Dear Ones At Home - From Somewhere in France

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Sept 23, 1917 - George Transits Through St. Louis Union Station

1917-0923 - George Stevens Sherwood to Susan Sherwood

St. Louis, Mo. Sunday 23-09

Hello everybody: Here we are in old St. Louis. Who ever thought I’d hit this burg so soon. Am with a couple of fellows I’ve come clean from Rockford with. Leave here for Jefferson barracks at 7:50. Love to all

From George

[It seems that he was catching an evening train because the postmark is 6 PM]

Friday, September 22, 2017

September 22, 1917; George Sherwood Joins the 108th Engineers 100 Years Ago Today

1917-0922 - George Stevens Sherwood to William and Ella Sherwood and family

Chicago Ill 6:45 P.M. Sept 22 – 17

Dear ones all, Many things have happened since I left you. I don’t hardly know how to write this for I had so counted on being near you, at least as near as Camp Grant. But it seems the Surveyors and Draftmen are full there so I have at last enlisted as a surveyor in the 108^th Eng. H.Q. and start for Sam Houston at 8:00 P.M. tonite.

I Am (See other card)

Nervous but well and was able to eat a fair supper at Uncle Sam’s expense. Did not sign up for the 108^th until about 10 minutes ago. Have had secondary exam here so tho I still have to pass another expect to go thru O.K. Well the best laid plans of mic & men – you know, so cheer up and wait for the time when Johnnie comes marching home.

Love to you all – George Sherwood

P.S. Sent suit case from Rockford. Say hello to everyone

Sept 10, 1917 -George Begins His Journey To War

1917-0910 - George Stevens Sherwood to Susan Sherwood

Well Kid. I’m writing this from Beloit. Can’t get out on an inter-urban until 4:35 But that’s soon now. Tired but well. Doubt if I go out to Camp Grant tonite

Brother Geo.

George is finally starting his journey to join the Army --

Sunday, June 25, 2017

June 24, 1917 - WWI Comes to Small-Town Topsham, VT

This letter was written to Eva here seen with her foster daughter Myrtilla.

This letter was written by Eva's brother Robert Fletcher Richardson

This is Rosetta Dexter Richardson, wife of R. F. Richardson.

At the same time that George Sherwood was considering a future in the Army, his great uncle Robert Richardson was writing to his sister, George's great aunt Eva (known as Nellie). Robert and Eva, the only two remaining of 8 siblings, were the eldest and youngest siblings of Jane, George's late grandmother. Robert had lived his entire life in Vermont. Eva, born and raised in Vermont, married, moved to Minnesota, divorced, remarried, moved to the Dakota territories, took on the foster care of three children, moved to Washington Territory (Palouse) and lived there until her husband George Thompson died in 1914. In 1915 Nellie as she had become known, moved back to Wisconsin to be near her dear niece, Ella Jane, George's mother.

I came across this letter today while working on a future WWI post and realized that this letter did have its place in the posts regarding WWI. Robert and Rosetta (who added a long postscript to Robert's letter) were also serving their country in their own way struggling to keep their farm going when all the young men who might have helped them were going off to war.

1917-0624 – Robert & Rosetta Richardson to Eva (Nellie) Richardson Thompson

Washington, VT, June 24, 1917

Dear Sister Eva,
            I realize that I have owed you a letter for a long time but I find but little time for aught else only to do the necessary work on the farm; had had only one days work since last fall. No help to be hired at any price.
            12 young men from our town have enlisted within a few days, are gone and other are soon to follow. Charles Henry[1] has enlisted as chemist and mineral expert ready to be called on at any time for government work. This is a terrible war and peace seems to be a long ways off. I do not expect to live[2] to see the close of the war, for old people in Vermont are fast passing away. We have had the coldest winter and spring in Vt. that has been known since 1843. The season is five weeks behind times, a short season unless a late fall.
            Mother and I are fast growing old, cannot expect to stay here much longer. How are you and do you feel that you are growing old faster than when younger? Henry’s widow Lilla[3] is expecting to get a pension[4] in a short time. Do you get more favorable news from your pension[5] of late? Government works slow in all matters of late. Your birthday is near at hand and hope you will enjoy it and many more. Please write us often and I will try to answer.    With much love,
                                                                        Robert

[1] His son.

[2] Robert F Richardson did, however, live until 1922.

[3] Lilla M Keyes was the fourth wife of Henry Carlton Richardson, Robert F. Richardson’s brother, who had passed away on August 15, 1915.

[4] Civil War pension as Henry Carlton Richardson was a veteran of that war and had been wounded twice. He enlisted on December 2, 1861 and was discharged on July 17, 1865.

[5] Eva (Nellie) was the widow of George Thompson who was also a late Civil War Veteran.

June 24, 1917

Dear Sister Eva,

I will try to write a few lines to add to Robert’s letter, he wished me to address his letter to you and I take the liberty to write a few lines.

If I have not addressed it right please tell me how to address letter to you when you write next time. My memory is getting treacherous and I am forgetting how to spell the words, also how to shape some of the letters. Do you wonder when you think that I shall be 85 years old if I live to the see the 2^nd of next December. I can hardly realize that Robert and I have lived together 60 years the 9^th of this month.

I have not been very well for more than a year. I got through the winter alone but I had a neighbor come in and help me one forenoon and two afternoons this spring. I have done my washings alone thus far but do not think that I can much longer.

Henry was home for a few days but is now doing geological work in Vt is to return to Syracuse NY to teach a summer school before the college opens in Sept. I think he is working too hard.

My brother Avalyn and his wife spent the winter in California, but are now visiting relatives in different states. He wrote me that he should be here this week. Walter Burgin has bought my father’s old farm with much other land; he has two boys grown up to help him.

Brother Lewis spent the winter in Fla for his health. His trouble is a leakage of one of the arteries of the heart. I expect him here in a few days. He does not think he can ever do any more pastoral work.

Your loving sister, Rosetta

Please kindly remember me to Ella Sherwood. I should dearly love to step into her home for a few days visit. It is raining hard here just now.

Monday, May 29, 2017

Go to War With The Engineers

This is the second letter that George Sherwood received from Captain Eschweiler and this time the booklet that was promised was sent with the letter. And finally, the date of this letter is exactly 100 years ago today. And today is Memorial Day -- a fitting time of remembering Uncle George and his friends who served in time of war.

1917-0529 – Alexander C. Eschweiler, Jr. to George Stevens Sherwood

Transcription at end.

Milwaukee, May 29, 1917

Mr. George Sherwood

Kendall Wisconsin

Dear Sir:

The commanding officer directs me to reply to our letter of May 28^th as follows:

Your experience and education in engineering would qualify you for a non-commissioned office. However, these positions are filled by the company commanders and the proficiency in drill is taken into account in making the selections.

Under the new regulations drawn up according to the recent act of Congress, the pay for an enlisted man is $30 or $35 a month, and the non-commissioned Officers correspondingly higher. This is in addition to a liberal clothing allowance; and to the rations, traveling expenses and so on incident to the soldiers’ life in camp.

In the present emergency it would seem that the place for every man is where he can be of most service to the country, and I feel that you would be of more service in the engineer Corps than on the farm, from what you have written.

I am enclosing the booklet which was omitted in our last communication with you. Hoping to hear of your enlistment in the near future.

Yours truly,

Alexander C. Eschweiler, Jr.

Captain and Adjutant.

Friday, May 26, 2017

George Stevens Sherwood contacts the Wisconsin National Guard

I have already learned an important lesson in light of this project! My goal is to post Uncle George's letters from the army in WWI on the 100 year anniversary. Wednesday morning I thought about it first thing but as I had to be on the road across Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascade Mountains to eastern Washington practically at sunrise I planned to do it in the afternoon. I made my round trip and was back home in the early afternoon. But then it completely slipped my mind as I carried on with my work day.

So Wednesday should have been my official 100 year "date to date" record of George Sherwood's trek from the Farm in Western Wisconsin to Somewhere in France.

This is the first indication that George had contacted the Wisconsin National Guard about enlisting.

1917-0524 – Capt. Alexander C. Eschweiler Jr. to George Stevens Sherwood

Milwaukee, May 24, 1917

Mr. George S. Sherwood,

Kendall, Wisc.

Dear Sir:

The Adjutant General has forwarded a letter of May 20th, to this office for attention and answer. From what you say it would seem that you are very well qualified for enlistment in the Engineer Corps which is now being formed as a part of the National Guard of Wisconsin. We are very anxious to secure men who have had some engineering work and I feel very sure that anyone interested in this branch will help himself as well as the service by enlistment in the Engineer corps. I am enclosing a booklet which gives in brief an idea of the work and organization of the Engineer Corps. If you decide to enlist, and find it inconvenient [to] come to Milwaukee for this purpose; I would suggest that you see Captain Robert A. Merrill of Company L 3^rd infantry at Sparta which I believe the nearest National Guard Organization to your home. He will forward your papers to this office and we will notify you at the time of call for active service.

Hoping to hear of your enlistment at an early

date, I am