Ernest McKeighan letter to Family - October 4, 1918
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Camp A.A. Humphreys [Virginia] [October] 4th 1918 My Sweethearts Received your sweet letter this Evening and hasten to answer. More good luck to report dear
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[page 2] and the Colonel sent my name thereby jumping fifteen other Majors, including two West Pointers I do not know what is happening that we get in on the big things so. Of these majors, I think I am the only one not a University man, yet am the one chosen. This is a dizzy war and it is getting rather fast for the old man, however if they see fit to make me a full Colonel or a General I should worry. Will do my
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[page 3] other side just great. Gosh I guess Fritz will agree by this time that we have arrived in goodly numbers and can and will fight. Colonel Cheney has been made a Major General I am told by our Colonel. Isn
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[page 4] badly that C.L. has to miss school and if it is your judgement that she should remain in school, I shall raise no objection and will submit to your judgement, my sweet. But I surely do want you two with me. The whole world, for me, is where you are and it is pretty hard to be in the same country with you and yet without you. Am more lonesome here than in France. There I knew you could not be with me and here it is hard to know what is best. It was and is my thought that the fact of C.L. being out of school
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[page 5] would be balanced by her being able to see, at first hand, the places so intimately associated with the most holy traditions of our country which she can see now and possably not at any other time. If you decide not to come, please let me know by telegraph as I am paying rent on the house now. Am going out tomorrow with the Colonel and clean the place, which it is sadly in need of. By the bye, the Colonel says his wife is a University woman and he says she would be glad to coach C.L. which I might say, I doubt.
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[page 6] There is a sewing machine in the house, we are going to buy some cord wood to burn in the old Virginia fire places. Think I should not worry much as to your appearance. My judgement is that you generally look so peachy that improvement is not necessary, but my judgement is warped. I love you so dearly that I should be glad to have you in a gunny-sack. However I want you to feel comfortable, and to that end you just buy anything your old sweet heart desires and if you need more money than you
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[page 7] have let me know, as I have more here than I need. By the way, if I do become a Lieut-Colonel the pay will be $300.00 per month plus $72.00 quarters and about $8.00 light and heat making a total of $380.00 per month with $38.00 if I have to go across again or a grand total of $418.00. Wonder if Durham will look me up while in Washington, expect he will if you told him where I am. Yes, I think I should just close my account with the bank, thanking Mr Smith and telling him you would resume when you come back, and I should bring my deposit box money too, for any imergency
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[page 8] Be sure to tell Mr Smith of the prospects. About the bed clothes. It is not customary, I think to furnish bed clothes with a furnished house but if you have to, it is all right, in fact see no great reason for your bringing blankets, as I can draw them on memo, receipt but you should bring your comforts and if you have to furnish sheets & pillow cases you can buy them here. As to the summer clothing. It does not seem to me you would need them here but should we move to a [California] or other Southern camp, you might need them. Of course it might be possible to go via [Kansas City]
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[page 9] and pick them up. Use your own judgement, sweetest. Am glad you are proud of your old worshipped hubby dear. I should rather be killed in this war and have you proud of me than to have stayed at home and earned your contempt. Do you realize that the letter you inclosed was marked #5 which shows how I got mail
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[page 10] his new commision yet but am not sure. I hear he has been sent somewhere else. Have not been back to see him as when I talked to him last, I did not like the way he talked. He has had enough and wants out, which does not check with his expressed desire to go back as you have written. Understand he goes back very soon however. About what road or roads to come on. I think the Santa Fe
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[page 11] roads you use. But be sure to get a sleeper and have your windows open. When I repacked my trunks I forgot the nozzle or sprayer part of that attomizer, will you see if you can find it? Yes, honey I can meet you and at any time, but think you should figure to get here in day light if possible. Speaking of
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[page 12] put an extra stamp on here if I don
Details
| Title | Ernest McKeighan letter to Family - October 4, 1918 |
| Creator | McKeighan, Ernest |
| Source | McKeighan, Ernest. Letter to Family. 04 October 1918. Ernest E. McKeighan Papers. 2005.14. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | Ernest McKeighan sent this letter to his wife and daughter from Camp Humpreys, Virginia. In the letter, McKeighan discussed his families upcoming travel to Washington D.C. McKeighan served as part of Company E, 110th Engineers, 35th Division during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. Division, 35th; Love-letters; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; Promotions, Military |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; United States Army. 110th Engineers; Camp Humphreys (Va.) |
| Site Accession Number | 2005.14 |
| 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 | October 4, 1918 |
| Language | English |