Charles Stevenson letter to Folks - August 8, 1918
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[Salvation Army letterhead] [August 8, 1918] Dear Folks: The generosity of Phil and time which should be spent in sleeping make it possible for me to write to you this afternoon. As far as news is concerned there isn
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[page 2] [Salvation Army letterhead] I was sure glad to hear of your putting the furnace in - but I hardly believe I will be able to help keep it going this winter, but I surely expect to be there the next winter - all of which is another thing settled by the all-important factor - - - Time. As to the trip I had to get to see Maurice, it reads as if it were a story of some kind. We got into a certain town about midnight one Saturday night and while standing a a street in a pouring down rain waiting to be assigned to our billet, we got to talking to a passing soldier who told us that he belonged to the 16th Infantry. I nabbed him and soon found out where he thought Company G was located. The next morning was Sunday and we were cleaning up when along came two more youths of the 16th, who knew Maurice. They told me that he had just that week been transferred to the Headquarters company and that this company was in a town but two miles from where we then were. So - - immediately after dinner I hiked it out to that town to find that the headquarters company had moved the night before to a village farther toward the front and twelve miles from my town. There isn
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[Salvation Army letterhead] [page 3] Well, Phil saw a woman
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[Salvation Army letterhead] [page 4] and I was forced to carry my wheel for a mile over my shoulder. In the middle of the forest I ran into an Italian camp and with the aid of my Spanish I got something to eat. They got somewhat peeved when I turned down a quart of wine they offered me and were still more angered when I turned down one drink, but I finally got them appeased and went on my way. When I got into B I went into Regimental headquarters and and asked where I could find Maurice.
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[Salvation Army letterhead] [page 5] tory and in one small town Maurice met a lieutenant who had trained with him at [Fort Riley]. In another town we ran into a Kansas military band having a great old time playing for the French people. We talked until about three o
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[Salvation Army letterhead] [page 6] eleventh and twelfth to go since midnight. They Americans sure have a peach of a hospital here and the men were given fine attention, American nurses being on the job all the time. I finally left the hospital and immedaitely got lost again. Conversation with a Frenchman on a bicycle discovered that he was going to my town, so I followed him right on in - and got there exactly town minutes before first call a 6 A.M. Believe me, I was one tired youth, but that was small item, because all that day I slept in the hay loft - and a hay loft, you may find out some time, isn
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[August 12] The Monday I slept all day in the hayloft a regimental order came in for a transfer for me to be Regimental Supply Sergeant. Nobody could find me so they had to send someone else in my place - all of which was entirely satisfactory with me. This is the same job I turned down several weeks ago, about which I wrote you. Put this envelope and the date on which it was mailed (August 12) and the date received in my scrap book. Just mark the dates some place on the envelope. [Charles Stevenson]
Details
| Title | Charles Stevenson letter to Folks - August 8, 1918 |
| Creator | Stevenson, Charles |
| Source | Stevenson, Charles. Letter to Folks. 08 August 1918. Stevenson, Charles S. Collection. 1979.24; 1982.202. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | Charles Stevenson wrote to his grandparents about his meeting with Maurice Stevenson and his time in France. Stevenson enlisted in Kansas City, Missouri and became attached to Company A, 314th Engineers at Camp Funston, Kansas. Stevenson was shipped overseas on June 12, 1918 where he remained for the duration of the war. He arrived back in the United States on May 26, 1919. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; World War, 1914-1918--War work; Soldiers--Recreation; United States. Army. Engineer Combat Battalion, 314th |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | 1979.24; 1982.202 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| 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 | August 8, 1918 |
| Language | English |