Outgoing Correspondence, 1918 - 1919

This collection consists of forty-three letters and post cards written by Private Earl Elmer Stewart, serving in the Headquarter Company, 70th Artillery, Coast Artillery Command of the American Expeditionary Forces in France from April 5, 1918, to March 4, 1919. The letters are written to Stewart’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Elmer Stewart (Ella) of English, Crawford County, Indiana. The early letters, written while stationed in Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth in New York, describe Stewart’s sight-seeing trips into New York City and his anticipation of embarking for France. He also describes 15 and 20 mile hikes as “taking a walk.” At one point, after landing in France, he expects to train as a chauffeur or motorcycle driver, but he never says whether or not the training was ever begun. In each letter Stewart assures his parents that he is “fine and dandy” and that the “Crawford County Boys” as he calls them, are all well too. There are also forty photographs, several of Earl Stewart, but most unidentified, and there is also a newspaper clipping (newspaper unknown – presumed to be a Fort Meyers paper) describing his parents' frequent fishing trips to Fort Meyers, Florida. Some of the photographs depict their prowess as anglers. The collection also contains three lists, one postcard, and one other letter. One of the lists appears to contain the names of the soldiers in the Headquarter Company of the 70th Artillery. The post card (postmarked May 27, 1887?) is to Miss Florence Stewart of Marengo, Crawford County, Indiana concerning a lawsuit. The letter is addressed to “My Dear Nephew and Niece” from Laura, dated July 14, 1918.