TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS GAZETTE DECEMBER 29, 1918 P. 15
This cold, but sunshiny, day I sit by my window and look across the snow-sprinkled ground to the not distant mountains, which are the foothills of the Alps, then take my typewriter on my lap to write you a doleful tale entitled, “Hoboing Through France.”
The orders for the regimental headquarters and First Battalion of the 142d F. A. to leave this place had been issued for some time and we are only waiting for transportation. Last Friday we learned that we were to go the next day. Colonel Owensby and Captain Robinson made the trip in the colonel’s auto. Early Saturday morning I rode down on a truck for Guer, were the train was made up. Regimental Supply Sergeant Eagle and I decided to travel together and make ourselves as comfortable as possible. We spotted the sidedoor sleeper, which carried the officers’ baggage, as the best place to ride and as soon as Eagle had issued travel rations to the men we proceeded to stock our own car. Conditions this time were not as bad as on the trip from Brest, when they put 40 men in a car. There were only eight men to the car and each man had his bed sack filled with hay to sleep on. The four 155-mm. guns belonging to Battery A were on flat cars, there was one first-class passenger car for Captain Brogdon, commanding A battery, Lieutenant Eberle, medical officer, and the other officers that accompanied the troops. The rest of the train was composed of the box cars used here for shipped freight, horses or soldiers.
The car that Eagle and I were in had boxes and trunks in one end and officer bedrolls in the other. The doors on both sides were open and we were able to see everywhere and talk to the French people along the way. But it soon got so cold that we closed the doors, except for the small shutters, and began to prepare for the night. We requisitioned two stretchers belonging to the medical departments to use for cots. I swung mine up to the top of the bar over the boxes, but Eagle decided to put his on the floor near the bedrolls. About the time he had it fixed the train made a sudden jerk and a couple of bedrolls fell on his bed. So he moved it to the other side. After leaving Rennes we were eating supper by the light of several candles when the train abruptly stopped, landing us on our head, the beans mixed it with my typewriter, the candles went out and a heavy box lit in Eagle’s bed. So he moved it again. All up and down the train the men wanted to know what we had hit, but we finally learned that it was the French way of stopping a train. As there wasn’t anything to do but shiver, we went to bed early and had a merry time. My bed jumped and swung until I was nearly seasick and Eagle’s bed slid down first one side to another of the bedrolls he had placed it on.
As we reached the main line to Paris there was a great improvement in the railroad stock along the way and the men’s opinion of French railroads began to grow better. Larger engines than we had seen before, excellent passenger cars and a fine road bed made a good combination. The scenery became more interesting as we went on. There were better dwellings, fine farms and large factories. Passing the hunting preserves of the old kings of France we saw a partially ruined Roman tower and then reached the ancient city of kings and caught a glimpse of the palace where the terms of the armistice were drawn up. From there on to Paris there was much to see all the way and the men sat in the doors of their cars, or along the footboard, and enjoyed it very much.
At some one of the many stops en route our car was next to a coal car on the next track and by some means a quantity of coal found its way into our car. We had also collected a large molasses can and a broken-off bumper head of iron. With holes punched in the bottom for air, and set on the bumper, the erst-while molasses can made an excellent stove and our car was warm. We cooked a fine supper. We had also rearranged the car, having piled all the rolls on top of the boxes, except a few which we used. This left one end of the car clear and here we fixed our beds so that they were steady and comfortable. Having investigated several officers’ rolls we slept very well that night, under seven blankets apiece. Our stove proved a great advantage in the morning as, by it we melted the ice in the water bucket and were able to shave. Monday morning found us in a different kind of country, and shortly after leaving Besancon we began to climb the mountains. Passing through a long tunnel we came out to a sight that was indeed beautiful, far below us a winding river shimmered in the moonlight, while the twinkling lights of a large size town followed its winding course and clung to the steep side of the mountain opposite us. With a large engine on either end we panted slowly up the steep grade, dodging in and out of innumerable tunnels. As our side door sleeper were not very tight and our car especially having very large cracks in the floor, the smoke had full play everywhere and many remarks were heard about wearing gas masks. Coming out of the last tunnel we found we were on a vast level plateau, over which we traveled without seeing a house. It was the longest distance we have traveled in France without seeing a wineshop. It was good-by to our little stove, which had served us well and reminded often of the tramps along the railroads in America. We reached this place about 7 o’clock at night and in the cold moonlight went to the fine stone barracks they have here and hustled for firewood and cots and were soon asleep.
The second train with Battery B, detachment from the medical, ordnance and supply companies, with Major Bradford, Major Holmes, Lieutenants Berry, Howell, Funston, Gipple, Captain Willis and other officers, on board, came in about midnight. The rest of the 142d F. A. is still at Coctquidan and it is not known were they will be sent. This is an excellent place to camp as far as comfort and health is concerned. Although cold it is dry and sunshiny, instead of the damp, wet weather we have had ever since coming to France. Landing in the extreme western tip of France and coming now to the extreme eastern corner we have certainly covered this part of the country. The boys are enjoying their trip and a number talk about being mustered out here—not to marry and settle down, for the American boys are true to the girls at home—but to see more of this country while they are here. Most of them have the impression that the regiment will not be home until July, but they hope to celebrate the Fourth in the good old way. In writing, now that the regiment is scattered, you should use the A. P. O. number whenever possible. Mail is very irregular.
NOTES: Sergeant Horace E. Steele of 142d Field Artillery was writing to his father who was in Kansas City. The letter was then sent to the Gazette.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.
This cold, but sunshiny, day I sit by my window and look across the snow-sprinkled ground to the not distant mountains, which are the foothills of the Alps, then take my typewriter on my lap to write you a doleful tale entitled, “Hoboing Through France.”
The orders for the regimental headquarters and First Battalion of the 142d F. A. to leave this place had been issued for some time and we are only waiting for transportation. Last Friday we learned that we were to go the next day. Colonel Owensby and Captain Robinson made the trip in the colonel’s auto. Early Saturday morning I rode down on a truck for Guer, were the train was made up. Regimental Supply Sergeant Eagle and I decided to travel together and make ourselves as comfortable as possible. We spotted the sidedoor sleeper, which carried the officers’ baggage, as the best place to ride and as soon as Eagle had issued travel rations to the men we proceeded to stock our own car. Conditions this time were not as bad as on the trip from Brest, when they put 40 men in a car. There were only eight men to the car and each man had his bed sack filled with hay to sleep on. The four 155-mm. guns belonging to Battery A were on flat cars, there was one first-class passenger car for Captain Brogdon, commanding A battery, Lieutenant Eberle, medical officer, and the other officers that accompanied the troops. The rest of the train was composed of the box cars used here for shipped freight, horses or soldiers.
The car that Eagle and I were in had boxes and trunks in one end and officer bedrolls in the other. The doors on both sides were open and we were able to see everywhere and talk to the French people along the way. But it soon got so cold that we closed the doors, except for the small shutters, and began to prepare for the night. We requisitioned two stretchers belonging to the medical departments to use for cots. I swung mine up to the top of the bar over the boxes, but Eagle decided to put his on the floor near the bedrolls. About the time he had it fixed the train made a sudden jerk and a couple of bedrolls fell on his bed. So he moved it to the other side. After leaving Rennes we were eating supper by the light of several candles when the train abruptly stopped, landing us on our head, the beans mixed it with my typewriter, the candles went out and a heavy box lit in Eagle’s bed. So he moved it again. All up and down the train the men wanted to know what we had hit, but we finally learned that it was the French way of stopping a train. As there wasn’t anything to do but shiver, we went to bed early and had a merry time. My bed jumped and swung until I was nearly seasick and Eagle’s bed slid down first one side to another of the bedrolls he had placed it on.
As we reached the main line to Paris there was a great improvement in the railroad stock along the way and the men’s opinion of French railroads began to grow better. Larger engines than we had seen before, excellent passenger cars and a fine road bed made a good combination. The scenery became more interesting as we went on. There were better dwellings, fine farms and large factories. Passing the hunting preserves of the old kings of France we saw a partially ruined Roman tower and then reached the ancient city of kings and caught a glimpse of the palace where the terms of the armistice were drawn up. From there on to Paris there was much to see all the way and the men sat in the doors of their cars, or along the footboard, and enjoyed it very much.
At some one of the many stops en route our car was next to a coal car on the next track and by some means a quantity of coal found its way into our car. We had also collected a large molasses can and a broken-off bumper head of iron. With holes punched in the bottom for air, and set on the bumper, the erst-while molasses can made an excellent stove and our car was warm. We cooked a fine supper. We had also rearranged the car, having piled all the rolls on top of the boxes, except a few which we used. This left one end of the car clear and here we fixed our beds so that they were steady and comfortable. Having investigated several officers’ rolls we slept very well that night, under seven blankets apiece. Our stove proved a great advantage in the morning as, by it we melted the ice in the water bucket and were able to shave. Monday morning found us in a different kind of country, and shortly after leaving Besancon we began to climb the mountains. Passing through a long tunnel we came out to a sight that was indeed beautiful, far below us a winding river shimmered in the moonlight, while the twinkling lights of a large size town followed its winding course and clung to the steep side of the mountain opposite us. With a large engine on either end we panted slowly up the steep grade, dodging in and out of innumerable tunnels. As our side door sleeper were not very tight and our car especially having very large cracks in the floor, the smoke had full play everywhere and many remarks were heard about wearing gas masks. Coming out of the last tunnel we found we were on a vast level plateau, over which we traveled without seeing a house. It was the longest distance we have traveled in France without seeing a wineshop. It was good-by to our little stove, which had served us well and reminded often of the tramps along the railroads in America. We reached this place about 7 o’clock at night and in the cold moonlight went to the fine stone barracks they have here and hustled for firewood and cots and were soon asleep.
The second train with Battery B, detachment from the medical, ordnance and supply companies, with Major Bradford, Major Holmes, Lieutenants Berry, Howell, Funston, Gipple, Captain Willis and other officers, on board, came in about midnight. The rest of the 142d F. A. is still at Coctquidan and it is not known were they will be sent. This is an excellent place to camp as far as comfort and health is concerned. Although cold it is dry and sunshiny, instead of the damp, wet weather we have had ever since coming to France. Landing in the extreme western tip of France and coming now to the extreme eastern corner we have certainly covered this part of the country. The boys are enjoying their trip and a number talk about being mustered out here—not to marry and settle down, for the American boys are true to the girls at home—but to see more of this country while they are here. Most of them have the impression that the regiment will not be home until July, but they hope to celebrate the Fourth in the good old way. In writing, now that the regiment is scattered, you should use the A. P. O. number whenever possible. Mail is very irregular.
NOTES: Sergeant Horace E. Steele of 142d Field Artillery was writing to his father who was in Kansas City. The letter was then sent to the Gazette.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.