village, leaving behind one of our guns which the exhausted horses
could not move. We did not abandon this position a moment too soon, for
just as we had finished preparations for withdrawal an incendiary shell
struck one of the main buildings of the village, and instantly the
surrounding country was as bright as day. All that night, tired,
exhausted and half-starved, we plodded along the frozen trails of the
pitch black forest. The following morning we halted for the day at
Shelosha, but late that day we received word to again withdraw to
Spasskoe, a village about six versts from Shenkursk. Again we marched
all night long, floundering through the snow and cold, reaching
Spasskoe early that morning. On our march that night it was only by
means of a bold and dangerous stroke that we succeeded in reaching
Spasskoe. The enemy had already gotten between us and our objective and
in fact was occupying villages on both sides of the Vaga River, through
one or the other of which we were compelled to pass. We finally decided
that under the cover of darkness and in the confusion and many
movements then on foot, we could possibly march straight up the river
right between the villages, and those on one side would mistake us for
others on the opposite bank. Our plan worked to perfection and we got
through safely with only one shot being fired by some suspicious enemy
sentry, but which did us no harm, and we continued silently on our way.
For days now we had been fighting and marching, scarcely pausing for
food and then only to force down a ration of frozen bully beef or piece
of hard tack, and we expected here at least to gain a short breathing
spell, but such was not fate’s decree. About 4:00 a.m. we finally
“turned in,” but within a couple of hours we were again busily occupied
in surveying our positions and making our plans. About 7:30 a. m.
Lieut. Mead and Capt. Ollie Mowatt, in command of the artillery,
climbed into a church tower for observation, when to our surprise we
could plainly see a long line of artillery moving along the Shenkursk
road, and the surrounding villages alive with troops forming for the
attack. Scarcely had we gotten our outposts into position when a shell
crashed squarely over the village, and again the battle was on. All
that day the battle raged, the artillery was now shelling Shenkursk as
well as our own position. The plains in front of us were swarming with
artillery and cavalry, while overhead hummed a lone airplane which had
travelled about a hundred and twenty-five miles to aid us in our
hopeless encounter, but all in vain.
At 1:30 p. m. an enemy shell burst squarely on our single piece of
artillery, putting it completely out of action, killing several men,
seriously wounding Capt. Otto Odjard, as well as Capt. Mowatt, who
later died from his wounds. While talking by telephone to our
headquarters at Shenkursk, just as we were being notified to withdraw,
a shell burst near headquarters, demolishing our telephone connections.
Again assembling our men we once more took up our weary retreat,
arriving that evening in Shenkursk, where, worn and completely
exhausted, we flung ourselves on floors and every available place to
rest for the coming siege, about to begin.
XVII
THE RETREAT FROM SHENKURSK
Shenkursk Surrounded By Bolsheviki—Enemy Artillery Outranged
Ours—British General At Beresnik Orders Retreat—Taking Hidden Trail We
Escape—Shenkursk Battalion Of Russians Fails Us—Description Of Terrible
March—Casting Away Their Shackletons—Resting At Yemska Gora—Making
Stand At Shegovari—Night Sees Retreat Resumed—Cossacks Cover
Rear—Holding Ill-Selected Vistavka—Toil, Vigilance And Valor Hold
Village Many Days—Red Heavy Artillery Blows Vistavka To Splinters In
March—Grand Assault Is Beaten Off For Two Days—Lucky Cossacks Smash In
And Save Us—Heroic Deeds Performed—Vistavka Is Abandoned.
