se flares were used
for the purpose of guiding and directing the movements of the troops
that on the following day annihilated the platoon in Nijni Gora.

On the morning of that fatal nineteenth day of January, just at dawn the
enemy's artillery, which had been silent now for several weeks, opened
up a terrific bombardment on our position in Nijni Gora. This artillery
was concealed in the dense forest on the opposite bank of the Vaga far
beyond the range of our own artillery. Far in the distance at ranges of
a thousand to fifteen hundred yards, we could see long skirmish lines of
the enemy clad in ordinary dark uniforms. Whenever they got within range
we would open fire with rifles and machine guns which succeeded in
repelling any concerted movement from this direction. At this time there
were twenty-two men in the forward position in command of Lt. Mead and
about twenty-two men in command of the platoon sergeant in the rear
position, After about an hour's violent shelling the barrage suddenly
lifted, Instantly, from the deep snow and ravines entirely surrounding
us, in perfect attack formation, arose hundreds of the enemy clad in
white uniforms, and the attack was on.

Time after time well directed bursts of machine gun fire momentarily
held up group on group of the attacking party, but others were steadily
and surely pressing forward, their automatic rifles and muskets pouring
a veritable hail of bullets into the thin line of the village defenders.
Our men fought desperately against overwhelming odds. Corporal Victor
Stier, seeing a Russian machine gun abandoned by the panic-stricken
Russians in charge of same, rushed forward and manning this gun
single-handed opened up a terrific fire on the advancing line. While
performing this heroic task he was shot through the jaw by an enemy
bullet. Still clinging to his gun he refused to leave it until ordered
to the rear by his commanding officer. On his way back through the
village he picked up the rifle of a dead comrade and joined his comrades
in the rear of the village determined to stick to the end. It was while
in this position that he was again hit by a bullet which later proved
fatal--his death occurring that night. He was an example of the same
heroic devotion to duty that marked each member of this gallant company
throughout the expedition. Being thus completely surrounded, the enemy
now advancing with fixed bayonets, and many of our brave comrades lying
dead in the