He has been Mayor of his own town, Canby, Minnesota. In Minnesota’s Thirteenth, he fought for the Stars and Stripes, being Present at the capture of Manila, P. I., August 13, 1898. Having represented, with honors, earth’s two greatest Republics, he is still enrolled under the Tri-color of France, in that wonderful, international composite of Individual fearlessness, the Foreign Legion. “Where the blindest bluffs hold good, dear lass, And the wildest tales are true.” CHARLES L. MacGREGOR, Collaborator. CONTENTS PAGE Dedication 5 Introductory 7 Foreword 11 CHAPTER I Joining the Legion 17 II History of the Legion 27 III Americans in the Legion 38 IV First American Flag in France 92 V Foreigners in the Legion 97 VI Englishmen and Russians Leave 109 VII Trenches 114 VIII July 4th, 1915 121 IX Outpost Life 130 X Champagne Attack 146 XI Life in Death 159 XII The 170th French Regiment 162 XIII The 163rd and 92nd Regiments 166 XIV Hospital Life 169 XV An Incident 177 XVI Nature’s First Law 186 XVII The Invaded Country 199 XVIII Love and War 208 XIX Democracy 225 XX Autocracy 233 XXI Their Crimes 245 L’Envoi 259 =Alone= =They Went Before= ------- To those gallant fellows who left the peace and comfort of happy American homes, when their country was yet neutral; in order to carry out their ideals of Right and Justice;—this book is a reminder they have not suffered in vain—and are not forgotten. Soldiers of the Legion CHAPTER I JOINING THE LEGION