Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-04-03


Jan. %, 1919.
My dear Aunt, L0ttie:
have intended writing you for q
long time, but have been waiting so
could write you a newsy letter. You
know during var times We could
scarcely write anything on account o.
the censors. but now they opened their
hearts and ne can write most anything
nov. Well, am going 70 start from
ne hrst and give you synopsis OF ms
doings In France.
We left Hoboken, n J on tina 18th
Of June, 1918, arriving at St. Naxaire.
France, Juno 18th, the trip being very
smooth, with the exception of two days.
which was real rough. The first town
We struck after riding on the train for
three days was Piercourt, and ! can
tell you / was not deIiriously happy
over the location. Well, we stayed
there for quite a while, getting our
real warfare training, and on Aug. 81,
we started for the front line trenches.
lt was on the Alsace front. near Bel
fast. / will never forget my first niphf
in the trenches. When we went ia the
Germans shelled Us severely and j vas
q scared rabbit ! stayed there seven
days and nights and had some mighty
c.oSe calls, hut came out safe, then
moved back 10 reserve for eight day..
While there they sh lied US and |
came near checking in" when an s.
ipch shell hit the same building was
sleeping in aud killed three horses. /
was covered up in the debris, but got
out safe again. Well, we went back
and trained some more, then started
for the Verdun front On Sept. 18th.
After hiking over France three or four
times, we reached our destination, not
far from the front; stayed there for
i've days; then on the night OF Oct. It'll
We started for the front, hiked all
night-in fact, until two o'clock the
next morning-rested in No Mans
Land until.five o'clock and went 'over
the top" promptly at FIVE.
Well, it Is useless for me to try TO
tell you how terrific was the shell fire
of the German artillery, but shells
were falling all around, and can say
never saw such q cool bunch of men
as was our company. They advanced
like veterans, ducking the shells fall
ing in shell holes, and firing when
they had the opportunity. During the
day we took several hundred prisoners
and did not meet with real stubborn
resistance until the morning of the 9th,
when we had severe counter attack,
which halted us for q while, but We
soon began to advance steadily but
slowly ahead, taking many prisoners
and machine guns. / cannot tell you
of the casualties OF our division, but
you can we'll judge, considering the
fact that we were in real battle.
was in five different battles during
IL. a.
battle of "Mooueryille Farm" was the
most terrific, and l can't see to save
my life how | escaped injury, only that
1t vas God thst was watching over me
aud taking care Of me during that
drive. / had three bullets to pass
through my rain coat, shells TO hit
right beside me and didn't explode.
Had they gone of you would not have
as those TO happen and still am whole,
without any limbs broken or amputat-
ed, SO can i help but know the good
Lord was watching oyer me.
How would yon like to 90 ten days
washing your face and drink
ing from q horse troughf Well, they
are some of the few things we had to
put up with. and We ate when we could.
There are several other things ! could
relate TO you. but will wait uLtil l re-
turn TO the dear old U. s. A, and you
will get tired OF hearing me talk OF the
war.
I was on the front % days. Duri3g
that time our division captured 2lS1
$50 machine guns, 81 pieces
Of artillery and advanced six miles
Not q bad reputation, do you thinkS
Well, know you have heard enough
about the war tonight, 50 will shift NV
know you hate TO hear any
more about the war because Il Is finish
ed now, but just wanted 70 tell you
Of a few of my experiences.
Have been on q furlough to AK
les Bains and had q fine time. Frank
Waters and sent You card from
there. went TO several dances and
was surprised to find how well the
French girls could dance. / also
danced with some dear American girls
that were in the Y. n. c. A. snd had
q nice time. got such q nice letter
from mother dear. and do love so to
hear from her. She was telling me of
her Xmas presents. She certainly did
get lots. Well, can't tell you That
time will get back home, but am just
dying 10 get back 70 see you all, and
truly hope it will be mighty soon.
Will close for tonight. and surely
hope this will find you and uncle Sam
In the best of health. With lots of
love to You and uncle Sam, and sim
cerely hope / will see you both real.
real soon. WILL.
(Sgt. VIM. r. Hayden, Co. A,
H. A