Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - November 7, 1917
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Lawton, [Oklahoma November] 7, 1917 Dear Bess: This is Saturday night and I have been going like a steam engine ever since I wrote you last. I would like very much to know just what you were doing that you can't tell me until I arrive home. You ought to tell me because something might happen that I couldn't come and then you'll have to tell me. Col Klemm had a dickens of a time getting away today. Our General hates a national guard officer worse than a snake and he isn't very happy when we are. It seems to hurt the center of the universe and almost jar a fixed star when one of us goes away. We had another lecture by a [ms illegible 1 wd] man today which I very unthoughtedly missed. They tell me that Gen Berry made things hum while it was going on by breaking in every so often and asking some deep dark artillery questions that no one could answer. I am
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very happy that I wasn't present. There is a rumor floating around that we are going to San Antonio for the rest of the winter instead of to France. No one knows for sure but I don't put any faith in it because we are very well fixed here and I don't think the Government would spend so much money foolishly. Captain Salisbury put a good one over on the officers yesterday. An old Billy goat has been parading up and down our street for several days, sleeping on the windward side of the Col’s tent and doing other unseemly things such as walking into the mess hall while dinner is in full swing. Salisbury caught him in the horse lot today and cut his throat and took out a good piece of him and fed it to the officers telling them it was beef. They thought it was fine until they found out what it was and then it didn't taste so good. The goat was the property of the 1st Kansas Infantry, now the 139th, and if they
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discover what has happened to their mascot I'm very much afraid Uncle Sam will be minus an artillery regiment. I don't suppose they'll ever know what became of him though. I also enlisted another man in Battery F today. He's a fifteen year-old nigger boy. Works in the regimental barber shop and shines shoes. He's a good one too. We had our photos made again today and as soon as they are finished I'll send you one. If I have any luck getting away from here I'll probably see you very soon after you get this if I don't you'll hear from me again. I'm hoping to see you Most sincerely Harry
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ONE HUNDRED TWENTY NINTH FIELD ARTILLERY 11-6-[1917][ms illegible: stamp] Miss Bess Wallace 219 Delaware St Independence [Missouri]512
Details
| Title | Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - November 7, 1917 |
| Creator | Truman, Harry S. |
| Source | Truman, Harry S. Letter to Bess Wallace. 07 November 1917. Papers of Harry S. Truman Pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs; Correspondence from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace, 1910-1919. HST-FBP_4-59_01. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, |
| Description | Letter from Harry S. Truman to his future wife, Bess Wallace informing her of his daily life. Captain Harry S. Truman commanded Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery Regiment from July 11, 1918 through the end of the war on November 11, 1918. During his military service Truman frequently wrote to Bess informing her of his experiences. |
| Subject LCSH | Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; United States. Army. Field Artillery Battalion, 129th; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; Love-letters |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | HST-FBP_4-59_01 |
| Contributing Institution | Harry S. Truman Library and Museum |
| Rights | Documents in this file are in the public domain. |
| Date Original | November 2, 1917 |
| Language | English |