TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER AUGUST 14, 1918, P. 2
Camp Jackson, S. C.
July 23, 1918.
Mr. Jesse Jones,
Dear brother:
Your letter was re’d today. I was glad to hear from you and to know that you were all still getting along all right. This leaves me getting along just ___, been feeling fine all day. But had a good bait of melon this evening, and you know how a fellow feels after taking all the melon he can carry. You know I always would eat it until the last was gone. I get a bait every day. There are some in the camp all the time now, and you know how a fellow is when he gets started after them. It costs about 15 cents every time I get a good bait, but I can’t help what it costs as a bait is worth a dollar any time.
Well, I was in hopes you all had gotten rain by now as it been raining over here every day for nearly a week until today. It has missed so far today, but a cloud is coming now, so I guess we will get it tonight. We had a fine rain last night so we are not needing any more. It is sure bad for everybody to fail on a crop this year. It does not make any difference with the farmers over here whether it rains or not as they do not make anything any way. Well, Dodson is still here. They thought they were gone the other day but something turned up and they haven’t left yet, but guess they will leave tomorrow as some of them are going out tonight. I had a letter from Clarence the other day. He said they were ready to go. I epect they are gone by this time, and they will have a long ride in front of them.
From the way the papers read the Allies seem to be driving the Germans on back now and I believe if they don’t do something quick, it is going to be too late as Uncle Sam is getting too many men over there. I don’t believe there is a nation in the world that can whip us now, and I know there is no nation that has any stouter or more able bodied bunch of men than we have. You see a big bunch of the boys together and it can’t be beat.
Well, I thought when we got our new man that the thing would be lighter on us, but believe it gets worse. It looks like there gets to be more hauling every day. We got in 140 mules this morning, so guess b:usiness will pick up in a day or two. We have close on to 400 mules now. There is talk of dividing us into two companies. I guess if they do we can get up with our hauling.
They started to letting the boys go home the other day, seven of them gone now. They are taking it alphabetically this time, starting in and going down the line. They let six or seven go every ten days. I think there are about 40 ahead of me, so it will take a long time to get to me. It wouldn’t have been very long, but every new man that comes in has a name that begins with A, and to give every man a square deal they have to let them go, and that is one thing that our boss man is doing, treating all the boys alike. I’m not counting on getting to come myself, as I know that I’m not going to stay in this camp always, and if I leave it will be before they get to me. Although, a fellow can’t tell, I may be here all next winter or leave tomorrow, for that is just the way the thing goes in the army, but rather think I might be here for some time yet. Of course, I would like to see you all, but as long as you all stay well and I hear from you every few days, I’m not going to worry. There never was a fellow who has not been away from home more than I have that gets along as well as I have. Of course, I think as much of home as any body but when I left I said I was not going to worry over it, and I haven’t, and that is the biggest thing in the army. Guess I have been mighty lucky so far—just as lucky as a fellow could get when I was put in this company, as I haven’t done what you would call a good week’s work since I have been here. Of course, I have been going all the time but it is not work I am treated just as fine by my boss man all the time as a fellow could ask. Have never had a short word from any of them in the eight months that I have here. I never ask for a favor but what I get it, and believe me, I never fail in doing anything for them that will help them along. Of course, I have done away with lots of money that I ought to have saved, but have enjoyed it and lack a lot of being broke yet. Last Sunday was my day off and Sunday at dinner the sergeant came to me and asked if I could drive in the evening as he had to send a team out and all the boys that were not at work were gone. I drove it for him and Sunday night he came to me and told me I had next Saturday and Sunday to go anywhere I wanted to go, as I wouldn’t have to work, so you see how a fellow gets along here. Well, you said you had received my insurance paper at last. It is a good thing you got them, as I was going to give you a few more days, and then have them fixed up again and made to my girl and a bunch of fox hounds, so you were lucky.
Well, it is getting late, so will just have to lie down and rest my water melon awhile. Write soon.
As ever,
Tom Jones
NOTES: Thomas B Jones was born on November 24, 1918 at Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas and died on January 17, 1918. He is buried in the Macedonia Baptist Cemetery, Macedonia, Columbia County. He was described as being of medium weight and height with blue eyes and auburn hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Camp Jackson, S. C.
July 23, 1918.
Mr. Jesse Jones,
Dear brother:
Your letter was re’d today. I was glad to hear from you and to know that you were all still getting along all right. This leaves me getting along just ___, been feeling fine all day. But had a good bait of melon this evening, and you know how a fellow feels after taking all the melon he can carry. You know I always would eat it until the last was gone. I get a bait every day. There are some in the camp all the time now, and you know how a fellow is when he gets started after them. It costs about 15 cents every time I get a good bait, but I can’t help what it costs as a bait is worth a dollar any time.
Well, I was in hopes you all had gotten rain by now as it been raining over here every day for nearly a week until today. It has missed so far today, but a cloud is coming now, so I guess we will get it tonight. We had a fine rain last night so we are not needing any more. It is sure bad for everybody to fail on a crop this year. It does not make any difference with the farmers over here whether it rains or not as they do not make anything any way. Well, Dodson is still here. They thought they were gone the other day but something turned up and they haven’t left yet, but guess they will leave tomorrow as some of them are going out tonight. I had a letter from Clarence the other day. He said they were ready to go. I epect they are gone by this time, and they will have a long ride in front of them.
From the way the papers read the Allies seem to be driving the Germans on back now and I believe if they don’t do something quick, it is going to be too late as Uncle Sam is getting too many men over there. I don’t believe there is a nation in the world that can whip us now, and I know there is no nation that has any stouter or more able bodied bunch of men than we have. You see a big bunch of the boys together and it can’t be beat.
Well, I thought when we got our new man that the thing would be lighter on us, but believe it gets worse. It looks like there gets to be more hauling every day. We got in 140 mules this morning, so guess b:usiness will pick up in a day or two. We have close on to 400 mules now. There is talk of dividing us into two companies. I guess if they do we can get up with our hauling.
They started to letting the boys go home the other day, seven of them gone now. They are taking it alphabetically this time, starting in and going down the line. They let six or seven go every ten days. I think there are about 40 ahead of me, so it will take a long time to get to me. It wouldn’t have been very long, but every new man that comes in has a name that begins with A, and to give every man a square deal they have to let them go, and that is one thing that our boss man is doing, treating all the boys alike. I’m not counting on getting to come myself, as I know that I’m not going to stay in this camp always, and if I leave it will be before they get to me. Although, a fellow can’t tell, I may be here all next winter or leave tomorrow, for that is just the way the thing goes in the army, but rather think I might be here for some time yet. Of course, I would like to see you all, but as long as you all stay well and I hear from you every few days, I’m not going to worry. There never was a fellow who has not been away from home more than I have that gets along as well as I have. Of course, I think as much of home as any body but when I left I said I was not going to worry over it, and I haven’t, and that is the biggest thing in the army. Guess I have been mighty lucky so far—just as lucky as a fellow could get when I was put in this company, as I haven’t done what you would call a good week’s work since I have been here. Of course, I have been going all the time but it is not work I am treated just as fine by my boss man all the time as a fellow could ask. Have never had a short word from any of them in the eight months that I have here. I never ask for a favor but what I get it, and believe me, I never fail in doing anything for them that will help them along. Of course, I have done away with lots of money that I ought to have saved, but have enjoyed it and lack a lot of being broke yet. Last Sunday was my day off and Sunday at dinner the sergeant came to me and asked if I could drive in the evening as he had to send a team out and all the boys that were not at work were gone. I drove it for him and Sunday night he came to me and told me I had next Saturday and Sunday to go anywhere I wanted to go, as I wouldn’t have to work, so you see how a fellow gets along here. Well, you said you had received my insurance paper at last. It is a good thing you got them, as I was going to give you a few more days, and then have them fixed up again and made to my girl and a bunch of fox hounds, so you were lucky.
Well, it is getting late, so will just have to lie down and rest my water melon awhile. Write soon.
As ever,
Tom Jones
NOTES: Thomas B Jones was born on November 24, 1918 at Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas and died on January 17, 1918. He is buried in the Macedonia Baptist Cemetery, Macedonia, Columbia County. He was described as being of medium weight and height with blue eyes and auburn hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT