Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-26
A Letter From Kennard Ware.
August 81, 1918,

day has begun. Je suis beaucoup
fatigue.
Inns is typical night, from now on.
Scene LIST. Horse stall NO. rs, furnish
ed as bedroom. Enter Private Ware.
lime, 9 p. m. Private Ware: Nov for
a good nights sleep. First it was night
K. p. Washing dishes and greasy pots
ana pans all night. Nice job for a
soldier! Then il was all night as order
| ly at headquarters. Then k. p. again.
now for good nights Sleep"
Ten minutes later. Enter transpor-
| tation sergeant.
I. S.-"Ware! Convoy to--.Cet
ready foot sweet" etc., etc.
| in due time we were oh "a long
string of ambulances rolling through
dim-hghted streets, with putting more
| or less labored OF many engines and
an occasional angry squawk from a
horn at some daring fool who tries TO
break through the line-a familiar sight
in war time franco convoy OF amDu-
| lances. In due time We arrive at the
station and await our turn. Step into
the station. II is freight depot, clear
ed out and used as big receiving room
for wounded men. There is an apparent
confusion when you enter. Cars
entering, cars leaving, cars backing
and cars turning. There is big baton
of French assis-some hobbling, some
with arms in sings, some with bandaged
heads. They are dirty, their clothes
never fit them, they need shoes, their
| bandageS are bloody-to the outer eye
| there never were less heroic appearing
men. could moralize, but | forbear.
Here and there are brancardierS, old
men and Semi-crippleS, that nevertheless
do their several laDors, a sprinkllng OF
Y. NJ. &. A. men, Othcers, ambulance
| drivers. On the floor are many reclin-
ing patients, with b:oken limbs, bloody
heads and severe wounds Of all kinds,
from the clean wound OF the rifle and
machine gun bullet to the jagged mang-
ling OF the high explosive. II is scene
to tear the heart. Or perhaps ii is an
| American train-khaN instead OF hori-
| zon blue, ana a little more nerve and
snap-otnerwise it is the same. Some
American gas patients are funny. Jaw,
hell! What did they send me here for,
nothing the matter with me-"
asked one perfectly healthy look
ing soldier where he was hit. 81 amt
hlt-they bowed me up, but they never
hit me. Fact. They tried to make an
aviator out of me-"
Just as | achieved my position a
Frenchman informed me that it was
"FlniS" for that train. The next one
was not due for an hour, so hung one
OF my litterS and took nap. A short
hour it was, too, for soon the train was
in and was loaded. "Doucement
doucement," from the brancardiers, as
they lifted one OF my patients. / looked,
ana my worst fears were confirmed.
Poor iellow-,his leg was broken and
fresh blood showed through the band
ages. There was no sign of splint,
and he had an hour Of agony before him,
/ could see. French hospitals are hard
TO tnd under the best OF circumstances
but on dark night, without light, il
is very difficult feat. Fortunately
four cars were going the same way, so
we formed little convoy, led by a
veteran who knew the way. Oh, the
curse cobbleStoneS-imagine the grind
ing OF the broken bones, as that litter
swayed and banged over the cobble-
stones. The poor boy screamed in his
agony and felt like a torturer. Why
should poor JaQue Bonhomme be thus
tortured, and thousands like him! The
| chorus of them calls for the wrath OF
God on those responsible. 1t is very
| narrowing to hear strong man cry Out
in his agony, and heard the cry many
| times, despite the utmost care could
take. Finally we reached the hospital
and helped carry them to the wards
Undressing and removing him from the
litter was more agony! but it was
beautiful to see the way the nurses
soothed and helped-the feminine heart
and touch.
We got our filters, closed up our cars
and were of again. This time | drew
four American officers. The darkness
and unfamiliar streets handicapped me,
so that it was dawn before l finally
landed them at the right place. The
next thing on my program was to take
a load from hospital in tho environs OF
the city to station. had never been
to the place, but had an idea as to its
approximate location and that it was
across the river on hill" But across
the river were beaucoup hills, and in
due time arrived on the top of one and
found hospital. But unfortunately il
was a Canadian hospital They were
very pleasant and obliging to me there
and went to good deal of trouble to
find out which hill | wanted. This time
| was successful, and in due time drove
up to beautiful old chateau. In the
rear Of the central portion Of the man.
sion is wonderfully handsome room
spacious, with high ceiling, splendid
lustrous hard wood floor and bay
windows running from. the floor to the
ceiling. Over an antique and elaborate
replace was fine old painting of lady
OF the Louis Sixteenth time, to my mind
an exceptionally fine piece of work. Its
gracious beauty and the fresh, clear
coloring harmonied and completed the
room. And the scene from the windows.
The city lay stretched out beneath
dreaming in the morning sunlight. But
to tell the truth, didn't make these
aesthetic observations until had finish
ed acting on the sergeant majors invita-.
ton to have breakfasts dish OF oat-
meal with cooked dried peaches and a
cup of steaming coffee. The drive back
was uneventful.
You may regard the above as typical
nights work, only later will know my
way better. II don't mention my
work any more you may know am do
ing likewise. And now | don't have
anything to do until guard from 1890
p. m. to 4.30 p. m. and the same a. m.
Here is an observation have made
When one of our men is wounded and
gives voice to the pain caused by the
humping of the ambulance, he express
es himself effectively, or is apt to, by
cussing the driver. The French merely
groan or "Ou, la, Ia"
Now | must give you good bye
dearest and best, with heart full OF
love.
KEN