TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT JANUARY 9. 1919 P. 6
December 11, 1918.
Dear Sister
I will answer your letter which I received about the 15th of last month. I was on the hike, however, and could not write very well. There is not much that I can think of, but will try and tell of my time at the front.
We went up on the front on September 11 near Metz, and was there through that drive, which commenced the morning of the 12th. When it was over, we hiked to the Argonne forest, and when the drive of September 25 started, we were there and followed it all of the way through. Every time that the line moved, we moved up close. We were making roads all of the time, and part of the time, we were up close. In one place, Jerry shelled us every day, which was 22 days. Then when the last drive started on November 1, we moved up as fast as we could, which was fast for Jerry sure can run when he gets started.
We were releived on November 10, when we were near the Belgian line, and started back and made a 13-day hike of about 215 miles, and now we are in a small village southeast of Paris, where it rains almost all of the time. We are waiting for another move, and hope it will be to the states, but guess that we will spend Xmas in France, like we spent Thanksgiving, but I hope we don't.
We have been over only a little more than four months, and were on the front two months without relief. Never did see any Jerries except prisoners and dead ones, but I heard enough of his shells and machine gun bullets. I was lucky enough not to get hurt.
Well, from the way every thing looks, we may be back in the states soon. I will, I hope. Have not run across Floyd, or have not seen any one that I knew.
Charles
Co. A. 111th Engrs., A.P.O. 796
NOTES: Charles S. Wilson was the son of S. S. Wilson of Greenbrier, Arkansas. He joined the army in Oklahoma and served with the 111th Engineers. He was writing to his sister Mrs. Lucian Long.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
December 11, 1918.
Dear Sister
I will answer your letter which I received about the 15th of last month. I was on the hike, however, and could not write very well. There is not much that I can think of, but will try and tell of my time at the front.
We went up on the front on September 11 near Metz, and was there through that drive, which commenced the morning of the 12th. When it was over, we hiked to the Argonne forest, and when the drive of September 25 started, we were there and followed it all of the way through. Every time that the line moved, we moved up close. We were making roads all of the time, and part of the time, we were up close. In one place, Jerry shelled us every day, which was 22 days. Then when the last drive started on November 1, we moved up as fast as we could, which was fast for Jerry sure can run when he gets started.
We were releived on November 10, when we were near the Belgian line, and started back and made a 13-day hike of about 215 miles, and now we are in a small village southeast of Paris, where it rains almost all of the time. We are waiting for another move, and hope it will be to the states, but guess that we will spend Xmas in France, like we spent Thanksgiving, but I hope we don't.
We have been over only a little more than four months, and were on the front two months without relief. Never did see any Jerries except prisoners and dead ones, but I heard enough of his shells and machine gun bullets. I was lucky enough not to get hurt.
Well, from the way every thing looks, we may be back in the states soon. I will, I hope. Have not run across Floyd, or have not seen any one that I knew.
Charles
Co. A. 111th Engrs., A.P.O. 796
NOTES: Charles S. Wilson was the son of S. S. Wilson of Greenbrier, Arkansas. He joined the army in Oklahoma and served with the 111th Engineers. He was writing to his sister Mrs. Lucian Long.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD