TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS APRIL 18, 1919 P. 1
Camp Valdahon, France,
P. O. 704,
March 17, 1919.
Dear Mr. Stafford:
Being a few thousand miles away from home doesn't always make a fellow forget home by considerable and we always look forward with great pleasure for any word from the home folks and of course any one around here seem like home folks to us now.
We always watch eagerly for every copy of the dear old News, altho it's usually about a month old, the news it contains seems new to us, my copy sometimes comes in the Battery Mail, when it does, the First Sergeant--Bingham--gets it first, he opens it and reads it, then sends it to me. If I get it first I read it then send it to him, we don't let rank count for much where there is news from home is concerned.
Well, I received a copy a few days ago dated February 14th, the Sergeant beat me to it--usually does--when I got it he asked me to let him have it when I finished as there was a clipping in it he wanted, when I returned it to him I tol dhim to get his clipping and then burn the darn thing that I was ashamed for any one to see it as I considered that piece written and signed "Old Timer" a disgrace to any enlightened community. I don't think we deserve that kind of advertising--nice little ad that will make too, Mr. Stafford, bring lots of progressive people into the community--a few old moss backs like that are the cause of our little city not being any further advanced than it is today. I'll bet that old boy grows whiskers and chews "flat terbaccer"--too much trouble to shave--and takes a bath almost every spring--if the sign is in the feet--I'll bet his wife enjoys pulling water up with that old dollar and a half windlass many of you know what that is. I'll bet a few French Francs that if you had his wife's private opinion on the matter it would make food for a nice little argument between the two of them some nice quiet evening after supper. I don't agree with the gentleman as to its depending altogether, on how a fellow was raised, I think it depends to some extent on what a fellow has learned after he has been raised. I presume from the gentleman's talk that he let the faithful wife carry water from the spring only a half mile away. Naturally she didn't mind it--no one would--'tis true we can get plenty of water by digging down a few feet. Is also true that much of that water is contaminated and causes many cases of typhoid every summer--which the doctors can verify--which causes not a few deaths. I suppose 'old timer' would say, "Well we can't die until our time comes, what's the use combating nature," some folks don't learn to believe much in sanitation. It's true drummers will keep coming. t's also true they will advertise our town in a way that's not good for it--and they are a pretty good medium for advertising too--probably 'old timer' doesn't mind that but people don't have the welfare and progress of the city at heart should know it's not "good business". In mentioning fires "old timer" doesn't mention our boys which have served faithfully on the little fire department who deserve considerable credit. They haven’t cost the ‘old timer’ anything.
With their untiring vigilance and loyalty, never asking reward, it’s never been brought home to him properly. I suppose. He also doesn’t seem to realize that water works will cut down the rate of fire insurance—which he probably doesn’t carry, depending on his neighbors tine bucket—at for the road he mentions, well it’s almost preposterous to believe a normal man could put up such an argument as he has any one knows the benefit of good roads. I wish he could be over here and take a few lessons from the French on roads, although they are far behind us on most things, they have far outclassed us on roads, even their by roads out in the country are rock surfaced and they pull larger loads with one horse than we do with two. Why shouldn’t the farmers drive to town and have certain day of the week for “market day” etc., if they like which would be a mighty good thing, we are not living in 1776 but 1919 and why not keep abreast of the times and if we can live more comfortable why not do so—who could be comfortable and happy riding over that Spring Valley road. From the sound of things we certainly need a few new people in our midst. Sure they could go to Fayetteville, Bentonville, etc.. thats just what the majority of them have been doing for some time past--notice the size of the different places. Do we want these towns to have all the conveniences while we continue to crank the old windlass? I can't believe it's true, and don't blame the business man or merchant and try to saddle the costs on him, he is already hounded every day for everything from the cost of putting in a watering trough at Hewitt Springs, buying widow so and so a mule to replace the one just gone, up to helping grade Mill Street, etc, etc. Do they kick? No, but let a real improvement start and some few that haven't an interest in the world except to have a little piece of sow bosom and corn bread a couple of times a day will do his best to kill it. You belong over in this country 'old timer' where they wear wooden shoes and drive oxen and don't know that water is used for anything except for the stock to drink, you would be right at home over here, come on over and get you a home in one of these quiet little French villages where a man's wealth is judged by the size of the manure pile in front of his house and the cattle and hogs are kept in the same house with his wife and children. No I don't think you could have offended any one 'old timer' and I hope you don't take this as offense for I assure you it's not meant for such. You may be a real good friend of mine and I don't want this to change our friendship if so, but why didn't you sign your name, we could have told you were an old timer without that signature. 'Tis true he shouldn't have been ashamed to sign his name if he replied in the right spirit but 'old timer' ddidn't sign his name either did he? Neither did the New Comer who wrote before him if I remember correctly.
Our boys here are getting along fine, only one Springdale boy in the Hospital--Paul Townes--and he is about well. They are all happy but homesick and I am sure they wouldn't object to waterworks and sewer and a place to take a bath when they get back home. Uncle Sam provides it for them. There's only one Battalion of the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment here now, A and B batteries. We are doing service firing for an officers' School, for instance--last Friday we fired 400 projectiles, each weighing 100 pounds and costing $30.00. A waste of money is it? No, I don't think so. We have Caterpillar tractors, trucks, autos, motorcycles and bicycles, 34 in all besides our Battery of big guns, 4.
The boys like the work much better than infantry work, we have a fine bunch of drafted boys and everything is running smoothly and the parents of the boys should not worry. I have to bring back every Springdale boy that came over here with me when that will be I have no idea. There's always rumors of course but I've learned not to attach any importance to them, some day the order will come surprise us and make us one of the happiest bunch of Arkansawyers alive and it won't take us long to be ready to mount these French Cars that are marked 8 horses or 40 men and hit the trail for home.
Have a rousing welcome for them for they have been faithful, patient and brave and they deserve all you can do for them. Every mothers son of them is writing a card today that the Government furnished. I hope their folks don't forget to answer them.
Wishing every one the best of everything, I am,
Your friend,
Byron B. Brogdon
Capt. 142nd Field Artillery Battery A
NOTES: Bryon Beverley Brogdon was born on February 7, 1883 in Cleburne, Texas and died on June 16, 1965 in Springdale, Arkansas. He is buried in the Bluff Cemetery in Springdale. His military headstone identifies him as a Capt. serving in Bat. A, 142nd FA in WWI. He departed from St. Nazaire, France on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was listed as serving as a Captain with Battery A, 142nd FA.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Valdahon, France,
P. O. 704,
March 17, 1919.
Dear Mr. Stafford:
Being a few thousand miles away from home doesn't always make a fellow forget home by considerable and we always look forward with great pleasure for any word from the home folks and of course any one around here seem like home folks to us now.
We always watch eagerly for every copy of the dear old News, altho it's usually about a month old, the news it contains seems new to us, my copy sometimes comes in the Battery Mail, when it does, the First Sergeant--Bingham--gets it first, he opens it and reads it, then sends it to me. If I get it first I read it then send it to him, we don't let rank count for much where there is news from home is concerned.
Well, I received a copy a few days ago dated February 14th, the Sergeant beat me to it--usually does--when I got it he asked me to let him have it when I finished as there was a clipping in it he wanted, when I returned it to him I tol dhim to get his clipping and then burn the darn thing that I was ashamed for any one to see it as I considered that piece written and signed "Old Timer" a disgrace to any enlightened community. I don't think we deserve that kind of advertising--nice little ad that will make too, Mr. Stafford, bring lots of progressive people into the community--a few old moss backs like that are the cause of our little city not being any further advanced than it is today. I'll bet that old boy grows whiskers and chews "flat terbaccer"--too much trouble to shave--and takes a bath almost every spring--if the sign is in the feet--I'll bet his wife enjoys pulling water up with that old dollar and a half windlass many of you know what that is. I'll bet a few French Francs that if you had his wife's private opinion on the matter it would make food for a nice little argument between the two of them some nice quiet evening after supper. I don't agree with the gentleman as to its depending altogether, on how a fellow was raised, I think it depends to some extent on what a fellow has learned after he has been raised. I presume from the gentleman's talk that he let the faithful wife carry water from the spring only a half mile away. Naturally she didn't mind it--no one would--'tis true we can get plenty of water by digging down a few feet. Is also true that much of that water is contaminated and causes many cases of typhoid every summer--which the doctors can verify--which causes not a few deaths. I suppose 'old timer' would say, "Well we can't die until our time comes, what's the use combating nature," some folks don't learn to believe much in sanitation. It's true drummers will keep coming. t's also true they will advertise our town in a way that's not good for it--and they are a pretty good medium for advertising too--probably 'old timer' doesn't mind that but people don't have the welfare and progress of the city at heart should know it's not "good business". In mentioning fires "old timer" doesn't mention our boys which have served faithfully on the little fire department who deserve considerable credit. They haven’t cost the ‘old timer’ anything.
With their untiring vigilance and loyalty, never asking reward, it’s never been brought home to him properly. I suppose. He also doesn’t seem to realize that water works will cut down the rate of fire insurance—which he probably doesn’t carry, depending on his neighbors tine bucket—at for the road he mentions, well it’s almost preposterous to believe a normal man could put up such an argument as he has any one knows the benefit of good roads. I wish he could be over here and take a few lessons from the French on roads, although they are far behind us on most things, they have far outclassed us on roads, even their by roads out in the country are rock surfaced and they pull larger loads with one horse than we do with two. Why shouldn’t the farmers drive to town and have certain day of the week for “market day” etc., if they like which would be a mighty good thing, we are not living in 1776 but 1919 and why not keep abreast of the times and if we can live more comfortable why not do so—who could be comfortable and happy riding over that Spring Valley road. From the sound of things we certainly need a few new people in our midst. Sure they could go to Fayetteville, Bentonville, etc.. thats just what the majority of them have been doing for some time past--notice the size of the different places. Do we want these towns to have all the conveniences while we continue to crank the old windlass? I can't believe it's true, and don't blame the business man or merchant and try to saddle the costs on him, he is already hounded every day for everything from the cost of putting in a watering trough at Hewitt Springs, buying widow so and so a mule to replace the one just gone, up to helping grade Mill Street, etc, etc. Do they kick? No, but let a real improvement start and some few that haven't an interest in the world except to have a little piece of sow bosom and corn bread a couple of times a day will do his best to kill it. You belong over in this country 'old timer' where they wear wooden shoes and drive oxen and don't know that water is used for anything except for the stock to drink, you would be right at home over here, come on over and get you a home in one of these quiet little French villages where a man's wealth is judged by the size of the manure pile in front of his house and the cattle and hogs are kept in the same house with his wife and children. No I don't think you could have offended any one 'old timer' and I hope you don't take this as offense for I assure you it's not meant for such. You may be a real good friend of mine and I don't want this to change our friendship if so, but why didn't you sign your name, we could have told you were an old timer without that signature. 'Tis true he shouldn't have been ashamed to sign his name if he replied in the right spirit but 'old timer' ddidn't sign his name either did he? Neither did the New Comer who wrote before him if I remember correctly.
Our boys here are getting along fine, only one Springdale boy in the Hospital--Paul Townes--and he is about well. They are all happy but homesick and I am sure they wouldn't object to waterworks and sewer and a place to take a bath when they get back home. Uncle Sam provides it for them. There's only one Battalion of the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment here now, A and B batteries. We are doing service firing for an officers' School, for instance--last Friday we fired 400 projectiles, each weighing 100 pounds and costing $30.00. A waste of money is it? No, I don't think so. We have Caterpillar tractors, trucks, autos, motorcycles and bicycles, 34 in all besides our Battery of big guns, 4.
The boys like the work much better than infantry work, we have a fine bunch of drafted boys and everything is running smoothly and the parents of the boys should not worry. I have to bring back every Springdale boy that came over here with me when that will be I have no idea. There's always rumors of course but I've learned not to attach any importance to them, some day the order will come surprise us and make us one of the happiest bunch of Arkansawyers alive and it won't take us long to be ready to mount these French Cars that are marked 8 horses or 40 men and hit the trail for home.
Have a rousing welcome for them for they have been faithful, patient and brave and they deserve all you can do for them. Every mothers son of them is writing a card today that the Government furnished. I hope their folks don't forget to answer them.
Wishing every one the best of everything, I am,
Your friend,
Byron B. Brogdon
Capt. 142nd Field Artillery Battery A
NOTES: Bryon Beverley Brogdon was born on February 7, 1883 in Cleburne, Texas and died on June 16, 1965 in Springdale, Arkansas. He is buried in the Bluff Cemetery in Springdale. His military headstone identifies him as a Capt. serving in Bat. A, 142nd FA in WWI. He departed from St. Nazaire, France on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was listed as serving as a Captain with Battery A, 142nd FA.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD