La Courtine, a village in the Department of Creuse, France, is surrounded by hilly country, the very nature of the hills affording ideal artillery range. La Courtine, therefore, was the site of a French artillery camp for many years.
The village is divided into two parts; that which is gathered around a progressive looking station, and part is on a hill, which part is called Hightown. Both parts are confined to one street, replete with bars and cafes.
It was to La Courtine that the 311th was bound after leaving Montmorillon. The French had turned the artillery camp over to the Americans and thither the 311th regiment was sent to get active and intense training in range fire with the use of the French 75's.
The troop special assigned to the regiment upon leaving Montmorillon was made up of box cars, many of which had recently been used to transport crude oil, evinced by the oil on the floor of the cars. Onto every box car was loaded anywhere from 36 to 50 soldiers and a supply of iron-rations for the trip.
Montmorillon was last seen at 10 a. m., September 4th, when the trip of box cars began to jolt and bang and back and switch over the rails, with the troops aboard making the best of the situation, reclining on straw that had been secured to partly cover the crude oil.
The route was through Dorat, Gueter, Busseau and Feletin. La Courtine was reached at 9 o'clock. As per usual the first few sections of the battery were left at the station as a baggage detail, while the remainder of the battery marched through the village to the camp on the outskirts.
The camp consisted of concrete barracks, with no lights at night and a majority of the windows broken. The floor and ceiling, however, was solid, which, at least, meant dry shelter during the nights of France's rainy season, soon to be experienced.
Besides having a majority of the window panes broken, the barracks bore marks of having been the target for machine-gun bullets. The exterior walls were pitted with holes. Battery D was not in camp long before the members knew the story of the Russian revolt that had been staged at La Courtine during the days of Russia's exit from the war. When Russia withdrew from the fighting Camp La Courtinesheltered Russian troops. When the crash came part of the Russian army encamped there revolted against a portion that sought to remain loyal to France. The result was battle. The revolutionists fortified the surrounding hills with machine-guns and opened fire on the barracks of the camp below. Many Russians were slain in the revolt and lie buried in a cemetery in the camp. The revolt was finally suppressed by a detachment of French cavalry dispatched to the scene.
Sleeping quarters at Camp La Courtine contained bunks made of two-inch plank, on which the Americans used their bed-ticks filled with straw.
Battery kitchens were set up the morning after arrival. The kitchens were located under a tented roof. Mess was enjoyed by the soldiers out in the open, as there was no mess hall for Battery D.
Except a slight rain the first day at Montmorillon, the four weeks spent by the outfit in Vienne Department were weeks of sunshine without a single day of rain, save the slight shower on the day of arrival. It was the declining days of the French dry-season. Advent of the outfit at La Courtine was with the rainy season. It rained the first night in camp and it kept raining almost continuously during the two months the battery spent at range practice.
The weather, however, affected no training schedules. The first days at La Courtine were given over to hours of intensive exercise, drill and instruction in all lines of artillery work. Specialty schools were started in orientation, telephone, radio, machine-gunners, etc.
It was at La Courtine that Bill Brennan and Joe Loskill, who accompanied the advance detail of the regiment to France, rejoined the battery. They had arrived at La Courtine several weeks previous to attend the machine-gun school. The machine-gunners, who left the battery at Montmorillon to attend the school, were also at La Courtine when the battery arrived.
Instruction was continued from early morning until nightfall. A large Russian cannon was discharged in the camp each morning at 5 o'clock, also at retreat time each night. Reveille was a daily formation but, as was the case at Montmorillon, retreat was suspended during the months the war continued. All energy was devoted to essential war-training formations.
Camp La Courtine housed a large and well-equipped American Y. M. C. A., presided over by a large and capable staff of secretaries. To a majority of the troops the Y. M. C. A. furnished greater inducement foran evening's entertainment than did the numerous wineshops down town, that always stood open and ready to receive the cash of the American soldiers.
On September 10th matériel began to arrive for the regiment. Within a few days the regiment was equipped with French artillery equipment, the field pieces being the famous French 75 millimetre guns.
It was the first time that a majority of the boys of the regiment ever came in contact with a 75. During the period of training at Camp Meade, Md., U. S. A., the old members of Battery D spent eight months in learning the 3-inch American field gun. It was an entirely new proposition when equipped with 75's and ordered to range practice.
Instruction was also started in equitation and harnessing. French artillery harness presented many new problems to the Americans. Many a soldier became highly exasperated in a vain attempt to untangle a set of French harness.
About twenty horses were furnished the regiment at La Courtine. Several motor trucks were also supplied, whereby sufficient traction was secured to drag the guns out among the surrounding hills for actual firing practice.
Battery D was not long in getting acquainted with the French 75's. On September 16th, just a brief span after the first instruction on the mechanism of the gun, the boys fired the first salvos on the range at La Courtine.
September 19th was the beginning of what was almost incessant work on the range. Rolling out at 5 a. m., the boys toiled on the range through the rain and mud, returning to barracks at 6:30 p. m.
Training continued in intensity. September 30th was one of the days reveille sounded at 4:30 a. m. The weather was miserable--rainy, windy, dreary. The battery left the barracks at day-break and hiked to the range with field-packs, to sleep in pup tents on range grounds, to be on hand early the following morning.
Gas masks and steel helmets were additional implements of war issued to the soldiers at La Courtine. Then followed hour after hour of gas instruction. Gas masks were carried by the battery on all hikes and drill formations. Besides adjusting the mask a countless number of times a day, a regimental order made it mandatory that the masks be worn for at least one-half hour continuously each day.
Influenzastruck the regiment while encamped at La Courtine early in October. On October 5th, the camp Y. M. C. A. was closed under quarantine. The quarantine in the regiment was accompanied by strict daily inspections. The barrack squad rooms were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected each day and all blankets were taken out for a daily airing.
There was a plentiful supply of ammunition at La Courtine. The battery spent the days at range practice when thousands of dollars worth of shells were fired at a great variety of targets from several different battery positions that were established.
While the battery was fitting itself at range practice, specialists were qualifying in all the attendant duties of artillery work. Toward the last of October it looked as though the outfit would soon see active service, as perfection in firing was rapidly being reached.
On October 15th the battery camouflage detail, headed by Sergeant Leo Delaney, of Pittston, Penna., began the construction of camouflaged gun positions on the range, after which Battery D participated in the firing of a brigade problem.
Several days previous, October 11th, William Reynolds, of Pottsville, Penna., was killed when acting as No. 1 man of the first gun crew, in charge of Sergeant James Duffy, of Parsons, Penna. Standing in the rear of the piece, Sergeant Duffy had given the command to fire. The execution of the command was immediately followed by an explosion in the gun's tube, a portion of steel flying and striking Private Reynolds, almost decapitating him. Nicholas Young, of Pottsville, Penna., acting as Number 2 man on the gun-crew, sustained a compound fracture of the leg. Gunner-Corporal John Chardell, of Hazleton, Penna., sustained injuries about the body which confined him to the camp hospital for several weeks.
Private Reynolds was buried in the American cemetery at Camp La Courtine on Saturday, October 12th, at 2 p. m., with military honors. This first casualty overseas awakened a new cord of sympathy among the battery members and it was with thoughtful determination they turned from the grave of their departed comrade and went back to their tasks of preparing for active war.
Training was continued amid rumors of early departure for active battle sectors. As early as October 10th orders were received for the outfit to prepare to move. Supply wagons, etc., were immediately packed. Days passed, but no transportation was in sight. Eachday the boys looked for an order to entrain, but the R. T. O.'s were not heard from.
Thrilling news of the final stages of the drives reached the boys through the Paris editions of the New York Herald and Chicago Tribune, that were sold in the camp each day. The news enthused the soldiers and thrilled them with the desire to move forward and get in on the grand finale. They had toiled early and late, in all kinds of weather, to learn how, and it is natural to presume that a red-blooded soldier yearned the opportunity to make use of that knowledge acquired with such sacrifice and toil.
While waiting orders to move the battery took up a new position on the range. A brigade firing problem including a night barrage was fired on October 21st, with the signal details at work with signal rockets.
The brigade problem, which was the last firing the battery did in France, ended on October 30th with the laying down of a defensive barrage. The problem required twenty-four consecutive hours.
On October 28th, First Lieutenant C. D. Bailey joined the battery at La Courtine. Lieut. Bailey was formerly of the ambulance service of the French army and the S. S. U., No. 5. and at that time, he was the only man in the regiment entitled to wear a French decoration.
Meanwhile the outfit was packed up in the main, and was ready to move at short notice. With the approach of November the boys thought their movement was assured and plans were laid for a "feed," consisting of a pig-roast, to be held on November 2nd.
Late in the afternoon of November 2nd death claimed First-Sergeant James J. Farrell, of Parsons, Penna., who died a victim of pneumonia. Sergeant Farrell, who was a regular army service man, was buried at La Courtine on Monday, November 4th.
The same day, November 4th, another battery member was claimed in death by Influenza. He was Private Horace Fardon, of Paterson, N. J., who was buried on November 5th. That evening at 6:55 o'clock Private First-Class Joseph A. Loughran, of Hazleton, Penna., fell a victim to pneumonia. Private Loughran was buried alongside Private Fardon, on the morning of November 6th.
Besides paying last military honors to their departed comrades the boys spent the days previous to the cessation of the fighting on the pistol range, developing their proficiency with side-arms.
Onthe evening of Wednesday, November 6th, a battery entertainment was staged in the auditorium of the camp Y. M. C. A. A mock trial was the feature of the entertainment.
On one of the trips to the pistol range, on November 5th, Private William Van Campen, of Ridgewood, N. J., walked into a loaded hand grenade, which he kicked. The resultant explosion caught him in the knee and incapacitated him on the hospital list. Corporal James F. Kelly, of Plains, Penna., almost collided with a grenade on the same trip.
An order was issued, November 9th, for front-line packs to be rolled; transportation was in sight. The inevitable delay resulted, however. All transportation facilities were busy hauling ammunition to the front where the Allies were giving the Germans the rain of fire that caused them to think seriously and quick about an armistice.
Entrance To Camp La Courtine, FranceEntrance To Camp La Courtine, FranceRoad Leading from the Village Street to the Artillery Camp. The Scene of the Armistice Celebration.
Entrance To Camp La Courtine, France
Entrance To Camp La Courtine, FranceRoad Leading from the Village Street to the Artillery Camp. The Scene of the Armistice Celebration.
American Y. M. C. A. At Camp La Courtine
American Y. M. C. A. At Camp La CourtineOfficers' Mess Hall of French Camp Used as a Recreational Center by the American Army.
November 11th, 1918, was a memorable day to the populace of La Courtine, France, as was the case in every hamlet, village, town or city in the world, when the news was flashed that Germany had accepted the terms of an Allied armistice and that fighting was to cease at 11 a. m. that day. The armistice that ended the World War was signed at 5 a. m., Paris time, and hostilities ceased six hours later, which was 6 o'clock Washington time.
The American troops encamped at La Courtine this eventful time received the tidings with great joy. The roads leading from the camp to the village were crowded with soldiers who paraded up and down in hysterical good humor. The crowds thronged into the village where the one main street was ablaze with celebration. The French populace were out to celebrate with the Americans. The cafes did a land office business. Wine flowed freely. The French kissed the Americans in some instances as the celebrators swayed through the street. The band was out. The crowds shouted, yelled, sang and cut-up all kinds of antics.
The scene, however, was similar to that enacted everywhere throughout the Allied world. The end of the fighting was officially announced and everybody was glad. The same hysterical good humor swayed the crowds at La Courtine that prompted like celebrations throughout the United States.
Great as was the enthusiasm and celebration of November 11th, the big gusto of celebration had been spent at La Courtine, as was the case everywhere else, on Thursday evening, November 7th, when a premature and unofficial announcement of the armistice was made.
Battery D spent the afternoon of November 7th on the pistol range. About 5 o'clock the news quickly spread that a bulletin announcing the end of the fighting had been posted at the Y. M. C. A. The bulletin was up only a short time when it was removed, with the explanation that it was unofficial, also contradicted.
But the anxious hearers, as was the case everywhere, wanted no denials. The enthusiasm of the hour made people speak of the thing which they had been hoping for as though it had come true. Consequently the enthusiasm led to celebration.
It was a gala night in La Courtine. The days following brought sober realization that the end had not yet come. Stern realities of warloomed big in Battery D circles on Saturday, November 9th, when a front-line pack inspection was in order.
A quiet Sunday followed, then, at noon on Monday, November 11th, came the authentic news of the armistice signing. Joyous celebration started immediately and assumed its peak during the afternoon when special passes were issued to the soldiers to visit in the village. The celebration continued until late at night.
Official recognition of the news was thundered from the cannon at Camp La Courtine at retreat, when a royal salute of twenty-one guns was fired.
The following day was also an off day for Battery D. Passes to visit the town were issued to half the outfit from reveille to 3 p. m., while the other fifty per cent were given the privilege from 3 p. m. until 11 p. m.
Word was received that the regiment was to entrain at La Courtine on November 14th. Preparations were immediately made for a farewell banquet. After great preparation by the cooks and the K. P.'s, the banquet was staged at 6 o'clock on November 13th, with stewed chicken as the mainstay of the menu. A number of the Y. M. C. A. girls were guests at the banquet.
Thursday, November 14th, the regiment had the task of getting its matériel to the station at La Courtine for transportation by rail to a new billeting area of France. No one could guess where it was to be or what the future held in store for the troops in the way of service and training during the months that were sure to intervene before it was a question of homeward bound.
The regiment was well supplied with matériel, but had no horses. A number of motor trucks were sought out to haul the heavier of the supply wagons. It was necessary for the soldiers to furnish the power to drag the guns and caissons from the camp to the station, a distance of over a mile.
The matériel was loaded on flat cars at the station. Then the soldiers were ushered to side-door Pullmans once again. Bed ticks were not emptied of their straw before leaving camp. Thus the soldiers entered the box cars with their bed ticks as a mattress to recline on the floor of the car.
The first section of flat cars and box cars with Battery D left La Courtine at 2:30 o'clock. Another seeing France by box-car trip was on.
Animprovement in mess enroute was experienced during this trip. A flat car was used for the rolling kitchen. Hot meals were prepared in transit. Back over the same route, through Feletin and Abusson, to the junction point at Busseau, the troop special proceeded, reaching the junction at 6:30 o'clock when mess call was sounded. Here the first section of the train waited until 8:27 for the arrival of the second section at the junction point.
It was dark when the trip was resumed. Deprived by the darkness from sight-seeing privileges, all that remained for the troops to do was to stretch out on the floor and try to sleep. The nights were long and dark while traveling in a French box car.
During the night the towns of Jarnages and Montlucon were passed. The train entered the Department of Allier, traveling Northeast, through Commentry, Villefranche, le Montel and Moulins.
Daylight was breaking by the time Moulins was sighted. Stop was made at Paray le Monial from 7:30 to 8 a. m., when breakfast was served from the flat truck dining car.
The next day, November 15th, was spent traveling through a beautiful stretch of country. The railroad ran almost parallel with the Boninoe river, a branch of the Loire. Through pasture lands and farming country, the road stretched along Palinges, Montceau, Changy, Beaune. A lay-over for lunch was made at Nuits St. Georges at 1 p. m.
In the afternoon stop was made at Dijon, where the troops got a chance to detrain and partake of refreshments that a corps of French Red Cross workers served at the station.
Soon after leaving Dijon darkness fell upon the troop special. The sun had not yet gone to rest. The famous tunnel between Sombernon and Blaizy-Bas had been penetrated. This tunnel, on the road to Paris, may be a note-worthy piece of engineering skill, but its designers evidently never dreamed of a troop special of thirty or forty old box cars, many with rust-corroded doors that could not be closed, whizzing through; leaving the passengers to eat up the exhaust from the smoke stacks of the locomotive.
At this time the troop train was headed Northwest, toward Paris, but hopes of getting near Gay Paree were soon shattered. When Nuits sous Ravieres was reached, switch over to another branch was made and the direction then was Northeast, toward Chaumont, the A. E. F. headquarters town.
Stopfor night mess was made at Les Laumes, where orders were also issued for the troops to get their packs ready as the outfit would detrain in about three hours time.
A heavy frost developed that night and the troops almost froze in the boxcars. After delay in getting started from Les Laumes the journey continued over a considerable longer period than three hours. Laigne and St. Colombre were passed and La Tracey, the detraining point, was reached at 3 a. m., Saturday, November 16th, 1918.
Reveille was not sounded until 6 a. m. During the interim most of the troops left the boxcars and built fires in the railroad yards, around which they sought warmth during the early morning hours.
The hustle to get all the matériel from the flat trucks started at 6 o'clock. A section of a motor transportation corps was dispatched to La Tracey to convey the regiment to its new billeting district. The motor outfit was late in arriving, but finally start was made. Three and four guns and caissons were attached to each truck, the truck loaded with soldiers and packs, then for a thirty kilometer race through the Marne Department in motorized artillery form. The last detail did not leave La Tracey until 4 p. m.
The first details arrived at Ville sous La Ferte, a small village in the Department of Aube. This village was the billeting center for the 2nd Battalion of the regiment. Regimental headquarters was established at Clairvaux, four kilometers from Ville sous La Ferte. The 1st Battalion went to Juvancourt, about a kilometer distant.
Farm lands and vineyards surrounded these villages. The inhabitants were of the quiet peasant type. With nothing of interest and no form of amusement, Ville sous La Ferte was a quiet place for Battery D. The battery was divided among a score of barns, lofts, sheds and houses, covering considerable length of a village street. A grist mill with its water-wheel and mill-pond was situated near the building in which the battery office was established. All formations were assembled in the street in front of the battery office. Difficulty was experienced during the stay at this place in getting the battery out at all formations, especially those members who were billeted in the loft of a barn at the extreme end of the battery street. As a remedy the battery buglers were given the job of traversing the street each morning and routing out the fellows.
It was mid-November. The days and evenings were getting damp and chilly. Fires were comfortable things those days, but heating stoves were unknown to the peasant homes of Ville sous La Ferte. Thehouses were equipped with fire-places. The big question, however, was to procure fuel. It was all the battery could do to get a supply of wood from nearby woodlands to supply the needs of the battery kitchen. At first the fellows started to make raids on the wood pile that came in for the kitchen, but this soon had to be stopped under necessity of suspension of the commissary department.
For many of the squads billeted in the barns and sheds there was no chance for warmth as there were no fire-places. During the damp, cold nights the only choice the inhabitants of those billets had was to roll in and keep warm under the blankets.
To chop a tree down in the numbered forests of France was to commit a crime, so the fellows who were in billets that did have fire places faced a series of crimes to get wood. The inhabitants of such billets took it upon themselves to devise ways and means to obtain fuel. The occupants of one billet sent details out to root up old fence posts from adjacent farm-lands; while in another instance eighteen men housed in a billet borrowed several French wheel-barrows and at night made a raid on a large pile of newly cut tree trunks which was located a kilometer from the village.
The result of this night's work provided fuel and light for several days in the billet of the raiding party. Light was another essential feature. With candles selling as high as a franc apiece, letter writing home was sadly neglected in many cases. So the receipt of an extra letter written by the light of a log-blaze, kindled with wood secured through great difficulty, has had to act as savoring repentance for any misconduct employed in acquiring possession of the means of light and heat.
The battery had among its equipment dozens of new horse-blankets. With the exception of a few stray animals, no horses had been received by the battery in France thus far. Several were in care of the outfit at Ville sous La Ferte, where six horses caused as much stable detail work as a complete battery of mounts occasioned at Camp Meade. The main feature, moreover, was the distribution of the horse-blankets among the troops in an effort to keep warm at night.
There was no room in Ville sous La Ferte to do any maneuvering, so the guns and caissons were parked in a field and were not used during the stay. The time of the soldier was employed in hikes and various forms of athletics. Soccer developed as the leading sport and great rivalry resulted in games that were played on furrowed ground of a large wheat field.
Warwas over, so official orders again gave birth to Retreat formation, which was held with much disciplinary ado in front of the Hotel de Ville at 4:15 o'clock each afternoon. Guard mount was also decreed and last, but not least, regimental reviews came into their own with great official solemnity.
On Thursday, November 21st, a wild boar hunt that had been planned by the battery, had to be called off. A regimental review was to be held at Clairvaux that afternoon.
The 2nd Battalion formed at 1 p. m. and hiked to Clairvaux with colors flying for the big review. A mix-up in giving commands "flunked" the first attempt at passing in review. The entire ceremony of dignity had to be executed a second time. Close order drill then came into its own. The following day, November 22nd, the battalion again hiked to Clairvaux, where another review was staged and the regiment kept at battalion close-order drill until 4 o'clock.
Sunday, November 24th, reveille sounded at 6 o'clock. Orders were given to make rolls preparatory to moving. When the soldiers were ready to move the order was changed. It was discovered that the motor trucks would not arrive until the following day.
The motor transportation squad was expected to arrive early on Monday morning. It was 9 o'clock at night when they arrived. Departure was delayed until next morning, but this did not keep back an order that called the battery out in detail during a heavy rain at 9:30 Monday night to pull the guns and caissons through the mud, from the field where they had been parked to the road, so that they could be attached to the motor trucks. There was a great tendency to "duck detail" that night.
Ville sous La Ferte was finally left in the distance, Tuesday, November 26th, at 10 o'clock. The soldiers and their packs had to pile in the few motor trucks that were furnished. A few of the boys rode the matériel attached to the trucks and had a wild ride. The rolling kitchen of the battery, with ovens blazing away, covered the roads at a fine clip behind a motor truck, with George Musial having his hands full trying to manipulate the brake.
The trip continued through Maranville and Bricon. Chaumont was circled about 4 o'clock and stop was made about twenty-one kilometers from A. E. F. Headquarters, at a sleepy little hamlet of about fifty houses and barns, called Blancheville.
A Battery D Kitchen CrewA Battery D Kitchen CrewPhoto Taken at Mess Tent at Camp La Courtine, France.
A Battery D Kitchen Crew
A Battery D Kitchen CrewPhoto Taken at Mess Tent at Camp La Courtine, France.
Group Of Battery D Sergeants
Group Of Battery D SergeantsCapts. Clarke, Smith, and Hall in foreground.
Blancheville, mud and mules are associated in memory of the holiday season of 1918-19 that Battery D spent in France.
It was Thanksgiving week when Battery D arrived in Blancheville. The auto convoy deposited the battery paraphernalia in the vicinity of the old stone church and graveyard that stood along the main highway as the landmark and chief building of the village. Nearby stood the only other building of import--a stone structure that housed a pool of water in the manner of the ancients. This was the public pool where the women of the village came to do the family washing, as the village was deprived of the natural advantages of a river. Watering troughs surrounded this wash-house on two sides. Twice daily the cattle and live-stock from all the village barns were led to this watering place. Water for drinking purposes was also supplied the village from a special fountain on the exterior side opposite the water troughs.
Mud was the chief characteristic of Blancheville. It was a farming community of unusual quietude. Plenty of barns and roosts were found in which to billet the battery. The natives were very hospitable. They readily chased out the cows and the chickens to make room for the Americans. The boys lived next door to animal nature. In one billet an adjacent room housed the live stock and it was not uncommon to have slumbers awakened by the cow walking into the sleeping quarters of the troops.
While in Blancheville the boys got used to the largest of the French rat species. During the hours of the night they traveled flat-footed over the faces and forms of sleeping soldiers, also played havoc with all soldier equipment stored in the billet. It may sound like myth, but it is a fact that a rat in one billet dragged an army mess kit across the floor--they were some rats.
On the road opposite the church stood an old, one-story stone building that was built in its present form, eight hundred years ago. The roof was overgrown with moss and one corner had started to crumble in from old age. In this building Corporals James Cataldo and Michael A. Tito, the battery barbers, set up a barber shop. They did good business after they were able to convince the battery in general that the roof would not cave in for another hundred years.
Thefirst day in Blancheville was spent in parking the guns and caissons, digging Latrines and the usual duties attendant upon establishing a new battery home. It was also a job in itself to make some semblance at getting some of the billets cleaned up and half fit to sleep in.
Reveille for the first few mornings was at 8 o'clock. Thursday, November 28th, was an off day for the outfit, except those on K. P., who got an extra job in preparing a battery Thanksgiving spread. The day was spent by the idle mostly in hiking over the roads and visiting some of the nearby villages where the other units of the regiment were quartered. Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Company, Supply Company, Battery C, and the Medical detachment were at Andelot, about four kilos from Blancheville. The 2nd Battalion Hqrs. and E Battery were at Cirey-les-Mareilles; A Battery was at Vignes; Battery B at Montot, and F Battery at Mareilles.
The town of Andelot, built in the shape of an amphitheatre on the slope which forms the base of the hill of Monteclair, is situated on the banks of the little river Rognon, 21 kilometers from Chaumont, seat of the Department of Haute Marne.
On this hill of Monteclair, on which there was a strong-castle during the years 101 to 44 B. C., Caesar established a camp. Under Constantine (306 A. D.) Andelot became the seat of a province. A Court of Champagne fortified the position of Monteclair (440 A. D.). On the 28th of November, 587, the treaty of Andelot was made between Gontran, King of Burgundy, and Cnideberft, King of Austrasia, who was accompanied by his mother, Brunehaut.
In 871 A. D., Andelot became the seat of a county, which was broken up in the course of the tenth century, and which was a dependency of the Duke of Lorraine. From 1201 to 1253 the fortifications of Monteclair were strengthened and enlarged, the town was beautified and surrounded by walls, which were demolished in 1279. Andelot became the seat of a prefecture of which Domremy, the birthplace of Joan of Arc, was a part.
