Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-01-03
LETTERS FROM OVER THERE
Nov. 26, 1918

My dear Mother:
At last can tell you where | am
and have been; am now at Mallly-
Aube, apparently for the winter.
You will hardly find it on the map
as it is a very small town. About W
miles from Paris, midway between
Chalons- Mmarney and Troyes-Aube.
Before the war this was an artillery
training station on very large scale
and the permanent buildings are all
made of stone, brick or concrete,
modern accommodations, such as
running water, heat and electric
lights. I work and also room IN
one of these buildings. Have spring
bunk. too, so you see, if we do not
get home this winter I will be very
comfortable here. My old outfit will
go home in the near future, in fact
the whole Ry. Artillery are under
orders, but as I am in the Q. M. o.,
it is uncertain when We'll go. AS 1t
is a supply outfit, may get in with
the army of occupation. l would
much rather go home, still a trip in
to Boche land has some fascination,
hardly think the Allied soldiers will
get much of welcome on the Rhine,
but in this case, might rules. L
was on most of the front from Al
sace-Lorrain to Rheims most of
the engagements in which I partici-
pated were between Rheims and YER
dun. We were attached to the 4th
( French army (Gen. Gourard's COM
mand) and saw very few Americans
after we left the Alsacea front Until
! the big drive in the Argonne region,
There were lots 81 cans there
| I; Sss ia as you know, the Germans put
lup their stiffest resistance at that
point of any place on the whole
front, Of the whole retreat that
was the last place to give way. They
offered very stubborn resistance just
north of Chalons and Suippe but af-
ter few days artillery battle the
Boche artillery withdrew and the
French infantry advanced, and have
been advancing ever since. Our
| guns, 13 inch, with lots OF French
artillery out-classed the Germans.
We were called to different points
along the line and did good work
wherever we went. We were for
ever on the move. Had 1t good some
times, hard sometimes. We were
called to help stop the 9Th German
offensive for several miles on either
side of Rheims. That was the big
offensive Of July 18th. We were in
position just southeast of Rheims.
They opened up about 10:45 p. III.
and it was just as if you had poked
stick in a hornets nest. Every
thing seemed to open up on the Sec
md I didn't know there was so
much artillery in Europe. The Boche
| made some advance but in a day or
so the tide turned. We were under
heavy bcmbardment for II hours.
The official report gave it as IA hrs,
but I was there, / have been in sew
eral engagements. Sometime when
there wasnowork for our monsters"
the French let us go up with the field
pieces. I was gun pointer on their
1865 and 1858, about AZ and about
6.2 inch. On all occasions we got
a warm" reception.
The censorship isn't entirely abol-
ished but will try and get letter
through to Wood in the near future,
however, if there is any thing in this
one that he cares about let him
have it.
forgot to tell you that the church
was telling you about is here. I
was here last winter to Feb. 10th
but was in one of the temporary can
tonments. There are quarters of
that kind here for perhaps 100000
men. The town has a population of
about 1000. There have been thous
ands of released French prisoners ar
rived here in the last few days. Some
dressed in their own uniforms, old
discarded German uniforms, discard
ed German civilian clothes, all latter
ed and torn, nearly shoeless and with
an emaciated appearance. Some Of
them are horrible sights, l can as
sure you.
VIII tell you more in next letter
if this one passes.
Hope all are we'll and best love to
all. Your loving son,
Il Sgt. Carl Sullenberger
From Burton Hook to his mother,
Mrs. G.. w. Hook, Wilma.