TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT APRIL 27, 1918 P 8
I received your letter a few days ago and was certainly glad to hear from you. I also received the package containing two cartons cigarettes, one box of chocolates, six tins of smoking tobacco and the pipe, and I assure you they were highly appreciated, for my tobacco supply was almost (as the French say) “finished,” and I had not smoked a “tailor made” cigarette in two months.
You have certainly had some cold weather and I know it has been doubly disagreeable without car or delivery service. I spent a very mild winter on a good job, so far as goo djobs in the army go. I was working in the office of the Camp Police officer, and when the weather got warmer and the captain got busier I had charge of all the work and had a horse to ride and a permanent pass to leave and enter camp at all times. Pretty keen, wasn’t it?
We have left camp, however, and now are at the front doing our part. We sure had some trip up here. First we marched four miles from camp with a 90-pound pack and rifle to the train, then we entrained in dinky little compartment cars-seven men with packs in each compartment which should have only two to ride like we do in America—we stayed on that train (riding part of the time) for two days and two and one-half nights, then detrained and hiked 15 kilometers, and, my goodness, we were tired when we finally got billeted for the small part of the night which was left. The officers had some trouble getting the billets located after we got to the village in which we were to stop, so I just threw by overcoat down in the mud and went to sleep as I was all in; but had lots of company. Next day the colonel had to hike a few kilometers to a telephone and when he returned he declared that we were a motor outfit and had done our last walking. So he got busy and sent out a captain somewhere that afternoon and when he returned he had 53 Pierce arrow trucks for us. We left that village the next morning for our present location in trucks.
Enjoyed the trip and saw some awful sights of Boche bombing. Can you imagine half of Argenta being burned? Well, that’s the size of one of the towns we came through, and there was not a building left—you know these building are all of stone, so it was some sight.
We have very good billets, our company all being in a big stone barn, and have a long table under electric lights for reading and writing purposes. We also have a guitar, a mandolin, and at night there is always plenty of us here to have music; sing and have a good time.
These Frenchmen can’t understand us we do not go moping around, as do the Italian and Frenchman, looking like we had lost our best friend.
We have been at the front twice, and it is not nearly so bad as pictured. Of course, a few shells burst nearby once in awhile and you can hear the machine guns rat-tat-tat, but—oh, well, if there is one made for you, you’ll get it, if not you won’t, so there you are.
Tell Dellehi we see air battles every clear day and when I am sitting around watching them I often think of him and wonder how he’d like to see one. Also tell him I have learned how to pronounce monsiur, exactly as she is spoke.
I sure wish I could visit you about 3 o’clock this afternoon. We get lots to eat and plenty to wear, but no army cook can prepare a meal like you can, or my sister.
I certainly appreciated your assistance of a job in the store on my return, for I want to settle down in Little Rock after I finish this trip for I have seen all the country I wish to, believe me, Uncle Sam’s land is some place, and everything made in America is good enough for me. Honestly, we have all of those people outclassed every way. The national guard soldiers which the American people felt halfashamed to send to Europe are making good and putting pep into the sector here and, in fact, anywhere else they happen to be. A certain Southern regiment of National Guard Infantry near here has put the Fear of God in the Germans.
Well, I must close as I have a bunch of letters to answer to America. Thanking you again for the smakes, and sending my best wishes to all, I will say goodbye.
NOTES: James W. Grissette was writing to Mrs. Kate Holman. He was born June 27, 1893/5 Alicia, Lawrence County, Arkansas and died April 21, 1948, New Orleans, Louisiana. He is buried Harmony Baptist Cemetery, Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee. He first enlisted in the National Guard in Kansas but his tombstone application has him as an Arkansas Sergeant Co. C. 117 Am Train. His Pulaski County draft card has him as medium height and build with gray eyes and light hair. The editor spelled his name Grissett without the e.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
I received your letter a few days ago and was certainly glad to hear from you. I also received the package containing two cartons cigarettes, one box of chocolates, six tins of smoking tobacco and the pipe, and I assure you they were highly appreciated, for my tobacco supply was almost (as the French say) “finished,” and I had not smoked a “tailor made” cigarette in two months.
You have certainly had some cold weather and I know it has been doubly disagreeable without car or delivery service. I spent a very mild winter on a good job, so far as goo djobs in the army go. I was working in the office of the Camp Police officer, and when the weather got warmer and the captain got busier I had charge of all the work and had a horse to ride and a permanent pass to leave and enter camp at all times. Pretty keen, wasn’t it?
We have left camp, however, and now are at the front doing our part. We sure had some trip up here. First we marched four miles from camp with a 90-pound pack and rifle to the train, then we entrained in dinky little compartment cars-seven men with packs in each compartment which should have only two to ride like we do in America—we stayed on that train (riding part of the time) for two days and two and one-half nights, then detrained and hiked 15 kilometers, and, my goodness, we were tired when we finally got billeted for the small part of the night which was left. The officers had some trouble getting the billets located after we got to the village in which we were to stop, so I just threw by overcoat down in the mud and went to sleep as I was all in; but had lots of company. Next day the colonel had to hike a few kilometers to a telephone and when he returned he declared that we were a motor outfit and had done our last walking. So he got busy and sent out a captain somewhere that afternoon and when he returned he had 53 Pierce arrow trucks for us. We left that village the next morning for our present location in trucks.
Enjoyed the trip and saw some awful sights of Boche bombing. Can you imagine half of Argenta being burned? Well, that’s the size of one of the towns we came through, and there was not a building left—you know these building are all of stone, so it was some sight.
We have very good billets, our company all being in a big stone barn, and have a long table under electric lights for reading and writing purposes. We also have a guitar, a mandolin, and at night there is always plenty of us here to have music; sing and have a good time.
These Frenchmen can’t understand us we do not go moping around, as do the Italian and Frenchman, looking like we had lost our best friend.
We have been at the front twice, and it is not nearly so bad as pictured. Of course, a few shells burst nearby once in awhile and you can hear the machine guns rat-tat-tat, but—oh, well, if there is one made for you, you’ll get it, if not you won’t, so there you are.
Tell Dellehi we see air battles every clear day and when I am sitting around watching them I often think of him and wonder how he’d like to see one. Also tell him I have learned how to pronounce monsiur, exactly as she is spoke.
I sure wish I could visit you about 3 o’clock this afternoon. We get lots to eat and plenty to wear, but no army cook can prepare a meal like you can, or my sister.
I certainly appreciated your assistance of a job in the store on my return, for I want to settle down in Little Rock after I finish this trip for I have seen all the country I wish to, believe me, Uncle Sam’s land is some place, and everything made in America is good enough for me. Honestly, we have all of those people outclassed every way. The national guard soldiers which the American people felt halfashamed to send to Europe are making good and putting pep into the sector here and, in fact, anywhere else they happen to be. A certain Southern regiment of National Guard Infantry near here has put the Fear of God in the Germans.
Well, I must close as I have a bunch of letters to answer to America. Thanking you again for the smakes, and sending my best wishes to all, I will say goodbye.
NOTES: James W. Grissette was writing to Mrs. Kate Holman. He was born June 27, 1893/5 Alicia, Lawrence County, Arkansas and died April 21, 1948, New Orleans, Louisiana. He is buried Harmony Baptist Cemetery, Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee. He first enlisted in the National Guard in Kansas but his tombstone application has him as an Arkansas Sergeant Co. C. 117 Am Train. His Pulaski County draft card has him as medium height and build with gray eyes and light hair. The editor spelled his name Grissett without the e.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT