died from his wounds. While talking by telephone to our headquarters at
Shenkursk, just as we were being notified to withdraw, a shell burst
near headquarters, demolishing our telephone connections. Again
assembling our men we once more took up our weary retreat, arriving that
evening in Shenkursk, where, worn and completely exhausted, we flung
ourselves on floors and every available place to rest for the coming
siege, about to begin.

XVII

THE RETREAT FROM SHENKURSK

Shenkursk Surrounded By Bolsheviki--Enemy Artillery Outranged
Ours--British General At Beresnik Orders Retreat--Taking Hidden Trail We
Escape--Shenkursk Battalion Of Russians Fails Us--Description Of
Terrible March--Casting Away Their Shackletons--Resting At Yemska
Gora--Making Stand At Shegovari--Night Sees Retreat Resumed--Cossacks
Cover Rear--Holding Ill-Selected Vistavka--Toil, Vigilance And Valor
Hold Village Many Days--Red Heavy Artillery Blows Vistavka To Splinters
In March--Grand Assault Is Beaten Off For Two Days--Lucky Cossacks Smash
In And Save Us--Heroic Deeds Performed--Vistavka Is Abandoned.

After five days and nights of ceaseless fighting and marching, it is
necessary to say that we were soon sleeping the sleep of utterly
exhausted and worn out soldiers, but alas, our rest was soon to be
disturbed and we were to take up the weary march once more. Immediately
after our arrival within the gates of Shenkursk, the British High
Command at once called a council of war to hastily decide what our next
step should be. The situation briefly stated was this: Within this
position we had a large store of munitions, food, clothing, and other
necessaries sufficient to last the garrison, including our Russian
Allies, a period of sixty days. On the other hand, every available
approach and trail leading into Shenkursk was held by the enemy, who
could move about at will inasmuch as they were protected by the
trackless forests on all sides, and thus would soon render it impossible
for our far distant comrades in Archangel and elsewhere on the lines to
bring through any relief or assistance. Furthermore, it was now the dead
of the Arctic winter and three to four months must yet elapse before the
block ice of the Vaga-Dvina would give way for our river gunboats and
supply ships to reach us.

Between our positions and Beresnik, our river base, more than a hundred
miles distant, were but two occupied positions, the closest being
Shegovari, forty-four