Letter From Monroe
Warburton to John Everett
Dec. 29, 1918
12 Rue d’Agueseau
Paris, France
Mr. John L. Everett
Dear Friend:
As some of the old timers might say, “well, here I be” in a
land that simply vomits rain and snow. Say, I didn’t know I loved the old U.S.
as a whole and especially old N.C. until now. Any man who speaketh ill of the
U.S. when I return will have a good two-handed scrap on his hands.
This is a beautiful country, but gosh the sky-juice. During
the spring and summer, I suppose (note the suppose) it is simply grand, as the
vimmin would say; but nix now. But speaking of vimmin, my thoughts ramble back
to the old bachelors who quit their life of ease and quietness and went “Over
the top” into the troubled waters of “saluble bliss.” I admire their nerve,
though, having been such hardshelled cusses and resisting the charms of the
fair sex so long, to now capitulate May happiness follow them for evermore. (I
refer to Leak and Wall.) If T.B. Hunter follows in their footsteps, then
‘goodnight,’ everything is lost, and I think I had better jump aboard the
matrimonial wagon—if I can.
We have had quite a week. The President visited us and
reviewed part of the troops. Had a fine Xmas dinner and topped it off with plum
pudding and real sauce.
You should see my room: it is full of war relics, shells,
bayonets, helmets, etc. I had a German anti-tank gun. It is an enlarged Mauser,
weighing 65 pounds and shoots a shell about 8 inches long. It is a savage
looking brute. Was thinking of sending it to the police of Rockingham so they
could mount it in front of the Municipal building, but could not get it through
the mails.
I have charge of the garage for this region and it is some
job keeping the cars moving after being driven by the drivers they have. Wrecks
every day. Just got a Packard Twin Six in the shop that collided with a motor
cycle and tore things up. When you see Dr. Everett tell him he ought to have
heard what Dinah said.
I wouldn’t trade your farm “Lemmengo” for all the chateaus
in France.
James M. Warburton
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Letter From Watt
(Walter) Parsons
Co. C, 324th
Bissey La Cote, France
Jan. 22, 1919
Dear Papa:
Your letter of Jan. 1st reached me yesterday, and
I will answer at once and tell you something of our battle experiences. I can
write very little, for I was only in the fight about three hours before being
picked off by a sniper.
On Nov. 5th, at night, our company left the
little town of Leronville, near Nancy, where we had been a week on duty
unloading the division, for the front near Verdun. After riding for three
hours, 30 mien to the truck, we unloaded and hiked eight miles in the rain to
dugouts. Here we spent the remainder of the night and until 3 o’clock Wednesday
afternoon, Nov. 6th. We relieved the 35th division around
9 o’clock that night about 10 miles east of Verdun. Here our battalion, the
first, was in reserve for the second which was holding the lines about a mile
northeast of us. For three nights and two days we were reliving on easy street,
nothing to worry about except an occasional shower of mustard gas shells and a
possibility of an air raid. Friday night Cole Nichols was on gas guard, and I
was with him writing a note to O--- when interrupted with a calling together,
by the Captain, of the officers and non-coms. Here we noncoms were ordered to
have our men up and ready to move out, with light packs at 5:30. We were not
told which direction or for purpose we were moving but we all had an idea of
what was to take place. We were issued two days’ rations at 4 o’clock and at
6:30 everyone was ready to move. But we did not move until three hours later.
Our artillery started its barrage about 7 o’clock and at 8:30 we left our
dugouts. On reaching the trenches we were given the command to load guns, fix
bayonets and go over the top in line of combat groups. For about 600 yards we
advanced through an open field with practically no resistance, and had reached
the woods when all at once four or five machine guns opened fire on us. We of
course immediately took cover as best we could, and continued to advance as
fast as possible. About this time three enemy aeroplanes flew over us, just
above the tree tops, and opened fire. A few minutes later they appeared again
and in addition to firing they sent up two or three red rockets, calling for a
barrage; and it certainly came, but fortunately at the time most of this
barrage fell behind us, though occasionally a shell would knock the top out of
a tree just over our heads. I remember one instance especially where “Nick” was
on one side of a large tree and I on the other; and all at once the top of said
tree began falling in splinters all around us. After that I stayed away from
large trees. We had advanced beyond the enemy’s observation posts and were
within a few yards of their trench when we were held up by a machine gun
directly in front of us. Here our lieutenant ordered me to flank the m.g. on
the right, and while we were trying to get this gun, several other machine guns
began surrounding and closing in on us. This, together the unusually heavy
barrage which by now was falling all among us, caused us to give up the gun we
were after, and get out of the trap we ourselves were in. In getting out I and
several others were wounded. Think a sniper got me for he kept “Nick” and me in
the same shell hole for a good while; every time we would shake a twig he would
shoot. As soon as we were clear of the trap I left the other boys and struck
out for the first aid station in the rear. On reaching this station about 12
o’clock my wound was treated and I started out in ambulance for the hospital.
Went through two field hospitals where correct records were supposed to have
been made, and later reached evacuation hospital about 9 o’clock that night.
Stayed there over night and left at noon the next day on Red Cross convoy for
base hospital No. 6 at Bordeaux. Arrived at base No. 6 Tuesday Nov. 12th
at 2 a.m. Here I remained until Dec. 13th when I left to rejoin my
company.
Love to all, Affect.,
Walter
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Letter From L.E.
Ballard
Dec. 31st,
1918
Co. C. 324th
A.P.O. 791, France
Dear Mother:
Your letter yesterday. Was so glad to get it. Sometimes it
takes a letter a long time to come, but I am glad to get them even if they are
old. Am well and feeling fine. Received my Xmas box yesterday, Dec. 30th.
Was sure proud to have it; was filled
with candy and cake; just what I wanted. We have little to do now; only drill
five hours a day. Awfully rough over; rain most all of the time, and muddy.
Will be more than glad when we can get back to the good old U.S.A.
L.R. Ballard
-=-
Letter From James
H. Covington Jr.
January 21, 1919
Machine Gun Company,
324th Infantry
A.P.O. 291, A.E.F.
I am now in a little town by the name of Thouier, France,
about 150 miles southwest of Verdun. Have been here since Dec. 3rd.
We hiked from near Verdun and, believe me, it was some hike. Were on the road
about 15 days.
Have certainly enjoyed the Post-Dispatch. Have read it in
dugouts, trenches, barns and in all kinds of places. Was reading it in a dugout
near Verdun the night before we went over the top. Shells were falling all
around that night, but nothing compared with next morning.
I belong to the 8th army corps 1st
army. We have very good quarters here and our working hours are good. Hard to
get an idea as when we will leave this country. Have had some close calls but
was very lucky and came out o.k. My love to all my friends. A letter from
friends back home is worth lots to us over here. We value letters, or cards,
more than you can imagine. Write us.
James H. Covington Jr.
-=-
Dr. Covington to Mrs.
Bennett
Extracts from a letter received by Mrs. John T. Bennett from
Dr. J.M. Covington of Wadesboro, who is overseas in the 88th
division.
Field Hospital 349,
313th Sanitary Train
88th
Division, France
Dec. 30th,
1918
My Dear Cousin:
During Christmas week I visited Domremy, home of Joan of
Arc, and while there I got for you at her residence and in the room she
occupied, a little souvenir. Domremy is a very historical old place and practically
no changes have been made in her home, or church since her childhood, between
the years 1412 and 1429.
I left New York city with a convoy of 23 ships; time
required crossing 16 days. Three hundred miles out from Liverpool we were
attacked by two submarines and after an excitement of about 30 minutes our way
was cleared and we went on to Liverpool without further trouble. Entrained
immediately for South Hampton, England, and remained there 7 days. Crossed the
English Channel and landed at La Havre, France, and was then sent to Nivers,
France, to a base hospital for one month’s service. Then was directed to the
front, in the Lorraine Sector, south of Verdun. Was placed in command of an
X-Ray Mobile Surgical Unit. Was there for one month. Then was ordered down in
the Alsace section and attached to Field Hospital Co 349. The infantrymen were
rather quiet but cannonading and air combatting was all the “go.”
After staying there for about a month our division, the 88th,
was ordered north about 150 or 200 miles in northern Alsace, Toul Sector,
preparatory to making a great drive for Metz. However, the 11th of
November arrived too soon and put an end to our job. On the 11th of
November I stood on the hill and listened to the last barrage which ended
exactly on time.
Since the 11th of November my patriotism is dead
and I am saturated with “yellow” and homesick. Whenever our division, the 88th,
crosses the Atlantic and gets in sight of the goddess of Liberty, we will give
a yell so loud that it will put every wireless apparatus out of commission on
the Atlantic coast and no doubt you will hear the vibration of our voices in
the good old state of N.C. I hope it will not be many moons before we return. I
anticipate getting home by the time the robins build their nests.
Yours very sincerely,
J.M. Covington
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