Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/354

 ��THE FORT SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION

��found the welcome trench that led to the dugout and then it just kept on running. Higher and higher it rose, while the men looked at each other in despair. They were men who were generally resourceful, but they never had faced a situation like this. So, like Noah, they tried standing on the seats and hanging their coats and guns on improvised racks, but at last they gave it up as a bad job and w^ith cold, wet feet and clothing soaked, they w^ent out into the night to take their chances with weather and water straight. Oh, that night!

During the night sharp encounters took place and the student officers were given every opportunity to develop proficiency in patrol and interior guard duty. When the battle w^as over and the sun came out in the morning, the Illinois regiment had taken nine prisoners and the Michigan-Wisconsin regiment three.

Day after day through that week, day w^ork and night watching was repeated, until every man had been at both several times and until five miles of completed trenches with bridges and barb-w^ire entanglements stretched across drill grounds and woods beyond.

A former attorney from the Michigan Telephone Company had labored

long and earnestly with his squad in the con- struction of a "dugout ' and, though tired and muddy, was taking comfort in the thought that his job w^as nearly completed.

The captain came along and, after look- ing things over, smiled pleasantly. The rookie lawyer misunderstood the smile of approval and said, "Pretty good job, sir." "Yes," said the officer, "as far as it goes. When you get that finished you can start on your communi- cating trenches."

The rooky's face rapidly registered in- credulity then the

shock of surprise then

disgust and, as the cap- tain w^alked away, he WATER? remarked, "What's the

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