The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-09-11
LUNENBURG
Letter From Private James Ernest
Slsby to His Brother, Irving
Silsby

Somewhere in France,
August Is, 1918
Dear brother and all:
Got your letter and Pearls yes
terday and was glad to get them.
also got your other letter and two
cards; the pictures were fine. 1t was
the first mail we have got for some
time for we have been doing some
moving lately and have had no chance
to write even.
We left our former camp and tray
eled many miles by rail and stayed
two days there where we uhloaded,
then we went by road and travelled
all day and camped that night and
stayed there a few days. One night
after we had just got in bed about
| 10 p. NJ, we had to turn out in the
dark, pack up and harness up for an
all nights ride; it was some job for
on the hay NOW and it was some
dark. Well, we left that place about
1.20 and got to our next loading
place at Z a. m. It was q hard all
nights ride and part of the way we
had to make double time and we
were tired bunch before we got our
horses and other equipment loaded,
and then we had a light lunch. We
travelled from IL a. m. that day till
S a. m. / was in a horse car with
two other guys and / will say we
didn't get much sleep that night. We
went over the road that afternoon,
after we had got unloaded and had
dinner, some six to eight miles and
finally landed at this place; it isn't
regular camp, only big farm with
lot of buildings on it.
We are only 10 miles from the
front and some of the front I guess
is nearer than that. We passed over
the ground many days ago that the
Germans were on in 1914, and they,
of course, have held the ground that
we are now on. We saw all along
the railroad where the French had
buried their dead right where they
= fell and there is a rail around the
graves and q cross put up.
Our first night in this camp was
very peaceful and quiet and we GER
tainly improved it sleeping. The first
of the evening we went to a small
: village some distance from here and
bought some chocolate bars and
candy at the z. NJ c. A. and it tasted
mighty good for~i has been long
time since we have seen any Of that
kind of stuff.
Last night / played ball and later
went to bed expecting to have a
good nights sleep but Fritz thought
he would pay US visit; SO | got
up and partly dressed and went out
side to see the fun. 1t was sorle
air fight; we were fortunate and got
by all right, but they dropped bombs
on the town below here, ] don't know
as they did any damage, or not;
there must have been several ma
chimes. The raid lasted quite a while
but they drove them off after lit
tie. Some of the boys got quite ex-
cited; it was some sight; they made
another call about 5 a. m. but
: didn't hear them. They know we are
here now and no doubt they will be
e back tonight. I don't imagine we viii
be in this place long, we will be
nearer the front.
Have just had a good dinner, but
think it was a mistake.
| don't know as there is anything
| need; the less | have the less | viii
have to lug around. | have got more
now than l can lug and am going to
reduce again before I move. Yor
: might send me a good drink of colo
water and dish or two Of ice cream
our water is awful poor now since
: we moved from our old camp.
should like to be home for few
l days and use my car again but guess
I shall have to wait while longer
+. They surely have got them on The
run now. I will now close hoping
I that this will find you as we'll as
l am. | am feeling fine and guess
will get along all right if l dom
=. get hit with any Of those soft shell
ed eggs that drop.
+ Pass this around and l will write
3 to some of the others next time
Goodbye, love to all,
Pvt. James E. SilSby
Co. F, 307th Ammunition Train,
A. E. F., via N. Y.
P. S. The long range guns have
$ been Smelling the town near by; you
can see the shells burst and tn,
!! smoke rise up. I would like to tel
Q you of these places where | am AM
! where | have been but can't. Yol
] ought to see the search lights il
: the sky last night trying to locat'
r the Huns places. We could tell you
G Huns planes by the sound Of tn,
motor, it is different. I expect W.
( will see some more music tonight.
:. VIII say goodbye for this time.
!. J. E. S.