Letter to Aunt Ida - November 12, 1918

Le Mons Franch

Nov. 12 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:

Well the war is over and all the boys are in a very good humor.  Last night when they got the news the bells and guns sounded and then there was one grand celebration from 6 o’clock until midnight and I guess it will be worse today than yesterday.

Last night I got a pass and went out.  The streets were crowded and all the flags were out, everyone was feeling pretty good.  I never saw such pleased people in all my life.  They would throw their arms around us and yell “Vive Le America”.  Wine was just like water but as I had to be in at ten I was in good shape.

The Company that I came across with is stationed outside the city about 15 miles at a training camp. Perhaps they have moved by now.  Some of the boys from Montpelier are stationed in the town working at a garage, whenever I go in town I see them.  They have a dandy place and good things to eat.  So we get a feed off them.

Just now I have no idea when we will get started home but the chances are that it will be 6 months before we get anywhere near ready.   I suppose there is a lot of cleaning up to be done at the Front and a lot of supplies to be taken back so if we get home by next spring we will be lucky.

Before the Captain of the Co. left I had him sign my state pay cards and I will enclose them in this letter so Uncle Will can get the money on them sometime when he is down that way.  Pay is very slow in coming over here.  I haven’t seen any for two months but it is no wonder we have been going all the time since landing and I guess the money hasn’t had time to catch us.  I suppose we will get it sometime and then I will have a lot.

As yet  I have not received from home a letter or any news except a clipping in the paper about the Spanish “Flu” and I wonder if any of you have had it.  I hope not as it is very dangerous.   I have seen a lot of it.  Coming over on the boat we had 2,000 cases.

It will be nice if I can get home next spring and we can all go up to the lake and stay a week or so.  I can tell you one thing is this when I get into a good bed and a good bath tub it will seem pretty good, I don’t know as I will know how to act.

I have to go now and change my bunk to some other building that is about all I do is move.

 

Hoping this finds you O.K.  I remain With Love,

    Ervin

September 29, 1918

Left on the Leviathan (Vaterland) troopship to Brest, France. Over 2,000 men on this ship were sick with the Spanish Influenza and many died.

SS Leviathan was originally built as SS Vaterland to serve as an ocean liner by Germany.  In 1917, she was seized by the U.S. government and renamed Leviathan.  In 1918 it was used as a troop transport ship to Brest, France, carrying up to 14,000 persons each trip.  On one crossing she had 14,416 troops on board - more human beings than had ever before sailed on a single ship.

Alfred W. Crosby, in his book America's Forgotten Pandemic, gives a detailed account of the miserable march of the 57th Pioneer Infantry to the Leviathan, on the trip across the Atlantic, and the march after arriving in France.  Sick soldiers fell during the cold march to Alpine Landing, Camp Merritt, New Jersey to board the Leviathan.  In the close quarters of the ship, hundreds of solders fell ill.  The hospital quarters were filled and it was difficult to separate the ill from the well.  Many sick soldiers had to stay on deck, even during storms.  Officers became ill and many of the sick did not wear the indentification tags (called in dog tags in WWII) the army ordered them to wear.  The original order to save bodies in order to return them home had to be ignored so that the many dead could be buried at sea.  About 100 men died on the Leviathan. 

As the soldiers arrived in Brest, France, more died joining victims who had arrived in France earlier.  Hospitals were already full and there were at least 600 doughboys who could not attempt the four-mile march (in a storm) to the army camp at Pontanezan.  Of the 57th Pioner Infantry alone, almost 200 died on land and were buried in an American cemetery at Lembezelle.

September 23, 1918

Left Camp Wadsworth with 3430 officers and men.

"57th Pioneer Infantry: Formerly 1st Vermont Infantry. Arrived at Camp Wadsworth from Camp Greene on February 10, 1918, with 29 officers and 481 enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Fred B. Thomas and filled to wartime strength with draftees. The regiment left Camp Wadsworth on September 23rd with 3430 officers and men." (Tent and Trench, Appendex B)

September 17, 1918

Received grade of 1/c Sergeant.

Letter to Aunt Ida - September 5, 1918

Sept. 5, 1918

[Camp Wadsworth]

Dear Aunt Ida,

Your letter came yesterday certainly does seem good to get letters from home.

Well since I wrote home last there has been a lot of changes in our Company.  Some of our old boys have been transfered and we have had a steady stream coming in and going out.  You would wonder where so many men came from and where they find so many different faces.  I never saw such ignorant people in all my life they don’t seem to know their right hand from their left.  The wise ones are getting our of this draft in large cities through politics.

Since I wrote last our 1st Sergh. has been reduced and I am now acting first Sergh. That is the highest non-commissioned officer.   If I made good it is just as good as a commission with a pay of $51.00 a month.

We expect to go across next week, that is we leave here for the port of embarkation. We don’t know where that is now but will know before we go. Some of the regiments have gone to Halifax from here and some to Newport News.

I have a [?] by myself with a clerk that does the clerical work and it is much better than it was.  You need not tell anyone that I am acting 1st Sergeant as the fellow that I relieved is from Montpelier and if it gets around of course his folks will feel bad.  He has been transfered out of the Company.  He was a mighty nice fellow but the Captain did not like him very well as he was slack.  Do not mention this as the same thing may happen to me and perhaps it will as I am short of experience.

Will write again in a few days and let you know some more about when we are gong and where to

 

With love and kisses

    Ervin

Letter to Aunt Ida - August 17, 1918

Soldiers’ Club

Spartanburg, S. C.

August 17, 1918

Dear Aunt Ida,

Your letter came some time ago but have been busy night and day for the last two weeks, drilling men and going to Gas. School at night.  Last night I didn’t get through until 11 o’clock. We went into the trenches and they kept sending attack after attack at us to get us used to the different kinds.

I am very sorry to say that I don’t think that I will be able to get home before I go across as they have stopped all furlough’s but I may be able to get one if we go north.  We have not got all our men yet but we expect to get them soon and the story now is that we will be out of here by the first of Oct. or possibly the 15th of Sept.  All of the boys are anxious to get out or this place.  There is also another story that we are going north to be a developing camp for recruits.

For the last month the weather has been something terrible.  It has been at least 100 in the shade every day but I don’t seem to mind it so much as some. In fact I never felt better in my life. I have lost some weight but I think that I am just right now.

Ida May expects to go home soon so you will probably see her.  I wish that I might come home at the same time but never mind I will consider myself lucky if I can go later.  I was 3rd in line to go when they stopped them.

I came downtown tonight but I do not very often as there is just as much going on at camp as there is in this place.  Tonight there seems to be more excitement than ever [page missing?]

the men that we got are the biggest bunch of “Black Heads” that I ever saw.   They don’t know enough to come in out of the rain but perhaps when we once get it into their heads it will be just as hard to get it out.

Tomorrow night is my turn to go on Guard and then I will get some time to myself and I can write a few letters.   I expect to have a couple of days off while I am doing my Guard that will keep me from that sun baked field.

I will keep you well posted on everything that takes place and write more often than I have been.

Will send last months State Pay Card it is rather late but I guess it will be good.

Hoping this finds you both O. K.

I remain With Love

    Ervin

Letter to Aunt Ida - July 16, 1918

Camp Wadsworth

July 16, 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:

Your letter came some time ago but have been very busy lately getting our men and getting things settled.  We expect some more tomorrow and by the last of the week we will all be filled up ready for training.

Most of the fellows that we have received so far are from the south and they are a lot of large men.  We are not sure that we will keep all of this bunch but probably the most of them.  All of the Pioneer Regiments are getting filled now so I guess we are going to do something.  It is great to have a lot of men and see them out on the field drilling one begins to take an interest in the company that they belong to.

About coming home I am not sure just when I can come but if everything turns out all right I will be up there very soon now as I am about 7th on the list and two of them go in a day or two.

The weather down here is getting something terrible now but I don’t seem to mind it so much as I am getting used to it.

Some of the fellows that came in and were innoculated fell at retreat and were taken to the hospital but the same thing is at Fort Slocum so that must be part of the joining the army.

For the last day or two I have been helping them out in the office but I don’t like that kind of work I had rather be out in the hot sun with the sweat rolling off my skin.

I haven’t time to write much tonight but will write again soon.  Hoping this finds you both
 O. K.

I remain

With Love,

    Ervin

Letter to Uncle Will - June 21, 1918

Camp Wadsworth

Spartanburg, S. C.

June 21 1918

Dear Uncle Will:

Your letter came some few days ago and also the check. Now about lending the money it is perfectly safe, where the money is loaned the fellows give a slip promiseing to pay at the first of the month and that is handed to the Captain and he keeps the money out of the pay. The fellow that was going on a furlough had gone before I rec’d the check.

Since I wrote you last I have been made Sergeant and my pay has been raised to $38.00 dollars a month. I was made Sergeant over 2 Corporal’s and they don’t seem to like it very much but guess they will have to stand it.

It started in raining since last night and it certainly has been some rain. One side of our tent leaks and there is a regular brook running through the center of the floor.

We expect to get some men from the next draft witch will be in here in about 1 week when they get here. I expect we will have plenty of work to do. We are all going to non-commissioned officer school witch is studying from maps and all kinds of signal practice.

Most of the boys are getting about 8 hours drilling a day now and you ought to see them. They are as black as the ace of spades. The sun is very warm here.  We have to change our under clothes about every day we sweat so much but it is a good thing as we are sure to keep clean. We take a bath every day and it feels good to be in under the showers everyday after our drilling.

The Y. M. C. A. now here in camp are picking out a team that will be called a all star team composed of the best men in the Pioneer division to play the 6th division witch is composed of Regular Army men. This game will be played on the 4th of July. I expect there will be some excitement and all kinds of money put up on the game. I don’t know if I will be picked or not I believe I had rather see the game than play.

Some of the Pioneer Regiments are beginning to leave for France this week. But it will be some time before we go probably late in the fall.

I will keep you well posted about everything that takes place as we can tell within one or two weeks of when we are going to move.

Hoping this finds you O. K. I remain with love to you both.

Ervin R Wakefield

Letter to Aunt Ida - May 31, 1918

Mailcall

Camp Wadsworth

May 31st 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:

Your letter came last night and I was glad to get it.  This is a lonesome place here and news from home is one thing we all look forward to.  When the boy comes down with the mail we all rush out of our tents to see if we have any mail.  I guess I get as many letter as anyone in the Co.

I received the box of sugar and tobacco and I tell you the tobacco came in handy.  It came the last of the month and all the boys were broke so I had good many friends and they all seem to have extra large pipes.  I think they keep large ones on purpose so they can get a lot in them.

Yes I got a box from Ida May and it certianly was a dandy.  It contained a large cake, nut meats, cookies, and maple sugar cakes.  The minute it came all the boy came in and said, what was in the box “Tip” so I had to show them. You can imagine how long it lasted.

You sent me a clipping where it said I was made Mess Sergh.  Well I was not and am not going to be.  How did you mistake my letter that way.  The Captain told me I was going to be but I had not been made I was going to school for that purpose.  I have been relieved from that duty. There was a fellow that had been studying for the position for more than a year and the Capt., decided to let him have it but mind you I was his choice.  But rather than cause any hard feelings among the boys he decided to let him have it.  But he was very much pleased at the way I looked at it and told me that I would be as well off if not better.  Some of the boys that are now Commissioned officers are afraid that I will rank them.  You bet I will to before I get through with this job.  I think the Captain has as much confidence in me as anyone in the Company.  I had rather you wouldn’t say anything about my future to anyone as you can never can tell how things turn out.  I have perfect confidence in myself and I surely will make good.  It is just as well if people don’t know what I am or what I am going to be.  There has been more talk about me than any other man in the Regiment and there is not a single offier in the Regiment that does not know me.  It had been due to playing base ball. I have been very successful at that and I think that it will get me somewhere.

You asked me about the insurance, well I took out the full amount but I just got it in time. It was at Fort  Slocum that I took it out and just got it before they shut them off.  I have $6.80 taken out of my pay every month.  I have had just about money enough to last me through the month.  It [?] hard for me to get along but I think that I will be able to save something each month from now on.

I am feeling fine. I don’t think that I ever felt any better but the weather is d---- hot down here and I don’t like the dry baked earth that sifts into everything. We have to take a bath once or twice a day and change our cloth’s every day.  So you see it takes most of our spare time washing clothe’s.  Yesterday it was 128 in the shade.

They are sending drafted men in here by the thousands and our Regiment will probably be filled up with them but the fellows don’t seem to mind as when we get together we are all the same fighting for the same purpose.  Of course there will be a lot of trouble between the two enlisted and drafted.

I was talking with one of the Officers the other day and he said that he would bet $100.00 that we would be in France before the 1st of September.  Now about coming home.  If I go acording to the list that is made out now I am fourteen [?] that will mean the middle or last of July.  I don’t say that for sure but that is the way it looks now as soon as I know for sure I will let you know.

Will write you again soon hoping this finds you both in the best of health.  I remain

With lots of love,

    Ervin

Letter from Aunt Ida - May 18, 1918

May 18, 1918

Camp Wadsworth

Dear Aunt Ida:

Your letter came a few days ago and I have just got around to answer it.

I am getting along fine and I don’t mind it so much since I have got used to this kind of  camp life.

Last week I was put in the kitchen to be a mess Sergt. for our Co. mess.  I go to school twice a day.  I think I will like it very much.  All I have to do is see that the work is done in the kitchen and take care of the supplies  I will let you know how I come out on the job.  It seems now that the Co. is going to be filled and I expect we will do something soon.  There was a rumor that we were going north but I guess there is not anything to it.  It would be fine if we could go to Fort Ethan Allen but no such luck.

We have been playing ball here three games a week and have had good luck but don’t expect it to last much longer.

There was a fellow from Mass. that committed suicide this morning (when we were all to breakfast) in the bath house next to ours and of course all the boys had to go down and look at him. I was one.  He cut his throat from ear to ear with a razor.  He had more courage than I would have or want.

We have all got new rifles and packs so we are ready to go any where they want but all we lack is the men.

I stay at the camp most of the time now and I haven’t got much to write about.  Before I went in the kitchen I used to go down town to get a feed but now I have most anything I want.  This noon I had tenderloin stk and mashed potatoes with green peas so you see I am better fixed than some.

Hoping that finds you both in good health.

I remain With Love

    Ervin

Letter to Aunt Ida - May 6, 1018

Unidentified men in a trench.

Camp Wadsworth

May 6th 1918

Dear Aunt Ida

Your letter came some time ago but I have been so busy and time goes by so fast that I have neglected to write.  You will have to forgive me this time.

I got the sugar and money O.K. and I tell you that the sugar tasted good, better than ever before.

We have been doing all kinds of work.  They seem to use this regiment for all kinds of hard work such as digging trenches, putting up tents, pulling them down when the fellows go away and cleaning up around the places they leave and clearing land.  Once in a while we get a little drilling.  I get out of a little work on account of playing ball but I don’t miss much of it.

I have been trying to transfer into some regiment that is going across but don’t have very good success.  The fellows all want to be across and you would to if you was down here and see the boys march away by the thousands.  It is some sight.

The sun is some hot here, the last few days it has been about 105 in the shade and by the looks of me now in about 1 month I will look just like some of these nigers down here.

I didn’t realize it had been so long since I wrote to you and I will not let it happen again.

I am glad that Uncle Will got that job as lister.   It is just the kind of a job for him to get and I think he is just the man for the position.

The hot days here take all of anyone’s ambition and when it gets night we all want to get to bed.  It is now 10 o’clock and the boys want to go to bed so will close but will write you a long letter Sunday.

With love and Kisses

    Ervin

Letter to Aunt Ida - April 16, 1918

Camp Wadsworth

April 16, 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:

    Have been here a little over a week now and have not heard from you but expect a letter any day now.

All the boys here are from around Montpelier and I know most of them so I get along very well.  The first Sat. and Sunday I was here they had a ball team and we played one of the other Regiments and beat them.  My arm is fine and I expect to play all the time, they think I am some ball player.  It will get me out of a lot of hard work.

I had a chance to go in the kitchen but have changed my mind.  I think I will stay in the infantry as this regiment will probably never do any fighting.  I think my chances are better in this branch of the service than any.  You see this has been transfered to a Pioneer Regiment and their work will be building up the roads and repairing this in general.

This is some camp here about 40,000 men and we all sleep in tents  Officers and all, but the weather is very warm and when the wind blows it is something terrible.  Today has been one of those windy days and the dirt is everywhere but I guess it won’t do any damage.

My service record has not got here from Fort Slocum and I won’t get any pay this month so I wish Uncle Will would send me $10.00 to hold me through (by money order) so that I will get it before the last of the month.

Has he got any of my State pay yet?  He didn’t let me know if he had rec’d any.

I have been doing most everything since I came down here but don’t seem to mind it.  I am glad to have something to keep my mind taken up.

I got a long letter from Ida May today and she seems to like it very much where she now is.

One of the boys from this camp is home there now, Arthur Mack, he sleeps in the same tent with me and he enlisted at Wht. River Jct. the same time that I did, he think he is some big man now.

There are all kinds of entertainment here every night and I have used some of the Surileage [?] books that Uncle Will sent me.  They have Liberty tents here and the ticket are good.

Yesterday I got a long from Homer by the way of Fort Slocum and he is getting along fine and making much better than at Montpelier.

I was sorry that I had to leave Fort Slocum but I don’t suppose that we can have things just as we want them.

We expect to move north soon so I will come home when we get up there.

Hoping this finds you O.K. and enjoying yourselves.

I remain With love and Kisses

    Ervin

57th Pioneer Inf., Co. H.

Camp Wadsworth

Spartanburg S. C.

How to you like my envelope?  [Knights of Columbus War Activities]

Will send you some pictures of the camp soon.

 

Letter to Aunt Ida - April 1918



Camp Wadsworth

Camp Wadsworth

Spartansburg [Spartanburg], N. [S] C.

Dear Aunt Ida:

Well here I am in Spartansburg but expected to go to Camp Greene Charlotte N. C. but when I got down there my regiment had been transfered to this place.   So it took me quite a while to find the place I was going to.  They shiped me over to Camp Greene and from there here.

It seems to bad that I could not get home before I got so far away but you see, belonging to the National Guard I had to be sent out at once as they called for National Guard men to be sent to their camps at once.  There is not doubt but what I will have a chance to get home before I go across as there are only 29 men in our company and we are supposed to have 200 so I imagine it will be some time before the company will be full.

It is not rearly as nice as it was at Fort Slocum but I suppose this is the training life and when one get used to it there is nothing like it but I guess some of the fellows will die getting used to it.

This camp is the largest in U.S. and all I have seen in the last  few days is soldiers.  I didn’t suppose there was so many men in the world.  We all sleep in tents here even the officers and the officers seem to be around with the men more than at Fort Slocum.

Yesterday I was on Guard and today we went over in the field about two miles and build a road.   We were beside a cotton field so that was the first time I ever saw it grow.

I think that this road building and cleaning up is the kind of work that we will have to do when we get across and they are breaking us in here.

We are not getting any drilling here and we don’t expect to get much as it takes nearly all the time to do the work that has to be done.

I am writting this letter during my noon hour so my time is limited and have got to go back to work.  Thought I would let you know my address and how I was getting along

    With love,

        Ervin

57th Pioneer Inf.  Co. H.

Camp Wadsworth

Spartanburg

South Carolina

Letter to Uncle Will - April 1918

See timeline:  Ervin was member of 1st Vermont Infantry until April 1, 1918.  Became part of 57th Pioneer Infantry.

No date

Dear Uncle Will

Am leaving for the camp tomorrow morning Camp Greene, Charlotte N.C.

Ida and Martha are here to see me before I go

Will write as soon as I get there.

With Love,

Ervin

George Morrace's Diary included this (George was at Fort Slocum the same time as Ervin):

Friday, Apr. 5 (1918)  Left Fort Slocum at 9 AM Arrived Jersey City 12:30 pm. Left 12:30 am. Arrived Philadelphia 3:30 pm, Baltimore 6:00 pm, Washington 10:00 pm (Red Cross good to us).

Saturday, Apr. 6 (1918)  Richmond 3:00 am, Charlotte N.C. 9:00 am, Rocky Mt. S.C. 2:00 pm, Columbia 4:00 pm, arrived at Spartanburg 11:00 pm.

Letters to Uncle Will and Aunt Ida - March 25, 1918

           Fort Slocum

March 25, 1918

Dear Uncle Will

The check came O.K. and it came in handy. I bought me a gun razor and brush and spent some of the balance but have some left. We get paid one week from Wed.

I rec’d a letter from Aunt Ida and one from Ma yesterday it seems good to get letters.   Ida May writes nearly every week and I have seen her good many times since I came down here.

Yesterday (Sunday) I went over to Pelham the Naval recruiting station and as I was walking around I heard a fellow call "Hello! Tip" and there was a young fellow from Montpelier by the name of White.  I was surprised he came down Sat. sent by Mitchel [?]. It is quite a place over there a very large camp and they are making it 3 times as large. Another fellow and I walked over and rode back in an auto, it is about 4 miles over there.

The weather here is very comfortable down here now and I like it much better than during the cold weather. Last week I thought I was going and as a lot of the Gun Squad was called out and the most of them are National Guard men. The squad is very small now and we have to Guard twice a week but they are breaking in new men and then it will be better.

I don’t mind the Guards half as much as I did at first.  It is all in getting used to it. I am on see patrol tonight.   That is walking around the island and keep watch that no one lands on the island from small boats. My first guard begins at ten and ends at 12. My second at 4 and ends at 6 that is all, as the other sentinals can attend to that in the day time.

Now about coming home.  You see after pay day everyone has money and then they all apply for 5 day passes and fellow has to be lucky to get one but along in the middle or last of the month they get broke and then they can not go so I thought I would come home about the 12th or 15th of April. Perhaps I can get a little longer time as I live so far away.

I am going to write a letter to Aunt Ida tonight and tell her when I intend to come home. So will bring this to a close.

Hoping this finds you O.K. I remain With Love.

Ervin

Remember me to all the boys and girls.

I can not transfer from the National Guard into the regular Army so my changes of getting into the tank service are gone.

Fort Slocum

           March 25th 1918

Dear Aunt Ida:

Your letter came O.K.a and was glad to here from you as I was afraid you wouldn’t get my letter.

Now I intend to come home about the 12th or 15th of April.  The first of the month every [one] trys to get home and if one is lucky they might get their pass but I thought it would be better wait the middle of the month.

What are you doing there in Boston buying an auto or just looking over the place?   I would like to be there a few days and see some of my friends down in Lynn.

We are having fine weather here now and it is not bad doing Guard Duty.  I am on see patrol tonight 4 hours in all 10 to 12 and 4 to 6 that is not bad.

I wrote Uncle Will a letter and told him all the news and I suppose he is having the time of his life while you are away I wish I was there with him as we need to stick together and go to the movies and take in everything that was going on.

There seems to be a large fire raging over in New York about ¼ of a mile away and the wind is very strong so I expected it is going to be some fire.

Let me know when you expect to go home so I can write you a letter before you go.

Remember me to all the folks there in Boston and tell Archie he can send me some ice cream.  Like the fellow that came here from Porta Rico and sent home some   ?  in a letter.

Hoping this finds you O. K.

I remain With Love to All

    Ervin

March 25, 1918 Notes

Lynn:  Ervin played baseball in Lynn, MA.

Fire:  According to newspapers of the time, there was an explosion and fire on the docks of Hobokon, NJ on this night.  People in NYC went to their roofs to watch it.