TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEWITT ENTERPRISE JANUARY 16, 1919 P. 4
Colmey, France, Nov. 28, 1918.
Miss Ruby Edwards,
Almyra, Ark.
Dear Friend:
Have received three letters from you in the last month, but have been at the front for the last forty days, and have not had time to write. We have been so busy the officers could not censor the letters.
I believe I wrote to you about our being on the St. Mihiel front. Well, on September12th at 6:30 o’clock a. m.., we went “over the top” and advanced about eight kilometers, capturing many prisoners. After we reached our objective there, we were relieved by the 90th division.
My division went back for a rest and the “rest” we got was squads right and squads left.
We left here for the Verdun front on trucks and rode for one day and night, then had to hike about 15 kilometers to get to the front. We took up positions in the front trenches on Oct. 10th, and the big shells were whizzing some. The morning of the 12th we went “over the top” after the Huns. We sure had a hard time of it, for we met with hard resistance. We had a good barrage, but the Huns had a barrage on us. It was the worst sight I ever saw in my life, or ever expect to see again. Hundreds of Americans lay on the field wounded, bleeding, dead and dying, but what was left pushed on and we left the sector and went on the banks of the Meuse river, opposite Dun Sur Meuse. We were on one side of the river and the Huns on the other side. There was only one way to get to them and that was to make a bridge and go across on it. So it was up to the engineers to build the bridge, and they couldn’t build it without help, so the artillery threw over a barrage and the second battalion (mine) advanced to the water’s edge and tried to chase them, but failed. So we moved the bridge up the river a little ways and the dough-boys went over there with great success, capturing prisoners, guns and everything else within reach. The 5th Divison ( mine ) advanced 25 kilometers in five days that was just a few days before the armistice was signed on the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour 1918.
We stopped and went over to the town the Germans had just left and like the other towns, it wasn’t worth five cents--it was all blown away with artillery. This is the worst ruined country I have ever seen, the artillery has no mercy on anything.
Today is Thanksgiving Day. It has rained all day. I guess everybody in the states had turkey, but the A. E. F. had corned beef and hard bread. I guess we will get the same for Christmas. But just wait until next Christmas and see if I don’t have turkey and all the other good eatables.
We are on our way to Germany, now, and after peace is signed we hope to be sailing home.
I was promoted to corporal the 22d November. I don’t know whether I deserve it or not, but I will do my best.
Well, it is getting late, so I will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Your friend,
Corporal Leo. Bracken ,
NOTES: Bracken was from Almyra, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY
Colmey, France, Nov. 28, 1918.
Miss Ruby Edwards,
Almyra, Ark.
Dear Friend:
Have received three letters from you in the last month, but have been at the front for the last forty days, and have not had time to write. We have been so busy the officers could not censor the letters.
I believe I wrote to you about our being on the St. Mihiel front. Well, on September12th at 6:30 o’clock a. m.., we went “over the top” and advanced about eight kilometers, capturing many prisoners. After we reached our objective there, we were relieved by the 90th division.
My division went back for a rest and the “rest” we got was squads right and squads left.
We left here for the Verdun front on trucks and rode for one day and night, then had to hike about 15 kilometers to get to the front. We took up positions in the front trenches on Oct. 10th, and the big shells were whizzing some. The morning of the 12th we went “over the top” after the Huns. We sure had a hard time of it, for we met with hard resistance. We had a good barrage, but the Huns had a barrage on us. It was the worst sight I ever saw in my life, or ever expect to see again. Hundreds of Americans lay on the field wounded, bleeding, dead and dying, but what was left pushed on and we left the sector and went on the banks of the Meuse river, opposite Dun Sur Meuse. We were on one side of the river and the Huns on the other side. There was only one way to get to them and that was to make a bridge and go across on it. So it was up to the engineers to build the bridge, and they couldn’t build it without help, so the artillery threw over a barrage and the second battalion (mine) advanced to the water’s edge and tried to chase them, but failed. So we moved the bridge up the river a little ways and the dough-boys went over there with great success, capturing prisoners, guns and everything else within reach. The 5th Divison ( mine ) advanced 25 kilometers in five days that was just a few days before the armistice was signed on the 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour 1918.
We stopped and went over to the town the Germans had just left and like the other towns, it wasn’t worth five cents--it was all blown away with artillery. This is the worst ruined country I have ever seen, the artillery has no mercy on anything.
Today is Thanksgiving Day. It has rained all day. I guess everybody in the states had turkey, but the A. E. F. had corned beef and hard bread. I guess we will get the same for Christmas. But just wait until next Christmas and see if I don’t have turkey and all the other good eatables.
We are on our way to Germany, now, and after peace is signed we hope to be sailing home.
I was promoted to corporal the 22d November. I don’t know whether I deserve it or not, but I will do my best.
Well, it is getting late, so I will close hoping to hear from you soon.
Your friend,
Corporal Leo. Bracken ,
NOTES: Bracken was from Almyra, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY