ter having seen plenty of activity in
the vicinity of Verdun with the French Ambulance Service, winning the
Croix de Guerre. With him came Franklin Kearfott, who had been in the
same unit with him. February 10, Andre Tubach, formerly of France and
Woodlawn, also joined Battery E.

February 12, Sergeant O'Meara succeeded First Sergeant McElhone, who
returned to the charge of the Second Section, Sergeant Suter going to
the Fourth Section.

Saturday, February 16, the regiment began to leave Camp Coetquidan,
Headquarters Company and Battery A going that morning, while the band
played American airs. The following afternoon Battery E hiked to Guer.
There was a long wait while Battery D pulled out. Then guns, caissons,
wagons and horses were packed on flat cars in short order. The men were
first distributed thirty men to a box-car of the type made famous by the
label, "Chevaux 8, Hommes 40," about half the size of an American
box-car. In the cars was an intricate contrivance in the shape of
benches which took up so much space that, with their bulky packs in
every nook and corner, the men had little space more than to sit down.
Sleep was impossible, so cold was the first night, except for those who,
tired to exhaustion, dozed off, to wake up later feeling half frozen.

Next day the presence of a few empty box-cars at the tail of the train
was discovered. By using these, the number of men in a car was reduced
one-half. When the benches were taken out, also, the quarters were roomy
enough for some comfort. At the occasional stops the men had an
opportunity to get out to stretch themselves. Sometimes a couple of
French Territorials (men too old or otherwise unfit for service) were on
hand with hot black coffee in which there was just enough touch of rum
to make one feel its presence. Many, many times subsequently was such a
cup of hot coffee cause for great thankfulness. Indeed, it was on that
trip, for the cold rations--hard tack, corned beef, canned tomatoes,
canned pork and beans, and jam--left one thirsty and cold.

Our train had pulled out of the station at Guer about dusk Sunday
evening. Tuesday we seemed headed for Paris, but, after a glimpse of
Versailles, we skirted it to the south. Resuming our eastward course, we
turned south in Lorraine, reaching Gerberviller about midnight
Wednesday, February 20.

CHAPTER III

TRENCH WARFARE IN LORRAINE

Unloading at Gerberviller was far different from the easy job of