The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-12-31
By all means let the legislature in
crease the salaries of our judges.
PRIVATE ROBT. CHEATHAM
WRITES HIS FATHER
Serrnaiz, France,
Nov. "a, 1918.

few days ago, didn't tnlnk Woulu
have a chance to write today. Since
I arrived here this morning, we are
told to write you anything we want
to. So will start from the day we
landed, which was Glasgow, Scot
land, the 18th of July. Right here
I will say Scotland is the prettiest
country, we were loaded on train
about 10 o'clock from there through
Scotland to Winchester, Eng, which
is a very pretty place and quite a
city.
We stayed there five days, from
there Southampton loaded right on
a ship and crossed the Channel. Took
US eight hours to cross. Came nearer
getting seasick that night than the
entire trip across. We landed in La
Harve, France, hiked about six miles
10 a s6-called rest camp, which l
think was more of diet camp.
Stayed there three days, loaded on
freight boxes O'Clock in the morn
ing, cars about one half to two-thirds
size Of our cars, SO to car, had 3
days .and 2 nights ride on them,
went within 5 miles of Paris was
told. Arrived at station about 8
miles from the first town we were
billeted in, liked it in full pack, the
sun was shining about 100.
We trained there about six weeks.
From there we had two days trip in
trucks, "a to each truck, that was
Friday, we landed at the foot Of a
mountain stayed there about three
days, hiked 10 miles up that noun
tain. This little town is where we
were deserted by the balance of our
Reg. on Tuesday, including the Sup
ply Co. Had to live on reserve ra-
tions till Friday. I went out and
bought dozen eggs for 5 francs,
which is about $1.O0, had to pay the
same price to- have them cooked.
From this town we were tfucked
down to Kruth, which is in the AL
SAGE section, as you know the Ger.
mans have had since 1870, most Of
the population is fully rs per Ger
man. From there we hiked up the
greatest mountain I've ever seen, ten
miles straight tdip. Left it warm
down there and was real cold up
there. The. mountains are so steep
they haul everything up by cable.
Well, this was Sunday, arrived there
about I o'clock, retired early for a
good nights rest, raining as hard as
I ever saw it. At 8 o'clock we were
ordered to roll packs, left at 10
o'clock, orders were no talking, sin
gle file 6 miles, so dark had to
swing ON to the front man. We were
in reserve q week, on Sunday night
the 18th Of Sept. we went into
trenches, we were in the front lines,
but q very quiet sector. We could
see German tower about one half
mile, couldn't attack it with artillery
as they had lots of American and
French prisoners there working on a
bridge. We could see them. Well we
changed from there to another
trench after about three or four days
so-called rest, went in again. I
contracted pneumonia there October
4th, stayed week in field Hospital,
from there to Armtreville Base Hos
pital 81, was given the best of at
tention there. I left there Friday, and
am this far on my way back to my
outfit, don't know if I will find it or
not. There are numerous other
things of course, but would take too
much time. The great suspense now
is when we will get home.
I am all right now and think I
will stand the weather all right as
the exposures won't be so severe. I
wont forget the French lady in the
first town. I was sick a week there,
which I didn't mention to you all.
She was as nice to me as she could
be. One good thing about our trip
over, we had a German vessel.
Well, Papa, I hope you will get
both of my letters. Don't worry