TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ASHLEY COUNTY EAGLE FEBRUARY 7, 1918 P. 4
Camp Jackson. S. C.,
Jan. 20, 1918.
Mr. S. B. Baird.
Hamburg. Ark.
Dear Sir:
Thinking that you and the people of Ashley County would like to hear from some of the Ashley County boys who are in the different Camps waiting for a try at Kaiser Bill will give you some of our experiences.
We left Hamburg on September 19th and arrive at Camp Pike that night and got our vaccination and first typhoid shot about twelve o’clock. Luck was with us and all fifty of us were put in one Company, the 1st Prov. Co. of the Ammunition Train. After about a two week’s drill we were transferred to the 1st Wagon Company Ammunition Train. We stayed one day and a half with that Company then we were transferred to the Supply Train and were scattered among six companies. I was transferred to the Fifth Co. With me were Whitlock, Barnes, Simms and Sullivan. We stayed with the Supply Train until the seventeenth of October, when were transferred over here and there we were scattered everywhere, some going to the Infantry, Artillery, Military Police; Whitlock and myself going to the Engineers.
On arriving here we were put in the 126 Depot Brigade. On Nov. 15 after all of us in my Company but 36 were transferred we were put under quarantine for meningitis for nearly three weeks. During this time we were not allowed out of Barracks. I was second cook during this time. We spent Thanksgiving under quarantine, but this didn’t keep us from having a good dinner of turkey and cranberry sauce. The quarantine was lifted one day and Whitlock came to the Engineers the next.
I guess it will be correct to tell what the Engineers do. We are the construction unit of the army; we build roads, bridges, dugouts, and also do repair work.
The Engineers are the second highest branch of the service, the Headquarters Brigade being the highest branch. Since being in the Engineers, I think I have shoveled about nine tons of dirt and dug about a million stumps.
Would like to know how everything is progressing in old Ashley. We fellows all will appreciate and try to answer all letters we receive.
Wishing you and old Ashley County a very prosperous year, I am an Ashley County boy in Khaki.
Willie A. Stewart.
Company F. 306 Engineers
Camp Jackson.
South Carolina.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY
Camp Jackson. S. C.,
Jan. 20, 1918.
Mr. S. B. Baird.
Hamburg. Ark.
Dear Sir:
Thinking that you and the people of Ashley County would like to hear from some of the Ashley County boys who are in the different Camps waiting for a try at Kaiser Bill will give you some of our experiences.
We left Hamburg on September 19th and arrive at Camp Pike that night and got our vaccination and first typhoid shot about twelve o’clock. Luck was with us and all fifty of us were put in one Company, the 1st Prov. Co. of the Ammunition Train. After about a two week’s drill we were transferred to the 1st Wagon Company Ammunition Train. We stayed one day and a half with that Company then we were transferred to the Supply Train and were scattered among six companies. I was transferred to the Fifth Co. With me were Whitlock, Barnes, Simms and Sullivan. We stayed with the Supply Train until the seventeenth of October, when were transferred over here and there we were scattered everywhere, some going to the Infantry, Artillery, Military Police; Whitlock and myself going to the Engineers.
On arriving here we were put in the 126 Depot Brigade. On Nov. 15 after all of us in my Company but 36 were transferred we were put under quarantine for meningitis for nearly three weeks. During this time we were not allowed out of Barracks. I was second cook during this time. We spent Thanksgiving under quarantine, but this didn’t keep us from having a good dinner of turkey and cranberry sauce. The quarantine was lifted one day and Whitlock came to the Engineers the next.
I guess it will be correct to tell what the Engineers do. We are the construction unit of the army; we build roads, bridges, dugouts, and also do repair work.
The Engineers are the second highest branch of the service, the Headquarters Brigade being the highest branch. Since being in the Engineers, I think I have shoveled about nine tons of dirt and dug about a million stumps.
Would like to know how everything is progressing in old Ashley. We fellows all will appreciate and try to answer all letters we receive.
Wishing you and old Ashley County a very prosperous year, I am an Ashley County boy in Khaki.
Willie A. Stewart.
Company F. 306 Engineers
Camp Jackson.
South Carolina.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY