TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD MAY 17, 1918 P. 3
Camp Sevier, S.C., May 2.
Dear Sir and Friend:
If you will allow me a little space in your paper, I will tell my friends some of the things that the famous 12th Construction company is and has been doing of late. We are working daily to better prepare ourselves for actual service and doing quite a lot of intensive training. We have been taking long hikes, digging trenches, drilling, and practicing going over the top, until all the boys seem to look forward to those things as a time of real sport and pass time.
This has been a very pleasant day for all. We arose at 4 a. m. (new time) had breakfast, drew our rations for dinner, and was off with the rising sun with our packs on our backs, headed for Paris Mountain, a distance of 16 miles from the camp. The mountain is the highest peak this side of the Blue Ridge mountains, which are a distance of 40 miles away. After walking for what we thought must have been many hours and many miles, our captain halted us and told us we were half way up the hill. After resting a while we completed the march, which at times was hard climbing, and when we were least expecting it we suddenly came up to the very tip on which stood a great 3 story building, an old summer resort, called the Mountain House. This evidently mush have once been a magnificent place to spend a few weeks and be clear away from “no-where.” But it seems to have been vacated for a dozen years or so and, naturally, things are wrecked to a certain extent. We pitched our tents and dug a fire trench in front of each tent to do our cooking. We rested till 11:30 when the order was given to cook dinner and it seemed that each man tried to be first ready to eat and to have the best prepared dinner. And, believe me, after taking that walk I think I never enjoyed any dinner more than I did this one, though simple as it was, consisting of fried bacon, French fried potatoes, coffee and light bread, and, as in many other things, Company 12 took first place in pitching tents, digging fire trenches, and cooking dinner. After dinner several of us went on an exploring expedition through the old mountain home, which is three stories high and has 150 rooms. We took in every room and after landing on the porch of the third story, we found a way of getting on the very top of the house, where we had a splendid view of the surrounding country. One of the party was thoughtful enough to take a pair of field glasses and by using them we could see the farmers working in the valleys below, the cattle grazing in the pastures and see little villages along the foot hills. We now have all kinds of handiwork and emblems made from the flowers we gathered along the mountain side. At 3:30 we started on our homeward journey and have just had a splendid supper which was not of our own cooking. We boys have decided that, though they call it 16 miles up there, it is at least 20 and uphill all the way there and back. We enjoyed it very much, though we are very tired, and I will need no singing or rocking to put me to sleep tonight for I expect to be in the land of nod long before the time for “taps.” We expect to go for a two or three days hike to the Blue Ridge mountains next week and I am anxiously waiting for the time to start.
We take all the drill and exercise of the infantry, except in the use of the rifle. We have not been given a rifle yet. I have no idea how much longer we stay here and I really don’t care if we spend the summer climbing mountains for I find it great sport.
I now get the Herald regularly on Tuesday and am always glad to get it. Also I have some very interesting letters from friends in Randolph. Had my heart been of stone some of those letters would have at once changed it into a bubbling fountain of patriotism. I truly believe that everyone there must be very enthusiastic in doing their bit, for every movement started is always turned into a success and my heart swells with pride when I think of the many things that are being done in Randolph county to help America’s sons on to victory, and to know that Randolph county and Arkansas went over the top in the Liberty Loan drive.
I am enjoying the best of health now and usually get warmed up while drilling every day for it is very much like summer time here now. With kindest regards for all, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ben Mays
12th Construction Co., A. M. D.
NOTES: Benjamin Farmer Mays was born on October 4, 1888 in Randolph County and died on April 21, 1945 in Randolph County. He is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Camp Sevier, S.C., May 2.
Dear Sir and Friend:
If you will allow me a little space in your paper, I will tell my friends some of the things that the famous 12th Construction company is and has been doing of late. We are working daily to better prepare ourselves for actual service and doing quite a lot of intensive training. We have been taking long hikes, digging trenches, drilling, and practicing going over the top, until all the boys seem to look forward to those things as a time of real sport and pass time.
This has been a very pleasant day for all. We arose at 4 a. m. (new time) had breakfast, drew our rations for dinner, and was off with the rising sun with our packs on our backs, headed for Paris Mountain, a distance of 16 miles from the camp. The mountain is the highest peak this side of the Blue Ridge mountains, which are a distance of 40 miles away. After walking for what we thought must have been many hours and many miles, our captain halted us and told us we were half way up the hill. After resting a while we completed the march, which at times was hard climbing, and when we were least expecting it we suddenly came up to the very tip on which stood a great 3 story building, an old summer resort, called the Mountain House. This evidently mush have once been a magnificent place to spend a few weeks and be clear away from “no-where.” But it seems to have been vacated for a dozen years or so and, naturally, things are wrecked to a certain extent. We pitched our tents and dug a fire trench in front of each tent to do our cooking. We rested till 11:30 when the order was given to cook dinner and it seemed that each man tried to be first ready to eat and to have the best prepared dinner. And, believe me, after taking that walk I think I never enjoyed any dinner more than I did this one, though simple as it was, consisting of fried bacon, French fried potatoes, coffee and light bread, and, as in many other things, Company 12 took first place in pitching tents, digging fire trenches, and cooking dinner. After dinner several of us went on an exploring expedition through the old mountain home, which is three stories high and has 150 rooms. We took in every room and after landing on the porch of the third story, we found a way of getting on the very top of the house, where we had a splendid view of the surrounding country. One of the party was thoughtful enough to take a pair of field glasses and by using them we could see the farmers working in the valleys below, the cattle grazing in the pastures and see little villages along the foot hills. We now have all kinds of handiwork and emblems made from the flowers we gathered along the mountain side. At 3:30 we started on our homeward journey and have just had a splendid supper which was not of our own cooking. We boys have decided that, though they call it 16 miles up there, it is at least 20 and uphill all the way there and back. We enjoyed it very much, though we are very tired, and I will need no singing or rocking to put me to sleep tonight for I expect to be in the land of nod long before the time for “taps.” We expect to go for a two or three days hike to the Blue Ridge mountains next week and I am anxiously waiting for the time to start.
We take all the drill and exercise of the infantry, except in the use of the rifle. We have not been given a rifle yet. I have no idea how much longer we stay here and I really don’t care if we spend the summer climbing mountains for I find it great sport.
I now get the Herald regularly on Tuesday and am always glad to get it. Also I have some very interesting letters from friends in Randolph. Had my heart been of stone some of those letters would have at once changed it into a bubbling fountain of patriotism. I truly believe that everyone there must be very enthusiastic in doing their bit, for every movement started is always turned into a success and my heart swells with pride when I think of the many things that are being done in Randolph county to help America’s sons on to victory, and to know that Randolph county and Arkansas went over the top in the Liberty Loan drive.
I am enjoying the best of health now and usually get warmed up while drilling every day for it is very much like summer time here now. With kindest regards for all, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ben Mays
12th Construction Co., A. M. D.
NOTES: Benjamin Farmer Mays was born on October 4, 1888 in Randolph County and died on April 21, 1945 in Randolph County. He is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD