Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-04-10
Letter From E. G. Colyin


The following letter from Private E.
G. Colvin, who is now in France, has
been sent to this Office by his sister,
Mrs. Wilson Tabor, of Stratford, Wis.
The Colvin family formerly resided in
Sank county, moving away about three
years ago. The soldier taught school
in the county and the others men
toned in the letter are also from this
county. He writes:
Cosne, France, February, 1919.
Dear Father:
have rather a quiet forenoon so [
will take advantage and write you.
All of the boys are out on a ma
neuver this morning so | am left alone
at the telephone. / haven't had any
mail for week, SO l am looking for
some letters. Last night there was
an American girl up at the "Y" at Co.
3, that is about mile from here. She
served hot chocolate. Quite naturally
l went up to see the excitement. She
was the first American woman that |
had spoken to since we passed through
Washington on our way to New York.
[ saw Rindle at the "Y," the first
time since we entered France. / think
| told you that the Germans captured
him up III the Alsace sector. They
captured him October 8. He is cor
poral. He and one private were at
tackled by thirteen Germans in a
trench. They killed his partner right
there and he was shot. The bullet en-
tered near his back bone and came out
of his chest, passing through one lung.
They dragged him away with them,
gave him no care and used him ID
rough. He is feeling we'll but not so
strong as he was before. He is a fine
acting guy now. He is in Co. D. |
also saw Niederklopfer. He is the
same as ever. He says he will fish
all summer if he gets home. Harms
and Griffin are in Co A. am ratiOned
with Co A. so / see them often.
We are having regular Wisconsin
April weather. If it continues | think
they can soon work in the fields.
have been in hopes of getting
home in time for springs work, but |
have no idea when we will get back.
We are used o. X, but III be glad to
get back to work We are fed well
and now we have hunks to sleep on
which are much better than a stone
floor We also have had a stove and
wood to burn the last week or ten
days 1t seems good to be able to take
off my clothes and sleep warm | am
working at the switchboard as usual.
[ have a day shift now which | like
much better. for | do enjoy my sleep.
| work from eight to ten hours a day.
We have the switchboard right in our
billet now, so it is much handler. |
suppose the states are full Of soldiers
by this time.
The boys here drill, shoot on the
rife range and go on maneuvers the
same as before the war.
| just heard there was Bookoo mail
came III today SO | am expecting
home MY mail come; very regularly.
Tt arrives in from a. 10 "a days. We
had pay day last Sunday so I'll enclose
some French money as souvenirs-one
for each of the boys and Evelyn. They
are equivalent 10 nine or ten Genus, the
smallest paper money they have. |
am rather glad that l am not on the
maneuvers as it has begun TO rain.
often talk to Pearson. He is in the
supply Office at supply company.
| will have to close for today. How
are the little boys? | would like to
see them. Is hired help scarce as ever?
Goodbye with love to all.
Your only son,
PVT. EMMETT G. COLVIN.