The following day, the seventh of battle, found the 90^th Division busy repulsing enemy probing attacks. The Germans were searching vainly for the Achilles' Heel in the 90^th's defenses, attempting to drive wedges between units, attempting desperately to disrupt and disorganize the line. New units formed of cooks, drivers, mechanics and clerks took their places in the line and fought with concentrated fury. The doughs of the 90^th held.

So passed another day. On July 10^th the battle was resumed. Exhausted for beyond the limit of endurance, weakened by the tremendous losses in men and machines, the troops had absorbed more punishment and physical and mental discomfort than the mind and body were meant to withstand. In the past eight days unprecedented acts of heroism had become ordinary, and impossible accomplishments had become commonplace. But by the eighth day every man had expended his last ounce of strength. They could go no further. On the eighth day, the 90^th once more attacked.

The plan called for a co-ordinated assault by the 358^th and 359^th Regiments, the latter's action pending the arrival of elements of the 8^th Division. At two in the afternoon the 8^th had not yet arrived. The 358^th, therefore, was ordered to initiate the attack, with the 359^th to launch its assault as soon as possible.

With the 1^st Battalion of the Regiment left, the attached 2^nd Battalion of the 358^th in the center, and the 3^rd Battalion on the right, the 358^th Regiment was to swing into the Forêt de Mont-Castre, the southern and heavily wooded slopes of the Hill, and push on to the village of Lastelle, south of the Forest.

The 1^st Battalion, in a position unsuitable for attack, held its positions and supported the advance of the remaining battalions by its fire. The 2^nd Battalion, 359^th, met severe resistance from the very first, and, with the exception of one company, found it impossible to continue.

The 3^rd Battalion pushed into the dense undergrowth of the now famed Forêt de Mont-Castre. For the Germans it was hold or perish. If ever before they had fought with single-minded ferocity, they far exceeded it now.

The dark-shadowed woods of Mont-Castre, that day, felt the shock and impact of men who wouldn't be stopped against a line that wouldn't be broken. At first it was rather simple, resistance was meager and scattered. The greatest difficulties were the rocks and the denseness of the forest which denied visibility and made orientation a problem of first importance. The first phase line was reached, and control reestablished.

The battalion began once more to move, and hell broke loose. Close range machine-gun fire from carefully concealed positions spread havoc in the 90^th's ranks. Grenades came from everywhere, rifle fire spewed from the tangled undergrowth. It was perfect defense in the very heart of the Mahlman Line. The Americans charged. With hand grenades and bayonets

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