And almost before that news had reached us the guns at our rear began their overture, making preparation beyond the compass of a man's mind to grasp or convey.

They hurled such a torrent of shells that the Germans could neither move away the troops in front of us nor bring up others to their aid.

It did not seem possible that one German could be left alive, and I even felt jealous because, thought I, no work would be left for us to do! Yet men did live--as we discovered.

For a night and a day our ordnance kept up that preparation, and then word went around.
Who shall tell of a night attack, from a trench against trenches?
Suddenly the guns ceased pounding the earth in front of us and lifted to make a screen of fire almost a mile beyond.

There was instant pitch darkness on every hand, and out of that a hundred trumpets sounded.