As can be seen in the Casualty List in this issue, John
Franklin Blalock was killed in action in France between June 1st and
18th. He was in the 49th Company, 5th Regiment
of Marines, and enlisted in March of last year. He was born near Cheraw but
spent most of his life farming in Wolf Pit township. His father, Julius
Blalock, lives in Hamlet. Mrs. John Sandy Covington last Friday received a
letter from young Blalock, written May 27th, from “Somewhere in
France.” And his letter breathes such a splendid spirit that we are publishing
extracts from it.
“Your letter was most welcome and felt to me just like a
letter from mother. No, I am very glad to say I am still in France and not in
Germany. I won’t mind going to Germany a bit, but I can assure you I shall
never go there as a prisoner, for if they can’t kill me I think I have had enough
training in that line to do it myself. Not that I mean to commit suicide but I
just don’t intend falling into such ruthless and barbaric hands as a prisoner.
“How I would like to be back in St. Paul! Yes, I am sure
that everyone at home is interested in we boys in France. I am sure everyone is
doing his or her bit to keep us here until we shall have accomplished what we
came for. We soldiers know that our people are wholeheartedly behind us---in
conservation and saving to the end that this war may be shortened and we
returned victorious. You who are putting forth every effort in producing food,
and encouraging us by word and deed, are doing just as much towards winning of
the war as we soldiers and marines who are actually on the fighting line. So
don’t forget that while you loved ones at home are praying and working for our
welfare, we will use every inch of our manhood to try to prove ourselves worthy
of title of a true American. Write me soon, for your letters are a great relief
in time of trouble and sorrow. I am, yours sincerely, John F. Blalock.
And so another bright life has gone into the maw made by the
hateful Huns. Doesn’t a letter like the above inspire YOU to fresh resolves to
SAVE and WORK and still ore to do your BIT I order that our boys may be
unshamed when they return?
Frank P. Graham of Charlotte, who entered the Marines as a
private, has been promoted to 2nd Lieut. He is at the marine
training school at Quantico, Va. Frank is a son of Prof. Alexander Graham of
Charlotte and is a brother of David S. Graham, who was a few weeks ago killed
in action in marine activities on the western front.
Oscar Flowers, colored, on July 13th was
classified in the Emergency Fleet roll. He has gone to the government
shipyards.
Grady Garrett, who has been stationed at Camp Greene for
some time, in the aviation personnel, is now on the high seas bound for France.
Herbert Stansill Smith, one of the 15 sent to Camp Jackson
June 25th, was on July 12th given an honorable discharge
on account of physical disability.
Fred Taylor’s address is Co. 7, Sec. 3, 2nd regt.
Naval Training Station, Charleston, S.C.
Arthur Morgan, who last week completed a special mechanical
course of two months at the State A. & E. College at Raleigh, [now N.C.
State University], was sent Saturday to Camp John, Jacksonville, Fla.
Monroe Warburton was to report in New York July 15th
for Y.M.C.A. work overseas as a motor mechanic, but on the 13th he
received a wire ordering him to remain here until further advised. The delay is
due to a congestion in headquarters in New York.
Ten of the technicians who have been training at the State
A. & E. College for the past two months have been recommended to take a
course at the Central Officers’ Training Camp to become officers Among the ten
is Leon E. Pender of Moore County.
W.R. Bowles was in receipt of a letter July 10th
from his grandson, Charlie Bowles, who is in France, in Co. L 120th
infantry. The letter was dated June 13th. Young Bowles writes that
they give the soldiers plenty of tobacco, but he was hungry for a plug of good
old “Apple.”
Second class seaman Hal Ledbetter writes that the
Wrightsville bathing girl is at least making an effort to conform to the
regulations laid down by the Beach board of aldermen, and the bare legs of a
week ago are now encased in dainty socks that extend almost above the ankle.
Norman D. Bridgers came home from Camp Sevier last week on a
furlough, and just before returning to camp Friday night he and Miss Sallie
Gertrude Cude of Guilford County were united in marriage, Rev. Mr. Page of
Hamlet officiating. Norman is 22 and was sent to Camp Jackson with the “124”
May 25th, and three weeks ago transferred to Camp Sevier.
Allison Page, son of Mr. Frank Page of Aberdeen, was wounded
in action in France June 2nd. He is in the Marine Corps. Allison,
who was a freshman at Trinity College [now Duke University], enlisted when only
19 and landed in France June 26th, 1917. Just a year later, his
father, Capt. Frank Page who is with a railroad unit, landed in France for
service. He has a younger brother, Frank, who is at a naval training station.
Joseph H. Haywood’s address is Co. 5, section 2, Naval
Training Station, Charleston, S.C. He went there last week. In a letter to his
parents a few days ago, he told them not to worry about him, that he was liking
his new life and getting on nicely.
Mr. Calvin McQueen of Pee Dee mill No. 2 is determined that
his son, Alex, shall read the home news; and he has ordered the Post-Dispatch
to be sent to the young man, who is in Company b, 120th infantry,
American Exp. Force, France. Alex volunteered two years ago and has seen
strenuous service fighting on the Mexican border He landed safely in France
about six weeks ago.