In 1356 and again in 1431 Monteclair was taken by the English. It was returned to France in 1434. In 1523 a German army occupied Andelot and the castle of Monteclair for a short time. There followed famine and pestilence. Francis I, King of France (1494 to 1547) repaired the fortifications and ordered a great amount of work to be done on the fortress. During the religious wars (1337 to 1453) Andelot was taken and re-taken by the Catholics and Protestants, its church wasburned and its bells melted down. Monteclair came again under the authority of the King in 1594.
The fortress of Monteclair was dismantled in 1635, and in the following year the Germans devastated the town of Andelot. The fortress was finally destroyed in 1697. From that time until the present Monteclair and the towns in its vicinity have been rich in souvenirs.
It was among these scenes Battery D idled the Thanksgiving day. At 5 p. m. a special feed was put on in the battery mess hall in general celebration. The feasting was getting along nicely; everybody was enjoying the menu of roast pig and prune pie and nuts and candy, when it was suddenly discovered that a number of the candles used to light the mess hall had suddenly disappeared. The aftermath was felt for several days. A thorough search for the lost candles was instituted. They could not be found. An official battery order was then promulgated, stating that if the candles were not returned within a certain time a very heavy battery guard would be put on for the remainder of the stay in Blancheville.
About a half dozen candles had disappeared. When the ultimatum was issued about two dozen candles of all sizes and descriptions were returned to the battery kitchen. The guard never went on. Candles continued to sell in Blancheville for fancy prices and the battery in general suffered in its letter writing for the want of light at night.
Leather jerkins were first issued the battery at Blancheville on November 29th, which was the signal for horses to be received. The receipt of horses started a long and hard battle with the mud. To multiply miseries mules played an important part in the life of the battery. All told it is a long, muddy tale.
On Friday, December 6th, fourteen sick horses arrived in Blancheville to be cared for by Battery D. The following day another consignment of horses arrived. The majority of the animals were afflicted with the mange. All had seen active service and were badly used up. Many suffered from neglect, the troops having but little time for the proper care of the animals while up in the front lines. Some were minus pieces of their ears, which had been shot off in battle.
Two large, open artillery stables had been erected at Blancheville by a previous contingent of troops, so Battery D had stable facilities. The constant rain, however, soon played havoc with the ground in the vicinity of the stables and it was not long after the horses were receivedthat the heavy traffic in the vicinity of the stables created a regular sea of mud. Hip rubber boots were issued and it was a grand battle with the mud each day. The animals had to be led through the mud three times a day to the public water troughs in the village.
Besides caring for the horses the time at Blancheville was spent in hiking, at physical exercise and in the enjoyment of various forms of athletics. The manual of the pistol again came into its own and the guns were not neglected, as gun drill was finally returned to the schedule.
At least once a week the battery hiked to Cirey les Mareilles, three kilos distant, where the only bath house was located.
Thoughts of the Christmas season came to the battery at Blancheville when the first Christmas boxes from the folks back home were received during the second week in December. The boxes continued to arrive until the festal holiday.
Sunday, December 15th, was payday for the soldiers in Blancheville. This particular payday was of ill omen for the battery. A number of the boys indulged too freely at the cafes in Chantraines, with a to-be-regretted fracas resulting. A guard of military police was put on at Chantraines following this escapade.
Monday, December 16th, thirty-five additional horses were received by the battery. Considerable time was spent in getting the harness in shape, especially the saddles, after which lessons in equitation were again started, also a number of battery mounted hikes inaugurated.
Early in December announcement was made of a proposed horse convoy to the Belgian border. The topic was discussed for many weeks, the proposed trip having been scheduled and cancelled several times before a convoy finally materialized. What the one hundred volunteers for this convoy had to contend with during the trip is a tale of its own, which must be related in terms of hardship, rain, mud, and mules.
What could be more pleasant or soothing to an adventurous spirit than a trip in the saddle through the scarred and devastated battle sector along the Lorraine border? This is what appealed to the boys of Battery D when announcement was made at Blancheville early in December that one hundred men were wanted to accompany a horse convoy to Longwy on the Belgian border. One hundred volunteers were asked for, and it was not long before the required number was enlisted from the military ranks.
The first convoy was to have left Blancheville on December 13th, but at the eleventh hour the trip was cancelled. Various other dates were set. Finally, on Wednesday night, December 18th, Capt. Smith assembled the battery in the Y. M. C. A. tent that stood near the old church, when announcement was made that the horse trip was to start on the morrow and the names of the one hundred men who were to make the trip, were called off.
In high spirits the volunteers made ready for the trip. Each man packed a set of saddle bags; made ready a driver's roll with shelter half and blankets. All the other individual equipment was gathered together and left in the Y. M. C. A. tent, as rumor had it that the regiment was soon to move to another billeting area and the order to move might come when the horse convoy was on the road. Thus the extra equipment was left with the remainder of the battery, on whose hands evolved the task of remaining in Blancheville and caring for the battery horses and doing the other detail work. The schedule worked hardship both ways. There was more than enough work for those who remained at the battery area, and those who volunteered for the convoy were not long in realizing that they had a tough job on their hands.
