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Letters between Sylvester and Eva
Dear Mother,
Ralph stayed down here with me last night and this morning, and
this afternoon we are going to drive the Ford up to Lowell to
see Cousin James. It will be a fine afternoon to be out, and
much too hot to be in. I don't believe it's quite as uncomfortable
as it was yesterday & last night, for there is a little breeze
blowing. But yesterday the heat just bore down on one; and these
barracks just seem to concentrate it on one doubly heavy. It
is fortunate that my office is in the coolest corner of the building
and my desk between two windows on different sides of the corner.
I decided in the early part of the week, definitely, to give
up my company to be permanent Adjutant. Pop was very anxious
for me to do it, and the rest seem to think I'm the natural person
to hold down the job. Well, I guess I can probably be of considerable
use to Pop & the organization in that post; I surely hope
so. The time had come to get the officers on a permanent basis,
and I cast the dice with little hesitation at the finish. At
my own suggestion Moody was assigned to command Co. C; otherwise
he would have had to be put over some other company commander,
and no little hard feeling would result. I feel like committing
high treason in turning my outfit over to him, but I hope he
makes out well with it. I have been getting things ready to turn
over to him this week, and hope to make the complete turnover
by Tuesday anyway.
Thursday the Division was paraded on the big cantonment parade
ground; a short and simple affair, as a celebration of Memorial
Day. The Division was lined up about the Parade ground in this
formation:
[note - once again, this will look best in "text" mode
or courier font. -- It should generally look like a large C]
_____________________
| |
| |
| ____________|
| |
| | _
| | |_|
| |
| |_<-------------imagine a circle about here
| -- |
| -- |
|________--_________|
The general and his staff represented by the square in the middle.
The Supply Train, with it's companies lined up one behind another
was down in the corner where the circle is. The different organizations
were brought up to their places on the ground, as prescribed
by the plan given out by the Adjutant at Adjutants' call the
night previous. When all the organizations were in place, at
the first blast of "Attention" on the bugle, the colors
of the different regiments moved toward the center and lined
up in front of the General. Then the band played the Star Spangled
Banner, each organization being brought to "Present, Arms"
by its commander, and officers at the salute, as always the custom
in ceremonies. At the conclusion of the music, the command was
brought to "Parade, Rest"(right foot about 6 inches
to the rear left knee slightly bent, both hands clasping rifle
in front), while some chaplain made a prayer. Then another blast
"Attention", the command was brought to attention,
while the band played America. Then each organization was marched
back to its quarters and dismissed.
Everyone says I look just as well as I ever did. I guess it must
be the Cook's egg & milkshakes, for it certainly can't be
this hot weather. My arm has improved very greatly the past few
days, and now hangs at my side quite easily; and there is only
about a 15[degree] angle left to be able to lift it straight
up. The Doc urges me to keep it exercised. The vaccination on
the other one didn't take.
It's getting 'most dinner time.
Lots of love,
Sylvester.
P.S. There is almost no likelihood of Eva's being in New York
this summer, as Miss Tolbert seems to have decided not to go,
and it depended practically entirely on Miss Tolbert's decision.
Miss Tolbert is going to Cape May for the summer, where her sister
keeps a summer hotel, and Eva will make no change, according
to present plans. It would hardly be possible at the present
time.
S.
[note - after this, there must be a few missing letters, as there
are none until he is on shipboard heading for France in mid July,
which is where we will pick him up. In the AEF scrapbook there
are his orders to be at the docks in Boston by 4am July 16th
for embarkation. Also, Dad says he does not know who Cousin James
in Lowell would be. Though from Gramp's letters to Gram we learn
that his full name is James Savage and is a distant cousin. --
Susan Czaja (grand-daughter)]
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