Nettleton Miss
Sep 8 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all by now? I am not feeling so good tonight. I think I
had a light chill today but am taking some dope to guard against another
one. Now Pappy and Daisy today am glad Carl is better and he had better
not go to work too soon as weak as he is. It might make him sick again.
Well we are about done with the hay. Two or three loads. Well Merle, I
am sending you this note and if I was you I would tend to this right at
once. You can’t tell what may happen these days so that is all and I hope
Carl will be well in a few days and able to help you all for I know you
do need him. With love to all.
Sam
Camp Pike Ark.
Sep 29 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you by now? I am doing very well now but I have sure been sick
from the typhoid vaccination. They vaccinated us Friday and every boy in
the camp was sick last night. But all of us are well now. We were sick
about 24 hours. The boys that have been vaccinated and well say that they
feel better than they ever felt in their life. You ought to see the change
the boys have made since they got here. The whole crew is getting as straight
as arrows. We got our clothes today but mine did not fit so I will have
to exchange them Monday. We were also examined today but we won’t know
who was exempted till next week. They turned down 120 out of the first
5 percent, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I passed. I received your letter
this p.m. and glad to hear that you are all well and getting so much cotton
out. I got a card from Brock today. He said they were all well and dandy.
He said little B.C. was crowing. I also got a card from Mrs. Ruth B. Said
all was well. Tell Mr. Will I am going to write him as soon as I have time.
I got a letter from Henry yesterday. Said they were well. We will be out
of quarantine after tomorrow and I will be some glad too. We have not been
off of the barracks yard since we came except to drill. We can go to Little
Rock if we want to. Then me and Almon and U.O. Johnson are going to have
some pictures taken with our uniforms on and I will send you all one. I
will tell you a little about our eating here. We all have our own dishes
and it is called a mess kit. It is made of aluminum and it is composed
of a plate and lid, cup, knife and fork. We have beefsteak, loaf bread,
Irish potatoes and bacon and coffee for breakfast and about the same thing
for dinner except ice tea and about the same thing for supper. We have
plenty to eat and it sure is good. You asked me what lieutenant we were
under. We are not under Reed but we have got a fine lieutenant. His name
- Suggs. He is the lieutenant of our Third Platoon and that is composed
of the Lee Co. boys altogether. He said he wanted to have us under him
all the time and if we ever have to go to France he would be our captain
there. But none of them think we will ever have to go. Well I reckon I
had better close for it is getting about bedtime. I will try to write you
twice a week and you ans. soon.
Sam F. Riley
Co. D. 334th MG.B.N.
Camp Pike Ark.
p.s.
I forgot to tell you before now that I have not seen L. Reed. I am
going to try and find out where he is and go to see him. I got both letters
you wrote me this week.
Camp Pike Ark
Oct 3 1917
Dear Homefolks,
Will answer your much appreciated letter. This leaves me well and hope
it finds you the same. I have written to Mamie Tuesday. I wrote them a
card when I first got here but it must have got lost in the mail. Well
it is a lots better here since we gout out from under quarantine. William
Orr and me went to see Frank and George Kingsly Tuesday night and they
sure was glad to see us. We have been going to the YMCA for the last three
nights. It does not cost us a cent to go there. They have a lecture every
night to the boys and its certainly grand. They have the best speakers
in the world. I got a letter from Morris Akers yesterday. He said he might
join the aviation corps but I hardly think he will. Well we are drilling
8 hours a day now but it don’t tire me much since I got a pair of shoes.
They certainly do wear good. They are made to fit any kinds of a foot.
I am going to send my clothes home right away for we have to keep everything
clean around our beds and by the way I will tell you about our bed. While
I think of it, we have got two wool blankets, one thick comfort and I bought
me a pillow when I first got here so you see I have got a good bed to sleep
on and they will give us more blankets as the weather gets cold. Have you
moved my trunk yet? I sure do want you to send me my knife. I think it
is in a pair of overalls in my trunk. Tracy is doing fine. He is liking
it better now. I think I will have to close for it is nearly time for drill.
I hope this finds you well and dandy.
As ever
Sam
Co D 334th M.F.B.N.
Camp Pike Ark
Camp Pike Ark
October 7 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all tonight? I am all ok. I received your letter all right
and would have ans. before now but I have been on guard 24 hrs. Me and
three more boys took it time about. We was guarding the army horses. Tell
Carl he aught to see the horses and mules they have got here. They certainly
are fine. Well we got our last shot for typhoid Friday and it didn’t hurt
anybody at all. We have not drilled any since Fro. I am glad you are getting
so much cotton out and it is such a good price too. You wanted to know
if I had anything to read here. I see a Commercial nearly every day and
there is lots of other papers here we can read. And we can get any kind
of books free at the YMCA but have to return them when we get through with
them. Well the other Lee and Itawamba boys have got here. Martin Sprayberry,
Jim Spain, Porter Ridings, Grady Burt and Presley Conwill are all
right. Close to us we have been to see them and they was glad to see us.
They have been here about 3 days and I had forgot Plese Duncan he is here
also. They certainly look homesick. You aught to see the Negroes that is
coming in here now. There is between 8 and 10 thousand here now. They certainly
do look funny in uniform. They are off in a place by themselves. Well they
are changing some of the boys in our barracks. They signed up for one thing
and another and before they knew it they had them assigned for different
places. I think we all that are in this co. are in one of the best places
in the army. One boy named Evans got his exemption papers yesterday. He
lives close to Uncle Zack Rankin. Those dependent ones and Tracy thinks
he will be exempted too when the board at Fulton gets to his papers. He
certainly has got hopes of it anyway. He filed his papers the same day
and he wrote to J.E. Rankin today asking him to work on his papers. I got
a letter from Dood yesterday and she said she was ok. Well I could write
a lots more but it is about time to go to bed. I hope this letter will
find you all well and hearty with plenty to eat. I would give a dollar
for a plate of molasses and butter and some warm biscuits for we have not
had biscuits but twice since we got here. If you send me a box anytime
soon be sure and put it in a strong box and wrap it well and write my name
plain on it.
Sam
Camp Pike Ark.
Nov 7 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you tonight? I am doing very well except I have got the headache
a little tonight. I received the box you sent me and it sure was fine.
The birds was still good and the peanuts was better. I can’t see why you
didn’t get my last letter. I got the box and wrote you that day and I sent
you two of my pictures in that letter. It must be lost in the mail somewhere
for they sure do handle lots of mail here. Well we are moved again. We
moved today but we are still in Camp Pike. We moved about a mile from where
we was. And my address is the same. All of us are still together. We are
close to the railroad now. I don’t know why they move us about so much
but we didn’t know we was really going to move till about an hour before
we started but if this was the last move, I wouldn’t mind it but the officers
say that we will be move next Tuesday (18) to Camp Bouregard, La. And I
sure don’t like it either for it is a long ways from here but all we can
do is to live in hopes of a better day. Tracy is in the hospital. He has
had measles and pneumonia. He has been mighty sick but he is up now. They
are certainly having a siege of measles here. They have got 1000 cases
of them in one hospital but the doctors are doing everything in their power
to stop them. They examine us twice a day. Tell Miss Hilliard and Miss
Lizzie that I have not forgot them. I want you to write me and address
my letters to this same place. If we are moved before it has time to get
here they will forward it to me. Well I will close this time for it is
nearly time to go to bed. I sure hope this will reach you all right.
Your Dear Brother
Sam
Co B 334th M.F. Bn.
Camp Pike, Ark
Camp Pike Ark.
October 11, 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all getting along by now? I am doing very well. Did you
get my card? I would have written before now but we moved Mon. and we have
all been torn up. We have got straight now but I am separated from all
the boys from Nettleton. But we are still in the same house. They say we
are going to leave Camp Pike right away but I don’t know when or where
we are going to nor our officers don’t either but some say we will go to
Jackson, Miss. or Louisana or South Carolina. I had rather go to Jackson,
Miss. But a soldier has to go where Uncle Sam says go. I have not been
to town yet but think I will go Sunday. I am going to get all of my clothes
tonight with overcoat and I don’t think there is any chance now for me
to get off but I didn’t have no hopes of that when I came here. I got a
letter from Mrs. Bryan yesterday and it was a good letter. She said my
trunk was still at her house. I want you to carry it home the next time
they wagon goes down there. I am glad you all are getting done gathering
so early. I haven’t seen a cotton patch nor heard a rooster crow since
I’ve been here. You asked me about washing my clothes. You ought to see
us. We have got water works with long troughs to wash our clothes in. It
isn’t much trouble. I got the stamps you sent me and was glad to get them.
It makes me feel good to know Mr. Will thinks as much of me as he does.
He has always been a good friend to all of us. I am going to write him
soon. I will send my old clothes back right away. We certainly have to
keep clean here. We are inspected every Saturday to see that none of them
have got catching diseases. We have to fold our clothes and blankets a
certain way, but it is easy when we get on to it. I got Allie’s letter
Monday. He said all was well. I think I told you that Tracy was in another
barracks. He is in 84 and we are in 85. He is all ok. He thinks maybe he
will be exempted on the account of his father and mother. One of the boys
that lives close to Uncle Zack got off the other day and Tracy filed his
claims the same day he did. Well I hope this will find you all well so
I will close for tonight. Write me soon.
Sam
Co. B. 334th M.G. Bn.
Camp Pike, Ark.
Camp Pike Ark.
Oct. 29, 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you this rainy weather? I am all right. I received your letter
Saturday and am glad to know that you are nearly done gathering. I had
a letter from Henry and he said Mr. Bryan had done gathered 1000 bushels
of corn off the crop we worked. Tracy has been right sick. He had tonsillitis
and something wrong with his eyes but he is better now. He has not been
exempted but J.E. Rankin is working on his case. I think he will be exempted
before long. Henry wrote and told me that a Williams boy from here told
him that he left Camp Pike about a week ago and said he left me gambling.
Now there never has been a bigger lie told nowhere than that. I have not
even thought of such a thing. Any of the boys from Nettleton will tell
you the same. I come here with a determination not to gamble nor smoke
cigarettes and I am going to stick to it. I am going to do my best to come
out of this war a better man than I was when I came here. We are under
a quarantine against measles. They have carried 4 or 5 cases from this
barracks and it is the same thing with all the other barracks but I am
not afraid of them for I have had them. We are having lots of rain here
now and it is sure looking like snow this morning. We have not got any
heavy clothes yet but it wont be long till we get them. All of us have
got fine overcoats. We have not done but little drilling for a week. I
don’t know the reason but I think we will be moved soon. I don’t think
any of us will have to go to France. Last Friday was Liberty Bond Day here.
I bought a $50 bond and nearly all of the boys here did too. We can pay
for these bonds $5 a month till we get it paid for and we get 4 percent
interest on it. I believe this money will help end this war and it wont
be long about it. This camp bought over a $1,000,000 worth of bonds. Tell
Allie to write me soon. I have had some good pictures made. I will send
some home as soon as I get them. We haven’t got a thing to grumble about.
We have plenty to eat and a good bed to sleep on and we don’t have to work
much. I am as well off as if I was at home. I have gained 12 pounds since
we came so don’t bother a bit about me for I am all ok. If it wasn’t for
being away from home I would be contented. Well write me soon and a long
letter.
With Love to all
Sam Riley
334th M.G. Bn. Camp Pike Ark
Camp Pike Ark.
Nov 7 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you tonight? I am doing very well except I have got the headache
a little tonight. I received the box you sent me and it sure was fine.
The birds were still good and the peanuts were better. I can’t see why
you didn’t get my last letter. I got the box and wrote you that day and
I sent you two of my pictures in that letter. It must be lost in the mail
somewhere for they sure do handle lots of mail here. Well we are moved
again. We moved today but we are still in Camp Pike. We moved about a mile
from where we were. And my address is the same. All of us are still together.
We are close to the railroad now. I don’t know why they move us about so
much but we didn’t know we was really going to move till about an hour
before we started but if this was the last move, I wouldn’t mind it but
the officers say that we will be move next Tuesday (18) to Camp Beauregard,
La. And I sure don’t like it either for it is a long ways from here but
all we can do is to live in hopes of a better day. Tracy is in the hospital.
He has had measles and pneumonia. He has been mighty sick but he is up
now. They are certainly having a siege of measles here. They have got 1000
cases of them in one hospital but the doctors are doing everything in their
power to stop them. They examine us twice a day. Tell Miss Hilliard and
Miss Lizzie that I have not forgot them. I want you to write me and address
my letters to this same place. If we are moved before it has time to get
here they will forward it to me. Well I will close this time for it is
nearly time to go to bed. I sure hope this will reach you all right.
Your Dear Brother
Sam
Co B 334th M.F. Bn.
Camp Pike, Ark
Camp Beauregard La.
Nov. 20 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are all today? I am doing fine. Received the letter Lillie wrote
me yesterday and was sure glad to hear from you and that you all was well.
I have got all of the letters your wrote me. After we left Camp Pike they
were forwarded to us. I have been changed from Co. L. since I wrote you.
I was with all the boys that come with me from Tupelo till I was moved
and now I only know one where I am at and that is Sam Young that is Bruce
Young’s brother. We are staying in tents now and I think it will be better
than living in houses. There is just eight to a tent. We have got a stove
in each tent but I don’t like this climate here as well as I did Arkansas
forit is hot every day and cold at night. It is foggy every morning till
9 or 10 o’clock. We have got heavy underwear now. They gave us three suits
last night and we will get some other new clothes this week. I got a letter
from Dood yesterday. She said all was well. We are still under quarantine
for measles but they are not many having it now. I think we will be free
in a few days. I sure hope this war will end this winter and I am not the
only one here that wishes it for I haven’t seen a boy here that wants to
go to France and some of them say they are not going at all. I don’t know
whether I will get a furlough Christmas or not. I am going to put in a
claim for one the first of December. I certainly hope I will get off for
10 days. Anyway we left Tracy Rankin in C.P. He was still in the hospital
there when we left there. We left 40 in the hospital out of our company.
Well I must close this time hoping to hear from you soon. With the greatest
love to all.
Your Brother
Sam
Co. C. 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard, La.
Camp Beauregard La
Nov 29 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you this beautiful thanksgiving day? I am doing ok. I received
your letter yesterday. We have been having lots of rain this week
but I have been at work in the kitchen and haven’t been wet at all. We
are going to have a big dinner today. The government gave every company
10 turkeys and we all payed in and bought a lot of everything good to eat.
We are sure going to have a savory meal this time. I sure do remember a
year ago today we all went hunting in Town Creek bottom. We get today free
and they gave us a suit of nice clothes this morning. They are all wool.
We have got plenty of good clothes now. I have got two wool shirts and
plenty of bed clothes. I am fairing all right now. The war is looking better
every day. The French and British are taking the Germans by the thousands.
I don’t think we will have to go across the water. We get a daily paper
every day. I don’t need any shirts to sleep in now but if I need them I
will let you know. I heard that Tracy was sent to South Carolina. With
the rest that we left at Camp Pike if you can, find out from kin folks.
Let me know for I would like to know where he is. Well I will close this
time hoping this will find you all well. Answer real soon.
Your dear brother
Sam
Co C 155 Inf
Camp Beauregard LA
Camp Beauregard
Nov. 30 1917
How are you all this morn.? I am not doing so well today. I have got
a cold but I am taking some medicine and I think I will be all ok by tomorrow.
I have just got the box you sent me and everything is all ok. It reached
me in good condition. I got a box from Ria also and it is sure a nice one.
We certainly had a fine dinner yesterday. We had every good thing you can
think of. Now don’t be uneasy about me. I am not much sick. I am not doing
any work today. I will close with love to all. Write soon.
Sam
Co. C. 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard, La.
Camp Beauregard La.
Dec. 2 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you today? I am doing all right now. I was right sick Friday
but they gave me a lot of medicine and it straightened me out. I was afraid
if I didn’t write you all would be uneasy about me. If I should get bad
sick I would let you know at once but I certainly hope nothing like that
will happen. That box you sent me was certainly fine. That cake and sausage
was certainly fine and everything was still nice and fresh and that cake
was my choice. Sam Young helped me eat it and he is sending a few lines
of thanks to you. He said that was the finest cake and sausage he ever
ate. Say Daisy, I am sending one of the French boy’s pictures that are
in the tent with me. They are all mighty nice to me, all of them. Tell
Lillie that I have found one that wanted to marry as bad as she does and
he is French too. He has me to read a letter every day or two. Well I haven’t
got anything new to write so I will close. I hope this will find you all
well and healthy.
Your son and brother
Sam
Co. C. 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard, La.
Camp Beauregard La
Dec 9 1917
Dear Homefolks,
I will ans. your welcome letter. I would have answered it sooner but
I have been mighty busy lately. They had had us clearing and digging stumps.
We have not drilled but little since we have been at this place. Sometimes
I think this war is mostly talk or they would be training us more. We are
having some real cold weather here not. It rained Friday and turned cold
Sat. They say it is colder there than it has been in years but we have
got rich pine to burn in our stoves and we stay very warm. Well they are
going to give half of the boys 4 days xmas and the other will get 4 days
after new years but I am going to try and get more than that. It will take
me two days to go home and two to come so I wouldn’t have any time to stay.
I want you to write at once and tell me whether to come or not if I just
get the 4 days for I am undecided but I sure hope and pray that I can come
home some day and be free again. About all you can hear now is boys talking
about going home. If I get to go xmas I will come with the Nettleton
boys but if I can’t come for xmas I am coming after. Well I will close
this time hoping this will find you all well. Write me as soon as you get
this.
Sam
Co C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard La
Camp Beauregard La
Dec 18 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all this bad weather? I hope you are all well. I am very
well now but I was sick three days last week with a mighty bad cold. I
received your letter yesterday and I was glad to hear that you are all
were well. We had some cold weather last week but it didn’t snow any here
but it has sure rained a lot.
Well I don’t know no more about coming home xmas than I have already
written you. The mumps has broke out in this co. and I don’t think anyone
will get to go home for the holidays. I had a letter from Henry Sunday
and he sent me $30 to go home on but they paid me $25 on Saturday before
and I will not need it unless I get off xmas. You know it will be a great
disappointment to me and all the rest of the boys but I want all of your
at home to have a good time xmas and don’t take the blues on account of
me being here. Sam P. Young sure did want to go home. Me and him had planned
to go together.
Well I hope and pray all of this will work out for the best and I believe
it will. Tell Lillie not to be shedding tears about Morris for he is in
the best position in the army. Well I hope all of you will have a merry
xmas and a happy new year and pray that the new year may bring peace to
the fighting world, but I believe you are doing the very thing. Well if
I do get to go after xmas, I will let you know. Write me soon and a long
letter. I will close for this time hoping this will find you all well and
happy.
May God’s richest blessing be bestowed upon you all.
Sam
Co. C 155 Inf
Camp Beauregard La
Camp Beauregard, La.
Dec. 19, 1917
Dear Homefolks,
How are you today? I am all ok except I am a little disappointed this
morn. I wrote you a letter yesterday and told you that I might get to go
home but the captain said this morning that none of us would get to go
for Xmas on account of mumps, but I think we will get to go after Xmas.
I want you to send me a box as soon as you can. I will close with love
to all and a Happy Xmas.
Sam
Co. C 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard, La.
Camp Beauregard La.
Jan. 13 1918
Dear Homefolks,
How are you today? I am very well. I got your letter Friday and was
glad to hear that you all was getting along all ok. Well I know that it
is cold there for it is sure cold here. It snowed about an inch deep Thursday
and hasn’t melted but little. Yet they say it is colder here than it has
been in 30 years. We have not drilled any since it snowed but we all went
to the base hospital Saturday to be examined for tuberculin and it is about
3 miles and we got mighty cold going. They found me all ok but they turned
a few down. I received the box that you sent me yesterday and it is certainly
fine. Sam P. Young is back from the hospital and he is in the tent with
me and he is going to write you a few lines with this letter. Tell Pappy
to take good care of himself for it is certainly dangerous this cold weather.
They have moved some of this company and are going to send them to South
Carolina but I don’t think they are going to send any of the Miss. Boys
there but I have heard that we was going to move us before long and I heard
that we was going to guard the border and oil wells but there is certainty
in this. Well I will give you my lieutenants’ names. We haven’t got no
captain. First Lieutenant’s name is Henderson and the second name is Withers
but I like Withers the best of the two. Well I can’t say whether I will
get to come home anytime soon but they say that the quarantine will be
raised soon and as soon as it is raised I am going to try and get a pass.
I am going to send some money home in a few days. We will get paid Monday.
I didn’t think that I would have to pay taxes but I am glad Pappy paid
them. Well take care of yourself all of you and maybe someday I will
be back home again.
Lovingly
Sam
Co. C. 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard La
Jan 28 1918
Dear Home Folks,
How are you all this rainy morning? I am feel lots better this morning.
I have been right sick for the last three days but I took a course of medicine.
I am about well of the mumps but have had mighty high fever. I received
your letter two days ago and was glad to hear that you all was well and
I trust that you can stay well. I received Mandy’s box she sent me but
I couldn’t eat anything she sent me but the sweet potatoes and I had a
couple of dogs in the tent with me and they eat everything while I was
asleep so when I got able to eat it was all gone but I thank God that all
in this army are not like them. I am in the tent now with one of the finest
boys I have ever seen. Well I guess you have heard about Tracy. Henry sent
me a letter that he got from him and he said in that letter that he was
going to be sent to France in 14 days. It sure was a sad letter. I don’t
think we will be sent to France for a long time but I believe we will be
transferred to some place to guard before long but we can only guess at
these things. The old Miss. Regiment is coming Tuesday. I don’t have no
idea whether it will be better or worse on us. Tom Monighan will be in
this Co. There is a good many that I know in the first Miss. I got the
pictures of Lillie and Luther. It is a good picture and it sure did make
me feel bad. I want you if there is a picture of our house to send me one.
Well, I may get to come home some day. I think the quarantine will be over
in a few days and as soon as it is, I am going to try for a pass. I will
close this time. Write me a long letter.
Sam
Co. C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard, La.
