Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-23


forward in pursuit of the remnants
Of Germany's retreating divisions
her best divisions at that.
On November TIN we caught up
with tie 9th division which we were
to relieve. They Immediately drop
ped back while our division took their
places in this great army advancing
upon the city of Sedan where the
French in 1870 were so severely de-
feated by the Germans.
On the afternoon Of November 6th
we halted on outskirts Of the town
of Harricourt and there prepared our
lines OF skirmish, and, with our
Brigade General Douglas Macarthur
at the head, surrounded the town. At
nightfall we plunged down upon the
enemy and established our headquar-
tiers in the town hall Here we held
forth until the division then coming
I'D from the road to relieve US ar
rived.
We billeted that night in an old
school house which the Germans had
evacuated a few hours before our ar
rival. Once more we were under sheit-
er, but not for long; for before we
had time to unfold our blankets for
the night, the lieutenant in charge
moved us out, lest the enemy might
lombard the town during the night.
We were permitted, however, to gath
sr up the straw bedding the Ger
mans hal left. and, carrying this, we
moved. out of the town into e wood
.earby. We had slept in the woods so
much that EXPLANATIONS OF "l1a! Tia:
back home again" were heard on all
sides.
The next morning our loathing for
he "Squarehead" had increased I'M
neasurably; for they had left their
s.cootics" in the straw bedding, which
.pon close examination, revealed a
iery unusual specimen-big red ones,
With stripes across their backs, and
the number would seem to indicate
that they had been overseas since the
lays Ct Bismarck.
On :he following morning the d.
iision that was TO relieve us arrived
md took over the city of Harricourt,
while we advanced to the. village of
%erier, arriving there on Sunday
avenirS. Hero we heard rumors Of the
,aimist!ce.
Our chaplain held services in a
church that night. The place was
packed with soldiers, dirty. tired, hun
cry, rnshaven doughboys there list
aning to the preaching of the gospel
amid the roaring of cannon from the
l.; ic+ inf
:hat scene. A number of colored sol
;liels, who were building the roads
nearby, sang old-time southern melo-
hes! a sergeant played an old or
g;.n. and we all tried to sing the
songs led by Chaplain Cobb. Then
came the sermon. Never will any
loughboy who was there forget his
opening remarks. Here they are as re-
:ordcd in the diary of the writer:
Boys we are a long, long way from
home, but not long time from home"
It was Sunday night, November 10th,
AIT no one had any idea that the
end Of our fighting was so near.
We were now happy in the thought
that for a. few days at least we were
Sit Of the fighting line. The next day
sye moved on to the village of Bre-
jucnay. and 4 o'clock on the after
aoon Of November 18th we were lined
~ ari informed of the signing of
The armistice. The feeling that crept
over Us might be expressed some
what as follows:% "The rainbow has
disappeared in yondcr sky, but if the
clouds of war again gather over our
land, the Rainbow (Division) will
come out again"
The Advance to the Rhine.
After hearing the terms of the
armistice we were at Brcquenay when
It reached US we did nothing but
speculate as to the time we would
probably be sent back to the States.
For several days we rested in this
little shell torn village, quartercd in
barns, stables, churches, and private
homes. We would sit around all day
and good part of the night draw
ing mental pictures of ourselves cat
tcg Christmas dinner at home. Of
course, our division would be the first
to go homel But it was just another
evidence of the fact that dreams sell
dom come true-at least as we eX-
pcctci them to.
Early one afternoon while we were
in he midst of these discussions, this
familiar command rang through the
air--'Roll packs and make it snappy"
and then we all had an opportunity to
engage in our favorite sport. known
in the army as Grabbing or in every
some of our favorites: Going for a
little walk, l suppose-25 or 80
miles ?" What do they think we are?
Mules" Pm off this birds army
for life, believe me; $3.50 per month
and SUM for being pack mule"
Late that afternoon we got started
and liked some three or four miles
to village called Landreville only to
find another regiment billeted there;
50 W. slept that night in field on