TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PULASKIAN OCTOBER 11, 1918 P. 1
En Route
Dear Papa and Momma:
We left New Orleans a little past twelve last night and went through Mobile about five this morning. It is now about twelve, noon, and we are in Montgomery, Ala. I did not see many very fine looking crops in Alabama, but saw lots of good looking girls.
We came across the Delta in the night and I did not get to see much of the country. The Red Cross nurses brought us hot rolls, doughnuts and hot coffee in Montgomery and we boys certainly did appreciate their kindness.
You will have to excuse this bad writing as this train is running from fifty to seventy-five miles an hour. The trains here run nearly twice as fast as they do in Arkansas and Louisiana.
We came through Camp Sheridan a few minutes ago. It is close to Annistown.
It is now about 2:30 p.m. and we have ben climbing the Allegheny Divide for over two hours. I do not think it is much farther to the top.
It is about 3:25 p.m. now and we are in Georgia—have just crossed the Chattahooche River. It is over 85 miles to Atlanta yet. I pass high power wires from electric power plants every once in a while. They have them all around in these hills and develop electricity from the mountain streams for water power for factories between West Point, Ala., and Atlanta. There are very few smokestacks in any of the towns we are going through now ****We are coming into Atlanta now. it is about 6:45 p.m. Atlanta seems to be a large city. We pass great stock yards. ****We have just been to the Red Cross Canteen, where we were each given a large cup full of real good grape juice, I do not mean wine. ****It is about 8:15 now and I think we will leave here inside of an hour. We left Camp Beauregard about 9:30 yesterday morning and got in New Orleans between nine and ten last night. We have made 803 miles since leaving so you can see we are making a very good rate of speed for a troop train. ****Will write you another letter in a day or so. Am well and hope you are.
NOTES: Charles Lee Heilman was writing to his parents George and Georgia Heilman of Levy, Arkansas. Heilman was born in Levy on October 8, 1896 and died on December 13, 1954. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. He enlisted on September 19, 1917 and was discharged on May 24, 1919. He served as a Private in 126th Infantry, 32nd Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
En Route
Dear Papa and Momma:
We left New Orleans a little past twelve last night and went through Mobile about five this morning. It is now about twelve, noon, and we are in Montgomery, Ala. I did not see many very fine looking crops in Alabama, but saw lots of good looking girls.
We came across the Delta in the night and I did not get to see much of the country. The Red Cross nurses brought us hot rolls, doughnuts and hot coffee in Montgomery and we boys certainly did appreciate their kindness.
You will have to excuse this bad writing as this train is running from fifty to seventy-five miles an hour. The trains here run nearly twice as fast as they do in Arkansas and Louisiana.
We came through Camp Sheridan a few minutes ago. It is close to Annistown.
It is now about 2:30 p.m. and we have ben climbing the Allegheny Divide for over two hours. I do not think it is much farther to the top.
It is about 3:25 p.m. now and we are in Georgia—have just crossed the Chattahooche River. It is over 85 miles to Atlanta yet. I pass high power wires from electric power plants every once in a while. They have them all around in these hills and develop electricity from the mountain streams for water power for factories between West Point, Ala., and Atlanta. There are very few smokestacks in any of the towns we are going through now ****We are coming into Atlanta now. it is about 6:45 p.m. Atlanta seems to be a large city. We pass great stock yards. ****We have just been to the Red Cross Canteen, where we were each given a large cup full of real good grape juice, I do not mean wine. ****It is about 8:15 now and I think we will leave here inside of an hour. We left Camp Beauregard about 9:30 yesterday morning and got in New Orleans between nine and ten last night. We have made 803 miles since leaving so you can see we are making a very good rate of speed for a troop train. ****Will write you another letter in a day or so. Am well and hope you are.
NOTES: Charles Lee Heilman was writing to his parents George and Georgia Heilman of Levy, Arkansas. Heilman was born in Levy on October 8, 1896 and died on December 13, 1954. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. He enlisted on September 19, 1917 and was discharged on May 24, 1919. He served as a Private in 126th Infantry, 32nd Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON