Ernest McKeighan letter to Family - September 20, 1918
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[The Highlands letterhead] Camp A.A. Humphreys [Virginia] [September] 20 - 1918 My Dear Sweetheart It is raining and the troops cannot drill, which gives me some time inside which am using to write my beloved one. You old sweet, beautiful thing. I just love you so much it hurts. I should like to have a week with nothing to do but hold you in my arms and make your breath hard to get. I am answering two letters one of the 10 and the other of the 15th. Your plaint about my not getting your letters can now be dismissed as I think am caught up and have all you have mailed. In these letters you speak again of the Mrs Callahan matter. In my last letter, I think it was, I explained
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[page 2] again about the matter. If you did not get it, dearest, telegraph me and I will again go over it and mail special del. In the letter of the 10th you speak of Capt Dick starting here. He is now here and is wearing his Major decorations but so far as I can make out is still a Capt. I should not say anything about this to Mrs Cunningham, Kryder or Forsythe, but it is very very possible that the promotion of the above may not get through on account of the fact that some mistake was made in bringing back too many and we hear here that orders have gone out to hold up any more advancements
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[The Highlands letterhead] [page 3] for the present. Wonder what is the matter between Capt Dick and his wife. He speaks like the girl is about the only thing that holds them together. Your question as to when Hutson, Forsythe and Kryder are due here is unknown to me, but I thought they were due several days ago. If you see the Curry
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[page 4] [towards] the L.C. it would hardly mitigate against his coming back. They cannot all come back Accotink is a village of about 300 people. No there is no school there that I know of. There are good schools at Alexander [Virginia] which is about 10 miles away. If you do have to come here, that is probably where we would have to live. We ought to know something soon now as there are a lot of changes going on now. Yesterday we got a new commanding Officer. I now have two Jounior Majors under me. Am using one of them for an Adjutant
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[The Highlands letterhead] [page 5] No, Sweetest, there is no good reason for you coming here Via Chicago. It is the way I came home and as a matter of fact think it is shorter via St Louis. Have heard we may go to Camp [Benjamin] Harrison which is near Indianapolis Indiana and while my geography is not of the best think it is a lot closer than this place. Well let you know about baggage to bring after I get more info. If, after this shakup, I am to be left here, think shall send for
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[page 6] you. There seems to be a feeling that those who have not been over should have their chance and this might result in our being used longer in training on this side. Now wouldn
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[The Highlands letterhead] [page 7] busy as busy and be ready to come when I get there. Yes I got the razor strop. The explination of the slip you do not understand in that I had some picture taken in Epenal and the slip was a claim check. I never received the picture as could not get back then we having moved too soon. he said he would mail them to Forsythe, who was with me and had some taken. Will ask Forsyth about them when he pulls in. You finally got the lack of beard. Every one of those here who knew me before think, or say they think I look much better
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[page 8] and younger without the beard. No, I have nothing to do with the negro troops. My cabin mate on the return trip is a Major and has been assigned to them. Can not tell, dear, about going back to France but think most of our troops will go to that place or Italy. Am so glad to know our little girlies is doing better at school. I have full confidence in her. bless her stout little heart. So Forsyth is still
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[The Highlands letterhead] [page 9] high grades and guess they thought he might wait a while. Dick has the same attitude but had sense enough to keep still. It seems that some people did not go into this thing expecting to go through with it but to pose. This is rather a long letter and if you get tired just lay it down and finish when you recover, but am in a very tender mood and want to see you so much that I can just feel your dear form against me. Gee! I would rather
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[page 10] be running my hands through your hair and mussing it all up, than anything I can think of. When I send for you, you might just as well get that dear old head of yours well washed and expect to have me bury my face in it. I hope we can live 50 years yet and I shall love you more each year. Bye-Bye my sweet I love you Ernest
Details
| Title | Ernest McKeighan letter to Family - September 20, 1918 |
| Creator | McKeighan, Ernest |
| Source | McKeighan, Ernest. Letter to Family. 20 September 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 camp activities and a variety of news. 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--African Americans; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States |
| 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 | September 20, 1918 |
| Language | English |