La Courtine, a village in the Department of Creuse, France, is surrounded by hilly country, the very nature of the hills affording ideal artillery range. La Courtine, therefore, was the site of a French artillery camp for many years.
The village is divided into two parts; that which is gathered around a progressive looking station, and part is on a hill, which part is called Hightown. Both parts are confined to one street, replete with bars and cafes.
It was to La Courtine that the 311th was bound after leaving Montmorillon. The French had turned the artillery camp over to the Americans and thither the 311th regiment was sent to get active and intense training in range fire with the use of the French 75's.
The troop special assigned to the regiment upon leaving Montmorillon was made up of box cars, many of which had recently been used to transport crude oil, evinced by the oil on the floor of the cars. Onto every box car was loaded anywhere from 36 to 50 soldiers and a supply of iron-rations for the trip.
Montmorillon was last seen at 10 a. m., September 4th, when the trip of box cars began to jolt and bang and back and switch over the rails, with the troops aboard making the best of the situation, reclining on straw that had been secured to partly cover the crude oil.
The route was through Dorat, Gueter, Busseau and Feletin. La Courtine was reached at 9 o'clock. As per usual the first few sections of the battery were left at the station as a baggage detail, while the remainder of the battery marched through the village to the camp on the outskirts.
The camp consisted of concrete barracks, with no lights at night and a majority of the windows broken. The floor and ceiling, however, was solid, which, at least, meant dry shelter during the nights of France's rainy season, soon to be experienced.
Besides having a majority of the window panes broken, the barracks bore marks of having been the target for machine-gun bullets. The exterior walls were pitted with holes. Battery D was not in camp long before the members knew the story of the Russian revolt that had been staged at La Courtine during the days of Russia's exit from the war. When Russia withdrew from the fighting Camp La Courtine sheltered Russian troops. When the crash came part of the Russian army encamped there revolted against a portion that sought to remain loyal to France. The result was battle. The revolutionists fortified the surrounding hills with machine-guns and opened fire on the barracks of the camp below. Many Russians were slain in the revolt and lie buried in a cemetery in the camp. The revolt was finally suppressed by a detachment of French cavalry dispatched to the scene.
Sleeping quarters at Camp La Courtine contained bunks made of two-inch plank, on which the Americans used their bed-ticks filled with straw.
Battery kitchens were set up the morning after arrival. The kitchens were located under a tented roof. Mess was enjoyed by the soldiers out in the open, as there was no mess hall for Battery D.