Letters From the Front Lines of World War I

The Daily Record | 2/14/2009 | Charlotte Burrous

[nickcarraway]

Soldier kept in contact regularly with family during his time in war

Chasing the Germans through the forest in France, the Americans ran into stiff opposition near the end of World War I and were forced to retreat across the Meuse River at Bruelles, France.

But the Americans did not give up.

A World War I veteran, serving in the intelligence section of the 59th Infantry Fourth Division of the American Expeditionary forces, the late Cañon City resident Clark Nesbit was sent to the front lines, where fighting was fierce, according to a letter he sent back home to his family.

Born Aug. 15, 1894, to Richard G. and Lucy Clark Nesbit in Craig, Neb., the family moved in 1906 from Tekamah to Cañon City, where he went to public schools. He entered the military in the midst of World War I and was deployed to Europe.

“Just one month in Europe today, a month with many different kinds of feelings, but I believe no cravenness or cowardice has cropped out yet. Our boys are getting a taste and a good one of what is. Well must say no more along this line.”

Nesbit wrote about the fields of hay in France and ended his letter with a longing to tell his family about the war effort.

A few days later, Nesbit wrote about meeting a French soldier, who asked him about resources in America.

France is counting much on America. From what we all have observed, we can see that France has suffered greatly. We doubt that Germany has suffered as much and more.

In his letters home, Nesbit wrote about not receiving letters on a timely basis, but day after day, Nesbit hoped for victory in Europe.

The French and American flags are hanging together today. That stands for a good deal, gives promise of victory.

He wrote on the morning of Sept. 29, 1918, the 59th regiment chased the Germans across the countryside of France to the point, where the regiment relieved the 47th regiment, but continued the chase.

A short mile to the left of the Meuse River, near the city of Bruelles, our job was to chase the Huns across the river. But we ran into a line of massive gun defense such as not yet seen in our war experience over here.”

The Huns had been running for three days, but behind them, the Americans ran into a strong line of defense.

Nevertheless, Nesbit’s regiment began to advance at about 7 a.m. The men had advanced about 200 yards when heavy fire rained down on them.

Our men continued the advance going about 500 yards still farther. There the Germans dug in. Could advance no further. One company lost half our men that day. Our Company B lost not less than one third of its men. We were all wondering how it would ever be possible to come out of that woods alive. Some of us didn’t. Most of us did.

But Nesbit had faith in a higher power.

As our officer remarked, God seemed to be with the American boys. The Germans threw in enough shells to wipe out our battalion.

Nesbit wrote in one instance, he pulled a piece of shrapnel out of his shoe, which had not penetrated into his foot.

After 12 days of heavy fighting on the morning of Oct. 13, 1918, he was instructed to lead Company B out of the woods, which he did.

Including the battle of the Meuse river campaign, he was under fire for 18 days in the Meuse-Argonne, 10 days in the St. Mihiel Salient, 12 days at Velle River and four days in the battle of the Second Marne, as well as numerous minor skirmishes. He spent a total of 50 days under shell fire.

After the war was over, Nesbit worked for the post office, in Omaha, Neb., and several other cities. However, when his health declined, he went into the Lutheran hospital in Omaha, where he died Dec. 16, 1932, at the age of 38.

No records of a marriage or children were located.

According to Sue Cochran at the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center, Nesbit’s letters were found at a home in Cañon City by a local real estate agent, who donated them to the history center.

The Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center provided information for the article.

[two23]

It seems so long ago, but this was my grandfathers war.
Thanks for posting the bit of History.

[Jolla]

My wife is from Paris, her grandfather was born two months after his father died at Verdune. He, 30 years later, was a farm slave laborer for the Germans for 5 years. As much as we complain about the French, we have no concept of the suffering that country endured. There were many, many villages that lost an entire generation of Les Infants in WWI.

[Tainan]

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[SunkenCiv]

France is counting much on America. From what we all have observed, we can see that France has suffered greatly. We doubt that Germany has suffered as much and more... A short mile to the left of the Meuse River, near the city of Bruelles, our job was to chase the Huns across the river. But we ran into a line of massive gun defense such as not yet seen in our war experience over here... Our men continued the advance going about 500 yards still farther. There the Germans dug in. Could advance no further. One company lost half our men that day. Our Company B lost not less than one third of its men. We were all wondering how it would ever be possible to come out of that woods alive. Some of us didn't. Most of us did.

They were right -- Germany hadn't suffered like France had. These German tactics -- giving up indefensible ground and then unleashing massive firepower to deliver terrible casualties -- had worked throughout the war against the Belgians, French, British, Italians, Russians, and Romanians.

The Myth of the Great War: A New Military History of World War I by John Mosier paperback

[SunkenCiv]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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Interesting, indeed. Thanks for the ping. I tend to think of WWI as a sort of preliminary bout to the Big One. But then I don't know of any relatives who served then. I imagine those who fought in the trenches thought it was plenty big enough.