Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-07-04
Letter From Lieutenant Reinhart.

Mr.. E. H. Reinhart has received an
interesting letter from his son., Lieu
tenant H. Baylor Reinhart, of Shep-
herdstown, who is now on the firing
line in France. The letter which is
dated June 18th, says:
have found it difficult to write in re-
cent days, owing to lumber of daily
moves, etc. Have not had my mail
with any regularity, except TO get a
copy of the Register of the vintage of
April 4th.
Things are moving quite smoothly
with us, and how the past two months
have gone by. Seems only day since
we were in the States. Have not run
across anyone know so very we'll as
yet. Believe | wrote that our signal
section has Stuart Kilmer from Mar
tinsburg. Also ran across Lieutenant
Allen, now of H Company, the 4th. He
was arrivate with me in M Company, of
the 18th. | wrote Will Snyder some
two weeks ago, but have not heard
from him as yet.
AS wrote in my earlier letters, we
were due TO see action very shortly af-
ter landing, and so we have-and not
on one of the socalled quiet fronts,
either. Indeed, our division seemed to
have gotten into it sooner than |, at
least, anticipated. Need say we were
glad of it. And need say that with
our advent into the fray the Boche back
ed off some eight miles in few short
hours. At present they show signs of
going farther back even, though they
have maSsed great numbers on our
front. Last night ! went about two
miles from camp towards the enemy line
and watched more thrilling air battles
in short half hour than ever expect
ed TO see. 1t is the most thrilling thing
one could hope TO experience. Time
and again single French plane went
up and down the enemy line seemingly
but little disturbed by the shrapnel that
burst about him. have no doubt but
that our avions are quite the equal of
any. hope the thing continues to de-
velop into open warfare. Indeed the
Allies seem to away out-general the
Boche in this style of fighting, and GER
tainly il is to be desired to trench fight
ing
For several nights one of those mas
ter French guns has kept up a tune
right near my grass bed. 1t seemed
annoying at first, but it becomes quite
the same after awhile.
Our men seem in fine fettle, and in
deed they are better soldiers the nearer
to the line they get and in fact when
right on the line. wish there was
room and time to tell you OF one Of our
machine gun battalions. Every man
was decorated land he earned III after
the first battle. am told reliably that
they made the enemy pay dearly, taking
toll of nearly 8 to 1. They also took
moreprisoners than they could handle.
One officer after having left his guns
(which were destroyed swan his en-
tire outfit across the river and
saved every man. He was mentioned
in French and American orders, OF
course, and decorated TO the limit.
Had hoped Tom would have been
here ere this. | hope do not divulge
any secrets when | say there seems to
be far more fighting troops in France
than | supposed; and with the subma
rine subdued, ! know they will come
fast.
have not learned much lately of the
general allied air successes, but until a
few days ago they were taking quite a
toll. Things look favorable enough,
and il only remains for every one to
| fight and work. OF course we must ex-
pect few set-backs, but from now on
the general fray should be advanta-
geous TO the Allies.
Weather has been delightful-just a
trifle cooler than our early June wealth
er. Crops, too, are little behind ours
in the States. Some things are not SO
| plentiful as formerly, but there is not
such great want as might be supposed
Must close now. Let me hear from
any and all of you when you can. Hope
when we go back for rest TO catch ur
with some mail. Am enclosing a little
booklet (quite aged that Y. NJ. c. A.
issued prior to "a. E. F. Mothers Day
| Mr. Woods, one OF our Y. NJ. c. A. men
in the Regiment, is from a Presbyterian
Church in Pittsburg. | feel quite sane.
titled, for recently my rest hours have
been with Mr. Woods on one side nv
bunk and Chaplain Merrill, also Pres.
oyterian, on the other. They are some
pair and work very hard for the mer
Guess this is quite enough. Wish
I could speak of armies, corps, divisions
dates, places, rivers, officers, ETC., fol
il would interest you immensely. Wait
Love and best wishes TO you all.
TILL after the war. Love and best wishe:
TO you all. Deyotedly.
| HENRY r RETNHART