Bivouacking and Chemical Weapons: Grandpa Sam's March to Battle #2

Grandpa Sam's first series of battles lasted from July 15th through August 6th. After a few weeks of recuperating, his brigade marched from Chateau-Theirry to the St. Mihiel Assailant, where the Americans would engage the Germans in a short and decisive battle. The march was around 200 kilometers and took about five days. (By car, the journey took my family about two hours).

The following pictures and text are taken from the History of the 66th Field Artillery Brigade.

On August 20th the regiment started for the St. Mihiel sector with the entire brigade. This was indeed a long journey. However, it was one filled with much pleasure, as the August days were delightful while traveling through a beautiful section of France and one which had not been devastated by war.

The first stop was at Montmirail, a distance of only thirty-three kilometers. The men bivouacked for the night under the large trees which lined both sides of the beautiful, broad old highway, and many of them slept in the open, without pitching their tents.

The march was resumed the following morning at 6 o'clock, and after traveling a distance of sixty-six kilometers the second night's stop was made at Arcis-sur-Aube, arriving early in the afternoon. Most of the command rushed to the Aube river, which was soon filled with many swimmers.

The following day, August 22nd, the regiment covered a distance of fifty-five kilometers, again bivouacking near the town of Tremilly. This town was only a short distance from the next station where the regiment was supposed to remain for some time, so on August 23d the regiment went to several small towns in the vicinity of Doulevant-le-Chateau. Batteries "E" [Grandpa Sam's] and "F" took station at Doulevant.

Evidently the plan of campaign was changed, as after two days' stop in these towns orders were received for the regiment to continue the march to the St. Mihiel salient. We were again nearing the line of the enemy and after leaving the village of Chancenary on August 26th it became necessary to do all traveling under cover of darkness in order that the enemy might not become advised of the concentration of troops and particularly of artillery, in this sector.

Leaving Chancenary at 8 P.M., the regiment arrived at Rumont at 2:00 A.M., on the morning of August 27th, after traveling a distance of thirty-five kilometers. The troops were permitted to sleep during the day and at 6:30 P.M. the March was resumed. The headquarters of the regiment arrived at Ancemont at 10:30 P.M., and the 1st, and 3rd battalions arrived at about the same time in the Boise-de-Souilly, where the bivouacked until firing positions could be selected and occupied in the St. Mihiel sector.

The first days of September were busy ones, making preparations for the offensive. It was the first offensive for the Americans to conduct independent of French Control.

The fall weather in these dense French forests was ideal, and the delay in commencing the operation was not at all unwelcome, as it afforded our men a breathing spell after the arduous days in the Chateau-Thierry sector.

The hour set for the artillery preparation for this offensive was  one o'clock in the morning on September 12th. On the second that the hands indicated that the appointed hour had arrived the woods belched forth a fusillade of shells until it seemed that [they] were alive with nothing but artillery.

For the first time the regiment used gas shells and it was with a quiet satisfaction that the men rammed these projectiles filled with poisonous gases and sent them forth on their mission into the boche lines.

The achievement of the American army in this, its first offensive, and its success in reaching its objective within twenty-seven hours after commencing the attack will be one of the bright chapters of the accomplishments of the American Expeditionary Forces in this great world war.