To: Albert Ellison

From: George Ellison

My Dear Brother:

Your letter received Fri and will answer today as it is Sun and colder that and ice house out, but have got to go out this afternoon as I am invited out to dinner to my girl friends home way up town about 2 miles from here.

Al I am very sorry that you are down on the girls as you are but don't think they are all the same for they are not, thou you got deceived in one I am very sorry but dear boy what would life be worth with out one that is if every one had the good fortune to get as good a one as I have, for Al I'm telling you now that there was or never could be a nicer or clean hearted girl than I have and you will quite agree with me xmas that is if I have the food fortune to get off to come home, as Mr Lester only gives us Sat, Sun we have to work Mon and then we have xmas day off. So you see how it is Say I wish you would write me a letter telling me how bad the situation is and that we have not seen each other in two years and that we may not ever be together all of us and its so I can show him if he won't give me off. I'm coming home anyway if I can with my time for you know how it is, I wan't to see you bad and the war is on and we don't know how soon we may have to go, there were 42 “forty two” fellows enlisted here yesterday in 24 “twenty four” hours that's going some believe me.

I work 3 three days last week that was thanksgiving week you know and my pay came to $8.30 that was pretty good was it not .27 ½ cents an hr. I am on a five ton leather presser now, there is two of them and we run about 4 thousand soles threw it a day hows that.

I don't know Al what we are going to do with Mc as he has got it hard and is going pretty fast and has started in where I left off only a little worse, where I came away he was planning to beat it to Hammonsport but I gave him somethings about the bright lights and what it cost to be with them I told him when he gets up at 6 o'clock on a cold winters morning and go in the cold to your work 7 days a week and then have to give it away for board and clothes your self and then turn around and see what he left behind he would than know what and education was and would see the situation as I see it now and what I might have had but I chose my path in life and I am going to make the best out of life I can for the happiness of myself and my wife.

Well I will ring off on this stuff for this time doc, old boy did you ever think all this stuff was in me. Well I am some kid and so is she “I'll say”. Well good bye and best success in the future for you old boy for you have earned it and I don't begrudge you of it and don't think I ever will as I had the same chance.

As Ever Your True Brother

Geo. H. E

P.S. Best wishes from Lillian and Myron.

To: Mrs J. J. Ellison Spencer, N.Y.

From Private George H. Ellison Training Det. Cornell Univ. Ithaca NY

Dear Mother:

Arrived all O.K. Last night, like it very much as far as I have went. Maybe I won't like is as much when night comes.

Not a one of us is allowed to leave the place for two weeks so don't come out and tell Toot I can't come down Sat. We are all in overhalls and are not allowed to wear nothing else.

I wish you would send me the Spencer Needle this week's.

We'll write more later.

So Long.

Now take good care of your self.

Geo E.

Add's on letter.

To: Mrs J.J. Ellison Spencer, NY

From: Private George H Ellison

Sept. 4., 1918

Ithaca, NY

Dear Father & Mother:

Well another week nearly gone and a little more accomplished, which I hope will be a benefit to me someday, there is a lot to learn if one will take a hold and not be afraid of himself.

Did you get home all right, I hope so thou the tires are in bad shape, I worried a little, I'm sorry we keep you longer then you wish to stay if we did.

Ge ma every night when I go to bed, that little pillow brings thoughts of you and your kindness.

There was a lecture up at Sebley Hall last night on the conduct of men and women or girl, believe me it was great, something our Captain told us last night that our uniforms had been shipped and as soon as they arrived that within 24 hrs we would have them also our liberty which is welcome.

How is Lizzie coming tell her to take good care of herself and also I think you had better take better care of yours truly you are doing to much and I should think after a little you would know it you are doing to much working, “what's the use it never was worth while,” just smile, smile smile.”

If me got the camera from Helen house I not bring it up Sat when he comes if he can think of it. I think I can get downtown by Sat, don't know as yet Thou.

Well I can't think of anything more this time, am feeling fine we are still at the same place.

So long mother dear,

Your son Priv Geo. H. E.

Cascadilla Hall, Cornell Univ

Room 488,(Tel848)

Ithaca, NY

To Mrs J. J. Ellison

From Priv Geo. Ellison Backer Tower Room 21-A Ithaca

Dear Mother & Father:

Arrived all O.K. Last night at 9:30 somewhat tough to come back after having such a good time at home and staying as long as I did. I found everything in good shape and the fellows in wonderment where I had gone to, they said you will get it for staying over your leave, I just had to laugh.

From the looks of things I doubt if we leave here in sometime, they have turned Cascadilla Hall into a hospital as there is a lot of fellows sick now. I'm not telling you this for you to worry over as there is not one of the fellows here got or had the Spanish Influenza “ I guess that's it thou I don't know how to spell it”, our first fellow died this morning from the phenomonia can you make that out, they are taking all the precautions in the world to not let it get started here and as long as I'm here don't worry if a fellow has a cold the way he goes to the hospital, we are now eating up to the State Armory, we aren't getting as good eats up there as we did below, had sour milk for breakfast HaHa the cookies came in good that time believe me mother.

I never felt better in my life tell dad to take good care of himself, I'm worrying a little over him, make him stay in bed and do all you can for him he can't stand what he once could he is getting old now, and wants to look out.

I don't think we will have much work to do after tomorrow as out time is up, in fact I haven't done a darn thing today.

There is a big truck load of gunshells came in here this afternoon, I would not be surprised then we would take up the drilling and work that we would of taken up we had went to camp and stay here and finish up everything, then be sent straight across, ge but I hope it turns out that way.

I see by the papers that Germany wants peace, before her country is shot to hell, but I hope they don't get it, I want to see that country sweep from the face of the earth, the only good German is the dead one.

Just went up and gave the Lieutenent the honey he said what you live on a farm I said yes, well he said this is fine thanks very much he said we are not allowed to receive any presents but I'll take this one he said a lot of good things about me he said lets see your a Sargent aren't you I said no but wish I was well you are doing some firedrilling I hear. O we had a fine talk, told him about Albert.

Well this is Wed morning and I am on K.P. here at the Armory, went on at 5:30 it is now 7:30 and we are threw, the work is not as hard here as it was below.

Last night at 7:30 all of Co A & B lined up with our full equipment and marched downtown and got the body of our comrade, Ferdinand Smith of Co A died of phenemonia from New York. We took his body to the depot and sent it on train No 18 fast express thru to New York he certainly was sent off with the fullest honors of the good old USA. Ge we didn't get back till after ten o'clock.

Well mother I can't think of nothing more, It's hard to tell as yet when we will leave hre there has been no call for us. I don't believe we will leave while there is so much sickness in our camp, for it takes all of us that's left to take care of the others and being on yard and K.P. And a little of everything. Some of the fellows are getting there winter over coats, they give us a coat to wear if we have to be out any night's so don't worry, believe me they are taking care of us in the right way now. Take care of yourself now and don't you get down, if you do I don't know what they would do.

Your son

Priv Geo H. E.

P.S. Tell J.R. Hart to send this weeks Spencer Needle anyway, as I'll be here this week, but don't know about next. I told him not to send anymore till he heard from me. 

Letter postmarked Oct 14 5PM 1918 Ithaca NY

To: Mrs J. J. Ellison Spencer NY

From: George Ellison

Dear Mother & Father:

This is Sunday night and I and still at Cascadilla Hall, but expect to leave in the morning, for the old Barrick's again. I am very anxious to get back and see what I have left, as most of the fellows left yesterday and today, maybe I haven't got anything left up there. I guess it is a good thing I came up here when the Dr. told me to Thou I didn't want to or no telling where I'd be now. HaHa.

Ge but I was home sick the other night I felt just like asking for my time packing up and coming home but I got to thinking that I'd better stay but I'll bet two dollars and 99 cents that Priv. Geo H. Ellison will eat his xmas dinner home this year.

I was on K.P. Last Wed that night my supper did not taste good to me. I had a little cold and was dead tired, as I had been downtown twice that day, well I went to bed about 9:30 and about 5:15 the next morning the guard came in said Ellison on K.P. today, and I said to myself like ice he is and went back to sleep, the other fellows got up at 5:45 and was surprised to see me there and ask why I was, I told them I had a sick headache they ask me if I wanted the Dr and I said no, well someone went and told the Dr I was sick so down he came after dinner about 2 o'clock and I hadn't eaten anything since the day before, well Doc look me over and said guess I'd better send you down to the hospital for a day or two I said no can't do it I can't take no chances now days so the way I had to go again and here I am, I was sorry I could not talk with you the other night but they won't let us get out of bed till we are well the fellow that called you up came in the night before and rub my chest with some oil, he is taking up the same kind of work Kelley is or wants to but this last bunch of fellows that came in is taking care of us fellows here emptying shit pots Kelley with the rest of them and everything else in general, now don't say anything for it get back, for people would know where it came from there in the Army now.

I just heard that there was a big bunch of aviators were going to leave last night and that they all got on the train trunks and all and at the last minute were ordered off as it was to dangerous to send them and that's the way with us fellows here, they are already to tell when the devil we will go.

So if you want to write be sure and put your return address on we are all in quarentine again can't go out.

As soon as I find out for sure that I have to go I'll call you up.

If I'm here by next Sat and you come up, I wish you would make some more Fudge and cookies for me. I have some cookies left yet but would like to take some with me when I leave, did I tell you that I got 7 or 8 of the cookies you sent by Toot that he left on the train, I did but who got the rest I don't know, I found the note in the box all O.K.

Well dear girl I believe I've did very good writing for a sick man and four pages at that.

Yours lovingly

Geo.

P.S. A nice great big fat letter from Beatrice with 30 cents worth of stamps in it, all so a letter from Lillian Chrisfield.

Goodnight feeling fine tell dad to take care of himself and not worry for they say worrying makes one worse.

The nurses all love me but one and she gave me five minutes to get in bed last night HaHa have lots of fun here.

Camp Jackson

My Dear Father & Mother:

My first Sun in camp Jackson and I don't think much of the place either. I am now sitting in the YMCA facing the State road and I can see the cars go by. I see by the morning paper that autos could run again. O how I wish I was back in good old New York state and could be with you today, damn the South and the Army to I don't want no more of it. I'm getting sicker of it everyday.

It is very nice and warm to darn hot for that matter, it's just like summer all the time, the evenings are cool and nice, we had a little rain here today you would hardly know it had rained, the sand takes up the water, there's no mud.

The camp houses are two stories high, they look something like a big hen house, sleep above and eat below, the eats are rotten we got here.

I am sitting by the window here in the YMCA writing I can see the soldiers going by with there girls, is it any wonder I'm homesick, I would give anything to be home with Helen and you all this afternoon but I can't the papers are looking good now, I see Germany has given up by what the paper said this morning. I don't believe they can or will hold out much longer.

It's fun to here the little Southern niggers and boys talk, it's much different than the way we do some of them comes here selling papers the white boys, the little coons shine shoes.

I haven't did no work as yet I don't know what they will put me doing, no doubt something I don't like.

How is Lizzie and dad and every one else, tell dad to take good care of himself.

You can give G. Hart my new address so he can send me my paper.

How is grandma feeling, sorry I could not of seen her before I left but you know how it was mother an can tell her and Dewitt's people I will try and write to them as soon as I can find time. I only written to you and Helen so far two letters a piece.

Now I sent a shirt home to Toot it's one of mine I had two I think maybe I can work then for another one, they are going to give us one more anyway so I can get along and tell him to make good use of it that shirt's worth 4 or 5 dollars if dad can wear it tell him to and he can get Toot something else, that won't make a very good work shirt in the shop for Toot and pa maybe can make better use of it.

My birthday came and went and I didn't know anything about it just as well for all I care.

Let's see did I tell you about the fellows taking my cookies.

Well I'll have to close for this time, I can't think of anything more only take good care of all of yourself write as often as you can and I will to. Love to all your son.

Priv. Geo H E

Btry. A 11^th Reg FARD

Camp Jackson, SC

I wish you would send me a dollar if you haven't sent any. Bye Bye

To: Mrs. J. J. Ellison

From: George Ellison

Got my teeth fixed up pretty good now.

My Dear Mother, Father & all:

Your loving letter received yesterday, the 24^th Ge but how I did worry because I did not get a letter the day after I mailed you my first letter. I then began to look for mail from you and Helen it was over a week before I heard from you for the first your letter came then the next day a 21 page letter from Helen I believe she must of written every chance she got after she heard I had left. Every mail that comes in I go as fast as the rest of the bunch to see if there is any for me, there is a lot of fellows that is very homesick down here. I was to believe me the first few days I was here but now I don't try to think of home no more then I can help I know now what a home is and wish I was there once more but I don't think is will be long before the war will end and then all the boys will want to come home at once but I'm thinking it will be some time even then before we get off, it's hard to tell which will get off first the ones that enlisted or the drafts to me now I believe the drafted men will get off fist as we are a great expence to US and either one or the other of us will have to protect the US for Uncle Sam is not going to be caught with his pants down again. I believe the enlisted men will have to serve there 4 years out, don't you.

Well dear mother I wish you and dad could see the country I have thou there is much nicer elsewhere then down here, Florida is much nicer they say, after this damn war I'm in hopes to see you dad and gram & me take some trip's somewhere and let my wife and I look after the things at home, for as soon as the war is over and I can find a good job a home I intened to be married to the sweetes little girl that lives out side of you dear I'll never leave you out never again. I love you with all my heart and from now on I will try and be what a son should be to there mother I haven't been what I had otta of been to you and dad in a way I have thought I was better then any of the rest of the boys but can now see the things diffently what you are doing for me now to keep me from being homesick and filling my tummy with good old gingersnaps, onething I sorry for mother and that is that I'm not going to marry a girl to your liking. I'm sorry but I love her with all my heart, she is kind good and true and last of all thank God she is pure and straight as any that lives and I can say that much for myself. I have never did a wrong to any girl thou I have had some hard fights, you don't know how I feel about it to see how some fellows are afflicted with different desires and how some poor innocent girl has got to live with such a man. I have talk with some fellows that say hell theres nothing to it no danger at all. I have said to them the chance is to great for me anyway. I am in closing a little book that the YMCA gives out to every soldier and a lot of others just as good. I think this one is the greatest of any book there is here. If a man has or boy any love or care for themselves or future wife this book will touch there heart it did mine thou my heart has been touched before from the looks of other fellows and the shape they were in you may read it if you like then give it to Mc Kinley for you know he is getting to be the age where young men fall he may get it first if he is anything like I used to be in opening your letters.

Well I'll have to go back to camp life, as that will interest you much more. I guess I didn't tell you I had a new job did I. Well I have I am or have been excused from heavy drill all the week and am taking care of two Lieutenants car, they are in partnership, it's and old racing Hudson four cylinder, it looks fine but is in damn hard shape they gave 5 hundred and fifty dollars for it, one of them knows just enough about driving so as to run in everybody and the other is so afraid of the thing he hardly dares ride in it, it's a joke for me but a bad one for them, they sent me to columbia the other day for pictures for the car, gave me 10 dollars. I came back with nine something, gave them the bills of everything, they were surprised said ge a car cost's something to run. I had to laugh.

I took a negro in going down. I never see a fellow so polite in all my life. I don't think he would of said a word if I had not opened up on him. I ask him how long he had been in service he said 6 months. I ask him where he was going he said to see my poor wife and baby in Georgia down State's above here I ask him how long his pass was for he said 48 hours and if my wife is bad off they said they would give me 48 more, he said that was the first pass he had had since he was drafted. I said you colored fellows have it pretty hard here in the Army don't you he said we sure do boss, they work us night and day, it is so to they are the last troops in at night and the first out in the morning, it's a shame the war a colored man is used by the whites more so a southerner they want the north to get after them again the negro's have there stores barber shops, shows and canteens in the cities, the canteens is little stores here in camp for the soldiers you now know what a canteen is if you did not before. Well we had a fine talk all the way down, he said after the war he was going north to the States. I told him all about the North and the wages they were giving or paying up there I ask him what they paid in the south, he said, we only got a dollar and 18 cents before the war, the white man he got more, well we got to town he jumped out tip his hat and ask how much for the riding down I said not a cent my dear fellow. I would rather you would ride with me than a southern whiteman. I've got no use for them, he felt pretty good thank me again and went off. The colored people are all by themselves one of the Lieutenants wanted me to go to negro shanty and get a washing for him well I could not find the place. I went all over and at last I went to one house twice where there was an old negro mamey. Ge but she was nice I'll never forget her, she said your from the south aren't you. I told her I was and wish I was back there, she said I sure don't blame you there's no place like home, we had a fine talk, there southern towns are bum you can't get anything you want, mostly candy stores, fruit els. Columbia is the Crystal city of SC and there is not as much doing in it as there is in Ithaca, there is a big white house and a few big stores. St car line from camp to town that's about all.

