June 3rd
[1917]
Dear Folks:-
Another week gone by. Soon it will be time to split up into the different branches and have to work harder than ever.
Before I forget it, I want to broach a subject which may make you very angry, and if it does let me know and I’ll say no more about it. Do you think you could stand it to have me come home on the 5:12 P.M. C. & N.W. on Saturday June 16th and stay until 5:20 Sunday P.M.? I think I can get away Saturday at noon and not have to report until Sunday night, but don’t plan too much on it for it may fall through. Before I make any plans, I just wanted to know how you feel about it. In case Ruth’s sister is coming and they are planning on going to Fox Lake why can’t the whole family go up to the Lake too. I think I’d rather like to go up if the weather is good. If you decide you’d like to have me come home don’t let Ruth know about it.
We had some good news Friday. Our pay of $100.00 per month goes through and besides we have an allowance of 75¢ per day for mess and 3 ½ ¢ per mile for transportation down here. I don’t get anything back on my trip to Milwaukee, though. We have signed the payroll for the first half-month and expect to be paid in the course of ten days.
This has been a busy week even if we did have a holiday on Wednesday. It rained most of the day and was generally rotten. In the morning a few of us walked over to Highland Park in the rain just for exercise. I stayed around the barracks all the afternoon on account of the weather. In the evening three of us went to the movies at Lake Forest. We saw Douglass Fairbanks in “Manhattan Madness” and it was the best film I have seen in a long time.
Thursday was rainy off and on but we managed to get in most of our drills. Friday wasn’t so bad though it was pretty muddy.
Saturday morning we had our usual inspection and also a drill in pitching shelter tents of which each man carries ½ in his pack. It rained right up to the time of inspection and then stopped long enough for inspection and then started again as soon as we got back indoors. It stopped again at eleven and, so we had general permission to go off limits as long as we reported back by Taps, I decided to go to Chicago. I went to the Palace to see the N.Y. Winter Garden production the Show of Wonders. It certainly was fine. After the show I went to see a couple of fellows, then had a big dinner at the North American with some of the fellows from here and then came back.
Today has been such a nice day that I haven’t done anything special but just bummed around all day. Saw Mr. Coleman of Lincoln Park. He and his wife were out here looking around and I talked with them for a while.
Received the box O.K. Thank you for sending it. I may send my laundry home this week and if I do will have it in Beaver Dam Friday in time for next Monday.
Love to all,
Mortimer.
How is everything at the Lake? Has the victrola gone up yet. Those were some pictures. I am returning them as I am afraid I’d lose them here.
I am enclosing some films taken here. Please have Huebner finish one set and keep them for me. I will pay you when I get home.
Mortimer took this photo of a fellow soldier during training at Fort Sheridan.
June 7th 1917.
Dear Folks:-
We have been so busy all the week that I simply haven’t had a chance to even drop you a card. This sure has been a humdinger as far as work is concerned and the weather has been very bad. It has been cold and raw since Sunday with frequent showers but not enough rain to interrupt our drills.
The registration board returned my certificates of registration today. I was #5 in our precinct in Beaver Dam. All of us sent our cards in from here last week.
Tuesday we took a hike to Lake Forest, total trip of about nine miles, made with heavy packs of 45#. We made the nine miles in three hours including halts and that is going some for the usual rate of marching is 2 ¼ to 2 ½ miles an hour including halts. Of course the populace and society turned out to see us.
Hope I will be able to get away to come home Saturday. Don’t worry about my having to get back before “Taps” because I can get special permission to get in later. I won’t have to leave till the 5:20 CM&StP.
I enjoyed the letters very much and am returning them before they are lost. Love to all,
Mortimer.
Lawrence also received mail. This letter from his Uncle Mort—his namesake—was also written on June 7.
June 15, 1917
Western Union Telegram
Received at Beaver Dam, Wis.
2 AU HK 24 NL
Ft Sheridan Ills June 15th, [1917]
Mrs T D Lawrence
Beaver Dam, Wisc.
If change to artillery in the morning on account of transfer may not be able to take five twelve but if you do not hear from me to the contrary tomorrow I will go direct to Foxlake on either the six fifty or nine fifty love.
Mortimer.
817 AM
6-19-17
Dear Folks:-
Just a line to let you know I got back O.K. The train was late, so was the electric, and I didn’t get in till eleven, but it was O.K. Had a fine time at the Lake. Had company all the way down from Minnesota Junction.
Love to all,
Mortimer
Reserve Officers Training Camp
3rd Bty. – 10th Prov. Reg’t
Fort Sheridan, Ill.
Lawrence also received mail. This letter from his Uncle Mort—his namesake—was also written on June 7.
June 21, 1917.
Dear Folks:-
The laundry came yesterday afternoon in good shape. Thanks for the cookies I enjoyed them very much.
This afternoon I mailed my laundry, let me know when you get it, so that I will know when to send it.
We are terribly busy around here these days. We simply don’t have any time to do anything but work. There is so much to learn that most of the time we take a little extra instruction after drill and before study period.
Our captain told us that we would probably go to Sparta some time in the next two weeks, maybe at the end of next week. I hope we go soon, even though I hate to leave Fort Sheridan, because I want to get around with the horses. We have guns here enough so that we have some drill each day but not near enough to keep up with our work after next week.
This work is getting pretty deep and technical, but is very interesting and getting more so every day. Today we only had two hours drill, the rest was all lectures. Lots of the fellows didn’t get some of the dope but it was fine for me.
Do you remember “Doc” Brewer who used to be at the Range Works about four years ago, boarded at Mrs. Douglass. He is here in the Illinois, 3rd battery.
Am sending a few pictures and also some films. Please have one of each printed from the films. These fellows around here don’t do very good work.
Must stop now and get busy. Love to all,
Mortimer
Milwaukee Athletics Club
Milwaukee, Wis.
Lawrence also received mail. This letter from his Uncle Mort—his namesake—was also written on June 7.
June 26, 1917.
Dear Folks:-
Received your letter today with the pictures also the Citizens. Thank you.
We are still getting busier every day, till I don’t know where it all will end.
This morning the Captain called several of us into the office and told us that we would probably have to appear before a board on account of not quite meeting physical requirements. He had received no official notification so could give us no particulars, only a little advance tip. I know that the only thing wrong with me is lack of weight. Hope I won’t have any trouble. But I am not worrying, for I’ll find out when the time comes.
This artillery work is very interesting and becomes more so every day. So far we haven’t had any mounted drill and only an hour’s gun drill every day. You see at present there is only the equipment for one battery here and not enough horses for that and as there are six batteries in the two training regiments we have to take turns.
The rest of the day is taken up with dismounted drill, physical drill, signalling with flag and buzzer and at least two conferences or lectures, most generally three. Our lectures cover everything from training and care of horses (including shoeing, accidents, diseases) to care and use of guns. Besides we have lectures on gunnery involving a good many mathematical calculations and formulae.
Some of the men expected to find this very easy because we were told we didn’t require any special knowledge of mathematics. We really don’t as the formulae do not go beyond geometry and algebra but we do need a clear insight and understanding of those branches and I find my knowledge of math and physics is helping a lot in grasping the principles, also my surveying comes in fine. The latter will help also when we get to military topography.
We had a quiz yesterday covering our work so far. The marks ran from around 20 up. My work of 91 was the highest in the battery, the next highest being 80. Not so bad for a man out of school six years when some of the fellows are fresh from engineering schools.
We were paid last week for which I was thankful as it enabled me to buy another pair of shoes and have my first soled. The Quartermaster didn’t have my size so I had to pay Marshall Field $7.50, but I think I have a good pair of shoes.
I have been going to buy some additional books but now will hold off till I see the examining board and find out where I stand.
Must stop now and get ready for bed. Am feeling fine.
Love to all,
Mortimer.
Vaccination has disappeared entirely. No go.
Reserve Officers Training Camp
3rd Bty. – 10th Prov. Reg’t
Fort Sheridan, Ill.