magnificent bon-fire. They informed us that we were situated several score kilometers behind
the line and in no immediate danger.
BILLETED.
During the night of October 11th, and the succeeding day all trains arrived in Andelot and
were unloaded in an orderly fashion. Each unit was met by its billeting detail, which had
preceded it, and was conducted to the village to be occupied. Each battery, as it unloaded its
carriages and other property, started drawing the carriages by hand to the various villages, as we
were still “sans” animals. Especially will the men of “C” Battery never forget that pull, for they
were billeted in the town of Signeville, which was three kilometers up a very steep grade. It was
an exhausted crowd that reached the top of Signeville hill that day. The units of the regiment
were scattered over several kilometers, thus, Regimental Headquarters, Second Battalion
Headquarters, Batteries “E” and “F” at Andelot; First Battalion Headquarters and Battery “A” at
Montot; Battery “B” – Vignes; Battery “C” – Signeville; Battery “D” – Blancheville; Supply
Company at Rimaucourt.
UNDER THE SHADOW OF G. H. Q.
Our station was only a few kilometers from Chaumont. A feeling of awe we felt, being
beneath the very shadows of General Headquarters. For the first time, the soldiers were
introduced to the French system of billeting – an experience which has left a definite impression
upon all members of the A. E. F. The men were stuck about on bunks in old back rooms,
deserted lofts and barns, Some of the non-commissioned officers were occasionally fortunate
enough to find a bed. Our knowledge of the French and their customs was broadened and such
expressions as “beaucoup”, “s’il vous plait”, and “compre” became current, and will certainly
remain a permanent part of the vocabularies of most members of the regiment. One often
received a very severe shock upon opening a door which should lead into a kitchen or bed-room,
to find the room occupied by a cow. It was hard, indeed, for the American soldier to reconcile
his idea of civic beauty and improvement with the common front door yard decoration in the
French villages.
“C” BATTERY IN A COUNT’S CASTLE
If some members of the regiment were not fortunately placed, certainly “C” Battery was
well ensconced, for they took over entirely, the castle of a French count. The personnel of “C’
Battery having accustomed themselves to polished ballroom floors, rather distained the quarters
occupied by their less fortunate comrades in the other towns. “A” Battery, stationed in Montot,
claimed to have a performance unique – for there the goat-herder of the village was the chief
attraction. Each morning he would take a place in the central portion of the village, blow a little
horn, and from every nook and cranny of the village, sheep and goats would spring. After
gathering them in this way they would be taken out to the fields to graze; in the evening they
would be brought back to the village and dismissed in the same unique fashion.
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