Hampton B. Ball letter to home - December 22, 1918
Transcript
[December] 22, 1918 Dear Home, Still here, and it looks as if I would be here for some time. We have passed anther week, harder than any other, and seem to be no nearer home than a week ago. We left here last [Wednesday] morning for a big imaginary battle. It started raining soon after we started so we got good and wet. We hiked about eight miles and pitched tents for the night. I was lucky because I had three blankets and some dry socks so I went to bed about three o'clock and before supper was all dry and warm.
Transcript
It rained all night but stopped just about day-light. We got up at 5:30 and were ready to move but at 7. When we started the first thing we struck was water knee deep. We waded accross and after climbing a high hill we formed ready for battle. We went thru rain, snow, and woods until almost 2 o'clock when the battle was called off and we started for home. We got in at 7:30 that night just about all in. We had a good supper and got to bed about 10. Nothing bothered us until 8 - the next morning, when we got up for breakfast. We had the day off to get cleaned up for a big inspection which took place yesterday morning. The inspection yesterday was some affair. We fell in at 8:30 and after being reviewed by a Col. from headquarters we [ms illegible: 1 wd] inspection. We got thru with that at 12:30 and after dinner we came back to the billets. Nothing ever comes to this town except rain. We can do nothing to pass the time except fry potatoes. We eat about a peck every night. We always start cooking right after supper and finish about bed time which is early for us. we sleep about ten hours every night. When I get home you wont be able to get me out of bed for a week. Just as we get to eating good in the army the bugle blows and we have to start another long day.
Transcript
I have not heard from any body for along time but got some papers yesterday. The bundle from you had a paper of [October] 26, 1917. I also got some [ms illegible: 1 wd] papers from the H's and some [Saturday Evening] Posts from the Palmers. I have two more letters to write this morning and then I am going to read some. I will see you about [February] 1st. Must close now, as ever, Your Hamp. [censor signature]
Details
Title | Hampton B. Ball letter to home - December 22, 1918 |
Creator | Ball, Hampton B. |
Source | Ball, Hampton B. Letter to home. 22 December 1918. Ball, Hampton B., Papers, 1918-1919. C3935. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
Description | In this December 22, 1918 letter to his home in Troy Missouri, Hampton B. Ball described drilling and hiking while impatiently waiting to be sent back to the United States. Ball served in the 82nd Division, 326th Infantry Regiment during World War I. |
Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; Military training; United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 326th; United States. Army. Division, 82nd |
Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
Site Accession Number | C3935 |
Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
Date Original | December 22, 1918 |
Language | English |