Feb 4 1918
Dear Daisy and all,
I will take my pen in hand and ans. the very welcome letter that you
wrote me a few days ago. This leaves me very well this morning. I am well
of the mumps. The only thing that is wrong with me I am still weak but
I am going back to drilling tomorrow I think. We are having some fine weather
here now. It is just like spring weather. The bluebirds and field larks
are singing. Just like plow time and you know it makes me homesick to see
and hear that and still have to stay here. But Daisy, I got a paper this
morning that reads more like Peace than anything I have seen in a long
time. I can’t help but feel that we will be free in a short time but of
course we can’t tell. Daisy, all of the First Miss. Regiment have moved
in with us and there is certainly a crowd of us to eat. Now there is over
200 in our company, the most of them are old men and some of them are as
old as Pappy. I have not been with any of them any yet though. Sam Young
says they are all nice to him. Well Daisy, if Merle does have to go to
the army I will hate it as bad as any of you but I believe they are first
going to give these last boys a military training of about 4 months and
then turn them loose but he is so fat it will be mighty hard on him but
they haven’t got any boys here who are fat. I can’t believe they will take
him. Daisy I get plenty of tobacco here. I have quit chewing but little
and it is weak tobacco. If Wallace and Merle haven’t done sent me that
why they needn’t send it for I can get it here. I don’t know what about
me getting to come home any time soon but they are going to raise the quarantine
today I heard and I am going to and me and Sam P. are going to ask for
a furlough right away. You all needn’t be uneasy about me running away
from here for I have seem them here try that and they are put in prison
and treated like a dog and guarded with a gun. That is a mistake about
Sam P. Young going to run away. He talked of doing that but he says he
is going to stay with it now. Well there has been some talk of stopping
us from writing home and if they do I want you all to write to me just
the same but I don’t think they are going to do this. Well I will close
this time hoping this will find you all well. Write soon. With love to
all.
Sam
Co. C. 155th Inf. Camp B.
La.
Camp Beauregard La.
Feb 5 1918
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all this fine day? I am all ok. We are having some fine
weather here now. It is like spring weather. I received your letter yesterday
and was good to hear that all are well. I am still in the mumps quarantine
but it is a good part of the doctor letting me stay here. I believe I told
you in the other letter about the old Miss. Regulars living with us. I
haven’t talked to many of them yet but the boys say that they are nice
boys. I know a few of the old guards. Tom Monagahan is here but I haven’t
seen him yet and Sadie Cox has a brother here too and also a Stevens boy
from Nettleton. I am glad Uncle Bob is with you. Has he moved his stuff
back here yet? I sure do trust that Merle will get out of going to the
army for he is so fat. He will never stand it. They haven’t got any boys
her5e that are fat and I don’t believe they will have Merle. I can’t say
yet and of course I don’t know when they are counting on taking us to France
but I can’t help but believe we will go this spring for they have done
give us gas masks and if they were not counting on us going they would
not have given us them but the war will not last but a little while longer.
I want you all to be as reconciled as you can for this is a time when we
all need our courage to go through these awful times and if I do go to
France I am counting on coming back to home and friends to spend the rest
of my days a free man for it is sure had to be here. I believe some of
you all can come to see me now for they raised the quarantine yesterday.
If Pappy wants to come I will pay his way there and back and I would be
mighty glad to see Mammy but no woman don’t come here for it is too rough
for a lady to come to us, I am sorry to say. Well I can’t think of anything
more of interest to write. I will close hoping to hear from you all soon
and give Uncle Bob my best regards and tell him I want him to write me
a few lines when he feels like it.
With love to all
Sam
Co. C. 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard, La.
Camp Beauregard La
Feb 12 1918
Dear Henry & Rea,
How are you today? Am well and dandy but am real tired. I went to the
Rifle Range yesterday and didn’t get back till nearly night and then I
had to go and guard last night and didn’t sleep any then. I had to go to
the range this morn. and have just come back so I guess you know about
how I feel. I got back with the company last Friday from the Mumps Quarters.
The old company is with us and they are real soldiers. I think from what
I have learned of them that the most of them are nice boys but of course
there is some rough ones in this co. We have got the best lot of officers
I have been under since I have been in the army. Our captain’s name is
Captain Fowler and our First Lieutenant’s name is Rye from Aberdeen and
they say he is Sallie Peck Bryan’s husband and Mr. Bryan’s nephew “Meeks”
is here. I met him Sunday. Henry I took the full insurance. I am better
satisfied to have the full insurance. I had $75 made to Mammy and the rest
to Pappy. Henry I don’t believe you could come to this camp. They have
got mighty strict on this quarantine. If you should come to Alexandria
you couldn’t come to camps on the train and if you was to hire a car, it
would be a accident if you got here in it. I would be mighty glad to see
you and any of the home folks but there is no hopes till the quarantine
is raised. Henry I believe we will be sent back to Miss. to do guard duty
and this is pretty straight dope too. Gov. Bilbo said he was going to give
this First Miss. the first choice as they you know. This regiment
has done more guard duty than any other regiment in the U.S. and I am hopeful
of going back to Miss. We may possibly go to France but if we do I think
it will be a good while yet. Well I have to write the homefolks tonite.
I had better close. Give Mr. and Mrs. Bryan my best regards and tell them
I will write them soon.
With Love to All
Sam Riley
Co C 155th Inf
Camp B. La
Camp Beauregard La.
Feb 12 1918
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all today? I am fine. I received your letter Mon. and am
glad that all are well. I have been in my Co. since Friday and I am feeling
better every day. Well it certainly did change in my company while I was
in the mumps camp but it is lots better since the First Miss. Has moved
in with us. The most of them seem like good boys and we have got
the best officers now that I have been under since I came to the army.
Some of our officers and some of the oldest soldiers in this co. was in
the Spanish-American war. Well I believe I have got some good news this
time. We have been hearing that we was going back to Miss. To do guard
duty and I believe it is a fact as this co. has done guard duty all over
the U.S. and Gov. Bilbo said he was going to give this regiment the first
chance to guard in Miss. In regard to Pappy coming to see me I don’t think
it would be any need to try to get here till the quarantine is raised.
I want to see every one of the family mighty bad but there is no hope of
you trying to come here or me trying to go home till the quarantine is
raised. Tell Wallace and Merle that I received the tobacco they sent me
and I sure did appreciate it as it is so high here. I am going to send
some money home to pay Pappy for my taxes as soon as I can get a money
order. I have taken out the other $5,000 insurance and made $7,500 to mother
and the rest which is $2,500 I hope you all will not have a chance to get
this but even if I never have to go to France it is a good thing to carry
this insurance. I am mighty glad Uncle Bob is with you and hope he can
stay with you all and be sure to give him my best regards. None of the
old soldiers here thinks we will have to go to France and I don’t think
now that we will. We are having some nice weather here now and has been
pretty weather here for three weeks. It is so warm that the grass has begun
to come out. I can’t but believe that the Good Lord is with me in this
war. I have been so lucky since I have been at this place … While I have
seen others sick and dieing with all sorts of diseases I am so thankful
that I have lived as clean a life as I have before I came here and since
it is a terrible sight to see the men that are here who are sick with all
kinds of loathsome diseases and they have to work just the same, but they
are sending that kind home all the time. I have resolved to live a clean
life and try to be of some good to this world when I get out of this army
and the most of the boys I think here will be better when they get out.
Well I must close. I want you to write me as soon as you get this and tell
me everything and tell Mr. Wills folks that I was sorry to hear that they
had measles and I will write them soon.
Sam
Camp Beauregard La
Feb 21 1918
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all by now? Am well and fat but am mighty tired and sleepy
tonite. I was on guard last night and didn’t sleep but little and it was
cold too. I am sorry you didn’t get my last letter. I always write once
a week and I don’t see what becomes of my letters. I got a letter from
Henry this week and he told that Merle was turned down by the local board
and that he was going to New Albany to be examined by the district board.
I certainly do trust that he will not have to come here and I don’t think
he will and if he does I believe he will be exempted here because they
haven’t got any fat boys here at all. They are most slim like myself. I
received a letter today from Brack and he sent me a picture of little B.C.
It sure is a fine baby. He said they were all well. Well I haven’t heard
anything the last few days about us going to guard the Miss. River but
they talked a lot about guarding in Miss. but we can’t tell now exactly
what we will do. We will get new equipment right away and that is a pretty
good sign that we are going somewhere before very long. We are going to
have the 22 “Washingtons Birthday” as a holiday. I found Cliff Griffin
today. He is in this Band. I have been seeing him for two weeks and didn’t
know him. He is sure a big fine looking fellow now. He plays the trombone
and he certainly plays fine. Well don’t you all think by me writing such
short letters that I have forgotten any of you. I think of all of you every
day. I don’t have time to write a very long letter. Well you all be good
and do your best and some day we will all be together free and happy again.
Write soon.
With Love to all
Sam
Camp Beauregard La.
March 14 1918
Dear Homefolks,
I received your welcome letter today. Am glad all are as well as you
are but am sorry Pappy is sick with rheumatism. Hope he will be better
in a few days. I am fine and getting fat every day. I feel better this
spring than I ever felt in my life. We are having the prettiest weather
here you ever saw and this is the prettiest country that I have ever seen.
Me and Sam P. Young and some more boys took a hike last Sunday about five
miles in the country and the woods here are full of pretty flowers and
the moss is everywhere. This is almost a level country. The land is just
rolling enough to be pretty. I am glad that everything is doing so
well and hope you can make a good crop this year. This spring weather certainly
makes me want to get between the plough and hope before this spring is
over I can help finish the crop that is started. When is Allie Williams
going to work? I am glad that you have got him hired if you have to have
a hand. We are digging trenches now. I have got blisters in my hands tonight
from using the shovel. We will have trench digging for a week now. Well
me and Young have got in our names for a pass. I can’t say when we will
get off but they are letting some go home now. Well it is getting late.
I will close with Love to all. Answer soon.
Sam Riley
Co. C 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard La.
Camp Beauregard La
March 22 1918
Dear Home Folks,
I received your welcome letter yesterday and was sorry you did not get
my last letter. The stamps must lost off as the last lot of them did not
have any mucilage on them. This leaves me well but am a little tired.
We have just come in from a 9 mile hike. We left yesterday at dinner and
hiked to Alexandria and stayed all night and came back this morn. This
is the first hike I have made with a pack. Our pack weighs 75 pounds besides
the rifle and believe me it sure does bare down but I made it like a top.
March 24: I am finishing this letter this morn. I had to quit to go
on guard Friday. I had not pulled off my shoes in 48 hrs till last night.
You need not be uneasy about that cartridge I sent home. I will write you
again in a day or two. I haven’t any news to write this time.
Love to All
Sam
Co C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard La
Camp Beauregard La.
March 30 1918
Dear Homefolks,
How are you this beautiful spring weather? Am just fine. I received
your letter yesterday. Was glad to hear that you are all well and moving
on with your work as well as you are. Well I believe I have got some good
news for Merle and all of you. I heard that the boys will not have to go
to the army till fall if then and I think it must be the fact. That will
be a great blessing to you. You wanted to know whether we get enough to
eat or not. We have plenty to eat but it is the same old thing all the
time and I am getting mighty tired of it. We have biscuits and molasses
once a week but we have beef and grits and light bread every meal. Well
I don’t know when I will get to go home but I have got in for a pass. They
are letting six go home at a time and they will get to me some time. Well
you wanted to know if I needed anything. I have got everything I need here
but I would like to have two pairs of union suits. I have got drawers and
undershirts but I never could wear them. Well you all may think I don’t
think of you all and home and everything but this is on my mind almost
all the time and it seems as tho I had been gone from home six years instead
of six months but I believe this war will end this summer. I don’t believe
I will ever have to go across the waters. Well it is almost time for reticat.
Say! Did you get the picture of our company? If you didn’t be sure to let
me know and I will trace it up but of course I made the worst picture in
the whole outfit. Well I will close this time. With love and best wishes.
Sam
Co. C 155th Inf.
Camp Beauregard La.
Camp Beauregard La
April 11 1918
Dear Daisy and all,
I received your welcome letter today. Was sorry to hear that you all
had such colds. I am feeling fine. Well Daisy as I sit tonight writing
I cannot help but think of the warm spring nights like this I have spent
at home. I can’t realize it is as late in the season as it is but the leaves
are full grown here and the weather is hot but this is a milder climate
than I thought it was. Well Daisy, it seems like the cat and pig business
is still progressing. I guess Merle spoiled the kitten eh! You ought
to see the pets that the boys have got here. One boy has got a pet bear
and I’ll bet there is a thousand dogs here. Well Daisy I don’t know yet
when I will get to go home but I think I will get a pass before long. Me
and Young put in for a pass three weeks a go and it is almost our time
but if I don’t get a pass soon I will get more time later on. Daisy I am
a first class private now. I will draw $33 next month. You may think that
is mighty little more but it sure does mean a great deal to be a first
class private in the army. Me and one more boy here out of 160 are the
only ones that was made first class this month “not boasting”
Daisy you know it is my luck to have the worst picture in that whole
outfit but if you notice several on the end I’m on had their eyes shut.
We was in a regular dust storm when it was taken. Well as it is bedtime
I will close. They have set the time one hour ahead. I will close.
Love to all.
Sam
Co C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard La
Camp Beauregard La
April 12 1918
Dear Homefolks,
Have just received your welcome letter. Am glad you all are getting
better. I am very well but I have got a bad cold. We are having some real
cold weather here this week and some frost. I got both of the letters and
the union suits you sent me and sure did appreciate them. I would have
answered the first letter but we have been on a hike for two days and have
just got back and believe me it takes a man to stand these hikes with a
70 pound pack on your back but I have made three and have stood it all
right. Well it is a fact then that Tracy Rankin is in France? Did he tell
them where he was or the kind of work he was doing? Well you wanted to
know when we were going to France. I don’t believe we will go this year
and I have got good reason for saying this for the officers in this Co.
say it will be next spring before we cross, if then. So you all needn’t
be a bit uneasy about me yet. I heard that the farmer boys would get to
go home for three months. Sam P. Young’s father wrote and told him that
he had been to John Rankin and John said he thought he would get to come
home on a 90 day furlough. Now I am going to try that too. I am going to
write Henry tonight and get him to talk to John Rankin. It would like going
to heaven if I could go home and stay that long. Now if Pappy was to go
to tupelo anytime soon he could go and see J.E. and find out about it or
you could talk to him yourself over the phone. Well I will close as it
is almost time to go to drill “1 oclock” Write me as soon as you find out
anything.
Love to all
Sam
Co C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard
Camp Beauregard La
April 19 1918
Dear Homefolks,
How are you all by now? I am very well but am might tired. I have just
come off of guard and am mighty tired. We have had the hardest week this
week since I have been in the army. We have been on guard and hiked all
the week and I have not a night’s sleep that is to sleep all night, and
have been wet lots for it is raining lots here. Well I don’t know whether
you got my letter or not but if you didn’t I will tell you again about
the former or some of them were going to go home to make a crop and I know
you know how well I would like to come home and farm and I can’t but fell
like I will be one but this will have to go through a lot of red tape before
I can get to come. I have wrote Henry and told him to talk to J.E. Rankin
about what to do and to let me know right away but I have not heard from
him yet. I will write you all a longer letter when I am not so tired. Please
excuse this one and write me real soon and if you have heard anything about
the farmers going home be sure to write me.
With Love
Sam
Camp Beauregard La.
April 24, 1918
Dear Homefolks,
I received your welcome letter today. Am sorry to hear that you all
are not well. I would like to know what is making you all sick and what
is that cough that you call Murse Cough? I never heard tell of such a thing
in my life. Well I was surprised that none of you had not heard of the
farmers going to get off but it’s a new law. I wrote to Henry and he didn’t
know a thing about it either. I told him to talk to J.E. Rankin and see
what he could do for me but J.E. is on his canvass and he couldn’t find
out anything from him. Sam P. Young’s father went before the local board
himself and he is going to get out. Several of the boys here have got theirs
and will soon leave. I believe it would be the best thing to do to let
Pappy go to Tupelo and see the local board. It might not do any good but
I sure believe I can get out. Now listen, if Pappy does go to Tupelo and
gets one of those blanks filled out I want him to make the time up to the
first of Oct. I would have wrote to the local board myself but some of
my people has to request this. I can’t get a furlough myself. It has to
be requested by someone at home. Well you told me not to run off from the
war. There is no danger of me leaving here till I get off honorably. That
is a mistake that me and Young was going to run away. Well do what you
can and I will appreciate it. With love to all.
Sam
Camp Beauregard La.
April 28 1918
Dear Homefolks,
I received your welcome letter yesterday and was glad to hear that you
had done what you have to try to get me a furlough, but I don’t see why
I haven’t got them as there have been plenty of time and they ought to
have been here if the local board sent them. There has been several boys
gone home from this co. to farm and I believe they will let me too. But
after I get them from the local bard if they are ok then they have to go
through a lot of red tape here and are liable to be turned down here. Well
I guess you all think I have gone “nuts” over this but I am not trying
to get out any harder than all the boys for all are getting tired of this
war. Sam P. Young is trying to get out to farm but he hasn’t got his papers
yet and they were sent from Tupelo Tuesday and he hasn’t got them yet.
Well I will write you as soon as I find out about my papers. Tell Mamie
I didn’t get my box she sent me Easter. Well you all be good and don’t
be too sure about my coming but you can rest assured that I will do all
I can to get out.
With love from
Sam
Camp Beauregard La.
May 5 1918
Dear Homefolks,
As I haven’t had an answer from home I thought I would write you a few
lines this beautiful Sabbath morn. This leaves me well but am mighty blue
over my not getting to go home. I received my papers from the local board
and my company commander signed them all ok and sent them in to headquarters
and I haven’t heard a word from them yet. Sam P. Young got his papers the
same day I did from the local board and he left for home yesterday “Sat.”
I may get mine yet but you know I have always been unlucky all my life
but I am not going to be bothered over this thing. Young said he was going
to see you all when he got home. He is a fine boy. Me and him have been
mighty good friends since we have been in the war but I have only met with
disappointment since I have been here but I have tried to live up to my
duties as a soldier and to my great creator and will continue to do so.
Well I will close. Hoping I will be with you all before long and to spend
a while on the dear old farm. Be good and don’t worry.
Sam
Co G 155th
Camp Beauregard La
Camp Beauregard La.
May 9 1918
Dear Homefolks,
I received your welcome letter yesterday but it is with a heavy heart
that I sit and write this May morning. There is no hope for me to go home
now. My former furlough was turned down here. I hate to tell this sad news
but in a few days I will leave for somewhere but I don’t know where. There
was a call for 900 out of this regiment and I am one of that number. This
is the saddest time of my life but my hope is not in war but it is in the
one that has power over all things. There is only one thing that I regret.
I wanted to see all of you at home but there is no chance now. We will
be under quarantine for 14 days before we leave. I want you all to never
worry about me. Always trust in the one that knows all things well. But
I believe it is as much my duty to fight for my county and remember, one
thing, if I have to fight it will be for your freedom and to make the world
a fit place to live in. Well I may get to write again before we leave.
Well I am sure of one thing that my sweet dear mother’s prayers will be
with me where ever I go and I will strive day by day to so live as to be
an honor to the ones I love left behind. Well time is scarce. I had better
close hoping to hear from you all soon. You can still address my letters
to the same place. May the God bless and keep you is my prayers. Your loving
son
Sam
Co. C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard La
May 14 1918
Dear Homefolks,
As I have not heard from you in some time, I thought I would write you
again. I wrote to you last Friday and have been mighty anxious to hear
from you all. We have been in quarantine since Friday and they probably
went in to the letters I wrote to you and thew them away. Well I am sure
we are going to leave here before many days and we are pretty sure that
we will go to F. but it will be alright to write to me as my mail will
be send on to me anywhere I go. I would liked to seen all of you before
I left but I know now that it is a good thing that I am as far from you
as I am. I see the sad partings of loved ones every day and that is what
hurts. I don’t believe we will ever go to the firing line. I want you all
to do your best and keep a stiff upper lip, trust in higher power for a
change in this terrible war but am sure you will do all of this and more
too. Well I will write you as soon as I get your letter as I am looking
for one today. With love to all.
Sam
Co C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard La
Camp Beauregard La.
May 15, 1918
Dear Daisy and All,
How are you all tonight? I am all o.k. I received your welcome letter
today and was glad to hear that all were well. I had about given up getting
any more mail from home. I am sorry you were disappointed as well as myself
in my not getting a furlough but I am contented now. Lillie said something
about some of the homefolks coming to see me. I had rather go without seeing
any of you all. No don’t think for a moment I have ceased to love you one
bit. I think of you all every night and pray that we may be together happy
to live in peace and happiness again. I believe this war will soon be over
before long. We had a Frenchman here yesterday that made a good talk to
us and he said the war would soon be over. Now wouldn’t it be grand for
us to go and never have to fight and all come back? It may be some time
before we leave to cross. Some say it will be six weeks yet but we are
going to some other place. Well I will write you all in a few days. You
can send my letters to this same address. If we do happen to leave it will
be sent to me. I will close with love to all.
Sam
Co. C 155 Inf
Camp Beauregard La
p.s.
I am sure glad Papy wen to see Sam P.Y. He promised me when he left
he would go to see you all. When you ans. This be sure to tell me whether
Young is called back or not. I heard he was.
Sam
Camp Beauregard La.
May 17 1918
Mr. Allie Williams
My Dear Friend,
I received your welcome letter yesterday. Was glad to hear from you
and to hear that all were well. I am fine. We are not doing a thing now
but eat and sleep. Allie, I wish you were here with us and I am sure you
do. Allie it is a sight to see all the over sea boys in the Bull Pen. They
are all lively as you ever seen. Well Allie I am glad you are with my people
in this trying time and I know you will stand by them in thick and thin
and I will always remember you for all you have done for me. Well Allie
I will not write to the home folk in this letter as I wrote yesterday.
I want you to write anytime you feel like it. I know I have neglected writing
you but this is the most rest I’ve had since I’ve been in the war. I will
close with best wished. Give all the folks my love.
Sam
Camp Beauregard La
May 20 1918
Dear Homefolks,
As I have not got any mail from home in two or three days, that I would
write you all a short letter to let you know that I am well. Well, we are
still in Camp Beauregard and probably will stay several days yet. But when
you write me again you had better put the return on the envelope as we
don’t know when we are going to leave. Now listen! I have seen about my
insurance papers and Lieutenant said that my papers would be sent to the
one I had it made to and he said the reason you had not already got
it was that so many had taken their insurance that the government cannot
possibly get to all of them in a long time, but he said he was sure you
would get mine in a short while. But in case you should not get them and
anything might happen to me you will surely get the policy and about my
liberty bond, it will be paid out in July and it will be sent to you also.
We had a talk by a Frenchman Sat. and he said we would not need but little
money in France and he also said it would be a long time yet till we went
to the trenches if ever, and he said if we did, not to be uneasy that only
one out of a hundred were being killed in France today and 99 out of every
100 would come back to America. You ought to see the crowds that come here
to see the boys and listen Lillie! I have found a few here that wanted
to marry as bad as you. There have been several couples married through
the wire fence and lots more comical sites. I guess you have an idea that
I am sitting around with the blues but I am not for a fellow can’t be blue
here long at a time. Well I will close for this time hoping to hear from
you all in today’s mail. I f we leave before I get to write again, I will
write and mail the letter on the train. With Love to All, your son and
brother
Sam
Co C 155th Inf
Camp Beauregard La
Part 2
May 21, 1918 - March 4, 1919 |