October 4, 1917 George Arrives at Camp Logan, Houston TX

 

Camp Logan, Tex 10/4 – ‘17

Dear Home Folks,

            Here we are at last after a hard trip lasting form 9:45 A.M.  Yesterday to 4:00 P.M today.  We rode out from Houston on Motor trucks.  We are quartered in tents here.  Seven of the ten engineers in the bunch are in Company C.  I’m one of the seven.  We have been quartered separately in tents with the old hands. I don’t know how much initiation we’ll undergo but everyone seems very cordial so far.   I am writing this in the Y.M.C.A here, and as a speech is going on it is hard to keep my thot’s working on this epistle. 

            This is the poorest equipped .M. I’ve struck yet, but its lots better than none.

            We are better equipped for clothes than most of the men who are here ahead of us.  The rules are not so strict here as at Jefferson Barracks.

            Well, I guess we will be kept busy from what they say here. I don’t know whether I can find my way back to my tent or not, so I guess I’d better close and start back. 

            I mailed a letter on the way down here.  Did you get it.

            Write me at:      Company C

                                    108^th U. S. Engineers

                                    Camp Logan

                                    Houston, TX 

                                                            With love to all

                                                                        George

                                   

October 3,1917 - George's Train Journey and Canteloupes

Hoxie, Arkansas

Oct 3, 1917

Dear Home Folks:

            On our way to Texas, forty strong.  Left Jefferson Barracks at 9:45 on the Missouri Pacific. Now we’re leaving Hoxie and the train waves so I can hardly write.  Except for the town this is a forsaken looking country, and even in Hoxie there were four hogs roaming in the streets.

            I am black from cinders.  Cotton fields are getting common.  Also lots of corn and a little rice. 

            We have kits containing plate, cup, knife, fork and spoon.  For dinner we had corned beef, beans, molasses, bread and coffee.

            This sure is the land of the hook-worm.  We’re on a special coach hooked to an express so only stop at good sized towns, and are making good time.  Can’t leave the train but will try to get this mailed at next station.  At one town we passed this noon a merchant sent us out some cantaloupes and distributed them to the car windows free.  They sure tasted fine.  There are 10 engineers in this bunch with myself. One other is from the 23^rd Co.  He is from Chi[cago].  Name is Getlings.  We are riding down to-gether, in fact have struck up quite an acquaintance.

            Must close now with love to all.

                        Write me at

                                    Camp Logan

                                    Houston, Texas

 

                                                George

October 2, 1917 - George Almost Returns to Rockford, IL

[George has been using the stationary provided by the YMCA for the past couple of weeks of writing. I didn't scan each of them but used the first header over and over.  I thought I'd scan another one and it can be seen that for this short time he was numbering the letters so his family would know if they had missed any.  He did this periodically, but was not consistent.  This October 2 letter was the 5th letter. He did not identify sequences of post cards as a general rule.]

 Jefferson Barracks

 October 2, 1917

Dear Ones All:

             Guess you better ring off on the letters for a little till you hear from me again.  But maybe you have already for I have received no mail for two days.  What is the matter? 

            There, I tell you to stop writing and then start asking questions first thing.

            Well, you see, I expect to entrain to-morrow for Camp Logan, Houston, Tex. if the Government doesn’t change its mind again.  This is the first letter I’ve written you in the last two or three days because I didn’t want to disappoint you.  And as it turns out it was lucky.

            Two days ago I was called out of drill, and received printed orders to proceed with 9 others of  Ill. National Guard Eng. to Rockford, Ill.  But I have already seen so many changes and disappointments that I made up my mind not to make many plans until we were actually at Rockford.  And I was right, for to-night, two hours before we were to entrain, reverse orders sending us to Camp Logan arrived.  So maybe I’ll start for Tex to-morrow.

            Of course this was quite a disappointment to me, for I met a man from Rockford this A.M. who put me n the way of getting acquainted with one of the Non-C officers at Rockford and incidentally a “dandy straight girl,” from his description, which by the way is something that seems to be a scarce article in army life. 

            Of course my hopes of home, Beaver Dam and visit or two at McCleneghan's were also revived some, but as I said at the outset, the news had seemed too good to be true all along, so I received the reverse English for Tex with scarcely a jolt.

            And I hope everything is O.K. at home because as I said, no mail in two days, and if we start on schedule – which I doubt – will have no chance to get any to-morrow. 

            Well, hurrah for U.S. &Tex anyway.  A lot of fellows envy us at that.

            Guess this is all the news for now.  Don’t be surprised if you hear from me any old place on this globe – I almost said the universe.

                                                            Love to all – George 

 

Sept 30, 1917 -- George Reads Jack London's Tale of 2073 & Asks After Laundry Sent Home

Sunday

Jefferson Barracks, Sept 30, 1917

Dear Ones All:

            Have just been reading one of Jack London’s books in the Y.M. reading room.  It is called the “Scarlett Plague” and is a weird yarn about how a plague came over the world in 2073 killing all but 20 or 30 people, and reducing these remaining ones to lowest savagery.

            We had to straighten up barracks and lay out our clothes for inspection and then go up to parade grounds for sort of inspection this A.M.  But were all done by 9:00 so “Frenchy” and I went out by the river and lay in the sun for about 2½ hrs.  Then dinner, and as I said this P.M. I have been reading for the most part, tho I played a couple of checker games which I won.  Signed up for an army testament and read a couple of chapters in that, too.

            Suppose you have rec’d those clothes I sent home to be washed.

            About the wrist watch.  I sent a description of features I have noticed in various watches I have seen here, but fear you can’t afford to send me one, so beg of you not to pinch yourselves, as I guess I can afford to get one.  I wouldn’t have said anything about it only Susan asked.  But let me know what you decide to do, and also what my bank balance is now, as I need a watch badly.

            I rec’d a dandy letter from home again this P.M.  Am glad the hay was put in in good shape.  Is Jo-S home or in Richland Center now?  Haven’t heard from anyone except you folks & Herman [his sister Susan's fiancé].  Tell some of the friends to write.

                                                                        Love to all,

                                                                                    George

Sept 29, 1917 - George Hears About Quality of Houstan 108th Engineers & Considers an Ingersoll

Jefferson Barracks, Sept 29, 1917

Dear Ones All:  Just a line again today to let you now that I am well, and wish you all the best of health, spirits and luck.  I have just made the acquaintance of a young fellow just in from Chicago who is going down into the 108^th too.  I have already heard of them off and on by enquiring of different fellows and all reports say they are as strait a bunch as you can find in the army, so I think I’ll be well pleased, and feel quite cheered.

            Don’t know when I’ll get out of here.

            Have just written two letters to Charles Moss, the other to Henry De Farrer. I got one from you to-day and a card from Herman so I can’t complain.

            I don’t think it best to send the Kodak or anything until I am assigned and shipped for good – (or worse) as it may be. 

            Regarding the wrist watch, the most satisfactory I have seen are the medium small ones with the special treated faces and hands so that they radiate light at night, a metal case, and some have light metal net over the crystal, tho this is not necessary.  I expect the only watch of this style to be got as cheap as $4.50 is an Ingersoll, but I understand they give fair service.  Of course a fairly wide leather wrist band of tan leather is to be preferred.

            How many loads of hay did you get for your share off of Smiths, and how much did you put in the new barn?  How are the colts and Leader?  Well, guess I’ll ring off for now.

            Don’t worry if you don’t hear for a few days as one never knows around here how busy they will be.

                                                            Love to all,
                                                                        Regards to all the friends around.

                                                                                    George Sherwood.

This was the construction of the horse barn which was built in 1915 on the same side of the road as the house.  The horse barn was across the street from the dairy barn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This

Sept 28, 1917 - George Learns Mess Hall Skills First Hand & Laundry Not So Much

Two things struck me in particular about this letter.  First was "knowing what's coming next -- not."  A couple of years ago this way of describing a situation was very popular and I still tend to use it quite often.  Did not expect to see that the style goes back 100 years!   And then, seriously, sending laundry home to mom from the Army? Who would have thought!!

Jefferson Barracks, Sept 28, 1917

Dear Ones All:  It is now 4:50 P.M. and I must go a half mile to stand at “Retreat” at 5:30 so will only have time for a line. Have just read 3 nice newsy letters from home so feel pretty good.  I have been in the “mess Hall” for the last 52 hrs or thereabouts which would explain my negligence in writing, or rather it would if you were as well acquainted with “mess” as I am.  Go on duty at 5:00 A.M., work till 6:00, then serve breakfast, get our own, clean up and wash dishes till 8:00, into potato room till 11:00 then get dinner on table, serve it, eat our own, wash dishes & clean up till 2:30, then chance to go to Barracks till 4:00, then same old routine for supper taking us till at least 7:00 P.M.  There, that’s a condensed description of “mess hall.”  We are “Relieved” but don’t know for how long.  Feed 2,500 in the “mess” every meal.  Some family meal eh!

            Well, don’t worry if you don’t hear from me as you can see from that that one doesn’t get much time when on special duty.  Have only had about 2 hrs drill yet.  Have no idea when I’ll be shipped.  Maybe to-morrow, maybe 8 wks from now.  And I was wishing all summer I was in or out of the army so as to end the suspense.!  Oh, yes, we know how what’s coming next --- not.

            Well, would like to describe “Barracks” and army life, uniform, etc., farther, but must beat it as I’ll get 5 days at least of “mess” if I’m late to retreat. 

            Am sending home underwear and kerchief for wash.

            Address all mail to

                        Geo. Sherwood, 23^rd. Co,

                        Jefferson Barracks, Missouri

P.S. Please send back just 3 of those smooth bath towels. 

Sept 26, 1917 - George Contemplates His Mortality

1917-0926 – George Stevens Sherwood to Family 

Friday 26 – 2:45

Have a letter started but have not gotten around to finish it. So Ill drop this to let you know all is still well.  Last night at 6 P.M. was in St. Louis closest I’ll be home till we Kan the Kaiser

Love to all ,

George

Even though this is a simple checking in postcard, George was apparently thinking about his mortality because of the little sticker he has added to the stamps.  Already he is thinking of the family when the soldier boy or man doesn't come home.  I like the front of this postcard as well since the boy to man characteristics is very apparent as he continues to write in the months ahead.