{"id":7407,"date":"2018-08-08T02:49:01","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T02:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.archivingwheeling.org\/blog\/?p=7407"},"modified":"2018-08-08T02:49:01","modified_gmt":"2018-08-08T02:49:01","slug":"from-camp-lee-to-the-great-war-august-6-1918-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.archivingwheeling.org\/blog\/from-camp-lee-to-the-great-war-august-6-1918-podcast","title":{"rendered":"From Camp Lee to the Great War: August 6, 1918 – Lester Scott"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cWhen you answer write a big long letter and tell me all the news\u2026.\u201d<\/h2>\n
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In his thirty-eight letter home (and his first from France), to his sister Minnie Riggle, US Army Wagoner (mule team driver) Lester Scott, a World War I soldier from Wheeling, West Virginia, doesn\u2019t have much of substance to say, probably in part because of security restrictions on what he can write. He\u2019s in good health. He saw Will Riggle. It\u2019s raining in France. And, like Charles Riggle [see our August 1 episode<\/a>], he wishes he could attend the Jacktown Fair<\/a>. Mostly he just wants all the news from home.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on the same day, the Second Battle of the Marne<\/a> ended, the British Government issued a Declaration to the people of Russia, promising that they will not interfere in Russian politics, and Ferdinand Foch was named Marshal of France.<\/p>\n

Lester Scott was drafted in 1917 and trained at Camp Lee, where so many Wheeling soldiers were trained. And, like so many of his Ohio Valley comrades, he served in the 314th Field Artillery Supply Company, Battery \u201cA,\u201d 80th (Blue Ridge) Division in France. This is his thirty-eighth letter home, dated 100 years ago today, August 6, 1918.<\/p>\n

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To listen to the podcast, visit our SoundCloud page<\/a>, or subscribe through your favorite podcast app.<\/p>\n

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August 6, 1918 \u2013 Lester Scott Letter to Minnie Riggle<\/h2>\n
\"August<\/a>
Letter to Minnie Riggle from Lester Scott, August 6, 1918.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"August<\/a>
Letter to Minnie Riggle from Lester Scott, August 6, 1918.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\u00a0<\/p>\n

August 6 1918<\/p>\n

Dear Sister<\/p>\n

I will write you a few lines to let you know I am well and in good health and hope you are all the same. I rec\u2019d one of the letters you wrote me when I was at camp but havn\u2019t got the last one yet. Rec\u2019d one from Mdse last week. It came direct. I saw Will Riggle yesturday. he is looking fine. says he likes this country fine. when you see his parents be sure to tell them. we have been having quite a bit of rain here but is pretty warm most of the time. I suppose you will be getting ready for Jacktown Fair soon. I guess I will hardly be present myself. but we are all hoping it wont be long until we can take part again.<\/p>\n

Well I believe this will be all for this time. but when you answer write a big long letter and tell me all the news.<\/p>\n

Good Bye and Good Luck<\/p>\n

To All<\/p>\n

Your Brother<\/p>\n

O.K.
\nW.T. Pelham
\n1st<\/sup>Lieut F.A.R.C.<\/p>\n

Wag Lester Scott
\nSupply Co.
\n314 F.A.
\nAmerican E.F. Via N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Listen to Episode 56 of \u201cFrom Camp Lee to the Great War: The Letters of Lester Scott and Charles Riggle\u201d<\/h2>\n