The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-10-25

possible, so that you can answer, as
] will be anxious to hear from you.
L.. Give all my friends my best re-
CARDS, and tell them 1 would like to
write to each one of them, but that
would of course be impossible. :.
Well, there comes the bugle call, SO
will have to close. With love. I am
/ "Devotedly Yours,
CHARLES"
Mrs. w. H. Fisher, of this city, is
in receipt of the following letter from
her son, Capt. Neville Fisher, a for
men member of the Bourbon county
bar, who enlisted in the service of
Uncle Sam while engaged in the prac-
tice of law in st. Louis. The letter
bears date of Sept. "a, and is a very
interesting one. The letter follows:
Dearest Mother: 1t has been sew
eral weeks since had an opportunity
to write to you, but these have been
rather eventful weeks. I went over
the top with the company on Sep
TENDER 18th in the great American
advance, known as the battle of ST.
Mihiel salient. 1 think our company
went into the fight under the most
trying circumstances of any organiza-
ton engaged. We had been holding
an important sector of the front line
for more than week in trenches
knee-deep in mud and water. After
midnight we were relieved from this
position and marched to another
place where we were to jump Off.
1--WE arrived after the preparatory
bombardment had started and took
up our positions, where we had a
four hours wait in the mud and rain.
The scenes following are never to be
forgotten. y The flashes from hum
dreds of guns lit UP the clouded skies
like sheet lightning, and the noise
resembled a violent thunderstorm.
Shortly before five o'clock the bar
rage behind which the infantry was
my's front line, and the rattle of ma
chine guns firing over our heads for
additional protection began. At five
O'Clock we moved out. / had intended
to march between the two lines of the
company, but in the noise, darkness
and confusion it became necessary for
\ me to go forward and lead the boys.
So I had the honor of leading them
over the top of the enemy's trenches.
I'VE we're soon fired on by ma
chine gun that held us UP for few
minutes, but we soon closed in on it
and took it's crew prisoners. l am not
permitted to make any report OF the
casualties / suppose we shold have
killed those machine gunners, as that
is the custom where they hold out to
;, the last, but we spared them, and
cannot say that / am sorry for 1t.
From there we pressed on through
the woods meeting little opposition,
: but being always exposed to the fire
of the German artillery. During the
, day the company took over one hun
dred prisoners. About two nights
later we had a miraculous escape, but
/ cannot give details. l cannot yet
understand how it was possible that
we returned alive, except that Provl-
: dence was on our side.
, During the first day 1 rammed a
piece of barbed wire in my hand, but
outside of that / have been un
i scratched. I had always heard that
when the pinch came wouids show
: yellow streak a mile wide, but for
{ tunately / was composed and was moi
i conscious of fear or danger. l sup
L nose it was because my mind was Sc
q occupied by other things that die
3 not have time to realize my own dan
e ger. / am so -hampered by the cen
I sorShip rules that / cannot write Of
{ the incidents as / should like to.
;, am sending you clipping from Th'
STARS and Stripes, an army paper
2 which will give you a general de
D scription of the battle. 1t was a grea
= experience, and am glad that hat
a chance to take part in it. l w1si
+ you would send the clipping to Eva
r as this is the only copy of the pape
: u have. The Americans have beer
l Imuch complimented on their victory
[ and deservedly so. Our division wa
especially distinguished.
'I am writing this by candle ligh
in a captured German dugout, am
even now the artillery is bangin|
laway on both sides. Il would lik
TO see owen Fisher, and will try t
look him up as soon as get a chance
), 7 have already lost the address yo'
|, gave me. We have been through
- many physical discomfOrts since tn
e first of September, but are more com
e Portable at present Outside of a feN
. minor ailments all oil iiSh''
IL got a bath and change of under
wear this afternoon, and as this wa
the first one in about three weeks
II feel much improved. Il hope yo
IL are all we'll and that before man
months l will be back with yo
e again. With a world of love to yo
l all, am,
e "Affectionately Yours,
;. NEVILLE G. FISHER,
8 Captain 355th Infantry, America
,, Expeditionary Force, France"