o time to
regain its feet. Next day the caissons went after ammunition, and at
night the regiment marched again on its way to the front.

Before this departure, the battalion witnessed the presentation of
colors donated by Corporal Beatty's father to Battery E. The summing up
of the battery's work on this occasion, the formal statement of its
standards and achievements by Captain Robbins were indeed impressive.

All traveling on our way to the St. Mihiel front was by night.
Particular care was being taken that no troop movements should be
revealed to the enemy. To us this plan had its advantages because we
hiked during the cool hours of night and rested when the day was
hottest. The first day we passed in woods near St. Ouen des Pahey, the
next under trees at the fork of two roads, and that evening made the two
hours' hike to a large camp of wooden barracks at Rebeuville, just over
the hill from Neufchateau.

Here we stayed four days, visiting the city of Neufchateau, bathing in
the river, and grooming and grazing the horses. Troupes of Y. M. C. A.
entertainers played two afternoons, giving a performance of "Baby Mine"
on the hillside behind the barracks. The last night of our stay, the
whir of planes overhead caused the cry "Lights Out!" The explosion of
several bombs gave proof of their being enemy planes. But fortunately
the bombs damaged nothing but farm land on the other side of
Neufchateau.

Next night we took the road at 8:30 and hiked till midnight, passing
near Domremy, the birthplace of Jeanne d'Arc. Our billets for the day
were several hay mows, in the town of Brancourse.

Starting out at 5 p. m. September 5, we made a record hike, going
forty-seven kilometres before making camp after daylight. At the end of
the journey, the carriages, having followed the wrong road, had to cross
a narrow embankment, sloping dizzily to a deep valley below on each
side. Misfortune struck the very first carriage. A wheel went over the
edge, and gun, limber, horses and drivers rolled over and over down the
slope. Kadon and Searles fell free and unhurt. Al Overstreet, being
wheel driver, was brought down by the pole and pinned beneath a horse.
His situation was precarious, but he was finally extricated, suffering
from the fall and a badly wrenched leg. The horse escaped unhurt. The
chief damage was done to the wheels of the gun carriage, both of which
were broken. These were replaced that day by two spare wheels from the
ba