TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT JANUARY 30, 1919 P. 3
Esnouveaux, Upper Marne, France
December 29, 1918.
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
No doubt you will be very much surprised to hear from me, but I feel that I must write you a few lines tonight to let you know how much I enjoy reading the Log Cabin Democrat. Even though I am in this far country, that makes it all the more interesting to get a home paper and learn what is going on back home. I received two copies today, one of November 29 and the other of December 2. I read all the advertisements, even. I am almost as glad to get a paper as I am a letter. Even some of them are pretty old, but all good news to me.
I have been "over" a few days over six months. Over two months of that time was in active service.
The first front I was on was at St. Mihiel. That was where the drive started on September 12. We drove them back so far it was hard for Fritz to find a place good enough to stop. I crossed on part of the sector known as the Hindenburg line, which was made when the Germans pushed the French back in 1914. The Germans had even concrete dugouts and trenches. Fritz had some bon (good) places in which to live, 25 and 30 feet under the ground. Some of the dugouts were papered with wall paper, the beds and mattresses and springs, but when our artillery commenced pounding on him, he beat it out tout de suite (in a hurry).
After the artillery finishes him there's nothing left but piles of stones and timbers. After we got seven or eight kilometers behind their front lines, we found thousands of rounds of ammunition, gun supplies of all kinds. Our division got enough supplies to last the men and stock two months. I was on this front until October 18, when we moved over near Verdun.
We were living in dugouts about three kilometers behind the lines, and believe me, there were some hot times in the old town for us at times. The nearest I ever had a shell to land me was about 20 feet. It was a "130" It raised me off the ground and slammed me back. It rained mud, sticks and rocks for half an hour, it seemed to me. I was in a shell hole then. It was six or eight feet deep, and my helmet was all I had to protect my head from "butterflies." I don't believe you could have seen any of me. I was drawn up in such a small knot.
When the armistice was signed, I was near the front lines. I will never forget the quiet everything was when the guns ceased firing. The night before we were sleeping on the opposite side of the hill from the Germans. The "88's" were coming over and landing on the hill next to us. They kept me awake for awhile, but I soon went to slumber land and didn't know anything until next morning, when one of the boys came along and pulled my blanket off of me.
We left that front on November 13 and hiked 115 miles in eight days with one day's rest. We landed in this little village of Esnouveaux on November 22. It is a very nice little place, with two cafes and one store, and three or four good looking mademoiselles. I can't "parle" the French lingo enough to carry on a conversation, so I keep my distance. I will make up for lost time when I get back to the States. The question now is "When are we going home?" I am with the 26th, a New England division, which has been over here since October, 1917. I believe we will be among the first to go back. We all expect to be in the U.S. by March 1.
We had a great feed on Christmas day--turkey, dressing, cream carrots, mashed potatoes, biscuits, coffee, cigars, cigarettes, candy, cookies, and plenty of good beer. I believe it was the best dinner ever served in the A.E.F. President Wilson ate dinner with our general. Something great for the 26th, wasn't it?
Please excuse all the blotches, for it is hard and tiresome to write on a board in your lap, by a candle light, sitting flat down on the floor.
Best wishes to you and all of my friends. I hope to see you all soon.
Your friend,
Corporal Elias King.
Co. A. 101st Engrs., A.E.F.
NOTES: Elias King was born in Conway, Arkansas on May 2, 1892 and died on March 16, 1962. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Cpl. serving in Co. A., 101 Engrs., 20 Division in World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Esnouveaux, Upper Marne, France
December 29, 1918.
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
No doubt you will be very much surprised to hear from me, but I feel that I must write you a few lines tonight to let you know how much I enjoy reading the Log Cabin Democrat. Even though I am in this far country, that makes it all the more interesting to get a home paper and learn what is going on back home. I received two copies today, one of November 29 and the other of December 2. I read all the advertisements, even. I am almost as glad to get a paper as I am a letter. Even some of them are pretty old, but all good news to me.
I have been "over" a few days over six months. Over two months of that time was in active service.
The first front I was on was at St. Mihiel. That was where the drive started on September 12. We drove them back so far it was hard for Fritz to find a place good enough to stop. I crossed on part of the sector known as the Hindenburg line, which was made when the Germans pushed the French back in 1914. The Germans had even concrete dugouts and trenches. Fritz had some bon (good) places in which to live, 25 and 30 feet under the ground. Some of the dugouts were papered with wall paper, the beds and mattresses and springs, but when our artillery commenced pounding on him, he beat it out tout de suite (in a hurry).
After the artillery finishes him there's nothing left but piles of stones and timbers. After we got seven or eight kilometers behind their front lines, we found thousands of rounds of ammunition, gun supplies of all kinds. Our division got enough supplies to last the men and stock two months. I was on this front until October 18, when we moved over near Verdun.
We were living in dugouts about three kilometers behind the lines, and believe me, there were some hot times in the old town for us at times. The nearest I ever had a shell to land me was about 20 feet. It was a "130" It raised me off the ground and slammed me back. It rained mud, sticks and rocks for half an hour, it seemed to me. I was in a shell hole then. It was six or eight feet deep, and my helmet was all I had to protect my head from "butterflies." I don't believe you could have seen any of me. I was drawn up in such a small knot.
When the armistice was signed, I was near the front lines. I will never forget the quiet everything was when the guns ceased firing. The night before we were sleeping on the opposite side of the hill from the Germans. The "88's" were coming over and landing on the hill next to us. They kept me awake for awhile, but I soon went to slumber land and didn't know anything until next morning, when one of the boys came along and pulled my blanket off of me.
We left that front on November 13 and hiked 115 miles in eight days with one day's rest. We landed in this little village of Esnouveaux on November 22. It is a very nice little place, with two cafes and one store, and three or four good looking mademoiselles. I can't "parle" the French lingo enough to carry on a conversation, so I keep my distance. I will make up for lost time when I get back to the States. The question now is "When are we going home?" I am with the 26th, a New England division, which has been over here since October, 1917. I believe we will be among the first to go back. We all expect to be in the U.S. by March 1.
We had a great feed on Christmas day--turkey, dressing, cream carrots, mashed potatoes, biscuits, coffee, cigars, cigarettes, candy, cookies, and plenty of good beer. I believe it was the best dinner ever served in the A.E.F. President Wilson ate dinner with our general. Something great for the 26th, wasn't it?
Please excuse all the blotches, for it is hard and tiresome to write on a board in your lap, by a candle light, sitting flat down on the floor.
Best wishes to you and all of my friends. I hope to see you all soon.
Your friend,
Corporal Elias King.
Co. A. 101st Engrs., A.E.F.
NOTES: Elias King was born in Conway, Arkansas on May 2, 1892 and died on March 16, 1962. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Cpl. serving in Co. A., 101 Engrs., 20 Division in World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD