n pulled the horse almost back on the road where it could get a
footing, after three-quarters of an hour of hard effort directed by
Captain Robbins. Then a caisson, catching up to the column, went over
the horse's hoof, and the animal had to be shot.

By this time the rain had ceased. In the silence that succeeded the
sound of the falling drops, could be heard the venomous pop and spit of
gas shells bursting in the woods. Rifle shots rang out occasionally.
Uneasy in the midst of unknown danger, the men greeted the sudden order
to turn back with surprise. But they made haste to execute it. Most of
the battery had debouched from the narrow road into an open grassy
space. The last three caissons, however, were unlimbered and turned
around. Tveter gave an exhibition of skillful driving that brought
cheers from the men, turning the big chariot du parc with its
three-horse hitch without assistance or accident. The other carriages
returned through this stretch of woods by another road, little, if any,
better than the one by which they came. The drivers lashed their horses
to a gallop and took the guns and caissons through with scarcely a stop,
giving them no time to sink in ruts or holes. The wooden boxes roped on
top the caissons swayed and tossed, spilling gas equipment and liaison
instruments, to be picked up by the dismounted men following, who
cheered on the drivers to greater speed.

Not until long after was the explanation of the sudden countermarch
revealed. When the orders were given to move up our artillery, it was
with the belief that the infantry would make a certain objective that
day. The stiff resistance in these woods delayed the infantry advance,
however, and the doughboys were still occupied in clearing these of the
enemy when our battalion pulled through them. The courier sent to
apprise Major Redden of the circumstances and consequent change of
orders caught up with us when we were, therefore, beyond our own lines
and up with our advance infantry. This was the first time the battalion
was in so unusual a place for artillery. Just a week later, we occupied
a position ahead of the infantry over night. But so fast was the enemy
retreating that any thrills over our exposed condition lay in
imagination rather than actual circumstances.

By the next night the woods had been cleared, and we went forward again.
The long steady climb up hill through the Bois de la Tournelle made hard
pulling. The halts to rest the