Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 28, 1920

During .Monday and Tuesday. March 26th and 27th, tlic Gonipany rcmaiiifd at the Armory, prepared to move, and at <iiic- o'clock A. M. Wednesday, the 28th, the Company entrained at the Chicago and Xorthwestern Station, and left for Rock Island Arsenal, going into camp there almut iKum of the same day.

Tiie Arsenal was operating to its fullest capacity at this time, getting out material in preparation for the entrance of this country into the war, and it was cousideicd necessary that the plant be well guarded, as the large water power plant . which furnished electrical powerforthe operation of the Arsenal factories, and the four bridges which ( onnected the Island with the main land, were easily accessible to enemy agents, and should any of these important points be destroyed, the operation of the iilaiit would be greatly impaired, so it became the duty of Compairy G, together with ('omi)aines .K, V]. V. H. \- L of this regiment, under command of Major Edward H. Dunavin. to guard the Arsenal and the island, from March 28th to July 30th.

When th<- company left Dixon, Lieutenant Preston nauained in the city to secure recruits to till the ranks of the c( mjiany to war strength: he rejoined the company about a week later, bringing eight recruits with him.

From May 12th to June i:-;th. Lieutenant Lewis was on i-eciuiting duty in the home cities of Companies G, E, I, ami the >Licliine (but Company, the lattei' two 1 cuig ui camp at Springfield, lUinois.

About this time, the Wai' Department (k'cided not to retain any niarrie(l men in the service, and all of the married men of Company <i were discharged and returned to tlieir homes. This took from the Company many of the old(a' men who had been advanced to the grade of Non-Commissioned Officers, on account of long and faithful service m the National Guard.

On .July 30th, the Company left Rock Island for East St. Louis, annving there at six A. M. the next day, and went into camp at Nineteenth Street and Missouri Avenue, relieving some of the Chicago troops that had been on duty there since the riots of July 4th, 1917. The Company remained here until September 8th together with Companies A, C, D, I, K, L. and Machine Gun Company. Colonel Davis, with the remainder of the regiment, was at Spiingfield.

Leaving East St. Louis on Seiiteml er 8tli, the entire detachment went to < 'amp Logan, Houston, Texas, where the Sixth Regiment was all together for the first time since it was called out in March.

Un September 19th, the Sixth Infantry was changed into a regiment of fie:i\\- :iitillcry and became known as the 123rd. Field Artillery, and part of the 58th Field Artilli ly Brigade of the 33rd Division, which was being organized at Camp Logan out of t he Nat i( )iial Guard of Illinois, under command of Major General George Gell, Jr. The 12 companies of the old sixth regiment were organized into six batteries, a supply company and a headcpiai-tei's company. This automatically relieved six of the twelve captains. Company ( I and ( 'onijiany M were oigauized into a battery, and henceforth were known as Battery ( '. ( 'aptain H. F. Hall, tlic conimaiider of Company M, lieing the senior of the two captains, was jilaced in connnand dF Battery C.

This reorganizaticiu into a Field Artillery unit was fiuickly jierfected, and the regiment entered upon a period of intensive training in the various l)ranch(>s of Artillery work, which lasted through the winter and until the n(>xt May, when the Division conunenced moving towards the port to sail for France.

In the well-e(|ui|)pe(l regimental infirmary, each man received a long course of inoculations and vaccinations against Typhoid Fever and Small Pox. This treatment, wliile it caused much inconvenience and discomfort while being taken, was of inestimable value and undoubtedl}^ accounts for the almost entire absence of these diseases among our Ijoys while at the front, where they often were compelled to drink water that was anything but pure.

Wireless stations and teleplione systems were i)ut up, and details of men from each battery were instructed in this work by experienced operators.

The regiment, at first planned, was to be a horse-drawn artillery unit, and horses were issued to each battery. The men who had had some expcn'ience with horses were assigned as drivers and instructed in the care and training of artillery horses, the care and adjustment of harness and saddles, horseshoeing, etc.

