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BEING THE NARRATIVE OF BATTERY A OF THE 101st FIELD ARTILLERY

Page 100

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progress could be made. The cannoneers dug out around the wheels and "shored" them up with duck boards, but to no avail. At daylight the next morning the three pieces were stuck worse than ever. Their axles were out of sight. The horses had completely worn themselves out by their efforts and were of no more use. The first section alone had managed to get through. Its two chunky little "wheelers," "Pete" and "Shrimp" never pulled so hard before or after­ wards, but their efforts on this occasion saved the Battery from a very humiliating situation. As it was, when daylight came the next morning, only one gun was in position. The other three were camouflaged with bushes where they were until evening, when another attempt with fresh horses finally succeeded.

                This reserve position was not a pleasant one to occupy. It was far better called the "Swamp Position." Its gun pits and trenches were all under water. In the unfinished dugouts the water was seven or eight feet deep, while in the main trench it came to the top of a man's hip rubber boots. The kitchen was set up in a shack about three hundred yards to the rear in the middle of a sea of mud, while the men lived as best they could. A few scattered tar-paper huts took care of part of them, while the upper bunks in the flooded dugouts housed the remainder.

                Luckily for everyone General Aultman, the Brigade Commander, visited the position when conditions were at their worst. He promised a change as soon as possible.

                The next move developed into one of the pleasantest and most enjoyable trips of the war. A and C Bat -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CONTENTS
INDEX