After a period of six months training, we left Camp Upton, Long Island on the 26th day of April under the charge of Captain Roosevelt, a nephew of the late Teddy Roosevelt.  On account of his rough ways and his soldierly manners, and the way he gave orders in drilling, we always called him Teddy.  Nevertheless, we soon found we had a soldier leading us, and later on when he was transferred, the boys would have given anything to have him back.  All the boys knew beforehand just which car  they were to go in and the work took only a few minutes.  Everybody seemed to say to the engineer up front, "Let's go", although we were starting out to the land where people no longer eat and sleep in peace  Still everybody seemed as happy as if he were going home of a Saturday afternoon to spend the afternoon and Sunday with his sweetheart or friends.  In one corner of our car, we had Jack Feist, giving an exhibition of how he made all those coins which he jingled with such delight in his pocket.  He was an actor, but I won't say what kind as our Company has a good name and we mean to keep it.   In another corner, John Renzo was showing beforehand what a poor chance the Hun had when he arrived.  In the midst of all the excitement we heard a shrill whistle and we were off.  From my window, I could see the camp and all our old wooden barracks.  I took one look at Co. F barrack and it seemed as lonely and desolate as if nobody had ever lived there.   Another minute and we had left the old camp behind forever.  As I turned away from the window, I noticed the bugler.  He was as white as a sheet and he seemed to be in very deep thought.  I said:

"What's the matter, Goetz?  You're not getting lonesome already?"

"Oh, I was just thinking how happy you boys are and how little you realize your parting from your friends and going to France, probably to fertilize the soil and enlarge the worm population."

Voices came from every side:  that pro-German so-and-so, put him off, and so on.  Then we quieted down again and started to sing "Hail, hail the gang's all here" as the train pulled into Long Island City.  It was now about 6:30 am and all the people were on their way to work.  Several young fellows hastened their steps to see what all the racket was about, but after asking a few questions and getting some clever answers as to their part in winning the war, they were glad to take their leave.  Although it was against the law to take letters of departing men, they took ours and got away.  In this way most of the people home know just when we were leaving.  We were cheered by the crowds of people, who waited to see us march from the train to the ferry.  And although we were heavily loaded we all kept in step and stuck our chests out until we got on the Hoboken ferry.   The sail across the river was quiet; everybody was interested in looking at New York's big buildings.  Soon it was 11 o'clock and we were getting pretty hungry.  The long ride and the weight of the packs had given us keen appetites and we were all happy when we saw a group of Red Cross girls waiting to feed us when we landed at the dock.  

First come, first served, so of course everybody took it easy getting off.  That was one morning when I couldn't help but tell the particular one who served me how pretty she was.  I don't know whether it was the Red Cross on her cap or the neat uniform or the coffee and rolls, but my flattery was so great that I think she really believed me.  When we had finished, we made seats of our packs and enjoyed a good cigarette (also supplied by the Red Cross people).  Just as we were comfortably seated, we heard Teddy's gruff voice. 

"Who told you to fall out?"

In a second every one was in place with his pack on his back.  A few minutes later we saw the gangplank going up and we know it was our turn at least.  We double-timed up that gangplank like good fellows, although it wasn't really necessary.  At the top we each received a skip telling us the name of the ship (USS Northern Pacific) and the number of our bunk.  We were in C 22 and at first it seemed as if we'd have quite a job finding it, as some of the fellows were getting seasick already.  But we had Sgt. Ferretti, one of New York's finest, with us and anything he can't find isn't worth finding.  We found our place at last.  We were one flight down but not the lowest one and we managed to get near a porthole.  There were three bunks, one over the other, hung on hinges and held up by chains, and as usual the N.C.O.s got the best ones, the top ones.  When we had our bunks fixed, we hear a bell and we know our first meal aboard ship was ready.

The mess hall was down below and when we got there we were told to line up.  We had to wait for our officers before we were let in.  As usual our officers were strolling around, and it took four orderlies to find Lt. Hartley, who looked as if he were sick already.  We all crowded in and we were given the best meal we'd had since we joined the army.  Plenty of mashed potatoes with lots of milk and butter, and nice tender steak, with onions, fresh bread and butter and good tea and sliced peaches for dessert.  There wasn't much talking during that meal  -- everybody was too busy filling up and wondering if all the meals would be like that.