It's hard for me to describe the camp, it is built like a city PT stores, horse corrells with over a hundred horses in one after and other thats a nice sight the different color horses in different pens, then theres the mules I never see so many in all my life they have a mule train here and everytihing else you can think of, I counted 5 big aerial plains today in the air at once, it was a sight, they are twice as big as those in Ithaca, the big guns have been buming all day at practice as I told you this is the biggest camp there is I believe, and would be very difficult for any one to find there son here, if there is anything you don't understand ask any old soldier there I don't know just what a muletrain is as dude Davison see if he knows.

It is just like summer here now, it hasn't been cold at all as yet, they say it don't get very cold. I'll bet it is cold up there isn't it.

How's your hand coming that's to bad you had to have that luck, but take good care of it, you need a rest anyway, but I hate to see you laid up that way.

They say that the Flem is nothing but a scare and is caused by the soldiers working over home being homesick and not caring whether they live or die it was given the name and harben getting the game, but they have to check it here, there is nothing to it at all only one thinking they have something they haven't and of course treats 10 times as worse a sickness as you well know.

I was thinking I would wait till I received the box but thinking you would be anxious to here from me again and to know that I was well which I can say I am and if I could get a good square meal once in awhile I'd feel fine, I do anyway for that matter so don't worry that was a dandy letter dad wrote at first I couldn't make out who the devil was writing it I wrote a letter to my old Lieutenant in Ithaca asking him to send or forward my mail to me here. I'm sorry Albert sent me the money I don't need it in the first place and he had to know better then send letters to me as I am not in one place as he is all the time, if he would send them to you and then you send them to me it would be playing safe but the idea of sending me money in that way, no telling where the devil it is they may of sent it on here to camp, not knowing my address, I may get it and may not. I'll let you know how I made out as soon as I here from the Lieutenant in Ithaca if he is there yet he'll look out for it for me as he took quite a liking to me before I left.

I'll have to ring off for this time I'm as tired as can be, I guess I'll write Albert tomorrow. I've been writing for over an hr and a half I'm getting worse then Helen don't you think I've been writing and thinking ever since I sat down here. I know you will be glad to get this nice long letter from me. I'm doing better by you than I have by Helen for a long long time we used to write 9 and 10 pages do you ever remember doing the same mother now tell the truth, now, well I'll have to say, take good care of yourselves and don't worry. I'll be home after the war and that isn't far off, from what dad said about the old hog. I'll say you will live high this winter. I sure feel sorry for Mrs. Barber this winter, you know Sibley wanted to join the Army, if it wasn't for what little help he is to his mother. I'd wish him here with me, he'd dam soon wish he was back home again, tell me to get it out of his head if he wants or anyone else wants a taste of Army life and thinks they would like to join, tell them to get one of them old muskets put it on there shoulder and get out in the field and walk back and forth for eight hrs a day. O it's fun I'm going to give lesson's when I get back. HaHa. So long. Geo. Btry A 11the Reg FARD Camp Jackson, SC

P.S. Albert's letter was fine send some more interesting ones, I'm going to send this one to Helen and have her send it to you, I've got to wash some under clothes, stockings pants, legens and take a bath, some job believe me we have a big brush like this to wash them with (drew a picture) and it sure does the work. I'll let you know as soon as I receive the box. Ge but this is some letter like your time in reading it. 

To: Mrs J. J. Ellison Spencer, NY

From: George Ellison

My Dear Mother, Father & All,

The box received yesterday afternoon, Wed Oct 29 in O.K. Order, the egg

s were broken up some, and those rotten apples were nearly a mess, but all else was in good shape and ge mother I'll never forget you or that box's, you can't guess what my thoughts were when I opened it, so I'll tell you, one thing I didn't care how long the war lasted if the things would only last another all a soldier could wish for, chestnuts goodnight you sent some, Helen sent a big box the same day, the next day I received a big box of them from Lillian Chrisfield, I believe I have nearly a peck, but they will come in good, I can have a pocket full all the time and if I began to feel hungry I can eat them.

Now I read yours, Alberts five dollars is all and two letters from Ithaca, the Spencer Needles came all O.K. Ge I never in all my life got so many letters boxes from you all, I was sure happy for once in my life, and now I've got to get busy and answer all these letter and thing's. I also received a letter another one from Beatrice, saying she was going to send me something.

You know Ma I said some things I should of not in letter to Beatrice, Uncle Dewitt, M Chrisfield and you, I said we did not get enough to eat, well its like this we didn't when we first came here and don't now. I could eat 3 times what they give me, well I told you all that so I'd get something from you all, all the fellows are getting boxes from home but none like mine dear mother, darn it now if Dewitt would only send some little thing, he could just as well as not, he has no boys in the war why not he do his bit we'll see if he does, I gave him a good hint, on not having what we wanted to eat.

Albert didn't say much of anything but gave me a good lecture on bad women, and to dig in for advancement which I'll be damed if I will, we do enough as it is instead of running back in forth, working overtime and just for a little higher office where we only get 6 dollars more, he told me I could read his last letter he sent to you, you know dad sent it to me, I sent it to Helen and told her as soon as she read it to sent it to you, did you care.

I have sent you a bail of cotton that I bought very cheap here thinking you would like to make a new dress or some quilts for this winter, hope it reaches you all O.K

We are having some darn hot weather now, it's pretty tough on the drill field, thou I have not done much drilling this week, I get out of all that I can, yesterday morning I sweep up around the barrick outside and in, in the afternoon I went to the city with my Lieutenant to buy things for tonight, which is Halloween and we are going to have a big feed a show an a good time I sure. I had a fine time down there with him, he let me go where I wanted to. I got some post cards, two little bails of cotton one for you and one for Helen they were only 5 cents. I'm going to get some and see if I can't sell them to the soldiers make a little change. I did a little Barber work last night after I got back from town made 53 cents. I was working for another fellow he took half.

I'm beginning to like it here now, its hard to tell just how long we will be here some have been here 3 months some only 3 weeks and are now getting ready to go over there “I don't care much what they do with me now, I won't see home till the war is over anyway, and if I can help to finish it up I want to.

I'm sorry I had to ask you for money in my last letter, Helen has 15 dollars of mine which she is saving for me and if I ask for that and more to she would give it to me but when I ask you for the dollar I did not think I would be in the shape I am if I had of I'd ask her for 10 of my own which she now has and if I had of had the use of it, well you know, I don't get a cent this month as the night they all signed the payroll they could not find my pay card but said they would look it up, I keep asking them if they had found it and they said no. Well after a little I got to thinking that if it was not signed pretty soon maybe I'd get my pay this month and maybe not, so I went once more and ask them whether I get my pay just the same or not and the Lieutenant said, I'm sorry Ellison but your shit out of luck and old saying in the army now. I said hows that he said the pay cards have been sent in and yours was not signed, I told him how it was that it was not signed and he said well it can't be helped now. No pay till next month for you now.

So you now see how it was and is now. But I can get along alright. I'm going to see if I can't earn a little on the side someway.

All I have to buy is postage stamps, Smoking, a little candy once in awhile, say our candy was fine Ma.

I'll tell you about the South it's all right but don't forget the south runs in two directions and this is the wrong one, it's the south here but they don't call it so, there is some nice sights down this way but I believe there is better else. There is a map here and it shows the way we came to come down here, I'll give you the details as much as I can over we came from Ithaca to Philadelphia, PA then Baltimore Maryland to Washington along the Potomac River which was a great sight then to Richmond Virginia then to Raleigh, NC, then to Columbia SC across 6 states that going some for your old boy sent it Mother I just happen to think in time before closing that you would like to know the road I took to get here.

Well take good care of yourself and all the rest as your the only one I'm feeling well and will as long as the box holds out HaHa.

Love to all and Friends

Your son

Priv Geo. H. Ellison

11 Reg Btry A FARD

Camp Jackson SC

P.S. Field, Artillery, Replacement, Detachment meaning of FARD. I have sent a lot of cards to the Spencer people. No doubt they will tell you. 

To Mr. Mc.Kinley Ellison Spencer N.Y.

From: George Ellison

Dear Brother Mc:

Well old boy don't be surprised to here from me for I've been going to write you a letter every since 9 I arrived here in camp over well five weeks tomorrow. We came in on Wed. Oct 16. Well Mc. I've been away 13 weeks the longest I ever stuck to a job, think you could do the same, if you can I hope you never have to, still it won't be so hard in time of peace for you then get all you want to eat, now its a little different.

I see by the paper you are going with your old girl again haha. I knew it, you want to look out she may not make the kind of a women Ma would like, you had better ask her about it, we have some dandys down here and if you want one I'll bring one back with me for you.

Well old boy I was in Columbia Sat. I don't know what for but I was looking for something for you and could not find it. I'll go down the next good chance I get and pick out something for you. They are pretty high on things here I wanted to get you a pair of legons but did not have enough money. I will have before long now, and then I'll get them, the kind I will get is plane with leather linen on the inside. 3.75. I have a pair on which are called artillery legons half leather and the rest canvas, all so my new suit which look's fairly good but would fit pa fine, we wear the red hat cords here.

I am now in the candy business, I never expected to come to it but when a man is down and out he will do anything for a living. Yesterday I made over two dollars at it and if I keep right on the job morning noon and night I can make at lest a dollar and a half a day at it. Its pretty hard on a fellow to do it but I have to work and drill all day long and then sell candy nights till bedtime. I bye the candy here in camp at the canteens for 5 cents a bar a dollar and 20 cents a box's 24 peace in a box and sell them 3 for 20 cents or seven cents a peace. Then I sell shoestrings, rope, matches, tablets, and smoking, I am going to the canteen as soon as I finish this and bye seven dollar's worth, taking a chance isn't it – but don't you take any chance old boy or you will be in the same shape a lot of boys are here, they suffer two ways when they get in the army.

Well old boy get the guns loaded up and when I get back we will kill all the rabbits in the country.

I ran across a fellow the other day from Elmira we had a fine talk, at first I ask him where he was from he told me then I began to tell him a few things about the place and he said where the hell you from, then I told him he said put her there old boy which I did, but for a friend nothing doing, a soldier has no friends in the army, if he thinks he has he will get dirt sooner or later I've found out, one thing a soldier has to learn, watch your and his step.

Well now have to close Kin as my time is up, Don't eat to much goose now save a little for me I may get there in time or a little late.

Be a good boy and do all you can for ma and dad they have it hard.

Brother

Geo.

“Don't write.”

To: Mrs. J. J. Ellison Spencer, N.Y.

From: George Ellison

Monday Nov. 18, 1918

Dear Mother and All:

Just a line this morning as I haven't much time to spare, your box came yesterday Sun. and I thank you very much it was grand, those cookies were great they get better everytime, the smoking came in very good.

Your letter came Sat. I think, the one in regards to Helen and myself and you never will know the sadness mother it gave me to think after the long years of my life of harships and happiness out in the world alone at times, that I haven't at last chosen the kind of a girl or wife that would please you, and for you to think that of her. I'll helth in after years will fall on you, know never mother, as much as I love her, I would rather see her dead than to have you say, you knew it would come and would fall on your shoulders which never will , bear that in mind for when I take her it will be to take her and care for her myself, not you or dad, I know what you have went threw with and don't want to have to go threw it again, she has a little pride you know herself and I really think you said some things you should of not the last time she was at our home, but of course it makes no difference, we all have our own ways of doing things, and every one thinks they are doing right, but it looks to me like this, you never told me while we were going together, not to go with her as she would not make me the kind of wife I should have, but you wait till we are nearly married and then tell me, is that fight to for sake her then and break her heart. No never if I have to live in hell the rest of my days and to be disowned by you, I have let to love her now I shall marry her, but not till I find a home for her, she never will be a burden on you, if God takes her from me all right I'll then make the best out of life I can and still be true to her till he takes me. I've always carried myself in a straight forward and manly way and beside a gentleman to all girls I every went with, now I am fighting not against the Germans but love and sadness. I would much rather fight the Germans or die, if I only knew you would but love her as a daughter in law the words I have said has been with sadness and tears in my eyes and if there is anything in this letter I have said that should cause hard feelings against you or I. I do hope you will forgive me, when I commence writing I never entered to say another word concerning you and Helen, but since reading your letter I have felt as thou there was no more happiness in the world for me then there is for the people in Germany but as you say it may come out all right.

