James G. Bilder - Artillery Scout: The Story of a Forward Observer with the U.S. Field Artillery in World War I

Published in the United States of America and Great Britain in 2014 by

CASEMATE PUBLISHERS

908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083

and

10 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, OXI 2EW

Copyright 2014 James G. Bilder

ISBN 978-1-61200-271-2

Digital Edition: ISBN 978-1-61200-272-9

Cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of Congress and the British Library.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

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Photo on title page:

An American gun crew operating a French 75 mm in combat. The American Army had very few of its own artillery pieces in France and requisitioned roughly 4,000 artillery pieces from the French. The fact that the gun is being fired on open ground as opposed to being in a casemate is a testament to the rapid mobility of the American and Allied forces in the autumn of 1918.Courtesy of First Division Museum

To the memory of my Grandfather, Leonard F. Fairfield, and all those who were a part of Americas Lost Generation. Also, to my son, James M. Bilder, and his comrades in arms who continue the proud tradition of Illinois 33 rd Infantry Brigade.

CADENCE OF THE U.S. ARMY FIELD ARTILLERY

Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail,
and those caissons go rolling along.
Counter march! Right about!
hear those wagon soldiers shout,
while those caissons go rolling along.

For its Hi! Hi! Hee! in the Field Artillery,
Call off your numbers loud and strong.
And where eer we go you will always know
that those caissons go rolling along.

To the front, day and night where the doughboys dig and fight
and those caissons go rolling along.
Our barrage will be fired on the rockets flare
while those caissons go rolling along.

For its Hi! Hi! Hee! in the Field Artillery,
Call off your numbers loud and strong.
And where eer we go you will always
know that those caissons go rolling along.

With the cavlry, boot to boot we will join in the pursuit
and those caissons go rolling along.
Action front, at a trot, volley fire with shell and shot
while those caissons go rolling along.

For its Hi! Hi! Hee! in the Field Artillery,
Call off your numbers loud and strong.
And where eer we go you will always know
that those caissons go rolling along.

Should the foe penetrate, evry gunner lies in wait
and those caissons go rolling along.
Fire at will, lay em low, never stop for any foe
while those caissons go rolling along.

For its Hi! Hi! Hee! in the Field Artillery,
call off your numbers loud and strong.
And where eer we go you will always know
that those caissons go rolling along.

But if fate me should call, and in action I should fall
keep those caissons go rolling along.
Then in peace Ill abide when I take my final ride
on a caisson thats rolling along.

American artillery crew in a casemate crowded around their French 75mm field gun for a picture. The French 75 (Soixante-Quinze) was the standard artillery piece used by the AEF. It had a crew of six men who were cross trained but could still function effectively with as few as three. The secrets of the 75s effectiveness were so closely guarded by the French that even their American allies did not know everything about the gun.courtesy of First Division Museum