e rudiments in much the same
manner as the training was started and progressed with the first
recruits at Camp Meade.

When 4 o'clock of each afternoon came, the order was established for a
swim in the river as the parting day's rejuvenator. Montmorillon was
the only place in France where the battery got frequent baths.

Saturday morning for the troops at Montmorillon was generally inspection
time. Inspections were held on the public plaza. Showdown inspections
were as exacting as Camp Meade days. Saturday afternoon and Sunday
were days of rest for those who were lucky enough to escape detail.

Regimental services were held in the public square on Sunday mornings,
while many of the soldiers visited the curious, two-storied chapel of
octagonal form and Romanesque style, that was built in the 12th
century, in which services were still conducted. The chapel is
connected with the ecclesiastical seminary that occupies a building
that was formerly an Augustinian convent.

The Church of the Notre Dame is another ancient landmark of
Montmorillon that held interest for the Americans. It, also, is a 12th
century building, built on a high slope, with its chapel undermined
with a series of catacombs. Trips of inspection to these subalterean
chambers, where the worship of the early ages was conducted, were
numerous and interesting to the soldiers.

Various schools for instruction of the officers of the regiment were
established at Montmorillon. A detachment of new officers from the
Saumur school arrived in town to take charge of the training work
while the regular officers attended the schools. Second Lieut. Sidney
F. Bennett of Derby, Vermont, was assigned to Battery D at this time
and was given plenty of work in supervising the morning drill and
battery instructions. Lieut. Bennett immediately won great favor among
the men. He varied his periods of drill and training with athletics.
"O'Grady," "Crow and Crane," "Belt 'Round the ring," and numerous
other sport contests were indulged in with great vim.

A battery kitchen, utilizing the field range, was set up in close
proximity to the two battery billets. Here the boys lined up with
their mess-kits three times a day. They sat out in the narrow French
street as they appeased their appetites. Gone were the mess hall
tables of Camp Meade days. Gone were the cots of Camp Meade memory.
Cheer was added, however, when mail from the United States and home
began to reach the outfit. T