. through Courmont.
Ciergers and Dravengny. Arrived in
woods back of Dravengy at a. m.
Moved again at 9 a. m. August 5 to
| "Chery" and stayed for the night.
Left Cherry at 8 p. m. August 9Th
and hiked to Coulonges arriving
there at $3.50 a. m. August z. Stayed