TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER APRIL 3, 1918 P. 8
Camp Beauregard.
Saturday Eve,
Dear Mother:
Guess you think I have done homefolks short this week. But when I tell you about our two days’ hike, have just returned from, I think you all will excuse me for sending a letter sooner. We are just back and sure tired out. But I’ll try to tell you briefly of our hike.
We left camp early yesterday morning and walked all day with our packs and guns, in all we were loaded with about sixty five or seventy pounds. You know that is some load to carry all day. Some of the fellows got hot and fell out. Some fanned out coming back today. After plodding along all day we pitched camp about 5 o’clock, just this side of a little place called Pollyck.
Just about time we finished supper the rain began to fall. There we were with no shelter except our little tents about the size of a dog kennel. We crawled into them and sat there waiting for the rain to stop. This wait was about three hours long. Just as soon as the rain stopped we came out and built big pine knot fires to dry by, for our tents leaked “a little.” We had only one blanket each which made a pretty hard bed when out on the wet ground so we sat around the fire most of the night: But don’t think we got lonesome that night for since the whole 154th Inf. was present, in all about 3,000 men, we had company enough to scare the owls away. Then aside from all these men we had with us about one hundred wagons, each drawn by by four mules. When we got into camp this morning about 11 o’clock you may know we were some tired bunch for this was our first hike.
Tho we are going to make them once a week I think, each time increases the length till we get toughened, then we may make a trip to Lake Charles. But I’m afraid I can’t go if they stay several days for you know I will have to stay and go to school.
Think now that twelve of us Sergeants, from our Cannon school will go to the Range next week to practice shooting. We may stay about a week so don’t be uneasy if you don’t hear from me for several days. But you all have me some letters here when I get back.
We had a good rain again today. Hope you are getting some of it on the garden. It would be too bad for dry weather to kill the nice garden after the plants are up. I wan’t them to hurry and grow fast, for only about two weeks more and I think I will be home on a few days furlough.
Gee! but I can hardly wait for the time to pass. Can just see the dear old home and all of you dear folks in my mind. See?
Am sending you all a picture of our Regiment. The 154th, Inf, and down below are the 155th and 156th Infantrys. Have them marked so may have some idea of how we are fixed up down here.
Tell all of the sisters to write also dad. Am always glad to get those letters from home.
Write to me soon mama,
Lots of love from your only son,
Floyd.
NOTES: Floyd was serving as a sergeant in the 154th, Infantry. No last name given in the letter.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Camp Beauregard.
Saturday Eve,
Dear Mother:
Guess you think I have done homefolks short this week. But when I tell you about our two days’ hike, have just returned from, I think you all will excuse me for sending a letter sooner. We are just back and sure tired out. But I’ll try to tell you briefly of our hike.
We left camp early yesterday morning and walked all day with our packs and guns, in all we were loaded with about sixty five or seventy pounds. You know that is some load to carry all day. Some of the fellows got hot and fell out. Some fanned out coming back today. After plodding along all day we pitched camp about 5 o’clock, just this side of a little place called Pollyck.
Just about time we finished supper the rain began to fall. There we were with no shelter except our little tents about the size of a dog kennel. We crawled into them and sat there waiting for the rain to stop. This wait was about three hours long. Just as soon as the rain stopped we came out and built big pine knot fires to dry by, for our tents leaked “a little.” We had only one blanket each which made a pretty hard bed when out on the wet ground so we sat around the fire most of the night: But don’t think we got lonesome that night for since the whole 154th Inf. was present, in all about 3,000 men, we had company enough to scare the owls away. Then aside from all these men we had with us about one hundred wagons, each drawn by by four mules. When we got into camp this morning about 11 o’clock you may know we were some tired bunch for this was our first hike.
Tho we are going to make them once a week I think, each time increases the length till we get toughened, then we may make a trip to Lake Charles. But I’m afraid I can’t go if they stay several days for you know I will have to stay and go to school.
Think now that twelve of us Sergeants, from our Cannon school will go to the Range next week to practice shooting. We may stay about a week so don’t be uneasy if you don’t hear from me for several days. But you all have me some letters here when I get back.
We had a good rain again today. Hope you are getting some of it on the garden. It would be too bad for dry weather to kill the nice garden after the plants are up. I wan’t them to hurry and grow fast, for only about two weeks more and I think I will be home on a few days furlough.
Gee! but I can hardly wait for the time to pass. Can just see the dear old home and all of you dear folks in my mind. See?
Am sending you all a picture of our Regiment. The 154th, Inf, and down below are the 155th and 156th Infantrys. Have them marked so may have some idea of how we are fixed up down here.
Tell all of the sisters to write also dad. Am always glad to get those letters from home.
Write to me soon mama,
Lots of love from your only son,
Floyd.
NOTES: Floyd was serving as a sergeant in the 154th, Infantry. No last name given in the letter.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT