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

Page 41

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With the arrival of the horses came the necessary instruction in equitation. Up to the last month, battery drills were considered of primary importance, no pure equitation drills being given, but the last month considerable time was spent on it. It was not at all a popular job with the officers; therefore, usually the reserve officers were "stuck." A great many of them knew much less of horsemanship than the men they were instructing, and frequently were unfortunate in their choice of men to criticise. The climax was when Lieutenant Clarke and Sergeant James were corrected on some minor point, both in the same afternoon. This was greatly enjoyed as those two men were probably the best horsemen in the Regiment.

A month after our arrival, General Pershing came to the camp to inspect the 101st Regiment F. A. This was a typical affair of its kind. Originally ordered for 11.45, we waited in formation for about an hour. Then we were dismissed for mess. Finally the inspection occurred about two o'clock. While not confirmed, there was a very persistent rumor than the General commented on the Regiment as being a troop of "Boy Scouts in Burlap."

The two holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, were suitably celebrated by tremendous meals and entertainments by Battery talent in the evening. For some time before each, the country and nearby cities were scoured for turkey, vegetables, fruit, etc. Holly and mistletoe were plentiful, as well as evergreens with which the mess-shack was decorated for the occasions. By Christmas, we had constructed a large stone fireplace in the mess-shack where it was very

 

 

 

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