TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LAFAYETTE COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL 19, 1918 P. 4
In France, Marc 7. 1918.
Dear Father:
Don’t know just how glad I was to get your letter, anyway I’ll say it sure was appreciated.
Received it about a week ago but have been working day and night for over a week and I just didn’t have time to do anything. Tied up this evening at 5 p. m. and don’t think I’ll get out before 5:30 a. m. so you see I have some hours to spare. Am now running as conductor. We only have a small amount of yards and they are not much to handle and “good cons” being scarce, I’m out of the road.
A few days ago we had several log trains over our lines and our Engineer, Lynn Miller, was the first one to handle one of them. He had a smile on his face a foot wide, he said it, made him home sick. Sheppard is also an engineer. Lieut. Albaugh is the general superintendent and we run it on the “pure D” L. & A. style. When you spot a load for any one and they don’t unload it within four hours you take out the car load and all and give it to somebody to unload it. Its seldom that anything like that happens.
We were disappointed at first that we didn’t land on a broad guage but I believe I’d just as soon be on the light ones.
The English officers that we work under say we fill the bill exactly. In fact our company and regiment has become quite famous over here in different ways.
Hope it won’t be long before our leaves read to Berlin and that we can tour Germany as we are so mind to do.
We will all get together and whip the kaiser so that it won’t be long before I can come back to you and the rest for I am sure crazy to see you. Will write you more later. Give everyone on the L. & A. my best regards.
Love to all,
Your son,
N. C. Dalton
NOTES: N. C. Dalton was from Hope, Arkansas and served in the 12th division Engineers Rail road.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
In France, Marc 7. 1918.
Dear Father:
Don’t know just how glad I was to get your letter, anyway I’ll say it sure was appreciated.
Received it about a week ago but have been working day and night for over a week and I just didn’t have time to do anything. Tied up this evening at 5 p. m. and don’t think I’ll get out before 5:30 a. m. so you see I have some hours to spare. Am now running as conductor. We only have a small amount of yards and they are not much to handle and “good cons” being scarce, I’m out of the road.
A few days ago we had several log trains over our lines and our Engineer, Lynn Miller, was the first one to handle one of them. He had a smile on his face a foot wide, he said it, made him home sick. Sheppard is also an engineer. Lieut. Albaugh is the general superintendent and we run it on the “pure D” L. & A. style. When you spot a load for any one and they don’t unload it within four hours you take out the car load and all and give it to somebody to unload it. Its seldom that anything like that happens.
We were disappointed at first that we didn’t land on a broad guage but I believe I’d just as soon be on the light ones.
The English officers that we work under say we fill the bill exactly. In fact our company and regiment has become quite famous over here in different ways.
Hope it won’t be long before our leaves read to Berlin and that we can tour Germany as we are so mind to do.
We will all get together and whip the kaiser so that it won’t be long before I can come back to you and the rest for I am sure crazy to see you. Will write you more later. Give everyone on the L. & A. my best regards.
Love to all,
Your son,
N. C. Dalton
NOTES: N. C. Dalton was from Hope, Arkansas and served in the 12th division Engineers Rail road.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT