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Following are some extracts from letters of different dates which have been received during the past few months by Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Boyett, of Sarepta, from their son Tinsley, who is still with the American Army in France. The first following shows the date line. "Epinal, France, December 13, 1918," and reads:

Dear Home Folks: Received your letter of November 18th, and was glad to hear from home.

You say you saw where the 26th Division was parading in Verdun on the 11th of November. We were parading in Verdun, but it was the front of Verdun instead of in the city. We were lined up to go over the top about 9:30 o'clock a.m., but we got news that the armistice had been signed. At eleven o'clock the guns ceased firing. That night we pitched our tents on a place that had been No-Man's-Land that morning.

The war is over now. I am proud of it. And am also proud that I have pulled through without even a scar.

I have no idea how long it will be before we get back. Am now going on detail service—military police service.

Under date of December 15th he writes:

Dear Home Folks: This is certainly a lovely Sunday. It makes me want to be at home, but I can put up with it a little longer.

Will tell you the battles that I was in so if you ever see anything about them you will know I was there. First was the battle of St. Mihiel on the 12th of September; a raid the 26th of September; then the second battle of Verdun—from the 8th to the 11th of November. I have also seen the country where Chateau Thierry was fought a few days before.

The 26th Division is also known as the Y. D. Division. The 103d Infantry was made up of men from Maine and New Hampshire, but now it has boys from all over the United States.

Ethel writes me from U. S. C. that it is pretty hard doing guard duty two hours on and four hours off. I have done guard duty six hours on and six hours off, in the rain and cold, and no place to go to dry or get warm while off.

On February 6th Tinsley seems to have been in good spirits. He writes from Frouard, France:

Dear Home Folks: Am getting along fine. We are doing M. P. duty now. I do not know when we will start on our way home.

Was sorry to hear of Will Manry being wounded. He will soon be all right. 'Twas sad about Ernest Cook losing his leg. You say it was in the Battle of Chateau Thierry.

The boys in the 30th Division are only about thirty-five miles from here. But I hardly ever get to see any of them.

There is a street car line running from here into Nancy. Also, we are only a few kilometers from Germany.

The ground has been covered with snow for the last two weeks and it snows almost every day.

On December 23d the soldier has his soldier troubles and begins his letter with them:

Dear Home Folks: We are having some bad weather. It has been raining nearly every day for three weeks. There remain only two days until Christmas. We are expecting to have President Wilson with us then.

In my last letter I told you of the battles I was in. I have been in the trenches when a shell would land a few feet from me; at one time killing two men and wounding five who stood by my side. Then another came so close that it tore holes in my pack.

Tell Russell not to grieve because he did not get over. For I can tell you that when a fellow goes into battle he is running a big risk of losing his life, and has a slim chance of getting out unhurt. I believe the prayers from home have had a good deal to do with getting me through this war. Sometimes I would give up all hope of ever getting through. Was knocked unconscious by a shell on the 21st of October.

Hoping you will all have a happy Christmas. Give my best regards to John and all the young folks.

Your devoted son,

TINSLEY BOYETT,
26th Division, Am. E. F.