| Letter From The Front:
From Lieut. L.S. Bolt to
His Parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Bolt Sr.
With the A.E.F., France,
Nov. 19, 1918
Dear Mama and Papa:
When I wrote you several days ago, I was on the
battlefield, right where my regiment was when the armistice went
into effect. Since that time I have been very busy and
haven't had a chance to write. Two officers were
transferred, Capt. Farrow is sick in a hospital and I am in
command of the company, so it keeps me pretty busy. We are
on the march every day and of course I don't have much spare
time. Surely was glad to get out of the hospital, and am
getting on fine now. I had a letter from Carlisle, dated
Nov. 5th, and he was in the hospital, but getting along
fine. Hope I will be able to see him some time soon.
Am surely thankful that the war is over and that soon we
will be coming home. It seemed so strange to hear the guns
cease firing at 11 o'clock after hearing them day and night for
such a long time. The men of this company have surely done
their part and did it well. Rufus H. Genoble, corporal in
my platoon, was the first man in this Division to be killed by
the enemy. He was from Pacolet, S.C. I haven't heard
much about any of the Laurens boys since I came over except what
you wrote me. |
Hope
the influenza is not so bad in the States as when you last wrote
me. I received your letters of Oct. 11th, and surely was
glad to hear from you and to know that both are well. Am
so glad you are feeling better, Mama. Don't worry about me
for the worst is over and I won't have to stand the bad weather
and other conditions I have had to go through with. I have
seen the horrors of war, and Sherman's definition is the only
one I know that will half way express it. I only hope I'll
never see another. It is very interesting to see the
battlefields and other things relating to war, but I've seen all
I care to see, and the little city of Laurens will be noisy
enough for me. I'm glad I came and would have come had I
known I'd never return, but I did not come for the trip across
the ocean or just to see France, and since it is all over I am
ready to return. There is one thing certain - no one will
ever try to bully the Stars and Stripes again and say the boys
behind them won't fight, for they did fight and fought like the
devil himself. I am proud to say that the men of Company
D, under the most trying conditions, have shown they are true
Americans.
I am getting the paper now, but they all come at once,
that is all back numbers. Don't expect to hear from me
very often for awhile because I will be very busy until Capt.
Farrow returns. Tell all the folks I am well and give them
all my love.
Love to all.
Your devoted son, Sam |