The detail of one hundred men left Blancheville at 7:25 a. m., Thursday, December 19th, in five auto trucks. The trucks also conveyed a saddle and equipment, also driver's roll, for each member of the party.
The auto convoy proceeded through Chaumont; then came a pleasant ride along the Marne river, passing through the towns of Luzy, Vesaignes, Rolampont and Langres. Stop was made at the latter fortified town, where the soldiers visited the town and procured refreshments.The trip was continued and at 12:30 p. m. the party reached Remount No. 13. at Lux, situated about three kilometers beyond Is-sur-Tille.
In fighting the mud at Blancheville the battery members thought they had struck the muddiest spot in France. Nothing could be muddier, they thought. But this thought was soon shattered when the volunteer convoy reached Lux. Perhaps it was due to the Remount being numbered 13, but the mud that surrounded it is beyond adequate description.
It was raining heavily when the battery arrived at Lux. Slimy mud, three feet thick in places, covered the territory of the remount.
The original order was for the detail from Battery D to remain at the remount over Friday and start with the horses for the Belgian border on Saturday morning. Arriving at the remount the battery detail was housed in a sheet-iron barrack with corrugated sheet-iron bunks. And everything was covered with mud.
Thursday night, while the detail lingered at the remount, official orders came changing the plan for the convoy party. Instead of taking horses to Longwy the detail was ordered to start the following morning to return to the 311th Regiment with several hundred mules.
Friday morning, December 20th, reveille was held in the rain at 5:45 o'clock. Immediately after mess the auto trucks were loaded and made ready for the trip. The detail, in charge of Capt. Smith, and accompanied by Lieutenants Yeager and Bennett, ploughed through the mud to the section of the remount that housed the horses the convoy was to escort.
Each member of the convoy selected a horse to saddle. The animals were of various spirits. Many of the battery detail were recruits who did not have the lessons in equitation at Camp Meade that the older members of the battery experienced. After considerable difficulty the horses were saddled and the convoy assembled in a large field to receive the consignment of mules.
Many of the horses had never been ridden in the saddle before, with the result that a regular wild-west exhibition transpired on the field. Riders were thrown from the saddle into the mud, but all the boys had their nerve with them and stuck to the horses, bringing them under control.
Lieut. Yeager was induced by the remount officers to saddle a large and fiery stallion, but after a brave attempt on the part of Lieut. Yeagerto break and ride the stallion, during which the rider was precipitated into a large, muddy pool and covered with mud from head to foot, change had to be made for another animal, the stallion being left behind when the convoy started.
When all was set with the detail mounted, the remount attaches trotted out 237 mules, tied in series of three.
The mules were divided among the mounted men, each man getting three mules to lead, besides having to manage the horse he was riding. All the mules were frisky, having remained unworked for a considerable period. There was great prancing around as the convoy assembled. The mules, in many cases, started to pull one way and the horse pulled the opposite. Many of the mules were tied up in various speed combinations. Ones that were always on the run were coupled with ones that did not know how to step lively, or else the horse of the mounted party was either too fast or too slow for the trio of mules the driver had to lead along.
At 9:30 a. m. the convoy got started on the road. The convoy consisted of 96 mounted men leading 237 mules, the rolling kitchen drawn by four mules, in charge of George Musial, who had the assistance of Cook Burns and two K. P.'s in preparing meals enroute. Five auto trucks, carrying the forage and picket-line equipment, formed the remainder of the train.
Slowly the convoy proceeded over the mud-covered road leading from Lux. At noon stop was made at Fontaine-Francais, where the animals were watered in a stream and given nose-bags. Then the rolling kitchen came along the road and hot slum and coffee was served to the horsemen stretched out along the side of the road. It was against orders to tie the animals anywhere while on the march. Each driver had to hold his charges at rein's length with one hand, and attempt to eat the slum with the other hand.
After a two and one-half hour lay-over the march was resumed, a distance of thirty kilometers having been set for the day. The route was through Montigny in the afternoon and at 5:15 p. m., under a cover of darkness the convoy reached Champlitte. Through the town the road stretched, past a large chateau, then came a long hill, down which the horses and mules galloped, wild with hunger and fatigue. It was a dark night and difficulty was experienced in keeping to the unknown road. In making the descent of the hill leading from Champlitte several riders and mules almost struck the edge of the elevated road and had a narrow escape from going mounted over a precipice.
Itwas about 6 p. m. when stop was made at the base of the hilly road, where orders to remain for the night were issued. There were no stable accommodations, or nothing ready to receive the animals. A picket line had to be erected in a muddy ravine. The animals had to be led to a nearby stream and watered by bucket as there was no shallow approach to the stream. As the animals were watered and lead to the hastily thrown up picket-lines they began to bite and kick each other. A miniature stampede resulted until the several hundred nose-bags were adjusted and hay shook out along the picket line. Then all horses and mules had to be blanketed for the night. The detail secured the blankets from the auto trucks and started the task, which took considerable time and which was finally accomplished at the risk of life and limb. A limited amount of picket line had been erected and the mules especially were tied in very close proximity. To get between them and blanket the frisky jacks was to dodge bites and hoofs in all directions.
Mud was kicked up in all directions while the animals were receiving attention. It was a tired, muddy and dirty lot of soldiers that finished their tasks at the picket line at 11:30 p. m., and started to march up the dark hill to Champlitte; to the old chateau that was to house the troops for the night. It was midnight when the troops got something to eat from the rolling kitchen. Then they stretched out on the floors of the old chateau to rest for the night.
Next morning was Saturday. It was decided that the convoy would remain over at Champlitte and rest for the day. There was but little rest, however, as everybody was kept busy caring for the horses and mules; watering, feeding and grooming being in order. When it came to grooming the mud was caked thick on all hides.
It rained Saturday night. The guard detail at the picket line had a merry time chasing mules that broke loose and started to roam over adjacent hills.
All hands were up and on the job at the picket line at 5:30 a. m., Sunday morning, December 22nd. It was 8:30 o'clock before all sections were watered and fed, the picket lines packed in the trucks and things made ready to start. With the sections lined up on the road ready to start, count of the mules was taken and it was discovered that five were missing. An hour's wait resulted until all mules were present and accounted for.
The drive continued through the rain, until 11:30 p. m., when the town of Pierrefitte was reached. Detailed work in throwing up a picketline in the yard of an old chateau and duties equally as strenuous and similar to the first night's stop at Champlitte, were in order until all the animals were cared for. Bean soup was served for the battery mess and the night spent in the chateau.
During the night the rain turned into a sleet storm, attended by a strong wind. The wind and the sleet caused a stampede at the picket line. Morning found the picket lines completely demolished, and horses and mules roamed all over the lot. They were tied in all shapes and forms, the halter shanks being twisted in knots galore.
The battery men were up and doing at 5:15 Monday morning. It was 10 a. m. before all the animals were captured and tied up properly. The first section got started on the march shortly after 10 o'clock. Sleet, rain and snow continued to fall during the day. Through large expanses of open road, the convoy journeyed. The sleet drove in the faces of the mules, causing them to gallop at top speed. The riders had their strength severely tried and tested in keeping the situation under control.
Stop was made about 3 kilos from the town of Bourbonne where the animals were watered at a stream. The convoy entered Bourbonne at 3:30 p. m. and found to its great joy that the town housed an American army veterinarian section and had stable accommodations. The stable facilities lightened the work of the convoy and it was 5 o'clock when the men went to the town to seek quarters for the night. The large auditorium of the American Y. M. C. A. had been scheduled as the place of abode for the night. When the outfit applied for admission a conflict of dates was brought to light. It took great persuasive force, bordering close unto mob rule, before the officious officer in charge of the Y. M. C. A. was induced to allow the tired and muddy party to break in upon the quietude of the few sections of troops occupying part of the Y. M. C. A. for the night.
Before the convoy resumed the journey on Tuesday morning, December 24th, army veterinarians examined all animals in the convoy party. Many loose shoes had to be fixed by the blacksmiths, while twenty-two of the horses showed symptoms of lameness else had developed sores that barred them from continuing the journey. The veterinarian section also took over a number of the sound horses and mules.
The first sections got started from Bourbonne at 9 a. m. Twenty-six of the men, under Capt. Smith, were detailed to take the lame horses to a nearby remount and exchange them for sound animals. Itwas 11:30 when the detail of twenty-six left Bourbonne with the thought of overtaking the remainder of the convoy.
The main convoy rode hard all day. It was the day before Christmas and it was raining. Stop was made for the night at Clefmont, where stable accommodations were secured for the horses, while the mules had to be picketed.
The detail of twenty-six that was following had difficulty in finding the road the convoy had taken. It was dark when Clefmont was reached. The main detail had sent out a guard with a lantern to locate Capt. Smith and his detail, but the guard got on the wrong road; leaving the detail with Capt. Smith passing out Clefmont in the blackness of the night. By a stroke of luck, however, inquiries from French peasants finally steered the lost detail on the road where the advance guard with the lantern was located.
After caring for the horses the convoy spent Christmas eve in an old, dirty, combination barn and dwelling. Reclining on bunches of live straw that was found in the building, the soldiers dreamt of Christmas eve back home, wishing they were there, instead of where they were.
Christmas morning, Wednesday, December 25th, dawned clear and cold. Clefmont was left behind at 9 a. m., when the soldiers determined to drive hard so that the trip could be terminated by noon. The route lay through Longchamp. As the morning wore on a snow storm developed. Through the snow the riders pressed on, until 1 p. m., when Cirey-les-Mareilles was reached. Orders were to leave the majority of the animals at Cirey. A detail of Battery E men were on hand to meet the convoy and assist in caring for the animals at that point.
Relieved of their charges, the members of Battery D secured auto trucks to take them to Blancheville. It was a relief to get washed and cleaned up, as there was very little washing and shaving done during the five days on the road. It was a pleasure, also, to be back at the old stamping ground. And, to think it was Christmas. A few peaceful hours during the afternoon and evening were enjoyed by the convoy detail. A large amount of mail had accumulated while the men were on the road. It was Christmas mail, in which cheering words were received from the home folks. Christmas boxes despatched through the Red Cross came into their own. It was a rejuvenated bunch that partook of Christmas dinner in the battery's old mess hall at Blancheville at 5 o'clock that night.