For a month the Thirty-eighth lay near Mezy. Marvin’s company was finally stationed close to the village, on the brow of a hill overlooking the river. Just below it was the railroad that runs along the southern bank, and to the left was the brook called Surmelin.
In the middle of July the regiment got its chance. Soon after midnight on the morning of the fifteenth the German guns began to pound in earnest. Marvin’s company awoke and got into position. O. Fisher was stationed in a tree to note what was going to happen.
He knew where the northern bank ought to be, and there he fixed his gaze. Before dawn he saw something moving. The enemy was launching boats. He slipped down, reported, and was ordered back. The dawn came up through cannon smoke, but he was used to forest fires. He saw boat after boat put out, and one destroyed by a shot. He saw two get across, only to be met by grenade and bayonet. But still they came, as if all the wolves on earth were swimming across. The American boys on the southern shore were caught by the throat and clawed down into the mud. Countless Germans blurred with smoke were taking open formation the minute they landed. They streamed into the valley of the Surmelin.
They started up the hill. O. Fisher gave the signal, Marvin gave the command, and they were met by a river of lead. It flashed through brains and entrails, and fell to the earth with its energy unexplored.
It is recorded in books and graves how the Thirty-eighth received the numbers. Foch knew they would be overwhelming, but he proposed to draw the string of the bag.
Meantime the Yanks were swept back from their first positions, but they killed as they went, and captured six hundred. Marvin fell back on the little village of Connigis. His men buried such dead as they had been able to bring away, and lay down on the ground to get their breath.
But it was only a breathing spell that they wanted. Their oxygen and their adrenals were working to overcome the acid of fatigue. Their sinews were tough with drill, and their palms hard with sulphur. Furthermore there was enough sulphur in their thoughts to insulate them from all pity.
Consequently that night Marvin went over and stood in the mud with his colonel and secured permission to reconnoiter for a new position. Towards morning he roused Gregg and Fisher, and the three of them warmed themselves with hot coffee.
Chapter 17. Chlorine
Captain, lieutenant, and guide slipped out of camp and struck into the road that leads northward along the brook. The high ground to the right was dim with yesterday’s smoke. A mill was burning with spectral blue flames, and the underbrush reeked of gas.