AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

 I wanted to summarize what our research has revealed so far with regard to the actual familial relationship between Clyde and Aunt Nell - Clyde's mother, Bessie (Spoor) Bliss (b. 3/7/1879) was the daughter of John and Della (Sergent) Spoor of Hartwick, N.Y. We believe Della was the daughter of LeRoy and Louisa Sergent of Laurens, N.Y. We believe Nellie Sergent (b. 1/9/1883) was the daughter of LeRoy and Mary (Adams) Sergent - LeRoy's second wife - of Laurens, N.Y. This would make Nellie the Grand Aunt of Bessie despite being born 4 years after Bessie. It would be interesting to uncover the family tree for LeRoy Rufus Sergent. More diary entries - Apr. 17, 1918, Wed., Fair. Warm. Up early. Went out for bayonet combat drill this a.m. Rec'd instructions in open & trench combat. Very strenuous. Rec'd our new 1917 Enfield model rifles, bayonets & scabbards today. Wrote letters. Bed early. Apr. 18, 1918, Thur., Very Hot . Had Co. drill & rifle drill this a.m. wit...

 More diary entries - Apr. 7, 1918, Sun., Fair. Up at 7:00. Slept OK. Train near Wash., D.C. 10:10 a.m. "Al", Spraker and I had bkfst. and made 11 a.m. train on Pennsy. Arrived in N.Y. about 5:40 p.m. Devil of a trip. Left N.Y. 6 and arrived in Peekskill 7:15. At Anna's for night. Cooler. And maybe my Anna wasn't a sight to gladden my heart! Oh! Boy!!! Apr. 8, 1918, Mon., Cloudy. Rain. Home Left Peekskill 7:40. Anna with me. Reached Albany at 11:20. Had luncheon there. Left Albany for Oneonta at 2:30, arrived about 6:00. Left on 6:40 trolly. Lunch in Oneonta. Reached home about 8:30. Visited rather late. Apr. 9, 1918, Tues., Snow. Home. Up early. Claude up for day. Had maple sugar & (?). Played cards, visited & smoked all day. Saw Leon & Les G. Snowed all day. Apr. 10, 1918, Wed. Cold. Cloudy. Home. Loafed around all morning. Anna, Doris, Delia and I all hiked over to El Refugio [Clyde's camp / cabin on Arnold's Lake] in p.m. Looked around, etc. Di...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Letter to Aunt Nell Camp Wadsworth Spartanburg, S.C. Saturday p.m. March 30, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell - Haven't had a letter from you in quite some time, but the pkg. of papers came yesterday, reminding me that a letter was probably forthcoming soon - so, am going to beat you to it by writing at once! The Digest's were these very excellent issues - some of the best articles I've read in a long time even in them and the Republic! You should see the weather here recently. Today it's just like a midsummer day up north! Gee! It's simply great!  I expect to come home on furlough soon - some time in April. Will surely try to call on you either coming or going. The little girl is going home with me and I'd like her to come as far as NY with me on the way back. Will let you know more about my furlough later. I'm somewheres down the list yet so, of course, don't know a...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Mar. 13, 1918, Wed., Fair Had some maneuver work in a.m. - 2 nights out. Paid in p.m. I rec'd $14.75. Co. went on guard. I went to town, to show, bath, barber, supper. Back in at 8. Bed at taps. Bought new watch. Sent pictures of range, medals, etc. home by P.R. (?) March 14, 1918, Thur., Fair. Co. on guard and regt'l detail. Sent out laundry. Bought stamps and paper. Wrote few letters in a.m. & p.m. Read "The Hundredth Chance." Bed early. Very warm. [The Hundredth Chance by Ethel M. Dell. Published 1917 - sort of a British romance of sorts] Mar. 15, 1918, Frid., Cold. Windy. Had a big sham battle this a.m. Whole brigade's involved. Used blank ammunition. Capt. Coleman promised me a furlough. Wrote Dad & Anna about it. Auto rifle school p.m. Went to movies of instruction. Bed at taps. Mar. 16, 1918, Saturday. Fair. Reg. insp. this a.m. ...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Page from Clyde's diary with ballistics information for the U.S. rifle. Mar. 1, 1918, Friday, Warm. Fair. Hiked in a.m. Finished a.m. with musketry, also part of p.m. Had 2 1/2 hours of bayonet. Pretty stiff day. Went to artillery lecture in eve. Bed late. Mar. 2, 1918, Sat., Fair. Reg. insp. in a.m. Packed extra luggage & loaded baggage during day. Made our packs and entirely prepared during evening. Fine day. Cool night. Mar. 3, 1918, Sun., Warm. Fair. Up at 3:50 a.m. Early mess. Started for Fairforest about 5:50 a.m. [Fairforest is a Census-designated place located in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.] Carried 1 meal. On train 7:15. Arrived at Campobello 9:45. [During World War I portions of Campobello (in Spartanburg County) around Caldwell and Depot Streets were designated as a staging area for the U.S. Army and a tent city for the troops soon appeare...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Before getting into more of Clyde's diary entries, I want to shed some light on what has come to our attention regarding Aunt Nellie - the addressee for the letters presented in these posts. With the help of Brian Tabor, the Borrower Services Supervisor at Forbes Library in Northampton MA we now have an obituary (Utica Daily Press, June 1960) for Nellie. We have an entry in 'The Otsego Farmer & Republican' on June 1, 1967, regarding Bessie (Spoor) Bliss. We also have a photocopy of Nellie's birth record obtained by Lisa. Now we have this information to consider - From the obituary and birth record we learn the following - Nellie's birth was recorded as Jan. 9, 1883, in the Town of Laurens, Otsego County, NY. The recorded name is Nellie Mary Sergeant. Her mother was Mary E. (Adams) Sergeant, age 40 and her father was LeRoy R. Sergeant, no age recorded. Nellie died...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] [Also - no, you didn't miss anything - I took a couple weeks off to spend time on some other projects.] More diary entries - Feb. 7, 1918, Thur. Fair. Slightly warmer. Slept fine, up early. Went to gas mask school, studied, and wrote this a.m. Warmed up a lot more in p.m. Slept and went to auto gun school. MacIntyre was down in evening. We talked woodcraft until taps. Feb. 8, 1918, Frid., Fair & warm. Very warm. Beautiful day. Do not even need a sweater on. Very warm. Went over to gas chambers this a.m. for finale' on gas mask work. Laid around and cleaned equipment this p.m. Wrote C.J.B. Bed early. Feb. 9, 1918, Sat., Fairly warm & partly cloudy. Decent day enough. Regular inspection this a.m. I accompanied Lieut. Hagen inspecting 3rd platoon. Perfect inspection. Send m.o. of $15.00 to C.J.B. Wrote M.R. & H.A.D. Played cards in evening. Bed early. Feb. 10, 1918, Sun...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Clyde's diary contains the following entries on the "Memoranda" page immediately preceding his diary entry for Feb.1, 1918 - "To all good fellows like you." Wilbur D. Nesbit    [Wilbur Dick Nesbit, also known by the pen name Josh Wink, was an American poet and humorist. He is most known for his poem, Your Flag and My Flag, which was popular during World War I.] As I roam here and there, ere my journeyings end, May I always find friends just as true. May Dame Fortune in kindness my daily path bend To a bunch of good fellows like you. In this life I have found that we get what we give. We are done to, forsooth,  as we do, So my prayer is that I may live while I live With a bunch of good fellows like you. Feb. 1, 1918, Frid., Cold. Cloudy. Base hosp. Don't feel very ambitious today. Wrote some. Read a lot. Miss Dureland other young nurse. Miss Holmes - older day...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Diary entries while still in Camp Wadsworth Base Hospital - Jan. 27, 1918, Sun., Cloudy, later sunshine. Base hosp. Had toothache so didn't sleep very well last night. Good breakfast. Wrote a few letters. Had chicken, bread, mashed potatoes & gravy, pickles, coffee, celery & pudding for lunch. Some feed. Wrote mother, Allen & Sis. Fair supper. Took dose of salts. Felt slightly better at 8 p.m. Jan. 28, 1918, Mon., Colder. Cloudy. Base hosp. Up early. Slept fine last night. Good meals. Wrote a few letters, read some & smoked. Remember "Charlie" - attendant. Six new "members" today. Day passed easy. Sleep early. Jan. 29, 1918, Tues., Cold. Cloudy. Rain. Base hosp. Good meals. Read Gas Attack T F & S [probably a field training manual], smoked & wrote a bit today. Feel fine. Nurse - Miss Sharkey has measles now! Letters from Sis, Dot, Bernice ...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] More diary entries - Jan. 17, 1918, Thur., Fair, Cool wind Had hike, bayonet drill and Co. in C.O. [close order] Drill this a.m. Had lecture on musketry and auto rifle school this p.m. Bombing school also in progress. Very windy out. Jan. 18, 1918, Frid., Cool. Cold wind. Fair. Had hike and C.O. Drill this a.m. Drill long and very snappy. Fellows out for detail & bombing school this p.m. Went to auto rifle school. Got ready for inspection this evening. Wrote Yates & Claude. Bed early. Very cold night. Jan. 19, 1918, Sat., Cool. Partly cloudy. Reg. inspection this a.m. which went fine - the 4th platoon carrying off honors of the day! O.K. Then I went to barber shop - then prepared for guard duty. Had charge of post 9, including all quartermaster depot. Went on at 4 p.m. with 42 men, 6 corps. & 1 Junior Sgt. - Turner. Jan. 20, 1918, Sun., Cloudy in a.m. Snow. Fair p.m. Slept f...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Letter postmarked Jan. 17, 1918 - Camp Wadsworth, S.C. January 1918 Dear Aunt Nell: - Well, I've started in at automatic rifle school, so have some more information about this gun - and the specific part it plays in battle. In as much as I will undoubtedly command an auto-rifle section, and it will become my specialty from now on, both as a fighter and section leader - but also, later, as an instructor to my men in the use, care, and operation of the arm and drilling them as "gun crews." I will tell you more of the drills - too - later. However, the new organization consists of four crews to each section - so I will have 4 of these Chauchat rifles [The Chauchat was the standard light machine gun or "machine rifle" of the French Army during World War I (1914–18). Its official designation was "Fusil Mitrailleur Modele 1915 CSRG"] in my little command. I w...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Jan. 6, 1918, Sun., Chilly. Rained part of day. Cloudy. Breakfast late. We played cards all a.m. Dinner at 3:00. Rotten eats today. Mud very deep everywheres. Dank day.  Jan. 7, 1918, Mon., Very cold. Wind very strong. Had bombing and close order drill this a.m. Am now in charge of platoon. Kiely at bomb school, Toombs at camouflage school, Crowley at bayonet school. Will have platoon for a month, probably. Had advanced guard and out-post work this p.m. My platoon was posted perfect - the only correct one. Complimented by Capt. Special school this evening. Cold night. Bed early. Colder. Jan. 8, 1918, Tues. Cold. Windy. Freezing. Had practice march & bayonet work this a.m. Had c. o. [close order] drill also - full co. Went for trench observation this p.m. Bed early. Tired. Jan. 9, 1918, Wed., Cold. Fair. Sunny. Marched to town to give the Co. baths this a.m. I had tub bath in Ho...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Starting with diary entries - Dec. 29, 1917, Sat., Cold. Snowed some. Had regular inspection this a.m. Went off OK. Finished 9:30. Did nothing but write letters all day. Bed 7:30. Very cold. Snow. Dec. 30, 1917, Sun., Very cold. Snow on ground. Up for reveille. Back to bed after breakfast. Slept until noon. Wrote letters in afternoon to Sis, G. Spoor, and Aunt Nell. Terribly cold. Read. Bed early. Cold. Letter to Aunt Nell - Spartanburg, So. Carolina December 30, 1917 Sunday afternoon   Dear Aunt Nell : - Just a few lines to acknowledge the receipt of that Santa Claus box yesterday - each and every article of which I most surely appreciated a lot and to thank you a thousand times. The trendy hat is a dream. All my fellow sergeants are almost green with envy over my possession of it! It's great! and Joe Toombs read "Carry On" last night and thinks it's great! I went to ...