USA > Illinois > Lee County > War history of Lee County, Illinois, 1917-1919 : a history of the part taken by the people of Lee County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1919 > Part 15
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At this time it was planned that the 1st Division with the artillery that had supported it should go a short distance to the rear for a period of rest. But just as we were about to start, we received orders to march westward to the Argonne sector to take part in another offensive which was being planned at that point. This journey required six nights of marching, and sleeping day times under the cover of woods. Our first stop was in a small piece of timber near Gironville. As we left these woods and were proceeding up a long hill about two miles distant. German planes came over and dropped a number of bombs on the woods we had just left, believing us to still be there. The remainder of the trip was uneventful. Our principal camping places were in the vicinity of Koeur, Pierrefitte, Beauzee, and Wally, arriving in heavy woods near Parois Sept. 24th. The guns went into position in the Forest de Hesse, which was a short distance in advance. Here we were assigned to the 91st Division. The same elaborate preparations were made here as for the drive at St. Mihiel. 15 American Divisions occupied the front line through the Argonne Forest and to the east as far as the Meuse River. West of the Argonne was the 4th French Army, which was to operate in conjunction with the American forces. On the German side were 21 divisions in line and 13 divisions in reserve.
The drive started on Sept. 26th. During our stay in the Parois woods we were shelled frequently by the Germans, but as these woods had been occupied some time before by a detachment of French troops, there were a number of dugouts in the vicinity which afforded us protection. At 3 o'clock in the morning of September 26th, the artillery opened up with a barrage which was the starting of an offensive which was to continue through October and the first part of November. In fact, it was this battle that caused the Kaiser to ask for an armistice. For three days and nights our batteries fired continu- ously on the German positions. Here ( Battery lost one man, Private Herman, and two others were wounded, Privates Kokas and Burns.
The artillery fire was directed by aeroplanes and balloons. There were from two to ten balloons in the air all the time, that is, during the day light hours. The observers had either telephones or wireless communication with the batteries, and reported the result of every shell to the battery commander. The work of the balloon observer was extremely hazardous, as the balloons were easy prey to German aeroplanes, as frequently daring German aviators would ship across the line and attack the balloon, firing incendiary bullets from their machine guns into the balloons and causing them to almost instantly burst into flame. On the ground underneath each balloon a number of machine guns were kept always in position to defend the balloon, and a number of men were kept con- stantly on the watch for German planes. The balloon observer's whole attention was required in watching the effects of each shell of the artillery of the battery he was direct- ing and could not watch for German planes, so, on receiving warning from the ground that an enemy plane was approaching, he immediately dropped his instruments and leaped overboard with his parachute, which was always fastened to him. Several of these balloons burned within sight of our position. In every instance the observer escaped with his life, except one, where the burning balloon fell on the descending parachute, igniting it and causing the observer to drop to his death. The air was full of aeroplanes, and as many as 48 were counted at one time.
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On the night of the 28th, we moved forward about seven kilometers to a point known as the Cheppy Cross Roads which was in the open country just at the right of the Argonne Forest. The roads were in terrible condition as the result of constant shelling and much repairing had to be done before the heavy guns could be moved over them. Every village was in total ruins. The fields here were dotted with shell holes and the trees in the timber were broken and torn by shell fire. This brought us up to the famous Hindenburg line from which our drive of the two days preceding had driven the Germans baek towards the north. Great masses of barb wire entanglements were encountered all along this old Hindenberg line. The fight grew more severe every day. The Germans knew every inch of this ground and could compute accurately the range to any point they wished to fire on with their long range artillery.
This Hindenberg line was a wonderful piece of work with its masses of barb wire en- tanglements, its well built dugouts 20 to 40 feet under ground, and so constructed that our heaviest projectiles would not penetrate to them. The machine gun nests were built of solid concrete, and, while placed in commanding positions, were so well concealed that they were not discovered until a person walked right on to them. The drive did not progress as rapidly as expected. While the first of the attack took the Germans by sur- prise, they quickly recovered and made strong counter attacks. The Argonne Forest itself was full of hills, ravines and thickets, all of which were well fortified, and from which it was hard to dislodge the enemy. Several times our artillery succeeded in driving the Germans out of a position in the woods and our Infantry would move forward and take possession of it, only to be driven back by German Barrages and Infantry counter attacks. This continued for several days.
The 37th Division was on our right and the 35th Division on our left. The Germans launched an attack one evening just at dusk which drove the 37th and 35th Divisions back nearly a mile, leaving the 91st Division, which we were still attached to, projecting over a mile into the enemy line. So about 11 P. M. we found ourselves with the enemy on our right and left as well as front, and in imminent danger of being cut off in the rear. On our left, a deep ravine led down to our rear, and down this ravine in the darkness the Germans sent an entire Division of Infantry, which, had it reached us, would have meant the certain capture of our guns. Our regimental headquarters became aware of this situation in time to telephone to some French Batteries for assistance. A timely barrage directed in this ravine caught the German Division and forced them to retreat. On our right the Germans did not see their advantage until day break, at which time our Divi- sion Commander also saw his danger and retired on a line with the Divisions on our right and left.
On the 7th of October, the 91st Division was relieved by the 32nd Division. Our batteries, however, remained in position and became the artillery support of the 32nd Division. The drive was renewed with better success.
Three days the battery remained at this point and then moved forward again to the valley running northward from the little village of Very to Epinonville, known to us as Hell's Valley. This valley was constantly under shell fire from the German batteries. Here the guns of the battery were practically in the open. In fact, during the remainder of our stay at the front, little, if any attempt was made to conceal the guns or the horse eschelon from observation. During the time the Germans occupied this valley, they had built a very good plank road which ran the length of the valley for the use of their heavy motor truck trains. It became necessary to place the guns of the battery near this road, and as the Germans knew the exact location of this road on the map, the battery was
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subjected to frequent and severe artillery fire. The men always dug shallow trenches close to the guns into which they could drop to avoid the shells. On the western side of the valley the ground rose rapidly to a high ridge, and it was on this slope, a short distance from the guns, that the boys of the battery made the dugouts in which they slept when off duty. Here also were the dugouts in which the telephone station was placed, while a short distance down the valley towards Very, in larger dugouts, the Regimental and Battalion Commanders had their posts of Command. A complete system of telephone lines connected each of these posts of command with the batteries as well as the other organizations on our right and left. All of the horses of the regiment were grouped in an eschelon on the reverse slope of the hill just east of Hell's Valley. The horses suffered severely, as it is hard to protect horses from shell fire. Where men can jump into trenches or at least lie flat on the ground and thus avoid the flying pieces from bursting shells, horses, especially when frightened, always remain standing, thus proving easy victims to shell fire.
In spite of reports in American newspapers to the contrary, the German aeroplanes had the best of the air, and on one occasion six German planes swooped down over Hell's Valley and severely bombed the dugouts where the men slept. Air battles were a fre- quent occurrence. Twice we saw German planes brought down in flames and a third one was driven down right near our position.
On the morning of October 4th, Horace Ortt was killed by a high explosive shell while carrying a message from the telephone station to Captain Selover.
Corporal Albert Lewis, Corporal Lefler and Private Houraban were wounded during this engagement.
The American forees continued to drive the enemy towards the north in spite of the fact that the Germans brought to this sector eight more divisions from the sector west of the Argonne. Nearly every day large bodies of German prisoners were marched back to the rear under guard of a few Infantry men, also many wounded, both German and American, were brought back from the front line in ambulances to the field hospitals near Very. The Germans were finally driven into the open country north of the Argonne. This was one of the main objects of this offensive, for we knew that once the Germans were driven from the forest into the open country to the north, we would have a great advantage, for the American army was better trained in open warfare methods than either the Germans or the French. From now on the Germans retreated rapidly to the north and northeast, although putting up an admirable defense with their machine guns.
On October 12th, our regiment, together with the 122nd and 124th artillery regiments were relieved by other artillery regiments and ordered to march a short distance to the rear for rest and re-equipment. We started in the evening, but owing to the fact that our regiment had lost nearly half of its horses, nearly all that night was consumed in get- ting the guns, caissons and wagons out of the valley. We did not reach our destination until 3 o'clock the next afternoon. We stopped then for two days at this place, which was near Bombasle. The next day's march took us to Ville sur Cousance. In this vil- lage were good wooden barracks and stables for the horses. Here our regiment received orders that, owing to the shortage of horses, we would turn our horses over to the 122nd and 124th regiments, and proceed to Doulaincourt where we would be equipped with motor trucks and tractors. The 122nd and 124th regiments returned to the front and took part in the remainder of the drive which ended at Stenay when the armistice was signed.
After two weeks rest, our regiment marched to Souilly and were transported by rail-
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road from that point to Vignory where we detrained, and after a hard march, mostly up steep hills, for ten kilometers, arrived at Doulaincourt where Colonel Davis established his headquarters and the regiment was quartered with the exception of batteries C and D which were stationed in the village of Saucourt about two miles north. These were ex- ceptionally pretty little villages. The troops were comfortably billeted here, and the villagers were exceptionally friendly, so that the stay there is one of the pleasantest memories of France. On our arrival, the regiment learned definitely for the first time that the war seemingly was nearing an end.
When the armistice was signed November 11th, the regiment joined with the villagers in a general celebration.
In the latter part of October, 1918, after the return from the front, Captain Selover was transferred to the Third Battalion and became its Adjutant. His place was taken by Captain Victor Franklin who commanded the battery until about December 1st when he was sent as an instructor to the artillery school at Valdahon. After this, Lieutenant H. H. Berg, the senior Ist Lieutenant of the battery was in command until it was mustered out at Camp Grant.
In spite of the fact that the war was over, the regiment received motor equipment, and commenced a course of training to acquaint the men with the care and handling of heavy tractors and motor equipment. The forenoon of each day was devoted to drilling, and the afternoons were devoted to athletic sports for the benefit of the men. Baseball, basket ball, volley ball and football teams were organized in each battery, the equipment furnished by the Y. M. C. A. A series of games for championship in each of these sports was played during the two months stay at Doulaincourt.
On the 26th of December, we bade farewell to the many friends we had made in pleasant little Doulaincourt and Saucourt, and were transported by motor truck trains to Stenay where we rejoined our Brigade.
Stenay was a very interesting city, although deserted by its French inhabitants. The city had been in the hands of the Germans throughout the war, and the Crown Prince had made his headquarters in a large chateau. The large French barracks where we were quartered during our stay here had been used by the Germans for a rest camp. All along the roads were large piles of German artillery ammunition and hand grenades and the fields all along the Meuse River were dotted with shell holes.
Leaving Stenay on January 7th, the regiment was again transported by motor truek trains to Luxemburg where we rejoined the 33rd Division for the first time since arriving in France. The trip to Luxemburg took us over the southern portion of Belgium. In Luxemburg, ( Battery was billeted for the winter in the little town of Lorentzweiler, about six miles north of the city of Luxemburg, in the beautiful valley made famous by George Barr Mccutcheon's books, Graustark and Castle Craneyerow. The Luxem- burgers received the Americans well, and since leaves of absence were made much more liberal from the beginning of 1919, trips to Nice, Aix la Bains, Paris and other leave centers helped the time to pass more swiftly. In spite of the fact that most of the war time hard- ships were over and living conditions were excellent, however, it was difficult to wait for the orders to start for home that the men knew would come sooner or later. On April 22, 1919, Secretary of War Baker and General Pershing inspected the Division and bade it goodbye.
Finally the anxiously awaited orders came, and on the 29th of April, 1919, the regi- ment entrained for its last ride in box cars. This trip, which took the different trains an average of about five days to Brest, France, was comfortable, transport being much
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Fetter organized than during the war-time strain on the rolling stock of the French rail- ways. We arrived at Brest May 2nd.
At Brest, the battery was equipped with new clothing, and on May 15th, they embarked on the U. S. S. America, which steamed out of the harbor at 7 o'clock on the following morning for the long anticipated trip to America, arriving in Hoboken May 24th, trans- ported by ferry to Brooklyn, then by Electric to Camp Mills, Long Island.
As the steamship America came into the harbor, we were enthusiastically welcomed by a reception committee of Illinois men led by Governor Lowden, who, on a small ex- cursion Loat came out to meet the America.
We remained at Camp Mills nine days. Members of the battery whose homes were in other states were detached and sent to camps in these states for demobilization. The remainder of the battery entrained on June 3rd for Camp Grant. Arriving in Chicago on June 5th, the 123rd regiment, together with the other organizations of the 58th arti !- lery brigade, detrained and marched up Michigan Avenue to Grant Park. There the relatives who lived in Chicago, or who had come to that city to greet the soldiers, were admitted to the park. The city gave the returning soldiers an enthusiastic reception. About two hours reunion with their relatives, and the regiment re-formed and marched through the loop distriet and concluded their march at various hotels where dinner had been prepared for them. At 4:30 in the afternoon the regiment again entrained for Camp Grant arriving there at 7:30 in the evening.
The machinery of mustering out the men was at onee put in motion, and by evening of June 7th, all the men of Battery (' had received their discharge. Early the next morning automobiles from their home city came to Camp Grant to take the men home, and they arrived in Dixon about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After more than two years of hard service, the men of Battery C were once more back home. They were given a very warm welcome by the people of Dixon. Word was sent ahead that they were nearing the city and all the home folks were ready to greet them. Dinner was in readiness for them at the Elks Club immediately upon their arrival. On June 12th, the city declared a holi- day and gave a reception day for the returned soldiers, and no time or expense was spared in showing the soldiers that heir work was appreciated and that the people were glad for their return. A beautiful arch had been erected on the corner of Second Street and Galena Avenue as a welcome home to the returned soldiers of Dixon and a tribute to those who would not return.
During its participation in the two major offensives which brought the war to a close, Battery C made a record of which its members may well feel proud. Its guns were always handled with skill and efficiency. On one occasion, in the Argonne drive, when necessity demanded very rapid fire from all the guns of the regiment, Battery C went on record as having fired the greatest number of projectiles in a given period of any of the batteries of the regiment.
To the men of the battery much credit is due for their courage and valor in action and their constant devotion to duty at all times often under very adverse conditions.
CHAPTER XXIX East Grove Township
By HOMER W. PARSONS
When the word was received that war had been declared we at once placed a flag on our garden gate, and it was still there when peace was declared, at least the staff was. It was a war garden. Our first help in war work activities was in selling Red Cross Christ- mas seals, 1917. By the aid of five of our efficient teachers in the township we sold 1100 seals. On November 9 and 10 over 100 ladies registered for Illinois W. C. C. N. D.
The Red Cross membership drive for 1918 was next in order, 24 families had the honor of having the 100 per cent service flag in their windows.
With a total of 170 members W. C. C. N. D. work began in earnest with about twenty ladies who met every two weeks at the different homes where sweaters, helmets, socks, mitts, caps and scarfs were knitted for the soldier boys. Those who did not knit made hospital garments. About 52 articles were sent in from this unit, also over 100 warm knitted garments were made. The conservation lunches served at these meetings were heartily enjoyed by these patriotic ladies.
There was no one, as far as we ean learn, who took any bonds of the first issue. The second loan, of which James Dunn, had charge, raised about $13,800.
In March 1918, the Dixon W. C. C. N. D. asked help for their Allied Relief bazaar. Mrs. Joe Meurer and Mrs. James MeBride were most successful in colleeting many useful and valuable donations that they took to Dixon. The ladies in this vieinity served a chicken pie supper which netted the niee sum of $78 to help the good cause.
The Third Liberty loan was launched in April. Homer Parsons, Ralph Hanson and B. B. Friel were appointed chairman of East Grove, and they in turn appointed a commit- tee of three in each school district. The chairmen of these were Joe Conderman, George P. Meyer, G. B. Rogers, Harry Willstead, Henry Smith, M. Dulen, George Meurer, and Homer Parsons had charge of District No. 50. We secured our quota of $12,550 and secured a lovely service flag for our township, which is always on display at all public gatherings, lectures and elections.
Next we were asked to give to the American Red Cross, one-half to be used in Lee County for the Local Red Cross chapter. $760 was sent in at this eall.
The War Saving Stamp was next, and the patriotic people responded by investing $648 in interest bearing stamps.
The Fourth Liberty loan was nearly doubled but we came very near our quota with $28,400.
The United War Work fund was subscribed to the amount of $824.
In October the ladies gave a chicken supper, the proceeds being for an orphan child of France, the adoption of a little girl was asked. Thirty-seven dollars was raised.
Nineteen hundred and nineteen Red Cross subscriptions came to $234. Ten of these were magazine subscriptions.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Financial Record
Second Liberty Loan $13,800.00
Red Cross membership $170.00
Third Liberty loan
12,550.00
Red Cross and War Relief 760.00
Fourth Liberty loan
28,400.00
Red Cross Xmas Seals, 1917 11.00
War Saving Stamps
648.00
Allied Relief Bazaar 78.00
Adopted Orphan 37.00
$55,398.00
W.C.C.N.D. Registration fees 9.90 United War Work 824.50
Red Cross Subsep't. 1918 234.00
$2,124.40
CHAPTER XXX Hamilton Township
By H. G. KEIGWIN
By direction of the State Council of Defense Neighborhood Committee, through the Lee County Chairman, John P. Devine, Joseph Bauer, John Foss and H. G. Keigwin were appointed as a committee to represent Hamilton in its various activities of war work.
This committee met at the town hall and selected the following persons to aid them as school district committeemen from the following districts:
Keigwin School- W. E. Sanders, J. I. Clark, H. G. Keigwin.
Pope School-S. G. Pope, Jacob Dodler, Gus Kranov.
Merchant School-W. W. Edson, M. H. Powers, Edwin Man.
Chappel School-Joseph Foley, John Wells, Lisle Risdon.
Bauer School-Joseph Miller, Henry Johnson, George Hermes.
In the winter of 1918 there was added a finance committee to cach township and proved to be a great help in the various drives for loans and war relief work. The committee that represented Hamilton was Joseph Bauer, John Foss and H. G. Keigwin.
The Woman's Committee Council of Defense also needs favorable mention. Mrs. H. G. Keigwin as township chairman was ably seconded in relief and other agencies by Mrs. Rachel Johnson who is second to none as a Liberty loan salesman and securing member- ship for Red Cross. Mrs. Joseph Bauer's and Mrs. Frank Keigwin's work made Child's Welfare day a success and Mrs. Snader, who volunteered her services for the occasion, should not be passed by unnoticed.
Liberty Loans
The only known subscriber to the First loan was James R. Keigwin who purchased a $50 hond.
The town of Hamilton is a rural community exclusively. Sixty-five per cent of the land is owned by non-residents who are usually real estate speculators, renting their farms for one year only. As a result the tenants are often new and their first attempt to farm for themselves, and they are not in a position to be very extensive purchasers of bonds.
Second Loan
In the autumn of 1917 the Second loan was put on the market. With notes, mort- gages and interest coming due Hamilton's people, in some localities, felt that the banks should take this as they did the First loan and leave those whose personal obligations were heavy alone. The result was that though Chairman Bauer, H. G. Keigwin, A. W. Butterfield and W. E. Hopkins, assisted by a loan meeting in connection with the Keig- win husking bee, made a house to house canvass selling far short of the quota.
Third Loan
In April 1918 the Finance committee was in operation. Many had been called to the colors. The war was brought nearer home as a result. Each daily and weekly paper made a vigorous educational campaign assisted by great posters which demonstrated that the dearest thing one could furnish the war was blood. The cheapest was money.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
A Liberty loan meeting was held in the town hall where Speakers Devine, Edwards, and Warner and a Dixon quartet from the Elks elub met with a most enthusiastic res- ponse from the best attended meeting in Lee County where the residents were all rural. As a result the $14,000 quota for Hamilton was raised with nearly $6000 aditional by each distriet's committee working their respective territory.
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