Letter to Fannie Poindexter Vaughan (Barksdale), 1918

Creator:
Barksdale, Alfred D. (Alfred Dickinson), 1892-1972
Scope and content:

This letter was written shortly after Barksdale's arrival in France. The letter regards the visit of General John J. Pershing to Alfred D. Barksdale's regimental headquarters and other activities.

Language:
English
Other descriptive data:

August 20, 1918

Dearest Fan,

Their house is only about 7 kilometers from the front line but they laughed at me when I asked them if they weren't scared. We are between the Vosges and the Jura mountains and the country is beautiful. I wrote Father that I could see the alps but the French girls say that the mountains south of us are the Jura and that the Alps can only be seen in unusually clear weather. I was awfully disappointed not to get a chance to see you and your gang before I left.

I was so close that it seemed a shame. I felt real funny walking the gang-plank that Saturday afternoon with all of you so close and so completely ignorant of my movements. Just after I got aboard, the ferry boat (the 4 o'clock C & O) that Charles and I had crossed on the preceding afternoon passed real close to us. Well I must close and go to work. With lots of love to you and your whole gang, I am,

Access and use

Location of collection:
Preston Library
Virginia Military Institute
345 Letcher Ave.
Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Jeffrey S. Kozak
Phone: (540) 464-7516
Phone: (540) 464-7566
Fax: (540) 464-7089
Parent restrictions:
There are no restrictions