Jan 27, 1918.

Dear Marie,

Stock has gone to K. City so I came down to the Leav. “Y” to write. I
sure was glad to get your letter. Yesterday I tried to bribe the C’p’l
in charge of quarters to bring a letter from Beloit with the mail, but
even a big slice of Blanche’s cake was not enough.

I am still going to the motor class at the Service School. Have you a
picture of the latter?

Tuesday afternoon we took the horses out for exercise. Nearly three
weeks of loafing around in the corral made them feel pretty funny. We
had quite an exciting time rounding up our own horses. I got “Ten” out
before the stampede but had a gay time “snagging” a mule to lead. “Ten”
had fattened a little since I saw him last, and when I saddled him, had
to let out the cincha (which is the strap around the belly) about two
inches more than usual. I am showing the efforts of Army starvation in
the same way. The mule I caught was a new one but he performed alright
except that he kept a good stiff pull on the rope most of the time.
Neither the Captain nor the Lietenants were with us and when we got into
the woods we kicked a few slats loose. We hooted and yelled like a bunch
of kids on the last day of school. The horses and mules had the same
spirit and about every two minutes one would get loose (accidently on
purpose on the part of the rider) and we would have some more fun
catching them. Ten sure is one wise horse and is “on” to everything
going, whether it’s heading off loose mules or jumping up a slippery
hill. Gee, but you can’t imagine what great fun it is to ride a good,
easily guided horse. When I think of the good times we used to have
canoeing, and in the water, and shooting, it makes me wish we could be
together on horses. We have fine saddles and the Company looks great
mounted, every man in same uniform and every one in line with his “lead”
horse to the right of the horse he is riding. We rode again Thursday but
we didn’t have much fun as it was too slippery to let the horses go
faster than a walk.

Tuesday night and Wednesday the Co. A-6 went on guard. I had it pretty
soft, as I only had 6:30-8:30 P:M 12:30-2:30 A:M and from 6:30-8:30 A:M
on actual guard duty. The night was not very cold and was clear and
moonlight. All I did Wednesday, after 8:30 A:M was to take one of the
prisoners from the guardhouse to his Company mess house for dinner. This
fellow had a couple pretty serious charges against him. One was
impersonating an officer and the other was being absent without leave.
He belonged to the same Co. that the other Bassett is in. The latter is
in the same class with me at the Service School. His home was in
Rockford, Ill. and he worked for awhile as telegraph operator at the
N.W. R.R. depot in Beloit. When he enlisted he was in San Francisco.
This makes me think about addressing my letters. It is uneccessary to
write out my middle name. (but always my first)

Here is the address: Forrest W. Bassett

Co. A-6^(th) Fld. B’n. Signal Corps

Ft. Leavenworth, Kans.

Write Signal Corps in full as you have been doing but abbreviate the
Fld. B’n. Well I am in hopes that there will be a letter from A.M.S. on
my bunk when I come in tomorrow noon. Please.

With love,

Forrest.

U.S. Army Field Message

Time Filed: 11.40. No. 1. Sent by: ABS. Time: 1.00 Check: 26

From: First Section, Co. A-6^(th) Fld. Bn. S. C.

At: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Date: Jan. 27, 18. Hour: 11:45 A.M. No: 1. How Sent: U.S. Mail

To: Mrs. A. L. Poquette.

25 East Street, Rockford, Illinois.

War munitions received an appreciated. Would thank you for further
shipments. Present supply much depleted.

Gen. Nuisance