Charles Stevenson Evening letter to Folks - July 12, 1918
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[written in top margin] after all the folks have read this pass it on to Dave so that he will have an idea of what I
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is one who is second in command of a platoon of men. The sergeant ranks next to the lieutenant commanding the platoon. He lives with the men and is the high mucky-muck over them. In case of the death or injury of the lieutenant commanding the platoon, the sergeant is in charge. The lieutenant commanding our platoon is a first lieutenant. We have the left platoon of the company - the second most important of the four platoons in the company. This puts fifty-two men directly under me. I am responsible for everything they do - as to their personal equipment, cleanliness and etc. Their progress in drill is indicative of my ability as a sergeant. This puts under me three other sergeants, six corporals and 40 privates. When the lieutenant is gone on other business I tell
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[page 2] of the building - as to their behavior and personal habits. Believe me - it is a man
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under way for us to pitch in about five dollars a month to get a few additional eats. An American canteen is some few miles fro here, but transportation facilities are such that it is mighty difficult to get anything out of the ordinary here. We expect to get some cereal, condensed milk, jams of various kinds perhaps bread instead of hard tack - maybe good bacon once in a while and lastly - some canned fruits. I hope we succeed in putting it over - the food is not at all bad, but any additional things help. As a sergeant in the Engineers I am an awful failure - of that there is absolutely no doubt. I might make a fairly good man for some infantry company. My very apparent lack of even the principles of engineering proves my opinion is correct. When it comes to putting up bridges, laying out trenches and such I am absolutely rotten. Why I was picked for the job of platoon
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[page 3] sergeant is more than I can tell. Saturday evening Well, here I am again - more tired than ever before after one day
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Kenneth is still with this company and will probably be so until the end of the war. I was talking to the commander of this company today and he told me that Marmon was slated to be a sergeant. There are a couple of other things I wanted to tell you, but I have forgotten than - evidently they were not very important. My serial number is 2191168. I believe we get these blue envelopes once a week, and I can surely hold my thoughts that long. My best love to all, Charlie It not be a bad idea to pass this around to Ogee and the [Devils Lake] folks. Time for writing is becoming more limited each day. C.S.Stevenson Censored by Co. a - 314th Engrs.
Details
| Title | Charles Stevenson Evening letter to Folks - July 12, 1918 |
| Creator | Stevenson, Charles |
| Source | Stevenson, Charles. Eveing letter to Folks. 12 July 1918. Stevenson, Charles S. Collection. 1979.24; 1982.202. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | Charles Stevenson wrote this letter to his folks about his duties as sergeant. 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--Censorship; Barracks; 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 | July 12, 1918 |
| Language | English |