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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IAPALOAL] Letters during Sp-Am war to Fred Williams
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2004 09:54:38 -0600


Here are more letters I transcribed sent to me by a fellow who found them in a
house he bought...These were written during Spanish American War to Fred
Williams stationed in Chickamauga, Ga.

Postmarked Mallard, Iowa Aug 9, 1898
Envelope reads:
Fred Williams
Co. K. 52nd Regt. Ia Inf Vol.
Camp Thomas
Chickamauga, Ga.

Omaha Neb.
Aug 9, 1898
Dear Fred
I received your letter 5 days and am ashamed of my self to think that I did
not answer before but I am glad to hear that you are well I hope that you have
got good comrades. I have got the war fever just as bad as ever but there is no
place to enlist any more so I guess i will have to content myself at home. well
Fred Omaha is pretty well this month but I hope you will be able to come here
before the Exposition closes. we would have one of the hottest time you ever
had. I don't like Omaha very well so this fall I am going farther west. I am
sorry I could not come with the 3 reg Neb Vol but it can't be helped. Well I
hope your health will hold out well I will close for this time hoping to hear
from you right away.
From your cousin
S. Barker.

Postmarked Mallard, Iowa Aug 13, 1898
Envelope reads:
Fred Williams
Chicamauga Park
Camp Thomas
52nd Ia Inf Vol.
Lytle, Ga.

Curlew, Ia., Aug 13/98.
Dear Son,
We read your letter of the 9th just last night and was glad to hear you were
still well.
We are all done stacking. Youngren's friend from Ill. is here and expects
to thrash for several in this vicinity. they will not get near all the thrashing
in this neighborhood, as there are three other machines owned near here Kunne's
Pickford's Waldron's.
Youngren says his friends machine is a very large one. Would come in and
thrash us out before breakfast. it has not got here yet. They expected it last
night, it may come to night.
We will thrash our barley and let the rest of the grain go trough the sweat.
You will probably be to home to help by that time. It seems to me Rhodda is very
foolish to talk so discouraging. he not only discourage's himself by talking
that way, but is apt to make others that are easily influenced feel down in the
mouth. You boys there are so much better off than those poor fellow down in Cuba
(that had to fight in the trenches in mud and water knee deep with the
thermometer 110 deg or more in the shade) that you ought to feel thankful. You
will feel better and stand it better any way by looking at the bright side of
things, than you will by looking at the dark side.
The boys have told you about the Ecke and girls both it was Selma that died.
The Reporter we got yesterday said they expected Ralph Duncans remains last
night and the funeral would be to day. I am not so very busy to day. I have been
doing all the work, all the boys done was to have up the grain, and pitch it up
to me and I done all the work, well as the rest told about all the news I will
close for this time we are all well, your mother is feeling very well better
than fore some time, give my regards to all the boys from your father.
H S Williams

Dear Son I will just write a few lines the boys will do most of the writing.
I feel sorry for Mr. Rhodda if he is discourage you bys must try and encurge him
I dont think it will be long now till you boys will be neer enought So we can go
and see you all if you should be sent to Desmoine some of us would go to see you
well it is bed time so i will close for this time I hope you dont feel like Mr.
Rhodda poor fellow how does others boys feel i mean B and F keep it A good bet
the war is pretty neer ended we received your badge all right I think it is very
nice we will take good care of it till your safe return well I must go to bed so
good night from Mother.

Cathy Labath
Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/index.htm


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