Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-19
TELLS HOW OTTAWA
BOYS FOUGHT Up To-
VERY LAST MINUTE
LEON CARPENTER, IN LETTERS
HOME, SAYS MEN FROM ILL.
NOlS WENT OVER THE TOP ON
MORNING OF NOV. II, GAINING
DETECTIVES.


Germans and many of them them
selves were "sent west" up to the very
minute lighting was declared off is
told in two exceedingly interesting
letters from Leon H. Carpenter, for
mer Company c member. who since
his transfer from Ottawa's own ha
been fighting In France with the 1896
Machine Gnu Battalion.
The prairie boys were at it until
O'Clock ON the morning of Nov. II OF
fronts where fighting had been thu
hardest since the German inyasio'
Of northern France In letters to hi
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter II. Car
penter, Sl5h Columbus street, Pri
vate Carpenter says:
France, Nov. %, 1918.
Dear Dad:
II has been several months since
you heard from me direct, but, a,
usual. my excuse is lack OF paper.
We are allowed to tell you more
now than we ever We're before, s
here goes with a bushel Of iniorma
ton.
We are at present near town b.,
the name of Mouilly 1t is half way
between Verdun and st Mihiel-twt
famous places.
On Nov. H. when hostilities ceased
we were at town by the name o
FresneS. We were in the drive an,
had gone over the top at a. m. ans
gained our detectives within an hour
We laid In shallow trench from Z
a. IN. until 1880 IA. m. with the Gen
mans shooting big guns at us all tn.
morning. A happier bunch of mel
could not be imagined than We wer
that afternoon when We began {,
realize that the armistice had bee
signed and hostilities were over
We had been on the line withou
relief since Sept, s and We're abou
sick OF everything pertaining to wa
We we're in the drive at Verdun il
October and also in the battle Of Al
gonne.
But, dad, this has been a great e.
pericnce for me and | don't regre
one bit of it. | am glad that | hav
seen what | have and have enjoyed
all in way. | have never regrette
one bit coming over here and neve
will | have had lots Of good time
and have met some dandy fellows.
am in with a good company and
dandy bunch of men. AS who
everything IS very agreeable. {
course, there are things that con
up which are disagreeable, but the
cannot be helped. such as the mi
and water that | have learned to ca
breathe and sleep in. But it will a
tend to make me appreciate hon
comforts all the more, when ! e
back to them. Well, the candle
getting short and | must stop Gil
my love to all the folks and lots
love to you | will write again 500
To His Mother.
In the letter to his mother Priya
Carpenter said
My Dear Mother:
At last have found a chance al
paper on which to write you again.
hope you have not been worryil
about not having heard from me, b
we have been In the forward area t
so long that we have a hard time g
ting writing material.
Well, as you know, the war is oy
and | am as fat and as sassy as ey
Was in the last advance made
the Americans in the war We we
over the top Monday morning, NJ
II, and were there when all the fig
ing stopped. We were surely a hap
mob Since then we have been lyi
around and cleaning up. The Ii
couple Of days we spent picking
equipment and salyaging it up in
lines. Very interesting and lots
fun roaming through the Germans
positions, looking for souvenirs a
salvage.
This morning found pistol ho
er of the Germans. 1t is made
wood and is used as shoulder ste
for pistol, converting pistol il
rifle. This afternoon | found
leather bag of German officer
am using ii now as a backing for "
ing on. 1t is somewhat cut up,
there Is good leather in it.
We are in a part OF the coun
that is very hilly. 1t is a great
like where we were in Ohio. Bu
Is very pretty and we are all enjoy
ourselves roaming around in the h
looking for something to salva
There Is so much TO tel you alb
that hardly know where to be-
Have a little patience and when
get home you will hear all about
And here's hoping that that no
coming will be as soon as rum
say 1t will. | was paid the other
for the second time since | have b
over here. Therefore, have pie
of francs. We expect to get |
again in a few days, and when We
am going to send at least hund
dollars home, which want you