At the end, we had a pleasant surprise too  -- we didn't have to wash our mess kits, we just turned them in and got clean ones for each meal.  Then we took a walk on deck and talked to several members of the crew.  They gave us very encouraging news, which we soon found to be true.  They had just made the trip to and from France in 16 days and they had just run away from the fastest submarines.  They also boasted that they had the best gunners in the Navy.   We went to bed and slept well, being too tired to think of the hardness of the beds.  Next morning we were wakened by the sounding of first call.  Some, not remembering that they were three flights up, gave their usual jump out of bed and landed on the fellow below and you could hear lots of scraps all over the ship.   To our relief, we were told that there would be no reveille during he trip they just wanted to get us up and have breakfast over so that the cooks could get busy with the dinner.  We did them that favor and then went up on deck to see how far we were from shore.

To our surprise we were still in Hoboken  -- it was only the splashing of the waves that made us think we were moving.  We were still in port when 5:00 pm came and we were ordered below.  At 5:30 we heard the whistle blow and we were off at last.  Everybody felt happy to have started, but they all crowded to the ports to see the last of the city.  It was getting dark and we couldn't see very much.  Next morning we were out of sight of land.  It was a nice, sunny day and we all sat around on the deck and smoked and told stories and figured out how long it would take us to reach France.  We had only one formation inspection that day by the doctor 1st. Lt. Randall and Capt. Everhart. 

The next day the weather was still calm and we had a thorough inspection of quarters and we were assigned to lifeboats or rafts.  The following day we had "abandon ship" for the first time.  Everybody had to get to his quarters and when the bell sounded, double-time up to the deck and into place with the rest of the Company.  Each Company had a set place and we had to stand there, four deep, until recall was sounded.  

The next day was our fourth day out and we had reached the danger zone;  the lookouts were told to be very watchful and report anything they saw.  At two o'clock a.m. the bells began to ring furiously.  The crowd was very hard to keep quiet, as everybody thought it was the alarm.  Five minutes later the second bell rang and everybody rushed upstairs. Although it was quiet we got up quickly and found our places.  We could just see the outlines of the ship that was traveling with us, the USS Van Steuben.  We were greatly relieved when the officers told us that it was only a practice drill; recall was sounded and we all went back to bed.

Fifth day out, mostly everybody was sick now: John Ferretti, Dick Tobin, Arthur Shaw,  Direks and Joe Delaney were worse than the rest --and indeed for the time didn't care even if we did get hit by torpedoes. Every time we had abandon ship everybody had to get off the deck no matter how sick you were and indeed the look on some of the boys' faces was indeed pitiful.    I felt dizzy that night for the first time and thought I didn't better have supper.  Anyway the eats were good and I wouldn't miss one meal.   I missed more than supper.  Next morning I didn't dare go near that mess hall although I was all right that night, and for the rest of the trip.  That night we had abandon ship.  This time it wasn't so much of a surprise although we kind of thought if anything happened it would be at night.

Sixth day out, we were issued life belts which we had to wear all the time, even at night .  We were also issued a small can of chocolate sealed in case anything happened.  It was to be our reserve ration till we would go down.  Some of the boys told us after there was a fishing line with hooks in there and a small can of alcohol with some matches.   That evening just as it got dark, the outlook sighted submarine.   It came over the water as if to get its aim.  Our gunners got into position and the ship began to go full speed in a zig-zag course and started up at full speed  and believe me we all knew something was up.  It was up one side and down the other that ship just swayed as it dove along as if it was going to turn over.  Everybody just lay still. You couldn't move around or you would go overboard.  A few minutes of this and we heard an unusual thud and we could see a torpedo skimming the water about 15 yards on our right flank.  Good we know he had missed and we knew the way we were going he wouldn't get another chance.  We all waited for our gunners to get in action but were disappointed for some reason unknown. 

          That night we were kind of nervous, and everybody just held his breath when woke up about two o'clock by a great rattling in the mess hall.   We had met a ship and it passed between us and the USS van Steuben, causing our ship to rock very much and  causing the piano and dishes to roll around and make plenty of noise.  Another narrow escape yet we were still safe.  Everybody seemed to lay awake till the bell was rung for abandon ship.  We all hurried up on deck but there was nothing unusual to be seen.  Everything was calm same as every night.

          Seventh day out, we met five torpedo destroyers, that were to convoy us into port.  All danger was over now as long as we got thru the night.  That night we had a feeling that we'd land at daylight but when we got up there was still nothing to be seen but water.

        This was the eighth day out.  We had to make a big round about on account of a field of mines set by the Allies for German submarines.  We had to rest about two hours on account of a fog .  Still we got in sight of Brest  early in the afternoon.  A French zeppelin was hovering over our heads and a hydroplane was doing stunts as a token of greeting to us.  The scenery was indeed wonderful.  We thought if all France was like this it must be well worth seeing.  There were a few small boats sailing around and some lazy Frenchman leisurely passing the time away trying to antagonize the fish as if there was no war at all going.  It seemed to him a joke all those thousands and thousands of Americans coming over to his country to win his war and he just passing the time away as if in a trance. We found later on there ware several of this kind of Frenchmen just looking for some chance to get away from the front and pass the time away till the Americans would finish the job.  Then they would come out of some bars with about 40 medals and two or three cords hung on their shoulders.  They were cited got croize de gare (ed note  croix de guerre?) and several medals of bravery while the poor American that really did the fighting had to walk along with his knee through his pants and almost had to beg before they would sell him a bite to eat.  

We pulled in alongside the Vaterland  It had gotten there a day ahead of us.  The passengers were still aboard.  That evening we had a band concert and we all felt happy to be in sight of real land.  A number of friendly children very poorly dressed crowded round the dock and just begged for money and cigarettes. From four years old both boys and girls they all smoked there and I found out after in most parts of France.

Next day was Sunday.  We had Mass on deck and a very impressive sermon by the Naval chaplain aboard.  We all prayed and thanked God for our safe journey.  That day we were taken for a hike through the park and around a little part of the City of Brest.  There was nobody allowed out -- only in formation so nobody got a chance to try that wonderful French wine we had heard so much about.  We didn't know at the time they called it Vin Rouge and Vin Blank.  There was a number of colored troops working the docks and they told us different stories and gave us an idea of what is was going to be like.  

May the 6th we disembarked at 8 a.m. and hiked with full packs to Napoleon's old camp, the Bontanze Barracks, a distance of 8 kilos, but nearly all up hill, some of the biggest hills I ever climbed.  I thought by the time I got there I ought to be able to look back and see New York.  I did see it in a dream that night.  We saw different things of interest in this place very antique.  I suppose had been used in Napoleon's time.  There was a fixture there where they put a man's head in between two bars and held him there till they beat him to death.  Also hooks and  beams where they hung animals and deserters.  We slept in great big tents 8 men to a tent and I'll say it was mighty cold for a start.  I had pains all over my body from the damp ground.     We were all glad to see there was barracks in camp as we just dreaded sleeping in the open after the example we had at Napoleon's Camp.  They were those long barracks one story high and about 18 ft wide, some wooden and some brick. with stone floors.  We were put in the brick ones.  They had been just built and we were the first to occupy the so we knew they were clean.

I was there in the second platoon and we were put in the second barracks.  We had 4 rooms, two in each end.  Two of them Sgt. Delaney, Sgt Haughtailing and myself occupied; the other two was occupied by the cooks.  We got those wooden cots stand about 18 inches high and some nice clean hay which was a very comfortable bed for a soldier used to such hardship as we had been up against for the two weeks before.  We had a few days rest, but were not allowed outside camp.  We walked around camp and found we had a good Y.M.C.A. also a government commissary and we found also there were three or four cafes just outside the gate.  Besides our regiment, there was 304th, 305th 306th field artillery.  All together we were called the 152 Artillery Brigade.

From the second day on we were allowed outside the gate after 5 pm and from 11 am on Sundays.  After a few days a bunch of French women came crowding with pushcarts of oranges, nuts and all kinds of souvenirs, and of course they were all out for the money and they knew the Americans would pay any price only get the stuff.  We were three days in camp when our drill schedule came in and it sure was a pretty stiff one.

