TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT JUNE 18, 1918 P. 2
Camp Dix, N.J., June 19, '18
DEAR FOLKS:
We have arrived "okey." I never had such an enjoyable trip, but my eyes bothered me, as I kept them so busy looking. I am well and feeling fit with the exception of being sleepy and tired. We did not have sleepers--only day cars--and we were crowded, too, so you see losing three nights in succession makes one sleepy.
We left Camp Pike Sunday the 16th, about 12 o'clock noon, and arrived here at Camp Dix about 5 a.m. Wednesday, the 19th. We surely did some fast riding, too. They changed engines at nearly every city, and most of the time we were pulled by two. There were 14 cars, all of which were loaded heavily.
We came the southern route from Memphis, through parts or all of the following states: Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia; Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. We passed through all the larger cities of Tennessee, also Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia. We saw the U.S. Capitol and Washington's Monument; and we came under the Delaware river, instead of over it. Saw several of the old battlefields, including those of Lookout Mountain, Bunker Hill and Trenton, all of which were very interesting to me.
I never had so much to eat or so many post cards in all my life as I had on this trip. In every town the Red Cross met the train, giving us anything and everything we wanted. I have already seen more good of that organization than I could before have imagined. The Red Cross is all it claimed to be.
Eastern Arkansas is the best country I saw until we got over near the Potomac river in Virginia. The country I wanted most to see was between Washington, D.C., and Camp Dix, but, as is my luck, we came all that way in the night.
It was about 7 p.m. when we reached Washington, D.C., and we were there about two hours. The Red Cross gave us refreshments and all kinds of stationery. President Wilson's daughter gave me my coffee and cafe. The band of our company played here, as well as at other places where we stopped. Miss Wilson seemed to be very enthusiastic in supplying our needs--even more so than the rest. She would also shake hands with us and bid us good-bye as we left.
I cannot say much about this camp, as I have slept so much today that I haven't looked around much. It is, however, a very beautiful place, but is so level that one cannot see far. To the east the country slopes gradually to the sea--a distance of about forty miles. The boys are mostly rookies as the old men have gone over.
I do not know just how long we will be here, for we have not had time to hear much. Will write more of the place when I look around some. Intend to go up to New York City soon. My address is the same as before Hdqrs. Co. 347 Inf.) except it is Camp Dix, N.J., instead of Camp Pike.
W. D. HATCHETT.
NOTES: Sgt. William Dykes Hatchett was a former student at Clinton High School in Clinton, Arkansas. He was writing to his father Dr. J. K. Hatchett of Scotland, Arkansas. He was born in Archey, Arkansas on January 26, 1893 and died in November 1965. He is buried in the Hobart Cemetery in Hobart, Oklahoma. He departed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 24, 1918 onboard the City of Calcutta. He was serving as a Sgt. in Hdq. Co. 347th Infantry. He departed Brest, France on December 24, 1918 onboard the Mauretania. He was serving as a Sgt. in the Hdq. Co. 347th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Camp Dix, N.J., June 19, '18
DEAR FOLKS:
We have arrived "okey." I never had such an enjoyable trip, but my eyes bothered me, as I kept them so busy looking. I am well and feeling fit with the exception of being sleepy and tired. We did not have sleepers--only day cars--and we were crowded, too, so you see losing three nights in succession makes one sleepy.
We left Camp Pike Sunday the 16th, about 12 o'clock noon, and arrived here at Camp Dix about 5 a.m. Wednesday, the 19th. We surely did some fast riding, too. They changed engines at nearly every city, and most of the time we were pulled by two. There were 14 cars, all of which were loaded heavily.
We came the southern route from Memphis, through parts or all of the following states: Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia; Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. We passed through all the larger cities of Tennessee, also Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia. We saw the U.S. Capitol and Washington's Monument; and we came under the Delaware river, instead of over it. Saw several of the old battlefields, including those of Lookout Mountain, Bunker Hill and Trenton, all of which were very interesting to me.
I never had so much to eat or so many post cards in all my life as I had on this trip. In every town the Red Cross met the train, giving us anything and everything we wanted. I have already seen more good of that organization than I could before have imagined. The Red Cross is all it claimed to be.
Eastern Arkansas is the best country I saw until we got over near the Potomac river in Virginia. The country I wanted most to see was between Washington, D.C., and Camp Dix, but, as is my luck, we came all that way in the night.
It was about 7 p.m. when we reached Washington, D.C., and we were there about two hours. The Red Cross gave us refreshments and all kinds of stationery. President Wilson's daughter gave me my coffee and cafe. The band of our company played here, as well as at other places where we stopped. Miss Wilson seemed to be very enthusiastic in supplying our needs--even more so than the rest. She would also shake hands with us and bid us good-bye as we left.
I cannot say much about this camp, as I have slept so much today that I haven't looked around much. It is, however, a very beautiful place, but is so level that one cannot see far. To the east the country slopes gradually to the sea--a distance of about forty miles. The boys are mostly rookies as the old men have gone over.
I do not know just how long we will be here, for we have not had time to hear much. Will write more of the place when I look around some. Intend to go up to New York City soon. My address is the same as before Hdqrs. Co. 347 Inf.) except it is Camp Dix, N.J., instead of Camp Pike.
W. D. HATCHETT.
NOTES: Sgt. William Dykes Hatchett was a former student at Clinton High School in Clinton, Arkansas. He was writing to his father Dr. J. K. Hatchett of Scotland, Arkansas. He was born in Archey, Arkansas on January 26, 1893 and died in November 1965. He is buried in the Hobart Cemetery in Hobart, Oklahoma. He departed Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 24, 1918 onboard the City of Calcutta. He was serving as a Sgt. in Hdq. Co. 347th Infantry. He departed Brest, France on December 24, 1918 onboard the Mauretania. He was serving as a Sgt. in the Hdq. Co. 347th Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD