TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 7, 1919 P. 4
Mrs. Dicie
My Dear Grandmother:
As I am setting around on this Sunday thinking of you all and looking over some old letters I have received from you all and don't you know I sure enjoy reading those old letters from you all.
Say I got a letter from Mamma the other day and she was telling me about Zim and Tom being sick. I hope they are better by now. I saw she said Ferguson died, well that is too bad but that is one thing we all have to do sooner or later which I hope we all will live to meet again. This leaves me well and getting along fine for I haven't been sick since I left Camp Pike, and I hope I wont get sick while I am away from home. Say I think we will be home by the first of spring cause the war I think is almost over and I know almost when you get this letter that it will be over, but it will take some time to get us all back and I don't know whether we will get there this winter or not but I would bet we all will be there by spring.
Say I got mamma and father's picture other day and mamma sure does look bad. She must be working awful hard I wish I was home on that account. I sure am not going to let mamma work at all when I come home because I know she is not able to work and I dont think as many of us as there are that she wont have to work.
Say what in the world has become of old Marland? I got your letter and you didn't say anything about her at all of course I know she and Iciclen have good health, but she is not dead is she? I know she is not for you can't kill a negro like her. And what has become of Lilley and Selmer Wesley and also my other little auntie. Say what has become of aunt Harriet? Is she still living or not? Oh! yes, is Mrs. Brunson and Mr. Brunson still living there? If so tell them that I sure was proud to hear from them also and I hope I will be there again some day or another. Mamma asked me if I had got a letter from you, yes mam I have and I have been writing one of you every week and I don't know why you all dont get my letters I get a letter about ever to weeks from you all and if isn't from you all it is from Alma. I write from one to two a week and I write mamma every week and by now she ought to get a letter every week from me and she said that she don't get a letter once a month. I haven't answered Cab's letter yet but I am gong to some time soon.
Say tell the old man I said hello. Well give my love to all of the people around there and tell them I am well and getting along fine so far and I think I will see of you all pretty soon if things go on like they say they are going on, which I think they are, but I guess you all know as much as I do about this war cause I am over here true enough but I believe you all get as much news as I do and get the real dope. And you all ask me to have my picture made and sent to you all. I was intending to do so and muy do so yet but if the war is almost over I will wait until I come home and have them made at home.
Well dear Grandmother, as I dont no nothing else to tell you Goodby.
From your grandson,
Cassie B. Johnson, Co. D. 585.
NOTES: Cassie B. Johnson (Bynks-signed Cassa Banca on his WWI registration card) was born on August 18, 1895 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on March 15, 1953. He enlisted on April 29, 1918 and was discharged on April 30, 1919. He served as a Private in Co. D 525th Service Bn. Engineers. He departed Newport News, Virginia on April 10, 1918 onboard the Martha Washington. Johnson was an African American soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Mrs. Dicie
My Dear Grandmother:
As I am setting around on this Sunday thinking of you all and looking over some old letters I have received from you all and don't you know I sure enjoy reading those old letters from you all.
Say I got a letter from Mamma the other day and she was telling me about Zim and Tom being sick. I hope they are better by now. I saw she said Ferguson died, well that is too bad but that is one thing we all have to do sooner or later which I hope we all will live to meet again. This leaves me well and getting along fine for I haven't been sick since I left Camp Pike, and I hope I wont get sick while I am away from home. Say I think we will be home by the first of spring cause the war I think is almost over and I know almost when you get this letter that it will be over, but it will take some time to get us all back and I don't know whether we will get there this winter or not but I would bet we all will be there by spring.
Say I got mamma and father's picture other day and mamma sure does look bad. She must be working awful hard I wish I was home on that account. I sure am not going to let mamma work at all when I come home because I know she is not able to work and I dont think as many of us as there are that she wont have to work.
Say what in the world has become of old Marland? I got your letter and you didn't say anything about her at all of course I know she and Iciclen have good health, but she is not dead is she? I know she is not for you can't kill a negro like her. And what has become of Lilley and Selmer Wesley and also my other little auntie. Say what has become of aunt Harriet? Is she still living or not? Oh! yes, is Mrs. Brunson and Mr. Brunson still living there? If so tell them that I sure was proud to hear from them also and I hope I will be there again some day or another. Mamma asked me if I had got a letter from you, yes mam I have and I have been writing one of you every week and I don't know why you all dont get my letters I get a letter about ever to weeks from you all and if isn't from you all it is from Alma. I write from one to two a week and I write mamma every week and by now she ought to get a letter every week from me and she said that she don't get a letter once a month. I haven't answered Cab's letter yet but I am gong to some time soon.
Say tell the old man I said hello. Well give my love to all of the people around there and tell them I am well and getting along fine so far and I think I will see of you all pretty soon if things go on like they say they are going on, which I think they are, but I guess you all know as much as I do about this war cause I am over here true enough but I believe you all get as much news as I do and get the real dope. And you all ask me to have my picture made and sent to you all. I was intending to do so and muy do so yet but if the war is almost over I will wait until I come home and have them made at home.
Well dear Grandmother, as I dont no nothing else to tell you Goodby.
From your grandson,
Cassie B. Johnson, Co. D. 585.
NOTES: Cassie B. Johnson (Bynks-signed Cassa Banca on his WWI registration card) was born on August 18, 1895 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on March 15, 1953. He enlisted on April 29, 1918 and was discharged on April 30, 1919. He served as a Private in Co. D 525th Service Bn. Engineers. He departed Newport News, Virginia on April 10, 1918 onboard the Martha Washington. Johnson was an African American soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD