Now that we were really on the move, our echelon was split into a forward echelon, containing the nine caissons, four limbers, ration cart and water cart, and their horses and drivers, and a rear echelon, consisting of the two park wagons, battery and forge wagons, and the fourgon.

                The latter did not keep up with the Battery. It acted as a supply depot, receiving forage and provisions from the Supply Company, and sending them forward each day to the firing battery. The same day that the firing battery moved to St. Robert Farm, the rear echelon moved forward from Montreuil to the Grand Rue Farm, taking the route via Monthiers and Etrepilly.

                The drivers, all in all, were " fighting a hard war." It was bad enough to haul ammunition day and night with no sleep, but the climax came when the orders to advance arrived. The orders came in when they were up at the front. Consequently, they had no chance to go back to their echelon to get their effects, and a crowd of Italian road laborers promptly "salvaged" everything they could find,—they found everything! Yet, the drivers were not really seriously bothered. They always had their horse blankets to sleep in, while equipment and clothing galore could be picked up on all sides. Their biggest worries did not center on personal equipment or clothing—those were minor points—the big questions were sleep, their horses, and where to find ammunition. The latter was especially vexing. The ammunition dumps were naturally constantly changing, as the troops moved forward and their supply of shells was very

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