Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-01-16
A Letter From William Reinhart.

II
Reinhart Of Parsons, Kansas, formerl!
Of the vicinity of Slle3herdstown, ha:
written his fathe. an interesting let
ter from Franc, dated November 14lh
from which we take the following ex
tracts:
| Day before Yesterday was our day
to write, but on accoun. Of sickness
held off until now. have been feel
ing under the weather fo- the last few
days but feel much better now. In this
letter We are permitted to tell you what
has happened since arrived.
When | left Camp Mills was on the
ocean fourteen days, then arrived in
Liverpool, England, and stayed there
about six hours. Then We moved to
Southampton, seaport, and crossed
the English channel, arriving, in Havre,
France. From there went to Angers,
or rather in the vicinity Of AngerS. We
were located in Tralore and lie Plessi,
and in La Plessi We drew our guns and
a part of our horses. We were equip
ped with gun similar to our 6. gun.
1t is the l55 Howitzer. 1t will shoot
eight or nine miles. Then we moved
to Coetquedon, an artillery training
camp, and we were there for three
weeks, firing nearly every day. We
drew the rest Of our horses there.
Among the horses were IA stations.
Some had never been worked, and We
had one glorious time breaking them
in. was to have an individual mount.
and | got stallion that weighed about
900 pounds and a fighter for sure.
Then We moved to Gerardines in
Alsace. There We took up position
near La Schluct. This was an ideal
battle front. In time it had been a
very bloody front, but when we were
there the line had not changed for a
long time. The French held their line
and the Germans theirs. Then We
started hiking north We made the ST
Mihiel drive and were in the Argonne
fight We started to barrage the morn
ing of the 26th at about two o'clock and
continued firing until about six, then
We had a twenty minute intermission
and fired until eight Our first firing
was on German trenches and then on a
town where Germans were stationed.
We then moved up about eight kilo-
meters (about five miles) and then took
up position in town by the name of
Barrenneh. Here we remained until
October End, my birthday.
left out one interesting incident
When we moved up, the road we took
was mined and one big bridge was
blown out.We were held on this road
about twenty-filr hours and ih'sw vast the
cause Of our infantry not advancing
further as they did the rest without
our assistance and from all Of the in
fantry boys that have seen We were
doing good work. II was there we
had it the hardest OF all. From the
night of September 25 until the even
ing of September 81 | did not eat
thing. Then we took a German mess
kit and from a German garden we got
some cabbage and corn. Willie and !
made a kind Of a stew. 1t certainly
tasted good and we sat and ate this as
fast as we cooked it until We were
full.
On account Of the movement Of
troops the roads were crowded and sup
plies were hard to get, but we got along.
Then we went out to supposed to be
rest camp four days at Hargep'ill, nea:'
Bar lie Due, and il was here that | got
sick. We left Hargewill 70 another
front and on the first Cay from Harge-
will | gave out and that night | was
real sick. | went to the hospital at
Remecourt and was there mae days,
then left to return TO my battery.
went from to Chaumont, then to Lille,
and then to Lee Courneau near Bor-
deau, then to St. Dizier, then TO Com.
mercy, and then St. Mihiel and on to
my battery up on the Verdun front. Our
last position was about three miles
from Verdun, directly east. arrived
at my battery after the armistice was
signed, so missed out on a lot OF il,
but saw the most important part OF
what we had to do Most Of the boys
say that did not miss much.
am just giving you the main things
| that have happened, as our captain has
made it plain that We will be hume
by the 18th OF January or there
abouts. The rumors are that we are
to parade in Paris and then go 10 a port
for the good old u S. A. neve- real
lied what good place it was until now
The boys are getting souvenirs
everywhere now. All that I have is a
German belt and buckle with Scott Nit
Uns" on it and German razor. had
some more souvenirs, but have lost
them. / am getting the fever, and
imagine will have many more by the
time get home.
There are still many things that |
have not told you that would be OF
interest, but will wait until later 70
tell you.
wish you could see me this morn
ing. Drill is over and We are seated
around fireplace, as we are located in
houses fthey are build ngs that haze
been shellsd and there are few things
that remind you OF a hcme. other than
an occasional chair AMI freplace)
| Mess line ic Porr,aI o,,x.