Page:History of the 305th field artillery (IA historyof305thfi01camp).pdf/239

Rh of them, and that only temporarily. A, B, and C, how- ever, would start, at least, in the 16th emplacements. The communication experts were as troubled as battery com- manders. It was going to be a job to keep those lines working, and lack of equipment would have to be com- batted as well as shell fire.

"We've got to take our losses," everyone admitted, "but we can try to hold them down."

Those who had made the reconnaissance had brought back to Nesles Woods some stirring descriptions. In our bivouac no illusions remained, and each man went about the work of preparation with an extreme care, with a thorough understanding,

That day Major Miller replaced Captain Parramore, who had been invalided to a hospital, as regimental surgeon.

At dusk of the 15th the two pieces prescribed from each battery were ready to start. We had hoped by leaving early to dodge some of the night congestion on the roads. For those roads would be shelled.

'Keep your platoons moving," officers said with an effect of prayer.

Whips cracked, the horses strained forward. Our sections jolted out of the friendly and haggard forest.