TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT SEPTEMBER 6, 1918 P. 1“Somewhere on the Atlantic.”
August 17, 1918.
Am pretty near across, but I have not gone so far (and don’t think I ever will) that I don’t think about dear old Mimmie and all the others at home every day. Fact is, the further away I get, the more I think of you all.
Mimmie it is great---the trip, I am speaking of. It took us a long time to find this old boat to take us “over there.” But we are all on her at last and she’s a dandy---was worth waiting for.
As the regulations, etc., are so strict and so new to me, I can’t tell you very much about the trip. But will tell you all I can now, annd save the rest till it is all over and then I guess I will have lots of interesting things to talk about.
The boat we are on is a dandy and I feel as safe as if I was at home, as far as subs are concernd and if one does get us it will break up a mighty nice party, for that is what it has seemed like all the way. I never had any idea the water is as pretty as it is. The bluest blue you ever saw and at night the phosporus in the water is a might pretty sight.
We had about two or three days of pretty rough weather and most of the fellows got seasick, for which I know the fish were more than thankful, because the boys fed them all they had. I laughed and laughed at them til about the second day of our rough sea and then I thought it all over and decided that there was no use being stingy and turned over my dinner to the fish, and believe me I handed it to them, but that was my only spell. Have felt fine ever since. But some of them still look pretty bad. Poor old Capt. Beeson has had a tough time of it, but is about O.K. now.
Our eating on the boat is as good as I every saw any where and is cooked fine, so with very little to do and lots to eat you will know that I am having the time of my life. Then every night we have a picture show. Music and all---a regular show, except we don’t have to read the ads between the pictures, which makes it that much better.
This is about all I can tell you now of the trip. I want this to go back on the first boat and then as soon as we land and are fixed I will write again.
Charlie Boy.
Address me First Lieut. Chas. W. Sprigg, 154th Infantry, A.E.F., via New York.
P.S. I think is will be allowed to give you the name of the town we are in later on, but I am not sure about it.
NOTES: Charles Wilmans Sprigg was born in Newport, Arkansas on March 17, 1891 and died on September 5, 1959. He is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a First Lieutenant serving in 154th Infantry. He enlisted on June 7, 1917 and was discharged on May 22, 1919. He departed Newport News, Virginia on August 6, 1918 onboard the Zeelandia. He was serving as a First Lieutenant in Co. C 154th Infantry. He departed St. Nazaire, France on May 9. 1919 onboard the Matsonia. He was serving as a First Lieutenant 154th Infantry St. Nazaire Spe. Casual Co #682 (Discharge). He was writing to Mrs. Mildred Dorsey.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
August 17, 1918.
Am pretty near across, but I have not gone so far (and don’t think I ever will) that I don’t think about dear old Mimmie and all the others at home every day. Fact is, the further away I get, the more I think of you all.
Mimmie it is great---the trip, I am speaking of. It took us a long time to find this old boat to take us “over there.” But we are all on her at last and she’s a dandy---was worth waiting for.
As the regulations, etc., are so strict and so new to me, I can’t tell you very much about the trip. But will tell you all I can now, annd save the rest till it is all over and then I guess I will have lots of interesting things to talk about.
The boat we are on is a dandy and I feel as safe as if I was at home, as far as subs are concernd and if one does get us it will break up a mighty nice party, for that is what it has seemed like all the way. I never had any idea the water is as pretty as it is. The bluest blue you ever saw and at night the phosporus in the water is a might pretty sight.
We had about two or three days of pretty rough weather and most of the fellows got seasick, for which I know the fish were more than thankful, because the boys fed them all they had. I laughed and laughed at them til about the second day of our rough sea and then I thought it all over and decided that there was no use being stingy and turned over my dinner to the fish, and believe me I handed it to them, but that was my only spell. Have felt fine ever since. But some of them still look pretty bad. Poor old Capt. Beeson has had a tough time of it, but is about O.K. now.
Our eating on the boat is as good as I every saw any where and is cooked fine, so with very little to do and lots to eat you will know that I am having the time of my life. Then every night we have a picture show. Music and all---a regular show, except we don’t have to read the ads between the pictures, which makes it that much better.
This is about all I can tell you now of the trip. I want this to go back on the first boat and then as soon as we land and are fixed I will write again.
Charlie Boy.
Address me First Lieut. Chas. W. Sprigg, 154th Infantry, A.E.F., via New York.
P.S. I think is will be allowed to give you the name of the town we are in later on, but I am not sure about it.
NOTES: Charles Wilmans Sprigg was born in Newport, Arkansas on March 17, 1891 and died on September 5, 1959. He is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a First Lieutenant serving in 154th Infantry. He enlisted on June 7, 1917 and was discharged on May 22, 1919. He departed Newport News, Virginia on August 6, 1918 onboard the Zeelandia. He was serving as a First Lieutenant in Co. C 154th Infantry. He departed St. Nazaire, France on May 9. 1919 onboard the Matsonia. He was serving as a First Lieutenant 154th Infantry St. Nazaire Spe. Casual Co #682 (Discharge). He was writing to Mrs. Mildred Dorsey.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON