Battalion, was wounded. Another shell blew off the arm of Lieutenant Murray N. McCune, Stokes
mortar platoon of Headquarters Company.
Here, also, Major Ashburn received his second wound. He had been wounded and evacuated
during the first hour’s fighting on September 12, but he would not stay in the hospital, and was back
with the Battalion that night, returning command the morning of the 13th. This time a sniper got him
through the leg, which put him out for the rest of the fighting. The masterly manner in which he led his
companies, together with his pluck in resuming the fight, was recognized by the D. S. C.
Anticipating the American attack, the Hun had manned his defenses in the Bois la Dame and
Bois de Villers, which overlooked the St. Marie Valley. Here existed a double line of wired trenches,
reinforced with machine guns, which were unknown and unsuspected. Here the 94th Landwehr
Regiment, from Hanover with orders to hold the hill at all costs, fought to the death. These troops were
covering the retirement of the main body of enemy to the Hindenburg line. Men of the 2d Battalion,
358th Infantry, came out of the scrap convinced that the fighting of the first day of the attack was mere
child’s play to this desperate struggle in the dark.
By 8 P. M. remnants of the two battalions had reached Les Quatre Chemins, a prominent road
junction which was mistaken for Les Huit Chemins, or “the Eight Roads.” The remainder of the night
was spent in exploring the woods and in disposing the outposts around Les Quatre Chemins. Captain
Danenhour established the outposts for the 1st Battalion, and Captain Simpson commanded the 2d
Battalion. Captain Hubert G. Peters, regimental operations officer, accompanied the advance.
The next morning orders were received to draw back. By mistake, instead of one battalion being
pulled back, both started back. The 2d Battalion returned to the south edge of Vencheres for supper,
then went into support position that night in the old German trenches on the east edge of Vencheres,
where they had suffered such heavy casualties the previous day, remaining here three days. The 1st
Battalion also came back, but, on reaching the Vencheres woods, again received orders to advance and
establish the outpost line. Fortunately, by this time most of the enemy had withdrawn also, and our
retirement for a short time occasioned no serious trouble. The 3d Battalion, 358th Infantry, was in
reserve position during this time in the woods north of Moulin de Jaillard.
The 2d Battalion, 357th Infantry, resumed the advance about 2 o’clock the afternoon of the 15th.
The advance across St. Marie valley was preceded by a short machine gun barrage by Company A,
344th Machine Gun Battalion, commanded by Captain Hans Runge. The valley was crossed and the
woods to the north entered without serious opposition. Deserted minenwerfer, machine guns, and large
quantities of ammunition were found. The 2d Battalion established liaison with the 358th Infantry near
Huit Chemins (known as “White Shimmy”), and patrols from both regiments pushed out to the north
edge of the Bois des Rappes.
Although the enemy had withdrawn from the Bois des Rappes, he was still holding Bois du Trou
de la Haie and the slender necks of woods which jutted out from it. Machine gun positions in La
Souleuvre Farm also caused trouble until mopped up about 7 P. M.
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