History of the 151st field artillery, Rainbow Division, by Louis L. Collins, lieutenant governor of Minnesota. Edited by Wayne E. Stevens, PH. D. Pub. by the Minnesota War records commission.

THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE

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battled with the German left in the positions south of Romagne
and there the fighting continued all day.8
It had indeed been a busy day for the artillery. The guns of
the 151st had no chance even to cool, for when no barrage was in
progress there was other work to be done. The 1st Battalion had
been ordered to fire at fugitive targets designated by ground observers and airmen, while the 2nd was delivering harassing fire
on roads and avenues of communication behind the German lines.
Enemy artillery was also active throughout the day, particular
attempts being made to locate observation posts and posts of command. Montfaucon came in for heavy shelling, two signalmen being
killed just outside the dugout occupied by the telephone central
of regimental headquarters. Enemy aviators, however, apparently
taken by surprise, were not so active as had been expected and the
batteries of the 151st escaped direct shelling. In view of the resistance which had been encountered on the left of the divisional
sector, orders were issued directing the advance of a part of the
supporting artillery, including the 2nd Battalion of the 151st, to
new positions between Cierges and Gesnes, which would permit
more effective artillery assistance to the infantry whose progress
was being delayed. The move was accomplished during the night of
October 9-10, and morning found the guns of the 2nd Battalion
in their new position back of a small ridge.
Before daybreak the artillery of the entire regiment was again
blazing away in preparation for the infantry attack. The advance
took place at dawn, following a rolling barrage similar to that of
the preceding day. The 125th Infantry encountered even more
serious opposition than on the day before, but in spite of heavy
losses it succeeded in pushing forward a short distance.9 At noon
the 1st Battalion of the 151st was sent forward and in broad daylight it took up a new position just to the right of that occupied by
the 2nd. It had been a terrible experience for both artillery and
infantry, of which Colonel Leach wrote in his diary: "The desolation of this battlefield is beyond description. Many dead
8Joint War History Commissions of Michigan and Wisconsin, The 32nd
Division in the World War, 1917-I919, p. 102 ([Madison, 1920]).
9Joint War History Commissions, 32nd Division, 102.