Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/375

 "The men deployed in good shape and came up in good shape, " said Major Stacey, senior instructor. "There has been marked improve- ment all the way through, especially in patrolling. The men have learned the value of silence, both in patrolling and defense work. The relief of the trenches was carried out without a hitch and it is the intention of the instructors that they will get the same movement during the twelfth week at midnight, instead of at 12 noon, as was the case last week.

"The men are getting a very good idea of trench duties and above all are learning to take care of themselves.

"This trench w^eek has been very instructive to the men and splendid progress has been show^n all along the line."

One incident of special interest was the coup executed Monday night by Captain James Woolnough of the Illinois battalion.

Penetrating dense thickets in the murk long before dawn, he ad- vanced his companies right up to Michigan's barbed wire and dug kneel- ing shelter. Two hours elapsed before the defenders of Fort Sheridan's trenches knew w^hat had happened, but by that time Woolnough was so strongly established that he w^as secure against everything but very accu- rate barrage fire.

If supported, these trenches could be strengthened so as to make them impossible of capture. From them a deadly assault could be launched.

Major Cromwell Stacey, senior instructor, was so enthusiastic about w^hat the Illinois captain and his companies had done that, when they marched back to the huts during an armistice, he repeatedly yelled to them, "Bully work, men; bully w^ork. "

Michigan's forces, under command of Captain R. G. Peck, "colonel " for the night, took over the five miles of trenches at seven in the evening. By 10:45 patrols of Major Farrand of the Michigan regiment discovered Captain Woolnough's camp 600 yards to the southward. Colonel Peck ordered Captain James P. Marley to drive him out with artillery.

All over the North Shore the bombardment could be heard. Umpire Law^rence Martin then proceeded to Woolnough's forces and told them they would have to evacuate. But instead of going backward, Wool- nough bided his time and crept forward, capturing all Michigan patrols that might reveal his maneuver. Then he dug in seventy-five yards in front of Michigan's line.

Woolnough had done so well that Chief Umpire Stacey decreed that he might have four more companies to support him shortly after 3 a. m. Companies 17, 18, 19 and 20 w^ere routed out of their barracks and, with full pack and under command of Captain X. F. Blauvelt, they detoured around Michigan's west flank.

Daw^n found the support driving off a wave of two companies that Colonel Peck had sent over the top.

Woolnough had scored heavily. "In the early part of the night patrolling on both sides w^as excellent, " said Major Stacey.

"From midnight on up until 4 o'clock the patrolling of the Michigan forces fell off in efficiency. This enabled Illinois soldiers to creep through th,e bushes and intrench unmolested for tw^o hours before they were posi- tively reported.

"Small Michigan patrols sent out to investigate w^ere captured by Illinois. Consequently the information that the Illinois battalion under Captain Woolnough was only I 00 yards in front of the trenches digging in was not known until 3 a. m., at w^hich time Captain Woolnough had sufficient cover to hold his position.

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