        This drill we followed for 4 weeks with the strictest discipline possible and this was the best time I ever saw our company drill.  They were perfect in every movement.  There was good shower baths in camp and each company was allowed time to get a bath every week.  This we appreciated very much as the weather was getting very warm.  On one occasion on a very hot day we just got a bath and Teddy took us out and gave us double time till several of the fellows dropped with the heat.  That was one day the boys will never forget.  One night some of the boys were feeling good and knocked down the walls of our latrine.  Teddy had a great time trying to find out who did it but it failed him.  We had all the squealers pretty well singled out.  As a punishment the whole company had to do main guard for 4 nights and we were not allowed outside the company area, not even to the YMCA.  

June the 8th we were issued gas masks and then is  when our trouble started.  Gas school was started on June 10.  Instructor Sgt. Randle M Fields.  We had to have an hour instruction every day.  The first thing I was taught how to put the mask on.  It took us at least 5 minutes and we were told if we wanted to save our lives we would have to put it on in 6 seconds.  I thought well there is no use in me taking this school.  I can count myself dead now.  Five days later every man in the company could put theirs on in 6 seconds and some even in 4 & 5.  Then our next trouble was to keep them on OK.  I think it was one of the hardest things I ever tried.  You felt if you were choking all the time.  After five days we were able to wear them 15 minutes.  The Sgt told us there were men at the front wearing them 8 to 10 hours.  We were inclined to tell him he was a liar and if we know as much as we do now we wouldn't be much out of the way.  Then after a few days he started to march us round in the sand with our masks on and the sand must be about a foot deep.  We had enough to do walk without any masks.  I think it was the worst torture ever a white-man went through.  If Hell is any worse than that I will be a saint for the rest of my life.  We wore our gas masks longer at that school in one day than we did altogether at the front.  You can picture how well liked this instructor was after we found out we hardly ever needed our masks.

          June 10 our first lot of 18 cavalry horses come in and that kind of broke things up for the officers and non-coms.  We had a riding school for two hours every day.  Then after a week all the horses started to come in.  All our infantry drills were over.  We had a big job ahead.  All green horses and nearly all green men.  We got a number of saddles and every man had to learn to ride.

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climb over the side or up in front while those with passes got in in the rear.  Every night the trucks pulled in with from 50 to 60 men.  That was the only good meal we got when we visited Mrs. Vincent Astor at the YMCA Bordeaux.  This lady was indeed very nice to us and worked real hard to satisfy the crowd.  One night our Captain had arrangements made with some theatre and took us all to a French show.  If was my first time to a French show and I thought it very funny.  All the people seemed to move around to any seat they wished.  There was plenty of mademoiselles there and they didn't hesitate a bit to make themselves popular with the American soldiers.  There was a bar room and restaurant and theatre all in the same building.  We all enjoyed the night's show and got back to camp about midnight.  We had a few good experiences of rough riding schools conducted by Erick Johnson.  We had a few hurdle jumps, but our horses were not very good and we didn't have many expert riders.  We had two jockeys give us exhibitions: Kenny & Olsen.  Some of the funniest things was to watch some fellows groom horses.  Kick or not they had to pick up their hind feet and clean the hoof out.  On the 4th of July we were taken to Bordeaux  and held a parade there.  I never saw Teddy feel as proud as he did that day.  He just danced all the way during the parade, and when he gave his commands, the crowd of civilians on the sidewalks pressed back and cheered our company for all they were worth. Our Company was by far the best.  I never saw them march as good before.  We were taken right back to camp, and all they had for dinner was a corned beef sandwich no coffee.  July 12th we were told we would leave for the front July 14th and have a chance to get in the big battle.  Preparations were made to break camp and it was only after considerable time trying to get all our stuff in the caissons and get the barracks and stables cleaned up that we got started. 

Our Company was now divided into ten sections and I had the 4th section.  I was very lucky.  I got two of the best Corporals and most of the best privates in the Company Corps.  William J. Gallager from 164 Downing St, NY City and Corp Joe Purcell from Ithaca, NY, a former student of Cornell University.  Gallagher was short and stout, one of the strongest fellows in the Co, although he wasn't over 5 ft tall.  He was always happy and joked with the men and once in a while when he would get half lit up he was fun for the whole company.  Purcell was tall and slim, about 5 ft 11 and weighed about 130 lbs.  He had an exceptionally good personality and was always well liked by the men.   Both Corporals were well up on the dice games and many times broke the biggest games.  Purcell was a big hotel in Ithaca, but I believe the town is gone dry now for a little while.  Schwarz was one of my best drivers and I believe about one of the smallest but most intelligent men in the co.  He comes from Millbrook Dutchess county where his father owns a big hotel.  He had a little Mary in Pine Plains and we always tried to kid him along about her.  His father and mother are German descent but he is a typical American.  He expects to get married shortly after going home.  McGillvry was another driver.  He comes from Ithaca and seems to be very prominent there.  Cleveland was a driver and he also came from Ithaca, worked on a farm all his life.  He very often talked of all the game he trapped and shot.  Jayne was from Ithaca but did considerable traveling around being an electrician.  Centini from Ithaca was one of the hardest workers I had.  He was head foreman of the laborers at Cornell University.  Barasky was from Ithaca.  We used to call him Joe Purcell's bar fly.  He was very good with horses.  Lewis was from up state.  He was one of those nice quiet fellows but very good natured and always on the job.  Gensyerrs was very small.  He came from Buffalo.  He often talked of his driving and how he drove eight horses moving theatre fixtures.  Goetz was from Buffalo and at first he was supposed to be a conscientious objector, but later on turned out to be a good soldier.  He was married a few months before he was drafted and talked a lot of his beautiful wife.  He always carried her picture handy also a Bible which he read every chance he could get.  Sefini was one of the oldest men in the company and had much trouble with his teeth.  He has only two teeth left overhead, and the boys used to kid him when we got hardtack.  He was very often on sick report, as he was after the dentist trying to get teeth, but it was no good.  He is still without them.  He comes from Long Island City. J J O'Neill was a good fellow.  He came from downtown N.Y.  The boys picked on him about a dirty rifle.  Conrad came from Long Island City, he was a peddler by trade and went along with his work without a word.  Privetera was a shoe black and we always wanted to know how many shines he got out of a box of polish.  Deluca was from down town New York, a S C employee.  He was a very nice fellow and hard worker and well liked by all the boys.  With those 16 men and myself we made a complete section -- a drivers squad and a caisson squad.

     In the section we had twelve artillery horses, three cavalry horses and two caissons.  I had a young black mare, a regular picture, but very wild.  Purcell had a good bay and Gallagher had one iron gray as tough as himself.  There was six drivers assigned the six teams: Schwarz, Lewis, Cleveland, Bowlsky, Gensyerrs, McGillvray and two extra drivers in case of accident.  

    We got started away from camp on July 14th at about 8:00 am.  We rode to Bonneau where we entrained horses, caissons and men.  There was 8 horses to a car, and two men had to sleep in that car and feed and care for the horses.  As it was our first experience of entraining horses, it took about 3 hours before we had our machines and everything ready to go.  We had two machine guns set on flat cars in case of an air raid.  The kitchen was set agoing on the car, so we knew we would at least have hot coffee on the trip.  We had coffee about 12 o'clock and started up at 1:00 pm.  This time I was a little luckier.  I managed to get some of the men out of our car into a baggage car.  There was only about 20 of us left instead of 40.  We got a hold of some hay and made a pretty comfortable bunk as we knew we had a long ride before us.  We passed through Bordeaux and saw a big crowd of French people playing games and celebrating the French holiday.  Also through Libourne, Nenon, Bynac, Limoges, Chateaux Issondrian, Bourges, Nevers & Hortes.  It was a three day ride day and night.  

Our train made considerable stops, and gave us chance to get off and get coffee and stretch our feet.  The second morning the train stopped outside a nice garden just as it started to break day.  It didn't take us long to go on the search and we pulled out of there with plenty of onions and tomatoes.  The third day the train pulled into Nevers and stopped.  Our Captain told us we had ten minutes, so we went in search of some water, and without any notice the train pulled out.  I thought it must be a funny sight -- the train going out and us running after it.  After running about a mile we were all on and it started up again.  You can imagine how the trains run in France when you can run after them and get on. 

July 17th we pulled into Baccaret and we were told to detrain there.  It was just getting day and everybody was wondering how near the front we really were or if they were liable to be picked off any moment.  We got all our horses and caissons off and got hooked up the 4th section was the first to report ready to move.  We were met by Lt Doak who had preceded us and knew just where we were going.  We started up and rode about 12 kilos to a little town called Verrey and from there we could hear the guns go off and we saw air battles for the first time.  We had to camp under trees now on the side of a big hill, and for the first time had to pitch tents and sleep in them.  The days there were very quiet, but at night jerry used to get bush with his aeroplanes and drop flashes through the trees trying to locate us.  We had a guard on all the time and the minutes he saw a bosh plane, the bugler blew attention and everybody had to get under cover lest we should give away our position.  One July 18th we just got to bed when we heard the sudden purring of a bosh plane right over our heads.  All of a sudden they went bing bang bang.  The whole place just shook.  I just lay still and waited to be thrown in the air by a bomb.  In another minute we hears a crash in the trees about ten yards away from my tent.  We all thought it was the plane falling, but in the morning we found out it was a dud fired by our own gun.  It had knocked down a tree about 4 feet in circumference.  Just the day before we had moved our horses from that very place

We went up near the front line trenches quite a few times, but it was a very quiet front.   Our infantry went over the top one afternoon at 23 o'clock and nearly a whole company got wiped out.  It was a mistake in orders; it said pm instead of am.  We had to wear our helmets and gas masks and were always armed.  We had a few practice marches with our caissons and our horses were now learning to pull good.  We also had quite a lot of riding, over high, rocky mountains.  It looked like we were practicing for moving pictures.  

August the 1st an order came in about 3 o'clock for us to move out at 5 o'clock that same day.  Well we sure did some hustling to break camp and be all ready to move in two hours.  We pulled out in due time and rode all night till day light.  We pulled into woods and camped there for the day near Wagnese.  That night we hiked again and pulled in next morning in woods near Landecourt.  We stayed here for three days, and it was here the Colonel made a personal inspection of all officers and men's clothing to see that they were not carrying too much.  It was here Lt Doak was transferred into Headquarters, and we all felt bad to lose him.  On August 9th, we pulled out and rode to Evinause where we loaded our caissons with ammunition and entrained again.  We rode to Columiere where we detrained.  On this ride we picked up a bag of nuts which we all enjoyed if even they were french.  We rode about 5 kilos out from the town and camped in an orchard at Chauffry.  It was here we enjoyed our first swim and it was the coldest water I ever felt.  Corporal Richman got hurt here by a wild horse and was taken to the Hospital.  Aug 10th we rode all night.  This night we got a lot of double time and after the drivers got tired I made the caissons men ride.  Everything was good and were going at a good trot down a hill when the head of the column came to a sudden halt and I was sure somebody would get killed before we could get stopped.  The brakeman worked well and Centini & Goetz, the acting lead drivers, turned across the road and all came to a halt without anybody getting hurt..  I thought to myself some more good luck.  Near day light we camped in the woods near Nagent sur Marne.  Aug 11th we crossed the Marne and camped near Compoil.  On August 12th the first sights of war came to our view.  As we pulled through Chateau Thierry.  All the buildings were torn down by shell fire, and the rock and stones all over the roads.  There was just one track made clear by the engineers and we had to cross a bridge over the river just the breath of a wagon with nothing to protect us from going right in.  Everybody helped to lead the horses and we all got over in safety although it was very dark.  We were told that was the bridge the Americans tore down in 5 minutes and it took the French 4 years to build it.

Next day we traveled all day and about 4:00 pm we landed at the Nestles Woods where we were to camp.  We knew it was much a busier front than we came from and we were kind of prepared for it.  The first night we had 6 gas alarms and you might imagine how excited they had us.  We were about two kilos from the front line trenches and it seems the alarms were started up there and passed all the way back.  I slept with my gas mask on the alert position.  The first alarm came unexpected and Pat Shannon had forget where he left his mask.  He was running around trying to hold his breath and ask Jack Philip where he put his mask.  It was lucky it was a false alarm.

