Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I, Part 71

Author: Fisher, Ernest B., editor
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, R.O. Law Company
Number of Pages: 581


USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I > Part 71


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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again engaged with Pickett's infantry near Five Forks, participat- ing in the battle of that name and taking a prominent part in the final charge, capturing many prisoners and pursuing the enemy until after dark. On April 4 it skirmished with the enemy, made many captures on the way to Amelia Court House and Petersville, and participated in the battle of Sailor's Creek, in which the whole of Ewell's corps was captured. On April 8 it proceeded to Prospect Station and thence toward Appomattox Depot, where it had a spirited brush with the Confederates, capturing much property and ammu- nition. The regiment was deployed and hotly engaged on the morn- ing of the 9th, but its Spencer carbines soon checked the enemy, and then followed the armistice which resulted in the surrender of Lee's army and the termination of the operations of the regiment in the Civil war. Gerry's South Carolina cavalry failed to keep the armis- tice, whereupon the Seventh Michigan charged upon it and put a quietus upon it in short order. With the brigade the regiment par- ticipated in the Grand Review at Washington and then was included in the assignment to the far West. Those of the regiment whose term of service expired before February, 1866, were mustered out, Dec. 15, 1865, and the others were transferred to the First Michigan veteran cavalry and retained in the service in Utah until March 10, 1866.


The Tenth Michigan cavalry was organized at Grand Rapids and was mustered in, Nov. 18, 1863. It left the State, Dec. 1, being ordered to Lexington, Ky., and was engaged at House Mountain, in January, 1864, after which it moved to Burnside Point. On Feb. 29 it moved for Knoxville, thence to Strawberry Plains, and in April met the enemy at Rheatown, Jonesboro, Johnsonville, Watauga, and Bean's Gap. The regiment was also engaged at Powder Spring Gap, Dandridge, Greenville, White Horn, Morristown, Bean's Station, Rogersville, Kingsport, Caney Branch, New Market, Williams' Ford, and Dutch Bottom. It was later engaged at Sevierville, Newport, Morristown, Greeneville, Mossy Creek, Bull's Gap, Blue Springs, Strawberry Plains, Flat Creek Bridge, and Rogersville. At McMil- lan's Ford seventy-two men, under Maj. Israel C. Smith, routed 400 Texas cavalry, capturing their commanding officer-a lieutenant- colonel- and nearly forty prisoners. The regiment was again en- gaged at Greeneville, Sevierville and Jonesboro, in September. At Greenville it participated in an action with Morgan's forces, charging his first camp and routing it and then repelling an advance with car- bines. In October and November it was engaged at Johnston's Station, Watauga Bridge, Chucky Bend, Newport, Irish Bottoms, Madisonville, Morristown, and Strawberry Plains, where 700 men in trenches repulsed a force of 5,000. It was engaged at Kingsport, Bristol and Saltville, in December, destroying the salt works at the last named place. It also fought at Chucky Bend, in January, 1865, then encamped at Knoxville until March 21; then moved to upper East Tennessee and joined the raid into North Carolina, during which it destroyed 100 miles of track and several bridges belonging to the Tennessee and Virginia railroad. It made a forced march of 95 miles in twenty-two hours, reaching Henry and engaging the enemy on April 8, defeating a superior force. The regiment was detached at


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Salem, and Major Smith, with twenty men armed with Spencer re- peating rifles, crossed Grant's creek at Salisbury on a log and fired a flank volley which threw the defending forces into confusion. The regiment was also engaged at Statesville and Newton. It was then ordered to Tennessee, where it served until it was mustered out, at Memphis, Nov. 11, 1865.


In the artillery branch of the service Kent county was also repre- sented. Battery B of the First light artillery was organized at Grand Rapids and was raised at the same time with the Second cavalry. It was mustered, Nov. 26, 1861. Its first engagement with the enemy was at Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862. It made a fine record and was mustered out at Detroit, June 18, 1865. The rendezvous of Battery C was at Grand Rapids, but none of its original officers were from Kent county. It left for the field in the Western army, Dec. 17, 1861. It had a busy and useful term of service, participated in engage- ments in most of the Southern States, and was mustered out at Detroit, June 22, 1865. Battery K was also organized at Grand Rapids, and was here mustered into the service, Feb. 20, 1863. It was composed chiefly, if not wholly, of volunteers of German descent. It was a gallant and useful corps, and was engaged during the war on duty in fortifications and on gunboats and transports, and saw much hard service. It was mustered out at Detroit, July 12, 1865. The Thirteenth battery, organized at Grand Rapids, went into the United States service, Jan. 28, 1864. The most of its service was in forts and fortifications, in the vicinity of Washington. After the assassina- tion of President Lincoln, it assisted in the arrest of the conspirators, Harold and Mudd. It was mustered out of service, July 1, 1865.


Did space permit, it would be a pleasure to include the names and service of the "men who bore the guns," many of whom performed feats of daring and services of incalculable value to the cause, wholly prompted by the innate desire for national preservation, and without the hope of official reward. Some even declined promotion on the conscientious ground that they would then be serving for the emolu- ments and honors of office, while the charge would be groundless if the salary remained at thirteen dollars a month! Such conduct as this, it seems, should be a sufficient refutation of the latter-day doc- trine that greed is the only incentive to human exertion. There were representatives of Kent county in nearly every regiment organized in Western Michigan, either by original enlistment, transfer, or promo- tion, and wherever they were, and by whatever organization they were known, the famous Wolverines always performed their duty, and reflected honor upon themselves and credit upon the noble State which they represented. The following is a list, approximately cor- rect, of those reported as dead, wounded or captured while in active service in the Civil War: William Ackerson, Hezekiah Aickly, Rich- ard Alcott, Silas Aldrich, George Ames, Chandler Andrew, James Andrew, Orlin A. Andrus, Henry L. Arnold, Benjamin A. Austin, Truman J. Bacon, Charles A. Bailey, Jonathan Bailey, Jutson D. Bailey, John Bain, John Baird, Andrew Barbar, Marcus H. b. George H. Barker, William N. Barnard, George H. Barnes, Burt Bar- nett, Charles E. Barr, James G. Bateman, Austin Bates, William F. Bates, Ira C. Baxter, Theophilus B. Baxter, Henry Beach, Jacob


I-35


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Beasler, Henry P. Beckwith, Christian Behler, Emir A. Bell, Robert Bell, James Bement, Henry A. Bennett, S. Benson, Alonzo S. Berry, Joseph Berry, Amos Bessey, Loren C. Bingham, Abraham Bishop, Moses H. Black, James Blackall, Alonzo Blackmore, Rufus W. Bliss, Horam Blood, Theodore Bloomis, Charles Bloss, Seth A. Boynton, L. Byron Brewer, Alvin Briggs, Wm. H. Briggs, Wm. F. Brockway, Charles Brownman, Wm. M. Brockway, Albert Brown, Charles H. Brown, James Brown, James Bruce, Robert Bruton, George Bryant, Lo- renzo Buckley, Chas. E. Buck, Daniel Bugel, Cyrus W. Bullen, Henry C. Burhams, M. Bullis, Chas. B. Burness, Patrick Burns, Simeon Bush, E. Butler, Edwards Butters, Oscar Bylsma, A. Caldwell, Henry Camp, Isaac Camp, Angus Campbell, James Campbell, Julius O. Campbell, Nicholas Canton, John Cantwell, William L. Caper, Henry W. Car- penter, Septimus Carlton, James Carroll, John Carroll, Job Carter, Jeremiah Cary, Alonzo Case, Noah Casner, A. I. Cathcart, Theodore A. Chapin, Alphonso D. Cheney, Rufus Cheney, George J. S. Chese- bro, James Christopherson, Benjamin B. Church, Howard P. Church, Henry Clark, Josiah F. Clark, Julius H. Clark, J. P. Clarke, Amos C. Classon, David Cline, Albert Clute, George W. Cluts, F. M. Coats, P. Coburn, Alexander Cole, James Congdon, Thomas Conger, A. H. Coon, Jesse Coon, George Corporan, Anson B. Corwin, William L. Coughtry, James Cowan, Hugh Cox, David A. Cramer, William H. Cranston, Charles Crauss, Francis M. Crawford, Abraham Cresfield, John F. Crysler, Oliver Culber, George Culver, Harvey S. Curtis, Richard Cusser, Silas W. Cutter, John W. Cuykendall, Hiram Daily, William H. Daniels, Byron J. Dart, Orson O. David, John E. Davis, Thomas A. Davis, William D. Davis, William M. Davis, Frederick Deal, Isaac Dean, Abraham Dees, John L. DeGrot, Eben Delano, David A. Dennison, James Dexter, George Dillenback, Samuel Dodge, Asa Douglass, Daniel Draper, William P. Draper, Edward S. Drew, John P. DuKruif, Emery Durham, Thomas A. Edie, James Eddy, Henry Ellis, James W. Ammons, Milo Ensign, Lyman Evans, John W. Ewing, David A. Farnum, George W. Fay, Henry E. Filkins, Hiram Filly, Morris E. Fitch, Allen Ford, Alvin R. Ford, John A. Fox, William H. Fox, Isaac Francis, William A. Francisco, John Frederick, John L. Free, Albert Freeman, George W. French, Charles H. Frost, Alvin Fuller, Lucien B. Fullington, Joel W. Gardner, A. H. Garrett, Robert Gilden, Eugene Gillam, Charles B. Gilman, John Gingery, George Girdler, Benj. F. Gitchell, Henry Globe, A. C. God- froy, Isaac W. Godfroy, Morey Godfroy, Warren D. Godfroy, William P. Gold, Henry L. Gore, Judson A. Gouldsberry, Lafayette Grain, Lebbeus P. Graves, Warner Green, William Green, Martin Greenman, Henry W. Griffin, August Gruths, James Gunigal, Clark Hall, William Halsey, Eli Hamblin, William Hamblin, John Hanna, Henry Harden- burg, William Harger, William C. Harlan, John Harper, Samuel Harrington, Jared V. Harrison, Lewis Hartman, Francis I. Hartwell, George Harwick, Abram V. Hawk, Daniel Hayes, Warren Heald, James Hefferan, Charles Helmer, Elisha Helsel, Ira Helsel, Welcome E. Herrendon, William N. Herrington, Henry H. Hickcox, Frank P. Hildreth, Charles G. Hilton, Rufus A. Hilton, William Himmelberger, John Hinkle, Cyrus Hadley, Alpheus Holcomb, Americus Holden, Thomas Hollington, Washington Holmes, Estil W. Holt, Joseph E.


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MILITARY HISTORY


Hooper, James Hoose, Martin House, Samuel Hughes, Burdell C. Irons, Charles W. Irons, Judson Irons, Jasper Jacobs, Casper Jenner, Leander Jewell, John Jinks, Edward Johnson, Guy Johnson, Harvey Johnson, Mark Johnson, Richard Johnson, William W. Johnson, Hugh Kearney, Curtis L. Keeney, Francis Kelly, Charles E. Kennedy, John Kennedy, Jon Kennedy, Fred S. Kettle, Henry F. Kimbert, John M. Knapp, William H. Knapp, Webster J. Kniffin, Andrew I. Konkling, Jacob Kugers, Robert H. Lamberton, Abram A. Lawyer, Henry Lawyer, John B. Leach, John Leclaire, Robert Lee, Anson Lewis, James Lind, Erastus R. Linsley, John Livingston, Monroe Livingston, Henry C. Lock, Charles H. Louder, Isaac Lovell, Joseph Lozo, Dennis Lynch, John Lynch, John Lynd, George R. Lyon, Berdan McCall, Charles McCarty, Thomas C. McConnel, D. McDer- mott, I. McDonald, Arthur McDougal, Jacob McFall, Jonas McFall, Adam McGarvey, Michael McGrath, John McHough, Ivan McLain, Stewart J. McLane, Neil McLean, Peter McLean, Samuel McMurray, Duncan McNaughton, Horace McNitt, Finley McPhearson, Nathan E. Mallory, David A. Marsh, Orville Marsh, Alonzo R. Martin, John W. Marvin, James Mashkum, James Mathews, Anthony D. Matthews, Augustus Mauranski, O. Mayfield, Harvey H. Mead, John Mead, Milton M. Merrifield, Jacob Miers, Abraham Miller, Charles Miller, George W. Miller, Robert W. Miller, James Misner, Thomas V. Mit- chell, John Moffit, Samuel Montague, Alfred D. Moore, Benjamin F. Morey, Charles B. Morey, Homer H. Morgan, Mortimer W. Mor- mon, John M. Morris, Allen Morse, Joseph Morse, Timothy J. Mosher, David Munthorn, John Murony, Michael Murphy, William Murray, Charles Myers, Henry I. Myers, Ira A. Nash, Flavius J. Neal, John Nellis, Henry J. Nesbitt, James W. Newson, Merritt Newton, William Newton, Miner S. Nicholas, David Noble, Otheviah F. Norman, John O'Brien, Elon Oneans, Samuel B. Osgood, Charles F. Page, George W. Parker, George F. Patten, John B. Pearsall, Francis Pelton, Theodore F. Peterson, Reuben Petty, Bennett Phillips, James B. Pierce, Aaron R. Piersons, Auston Pixley, Jacob Plaster, Henry Pool, Fred Porter, Henry B. Potter, John Potter, William W. Potter, Frederick Propardet, Charles E. Provin, James I. Provin, George W. Pyle, Purdy Ramslar, Alfred A. Randall, Lafayette Randall, Almeron D. Rathbun, Edwin Rathbun, Jacob Rectenwald, Henry S. Reed, Luman O. Reed, Joel Rexford, John Rex- ford, Oliver Rhodes, Samuel L. Rice, Charles L. Richards, Francis D. Richardson, Abram Richmire, Charles H. Richmond, Edmond Rior- dan, Isaac W. Roberts, George Robertson, James Robinson, Ezra J. Rogers, Rennes Rogers, Richard Rolands, Abram Rosel, William R. Roswell, Cady Rowley, Charles A. Russell, Otis H. Russell, Peter Rykert, Thomas A. Sapwell, Dennis Scagel, William F. Schenk, James Sears, Wilson B. Seymour, Hiram Shuman, Alfred Shirk, Wil- liam Shoemaker, Frank Shoff, William F. Sibley, William S. Simmons, James W. Sims, Major Slater, William I. Slayton, Robert Sleigh, James W. Sligh, George H. Sliter, Joseph T. Sliter, John Smalley, Alfred E. Smith, Amos A. Smith, Charles D. Smith, Chauncey Smith, Daniel Smith, Denton Smith, Denton Smith, Edgar W. Smith, Erson H. Smith, Eugene Smith, George W. Smith, Lucas M. Smith, William Smith, Horace B. Smoke, James H. Soules, Thomas C. Soules, Har-


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rison C. Soules, Warren V. Soules, Cornelius Spaulding, George V. Spearback, Ethan E. Squiers, Samuel C. Squiers, Reuben F. Stanley, Thomas Stanton, Jacob Stark, Cyrus B. Steele, Elisha Steele, H. Steneca, Richard Sterling, Morris Stevenson, John H. Stewart, Lyman D. Stilwell, George W. Story, Seth Streeter, Henry Strong, James A. Taber, Matthew Tancred, Orange Taylor, Allen Thayer, Henry H. Thurston, Samuel T. Tole, George Tower, Henry C. Tower, Dwight Towsley, James R. Treadway, George Trescit, L. C. Truax, Almon H. Tubbs, Lorenzo D. Tubbs, John W. Tyler, William D. Upson, E. Vandecan, James Van Dusen, Philip Van Dusen, Van Etten, Cornelius Vanlieu, Benjamin Van Norman, George Van Wie, Henry Wait, George D. Walker, James C. Wallace, Reuben Walters, Henry Ward, Daniel H. Warren, James W. Washburne, Willard Washburne, Stephen Waters, Henry G. Watson, John Webster, Darwin D. Weeks, Charles Wegal, John West, George W. White, Henry White, John White, Norman G. White, Samuel White, Jr., Thomas Whitfield, Solon M. Whitney, William G. Whitworth, Nathan Wilkes, Milo Wil- lard, Daniel M. Williams, George C. Williams, George W. Williams, Nathaniel N. Williams, James F. Wilson, John Wirtz, Joel Wolcott, Lawrence S. Wolcott, Abram Wolf, Jackson Wood, John H. Wood, Selden Wood, William Wood, Albern O. Woodward, Alonzo Worden, W. H. Worden, Andrew C. Wright, Julius M. Wright, Silas A. Yerkes, Jasper I. Younger, Franklin E. Youngs.


SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR


In the Spring of 1898 came the declaration of war between the United States and Spain, and the equipment of an army and navy to combat the haughty Spaniard. In the settlement of this trouble Kent county responded with old-time vigor and enthusiasm. The noble sons of patriotic sires promptly offered their services in the cause of liberty and performed their duty with commendable devotion. The response was so universal over the land that many were disappointed in not reaching the scene of action, but they had shown their devo- tion to country and sympathy with the down-trodden and oppressed. The Kent county boys, mostly members of Companies B, G, E and H, of the Thirty-second Michigan infantry, were off to the rendezvous at the earliest opportunity. They returned after a few months of service, but were dissatisfied that they could not have done more. A grand reception was accorded to the companies on their return, and then their members resumed the thread of peaceful life. A few Kent county men reached the scene of action in the Philippines, where they rendered valiant service and proved their worthiness on every field.


IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR


Following the close of the Spanish-American trouble and during the period of peace which ensued, the militia companies of Grand Rapids maintained their organizations and increased their efficiency. Hoping always for peace, they prepared themselves for any emer- gency, and when the trouble on the Mexican border occurred they responded with alacrity to the call of the Government. Their service on the border was distinguished by loyalty and fidelity, and when they returned home they received an enthusiastic reception from an admiring people.


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Even then the world war clouds were visible above the American horizon, and in a short time we were to become a participant in the most terrific military contest ever waged in behalf of human liberty. Events followed each other in rapid succession, and when the official declaration of war was made, on April 6, 1917, Grand Rapids and Kent county were ready to respond to any demand that might be made upon them. The organized militia companies were placed upon a war basis and they soon again became a part of the fighting forces of the United States. At the time of this writing (Sept., 1918), the valor of Kent county soldiers has been exhibited on the battlefields of France, and the golden stars on the service flags in the county, tokens of the supreme sacrifice, attest their heroic conduct. Aside from the five militia organizations, Grand Rapids has furnished two field hospital units, and the various enlistments, including every branch of service, shows a total late in July, 1918, of 10,285, divided as follows: In the army, 6,681; battallion, 654; navy, 1,278; marines, 168; naval reserves, 855; United States ambulance company, No. 15, 124; Red Cross hospital corps Q, 81 ; Polish army, 130; British-Canadian, 162; United States coast guard, 52. And these are in addition to the grand national selected army, which system was adopted for the first time in this country upon our entrance as a participant in the great world war. Ending with the July call, 3,231 selected men had entered the service from Kent county and the response to the government's calls have been cheerful and enthusiastic.


Thus far the record of Grand Rapids and Kent county in the world war has been glorious and in keeping with the record of Civil war days. The casualty lists are scanned each day, for Kent county troops are on the firing line in France and Flanders, where they will remain until victory is achieved and Democracy is triumphant over Autocracy. At this writing the following named Grand Rapids sol- diers have made the "supreme sacrifice" and their names have been indelibly inscribed upon the Nation's


ROLL OF HONOR


Carl Hootkins, naval service, died in Colorado, June 19, 1917. Joseph M. Pieszko, died at Waco, Tex., Oct. 12.


Charles A. Gillis, killed in action with Canadians, Nov. 24.


Reginald S. Franchot, died at Fort Worth, Tex., Dec. 27. William S. Mierow, died at Camp McArthur, Jan. 18, 1918. Frank S. Ellis, died at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Jan. 26. Maurice L. Davis, died at Quantico, Va., Feb. 12. Alfred W. Brake, died at Chelsea, Mass., Feb. 17. William Sears, died at Chelsea, Mass., Feb. 19.


William Merizon, died at Eagle Pass, Tex., Feb. 24.


Neal Fonger, died at Norfolk, Va., March 1. Philip Wood, Canadian army, died at Brainshott, England, Mar. 1. Horace Grover Caster, died at Kelly field, Fort Sam Houston, Tex., March 5.


George Willemsen, killed in an accident in France, March 19. Joseph W. Malewitz, reported missing when destroyer Manley was sunk in collision in European waters.


John Hiemstra, died at Columbus barracks, Columbus, Ohio, April 3.


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Ralph Van Zanten, died of pneumonia in France, April 3. Howard Leroy Cudahy, drowned on Florence H., April 28.


Carl Edward Wilmes, died at Camp Custer, April 29.


J. Alexander Bayne, killed in an aerial crash in France, May 8.


Everett D. Crocker, died at Camp Custer, May 9.


Kenneth A. Nelson, aviation accident in England, May 24.


Harry Judson Webster, killed in aeroplane accident at Fort Worth, Tex., June 4.


Joseph M. Todd, killed in action in France, June 10.


John S. Smith, died of illness in France, June 12.


Harry E. Fonger, killed in action in France, June 12.


John Ostrowski, killed in action in France, June 17.


Edgar G. Tomlinson, in France, June 21.


Wesley N. Keller, killed in action in France, June 26.


Ray H. Parmalee, killed in action in France, June 26.


Carl A. Johnson, killed in action in France, July 1.


James W. Sziekarskas, killed in action in France, July I. Clyde Gillespie, died of disease in France, July 6.


Joseph W. Korskey, in France, July 16.


George A. E. Sifton, July 18.


Charles E. Cunningham, died in France, of wounds received in action, July 19.


N. S. Hudlha, in France, July 21.


Ralph McMillan, in France, July 22.


Orra L. Snyder, in France, July 27.


Clare E. Mosher, in France, July 27.


Edward C. Doyle, killed in aeroplane accident at Ardmore, Okla., July 28. Joseph K. Clark, in France, July 29.


Harold J. Christie, in France, July 30.


Bernard Van't Hof, died of wounds received in action in France, Aug. 4.


George A. Allen, in France, Aug. 5.


Daniel W. Cassard, killed in action in France, Aug. 15.


Edward D. Sullivan, in France, Aug. 22.


Harold J. Payette, killed in action in France, Aug. 22.


Ivan C. Hamilton, in France, Aug. 28.


Arthur D. De Vries, killed in action in France, Aug. 28. Adrian E. Roodvoets, killed in action in France, Aug. 28.


William A. Wilmerink, in France, Aug. 29.


Gordon M. Crothers, in France, Aug. 29.


Frederick W. Evans, killed in accident at Cheyenne, Wyo., Aug. 30.


William Huff, in France, Aug. 30. Joseph Pray, in France, Aug. 30. W. C. Brinkman, in France, Aug. 30. Lionel H. Gardiner, killed in accident in the navy at Virginia Beach, Va., Sept. 2. J. B. Coulson, in France, Sept. 10. Charles Deering, killed in action in France, Sept. 19. Richard Mazereuw, killed in action in France, Sept. 20. Irving J. Freeman, died in Grand Rapids, Sept. 20.


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ODDS AND ENDS


A temporary memorial to its soldier dead in the great war was dedicated, Friday, Sept. 27, 1918. The memorial consists of two square pillars on each side of the main Fulton street entrance to Ful- ton park. A large flag was suspended between the pylons, and the names of those in whose memory the city erected the monument are inscribed on the four sides of each column. After the war a perma- nent memorial will be erected.


The Rev. C. W. Merriam, who was in France as a Y. M. C. A. worker, gives an account of the fighting around Chateau Thierry, in which Grand Rapids troops distinguished themselves. The reverend gentleman is authority for the statement that the Grand Rapids boys "have made the finest record of any unit in any army in the four years of the war. They advanced twenty-two kilometers in five days with the crack Prussian guard opposing them, and they did it on rifles, bayonets and nerve, for they had almost no planes, no 75's and never even saw a tank. They did it with their kitchen trains twenty-seven miles in the rear and they did it with only eleven wooden crosses to show the cost. I personally counted seventy-seven machine gun placements within a quarter of a mile and the boys cleaned up those nests when it was impossible to imagine anyone getting through alive. They did it on short notice, too, for they were hurried to the front in motor-cars from a point fifty miles away. The horses couldn't keep up with the men and many of them dropped and died of exhaus- tion while the men went on. One of the artillery officers told me that the longest time his outfit was in any one spot in all those three days of fighting was twenty minutes. No sooner would they get located and begin sending shells over them than the word would be brought up that they must hurry on, for they were holding the infantry's advance. The infantry went on until they were told they simply must stop at Vesle in order to save the line. And all the time the Hun planes were dropping machine gun bullets on them and they had no planes to fight back. We hear much of the big British ad- vance before the tanks, but our men had no tanks to help them."


"Chateau-Thierry is a precious spot to us because it was the place where American courage was first tried and the answer given once for all," Mr. Merriam said in describing the scene of the victory of the Grand Rapids boys and their comrades. "I believe it will take its place beside Concord Bridge, Liberty Hall, and Mount Vernon in American history."


CHAPTER XLIV ODDS AND ENDS


COMING OF THE DUTCH SETTLERS-RAILROADS-HORTICULTURE AND POMOLOGY-SALT, GYPSUM, ETC .- TELEPHONE - WATER POWER -A NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT-"DEACON" CONVERSE-LADIES' LIT- ERARY CLUB-ST. CECELIA SOCIETY-GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUB- LIC-SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-INDUSTRIAL DEVELOP- MENT-PICRIC ACID PLANT-A FEW IMPORTANT FACTS.




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