[Letter of Robert Lincoln O’Connell to his mother, probably May 1917]

Washington Barracks, D.C.
Thursday,

Dear Mother

	Your note came yesterday. I thought at first it was Dannie’s 
scratch until I looked at the name. That ghost was a bad actor, but 
you should have been in the cot-room last Friday night, pay day. 
Some of the officers were a disgrace. I don’t know what to do about 
that suit. Sarah has read the long letter I sent Thursday and while 
I don’t suppose there will 

(2)
be anything done about it, there is always a doubt. I guess the 
best way is to let him wear the suit. He can be careful for a 
month or two until I know for sure and then if I am kept on, it 
won’t matter. If I’m not kept, I will have one or two months pay, 
which will help. There is so much red-tape that it takes weeks 
to do anything. That card from Mr. Williams was rather nice. 
I wish you would take things easy. There is not much chance of 
our going away to fight and if I was home, I would soon be called 
to work 

(3)
in some munitions factory, which I couldn’t refuse because I 
think this country will have to work hard before the war is 
over and I might as well be able to say I spent my time in the 
army as in explaining why I didn’t do something. I wish you 
would send me a ‘Hartford Times’ once in a while. There is 
nothing else I want. It has been a very busy and very long month 
since I enlisted. The Washington papers are dull and uninteresting 
and never have any news from up there. The letters from Wales 
were interesting although I 

(4)
had never found them so, before. I got a letter from Charlie 
Anderson and am sending him a postal. I had forgotten Mrs.Desilet 
and the Wards. This city has trees along the main streets. I never 
saw a place like it. I have not seen Mr. Lud, the President, 
yet. But I have seen the principle buildings and the Wash. 
Monument, which you can’t help seeing, it is so tall. Don’t 
forget the papers.
	Your affectionate son,
                    Rob.

[Transcribed by W.J. Shepherd, 4/19/2009]