The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-02-14


OF the Battle of Gettysburg
And each inspired with bravery
Was ready for Won Hindenburg
We had not hoped 10 be mentioned in
history
That would be hitching our cart to
star
But we do hope that in the near
future
Wen be noticed by the G.. A. r.
Not all braves wore blue at Gettys-
burg
For some fought in Rebel gray
And their grandsons united in khaki
Are the ones that are winning to-
day:
And to our comrades OF &c
We owe our do or Die"
For they started the battle for De-
Which shall close in the near by
and by.
We had our orders to take certain
hill
Which some said could never be
done,
TIE HlSl lOui VI WI '"'
Ting.
Rid said hill Of its Hun.
But not all had gone well
Even though Fritz" had suffered
defeat
For my pal and comrade Runge
Had fallen dead at my feet.
Twas hen that | thought of Sherman
And those true words which he
said;
Also when we reached our objective
They told me Jack PurtOn was
dead.
Now Jack was our top sergeant
And Bon bon" pal was he
So far they had killed two of my pals
And had very near gotten me.
Should ever meet their parents
| would tell them the glad. sad
story
How their sons had willingly fought
and died
For the protection of Old Glory
We should never indulge in hatred.
We should love our enemies, they
say.
But Uncle Sam paid dear for two
thousand Huns,
By losing two sons that day.
For the second day of the drive,
| have but little 10 report,
For it was the colonels orders
That we remain in support.
But we saw some very brave fight
ing
And it tickled us every one;
To see those Germans a-scattering,
AS the Yanks appeared with their
guns.
Third day brought more fighting
Than any of us had seen
However we kept on going
And shooting with an eye that was
keen;
We were fighting at n disadvantage,
For we left our artillery in the rear
And were meeting Boche machine
Plus their big guns that were near.
/ They were also using their gas,
But this gave us no hurt
For we We're on to such tricks,
And wore our masks Eat alert"
! BY evening we had taken some
woods.
We thought it no more than right
Since the Germans had given us this
| forest,
To sleep with their dead that night
Now the night was dark and rainy
Only sentinels remained awake;
IT. Il
If Fritz tried any fake.
But he was too glad to be silent,
He was studying how he could win;
For he knew if he disturbed those
/ dough5ovs
They would never stop short OF
Berlin.
At six o'clock next morning.
We again went cover the Top"
All at once machine guns opened fire
And shrapnel began to drop.
Some gas was shot to our right,
| heard them give the alarm
But didn't put on my mask
For got hit in the arm.
The bullet lodged in nv shoulder,
A pal got one in his ham
We went back together,
But we felt like saying damn"
For we were leaving comrades il
Il battle
4 And knew they would push ahead
That many of them would be wound
ed
While others be left there dead.
Yes. there were more casualties,
But that is a part of the game.
Yet if knew them all personally,
| would gladly mention each name
Ray Carnes and Vic Harkey,
Both true Americans by birth,
Proudly sacrificed for Democracy,
Their last gift on earth.
Now | am coming to the end of ny
story,
am sorry have not said much
But I'm glad it's written in American
And not one word of it Dutch
Now, grandfather, send me sugges
ton.
II will help us always to win,
And in order get it quickly,
Address it: Roy Deselms, Berlin
Written by Corporal Roy E. De
, iselms. Company G., 18th Infantry
35lh Division, A. E. F.
County Board in Session.
3 The county board was in session thi
=