I am in hopes of being back soon with you all again, but just when I can't say, some have all ready went and there is lots to go yet, when I get there you will know I'm out of it for a time at least anyway.

I do hope Albert will soon be home and that you all will spend a happy joyous thanksgiving together. I close with the love of a soldier to his mother and all.

George

P.S. Please don't write or send anything as there's no telling when we will leave here. Hope you will like the pillow case and it gets there all o.k.

To: Mrs J. J. Ellison Spencer, N.Y.

From: George Ellison

Nov. 26, 1918

Dear Mother & Father:

A little time at hand so will write you a few more lines so we don't have to drill, I believe this is the first week day it has rained since I came here, always on weekends it rains.

Ye but I'll be so glad when this life is over with I won't know what real life is, at the same time how it is the making of a man.

I suppose you have received some very interesting letter from Albert since the war ended. I hope he soon gets back home again.

I have sent 2 big pictures of my Reg. and Btry to C.H. Emmons for him to put in the store window so if you wish to see it you will have to go downtown, it will do you good ma there I sent half our Reg. There thou or men either, you will find me sitting on the ground in the 2^nd row from the front, on the left end hat tip a little sideways, as usual, the fences you see are just like that all over the camp, and they certainly look fine, the soil is all white sand, I will try and bring some of it home in the back ground you will see the officer's barricks where they sleep eat and have there good times by themselves, I sorry I did not have time to explain the difference things on it, but I didn't but will when I get home, it cost me only a dollar and some day it will be kind of nice to look at and think that I was in the great war myself.

I've made pretty good selling candy, but had to stop a week ago as they put a canteen up here in the barricks, so now I'm out of a job for awhile, but wait till the old train pulls out of camp Jackson. I'll have a good load of candy on hand to sell and believe I can make good then as they will and are now selling stuff pretty cheep at the big canteen so's not to have a lot of stuff left over.

Why haven't you wrote me as to weather you received the pillow cover or the little tree top yet, or haven't you gotten them, I sent them over two weeks ago, don't write now as I don't expect to be here over _____.

Last night about 7:30 I was sitting on my bunk when someone called for me and said the lieutenant wanted me at the supply room, well thinks I to myself something wrong with his car so I put on my hat and coat and went down, I knock at the door, he said come in, which I did and saluted him the my heart was bitten some, for it was a different Lieutenant then I was looking for, he said well Ellison we've got your discharge, well I suppose there must have been some look on my face for he began to laugh outright and then ask me if I would cut his hair. I told him I would but had nothing to work he said I have a big suitcase full of tools and he did have to. Well I went at him and was so damn mad at his playing such a joke on me that I did a very good job on him and he gave me fifty cents, which I didn't want to take but he made me, and all the time I wanted it bad.

The Lieutenant who's car I am looking after owes me 4 dollars an some cents, which I've got to wait till pay day for as he's down an out too I guess,ye but I don't believe Albert could be any better then he is, this morning I was in the toilet standing by the stove he went by me and I said “good morning” and was standing something like this (he drew a picture) getting warm, he said good morning Ellison and pass on where some Lieutenant would of stop and said damn you you know better then that stand up there salute me and then say sir good morning but he's not one of them kind.

My Spencer Needle don't come as often as it should I don't believe. I hear Mrs. Sebring and family are very bad off. Seems to me Spencer is having her share of the sickness this year.

Helen said in her last letter you had had snow there. Gee but it will seem funny for me to come from a land of sunshine to a land of snow banks.

All we do now is drill day in and day out from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM pretty tough to.

Well I hope you all spend a joyous Thanksgiving together and hope you will save me the turkey's wishbone.

Lovingly

Your son

Geo.