TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER APRIL 24, 1918 P.1
March 30, 1918,
Mrs. Mary J, Hickman:
Magnolia, Ark.
Dear Mama:
This is Saturday evening and I am just fine, never felt better in my life.
We took a hike Monday morning. We left camp and on our way due east we marched and I am proud to say I have never enjoyed myself better since childhood.
The pretty spring morning beamed down with all its beauty, and the pretty green woodland way with the dog wood blossoms and the pretty spring flowers and green grass was inspiring. A part of the way was just like a field where the timber had been cut off. We crossed branches and creeks with pretty clear water flowing and the birds singing in the trees. We marched onward for a distance of 12 or 15 miles. We had dinner on the way on a pretty hill covered with small oaks and pines, and every tree seemed to smile on us as we ate. A mocking bird sang near us with a loud tone and the sweet song seemed to say, “boys, I am doing my bit every day.”
After we had lunch we rested about an hour and I lay on the ground under the shade of the trees with a number of other boys, we all seem to be enjoying ourselves. As for myself I was almost overjoyed to listen to the singing birds and the pretty country. I glanced down into the valley near the branch and saw the blackberries vines all full of blossoms, they all seemed to say “Leon, the whole U. S. A. is behind you,” in this war.
We arrived at our journey’s end about the middle of the evening and pitched our tents in about an hour and by five o’clock we had our supper ready.
I was appointed sergeant of the guard and in a little while we had sentinels around camp walking their post but no one boy had to be on duty more than two hours during the night. I had the guard fixed so that everything was smooth. The next morning at six o’clock the corporal of the last relief woke us up and we had a cow bell for a bugle. After breakfast we marched further east where we were to receive the lesson we came to learn with the great gun which shot a 10 pound shell. The shell is arranged with a time fuse. It is no use to go into details how everything was fixed and how come the thing to be so safe and well constructed to throw a shell that would dig a hole in the ground that three men could hide in. The shell burst into about 1000 pieces of sharp rolled steel and everything near was torn up.
We spent four days on the trip. We found a pretty swimming pool while out and had a good swim.
If nothing happens I hope to get to be at home in about four weeks.
As ever, your son,
Sergt. Leon L. Hickman.
NOTES: Leon Lohny Hickman was writing from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. He was born on January 19, 1895 in Magnolia, Arkansas He was described as being tall with medium build and brown eyes and black hair. His brother William J. Hickman was also in the army and has letter/letters posted on this site.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
March 30, 1918,
Mrs. Mary J, Hickman:
Magnolia, Ark.
Dear Mama:
This is Saturday evening and I am just fine, never felt better in my life.
We took a hike Monday morning. We left camp and on our way due east we marched and I am proud to say I have never enjoyed myself better since childhood.
The pretty spring morning beamed down with all its beauty, and the pretty green woodland way with the dog wood blossoms and the pretty spring flowers and green grass was inspiring. A part of the way was just like a field where the timber had been cut off. We crossed branches and creeks with pretty clear water flowing and the birds singing in the trees. We marched onward for a distance of 12 or 15 miles. We had dinner on the way on a pretty hill covered with small oaks and pines, and every tree seemed to smile on us as we ate. A mocking bird sang near us with a loud tone and the sweet song seemed to say, “boys, I am doing my bit every day.”
After we had lunch we rested about an hour and I lay on the ground under the shade of the trees with a number of other boys, we all seem to be enjoying ourselves. As for myself I was almost overjoyed to listen to the singing birds and the pretty country. I glanced down into the valley near the branch and saw the blackberries vines all full of blossoms, they all seemed to say “Leon, the whole U. S. A. is behind you,” in this war.
We arrived at our journey’s end about the middle of the evening and pitched our tents in about an hour and by five o’clock we had our supper ready.
I was appointed sergeant of the guard and in a little while we had sentinels around camp walking their post but no one boy had to be on duty more than two hours during the night. I had the guard fixed so that everything was smooth. The next morning at six o’clock the corporal of the last relief woke us up and we had a cow bell for a bugle. After breakfast we marched further east where we were to receive the lesson we came to learn with the great gun which shot a 10 pound shell. The shell is arranged with a time fuse. It is no use to go into details how everything was fixed and how come the thing to be so safe and well constructed to throw a shell that would dig a hole in the ground that three men could hide in. The shell burst into about 1000 pieces of sharp rolled steel and everything near was torn up.
We spent four days on the trip. We found a pretty swimming pool while out and had a good swim.
If nothing happens I hope to get to be at home in about four weeks.
As ever, your son,
Sergt. Leon L. Hickman.
NOTES: Leon Lohny Hickman was writing from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. He was born on January 19, 1895 in Magnolia, Arkansas He was described as being tall with medium build and brown eyes and black hair. His brother William J. Hickman was also in the army and has letter/letters posted on this site.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT