Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-02-14
A Letter From France.


The Register is privileged TO print
additional parts of letters from Lieu
tenant Marshall Mcdonald, Of Jeffer-
son county, who is with the Ameri-
can expeditionary forces in France.
The letters are TO a member of his
home circle and are as follows
December 80, 1917.
Dear M-Another year has about
passed, and what changes it has made
in our lives Am now on my way
back TO our regiment, and am in a no.
tel waiting for the others TO eat before
starting out on a truck ride. There
are sixteen of US, with A pieces of
baggage and with one 5-ton truck.
The roads are covered with snow,
which is now turned into ice. |
guess We will make it.
December 3lst.) Made the trip
o. K, but found one of my trunks
missing hope to go back to the rail-
road station soon to find it. Its loss
will be a severe blow financially, and
in the matter of equipment, for it's
hard to get some of the things here,
especially as we are Is miles from a
town of any size.
We are located in town about the
size of Shenandoah Junction, being
billeted around in the homes of the
people, and have complete occupation
of few houses. 1t is purely agri-
cultural and timber section of France,
very similar to parts of West Virginia.
There is about six inches of snow on
the ground, with the thermometer on
ly a few degrees above zero. There
is very little change Of temperature
from day to day, or from day TO night.
it looks more like snow tonight. |
am glad when il is cloudy these moon
light nights, for it lessons the chance
of air raids, altho think we are safe
here. | am much farther from the
front here than | was. Am glad TO be
back with the regiment AT the school
| was recommended for divisional in
structor, but | hope to stay where |
am.
January 13, 1879 Have never
found the trunk containing most of
the things | need, and if it does not
show up will have to replace them.
Have been on the move so that have
received no mail since landing in
France, except a few letters mailed
before | left the States. Others have
been more fortunate-about month
is the usual delay.
was one of two officers selected
for corps instructors, and have been
sent to the army school. We heve
about ten days more lectures, and a
visit to the front II is pretty stren-
uous work at school There are six
hours lectures per day, and all notes
have to be rewritten and amplified at
night in ink. have written more
this week than ever before in my life,
and my hand is getting tired.
We are quartered in barracks built
by Napoleon. The buildings are OF
stone, and three stories high, with
stone floors-the only wood is in the
steps and doors.
We have no fires except from 6 to
a. m. a little stove is started in one
corner. and that doesn't count. don't
mind it much, except for studying
then we go to the Y. NJ. c. A., just
fifteen minutes walk.
The work is most interesting and !
enjoy it. Am certainly getting a
wide experience over here along all
lines. One never knows where he may
he ordered to, or what class Of work he
has 10 DO. The amount Of work to be
done is enormous-one can have no
conception of il who has not been here.
Have run across about dozen Of
ficers this week who were in train
ing with me and who have just ar
rived. Was certainly glad TO see them
again. can find nien very often If
| know what organizations they belong
to, otherwise it's like a needle in a
haystack.
Your fond brother,
MARSHALL,
Co. "E," 2 Regiment, A. NJ E.