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[poem] "To the Ladies of Portland"

Inspired by the reception the 20th Connecticut received upon departing for war. The women of Portland, Connecticut gave the men a warm send-off.

GLC08913.16

to Estelle Spero

Diamond complains about the hypocrisy of friends back home who are giving speeches in his honor, but who have failed to write to him

GLC09120.324

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he has been made a First Lieutenant.

GLC09120.325

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the soldiers from New Zealand that he has been working with.

GLC09120.326

to Estelle Spero

Diamond refers to some of Estelle's letters that he has received.

GLC09120.327

to Estelle Spero

Diamond provides commentary on the photographs that he has enclosed.

GLC09120.328

to Estelle Spero

Diamond reassures Estelle that the nurse featured in one of the photographs that he had sent home is engaged.

GLC09120.329

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that, upon his return, he plans to lock himself in a room for month and "sleep and sleep and sleep".

GLC09120.330

to Estelle Spero

Diamond discusses problems pertaining to the soldiers' ballot for the presidential election.

GLC09120.331

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that he feels surprisingly calm about the prospect of going into battle: "there is only the quietness of heart & body".

GLC09120.332

to Estelle Spero

Diamond instructs Estelle to be good, happy and to keep her level head.

GLC09120.333

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that they are "bon-voyaging again."

GLC09120.334

to Estelle Spero

Diamond asks Estelle to send V-mails in addition to her lengthy air mail letters, as he receives his parents' fairly regularly.

GLC09120.335

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that the "situation continues as usual", with everything "wet, damp, moldy" from the rain.

GLC09120.336

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that "the hunger for home grows increasingly great".

GLC09120.337

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that "there is little if anything new to report".

GLC09120.338

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes his "politics" to Estelle.

GLC09120.339

to Estelle Spero

Diamond informs Estelle that the lack of mail has been caused by his being involved in combat, "front line stuff". He writes that he has "seen 'war' minus hollywood's beauty."

photocopy

GLC09120.340

to Estelle Spero

Diamond praises his men in their initiation into battle. He complains about the difficulty of seeing clearly on the front line, and also writes that he would give up a year's salary for a decent night's sleep.

GLC09120.341

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he is "used to it by now. [His] nerves have settled down to their usual steady jangle."

GLC09120.342

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that he wants "home - out of this mess…"

GLC09120.343

to Estelle Spero

Diamond describes the telephone operator, Kallor, as a Jewish dress cutter from New York who is in Sidney's father's union.

GLC09120.344

to Estelle Spero

Diamond comments that he has never been ill during his army career.

GLC09120.345

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes Estelle a "short note in field on message & overlay paper."

GLC09120.346

to Estelle Spero

Diamond writes that their "apartment will have a double apron barbed wire fence about it covered by a slew of machine guns to keep all relatives away…"

GLC09120.347