Artillery was Trench Warfare and was a major factor in WW1.  Light Field Artillery was pulled by horses,  Howitzers and heavier guns were moved with tractors.  Newly developed high explosive shells could be thrown farther and higher than ever before.  The heavy reliance on artillery fire left the war stalemated in the trenches.  Artillery shells were first used by the Germans in 1915 and soon after adopted by the Allies.

Stories from the veterans:

Phillip J. McCauley, Captain, Artillery, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Entered service in April 1918. Stationed at Ft. Snelling, Minn. Sent to Ft. Sill, Okla., where he acted as an instructor.  Transferred to Camp Mills, N. Y. Saw active service in France. Was decorated by General Pershing for brave and gallant fighting in the Luneville sector, France.  While in the battle of Chateau-Thierry, his horse, which he brought from St. Paul, was shot from under him.  He had a narrow escape from death.  In August 1918, he was appointed Secretary of the Officers’ Artillery School at Bordeaux, France, the largest training school for artillery officers in the world.  Born at Lafayette. Ind., July 9, 1882, son of Mrs. Annie E. McCauley.  Wife is Genevieve McCauley.  Home is St. Paul, Minn.

Photograph of a U.S. Army 240mm howitzer, with its barrel raised up, amid a stand of trees at Fort Bragg, N.C., around the 1920s [circa 1920s]. 

US Signal Corps photo

68th Field Artillery practicing with gas masks in Ft. Knox, Kentucky

National Archives Photo

Indiana War Memorial

Chester Elmer Shutz, Sergeant, Co. K. 335th Infantry, 84th Div., Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Arrived in France and transferred to Co. K., 28th infantry, 1st Division.  Drilled a maneuver round and on the 29th of October 1918, hiked to the front in the Argonne, resting at day, and hiking at night, under shell fire.  For on November 2nd, Co. K. was the advance guard and pushed into German territory in the front ranks, attacking point being Sedan.

Killed in action November 7 as a first-rate Sergeant in the Mouzon engagement on the circle of hills surrounding Sedan.  Just before sailing, he had been operated on for appendicitis at Camp Sherman in July 1918.

Clifford Carl Schomber, 32nd Div., Ripley County, Indiana

“The French chose the 32nd Division for two drives on Soissons, the only American Division that fought with the French.  They were known all over France as the “Les Terribles Division”.  Broke the German lines on all six fronts, winning our insignia on the battlefields of France, “The Arrow Piercing the Line”.

Out of the six months on the front, we were relieved for eleven days; then we remained within hearing distance of heavy guns.

16,000 rounds were fired by our brigade on the Argonne in the last barrage.  When firing ceased at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.”

Lost 14,000 out of 25,000.

Phillip J. McCauley, Captain, Artillery, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Entered service in April 1918. Stationed at Ft. Snelling, Minn. Sent to Ft. Sill, Okla., where he acted as an instructor.  Transferred to Camp Mills, N. Y. Saw active service in France. Was decorated by General Pershing for brave and gallant fighting in the Luneville sector, France.  While in the battle of Chateau-Thierry, his horse, which he brought from St. Paul, was shot from under him.  He had a narrow escape from death.  In August 1918, he was appointed Secretary of the Officers’ Artillery School at Bordeaux, France, the largest training school for artillery officers in the world.  Born at Lafayette. Ind., July 9, 1882, son of Mrs. Annie E. McCauley.  Wife is Genevieve McCauley.  Home is St. Paul, Minn.

Glenn V. Eytchison, Pvt., Co. C., 89th Div., Marion County, Indiana

Argonne Forest: Under shellfire for 108 days.  When under fire with his squad, he noticed the guns had ceased around him.  He found he was all-alone, all those around him had fallen.

Harry A. McColm, 1st Lt., Cavalry, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

Entered service in May 1917, stationed at Ft. Riley, Kas., and attached to the 20th Cavalry.  Was later transferred to Camp Logan, Tex., and Camp Shelby, Miss., where he was transferred to the 77th Field Artillery.  Sent to Camp Greene, N, C., a mobilization camp for the 4th Division.  Left for overseas service in April 1918.  Saw active service around the Verdun sector, and while there, was under heavy fire.  A shell exploded just twenty feet from him and a heavy thicket was all that saved him.  On the last of October 1918, he received orders to report to the 2nd A. T. C., at Tours for training as an aerial observer, and while there, the armistice was signed.  Transferred to Embarkation Camp at Bordeaux, France, as a staff officer of the Inspector General’s Dept.  Saw active service in the Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel and Meuse Argonne Offensives.  Born at Gaston, Ind., April 16, 1895, son of Emerson McColm. Wife is Florence King McColm.

Real-photo postcard of a photograph of a U.S. Army M1918 155 mm Grande Puissance Filloux (GPF) artillery gun after having been fired by soldiers standing around the gun at the firing range at Fort Bragg, N.C., around the 1920s [circa 1920s].

US Army Signal Corps Photo

"Men of the 313th US Field Artillery cleaning and polishing 75-millimeter shells to be sent over to the Huns at night. Dirty or rusted shells are dangerous to use."  

US Official Photos, America's War For Humanity

Photograph of the 113th Field Artillery Regiment, 30th Division, on March 20, 1919. Photograph taken just after the 113th F.A. had returned from overseas duty in Europe during World War I [Photograph by: Holladay, Newport News, Virginia.] 

US Signal Corps photo

Real-photo postcard of a photograph of an unidentified U.S. Army soldier with Battery C, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, sitting on the end of the raised-up barrel of an M1918 240mm howitzer gun at Camp Bragg, N.C., taken between 1918 and 1922 [circa 1918-1922]. 

US Signal Corps photo

Myron Rundle Bone, Captain, Field Artillery, Tippecanoe County, Indiana

What was your attitude towards military service before the war?

“I believe in universal military service.  I was a member of the National Guard myself, and think the militia should better be trained, organized, and equipped.

I firmly believe that every American young man should have the benefits of military training and should be required to enroll and train with military reserve.  Physically unfit should be trained for home service in an emergency.  ‘In a time of peace prepare for war’ and the BEST preparation America could make today is a well trained, equipped, and organized reserve.  The alternative is the entrance into THE League of Nations, without reservations, IMMEDIATELY.  This alternative was vetoed by the electorate at the polls in the election of Senator Harding to the Presidency.

Frank Carlton Loring, Captain, Ordnance Department, Officers Reserve Corps, Grant County, Indiana

General view of the battlefields over which the 27th and 30th Divisions fought in the drive through the Hindenburg line, taken at Le Cateau-Cambrésis, France, on October 19, 1918. Every shell hole was used for machine-gun emplacements. The cliff in the distance was completely fortified with hundreds of machine guns. 

US Army Signal Corps Photo

Alfred Hogston, 9th Div., Infantry, Grant County, Indiana

“About October 1917, I helped organize state militia Co. at Marion, Grant County, Indiana and was made 2nd Lt. Later on, about November 20, 1917, I resigned from the State Militia to aid in the organization of the 2nd Indiana Field artillery, which was a National Guard organization and which the War Department had promised to induct immediately into the federal service.

Helped organize the Battery of 2nd Indiana Field Artillery, at Marion, Indiana.  Enlisted and sworn into 2nd Indiana Field Artillery (National Guard), at Indianapolis, Indiana on May 6, 1918.  Enlisted as a Private and was commissioned a Captain in 2nd Indiana Field Artillery on May 6, 1918, and assigned to Battery E.  As an officer of the 2nd Indiana Field Artillery, I entered the government artillery school at West Point, Kentucky about June 3, 1918, and remained there until about July 12, 1918.  Have never been discharged from the 2nd Indiana Field Artillery and still a member of this unfortunate and mistreated Regiment. This Regiment, organized at a great deal of expense to the promoters, who worked for only the deepest patriotic motives, never came nearer to federal service then to secure from the government, permission for its officers to enter into work at the Government’s Artillery School at West Point, Kentucky.

Two others who worked hard to organize a Battery for the 2nd Indiana Field artillery at this place were Milton Matter and Orion O. Schick.”

Signed Alfred Hogston, 407 Nelson Street, Marion, Grant County, Indiana.

Harry Robert Hall, Major, Batt. C, 139th Field Artillery, 38th Div., Grant County, Indiana

“Organized Co. E, 4th Indiana Infantry starting in April 1917; which Co. left Marion Indiana September 5, 1917, after being in federal service from August 5, 1917 during this first month at National Military Home for D. V. S.

Upon being transferred to Heavy Field Artillery on October 1, 1917, was made battery commander of C Battery, 139th Field Artillery, which was a consolidation of E Co. from Marion, Indiana, and F Co. from Bedford, Indiana, 4th Indiana Infantry.

Served with battery the entire period until January 1919 except for three months when he attending the School of Fire at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and six weeks while with the Advance Detachment of the 38th Div. in moving overseas.”

William Raymond Harper, Infantry, Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Served as an 8" shell inspector prior to his enlistment.

“The following amount of ammunition was hauled by the motor Battalion while at the front.

• 75mm shells 82,035
• 155mm 74,328
• Powder Charges 17,326
• Fuses 120,446
• Primers 12,860
• Small arms caliber 30 cartridges 2,082,400
• Small arms caliber 45 cartridges 650,000
• Strips for Machine-gun 115,000
• Detonators for 6” Newtons 5,000

The following are the Divisions, Armies, Corps, which this Brigade has been engaged since their arrival at the front.

Armies Corps Divisions:

I II 89, I I 92, I V 37, II V 32, II II (CAC, French) 79, II II 33, II II 33, II XVII 33, II IX 33, II VII 33, II VI 33, II II 33

Clyde Erasmus Scott, Batt. C, 123rd Field Artillery, Grant County, Indiana

Goldstar: Died Feb. 25, 1918 of wounds received from accidental causes in the line of Military duty, at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas:

“Clyde Erasmus Scott, while working at his trade as a bottle blower in Chicago Heights, Illinois, hearing the call of his country, enlisted in Co. M, 6th Illinois Infantry, April 12, 1917 and was sent to Camp Lowden, Springfield, Illinois for training.  While General Joffre of France was visited the United States, Clyde's Co., being the best drilled and all the men being near of size, were chosen as General Joffre’s bodyguards while he was in Springfield and at Lincoln’s town.  This, Clyde considered a great honor.  He enjoyed Camp life in Springfield very much, as well as all through his military training.  The first of July, 1917, his Co. was sent to Belleville, Illinois, to guard Scott's Aviation Field.  Part of his regiment was sent to Guard duty at East St. Louis during the riot there; and about November 1st, 1917 his whole regiment was sent to Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, where he was transferred to a first-class Private, Battery C, 123rd Field Artillery.  Here, Pete went through hard military training and was very anxious for overseas duty and was ready to go, when he came to his death on February 25, 1918.  After the usual military service, his remains were sent to his grief-stricken parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Scott at Fairmont, Indiana.  His body arrived there March 2 and his funeral was preached Sunday, March 3 by the Rev. McRouse and Rev. Perviance at the Christian Church, after which he was laid to rest in beautiful Park Cemetery, Fairmount, Indiana.”