March 7, 1919
The front page included a letter from one of the county’s soldiers, Pvt. Shannon Crow. He outlines what he had seen since leaving the United States Nov. 2nd at New York. It took six and a half days to cross the Atlantic, landing at Brest France on Nov. 9th. Carried ashore by Jerry boats, the group was marched out to a rest camp about five miles from Brest, through mud with heavy packs. Tired when we arrived at camp, we were given good soft beds. Seven days were spent at this camp. On Nov. 16, we left for Joneville, arriving there on the 19th, carried in small cars or coaches, with 42 men in each car besides rations and packs, viewing wonderful country all along the way. Joneville is a small town about 4,000 in number, located on the river Marne in the battle area. They suffered very frequently from air raids and buildings are bullet-marked. We were billeted in town for a month, with a climate that seldom varied, as it only rains there seven days out of each week. Leaving on Dec. 19th, we were lucky to be traveling in good coaches and plenty of room. The trip took 48 hours to get to Bagneres-de-Bigorre, a town of about 12,000, and is a health resort, located in a valley among the Pyrenees mountains about 150 miles from Bordeaux and 10 miles from the Spanish border. It is warm, valleys are green, and the scenery is beautiful. The men can go swimming every day, with natural hot mineral springs, bath houses, and swimming posts. The people treat us great and we are billeted in a fine hotel. I think we will leave for home in four or five weeks. We are pretty well satisfied, but we will all be happy to get back home. Give my best to all my friends.
Rev. C. M. Scroggins, one of Oktibbeha’s oldest and most beloved citizens, died at his home near Self Creek Monday, February 10th, aged 82 years. He was a native of Alabama and moved to this county about 35 years ago. He was pastor of the Clegg Springs Baptist church for over 30 years and was also engaged in teaching school for several years after the war. At the beginning of the war he was a young man 24 years old and was a student at the Hudson River Institute, a well-known college at that time located at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He left college and returned home to join the Confederate army and fought through the four years, making a brave and gallant soldier. The burial took place Double Springs cemetery. The deceased is survived by four sons and five daughters. Messrs. C. M. Scroggins of Oktibbeha County, C. V. Scroggins and Homer Scroggins and Mrs. Mabus of Ackerman, Mrs. Oswalt of Tucson, Ariz., Mrs. Perkins of Springtown, Texas, and two single daughters.
