John H. Snowden Writes Home from Toul, France, 1919

From The Independent, Elizabeth City, N.C., March 7, 1919. To see the photo of John H. Snowden, go to https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025812/1919-03-07/ed-1/seq-1/

We are publishing the following letter from John H. Snowden, son of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Snowden of Maple, Currituck county.

Toul, France

A.P.O. 918

Feb. 11, 1919

Dear Mr. Saunders:

As I have the time I will write to thank you for your paper you have been sending me. I should have written before, but as you know a soldier doesn’t have time to write any old time he feels like it. I sure have enjoyed reading The Independent, as it gives me all the home news…. I have been transferred out of my old division. I am now with 2^nd Army Traffic Police. I had much rather be in Germany with the 82^nd Division. I have been through some hard battles with those boys. I was on the battle line for over nine months with the 82^nd Division. I was taken out of it about the first of October and have been in Toul, France, ever since, doing Traffic duty.

I was on the Champaign front the 14^th of July, we went from there to Chateau Thierry, the second battle of the Marne. From there we went up on the St. Mehiel sector, and after that was over I was transferred from that division. Before all of this our division held a sector on the Lorraine near Baccarat, France. We were there for over four months, without being relieved. That didn’t amount to much tho, as we didn’t make much advance. Well, I guess I have told you about all the news that I know at this time. I only wish I could tell you when I was coming home, but I hope it will be some time in the good old summer time. I have written papa to plant a good garden and plenty of watermelons, as I hope to be there to help eat them. With best regards to all the family,

Sincerely,

Pvt. John H. Snowden

1^st Prov. M.P. Co.

2^nd Army, A.P.O. 918, A.E.F.