“For several days preparations had been in progress for the action that began on Thursday, September 26th.  The American troops were moved up by night, jamming the roads with their advancing columns and transport trains.

“Thousands and thousands of them,” wrote Major Chipperfield, “trudged along without a light and in almost quiet.

ENORMOUS NUMBERS OF GUNS

“Tanks and cannon and guns of all sorts, every kind of vehicle, ambulance wagon, and transport passed in this continuous procession.  It seemed that there was no end to it, and one could not help but admire the wonderful resources that had been gathered together by the United States to help perform its part in this great struggle for freedom.

“I think the greatest collection of guns that has ever been gathered together for participation in any conflict of the world was taken to the front where the attack was about to be made.  It is estimated there were 6,000 of these guns, and the soldiers that were gathered together numbered hundreds of thousands.

“These guns and soldiers were conducted to their places so secretly and quietly that, although they marched many miles, the enemy did not even know a small part of the strength and could only speculate what it all meant.

UNDER ENFILADING FIRE

“In the arrangement of the plan of battle our division was on the extreme right.  Across the river was a German stronghold.  Here there were located a large quantity of artillery and many machine guns.  Our officers understood that it was going to be a difficult advance, for a bridge had to be built across a creek, but everything in our division went like clockwork.  It had all been planned in advance, and the plan was carried out exactly as made.

“It was arranged that at 11:30 o’clock on Thursday night the battle was to begin.  Before that time I had reached my destination at the headquarters of the other division, and together with the rest of the headquarters staff we were in a favorable place to watch the commencement.

“At 11:25 it was silent as the grave, and the night was beautiful.  Precisely at 11:30 from every conceivable direction the great bombardment commenced.  In an instant the whole night was filled with a roar and thunder and reverberation of the cannon from, every quarter.  The shriek and whistle and whine and clamor of the shells made a fearful chorus as they were hurled in the direction of the field occupied by our adversaries.

“From every quarter came the flash of the explosions, until the night was lighted as bright as day.  Signal rockets rose from every portion and part of our lines and also from the enemy lines.  It looked as though the heavens were ablaze and raining fire.  It was a scene which has probably never been seen before upon any battlefield and may never be witnessed again.