The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-02-06
SOLDIERS LETTERS
Letter from Pvt n. 4. Fisher 81 70
A Ind Pioneer Infantry. A. T. - 10
His Meskss. Mira J. ". fishsr' q
Manchester C~utss.

No, bring very busy these days ana
The censor permitting. viii write you
. III, az wha, have been doing IN
nay rfor. 20 30 my bit.
After leaving New York we spen.
about e days in camp In The ONO
p,,pesr which was formerly the o'd
r2.h u. G. Of New York. Prom there
was Transferred one fosgy Sunday
rich, about a. m. with about 20
ether lads out Of my company TO my
prefent outfit which was formerly the
ian N. G. Of Brooklyn, who were
hacked and under orders TO JOIN the
AEF. We laid over there Tor two
aavs. tcavirS late Tuesday evening,
and with the aid Of southern sand
storm and a beautiful shower, which
made one think Of some OF the eiou"
bursts they may have read OF, We
reached the station. After very
p,easan, trip Of two nights and one
aav we arrived ut our embarka''oh
camp in New York at about daypreak'
Th.,a ~. were In quarantine for sew
sral DAVIS and we're issued our over
sens clothing which consisted mostly
nj wool material and two OF the OAR
hinges, pairs Of field shoes t9fs +. E.)
Won have ever seen, with plenty OF NOD
nails and a cute little horse shoe on
the heel. learned later that me
reason for this is that they 'hough'
We would feel lonesome or jealous
~hen we heard how much noise the
vreneh could mike with their wooden
sboes. The Saturday night following
We received orders to roll packs ana DC
ready for breakfast at $3.50 a. M
.oujte an early Sunday morning
breakfast) which consisted OF olaek
coffee, bread and beans, after ~h'en
we assembled and had nice h'''.
early morning hike with packs' o.
some FIVE or more miles through th'
heart Of the city where We were mucf
,heercd by the early pedestrians whe
turned out in great numbers 70 "'s'
us the best Of luck.
After receiving coffee from the he'
Cross we were marched onto the sh'l
and assigned to our berths when con
sisted Of hunks, one over the other, II
every available part Of the SHIP AM
about 3 D. m. we headed out and dow
the bay, joining seven other ship
vhich were previously loaded an
were lying at anchor. After passin
the nets at the entrance OF the haroo
n large number Of destroyer boats an
submarine chasers, also two cruiser'
formed themselves into position as on
escort forming an armed circle aroun
us and being reinforced, for that da!
nv several seaplancs which circle
about and one dirigible balloon whle
drifted lazily and aimlessly about &c
some time, adding much beauty 70 o'
departure. Taking this along win
heautiful sunset and the now la
fading coast Of the land We loved v
A. leas, began our mission in the hgl
est of spirits. That evening we wei
instructed in few Of our orders son
az which were wearing life beit
all times and no lights or smoKin
after s p. m; also some OF the sigma
employed in case of an attack. Ben
somewhat fatigued from SO long "a
retired to my stateroom (down
the hold) quite early and after gettir
accustomed to the swaying OF the sn
dropped of to sleep at about sp' n
70 sleep through until morning al
really enjoying my first night at s
immensely. =, -. =
I was always awake with the s
n ye, out on deck TO enjoy 70 its ~
est extent the beauty Of it all, LOT
long AFRO as can remember ha
had n desire to take sea voyal
Our second night furnished US VI
our first touch Of war. About SUM
that evening while we were al
dock. singing and having gay
time. our siren shrieked, meaning
submarine. In the first place !
should hear siren to really appre
ate the sensation; 1t has most we
sound and the power TO be heard
about ten miles. 1t resembles son
what the ones used on the fire engil
with a bit more Of a basso to IT,
mediately all ships changed IN
course, and to the rear steamed
aes,royers cleared for action. II
dropped number Of depth DOT
about the spot and one boat reniail
back until the following day.
cruiser dropped one bomb apou'
thousand yards off our port :
throwing very large column oil va
h;gh m IN the air and giving us 50
idea OF their power as the impact 2
could be easily felt against the 8
Of our ship, SO you can imagine vi
submarine would fit in If Il she
fall within any reasonable distance
al ~