The Bossier banner., 1919-03-27
TinsIey Boyett on War.

: Following are some extracts from
letters of different dates which have
been received during the past few
months by Mr.. and Mrs. w. r. Boyett.
of Sarepta, from their son TinSley. who
is still with the American Army in
France. The first following shows the
date line. "Epinant. France. Decen-
Der 13, 1918. and reads:
Dc0r Home Folks: Received your
letter of November 18th. and waS glad
to hear from home.
You say You saw where the 10Th
division WAS paradins in Nerdun on
the 18th of November. We Fcrr parad-
ing in Nertlun. hut it WAS the front of
Nerdun instead of in the city. We
were lined up to 80 over the top about
$50 O'Clock am. but we got news that
the armiStice had been signed. At
eleven O'Clock the guns ceased firing.
That night we pitched our tents on il
place that had been NO-Man'S-Land
that morning.
The war is over now. | am proud
of it. And am also proud that l have
pulled through without even Il scar.
l have no idea how long it will he
before we get hack. Am now goin. on
detail Service-nliIitary police service.
Under date of December 10Th he
writes:
Dcdr Home FOlEs: This is certainly
Il lovely Sunday 1t makes me want
to he ut home but | can put UP with
it il little longer.
VIII tell You the battles that | was
| i'll so If You ever see anything al out
| them YOU will know l was there. First
| waS the hattie Of st. Alihiel on the
| 18th Of September: Il raid the 26th of
| September: then the second battle of
Nerdun-from the Sth to the 18th Of
| November. | have also seen the coun-
try where Chateau Thierry was fought
:, few days before.
The 26th Division is also known aS
the y. ID. Division. The 1n3d Infantry
was made up of men from Maine and
| New hampshire. hut now it has boys
from all over the United States.
| Ethel writes me from l.. :. I. that
it is pretty hard doing guard duty two
hours on and four hours off. have
done guard duty six hours on and six
hours off. in the rain and cold and
no place to 90 to dry or get warm
while off.
On February 9th Tinsley seems to
have been in good spirits. He writes
from Frouard. France:
Dcar Home Folks: Am getting along
fine. We are doing Nj. l.. duty now.
| do not know When we will start on our
way home.
Was sorry to hear Of Will Many
Icing wounded. He will soon lie all
right. Twas sad about Ernest Cook
losing his leg. You say it was in the
attic of Chateau Thierry:
The EoyS i'll the 59th Division are
only about thirty-tive miles from here
lut | hardly ever get to see any OF
Them
There is street car line running
from here into Nancy. Also. we are
only Il few kiiometcrS from Germany
The ground has been covered Will
SNOW for the last two weeks and il
SHOWS almost every day.
On December 23d the soldier has hi.
soldier troubles and begins his letter
with them:
DcGr Home Folks: We are havin.
some bad weather. 1t has been rain
ing nearly every day for three weeks
There remain only two days unit
Christmas. We are expecting to have
President Wilson with us then
In my last letter l told you Of thu
battles | WAS in. | have been in tht
trenches when shell wculd land !;
few feet from me: at one time KILN:
two men and wounding five who Stoot
~ my side Then another came St
close that it tore holes in my pack.
Tell Russell not to grieve because j.
did not get over. For | can tell yOl
that when IA fellow goes into battle Ii,
is running Il Zig risk of losing his life
and has IL slim chance of getting ou
unhurt. believe the prayers from
home have had good deal to do Will
getting NE through this war; Some
t times | would give up all hope Of eve
getting through. Was knocked uncOn
, SciouS hy ii shell on the 9th of DC
tOher.
Hoping you will all have il happ,
Christmas. Give my best regarts t,
john and all the yohng folks.
Your devoted son.
TIN ROYETT.
18th Division. Am f. +.