Lonnie J. Butler of Hoffman landed overseas over a month
ago. A letter written to his relatives June 18th stated that he is
well and enjoying his new experiences,. His address is Truck Co. 1, 1st
Corps Artillery Park, A.P.O. 703, American Exp. Forces, France, via New York.
Dr. P.M. Abernethy has been a practicing veterinarian here
for several months. About 10 months ago while in Iowa he put in his application
for the Medical Reserve Corps. Last Saturday he received notice that after July
21st he must hold himself in readiness to report for duty on 24
hours’ notice. A veterinary branch of the army now has 1,700 officers and
10,000 enlisted men.
Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Abbott went to Camp Meade, Maryland, last
week to see Mrs. Abbott’s brother, Andrew Jackson Cottingham. Cottingham’s home
is in Roberson County but at the time of the registration last year he was
working at Camden, New Jersey. He was drafted and sent to Camp Dix by the
Camden board six weeks ago, and 10 days ago was transferred to Camp Meade. Last
Thursday his division left camp for a port of embarkation and by now they are on
the high seas Franceward bound. Quick work that: six weeks training; but then
these men will be drilled and trained for two or more months in France before
being assigned to actual fighting. Let us hope young Cottingham will be as good
a soldier as his namesake, “Old Hickory.”
Shem Kearney Blackley of Hamlet, one of the 1919 registered
men, was on July 16th accepted at the enrolling office of the Navy
recruiting station at Wilmington.
Mrs. R.D. Phillips of Laurinburg received a letter from Don
Phillips last week stating that he just returned from a week’s stay in a
hospital, recovering from a slight gas attack.
James F. Hicks spent Sunday here with his sister, Mrs. E.B.
Morse He is one of the May 25th 124, and is in Co. K, 324th
infantry. If his regiment has not already left Camp Sevier for a port of
embarkation, it will leave within the next day or so.
Robert Stansill and David Easterling have been transferred
to the clerical department of artillery in 81st division at Camp
Jackson and will be sent north to a port of embarkation within the next day or
so. Henry Dockery will also be sent.
George Gladstone Phillips, a telegraph operator, who a few
weeks ago applied at the enrolling station at Wilmington for admission into the
Navy, a few days ago received a wire ordering him to report at Charleston Navy
Yard July 22nd for duty. He will be in the radio branch. And so
another Rockingham young man responds to the call of humanity to do his bit in
his chosen field.
Arthur Stanback, colored, is another man who deserves credit
for changing his status when he found he could conveniently do so. He lives in
Cordova, and was placed in Class four by reason of a dependent wife. He and she
appeared before the exemption board a few days ago, and she waived claim for
dependency so that he could be placed in Class one and be called to the colors.
All this was voluntarily done.
Troop train on which was William Dockery of Company L, 322nd,
passed Charlotte at 7:35 Tuesday northward bound. Ollie Morgan, Co. K, 322nd,
passed Rockingham on train Tuesay night for port of embarkation. It is expected
that a large number of our boys at Sevier have gone north in the 81st
division during the past few days, and others will go tonight and tomorrow. The
bulk of them are going by the Southern. One troop train from Sevier on which it
is expected with be Richmond County boys, will pass Hamlet tonight at midnight.
The Rockingham Canteen ladies will serve this train with fried chicken.
Among those who were sent in the past few days to Camp
Upton, preparatory to embarkation, is Zoll Oscar Ingram. Young Ingram was sent
with the15 squad to “Camp Jackson June 25th. On July 11th
he was transferred to Camp Sevier and two days later was on a train en route to
the port of embarkation. The 81st division was ready and he and
other freshly drafted men were placed therein to bring it to full strength. An
American division consists of 20,000; a British, 18,000, French 15,000, German
12,000. Ingram is a son of J. Addison Ingram of Steele’s township, and a margin
of but seven months stood between him and “out of the draft.” He was 30 years
old Jan. 21st, 1917.
Several weeks ago the exemption board at Camden, S.C., wrote
the Richmond County board that they could induct two Richmond County negroes
there, if the local board desired. They were Alex Huff and Will Dyes. The local
board sent the proper papers to Camden board and the Camden board inducted them
and started them on the train to Camp Jackson. The next heard of the two was at
Hamlett, when they were arrested by Chief Braswell. It seemed that they headed
north instead of south, and didn’t go near Camp Jackson. And so Chief Braswell
was sent with them by the local board to Camp Greene, and they were turned over
to the military authorities as deserters.
There is a man in a neighboring county who will probably go
through life bewailing the injustice of the exemption board that certified him
for service despite the fact that he presented a letter written by his wife to
prove that he had a dependent family. Here is the letter:
“Dear United States Army: My husband ast me to write a
recommend that he supports his family. He can’t read, so don’t tell him. Just
take him. He ain’t no good nohow. He ain’t done nothing but play a fiddle and
drink lemon extract since I married him, eight years ago, and I gotta feed
seven kids of his. Maybe you can get him to tote a gun. He’s good on squirrels
and eating. Take him and welcome. I need the grub and his bed for the kids.
Don’t tell him this, but take him”
Wonder if there are any wives in Richmond county who would
like to pass a husband on to the army.
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