he Dvina and with long drawn
out lines of communication, some of the stations forty miles or so
apart, it was apparent that if attacked by a large force, we would have
to give way. It was also plainly apparent that in case the Vaga River
force was driven back to the Dvina it would necessitate the withdrawal
of the forces on the Dvina from their strongly fortified position at
Toulgas--consequently, we received orders that this position at Ust
Padenga must be held at all cost. Such was the critical position of the
Americans sent up the river by order of General Poole on a veritable
fool's errand. The folly of his so-called "active defense" of Archangel
was to be exposed most plainly at Ust Padenga and Shenkursk in winter.

By the middle of November the enemy was becoming more and more active in
this vicinity. On the seventeenth day of November a small patrol of
Americans and Canadians were ambushed and only one man, a Canadian,
escaped. The ambush occurred in the vicinity of Trogimovskaya, a village
about eight versts below Ust Padenga, where it was known that the Bolo
was concentrating troops.

On the morning of November 29th, acting under orders from British
Headquarters, a strong patrol, numbering about one hundred men, was sent
out at daybreak, under Lieut. Cuff of "C" Company, to drive the enemy
out of this position. The only road or trail leading into this town ran
through a dense forest. The snow, of course, was so deep in the forest
that it was impossible to proceed by any other route than this roadway
or trail. As this patrol was approaching one of the most dense portions
of the forest they were suddenly met by an overwhelming attacking party,
which had been concealed in the forest. The woods were literally
swarming with them and after a sharp fight Lieut. Francis Cuff, one of
the bravest and most fearless officers in the expedition, in command of
the patrol, succeeded in withdrawing his platoon.

A detachment of the patrol on the edge of the woods skirting the Vaga
River was having considerable difficulty extricating itself, however,
and without faltering Lieut. Cuff immediately deployed his men and
opened fire again upon the enemy. During this engagement, he, with
several other daring men, became separated from their fellows and it was
at this time that he was severely wounded. He and his men, several of
whom were also wounded, although cut off and completely surrounded,
fought like demons and sold their live