TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PINE BLUFF DAILY GRAPHIC JUNE 8, 1918 P. 6
No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me, but I was thinking of you and thought I would let you know that the Germans have not got this Sammie yet, but have come pretty close several times, but I should worry. He used to make us a bit anxious when we first came out but we are all cannon broke now.
Mr. Bloom, send all your gun carriers and also you might send some of those men who always had an idea to kill somebody over here, because it is not against the law to carry a gun or kill as long as you kill the right one. And they sure have mopped up with the Germans the last month. I saw in one place where they were coming over a ridge in mass formation and the heavy guns were firing point blank in them and the machine guns were mowing them down just like you would mow grass. It reminded me of when you drop a rock in a pool of water. It would make a hole and then fill up again.
I saw one German prisoner who had just been captured. He was just 18 years old and had been in training only a month.
Mr. Fritz had also learned a lesson from the Americans, and it was a costly one, too. He had an idea he would push them back a little, but he soon changed his mind. He sent over about 800 shock troops, but the Sammies were onto his game, and he never got any further than the Americans’ wire.
Well, Mr. Bloom, I guess I had better bring this to a close for this time, but promise to do better in the next letter. Hoping to hear from you real soon. Your friend,
J. H. PRITCHARD.
NOTES: James Henry Pritchard was writing from a hospital somewhere in France to Mayor Simon Bloom of Pine Bluff. Pritchard was born on November 14, 1892 in Kentucky. He served in the 12th Engineers (Ry) and enlisted with a large group of men from Pine Bluff. He was described as being tall, 6 foot 2 inches, and medium build with blue eyes and red hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me, but I was thinking of you and thought I would let you know that the Germans have not got this Sammie yet, but have come pretty close several times, but I should worry. He used to make us a bit anxious when we first came out but we are all cannon broke now.
Mr. Bloom, send all your gun carriers and also you might send some of those men who always had an idea to kill somebody over here, because it is not against the law to carry a gun or kill as long as you kill the right one. And they sure have mopped up with the Germans the last month. I saw in one place where they were coming over a ridge in mass formation and the heavy guns were firing point blank in them and the machine guns were mowing them down just like you would mow grass. It reminded me of when you drop a rock in a pool of water. It would make a hole and then fill up again.
I saw one German prisoner who had just been captured. He was just 18 years old and had been in training only a month.
Mr. Fritz had also learned a lesson from the Americans, and it was a costly one, too. He had an idea he would push them back a little, but he soon changed his mind. He sent over about 800 shock troops, but the Sammies were onto his game, and he never got any further than the Americans’ wire.
Well, Mr. Bloom, I guess I had better bring this to a close for this time, but promise to do better in the next letter. Hoping to hear from you real soon. Your friend,
J. H. PRITCHARD.
NOTES: James Henry Pritchard was writing from a hospital somewhere in France to Mayor Simon Bloom of Pine Bluff. Pritchard was born on November 14, 1892 in Kentucky. He served in the 12th Engineers (Ry) and enlisted with a large group of men from Pine Bluff. He was described as being tall, 6 foot 2 inches, and medium build with blue eyes and red hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT