Page:History of the Sixth Regiment, United States Marines.djvu/25

20 *2 History of Sixth Regiment, U. S. Marines. mental Headquarters was moved to Maison Blanche on June 23rd. The following night the 1st Battalion moved from Nanteuil up into the woods northwest of Lucy-le-Bocaae, where it was held as Brigade reserve. Every night ambush patrols were sent out and working parties put up wire in front of the sector, for the enemy was expected to make a general attack at almost any moment. On June 24th Major Shearer's battalion of the 5th Regiment attacked and succeeded in driving the enemy from his position in the northeastern part of the Bois de Belleau. On June 28th Regimental Headquarters moved to La Boie du Chatel. That night the 1st Battalion relieved the 3rd Battalion in the southeast cornor of the Bois de Belleau. Qri July 2nd three hundred men and about twenty officers were sent to Paris to take part in the Fourth of July parade. On the nights of July 5th and 6th the 103rd Infantry relieved this regiment, which immediately took up positions on the Army reserve line near Bezu-le-Cuery with two battalions in the line and the other at Nanteuil in leserve. Regimental Headquarters was established at Pisso- loupe. 1 he battalions were each given a three or four days' stay in the reserve position at Nanteuil, v^here the men had daily swims in the Marne. On July 1 6th Major Hughes returned to the Regiment, assuming command of the 1st Battalion. During the stay in the Chateau Thierry salient this Brigade stopped the enemy's advance on their front, drove them back from 1-1/2 to 2 kilometers on a four-kilometer front, captured approximately fifteen hundred prisoners and repulsed four counterattacks. The casualties of this regiment were approximately two hundred and ninety-five officers and men killed and fourteen hundred wounded. On the night of July 16th the regiment embussed at Nanteuil for an unknown destination. The men thought they were going back to some quiet rest area, but they were sadly mistaken, for after riding all night and until noon of the next day the troops debussed at Brassoir in the Soissons sector. From here they hiked to positions in the Villers- Cotterets forest. This was one of quickly-executed moves, planned by Marshall Foch, which proved to be wholly unexpected by the enemy. Ihe troops were massed in the forest under cover from enemy observa- tion This regiment, after marching for twenty kilometers in a heavy rain storm, over crowded roads, finally went into bivouac in the Bois de Retz. Violent artillery action in the surrounding forest at dawn of July 18th gave notice that the attack had begun. This regiment was divisional reserve and followed about three kilometers in rear of the attacking troops. The great number of prisoners we passed on their way to the rear showed that the initial attack had been a complete success. The regiment bivouaced for the night some two kilometers behind the •n e w line at Beau Repairs Farm. Officers and men were in high spirits