TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PINE BLUFF DAILY GRAPHIC OCTOBER 31, 1918 P. 8
This is written in pencil, but I find no ink handy. I am on the move all the time. It seems that I do not stay in any one place over two weeks at the most. I am up very close to the front and am working like a dog.
Since I wrote you last week, I have been transferred to the Heavy Railway Artillery. We have all of our big guns on railroad track, and move them along the track and fire them. It is some job getting them loaded at times. There is constant firing and all kinds of thoubles to be met all of the time. I am on the staff of General Chamberlin. Yes no doubt remember him being at Boston Harbor. He was in command at Fort Andrews while I was stationed there.
I presume that the papers are full of what the American troops are doing over here. I haven’t seen a paper from the US for two months. We are so heated that I haven’t been able to get hold of even a French paper for almost a week. We are beginning to have the winter rains.
Everything is at least six inches in mud, and it rains practically all the time. The worst part of it is that it is so cold and clammy. I haven’t put on my winter underwear, but I have on mp sheep skin lined coat all the time.
We are living in little barracks made of wood. It has cracks in it large enough for one to crawl through. This without any stones or fire, makes one feel uncomfortable all of the time. Every few minutes we hear a shell fall around close. It has a tendency to make one feel cold.
You know doubt have been reading in the papers all about the St. Mihiel fight so will not try to tell you anything about that.
I had lunch in Verdun the other day in an officer’s mess down under the ground. Thev were very comfortable, and had all of the necessities. They had an electric plant and laundry going; all of which seemed to be without any inconvenience.
I see thousands and thousands of American troops every day, and they are all in the best of health, cheerful and apparently very happy.
The work that the Americans have done over here has been marvelous. They are doing it well, and from all indications the Germans are beginning to look for some way ‘o make peace.
I hope that the war is soon over and we all can get back to the United States.
I want all of you not to worry about me, for I am going to take the best care of myself possible, and not go into danger needlessly.
With loads of love to all
Your loving son and brother
Sanderford Jarman
NOTES: Jarman was born in Louisiana on December 24, 1894 and died on October 10, 1954. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. At the time of the letter he was a Lieut Col. F.A. Headquarters Railway Artillery Reserve, A.P.O. 707. Graduated in 1908 from West Point and was working as Chief of Staff of the Fifth American Army Corps. He ended his military career as a Major General. Jarmen graduated from West Point in 1908. His father lived in Monroe, Louisiana and brother, William, lived in Pine Bluff
TRANSCRIBED BY: ISAAC WOLTER
This is written in pencil, but I find no ink handy. I am on the move all the time. It seems that I do not stay in any one place over two weeks at the most. I am up very close to the front and am working like a dog.
Since I wrote you last week, I have been transferred to the Heavy Railway Artillery. We have all of our big guns on railroad track, and move them along the track and fire them. It is some job getting them loaded at times. There is constant firing and all kinds of thoubles to be met all of the time. I am on the staff of General Chamberlin. Yes no doubt remember him being at Boston Harbor. He was in command at Fort Andrews while I was stationed there.
I presume that the papers are full of what the American troops are doing over here. I haven’t seen a paper from the US for two months. We are so heated that I haven’t been able to get hold of even a French paper for almost a week. We are beginning to have the winter rains.
Everything is at least six inches in mud, and it rains practically all the time. The worst part of it is that it is so cold and clammy. I haven’t put on my winter underwear, but I have on mp sheep skin lined coat all the time.
We are living in little barracks made of wood. It has cracks in it large enough for one to crawl through. This without any stones or fire, makes one feel uncomfortable all of the time. Every few minutes we hear a shell fall around close. It has a tendency to make one feel cold.
You know doubt have been reading in the papers all about the St. Mihiel fight so will not try to tell you anything about that.
I had lunch in Verdun the other day in an officer’s mess down under the ground. Thev were very comfortable, and had all of the necessities. They had an electric plant and laundry going; all of which seemed to be without any inconvenience.
I see thousands and thousands of American troops every day, and they are all in the best of health, cheerful and apparently very happy.
The work that the Americans have done over here has been marvelous. They are doing it well, and from all indications the Germans are beginning to look for some way ‘o make peace.
I hope that the war is soon over and we all can get back to the United States.
I want all of you not to worry about me, for I am going to take the best care of myself possible, and not go into danger needlessly.
With loads of love to all
Your loving son and brother
Sanderford Jarman
NOTES: Jarman was born in Louisiana on December 24, 1894 and died on October 10, 1954. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. At the time of the letter he was a Lieut Col. F.A. Headquarters Railway Artillery Reserve, A.P.O. 707. Graduated in 1908 from West Point and was working as Chief of Staff of the Fifth American Army Corps. He ended his military career as a Major General. Jarmen graduated from West Point in 1908. His father lived in Monroe, Louisiana and brother, William, lived in Pine Bluff
TRANSCRIBED BY: ISAAC WOLTER