Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-03-21
Savoisy, France, Fob. 10.

Savoisy, France, Feb. 10.
Dear dad:
| | am well and getting on all right,
and hope all are we'll ut home. Will
write another chapter of the story
/ started.
We had boon keeping ourselves in
the woods for all most month, no
fires attn light and doing all our march
ing at night previous to Sept. 20, so
that Jerry wouldn't know where the
drive was to be made. The Tooth bri-
gade had tnken over the front line
near the village of Bethincourt, which
was something more than pile OF
stones. We, the l59th brigade, COM
mandcd by Gen. Jamcrson, moved up
in support on the night of the 10Th,
unrollcd our packs and wrapped up
i'll or blankets to whit for the day
light to follow up the Tooth that was
going over the top about e II. m.
| About eleven O'Clock Chat night we
wcr awakened by the roll of artillery
on our left, and in few minutes the
guns were flashing all around us, we
were among cur own artillery. The
drive was on forty-mile front. III
can't describe it, but don't believe
there ever was heavier lombard
mcnt; at daylight we began to move
forward, the front line met with very
\ little resiGctancc till about twelve
O'Clock when they had advanced too
far for the light artillery to continue
the barrage, and Jerry wns being
driven bnck from before Vcrdun,
something the French said couldn't
be done. On the 2Sth we relieved part
of the 319th Infantry and held the
line for "a hours, when we were re-
lieved by the 33rd division and came
back in support again. Here five boys
with myself made us n shelter by
covering II trench with sheet iron and
making bed out of blankets that
jerry had left behind. We didn't know
/, it, Mt the time, but they were SO lousy
you could almost see the blankets
moving, but spent three of the hap
piest days I've spent in the army,
got lost of mail and for the first time
began to see signs of an early peace.
This didn't last long for one night
we were issued emergency rations,
| for we had eaten what we started
with and the 120-rounds of extra
ammunition. We knew we were in for
another drive, this time to be in our
front. We were the supporting bat
talon, but on the fifth of October
went into fill q gap between the LIST
and End battalion, but we were soon
| ordered to afll back to get out of n
heavy artillery fire, but not till we
! had had eight men killed and about
35,wOundcd. Most of the wounds were
slight.
was not with tho company at this
time, but was messenger, and had Il
good chance TO see what was taking
place. On the fourth boy who had
been my bunk mate since coming to
France was gassed, but never quit his
job till next day and not then till l
I: saw an officer and got him relieved,
but since we came to this village he
has joined the company again
! We were relieved by the 160th
| again, but went back in the lines for
twelve more hours and then our di-
! vision was relieved by the fifth. We
came back to n rest camp after being
II days under shell fire and sometime
rifle fire. Here we were re-equipped,
and rested up for the last drive that
started the first of November and
ended with the signing of the armis-
tice. Will tell you about it in the
next letter.
Love to all. j. r. Y.
! P. S.-Tell mama if ever get ink
enough, will write her n story enti-
tied, "What the Y has done for me-"
Ancy Ia France, Feb. 10.
Dear Pearl:
/ AS l have finished my task for to-
day, | shall write few Letters. had
n letter from you recently, also one
from Dad. Well, we are still in sun
ny France. (Alas! rainy FranceD
i cannot see any prospect Of the
division coming home soon. There is
a possibility Of us being put in with
the army of occupation yet / get
thoroughly Disguised at times with
| conditions over here. You folks get
SO much "bull" from the papers about
the great times we are having. They
make the people of the States think
its very fine for the troops in Paris
and other cities where all the amuse-
ments are, but it's pretty tough for
the unlucky guys in other areas. Do
not expect US home any time soon,
for the war isn't over yet. We are
still fighting municipalities and prop
uganda. We must be content regard
less OF the many unpleasant and dis
couraging ordeals which army life
affords.
!, | can never hear from Jack. He
should be home rs most all other
such units have gone.
Our division had horse show re-
Gently or rather the corps. Our di-
! vision carried off all the prizes with
their excellent horses.
J Write me often.
Your brother, J.R. S.
J. r. Saunders. to his sister, Mrs. j.
I. D. Farmer.