WWI Oct. 1918 Letter from Major of 14th ENGINEER Regt. in France GREAT CONTENT

Description

World War I soldier's letter, 1 pg., approx. 8-1/4" x 10-5/8", dated
"France, October 16th, 1918"
, from Majo) Robert G. Henderson, 14th Engineer Regiment, to his brother & sister-in-law, Harry P. & Mabel Henderson.
Includes the original envelope, addressed to Mrs. H.P. Henderson, at Burlington, Mass., and forwarded to 60 Broadway, New York City, with Oct. 18, 1918 dated U.S. ARMY POST OFFICE postmark, purple "A.E.F. PASSED AS CENSORED" handstamp, over Major Henderson's self-censor signature at bottom left, and with purple "Forwarded from Woburn, Mass." hanstamp, and Woburn postmark struck when the cover was forwarded.
The 14th Engineer Regiment was recruited in New England, mostly from railroad men, and arrived in France in the fall of 1917. They did important work repairing railroads, building railroads and bridges, often under gun and artillery fire.
Great content
, writing of the hardships suffered by the infantry in "open warfare" in the weather they are having, difficulties in transportation due to the "swift advance" against the Germans; of his regiment "operating  a little light railway that is now hooked up with the old Boche system", and writing of the expected end of the war, expressing the opinion that "the old Boche is going to be driven from France and Belgium, rather than evacuate it, and that the "old hard law" of "Leave him nothing but eyes to weep with" should be applied to the Germans.
Includes:
"Dear Harry & Mabel,
I have letters from you both just come in and it was so good to hear from you. It's quite thrilling to think that Harry may be over here...If we do meet here, I rather think it will be in Germany at the rate things are going. I wonder if you appreciate at home what open warfare means to the infantry in this kind of weather - the lack of shelter except pup tents, the difficulties of transportation caused by swift advance, that have to be overcome. It seems a titanic task, but ii is being done by all the allies.
So far as hardships with me are concerned, there are none. We are exceedingly comfortable, operating a little light railway that is now hooked up with the old Boche system. The country is beautiful, except that it is the poorest time of year, and pretty soon snow will be on the ground.
We all make conjectures about the end of the war, but we think that the old Boche is going to be driven from France and Belgium rather than evacuate it. The old hard law should apply: 'Leave him nothing but eyes to weep with'.
I wish you could see our quarters in this old quarry. It is a fascinating place, with little stone & tin huts scattered round under steep walls of the quarry. I can only hope that we stay here for some time.
A bientot,
Bob"
Very Fine.
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