The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-05-22

to hear the members of one organiza-
ton in that division criticise orknock
any other organization in the divi-
sion. 1t was commanded. during the
war by Major General Menoher, who
was loved by every man in the divi-
sion, and it was a source of great re-
eret to all that he was relieved from
command after the war and sent to
Washington as chief of the air SER
vice.
South Carolinians in Chateau Thierry
Drive.
The 117th Engineers. to which
regiment | was attached from the be-
ginning of the Chateau Thierry cam
paign until we landed in Germany,
was made up of three companies from
South Carolina forming the first bat
talon, three companies from Califor
MIA forming the second battalion and
the engineer train from North Caro-
lima. The full strength of the regi-
ment was practically 1850 men, and
from the regimental commander to
the lowest ranking private they we're
men through and through. They have
performed every service imaginable
except the airplane and submarine.
In the Chateau Thierry drive they
built roads and bridges under shell
fire when it was almost unbelievable
that their tasks could be completed;
their work in building bridges across
the Ourcq, river under direct observa-,
tion of the enemy was marvellous;
this work was performed by units of
the 1st battalion from South Caro-
lima. These men would work with
picks and shovels all day making
roads passable for the ammunition,
rations and artillery and at night
would be held on the alert waiting
for the time to go lover the top' as
infantry. Filling a gap between the
S3rd and Saith infantry brigades, the
engineers made the farthest advance
of the 42nd division in this cam
paign. The next day when the other
organizations were resting, the en-
gineers were split up into details to
repair roads and bury the dead. 1t.
was during this campaign that my
chief, the division secretary of the
Y. NJ. G. A., cautioned me not to let
the men of my regiment get the i'm
preston that I was scared. My re-
ply was, Hell; I am scared, and the
man that says he isn't is a liar or
fool" I was, however, to furnish
each company with supplies every
day during this campaign. When the
division was relieved from this front
we all expected a rest, but shock
troops were needed for the St. Mihiel
drive and, of course, the 42nd divi-
sion was hiked up above Toul for
this scrap. In this engagement de-
tails from the engineers were used
with the artillery, with the tanks,
with the signal corps, with the in
fantry and as engineers for the pur-
pose of keeping the roads open. Eight
of our men were sent out at night
to locate the position for the infan-
try laying white tape to indicate to
the infantry the course for them to
take, and while these eight men were
lying in shell hole waiting for the
infantry a shell landed amongst
them, killing seven and severely
wounding the eighth man, who was
brought back to the Y. NJ. C. A. tent
at Ansauville, which was being used
as dressing station.
Outfit Again Moved Up.
When the fight was over and Ger
man prisoners had been brought back
until we were tired of looking at
them, the engineers were ordered to
construct positions in order that we
should be prepared against counter
attack from the enemy. On the
night of October 1 the outfit was
moved in French trucks up from part
of the Argonne Forest to Very and
Exermont. Here they were again
called upon to act as reserve infantry
at night and engineers during the
day. The roads were in miserable
condition and it was necessary that
the engineers put them in shape for
the division to function. After the
position was constructed and the
Germans were driven back, we hiked
towards Sedan.
At one point on Sunday orders
were received to move headquarters
to town named Verrieres. I went
up with the advance party On horse
back Monday morning and when we