Battery E in France 149th Field Artillery, Rainbow (42nd) Division   By: Frederic R. Kilner

149th Field Artillery Rainbow (42nd) Division

By FREDERIC R. KILNER

CHICAGO 1919

Copyright, 1919 by FREDERIC R. KILNER

As we shall the more devote ourselves, in peace and in war, to the cause of our Country's honor because they gave up their lives for its sake, so do we dedicate this record to them, the memory and the loss of whom its pages recall:

CAPTAIN FREDERICK W. WATERS Coblenz, Germany, January 13, 1919

LIEUTENANT JOHN E. COWAN Jonchery sur Suippes, France, July 17, 1918

CORPORAL STANLEY S. STEVENS Camp Coetquidan, France, November 21, 1917

PRIVATE GUY O. FOSTER Fere en Tardenois, France, August 10, 1918

PRIVATE GEORGE HAMA Bulson, France, November 9, 1918

PRIVATE AARON F. PARKHURST Chery Chartreuse, France, August 8, 1918

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Since a battery comprises nearly two hundred men, and includes activities of diverse kinds at different places, it is obviously impossible for a brief narrative such as this, compiled by a single person, to furnish complete details on all of them. To suggest the life of the men in their various sorts of work, to trace as accurately as possible the accomplishments of the battery on the front in France, and to recount the outstanding incidents and events of its history, is as much as can be claimed for these chapters. Primarily intended for the members of the battery, these pages will, I hope, furnish an outline on which each one can reconstruct the days of his own experiences in France from the voluminous resources of his memory. To that end, dates and places are indicated fully, and pains have been taken to have these accurate and exact.

To Lloyd Holton, Stuart Lawrence, Waldo Magnusen, Harry E. Loomis, Jr., and Harland Beatty thanks are due for the photographs supplying the interesting illustrations, which tell better than many words how the men of the battery lived. The meagreness of the illustrations is due to the army order forbidding cameras being taken to the front. We regret that this order was in rare instances violated, but are glad to be able to publish the photographs which resulted from such violations.

This book itself is a lasting indication of the gratitude of the men of the battery to the relatives and friends included in the Battery E chapter of the 149th F. A. War Relief, from whom came the funds for the publication of this volume. The acknowledgement of this generosity is made with the recollection of many previous kindnesses, so numerous, indeed, that an adequate appreciation of the services and sacrifices of those at home is impossible to express.

PREFACE

Battery E of the First Field Artillery of the Illinois National Guard was organized at Chicago, October 23, 1915, Captain Henry J. Reilly in command. On June 27, 1916, it was mustered into federal service for duty on the Mexican border, and mustered out October 28, 1916, after training at Leon Springs, Arkansas, and taking part in the famous "Austin Hike." The battery met for drill at the Dexter Pavilion, Union Stock Yards, Chicago, on Monday nights.

After the United States declared war, April 6, 1917, the battery began recruiting to bring its strength up to war basis, and drilled Monday and Friday evenings. Sergeants Herman Leprohon and Thomas Atkinson, of the Regular Army, who directed the drill at this time, were commissioned first lieutenants in the regiment before it left Chicago. May 22 Paul E. Landrus was appointed First Sergeant, John J. O'Meara, Supply Sergeant, and F. O. Johnson, Stable Sergeant.