TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD FEBRUARY 7, 1919 P. 3
Quienbach, Prussia, jan. 10, 1919.
Pocahontas Star Herald, Pocahontas, Ark.
Dear Home Folks:
I have just received my first copy of the dear old county paper. I can say it was like meeting an old friend in a strange land.
I am sure I have many friends in Randolph county that I have promised to write to and tell them of my army life, so I will give a short history of my travels and experiences.
On May 25th, 1918, I was called from Randolph county. I, with ninety-one other boys, was sent to Camp Pike, arriving there at 12 o'clock, the same date.
I stayed at Camp Pike from May 25th, until Aug. 4th, then my company was loaded on a train and sent to Camp Merritt, N.J. Arriving there Aug. 9, we received our oversea caps and shoes.
Aug. 18th at 9:30 a.m., we start on our way to Hoboken, N.J. We arrived there just at the break of day and were loaded on a river steamer, going down the Hudson river until we were at the docks in N.Y. harbor. There we were transferred from the river steamer to a sea going vessel (Karoa), it being an Knglish vessel. The accommodatios were not the best in the world. We were on that ship fourteen days and on Aug. 28th, we were unloaded at Liverpool, England. We were then transferred to our first English train, rode all day and night and arrived at Camp Standor, Hersley, England on Aug. 29th, where we spent four weeks of sight-seeing. During our stay in England I was in the oldest town in England, the Seat of the early English government, including old King Canute, and the town of Winchester. There I went through next to the largest cathedral in the world, being next to St. Peter's at Rome. It was built in the year 1100. Here many of the old kings and queens of England are buried. Even King Canute's bones occupy one of the boxes in the room. Old Isaac Walton's bones are there too.
We saw the old castle of King Arthur and also King Arthur's Round Table, famous in English literature. There at that table, King Arthur's Knights swore to have but one woman and one alone.
Leaving the town of Winchester the next thing of interest that I saw was the old castle, formerly owned by Oliver Cromwell, but now owned by Lady Cooper of the U.S.A. Here at the old castle, Cromwell had his draw-bridge and there was also an underground passage from this old castle to Winchester some three and one half miles away.
On Oct. 1st we rolled up packs and started for South Hampton, England, where we embarked for France. Crossing the English Channel, we landed at La Harve, France on Oct. 2, staying two days at English camp. On Oct. 4th, we received our first joy (?) ride in French box cars, forty men to the car. In these we were five days and nights. Oct. 9, we unloaded at St. Agnes, France, where we were classified. We also left same day for Co. I, 161st Infantry staying there until the night of Oct. 15th, it being the night that fate had designated for us to receive our second joy ride in box cars. After travelling four days and nights in these we stopped at a place twelve miles from Barley Duke, France, where we were placed in Co. E., 18th Infantry, First Division. This is where my real army life begun. There we received five days extended order drill.
Oct. 25th we started to the front, hiking at night and sleeping during the day. On Nov. 1st we lost the first man out of the company since I had been in it. He was killed within thirty feet of my "bunkie" and me. We sure were scared.
Nov. 2nd we continued our march to the front, nothing of interest happened until the night of Nov. 7th, when we started out once more. It was the rainiest night and the muddiest roads, that I ever saw. The road was narrow and there were four regiments of Infantry trying to go over the same road at the same time, also an ammunition train. So, you think we enjoyed it, do you? Well, it is rather pleasant to think of it now.
Nov. 8th we stopped at an old German prison camp, where we stayed all day. Nov. 9th we started on the last night's hike to the front, hiking all night and until 9 o'clock the morning of Nov. 10th. There we were under shell fire for some six hours, there being twenty one men killed and several wounded. After staying there for six hours, we started for the rear, it being the same day that we arrived there. We hiked back to the old prison camp and stayed there the rest of the night.
Nov. 11th, the greatest day in American history dawned--the day that the armistice was signed. There sure was joy in my heart. Nov. 11th was the first day that we hiked in day time and the first night that we were allowed to have a fire.
Nov. 12th we started on our march to the Rhine. We were on the march every day from Nov. 12th until Nov. 23rd., this being the day that we paraded in Luxemburg before General Pershing and the Duchess of Luxemburg. We stayed all night in the Province of Luxemburg for the first time. Nov. 24th we continued our march to Guenmocker, where we stayed until Dec. 1st. Crossing the Mozell river into Germany and following this little river until on Dec. 15th, we came to the beautiful little city of Cablence. Dec. 16th we crossed the Rhine river and took up our position on the out post in the little town of Sier Shahn, Prussia, where we stayed some two weeks.
Dec. 30th we had orders to roll packs and hike to our new out post, arriving there the same day, it being the little village of Quienbach, where we are now stationed doing out post guard.
As this brings my story to a close, I will say that I have had a good time and a very pleasant trip since my arrival in Europe, but the one trip that I am expecting every day will be the one that will fill my heart with joy and that is that long hoped for trip back to the U.S.A. and dear old Randolph county.
Yours truly,
Bug. Robt. L. Butler,
Co. E, 18th Inf, A.E.F.
NOTES: Robert Lloyd Butler was born in Reyno, Arkansas on November 24, 1895 and died in Little Rock, Arkansas on February 26, 1964. He is buried in the Johnston Cemetery in Reyno. His military headstone identifies him as a Bugler serving in Co. E 18th Infantry 1st Division. He departed New York, NY on August 16, 1918 onboard the Karoa. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on August 16, 1919. He was listed as a Private serving in Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft Co. #6 Infantry. He departed Brest, France on August 6, 1919 onboard the New Amsterdam. He was listed as a Bugler serving in Co. E. 18th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Quienbach, Prussia, jan. 10, 1919.
Pocahontas Star Herald, Pocahontas, Ark.
Dear Home Folks:
I have just received my first copy of the dear old county paper. I can say it was like meeting an old friend in a strange land.
I am sure I have many friends in Randolph county that I have promised to write to and tell them of my army life, so I will give a short history of my travels and experiences.
On May 25th, 1918, I was called from Randolph county. I, with ninety-one other boys, was sent to Camp Pike, arriving there at 12 o'clock, the same date.
I stayed at Camp Pike from May 25th, until Aug. 4th, then my company was loaded on a train and sent to Camp Merritt, N.J. Arriving there Aug. 9, we received our oversea caps and shoes.
Aug. 18th at 9:30 a.m., we start on our way to Hoboken, N.J. We arrived there just at the break of day and were loaded on a river steamer, going down the Hudson river until we were at the docks in N.Y. harbor. There we were transferred from the river steamer to a sea going vessel (Karoa), it being an Knglish vessel. The accommodatios were not the best in the world. We were on that ship fourteen days and on Aug. 28th, we were unloaded at Liverpool, England. We were then transferred to our first English train, rode all day and night and arrived at Camp Standor, Hersley, England on Aug. 29th, where we spent four weeks of sight-seeing. During our stay in England I was in the oldest town in England, the Seat of the early English government, including old King Canute, and the town of Winchester. There I went through next to the largest cathedral in the world, being next to St. Peter's at Rome. It was built in the year 1100. Here many of the old kings and queens of England are buried. Even King Canute's bones occupy one of the boxes in the room. Old Isaac Walton's bones are there too.
We saw the old castle of King Arthur and also King Arthur's Round Table, famous in English literature. There at that table, King Arthur's Knights swore to have but one woman and one alone.
Leaving the town of Winchester the next thing of interest that I saw was the old castle, formerly owned by Oliver Cromwell, but now owned by Lady Cooper of the U.S.A. Here at the old castle, Cromwell had his draw-bridge and there was also an underground passage from this old castle to Winchester some three and one half miles away.
On Oct. 1st we rolled up packs and started for South Hampton, England, where we embarked for France. Crossing the English Channel, we landed at La Harve, France on Oct. 2, staying two days at English camp. On Oct. 4th, we received our first joy (?) ride in French box cars, forty men to the car. In these we were five days and nights. Oct. 9, we unloaded at St. Agnes, France, where we were classified. We also left same day for Co. I, 161st Infantry staying there until the night of Oct. 15th, it being the night that fate had designated for us to receive our second joy ride in box cars. After travelling four days and nights in these we stopped at a place twelve miles from Barley Duke, France, where we were placed in Co. E., 18th Infantry, First Division. This is where my real army life begun. There we received five days extended order drill.
Oct. 25th we started to the front, hiking at night and sleeping during the day. On Nov. 1st we lost the first man out of the company since I had been in it. He was killed within thirty feet of my "bunkie" and me. We sure were scared.
Nov. 2nd we continued our march to the front, nothing of interest happened until the night of Nov. 7th, when we started out once more. It was the rainiest night and the muddiest roads, that I ever saw. The road was narrow and there were four regiments of Infantry trying to go over the same road at the same time, also an ammunition train. So, you think we enjoyed it, do you? Well, it is rather pleasant to think of it now.
Nov. 8th we stopped at an old German prison camp, where we stayed all day. Nov. 9th we started on the last night's hike to the front, hiking all night and until 9 o'clock the morning of Nov. 10th. There we were under shell fire for some six hours, there being twenty one men killed and several wounded. After staying there for six hours, we started for the rear, it being the same day that we arrived there. We hiked back to the old prison camp and stayed there the rest of the night.
Nov. 11th, the greatest day in American history dawned--the day that the armistice was signed. There sure was joy in my heart. Nov. 11th was the first day that we hiked in day time and the first night that we were allowed to have a fire.
Nov. 12th we started on our march to the Rhine. We were on the march every day from Nov. 12th until Nov. 23rd., this being the day that we paraded in Luxemburg before General Pershing and the Duchess of Luxemburg. We stayed all night in the Province of Luxemburg for the first time. Nov. 24th we continued our march to Guenmocker, where we stayed until Dec. 1st. Crossing the Mozell river into Germany and following this little river until on Dec. 15th, we came to the beautiful little city of Cablence. Dec. 16th we crossed the Rhine river and took up our position on the out post in the little town of Sier Shahn, Prussia, where we stayed some two weeks.
Dec. 30th we had orders to roll packs and hike to our new out post, arriving there the same day, it being the little village of Quienbach, where we are now stationed doing out post guard.
As this brings my story to a close, I will say that I have had a good time and a very pleasant trip since my arrival in Europe, but the one trip that I am expecting every day will be the one that will fill my heart with joy and that is that long hoped for trip back to the U.S.A. and dear old Randolph county.
Yours truly,
Bug. Robt. L. Butler,
Co. E, 18th Inf, A.E.F.
NOTES: Robert Lloyd Butler was born in Reyno, Arkansas on November 24, 1895 and died in Little Rock, Arkansas on February 26, 1964. He is buried in the Johnston Cemetery in Reyno. His military headstone identifies him as a Bugler serving in Co. E 18th Infantry 1st Division. He departed New York, NY on August 16, 1918 onboard the Karoa. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on August 16, 1919. He was listed as a Private serving in Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft Co. #6 Infantry. He departed Brest, France on August 6, 1919 onboard the New Amsterdam. He was listed as a Bugler serving in Co. E. 18th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD