strongholds on
the American side of the Emtsa. Artillery support was reported on the
way to argue with the Bolo artillery. A platoon of "L" Company which had
come up during the last of the fighting, together with a platoon of
replacement men from the old Division in France, who had just come
across the trail from the railroad, now took over the active defense of
the bridge.

Both sides began digging in. American Engineers came up to build block
houses. And the fagged warriors of machine gun and "K" infantry men now
retired a short distance to the rear to make themselves as comfortable
as possible in the woods, and try to forget their recent harrowing
experiences and the sight of the seven bleeding stretchers that were
part of the cost of trying to hold a place that was a veritable death
trap. Here it was that Major Nichols on a look-see from the railroad
detachments found them. He had been sent across by the French colonel
commanding Vologda force, under which this Kodish force had recently
been brought. He was the first American field officer that had come to
inspect this hard-battered outfit. And his report on their miserable
plight had no little influence in bringing them relief.

Shortly afterward "K" Company was relieved by "E" Company which had come
down from Archangel guard duty, and "K" Company went to reserve position
in Seletskoe and later marched across the trail to Obozerskaya, took
troop train to Archangel for a much needed and highly deserved two
weeks' change of scenery and rest, arriving one evening in November in
an early winter's snow storm at Smolny Quay where the "M" Company men
captured them and their luggage and carried them off to a big feed,
first one they had had in Russia. Lieut. Ballard's heroic machine gun
platoon a few days later was also relieved, by Lieut. O'Callaghan's
platoon. So ended the fall campaign on the famous Kodish front.

VII

PENETRATING TO UST PADENGA

Taking Of Shenkursk On Vaga--"Horse Marines"--Battling At Puia--Bad
Position For Troops--Retirement To Ust Padenga--Critical Situation--"C"
Company Stands Heavy Losses--Lieutenant Cuff And Men Killed In Hand To
Hand Fighting--Bolshevik Patrols--Cossack Forces Weak On Defense.

While the old first battalion was, as we have seen, fighting up to
Seltso on the Dvina River, numerous reports were coming in daily that a
strong force of the Bolsheviki were operating on the Vaga River. This
river is a tributary of the Dvina