On September 4, we marched to Boureuilles by way of Eglisfontaine— Very—Cheppy and Varennes.
The roads bore testimony to a hurried enemy retreat—abandoned rifles, packs, and vehicles. Because of the heat and the dusty condition of the road, we made slow progress, reaching Boureuilles late at night. During the night my ailing stomach again robbed me of sleep. The next day we marched through the Argonne to Briceaux, passing Clermont and Les Ilettes. We did not make contact with the enemy, and we knew that their rear guard had pulled out an hour ahead of us. Verdun was seventeen miles northeast of Briceaux. We were well quartered in Briceaux, but nobody was very hard to please. A mattress and a bite to eat were adequate. Captain Ullerich took command of the 2nd Battalion. At daybreak, September 6, we sent out a mounted reconnaissance detachment which was fired on from the woods a bit south of Briceaux. At about 0900 the regiment left Briceaux, moving deployed to the southwest. At Longues Bois our leading elements ran into the enemy. The 1st Battalion attacked and quickly seized the Triancourt—Pretz highway. A few French troops were taken prisoner.
The 1st Battalion pushed down the road toward Pretz with the 2nd Battalion following. Tall woods lined both sides of the highway. To the left there was violent fighting. On reaching the southern edge of the woods, the 1st Battalion ran into stronger enemy forces. A hot fire fight started at less than a hundred yards range. But once again the French artillery made the going rough. Apparently they were well supplied with ammunition and they delivered a most effective and flexible fire. The 2nd Battalion entered the woods, but the artillery soon made that place untenable. (Sketch 4)
Toward noon the 2nd Battalion was ordered to advance along the southwest edge of the woods to a point a mile and a quarter west of Pretz and then to attack on the right of the 1st Battalion and take Hill 260.
We moved out with Lieutenant Kirn in command of the point. We reached Hill 241 without meeting the enemy. From here we had to ride through tall bushes which almost covered the narrow path. About one hundred yards from the edge of the woods, we suddenly saw a strong French reconnaissance detachment ahead of us. Both sides opened fire at close range, and the French retired without inflicting any casualties on us. On looking around we found that we had lost contact with the battalion. In order to re-establish it, the point halted and I rode back and found the battalion lying off to the left of the woods. I reported the latest action and the retreat of the enemy.
The march on Hill 241 continued but after progressing a few hundred yards, French artillery fire drove the battalion to the ground. For several minutes we were subjected to a veritable hail of artillery fire with all movement out of the question. The men took cover as best they could behind trees, in hollows, and even behind piled packs. We suffered only one casualty.
When the fire became less intense, I galloped through the woods on the left to re-establish contact with the 1st Battalion. The woods proved too swampy. Failing to accomplish my mission, I returned and worked my way forward on foot along the eastern edge of the woods.
I was frequently fired upon by the enemy, who had occupied the rise 350 yards east of the woods. At last I located the 3rd Company which had held up its attack pending our assault.
Immediately on my return the battalion launched its attack in the direction of Hill 260 with the 6th and 8th Companies in assault. The French abandoned their positions and fell back. Even the French artillery which had been the bane of our existence all day was no longer much in evidence. We seized Hill 260 and poured fire on the retreating enemy. Nightfall put an end to the fighting. Scouts were sent out and the units dug in. To the right and ahead of us we saw piles of shells in an abandoned battery position. I was sent back to report to the regimental command post and to bring up the kitchens. The men had had nothing to eat since leaving Briceaux.
Colonel Haas praised the work of the 2nd Battalion.
I found the field kitchens on the Pretz-Triancourt highway. They reached the battalion at 2100, and the hungry men finally got some hot food.
We now had a telephone line to the regimental command post and it was after midnight when we received the next day's order. Our own scouts came and went. Although the enemy did not bother us, there was little time for rest.
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