The respite, punctuated by such occasional tragedy, was pitifully short for Holcomb's men. At 12:40 AM on June 13, the major received and order to move at once to the woods northwest of Lucy as the brigade reserve. Holcomb promptly had his companies on the road and arrived before 4:00 AM.
Just before dawn General Harbord received a false report that a German counterattack had wrested Bouresches from 3/5. He ordered Holcomb to move two companies to the woods southeast of Lucy to be in position to retake the town. As daylight broke across the wheat fields, Holcomb led his 78th and 96th Companies across the two miles of open ground at the double, directly under the watching eyes of three German balloons. Midway through this dash, a runner from regimental headquarters caught up with Holcomb and informed him that the earlier report was false. No doubt frustrated, the major immediately veered for the cover of a small wood to his right.
Just before dawn General Harbord received a false report that a German counterattack had wrested Bouresches from 3/5. He ordered Holcomb to move two companies to the woods southeast of Lucy to be in position to retake the town. As daylight broke across the wheat fields, Holcomb led his 78th and 96th Companies across the two miles of open ground at the double, directly under the watching eyes of three German balloons. Midway through this dash, a runner from regimental headquarters caught up with Holcomb and informed him that the earlier report was false. No doubt frustrated, the major immediately veered for the cover of a small wood to his right.