The Holly chieftain., 1919-01-23
CORP. PIERCE IS
NOW in FRANCE
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train to point near Nancy and
spent a couple of weeks there and
at Luneville on the front. We fired
some and saw little of war but
had no casualties. Our horse line
was at ROsieres, where we had
nice time. This was the only place
where remained at the horse line.
| made only one trip to the front
here We returned from Luneville
to winter around GondrecOrst.
In January we hiked to Carnie-
vile and took up an old French pO-
sition nea, Montsic on the German
side and Beaumont and Mandres
on the French side. This was the
position northwest of TOul that the
papers spoke of at the time. Our
battery position was position No.
1870 and | think no one who was
there will ever forget it. 1t was OF
steel and concrete dugOuts situat-
ed in what was almost a swamp. Be-
ing an old position close to the OBJ
servatories on Montsec. 1t was well
known to the Germans. At first
everything was quiet but after we
began firing the Germans woke up
and the sector became lively. We
were shelled again and again but
our dugOuts always held. lived
at the battery during this time but
went nearly every day about l5 kill
ometers for ratiOns, keeping the
wagon and horses at Mandres, a
mile or so away. We had Dead
Mans Curve" near Beaumont to
pass every evening. 1t was an engi-
neer's dump and road which was
shelled frequently. Many men were
killed there but / always got by
this point 0. H., though ! was
caught several times on the road by.
shells, but they always missed me.
| was slightly gassed once
In April we were relieved and
sent to Picardy to stop the big Ger
man drive there The French check
ed it before we arrived but we took
a position near MOntdidier and it
was here the battle of Contigny was
fought and G battery cited for
keeping up an effective fire Under
furious gas commandment A
little later we retired to a position
farther back in the woods and We're
experience which we all enjoyed. We
had an easy time here and were
never fired on, though our horse
line was shelled and compelled to
retire farther back. In July we
were relieved and marched back. On
July Is we were in sight OF Paris
but suddenly we got orders and
turned back to meet the German
advance. This was the hardest hike
we ever made, night and day with
out food we hurried on, finally we
stopped, ate meal and the can
noneers were loaded on trucks and
sent forward. On the morning Of
July Is we struck them. Although
we placed our guns within mile
of the front line, they were soon out
of range and we moved forward ev-
cry day for four days. After week
or so we were relieved and sent to
Toul, where we built position
near Pont-a-MoussOn. After six
weeks here on this quiet, sector we
were relieved and sent back to be
motorized and rested and given
passes, etc.
But again we were turned about
and sent up for the st. Mihiel drive.
Our position this time was in the
rear of Beaumont a half mile from
1S0. which had been deserted. Our
relief finding it too hot to hold.
do not blame them for the Ger
mans finally succeeded in breaking
down the dugouts, and my old
bunk was a mass of splinters. Aft
Ell this drive which was made with
only slight losses. to the Americans,
we advanced slowly into the Argon-
he and finally took position west
of Verdun, where the first division
relieved National army division
which, by brilliant fighting, had
advanced over several kilOmeters,