Somewhere on the Border, Texas 8/17/1916

Dear Lena

 

Just a line or two and that is all. We had another practice hike this morning but we didn’t have to carry our haversacks or extra bandaleers of amunition. We hiked about five miles, drilled, in extended order, exercise with and without rifles, and then hiked the five miles back again. It was soft work although some of the boys felt it, for we had to walk through a good deal of sand, mud, and railroad beds.

 

We are feeding from a field kitchen on which four companies are feeding now and we stood in line almost an hour befor we got a whack at the eats, which was corn chowder, corn starch pudding and rotten coffee. We had to attend school this afternoon, get our whole equipment changed for now, (and by the way, they are going to issue overcoats, for winter I suppose). I’m thinking of some thing, guess what it can be? I hope they think it is going to be cold in Boston very soon for I dont think we will use these coats down here until Nov. any way, and I hope we are not going to use them here.

 

We go on out post again tonight so dont expect a letter for two days, although I have done more writing while on out post than any where else. I will try to write and let you know how things are going. It looks like more rain tonight and if it does it is going to be tough. It is a sector we never covered before so we don’t know what we are going to run into. But rain, shine, strange land, or any thing else, we are there so why worry.

 

I got a card today, stating that you received that paper. What do you think of it? I think it looks like one of Mr. Hearst’s. Gee we hate to leave our camp, (which we will in about an hour) and hike away out there on that dreary border. All along the border, the two countries are separated by barb wire fences. About every hundred yards there is a monument, which we call posts. Well I have to close now, hoping that this finds you as Ive always hoped my others would. I am taking good care of my self, not altogether because I want to but because I have to, in order to be able to return in as good health as I left.

 

I guess I am loosing the art of writing again, for I havent answered half the letters I have received. Better days coming (Id like to know when.

 

Sam

 

 © Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

From Em, Charlestown Mass. 8/16/1916

Dear Sam.

 

Received your letter and I glad to know you’re feeling good. I just sent a card ahead of this letter. The United Drug Co. (Liggetts) is having a big time up to Braves field next Wednesday night for the Mass. Volunteer Aid Association. There will be a band concert, fireworks and an aeroplane flight. The 1^st Corps Cadets are going to have a night battle and drill. The employees are going to get free tickets so of cause I’ll have to be there. By the way the papers speak about it I guess it will be worth taking in. They are having their convention (that is the stockholders from all over the U.S. are coming to Boston) so they ought to make good. I guess Lena and Bert are going too.

 

Lill Studley is up in Maine on her vacation and I got a postcard from her today. The picture on the card is of the 5 & 10 cent store in Augusta. I’ve been in that store and I guess you have too. Isn’t funny that she should send me a card of a place Ive been. She is stopping at Winsorville (where ever that is).

 

There was a big fire down on the corner of Park and Henley Sts last night in a barn. 15 horses were burned to death and four were brought out but were so badly burned that they had to be shot. I guess the owner lost all his horses.

 

I was up to the band concert last night. They had another ice cream sale up there. There was an awful crowd up there. I am staying in tonight and Lena has gone out. Pa gets home at 9 o’clock so I’m staying in to get his supper. It is almost time for him now.

 

Well I guess I will have to close as this is all I can think of. There is class to your letter paper alright. Hoping this letter finds you well and just waking up from a nice long sleep I will close.

 

With Love from all

Em.

 

P.S. I just gave Pa his supper so my work for the day is done. Em.

 

© Copyright 2009 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Camp Cotton, Texas 8/16/1916

Dear Em,

 

Received your card and I am finding time right now to answer it. Gee we are hitting it pretty tough here now, for the rainy season has struck us. It is raining again now but not as hard as it did yesterday and Saturday night. Say when it does any thing weatherish down here it sertainly goes the limit. The storm Saturday leveled all of our tents and soaked everything we owned. Last nights storm flouded us out again but we managed to keep our cloths dry. We dug trenches around our tents so that the rain would collect in these instead of the tents. Some how the head of my cot got down in to this trench (which is about a foot deep and I felt pretty sore when I awoke in the morning. I have felt the effects of this all day, but I will get over that alright.

 

Some lumber came today for floors and some of the tents have them already laid. I havent. One thing about the rain here. It dosent have that dreary, cold, shivery effect that it has in N.E. I suppose it isnt the time of year for it to be so. You only have to walk about tent feet when you have got about twenty five pounds of this dope mud on your shoes. Talk about snow shoeing. We had electric lights installed today, and it makes it pretty comfortable. OH but the boys are getting sick of this hanging around just drilling, getting wet, drying out, getting sick, getting well, hearing that we are going home soon, and then hearing different. Yes this is a fine life almost. Now don’t think I am crying baby (for I picked my bed and I am going to lay in it.) I just want to tell you the true attitude of most of the boys. Today for instance after such a night, we drilled four hours in the morning. In the after noon, non comps school at one oclock, inspection of rifles (after the rain you know) at three, another non comps school, at Regimental Headq. at four, and Retreat at five. You know how mad I can get without saying anything. Well you can imagine my mood all day today. (Part of the game though) Do it and say nothing.

 

I am wondering right now Em if I have changed any. I hope so. We are feeding fine latly such as. Peas, frankforts, pigs feet, cabbage, roast beef, mashed potatoes, iced cocoa, (tapioca pudding) (yes but its awful to eat this and think of the kind Lena makes.) Sunday we had chicken soop, how does that sound? It sounds all right but oh get your glasses to find the rubber stuff they call chicken. But it did taste good beleive me and don’t think it didn’t. I wish I had a dish of Lena’s chicken soop now. Well what is the use of talking about eats. What we get taste very good to us and we are getting enough just now. We know we will break camp at this place soon for (someplace on the border) do you get the heading on this sheet. Some bull what?

 

Do you know Em there are some good things that we experience in the army, and it looks good (I know) to see them walking on parade, but they are well ofset by the hours that are spent, working, drilling, patience, attention and yes hardships that they go through. The papers may say how comfortable we are, but even for peace time, I know that war must be hell. The worste is yet to come for some of these poor fellows that are not quite as healthy as I am, but we will all give a good account of our selve and be a credit to the old Bay State and to Uncle Sam. And I can say right here, that where we are carrying 210 rounds of amunition the Michigan troops are carrying only five and they are doing no out post work at all. The Second Mass. Brigade is doing it all at Camp Cotton at least.

 

Well hoping this jumble of Bull finds you all well I remain
Sam

 

 © Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

From Em, Charlestown Mass. 8/14/1916

Dear Sam.

 

I just got your card and also Pa’s and Lena’s. That is some song and say don’t we wish you were here now. Lena likes to bake with her new gas stove and the oven is great but you know pa and I are poor eaters. You may not have to stay much longer and then we’ll see what Lena and her gas stove will do.

 

I see by the papers that you had a big storm down there. Did you have a wash hung out? If you did “Good Night Shirt.” Mary was here when I was reading your cards and she feels sorry for you cause you’re so busy. She sends her love and is waiting patiently for a letter. She can play Tipperary with one finger on the piano. She has your skin a mile. I took her over to the band concert in City Point yesterday. They have great music over there. They play all popular songs.

 

We had two showers yesterday and I got caught in one of them. We were on the front seat of a car and got soaked. Henry was over Sunday to dinner. He is feeling fine. Pa is feeling fine. He changes his watch tomorrow going to work at 10 and getting through at 8 at night. The kids are out here playing “hide & go seek” and making more noise than a whole army. Old George is out on the steps fighting with them. Its awful hard for me to write a letter because I never have anything to write about but I try and do the best I can.

 

We are all well and so is every one else I know. I am glad to know you are gaining, as it is better than getting any thinner. Well I have nothing else to write about now so I’ll have to say Amen. Hoping this letter finds you well I will close

 

With Love from all

Em.

 

© Copyright 2009 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Camp Cotton, Texas 8/14/1916

Dear Em,

 

I have given up all hope of trying to dope out when we are to leave for home. Some say that we are going home for Oct 12, some say we wont go home until the end of that month. Then some say we are going to stay here for a few weeks, go to Deming N.M. for target practice, then maneuvers after which we go home. There is another rumor that we will leave the 28th of this month. Now if you were me, wouldn’t you give up worrying and plug along the same old guy. Im going to, any way. As usual, I never felt better in my life.

 

After this we are only going to have inspection for Sat. and nothing at all Sun., so you see that will give up two days a week to our selves. After the storm we had Friday night Ive been busy cleaning up my property for everything I own got wet and dirty. We are to be examined by the U.S. Army today, and some of the fellows hope they wont pass. Not me. (How is everybody. Hows Pa.) Keep cool.

 

Sam

 

 

Dear Em

 

Here is another one, and that is about all I have to say. We have had pretty near the whole day to ourselves today on account of the examination this morning. Washing. Yes I washed out three pair of underwear, three of socks, two bath towels one dish towel, one hankerchief, pair of leggings, one hat, two pairs of pants and my cot. Come to think of it this is Monday at that so its was a good day for this business. I sent a postal this morning but this won’t be mailed until tonight so this will be tomorrows news. News, get it, news. Say there isn’t enough news down here to keep the Enterprise going, one month.

 

It was pretty warm today, but we took it easy and didnt feel it very much. Ill have to get over to see Jimmie Coyne pretty soon, but Ive forgotten just what company it is. Ill find out though by looking back through my letters. I passed good in every thing in the examination except for a little lift in my left arch. I weighed 133 so you see Ive lost all that weight that I imagined I was gaining. But I am in the pink of condition so I should worry.

 

We are getting better eats and more sleep than we have been getting while away on that patrol duty. I suppose you have read of the storm we had and beleive me it was some storm. It wet every thing I owned and that is why I had such a big washing today. Say the Militia is sertainly going to surprise you people when they get home and you will never know it was the same crowd that tramped thorough Boston on that memorial day we left. Great was the send off, and I suppose greater will be the return. But it wont be the greeting from the mob, but the hand shakes of our own dear friends that will please us as we were never pleased before.

 

Sam

 

 © Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Somewhere on the Border, Texas 8/12/1916

Dear Em.

 

Well what do you think of this for class. It is some paper that that girl friend of mine sent down, although Ive lectured to her about sending stuff away down here as much as I have to you. We are just about all played out. I sent a postal saying how much hiking, under the conditions, but that didnt end it. No sooner had I mail three postals than all us non comps were taken about three miles from camp, and hiked over the ground we are now gaurding and patrolling. We started back to camp at five oclock, ate some grub and rolled up our roll and hit for this out gaurd. I was with the captain all night patrolling around, and I didn’t get a chance to sit down once until 2 oclock this morning, and the first thing I knew we were both asleep. One of the sentrys woke us up, and off we were again. He said “Come on Sam lets get walking so we wont fall asleep. We’ll walk around just once more and see that everything is all right before we turn in.” Well I hit the ground at about four oclock and was up again a five, so you can see the loss of sleep that we have gone through in the last 24 hours. I can just write this letter and I hope I finish it before I fall asleep, for if I don’t write and get this off to you today, the Lord only knows what time you will get it.

 

I didn’t know just where I was laying down this morning if I had noticed this, I wouldn’t have woke up this morning (an hour after I layd down) feeling as though some one was sticking a bayonet into my back and every bone in my body acking. I was laying right on a rock with out noticing it. Im feeling fine now, but gee wouldn’t I like to have a 36 hour sleep. (Part of the game.)

 

There wasn’t a shot fired from our men last night which speaks very good for us. Company K is covering a distance of about 1 ½ miles which makes it very hard for the men to get any sleep. This would be all right if it only lasted for about three or four days, but where we have been doing this duty for the last month it gets pretty tiersome. Of coarse I didnt expect a picnic down here any way so what is the use of my telling all this. Ive got to dig up some thing to fill this letter up now that Ive started it.

 

There is one good thing about writing this letter and that is, perfect quite. Every one that is not on now are fast asleep and if I don’t make the rounds again pretty soon, I guess they will be asleep on gaurd. This is a good job when you get used to it, but we will never get used to it. The flies are after me again and it is all a man can do to keep one hand writing and brush flies off and the other to hold this paper on my knee. I hope this finds you all well for it sertainly is leaving me that way. When I get a good bath and sleep I will feel like running over into Mexico and licking the whole Mexican Army.

 

Tell the rest of the folks that Ill write when I get a chance, and no one wants that chance any more than I do. I guess I’ll wake up the corporal now and pound my ear for a couple of hours if the flies will let me. But I am so near asleep now that I guess Ill beat them to it.

 

With love,
Sam

 

 

Dear Lena,

 

I have had a little nap and some eats and I feel a little better. We have just had a very hard rain, which lasted about ten minute. It sure did come down for a while and now it is hotter than ever. It is funny what a little sleep and feed will do for a fellow. I received both yours and Em’s post card, and I hope that the range will lessen your work considerable. I don’t doubt but what 17 people have caved in and it is too bad. Em writes that every thing is O.K. which sounds good to me. We have about five fellows at the hospital now, and two more to go very soon I think. Em asks how the washing is. Well I dont blame her for I guess that is about all some of my letters consist of. I fell asleep three time writing the letter you have just about received and I hope you can make out what it says. The card you sent was very fitting and proper, the one about the blue bird. Tell me in your next if you can read these postals. If not I will write larger.

 

Sam

 

 © Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

From Em, Charlestown Mass. 8/11/1916

Dear Sam.

 

Your three cards were recieved today. I didn’t send any mail yesterday but it was the first day I missed. Henry was here fixing the pipe. He can only work by daylight and thats why its taking him so long. I guess he finish his job tonight. He was here this morning at a quarter of six and had breakfast with Lena and I.

 

These last couple of days its been real cool. Mary was up to supper last night and pa was trying to kid her. She said something about Leonard and he said, “Is he as big as I be,” and she said “I don’t know I never saw I be.” You can’t fool her. Napolean is getting his house painted. Here is no news as everything is the same.

 

Bert is fine and working every day and so is Pa. There was no ice cream sale up the band concert last Tues. night. The week before they made 16 Dollars so the papers said. Henry has just finish his job. Now we have our gas stove. Lena is cooking Henry’s supper on it now. This letter is all Henry this and Henry that. Well he’s a good old scout.

 

We have the gas stove over where the little table was and we’re giving the table to Molly. I hope you’ll be able to read this, I’m using a bum pencil. You say you have no time to write and I have lots of time to write but nothing to write about. Of course you know Charlestown is a dead place anyway.

 

I’m sorry I cant write any more but will as soon as I can find some news. Madge is feeling pretty good. Hoping this letter finds you well I will close

 

With Love from all.

Em.

 

P.S. Henry sends his regards.

 

© Copyright 2009 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Camp Cotton, Texas 8/11/1916

Dear Em,

 

I received your letter and was very glad to hear that you got the medals and pictures. We have just come in from an awful grind, hiking 10 miles. We had 210 rounds of ammunition, round abouts, rifles, haversacks, with mess kit and every thing that belong with it, and a canteen full of water. We past a battalion of Mich troops, and all they had on was round abouts, with 100 rounds of amunition and canteen, rifles. It was the hardest hike I have ever experienced in all my time in the Militia, and I don’t think it will be the last nor any easier than we will get from now on. I told you that we dont sweat down here. Well you would think that we had all been swimming with all our cloths on. We went through sand, and it was so thick that I couldnt see one quarter of the company. You can imagine how we look, sweating so and all this dust settling on your face and hands. (All in the game) We all just flopped on reaching our tents. The day I was in town, I found that I had gained 10 pounds, but I bet I lost all that and then some this morning. Give my regards to Henry, Mary and all the rest. No I never have my washing done although I am at it all the time. I wish I could fill this postal up but I can’t think of anything.

 

Sam

 

 

Dear Lena,

 

You all say its hot up there, well beleive me, this has been the worse day for heat that I have ever seen. I suppose it is the result of what they put us throug this morning. We all were beginning to think that we were getting along fine as far as the heat and drilling was conserned, but (oh my,) you would think to see us all now that we had just got here. Now you folks may be trying to dope out why I am sending so many postals. You see I bought 25 of them the last time I was in El Paso, and all I have to do is pull one out of my pocket and jolt down a few words, address it and that is all there is to it. I should be writing a letter now but I dont like to leave the tent, and these are all I have for writing material. There is all the paper and envelopes we want at the Y.M.C.A. but I am too hot and lazy to move from where I now am. I just got a postal from Mary Higgins and she wants to know why I dont answer her letter, so you see Im not writing all I should, although it seems as though every time I get a chance I am scribbling a letter or a card to some one. I am all tanned up (so they say) and I’m in the best of health. Im following out that saying that Pa have you send me on that post card. Cut me up a couple of slices of bread.

 

Sam

 

 © Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

Camp Cotton, Texas 8/10/1916

Dear Em

 

Well you see, you never can tell any thing about what you are going to do next in the army. We were told last night while on outpost, that we were to leave in the morning. So here we are at Camp Cotton and this after noon we had one of those famous sand storms. Im hungry all the time now and we dont get enough to eat, for we are eating from what they call the field kitchen. It is a kitchen on wheels, and every thing we eat is cooked on it. There is a battalion (4 companys) to feed on this, and Im beginning to wish I was a Mess Sargeant. Outside of this, I am in the best of spirits, and am pleased to hear you are all well. I got Mary’s letter and was much pleased with it. I am glad that pa has some one to get his tonic. I wish it would rain just a little. Im going to take a bath. Wash your neck now.

 

Sam

 

 © Copyright 2008 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

From Em, Charlestown Mass. 8/9/1916

Dear Sam.

 

Henry came over to supper last night and he is putting in some gas pipe for our gas stove. Uncle Al was here so he couldn’t do much. It was awful hot here anyway. It is raining tonight and awful cold. Some change. I went to the band concert and left them here. When I cam home what do you suppose Lena told me? It seems that Henry was out in the kitchen and Lena gave him a B. of beer. Bert was here at the time as he bought the treat. Pa and Al was in the parlor. Pa said in fooling to Al “Im going out in the kitchen and have some beer with the boys why don’t you join us.” And Al said, “Guess I will I feel kind of dry.” And they open a bottle for him and he drank it all just like an old timer. Now what do you know about that? He said it was the first he had for 12 years. Lena said when he was going home he banged into the door. Just look at all the fun your missing.

 

Bert and Henry are great old friends that is you would think so if you heard them talking. Henry was to come over tonight but I guess he got stuck on an outside job. Remember how we use to sit in a corner and laugh at him and the faces I used to make at him when he wasn’t looking. Those was the happy day, ha Sam. I gave him one of your pictures, also Madge and Molly.

 

Madge is feeling pretty good and every one else is O.K. I am glad Norman wrote to you but I haven’t seen him since. The band was swell last night but it seems to be punk every other night. Well if your coming home for the World Series you can stand in line all night and be ready for the game. You seem to be broke in on that line, owing to your 24 hr. patrol.

 

Well this is all I can think of now. I just had to tell you how your Uncle is raising Cain. Hoping this letter finds you well and your washing all hung out, I will close.

 

With Love from all.

Em.

 

P.S. Mary sends her love and lots of kisses.

 

© Copyright 2009 by Richard Landers, All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.