The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1918-12-19
ttLetters From, Our Boys''

"Letters From, Our Boys"
Letter from Al. PoIipnick
Mrs. Geo. D. Smith has the follow
ing letter from Al. Polipnick, we'll
known here. AL. is longing to be
back in Oakes:
Dear Mother Smith: This is We'd
nesday afternoon and nothing more
to do the rest of the day. Wednesday
afternoons have always in this camp
been given to the soldiers for recup-
Grafton.
Received your very welcome letter
last Sunday and was sure pleased to
receive same and that you are so
thoughtful as to have the room in
readiness for me which will sure
seem great. Furthermore, Mrs. Smith,
you can't realize how glad will be
when l can lay down in that good
little bed once again. think that l
will be glad to settle down after this
spasm of ours and believe that North
Dakota is good enough for anyone to
live in. Have seen about as much of
the states as the average l think.
Am well pleased with conditions
here. so much better than we have
been having. We live in barracks
now and have plenty of good hot
water for bathing and washing our
clothes which is something we have
not had before. Seems real good to
have dry. place to sleep in to get
up with dry place to stand on and
dress in. Camp Mills surely is very
unhealthy place especially living in
those tents at this time of the year.
The government is making a per-
manent camp of it and building bar
racks very rapidly.
We came here by transport. The
steamship was formerly a German
freighter named Kaiserin Augusta
Victoria, known as the second largest
in the world. Since interned she sails
as President Grant. Her capacity is
1000 troops. There were only $500
of us on her on our voyage from
Brooklyn harbor to Newport News.
We loaded on Monday morning
and got here the following Wed
nesday evening So had little taste
of what it would have been had we
gone across. All those who did sail
as troops have my sympathy as living
on transport steamer is not like
travelling first class.
= We had very fine Thanksgiving
dinner after our trip of turkey, Dress
ing, mashed potatoes, brown gravy,
cranberries, celery, cheese, olives,
cake, pie, nuts, apples etc. One thing
more we have to 0e thankful for is
the good drinking water we have:
don't like the sentiment of the
southern people. They seem SO very
far behind the times and so slouchy
and lazy looking. Then all those
negroes to contend with is another
feature.
Spent last Saturday afternoon at
Petersburg, known as the Oldest town
in the U. S. She surely is old and
ancient looking in more ways than
one. Sunday afternoon took a very
interesting trip. This camp is located
where General Lee made his last
stand. A very short distance from
here is the untouched tract of land,
the historic spot where Lee surrend-
cred to General Grant. It is very in
teresting as there still remain num-
erous old landmarks and relics of diff
ferent kinds.
All these will try and remember
and tell you all about them. Hope to
get to see little more of your native
state. Pennsylvania, when I get dis.
charged.
Am going on pass for over Sunday
at which time my friend and are
going to take in Richmond.
We have it very easy now, but are
all very anxious to get home knowing
that all is over. Only hope It won't
be much longer.
Have written about all I know, am
in hopes Of seeing you all soon but
can't tell definitely. Hope this finds
you all well and happy.
Sincerely,
Co. A. sth ANN. Tn. sth Division,
Camp Lee. Virginia.