It sounds awful, Mother, but there were others that went the same way. I know it is going to be terrible hard on you, Mother, but he died for the greatest and noblest cause anyone can die for, and he died facing our enemies. Not a bit of grass or a tree. All that remained of the trees were splintered stumps, and the ground was simply pockmarked with immense shell holes. The whole surface of the ground looked as if it had been churned up.
Many bodies lay bleaching in the open where they had been disinterred by exploding shells.
I was trying to sleep, but again expecting an attack, I couldn't quite make it, so sort of keeping one eye open for the coming of Fritz in the shape of gas. I can hardly understand why she still runs, or rather limps as Fords generally do. I hope the war will soon be over. I think Sherman said it too mildly when he said that war is hell. Summer is here at last, and all of the trees are in bloom except where the war has wrought its terrible desolation.