Next day we had to make dugouts about two feet deep and covered over with sheet iron and clay for protection from air raids.  At night we would hear our artillery sending over barrages and every night we had boch planes come over trying to get a range on us.  For four days all we did was clean and exercise our horses.  On August 18th orders came in for us to erect an ammunition dump.  It was called the nash dump.  About two thirds of the company worked for two days cutting out pockets and laying narrow gage railroad tracks through the woods convenient to the main road.  Then the ammunition started to pour in and at night trucks would come and take it up to the front.  All this work with ammunition day and night meant a lot of men and it took the 1st sgt all his time getting details.  On August 22nd we moved up near this dump and there was three men out of every section detailed to take care of the horses.  The rest of the Company was divided into two parts and each part had to work 24 hours straight and then get 24 off.  This worked much better as we could at least get one night's sleep out of two.  The way we were, nobody was getting any sleep.

The small arms end of the dump was run by Sgt O'Neil and myself; the heavier ammunition was handled by Sgt Ferretti & Sgt Johnson.  August 21 our company took a load of ammo up to Cherry Chatreuse.  We had to use our gas masks once, but all got back OK.  Sept 4th our artillery sent over a big barrage and our infantry went over the top.  They crossed the Vesta river over the big hill capturing the town of Bazoches, Fismes, Blanches and Vaucere and drove the Bosh all the way to the Aisne, capturing over 5000 prisoners and several machine guns.  Then came our big job.  We had to follow up with the ammo.  Sept 5 we got loaded up with ammunition also our packs. as we didn't know where we might camp next.  There was a French observation balloon right alongside of us and that very day a bosh plane came over and burned it up with machine gun bullets  We watched the observer come down in a parachute -- a height of 5,000 feet --  and he landed right alongside of us in safety.  There was supposed to be French soldiers always on guard with machine guns, but it was always a case of not seeing the bosh till he had the job done.  Then of course he would flee back to the lines as fast as his plane could take him.  We started out about 1 o'clock that night and the road was so dark you could hardly see your hand and of course we had to go over what had been no man's land for the last month and the roads was new to all.  

On our way up we saw some dead along the road, and it being dark we didn't bother very much.  We crossed the Veste river and up the mountain and there we dropped our ammunition.  We still had our packs on and nobody knew where we were going to camp.  The first 6 caissons ready were placed under charge of Sgt Murray and Corp Finn and the captain told them go back to our old camp and they started out.  The last six were put in charge of Sgt Johnson & the Captain took to his heels home.  The road coming up was very complicated and nobody gave a thought of having to go back.  The second convoy started out and we went along OK till we came to Mt Notre Dame and there we met the other convoy coming towards us.  We halted and asked them where they were going. and Murray & Finn said they were going home.  We told them we were going home.  Someone was wrong, but for a minute nobody knew which one.  I walked up the road a little way and I recognized a turn we made coming up and the building on the corner.  So we told them we were right.  The argument started and each one was right.  

Sgt Ferretti walked down a little way and got a loaf of bread off a French cook and believe me bread never tasted better to me before.  We were then 18 hours without a bite to eat and all we had then was coffee and hard tack and didn't know when we might come in contact with our kitchen again   Finally Finn & Murray decided we were right and we all started for home.  We got to camp about two am and were mighty glad when we were told McLoughlin our mess sgt had a bit to eat for us.  On account of the distance we were from the bosh we were allowed to use one candle in the kitchen which gave us a chance to get our chow but we had to eat it in the dark but we were so hungry we found our mouths alright.  We had our camp broke up now and had no place to sleep and it was just starting to rain.  We we tied our horses to the wheels, left their harness on and I took my saddle blanket and overcoat and went to sleep under a tree.  The bed wasn't very soft but I slept just the same.  Next morning at daylight we were called out to hook up and move.  We got a half a cup of coffee and a hard tack and started out again.  We moved up to Bazoches and unloaded our packs, got another load of ammunition and started for the front again.  This time it was in the day light and the sights of dead both bosh and American was something terrible.  We were again divided into two convoys and were supposed to keep 100 yards apart.  

When we came to the crossroads at Bazoches the M.P directed our convoy wrong and we went straight ahead.  We did not go very far when we knew we were wrong for the shells came bing bang bing  The first shell my horse stood on her hind legs, swung right around and it was impossible to get her any farther.  She was very nervous under shell fire.  I often said she was like the French soldiers: the minute she heard a shell whiz in the air, she wanted to go in a dugout.  The road was very narrow as it was in the center of the town and all the building were torn to the ground by shell fire.  We managed to pull down a big hill and turn around and get back on the right road in safety.  As we advanced the little bridge put up on the Aisle river by our engineers, we could see jerry was trying to get the bridge.  Just as we crossed the shells dropped within 10 yards of the bridge.  Yet we all got over safe.  We advanced about 100 yards and here the traffic was blocked by machine gun troops going in the lines.  There was three French observation balloons up in the distance and while we were waiting there, three bosh planes succeeded in burning up two of them.  There was a lot of excitement for a few minutes.  All our machine guns opened up on the planes, but they got back to their lines all right.  The traffic started to  move then and it was up at the next crossroads we met Major Tobin.  He told us they were shelling the road where we had to go.  He was just up there and had to go in a dugout for a few minutes.  He gave us instruction about a bad hill we had to go over to get to Vaucere.  It was right out in the open and the shells were dropping there all the time, as the enemy could easily observe any object on this road.  Well we got up to the hill and we all started to gallop as fast as ever the horses could go and you think the poor horses knew what was up -- they just streaked right out.  Shells dropped all around us but not one was hurt.  We unloaded our ammunition at Vaucere and took a different road back.  

While unloading we had to get under cover twice.  Two bosh planes came right down near us as if to turn a machine gun on us.  I remember we got some hard tack at this place and it came in  very good as it was then 3 o'clock and all we had to eat was one hard tack and coffee at 5 o'clock am.  We looked over many dead bodies on our way back but couldn't recognize any.  We got back by day light and had a good dish of beans but had to sleep in the open again that night.  I slept on the side of a hill that night and it rained so heavy my underwear was wringing wet. I got up at day light and changed it, but never got a cold.  Next day we were sent out to gather up the ammunition from the old battery positions and make up a new dump.  It was at this dump our first man got wounded, Pvt Malli.  A piece of shrapnel got him in the shoulder.

We were then assigned to 304th artillery and had to supply them with ammunition.  Sgt John, Sgt McMahon and myself were sent up to find out just where each battalion was situated.  Sgt Fields was then our caisson sgt and we found the 1st battalion easy it was on the road to Vaaucere.  We had a little difficulty in finding the second.  It was near Blanzy and to get there we had to cross about a mile of open space under observation of the enemy.  We saw enemy obs balloons in the distance and could see our shells explode and all the smoke from the German dump which our artillery was lucky enough to hit.  Shells dropped all around us but we got back safely.  Next day we went up to the 2nd battalion with a load of ammunition and of course we knew the road and we also knew the danger.  When we came to the open hill, everybody wore his tin helmet and mask in the alert position.  We just got up the side of the hill when se saw three bosh planes coming toward our lines and one American plane in the distance.  The pilot was game. He went to meet them and the battle was on.  The odds was too much.  The American machine gunner got shot through the heart and the pilot managed to hit the ground safe.  The pilot was a major and I must say had very good nerve.  I think to watch a good air battle is one of the greatest excitements in the world.  We started the gallop up the road and then through the open field.  it was like going over the top: shells were flying every side. H. E. gas and shrapnel, but there was no time for thought.  We just dashed through it all till we got to our battery and delivered our ammunition.  We hit the same place going back till we got out of the open.  Then we gave the horses a good rest.  We got back to camp in time for dinner and were told we had to go back again to move some ammunition at the different batteries.  There was three sections 4th 6th 5th Ferretti Finn & myself.  When we got up there we found each section had to go to diff batteries.  Finn & I happened  ... one of his wagons broke.  They managed to get the ammunition off and got away without getting hit.  We got back and our horses were all in after making two trips.  We had a treat for mess that night.  Along with coffee and hard tack we got a slice of corned beef.

This is the end of Peter Foy's diary.   We think there may have been a second notebook, or else Peter Foy ran out of time.  I have been told that Peter Foy wrote this entire diary while on the ship taking his unit back to the USA.