After five days and nights of ceaseless fighting and marching, it is
necessary to say that we were soon sleeping the sleep of utterly
exhausted and worn out soldiers, but alas, our rest was soon to be
disturbed and we were to take up the weary march once more. Immediately
after our arrival within the gates of Shenkursk, the British High
Command at once called a council of war to hastily decide what our next
step should be. The situation briefly stated was this: Within this
position we had a large store of munitions, food, clothing, and other
necessaries sufficient to last the garrison, including our Russian
Allies, a period of sixty days. On the other hand, every available
approach and trail leading into Shenkursk was held by the enemy, who
could move about at will inasmuch as they were protected by the
trackless forests on all sides, and thus would soon render it
impossible for our far distant comrades in Archangel and elsewhere on
the lines to bring through any relief or assistance. Furthermore, it
was now the dead of the Arctic winter and three to four months must yet
elapse before the block ice of the Vaga-Dvina would give way for our
river gunboats and supply ships to reach us.
Between our positions and Beresnik, our river base, more than a hundred
miles distant, were but two occupied positions, the closest being
Shegovari, forty-four miles in rear of us, with but two Russian
platoons, and Kitsa, twenty miles further with but one platoon and a
few Russian troops. There were hundreds of trails leading through the
forests from town to town and it would be but a matter of days or even
hours for the enemy to occupy these positions and then strike at
Beresnik, thus cutting off not only our forces at Shenkursk but those
at Toulgas far down the Dvina as well. Already he had begun destroying
the lines of communication behind us.
That afternoon at 3:10 p. m. the last message from Beresnik arrived
ordering us to withdraw if possible. While this message was coming over
the wire and before our signal men had a chance to acknowledge it, the
wires suddenly “went dead,” shutting off our last hope of communication
with the outside world. We later learned from a prisoner who was
captured some days later that a strong raiding party had been
dispatched to raid the town of Yemska Gora on the line and to cut the
wires. Fortunately for us they started from their bivouac on a wrong
trail which brought them to their objective several hours later, during
which time the battle of Spasskoe had been fought and we had been
forced to retire, all of which information reached Beresnik in time for
the general in command there to wire back his order of withdrawal, just
as the wires were being cut away.
With this hopeless situation before us, and the certain possibility of
a starvation siege eventually forcing us to surrender, the council
decided that retreat we must if possible and without further delay. All
the principal roads or trails were already in the hands of the enemy.
However, there was a single, little used, winter trail leading straight
back into the forest in rear of us which, with devious turns and
windings, would finally bring us back to the river trail leading to
Shegovari, about twenty miles further down the river. Mounted Cossacks
were instantly dispatched along this trail and after several hours of
hard riding returned with word that, due to the difficulty of travel
and heavy snows, the enemy had not yet given serious consideration to
this trail, and as a consequence was unoccupied by them.
Without further delay English Headquarters immediately decided upon
total evacuation of Shenkursk. Orders were at once issued that all
equipment, supplies, rations, horses, and all else should be left just
as it stood and each man to take on that perilous march only what he
could carry. To attempt the destruction of Shenkursk by burning or
other means would at once indicate to the enemy the movement on foot;
therefore, all was to be left behind untouched and unharmed. Soon the
messengers were rapidly moving to and fro through the streets of the
village hastily rousing the slumbering troops, informing them of our
latest orders. When we received the order we were too stunned to fully
realize and appreciate all the circumstances and significance of it.
Countless numbers of us openly cursed the order, for was it not a
cowardly act and a breach of trust with our fallen comrades lying
beneath the snow in the great cathedral yard who had fought so
valiantly and well from Ust Padenga to Shenkursk in order to hold this
all important position? However, cooler heads and reason soon prevailed
and each quickly responded to the task of equipping himself for the
coming march.
Human greed often manifests itself under strange and unexpected
circumstances, and this black night of January 23, 1919, proved no
exception to the rule. Here and there some comrade would throwaway a
prized possession to make more room for necessary food or clothing in
his pack or pocket. Some other comrade would instantly grab it up and
feverishly struggle to get it tied onto his pack or person, little
realizing that long before the next thirty hours had passed he, too,
would be gladly and willingly throwing away prize after prize into the
snow and darkness of the forest.
At midnight the artillery, preceded by mounted Cossacks, passed through
the lane of barbed wire into the forests. The Shenkursk Battalion,
which had been mobilized from the surrounding villages, was dispatched
along the Kodima trail to keep the enemy from following too closely
upon our heels. This latter maneuver was also a test of the loyalty of
this battalion for there was a well defined suspicion that a large
portion of them were at heart sympathizers of the Bolo cause. Our
suspicions were shortly confirmed; very soon after leaving the city
they encountered the enemy and after an exchange of a few shots two
entire companies went over to the Bolo side, leaving nothing for the
others to do but flee for their lives.
Fortune was kind to us that night, however, and by 1:00 a. m. the
infantry was under way. Company “A”, which had borne the brunt of the
fighting so many long, weary days, was again called upon with Company
“C” to take up the rear guard, and so we set off into the blackness of
the never ending forest. As we marched out of the city hundreds of the
natives who had somehow gotten wind of this movement were also
scurrying here and there in order to follow the retreating column.
Others who were going to remain and face the entrance of the Bolos were
equally delighted in hiding and disposing of their valuables and making
away with the abandoned rations and supplies.
Hour after hour we floundered and struggled through the snow and bitter
cold. The artillery and horses ahead of us had cut the trail into a
network of holes, slides and dangerous pitfalls rendering our footing
so uncertain and treacherous that the wonder is that we ever succeeded
in regaining the river trail alive. Time after time that night one
could hear some poor unfortunate with his heavy pack on his back fall
with a sickening thud upon the packed trail, in many cases being so
stunned and exhausted that it was only by violent shaking and often by
striking some of the others in the face that they could be sufficiently
aroused and forced to continue the march.
At this time we were all wearing the Shackleton boot, a boot designed
by Sir Ernest Shackleton of Antarctic fame, and who was one of the
advisory staff in Archangel. This boot, which was warm and comfortable
for one remaining stationary as when on sentry duty, was very
impracticable and well nigh useless for marching, as the soles were of
leather with the smooth side outermost, which added further to the
difficulties of that awful night. Some of the men unable to longer
continue the march cast away their boots and kept going in their
stocking feet; soon others were following the example, with the result
that on the following day many were suffering from severely frostbitten
feet.
The following morning, just as the dull daylight was beginning to
appear through the snow-covered branches overhead, and when we were
about fifteen versts well away from Shenkursk, the roar of cannon
commenced far behind us. The enemy had not as yet discovered that we
had abandoned Shenkursk and he was beginning bright and early the siege
of Shenkursk. Though we were well out of range of his guns the boom of
the artillery acted as an added incentive to each tired and weary
soldier and with anxious eyes searching the impenetrable forests we
quickened our step.
At 9:00 a. m. we arrived at Yemska Gora on the main road from
Shenkursk, where an hour’s halt was made. All the samovars in the
village were at once put into commission and soon we were drinking
strong draughts of boiling hot tea. Some were successful in getting
chunks of black bread which they ravenously devoured. The writer was
fortunate in locating an old villager who earlier in the winter had
been attached to the company sledge transport and the old fellow
brought forth some fishcakes to add to the meagre fare. These cakes
were made by boiling or soaking the vile salt herring until it becomes
a semi-pasty mass, after which it is mixed with the black bread dough
and then baked, resulting in one of the most odoriferous viands ever
devised by human hands and which therefore few, if any, of us had
summoned up courage enough to consume. On this particular morning,
however, it required no courage at all and we devoured the pasty mass
as though it were one of the choicest of viands. The entire period of
the halt was consumed in eating and getting ready to continue the
march.
At 10:00 a. m. we again fell in and the weary march was resumed. The
balance of the day was simply a repetition of the previous night with
the exception that it was now daylight and the footing was more secure.
At five o’clock that afternoon we arrived at Shegovari, where the
little garrison of Company “C” and Company “D”, under command of Lieut.
Derham, was anxiously awaiting us, for after the attack of the
preceding day, which is described in the following paragraph, they were
fearful of the consequences in case they were compelled to continue
holding the position through the night without reinforcements.
Shortly after the drive had begun at Ust Padenga marauding parties of
the enemy were reported far in our rear in the vicinity of Shegovari.
On the night of January 21st some of the enemy, disguised as peasants,
approached one of the sentries on guard at a lonely spot near the
village and coldly butchered him with axes; another had been taken
prisoner, and with the daily reports of our casualties at Ust Padenga,
the little garrison was justly apprehensive. On the morning of January
23rd a band of the enemy numbering some two hundred men emerged from
the forest and had gained possession of the town before they were
detected. Fortunately the garrison was quickly assembled, and by
judicious use of machine guns and grenades quickly succeeded in
repelling the attack and retaining possession of the position, which
thus kept the road clear for the troops retreating from Shenkursk. Such
was the condition here upon our arrival.
Immediately we at once set up our outposts and fortunately got our
artillery into position, which was none too soon, for while we were
still so engaged our Cossack patrols came galloping in to report that a
great body of the enemy was advancing along the main road. Soon the
advance patrols of the enemy appeared and our artillery immediately
opened upon them. Seeing that we were thus prepared and probably
assuming that we were going to make a stand in this position, the enemy
retired to await reinforcements. All through the night we could see the
flames of rockets and signal lights in surrounding villages showing
them the enemy was losing no time in getting ready for an attack. Hour
after hour our guns boomed away until daylight again broke to
consolidate our various positions.
[Illustration: RED CROSS PHOTO
_Holiday Dance at Convalescent Hospital—Nurses and “Y” Girls._]
[Illustration: ROZANSKEY
_Subornya Cathedral._]
[Illustration: U. S. OFFICIAL PHOTO
_Building a Blockhouse._]
Our position here was a very undesirable one from a military
standpoint, due to the fact that the enemy could approach from most any
direction under cover of the forest and river trails. Our next position
was Kitsa, which was situated about twenty miles further down the river
toward Beresnik, the single trail to which ran straight through the
forests without a single house or dwelling the entire way. This would
have been almost impossible to patrol, due to the scarcity of our
numbers, consequently, it was decided to continue our retreat to this
position.
At 5:00 p. m., under cover of darkness, we began assembling and once
more plunged into the never-ending forest in full retreat, leaving
Shegovari far behind. We left a small body of mounted Cossacks in the
village to cover our retreat, but later that night we discovered a
further reason for this delay here. At about eleven that night, as we
were silently pushing along through the inky blackness of the forest,
suddenly far to the south of us a brilliant flame commenced glowing
against the sky, which rapidly increased in volume and intensity. We
afterward learned that our Cossack friends had fired the village before
departing in order that the enemy could not obtain further stores and
supplies which we were compelled to abandon.
At midnight of January 26th the exhausted column arrived in Vistavka, a
position about six versts in advance from Kitsa, and we again made
ready to defend this new position.
The next day we made a hasty reconnaissance of the place and soon
realized that of all the positions we had chosen, as later events
conclusively proved, this was the most hopeless of all. Vistavka,
itself, stood on a high bluff on the right bank of the Vaga.
Immediately in front of us was the forest, to our left was the forest,
and on the opposite bank of the river more forest. The river wound in
and around at this point and at the larger bends were several
villages—one about five versts straight across the river called
Yeveevskaya—and another further in a direct line called Ust Suma. About
six or seven versts to our rear was Kitsa and Ignatevskaya lying on
opposite sides of the river—Kitsa being the only one of all these
villages with any kind of prepared defenses at all. However, we at once
set to work stringing up barbed wire and trying to dig into the frozen
snow and ground, which, however, proved adamant to our shovels and
picks. To add further to the difficulty of this task the enemy snipers
lying in wait in the woods would pick off our men, so that we finally
contented ourselves with snow trenches, and thus began the defense of
Vistavka, which lasted for about two months, during which time
thousands upon thousands of shells were poured into the little village,
and attack after attack was repulsed.
Within two days after our occupation of this place the enemy had gotten
his light artillery in place and with his observers posted in the trees
of the surrounding forest he soon had our range, and all through the
following month of February he continued his intermittent shelling and
sniping. Night after night we could hear the ring of axes in the
surrounding woods informing us that the Bolo was establishing his
defenses, but our numbers were so small that we could not send out
patrols enough to prevent this. Our casualties during this period were
comparatively light and with various reliefs by the Royal Scots, Kings
Liverpools, “C” and “D” Companies, American Infantry, we held this
place with success until the month of March.
By constant shelling during the month of February the enemy had
practically reduced Vistavka to a mass of ruins. With no stoves or fire
and a constant fare of frozen corned beef and hard tack, the morale of
the troops was daily getting lower and lower, but still we grimly stuck
to our guns.
On the evening of March 3rd the Russian troops holding Yeveevskaya got
possession of a supply of English rum, with the result that the entire
garrison was soon engaged in a big celebration. The Bolo, quick to take
advantage of any opportunity, staged a well-planned attack and within
an hour they had possession of the town. Ust Suma had been abandoned
almost a month prior to this time, which left Vistavka standing alone
with the enemy practically occupying every available position
surrounding us. As forward positions we now held Maximovskaya on the
left bank and Vistavka on the right.
The following day the enemy artillery, which had now been reinforced by
six and nine-inch guns, opened up with renewed violence and for two
days this continued, battering away every vestige of shelter remaining
to us. On the afternoon of the fifth the barrage suddenly lifted to our
artillery about two versts to our rear, and simultaneously therewith
the woods and frozen river were swarming with wave after wave of the
enemy coming forward to the attack. To the heroic defenders of the
little garrison it looked as though at last the end had come, but with
grim determination they quickly began pouring their hail of lead into
the advancing waves. Attack after attack was repulsed, but nevertheless
the enemy had succeeded in completely surrounding us. Once more he had
cut away our wires leading to Kitsa and also held possession of the
trails leading to that position. For forty-eight hours this awful
situation continued—our rations were practically exhausted and our
ammunition was running low. Headquarters at Kitsa had given us up for
lost and were preparing a new line there to defend. During the night,
however, one of our runners succeeded in getting through with word of
our dire plight. The following day the Kings Liverpools with other
troops marched forth from Kitsa in an endeavor to cut their way through
to our relief. The Bolo, however, had the trails and roads too well
covered with machine guns and troops and quickly repulsed this attempt.
Late that afternoon those in command at Kitsa decided to make another
attempt to bring assistance to our hopeless position and at last
ordered a mixed company of Russians and Cossacks to go forward in the
attempt. After issuing an overdose of rum to all, the commander made a
stirring address, calling upon them to do or die in behalf of their
comrades in such great danger. The comrades in question consisted of a
platoon of Russian machine gunners who were bravely fighting with the
Americans in Vistavka. Eventually they became sufficiently enthusiastic
and with a great display of ceremony they left Kitsa. As was to be
expected, they at once started on the wrong trail, but as good fortune
would have it this afterward proved the turning point of the day. This
trail, unknown to them, led into a position in rear of the enemy and
before they realized it they walked squarely into view of a battalion
of the enemy located in a ravine on one of our flanks, who either did
not see them approaching or mistakenly took them for more of their own
number advancing. Quickly sensing the situation, our Cossack Allies at
once got their machine guns into position and before the Bolos realized
it these machine guns were in action, mowing down file after file of
their battalion. To counter attack was impossible for they would have
to climb the ravine in the face of this hail of lead, and the only
other way of escape was in the opposite direction across the river
under direct fire from our artillery and machine guns. Suddenly,
several of the enemy started running and inside of a minute the
remainder of the battalion was fleeing in wild disorder, but it was
like jumping from the frying pan into the fire, for as they retreated
across the river our artillery and machine guns practically annihilated
them. Shortly thereafter the Cossacks came marching through our lines
where they were welcomed with open arms and again Vistavka was saved.
That night fresh supplies and ammunition were brought up and the little
garrison was promised speedy relief.