Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/21

16 16 History of Sixth Reciment, U. S. Marines. machine gun fire and the conduct of officers and men alike was excellent. Captain Duncan of the 96th Company was killed by a shell just as his company started forward. 1st Lieut. Robertson assumed command of the Company, and with twenty-four men, the remainder of one platoon of his company, took the town of Bouresches after a hard struggle. The spin' of the men, including those wounded, was deserving of special mention. Shortly after the attack began Colonel Catlin was seriously wounded by a machine gun bullet and Lieut. Colonel Harry Lee assumed command of the regiment, establishing his P. C. at Lucy-le-Bocage. Liaison was maintained by runners and telephone. At/8 :45 P.M. Major Sibley, commanding the 3rd Battalion, sent the following message to Regimental Headquarters : "'Date: 6-6 -18 Hq. 8:45 p.m . To : Regimental Commander. Unable to advance infantry further because of strong machine gun positions and artillery fire. Have given orders to hold present position at far edge of woods. Losses already heavy. Await instructions. Sibley." In reply to this message word was received to dig in and hold ground gair.eJ. Major Holconib. commanding the 2nd Battalion, asked for reinforcements to aid in hu'dmg Bouresches, the detachment of twenty- four men. under 1st Lieut Robertson and Lieut. Cates, being insufficient. In the emergency, Major Sibley, without instructions, ordered to 84th and 97th Companies to advance from their position in the field into the town of Bouresches. They made the remlorcement at II :30 P.M. without meting resistance. The 2nd Battihon Headquarters was estab- li>i»ed about eight hundred yards southwest ol Bouresches and those of the )rd Battalion remained in the ravine near the 82nd and 83rd Com- panies; all companies being ordered to dig in. During the night 6th-7th June companies from the Second Engineers arrived and were assigned to position in the rear of the two batta ions holding the front line. I here was great difficulty with communications during this t.me . The telephone lines were frequently >hot uut and runners encountered gas in some areas. Water was available only by being carried in canteens along difficult routes. Some rations were dumped, but owing to scarcity of men only a few could b^ carried to the troops. I he men occupying Bouresches were able to get some rations 1 by Ford truck during the nieht. Ammunition, consisting of Chauchat, Springfield, pistol, flares and verj few grenad;s were brought up. The Engineers also brought up tools. During the night of 6th-7th the Bois de Belleau was under lively artillery fire most of the tirre. The cas from high explosive shells was very annoying. Early in the day of 7th