Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-06-19

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Leonard to his parents in Orleans.
Dear Father and Mother:
l have been busy most of the time
since we got here week ago last night
and unloaded our train, circus-fash-
ion, at dawn. We hade great time
coming up. Came four men and
eight horses in car. We ate, slept
and drank in the cars.
| March II, 1918.
We are in nice little town but don't
know how long we will be here. Hen
ry Clapper, Maynard Wilkie and
Stone are still with us. We are draw
ing freight, wood, cinders, coal, stone
and baggage for work now. All four
horse or four-mule teams except the
one that does the police work around
camp. Of all things, don't worry
about me.
March 10.
We are having some real hot
weather now.We have more horses
life. I am keeping busy from five
in the morning until $50 at night and
some nights later.
March "a.
I am lying on my back on some
spruce boughs in back of the stable.
Have just had nice bath, got on
clean suit and have fresh chew of
gum and am where I can see the
horses on the picket line as we'll as
ours in the stable.
I have a new team now, two sorrels
and two chestnuts. The sorrels, on
the pole, are, think, the best team
out of 600 and weigh nearly 5000:
The leaders are a size smaller and
not quite so good, but they make
nice team just the same and can
move any load I will ever have on.
The grass is getting green here,
the trees are we'll budded, the violets
are blossofned and the people are all
working on the land. "Dido" got his
team in a little mix-up the other day.
He had four on a timber and was
trotting along when one of the pole
horses kicked over the trace, kicking
his hand. They broke the pole and
the evener. The pole dropped down
and jackknifed, throwing "Dido" and
one corporal and one private off, pin
ming one of them under the Timber,
to the hospital. "Dido's" hand had
one finger out of joint and quite a
cut but is coming on good now. The
horse ran down the road, and wound
up around a tree trunk, but every
thing is lovely now.
1 got thrown off one day and my
team went over bank and ran very
fast until they got piled up in wall
but / got them Strengthened out and
going and was only ten minutes late
for supper. Going some, believe me!
I have only been kicked once since
we came here a week ago and that is
pretty good for I had been kicked
SO many times I begin to think I am
hoof proof.
April 9.
I have just got lot of mail and
would like to answer every one but
have only to time to write to you
dear ones at home. On the road to
one of the towns we saw cathedral
that was built 800 years ago and it
took 200 years to build it. l saw
Riley Worth a minute. He is look
ing just the same. I cannot tell you
where am but you know Mrs.
Grants first name and I am not far
from there.
April IA.
Last night we had to go up the
line and did not get in until 43O this
morning. We hitched on before
3 yesterday afternoon and only stop
ped long enough to eat once but it is
all part of the game. Our company
is all here now. Willie Flood had a
sore throat. Maynard Wilkie, Vernon
Lee, Henry Clapper and all the rest
of the fellows are well and looking
fine.
Salvation Army Hut,
April Fl.
I got around to go to church or
rather meeting, in this hut today.
The chaplain was called away but
there was a good meeting just the
same The Salvation Army is doing
the men good over here. They serve
coffee and cocoa, or pie and dough-
nuts most every night for franc
and they sit up until 3 in the morn
ing and serve coffee and doughnuts
to the fellows, who have been up and
come back in the small, but not al
ways still hours of the morning
cold and hungry.
April 26.
We are still having lots Of rain and
that means mud, but we have hip
boots, rain coats and iron hats SO we
get along all right. I am well.
Nav 8.
I am still we'll and kicking around
in the mud just the same as ever. Do
you realize l have been over here
long enough to get service stripe.
I expect to have lot Of them before
I see you again. I am glad Of the
Monitors. We had inspection of the
horses and equipment Monday but
was up the line that day so didn't
have to stand. Saturday we had in
spection of gas masks, rifles and he'll
NETS and today had open pack in
spection in our billets and everything
went lovely. Having more rain to-
day and last night a hard thunder
shower. Remember me to all.
Good luck and God bless you all.
From Homer.