The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-12-26
SOLDIERS LETTER.
Corp. Levi Il. Garland Tells His Ex-
perience SiGce Leaving U. S.
Chatillon, Snr, Seine.
NOvembe %, 1913,
Thanksgiving Day.
DEAR BRoTHER:

We were seated around my mothers
table with large turkey in the cen
ire, and today | am almost five thouG
and miles away in foreign country.
But | thought | would take a few
moments of my leisure time and
write you and tell you all few of
many experiences, since have land
I'd in France. shall begin with
July 3lst. While torrents OF rain
we're beating down upon the parched
earth, we were called out with our
full equipment and about six O'Clock
we bid farewell to our comrades in
Camp Lee and started through rain
and water for the port. After hik.
ing about eight miles we arrived at
City Point, there the II Il Cross il
sued usIplenty of hot coffee, chewing
gum and cigaretts, and believe me,
they were surely appreciated, for we
had had nothing to eat for several
hours and were wet through. We
took a small boat tabout l0O'clock that
night and drifted down the river tn
Newport News and landed about
ten the next morning. That after
noon we ascended the gang plank of
a large station transport aud about
IN hour afterwards that great mass
uf steel was showed out in the briny
deep. You cannot imagine the in
Spiration AS land grew DINNER and
DINNER, till at last we found our
selves surrounded by blue waters and
German subs. We were attacked on
each of the following DAYS, respect
lively, 3rd, 9th, 7th and llth. / do
not have time 20 go into detail about
each but shall give few details of
our attack on the llth of August. !
vas down in my birth when all at
once, a tremendous cannonading be
gan and | rushed up and climbed up
IN one of the large derricks and wit.
messed one Of the fiercest battles on
water. Our ship was fortunate
enough to escape without a scratch
but our sister ship just on our right,
received large torpedo and began
to founder but was hastily towed in
with the other vessels The battle
lasted about two b or more and
we were the conquerors, for what
subs were not sunk sneaked away in
old German style. About five hours
later we cast anchor and waited for
daylight to enter the magnificent
Harbor of Brest, which we did the
next forenoon. Then on the after
noon of the 18th, we decended the
gang plank and started in hike for
A rest camp, and reached it about
sunset. 1t was one of Napoleon
old camps where his famous troop;
several years before, had trodden,
After spending a week there we left
for a rail head and late in the even
ing we stepped aboard a western
bound train, and after two days and
nights arrived at the Classification
Camp near st Aganian on the 2Otf
day of August. That afternoon w
started again and hiked till about
night when we arrived at an ole
French barn, just about famisheC
with heat for it was one of France,
hottest days. So we soon fell ssleel
and were awakened by the clear notel
of distant bugle. AS the sun wal
just appearing up over an Eastern
city we started up for breakfast
But unfortunately for me had con
tracted the Spanish Influenza anC
was sent to hospital while my out
fit went to the front. After spend
ing twenty days there, celebrating
my 23rd birthday the second day o
my sojourn in the hospital, / lef
) there on the 10th of September an(
went back to the Classification Camp
/ spent few days there and in al
adjoining camp. Then we started
for the front again, and after a hik,
of several kelometers we took boz
car and rode for.two more days anC
nights and arrived at Chatellon, SUI
Seine, where we still are stationed,
few miles back of where the lin
was.
You all must remember that thi
} is very brief sketch of my expert
enoes. don't have time or spac
to describe all our stops in yariou
cities and Places but my experience