The men of the Battery were divided into two departments - the Horse Department or Drivers Squads, and the Cannoneers or Gun Squads. Lt. Preston had charge of the training of the horsemen and Lt. Lewis the Gun crews.

In the evenings, schools were held for the officers and non-commissioned officers, at which the principles of Artillery firing and tactics were taught by instructors from the Regular Army. For several weeks the men drilled with improvised wooden guns, then with some very old three-inch guns, and later with a battery of 4.7 inch howitzers. These howitzers, although very old, were still in good serviceable condition, and many interesting as well as pi'ofitable days were spent with them on the artillery range.

During the stay at Camp Logan there were many changes in the officers of the Battery. Lt. Douglas Elliott was assigned to Battery C on September 20th, and remained with them until December when he was transferred to Headquarters Company and sent to Fort Sill to study Aerial Observation. On November 17th, Lt. Lewis was aihaiiccd to 1st Lieutenant, and in December, 2nd Lt. John Lawson and 2nd Lt. Roy Tuckhrieter were assigned to the Battery to make up its quota of four Lieutenants.

On January 1, IfliS, Lieutenants Preston and L(>wis were translVrrtnl to Headquarters Company to take up the study of Aerial ( )b.servati()n. About February 1st Lt. Preston was transferred from Headquarters Company to Battery F and placed in command of that organization and advanced to rank of Captain, and Lt. Lewis was returned to Battery C. Lt. Tuckbrieter was advanced to 1st Lieutenant. 2nd Lieutenant Waterhouse of the lOStli iMigiiieers was transferred to the Battery. About May 1st Lt. Lewis was transferred to Hat1ei>- B, and again in August he was transferred from Battery B to Head- (luarters Company and |>laced in connnand of that organization, remaining with it until the close of the war. In May, Lt. Berg was assigned to Battciy C. In March. ( "aptaiii Hall was transferred to the staff of Gen. Bell, and Capt. John C I'..ihnn, who, at this time was Adjutant of the 3rd Bnttahon, was placed in command nf the Battri\-; a nuinth later, when Capt. Bohan was made Major of the 2iid Battalion, Cajit. Howai'd Sclovcr was placed in command of <' Hattci.w

Ahoin May 1st the Division coniniciKMMJ moving towards the port of cniliaikat ion. Part of the 123rd rrginirnt entrained on the 13th, for Camp .Merritt, \e\v .li'i-sey, and on the following day the 2nd Battalion, consisting of Batteries C and D left liy way of Fort Smith, Arkansas; St. Louis, Mo.; Decatur, 111.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Detroit, Midi,: passing through Canada to Niagara Falls, Rochester and Syracuse, Xew York, to Camp Merritt, near Jersey City, New Jersey, arriving there May 19th, The trip was an enjoyable one, being made in PuUmans which were not crowded. Strict orders weic issued against mailing letters or cards in any of the stations we passed through, or informing any person about the stations we passed through as to what organizations were on the train, or what seaport we were bound foj-, as the German Govermnent was watching closely this giaanlic military machine whicli this country was putting in oi)eration and enemy agents were working in this country to learn tlie names of organizations and the number of troops moving overseas, also the boats they woulil sail on.

The seven clays stay at Camp Merritt was spent in bathing, and completing the e(iuipment of the men. The new steel lielmets were issued to us liere.

Before leaving Texas, we received riom tlie ladies of Dixon a largi' box of heavy woolen stockings and wristlets which were distributed to the Dixon boys, also a sum (jI money raised by the business men of Dixon and sent to us, which was spent for articles which the Government did not furnish, but which helped greatly to equip the men for overseas service. So when we reached Cam]-) Merritt, we were well equipped, btit the Red Cross was on hand with a large (nianiity of woolen knit goods which were being made by the women all over the United States, and any men who arriveil at the seaport without a good sweater, wristlets or heavy socks was given these articles by the lieil Cross,

May 26th, 1918, found the regiment once more on railway trains, this time bound for a transport. It was a sliort trip, lasting one hour and thirty imniites, .Vrriviiig at Hoboken docks, the regiment boarded tlie ferry boat, Jamestown, and crosseil the Hudson river to the New York side wlanv the steamship Scotian was waiting to convey us to France.

The men were carebilly cliecke.l on board, assigned to (|Uar1ei-s, and issue,! Iiammocks and life preservers. One day and nigiit the boat i-emamed at the wliaif, biu neitlier men nor officers were permitted to go on siiore. On the morning of ^Nlay 27lh, a tug towed the Scotian out of the harbor. Owing to th<> .lense fog and the fact that all men were kept below decks while leaving the harbor, in order that a possible German spy might not recognize it as a troo]3 ship, wi' were not able to witness the forming of tlie Convoy, but by 11 o'clock we were well out on the high seas, and as the fog cleared, we could see that we were in a convoy of 13 ships, one of which was the English cruiser \ ictorian. The other ships were the Cedric, Melita, Ulyses, Armagh, Toloa, Kshmire, Khi\ a, < ydops, Derbyshire, Bramble Leaf and Pear Leaf. The officers and men were reciuircd to \\ear the life preservers at all times. Life boat drills were held frequently. A look-out guard of 13 men were kept posted at all times on the upper deck, to watch for Submarines. This guard was in addition to the i-(>gtilai' watch ftu'nished by the ship's crew. It was increased liy a detail of six ufficcrs when we arrived in the Stiliniai-ine zone. Caliytlienic exercises were held every morning for the benefit of the men.

The third day out, the sea became verj^ rough, and nearly every one on board experienced an attack of seasickness. In spite of the rough weather, the boys were jolly and in good spirits the most of the time, as is characteristic of the American soldier, improving every opportunity to derive pleasure or amusement from any situation, however unpleasant, in which tlicy found themselves. The crew, which were all English, were apparently not used lo the ways of the American .soldier, for one was heard to remark, "The bloody Yankees would laugh if the ship was noiny; down."

The voyage required 13 days, due to the convoy's policy of constantly zigzaging in its course to avoid any possible submarine that might be lying in wait for it. On May 30th, a U. S. Cruiser joined the convoy and accompanied it until a short distance from the Irish coast. The danger zone was entered on June 3rd. The Submarine guard was strengthened, and a caivful watch was kcjit for Submarines day and night. On June 6th, about six A. M. 11 destroyers joined the convoy, and remained with it during the rest of the journey. On June 7th, we entered the Irish Sea from the north, with the hills of Scotland plainly visible on our left and Ireland on our right. As we passed over the spot where the Tuscania was sunk, two dirigible balloons joined us, and accompanied us to Livci-pciol, which place we reached about 7 P. M., but did not debark until the next niorinng, Jun<" S||,, at 11 A. M.

Alarciiing through the .streets of Liverpool, we reached Camp Knotty Ash, a rest cam]) about G miles from our landing place. The streets were lined with people who gave us a warm welcome. We left this camp the next day at 1 :30 P. M. over the Grand Central Railroad of Knuland. It was oiii- first view of an English ti-ain, which, with its odd looking engine and cdnipartnicnt cars, was ([uite a curio.sity. Passing through Sheffield, Oxford, and Lancaster, we arrived at Winchester at 1:30 A. M. where we spent the next day in the barracks on Morn Hill Camp. We again entrained for South Hampton, June 11th, where we boarded a small channel steamer, crossing the channel at night, debarking at LeIIarvc, France. A march of 3 miles l)rought us to another rest camp, whci-c one day was spent.

On the evening of June 13th, we were loaded onto a train of French box cars for a long trip to Ornans, France, near the city of Besancon, in the midst of the Jura Mountains, and near the Swiss border, Li order to get the regiment on the trains assigned us, it was necessary- lo crowd ."iO men in eacli of the cai's wliicli wcw sujiposed toacconnnodateonly

We arrived in Oi-nans in the evening of June 15th, pitched our shelter tents, and slept comfortable in spite of the lain which continued nearly all night. The next day, motor trucks transported the iiattery to Etray, a small hamlet aliout 12 miles farther up in the mountains. The entire ivginicnt was ([uartcred in a nuniiier of small villag( s in this neighborhood.

This district had been taken by ciur ( lovcininent for an Artillery training area. Schools were establishc(l in the village of Oi-nans to wliich all the officers were sent, and special details of non-commissioned ofiicers. At these' schools we were taught to operate the I'lcnch 1.').") nun howitzers with which the regiment was to be equi])ped, also the u.se of I lie \-:iiious Kange-finding and Fire-control instruments used with these guns.

On .Inly L'Otli, we finished this pait of oui' instruction, and on July 22ii(l, the regiment left the small villages in winch it had been billeted :in(l moved into the large barracks at the French ('amp Du \'aldalion, where we received our e(iui])ment of howitzers, caiskmI tlllllUtjIl 11 sons, wagons, rolling kitchens, water carts. Imrses. harness, and saddle eciuipment. Wi also received Gas Masks fur l)uth men and Imises. The following month was spent ii strenuous rai^'ge practice, (nmst of the time in the rain), and preparations were madi for the move to the front.

In the little railway station at the Can the loading of the entire reginieiU at tliis \ to neighboring villages to load, and it fell the city of Besancon. .Arising at o A. M. i fed and harnessed, breakfast served, and the con, arriving there in the evening of the ne ment, and both officers and men hatl not >et of getting along with the minimum amount of baggage, so eveiy wagon was overloaded, and each man found himself carrying a pack which grew heavier with each hour's march. Upon arrival in Besancon, the Batttay loaded upon trains and started on the journey of about 165 miles to the Toul Sectoi-. ( )rders were given that the battery must be prepared to detrain in 15 minutes, as its destination would b(> within range of the German guns. There were enough 1 ox cnrs to give each num siidieient room, and the realization that the long drudgery of the training se:ison was over, in spile of wliMt fresh hardships were in the future, kept the men in good spirits. A day ami half of ir:iveling took the various units of the regiment through the city of Toiil to the small village of Pagny sur Meuse, a short distance beyond, wher(> we unloaded and marched a short distance to the village of Foug, where we spent the night and next day. Here and in Toul we saw the eflfects of the German air raids. Two days were spent at the village of Foug.

On the evening of the 2.")tli of August the regiment stalled for its position at the front. This night march will long 1 e n nu nilcred by us all. As we a|iproached the front . we could see in the distance the signal liglits :ind rockets which were a marked feature of night war-fare, and the sheet lightniig flasli of artillery. Just about dawn the regiment passed through the deserted village of Bouci| and passed about a mile farther on into a large timi known ::s the Bouc(| Woods. There was much difficulty and confusion in getting the heavy gmis and wagons off the load and into the timber and concealment. A couple of hours were consumed in this operation. It was our first experience at concealment and camouflage, and we often smiled as we thought of it in the days that followed, when, after a little experience, we were able to move the regiment into a piece of timber and conceal it in about 15 mintitcs' time.

Preparations were being matle for tlie reduction of the St. Alihiel salitait . ( leii. Pershing for a long time, had been planning this as our first great American drive. The Marne salient had just been reduced, and nearly all the American Divisions and a tew French Divisions, or approximately 600,000 troops were used in this drive. While otu- regiment was in training on the artillerj^ range in July, the Infantry of the 33rd Division had been sent up to the front. Our brigade was never again with our Infantry. Upon otu- arrival at the front, we became the artillery support of the 89th Division. Upon the relief of the 89th Division by the 1st Division on August 2Sth, our regiment was assigned to the 1st Division, and supported the Infantry of this Division during the battle which followed.

rose the high Ijare hill known as ]Mont See, whieh was strongl}- fortified. The French lost in the neighborhood of 30,000 troops trying to take this hill in the early part of the war and were confident that we could not take it. A laige amount of our artillery was brought into this sector, also air craft, tanks, and ambulances. Field Hospitals were located, and even small railways built to carry I lie artillery ammunition up to us from the rear. Records show that 90,000 tons of annnunitiun were used in this drive. The entire operation was planned to be a surprise to the (Icrnians, so all of the wnrk and the movement of troops had to be done at night.

After a stay of 5 days in the Boucq Woods, we iii(>\-e(l fdiwai-d about 3 miles into another more extensive woods, known as the Forest de la Heine of which the Boucq woods wore really a part. Here nearly two weeks were spent in preparation for the drive. Many nights were spent in digging the pits in which the guns were placed and concealed. Dugouts were made near the gun positions and all available wagons and caissons were used in hauling ammunition from a large ammunition dump in the rear of these gun positions. The men worked hard but cheerfully these nights, often in rain, and slept day times. In the day time, all horses and wagons were concealed in the thick timber. Every morning fresh brush was cut and scattered over the roads to hide the track the wagons had made during the night. If the men did any washing of clothing during the day, the garments liail t<i be hung well under the bushes. The bugler was kept posted at all times where he could ()bsei\c the ajiproach of an enemy plane and send the warning note on his bugle, at which any who might be moving in the open, immediatelj^ sought concealment. Absolutely no lights of any kind were allowed at night. Motor trucks and motorcycles traveled over strange roads on the darkest nights without any lights, and in the day times the fire ne«^ssav>' lor cooking was handled in such a way as to cause as little smoke as possible.

Of considerable importance were the prepai'ations for gas defense. Every man wore his gas mask slung over his shoulder while working, and slept with it beside his head. Gas masks for horses were kept fastened to their halters at all times. Every dugout had a gas proof curtain at its entrance. During these preparations, we received the information that the Oeimans were gathering material for a gas attack on our immediate front, but our offensive was launched before this gas attack came off. Troops continued every night to come into this sector by thousands, also nian>- artillery units. The Germans suspected thai some kind of operation was in progress on our side, as we learned from prisoners later, but they did not imagine that it was to be on such an immense scale. A German patrol captured one night gave us the information that the Germans were moving ti'oo]is fi-om the Marne sector to this sector. Their artillei->' fii-ed oct'asionally on our lines. On t he e\-ening of September 5th, Archie Latourette, of F>at t cry ( " was killed by a German shell while working at the gun jiositions. Also Sergeant Monacelli and Private Blair were seveivly wounded and S(M-g(>ant Ellis Nelson slightly wounded by shell fire. A German shell st liking iiL a pile of oui' anununition, burned up 1800 powder charges and wounded fince men in I) Hatterw one of whom afterward died.

ted. At 1 A. M. every gun s, an<l continued firing until e lop and crossed No-Man"scomplete surprise. Our Ind deserted after the artillery . .\ll through that day and e our Infantrv, our Artillerv pivpaiiiiii the advance of the liitaiitiy l.y a nillin- l.anaiiv. In fad, ..iir Infanti y aavanrcl so rapuUy .luiino- the latter par to keep up with it. The lishl evening of this, the second da> >> and 150 cannons had been taken.

At this time it was planiieil that the Isl I^ivision with the artiUeiy that had sii|ip(iiieil it should go a short distance to the rear for a period of rest. Bvit just as we were aliuut to start, we received orders to march west\vard to the Argonne sector to take part in another offensive which was being planned at that point. This jonrney required six nights of marching, and sleeping day times under the cover of woods. Our first stop was in a small piece of timber near Gironville. As we left these woods ami were proeeecUng up a long hill about two miles distant, (lerman planes came over and droppi'd a number of bombs on the woods we had jnst left, believing us to still be there. The remainder of the trip was uneventful. Our luincipal camping places were in the \ieiiuty of Koeur, Pierrefitte, Beauzee, and \\'ally, arriving in heavy woods near Parois Sept. 24th. The gims went into position in the Forest de Hesse, which was a short distance in a,d\-anee. Here we were assigned to the 91st Division. The same elaborate preparations weic made here as for the drive at St. :\Iihiel. ITi American Divisions occupied the front line through the Argonne Forest and to the east as far as the Meuse River. West of the Argonne was the 4th French Aiiiiy, which was to operate in conjunction with the American forces. On the German side wiac 21 divisions in line and divisions in reser\i'.

The drive started on Sept. 2Gth. During our sta>- in the Parois woods we were slielled frequently by the Germans, but as these woods h.ad been occupied some tiin<' before by a detachment of French troops, there were a number of dugouts in th<' vicinity which afforded us protection. At 3 o'clock in the morning of Septeml)er 2Gth, the artillery opened up with a barrage which was the starting of an offensive which was to continue through October and the first part of November. In fact, it was this liattle that caused the Kaiser to ask for an armistice. For three days and nights our batteries fired <-ontiiniously on the German positions. Here C Battery lost one man, Pii\ate Herman, and two others were wounded. Privates Kokas and Burns,

The artillery fire was directed by aeroplanes and balloons. There were from two to ten balloons in the air all the time, that is, during the day light hours. The observers had either telephones or wireless communication with the batteries, and reported the result of every shell to the battery conmiander. The woik of the balloon observer was extremely hazardous, as the balloons were easy prey to German aeroplanes, as frequently daring German aviators would slip across the line and attack the balloon, firing incendiary bullets from their machine guns into the balloons and causing them to almost instantly burst into fiame. On the ground underneath each balloon a number of machine guns were kept always in position to defend the balloon, and a number of men were kept constantly on the watch for German planes. The balloon observer's whole attention was reiimred in watching the effects of each shell of the artillery of the battery he was directing and coukl not watch for German planes, so, on receiving warning from the ground that an enemy plane was approaching, he immediately dropped his instruments and leaped overboard with his parachute, which was always fastened to him. Several of these balloons burned within sight of our position. In every instance the observer escaped with his life, except one, where the burning balloon fell on the descending parachute, igniting it and causing the observer to drop to his death. The air was full of aeroplanes, and as many as 48 were counted at one time.

On the night of the 28th, we moved forward alioiit seven kilometers to a point known as the Cheppy Cross Roads which was in the open country just at the right of the Argonne Forest. The roads were in terrible condition as the result of constant shelling and much repairing had to be done before the heavy guns could lie ni(>\'cd over them. Every village was in total ruins. The fields here were dotted with shell holes ami the trees in the timber were broken and torn by shell fire. This brought us up to the famous Hindenburg line from which our drive of the two days preceding had driven the Germans back towards the north. Great mas.ses of liarb wire entanglements were encountered all along this old Ilindciilicrg line. The figlit grew more sevei'c evci->- day. The Germans knew every inch of this ground and cotUd compute accurately the range to any point they wished to fire on with tlieii' long range artillery.

This Hiiidciil.i'rg line was a wonderful piece of work with its mas.ses of barl) wire entangU nicnts, its well liuilt dugouts 20 to 40 feet under ground, and so constructed that our heaviest |)i'ojectiles would not penetrate to them. The machine gun nests were Iniilt of solid concrete, and, while placed in commanding positions, w-ere so well concealed that they were not discovered until a person walked right on to them. The drive did not progress as rapidly as expected. While the first of the attack took the Germans by surprise, they riuickly recovered and made strong counter attacks. The Argonne Forest itself was full ( f hills, I'a vines and thickets, all of which were well fortified, and from which it was hard lo dislodge the enemy. Several times our artillery succeeded in driving the Germans out of a position in the woods and oui' Inf,-mtr>' would inov(> foi'ward and tak(> possession of it, only to l.e di'ivi'n l.-ick hy ( lei'nian Harrages and Infantry counter attacks. This continued for s('\cial (la.\s.

The 37th Divisi.m was on our right and the 3:)th Division on our left. The Germans launched an attack one cx-cning just at dusk which drove the o7th and 35th Divisions back nearly a nnic, leaving the 01st Division, which wc were still attached to, projecting over a mile into the encni^- line. So aliout 11 P. M. we found ourselves with the enemy on our right and left as well as front, and in inuninent danger of being cut off in the rear. On our left, a deep ravine led down to our rear, and down this ravine in the darkness the Germans sent an entire Division of Infantry, which, had it reached us, would have meant the certain captuic of our guns. Our regimental headquarters became aware of this situation in time to telephone to some French Hattei'ies for assistance. A timely barrage directed in this ravine caught the German Division and forced them to retreat. On our right the Germans did not see their advantage luilil day break, at which time our Division Commander also saw his danger and retired on a line with the Divisions on our right and left.

On the 7th of October, the 91st Division was relieved by the 32nd Division. Our latteries, however, ivinaineil in position and became \\\c artilleiy support of the 32nd Division. The drive was renewed with bett<'r success.

Three days the battery remainetl at this point and then nio\-ed forward again to the \'alley lunning iiorthwaid from the little village of \'ery to l'>piiionville, known to us as Hell's \alley. This valley was constantly under shell hre from the German batteries. Here the guns of the battery were piactically in the open. In fact, during the remainder of our stay at the front, little, if any attein]it was made lo conceal the guns or the horse eschelon from obser\ation. During the time the Germans occupied this valley, they had motor truck li.ains. It became necessary to ]3lace the guns of the battery near this road, and as the Germiuis knew the exact location of this road on the map, the batterv was of the Arti,.niu.. X,.arly ,.v,.ry ,lay lai-,. l.,.,li,.s ,,f (";,.rman prison, .rs w,.r,. mairh,.,! l.a,.k to the rear umler guard of a few Infantry men, also many w,iuial,.il. li,)th ( ;,.rman an,l Ani,.ri,.an. were brought back from the front line in ambulanc's to th,. tii'M h,)spitals ii(.ar \'(.ry. The Germans were finally driven into the open ciuniiy ii,,rth ,if th,. .Vrgonne. This was ,)ni. ,)f the main ol)j,'cts of this oftVnsiv,.. for w,. kn,w that on,',, th,' ( lermans w,'r,. ilriv,'!! fr,iin the for(.st into th,. <i|),.ii ,.,>untiy t,) th,. north. w(. w,>uld have a great advantage, for the American army was better trained in open warfare methods than either the Germans or the French. From now on the Germans retreated rapidly to the north and northeast, although putting up an admirable defense with their machine guns. On 0,.t,,l.,.r 12tli, our leginu'iit. t,)g,.th,.r with th,- 12'2n<l an,l 124th artillery reginu.nts were reli(.v,.,l by ,)ther artill,.ry aii,l <>r,Ler,',l t,> mar,.h a short distance to the rear for r,'st and re-equipment. We started in the evening, liut owing to the fact that our regiment had lost nearly half of its horses, nearly all that night was consumed in getting the guns, cais.sons and wagons out of the valley. We did not reach our destination until 3 o'clock th,' next aft,.rmion. We stoi)p,.,l ih,'ii f,ir two ,lays at this pla,','. which was near Btimhasle. Tlii' iit.xt ilay's march took us to Vill,. siir Cmsance. In this village were good wooden barracks and stafiles for the horses. Here our regiment received orders that, owing to the shortage of horses, we would turn our horses over to the 122nd and 124th regiments, and jiroceed to Doulaincourt where we would be equiiipcd with iter a hard inarch, mostly up Colonel Davis estabhshed reception of batteries C and D miles iiiirth. These were exrlably billeted here, and the lie uf the plcasaiitest memories

In the lattei- part (if October, 1918, after the reluiii rioni the front, Captain Selover was transferred in the Third Battalion and became its .VdjiUant. His place was taken by Captain Vii-tur Franklin who commanded the battt'iy tintil abniit December 1st when he was sent as an instiiictor to the artillery school at \':ililal!(iii. After this. Lieutenant H. H. Berg, the seniiu- 1st Lieutenant of the battery was in command until it was mastered out at Camp (bant.

In s])ite (if the fact that the war was over, the regiment received motor eciuipment, antl connnenced a course of training to acquaint the men with the care and handling of heavy tractors and motor equipment. The forenoon of each day was devoted to drilling, and the afternoons were devoted to athletic sports for the benefit of the men. Baseball, basket ball, volley ball and football teams were oi-ganized in each batteiy, the equipment furnished li>- the Y. M. ( ', A. A series of games inv championship in each of these sports was played during the two months stay at Doulaincourt ,

On the 26th of December, we bade farewell to the many friends we had made in jileasant httle Doulaincourt and Saucom-t, and were transportetl by motor truck trains to Stenay where we rejoined our Brigade.

Stenay was a veiy interesting city, although deserted by its French inhabitants. The city had been in the hands of the Germans throughout, the war, and the Crown Prince had made his headquarters in a large chateau. The large I^rench barracks where we were quartered during mu- stay here had been usetl by the tu'rmans for a rest camp. All along the idads were huge piles of German artillery ammunition and hand grenades and the fields all along the .Meuse River were dotted with shell holes.

Leaving Stenay on .lanuary 7th, the regiment was again transported by motor truck trains to Luxemburg where we rejoined the o3rd Division for the first time since arriving in France. The trip to Luxemburg took us over the southern portion of Belgium. In Luxemburg, C Battery was billeted for the winter in the little town of Lorentzweiler, about six miles north of the city of Luxemburg, in the lieautiful valley made famous by George Barr McCutcheon's books, (b-austark and Castle Craneycrow. The Luxemburgers recei\-ed the Americans well, and since leaves of ab.sence were made much more liberal from the beginning of 1919, trips to Nice, Aix la Hains, Paris and other leave centers helped the time to pass more swiftly. In spite of the fact that most of the war time hardships were over and living conditions were excellent, however, it was difficult to wait for the ordeis to start for home that the men knew would come sooner or later. On April 22, 1919, Secretary of \\'ar Baker and General Pershing inspected the Division and bade it goodli>-e.

Finally the anxiously awaited orders came, and on the 29tli of Ajiril, 1919, the regiment entrained for its last ride in box cars. This trij), whicli took the different trains an average of about live days (o Brest, France, was comfortable, transport being much

We remained at Camp :\Iills nine days. .\!eml ers of the battery wlmsc hdincs were in other states were detached and sent to camis in these states for deiiidbilizat ion. The remainder of the battery entrained mi June ord for Camp (bant. .Vrnvinii; in ( 'hicaiio on June oth, the 123rd regiment, tdiiether with the other oriianizations of the .'Sth arti'- lery brigade, detrained and mardieil up Miclnti.an .Avenue to Crant I'aik, There the relatives who lived in Chicago, or wIkj hail come to that cit>- to ,iireet tlie soldiers, were admitted to the park. The cit.y gave the returning soldiers an eiii husiast ic rei-e])tion. About two hours reunion with their relatives, and the regiment re-lormed and niarehe(l through the loo]! district and c(,ncluded their maivh at various hotels where dinner had been prepared for tin m. \\ \ ::'A) in the afternoon the regiment again enti-ained for ( 'amp Crant arriving there at 7:30 in tlie evening.

The machinery of mustering out the men was ,at once put in motion, and li>- evening of .bine 7th, all the men of Battery C had received their discharge. barly the next nuirning automobiles from their home city ca.me to Camp Crant to take the men home, a.nd they service, the men of Battery ( ' were once more back home. Tlie>- were gncii a ver>' warm welcome by the people of Dixon. Word was sent ahead that they were Hearing the city and all the home folks were ready to greet them. Dinner was in icadiiuss for them at the Elks Club immediately upon their arrival. On .bine 12tli, the city declared a holiday and gave a reception day for the retiuned soldiers, and no time or expc use was spared in showing the soldiers that heir work was api)reciated and that tlie people were glad for their return. A beautiful arch had been erected on the corner of Second Street and Galena Avenue as a welcome lame to the returned soldiers of Dixon and a tribute to those who would not return.

During its participation in the two major offensives which brought the war to a close. Battery C made a record of which it.s members may well feel proud. Its guns were always handled with skill and efficiency. On one occasion, in the Argonne dri\-e, when necessity ddiianded very rapid fire from all the guns of the regiment, Battery C went on record as having fired the greatest number of iiroje('tiles in a given period of aii>- of the batteries of the regiment.

To the men of the battery much credit is due for their courage and valor in action and their constant devotion to dutx' at all times often under \-erv adverse conditions.