TRANSCRIBED FROM THE CARLISLE INDEPENDENT FEBRUARY 6, 1919 P. 6
Bacharach, Germany,
December, 14, 1918
Dear folks,
I will try and write you a few lines as I have nothing much to do. We are now on the north side of the Rhine, have been here since the 10th. The Rhine is not such a large stream but there seems to be lots of traffic on it. There are high bluffs on each side which are covered with vinyards to the very top. The people seem to be more up to date here than they are further south especially in the towns which has better buildings and are cleaner than any I have yet seen. The natives use mostly oxen, even more so than the French and although they have very good dirt roads they are not like the French, which are practically the same as boulevards.
I will give you an idea of where I have been since landing in this country. To start at the beginning I left Hoboken, N.J. Feb. 27, 1918 on the steamer Agarmemnon, which is a very large German vessel, and landed at Brest France March 10th, left Brest by rail the 15th and arrived at Chateau Villian, not far from Switzerland, the 19th. We trained there until May 24, then I was sent to the artilery brigade with 9 others, as radio instructors and the 28, the two infantry brigades was rushed to Chateau Thierry front to help marines stop the German drive which carried them to the Marne. I was at camp Coetjuidon, which is near Rennes until July 12, we entrained for the Marne. We (the 3rd artillery brigade) detrained just east of Paris and hiked the 45 miles to Chateau Thierry. It took 3 days, July 4, 5, and 6. We were on the Marne July 15, when the big drive was launched and believe me there was scrap for a day or so. The Germans got across but could not hold the south bank and on the 18, they were driven back, and we drove them back until July 30, when we were relieved and went back to rest; all but the 6th brigade, who stayed until August 8, then we did not have much to do but have the division filled up again until about September 10th, we were sent to the St. Mihiel salient. The Germans did not put up much of a fight there and it did not take long to clean the Salient out. We were then transferred to the argonne sector and were put on the left bank of the Meuse on the old Verdun battlefield in 1916, as first reserve for the 79th division, which went over the top Sept. 26. We relieved the 97th division on Sept. 29 at Montfoucon and held a position at the front until October 27, and I don't believe there was any harder or more bitter fighting during the whole war than there. We were relieved the 27th and went back to be replaced to full strength again.
After the armistice was signed, we started on Nov. 15 for the Rhine. We were on the road until Dec. 10th when we arrived here. It was sure a fine trip, as we had very little cold weather. The roads were fairly good and the war is over. I don't know how long we will be here but don't think very long. This was the first division to reach the Rhine. The people treated us fine all along the way.
Well I suppose Linley will soon be home as I hear the 38th division is on the way back. there was sure a host of Americans over here and in another year we would have had the finest army in the world. Health is good.
As ever your son,
Martin Holmes
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Bacharach, Germany,
December, 14, 1918
Dear folks,
I will try and write you a few lines as I have nothing much to do. We are now on the north side of the Rhine, have been here since the 10th. The Rhine is not such a large stream but there seems to be lots of traffic on it. There are high bluffs on each side which are covered with vinyards to the very top. The people seem to be more up to date here than they are further south especially in the towns which has better buildings and are cleaner than any I have yet seen. The natives use mostly oxen, even more so than the French and although they have very good dirt roads they are not like the French, which are practically the same as boulevards.
I will give you an idea of where I have been since landing in this country. To start at the beginning I left Hoboken, N.J. Feb. 27, 1918 on the steamer Agarmemnon, which is a very large German vessel, and landed at Brest France March 10th, left Brest by rail the 15th and arrived at Chateau Villian, not far from Switzerland, the 19th. We trained there until May 24, then I was sent to the artilery brigade with 9 others, as radio instructors and the 28, the two infantry brigades was rushed to Chateau Thierry front to help marines stop the German drive which carried them to the Marne. I was at camp Coetjuidon, which is near Rennes until July 12, we entrained for the Marne. We (the 3rd artillery brigade) detrained just east of Paris and hiked the 45 miles to Chateau Thierry. It took 3 days, July 4, 5, and 6. We were on the Marne July 15, when the big drive was launched and believe me there was scrap for a day or so. The Germans got across but could not hold the south bank and on the 18, they were driven back, and we drove them back until July 30, when we were relieved and went back to rest; all but the 6th brigade, who stayed until August 8, then we did not have much to do but have the division filled up again until about September 10th, we were sent to the St. Mihiel salient. The Germans did not put up much of a fight there and it did not take long to clean the Salient out. We were then transferred to the argonne sector and were put on the left bank of the Meuse on the old Verdun battlefield in 1916, as first reserve for the 79th division, which went over the top Sept. 26. We relieved the 97th division on Sept. 29 at Montfoucon and held a position at the front until October 27, and I don't believe there was any harder or more bitter fighting during the whole war than there. We were relieved the 27th and went back to be replaced to full strength again.
After the armistice was signed, we started on Nov. 15 for the Rhine. We were on the road until Dec. 10th when we arrived here. It was sure a fine trip, as we had very little cold weather. The roads were fairly good and the war is over. I don't know how long we will be here but don't think very long. This was the first division to reach the Rhine. The people treated us fine all along the way.
Well I suppose Linley will soon be home as I hear the 38th division is on the way back. there was sure a host of Americans over here and in another year we would have had the finest army in the world. Health is good.
As ever your son,
Martin Holmes
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD