“My own darling Less, How can you doubt my love for you?”
Who the heck is Cleo?!
That was a question from a listener who said he’s heard every episode of “From Camp Lee to the Great War,” but still can’t figure it out.
If you’ve also been listening but not necessarily reading all of the accompanying blog posts on Archiving Wheeling dot org, you might have the same question: Who the heck is Cleo?
Well, the short answer is that Cleo Hewitt is Wagoner Lester Scott’s girlfriend back in Wheeling. We don’t know a great deal about her, but to remove some of the mystery, we’ve created this special edition of “From Camp Lee to the Great War.” Let’s just call it, “The Cleo Episode.”
After listening today’s podcast, you will know as much as we do about the mysterious Cleo.
As you know, we publish the letters of US Army privates, Lester Scott and his brother-in-law Charles “Dutch” Riggle, 100 years to the day after each was penned by our soldiers and mailed from Camp Lee, Virginia, back to family in Wheeling. We’ve chosen to publish the Cleo Episode today because it was 100 years ago last week, on May 23, 1918, that Lester Scott wrote to his sister Minnie Riggle, “please write and tell Cleo Good Bye for me.”
The reason is, Les knew he was leaving for France. And for reasons that will become apparent, Les wasn’t sure Cleo wanted to hear from him. But since his sister was Cleo’s good friend, he asked her to convey his goodbye message.
To better understand this complex little love story, let’s first hear from Cleo in an undated letter to her darling Les:
“My own darling Less,
How can you doubt my love for you. It grows stronger and stronger each day. I think of you by day and dream of you night. If I thought you loved me as I loved you it would not only cheer my lonely pathway but would help me so much to do a great many good things in this world. You have my promise to love you and I always will. Good Health and Best Wishes of
Your own Dutch x”
After that, we have identified two letters from Cleo to Minnie. They prove that Les was indeed sweet on Cleo, his sister’s friend.
Triadelphia W.VA
Oct 8 1917
Dear Friend,
I haven’t time to write much as it is nearly mail time, but I have seen pictures they took down at the Y.M.C.A. when they were eating dinner the day Less left and they were just great (see below). You can get them at Klines. I have tried to get one for you & myself but failed. If you want to go to Wheeling the last of this wk I will go to. write and let me know right away and I would be ready as you come past. ans soon
Your Friend,
Cleo
A month after he left for Camp Lee, it’s clear that Cleo was missing her Les:
Triadelphia, W.Va
Nov. 1917
Dear friend Minnie,
How you was? I am O.K. hope you are the same. I came home at shortly after dark. I got a stick to a dance that night but didn’t go. Earl Shook even came after me and I was in bed. the dance was at Kent’s. I started to school this morning but I don’t like it very well. To lonesome. say we are going to have a box social here two weeks from next Friday night. You & Jim be sure and come. Tell everyone you see. Be sure and tell Bob Milligan. get him to bring you ha ha. Don Foulks told me a lot of stuff about Less and I ask him about some of it and I haven’t heard from him since suppose I made him mad. I had a fine visit at Moundsville. I want to go to Wheeling this week and get another pair of shoes. Minnie I don’t know whether I can get that yoke made for you again xmas or not. I do wonder if Less will get to come back home for xmas? I guess Wilbert Dairo does go with Mabel Salter. I wouldn’t let him go with a dog of mine. I had my pictures take while in Mdse but they were not no good. How is Senda? tell her Hello. Well its after noon and I will try and write somemore. I was down at Mosses at noon but Gertrude can’t go to Wheeling this week so I suppose I will walk in anyway. Ha ha Sorry you couldn’t get a picture. Maybe I will give you mine. Buelah McCormack said Vincent got a letter from him the other day. I got your letter Sunday morning. Maggie Hull came up to see me and she brot it up Sat night as I came thro’ the Grove I just thot sure I saw Less’s horse & buggy but I suppose it wasn’t. I could just kill Bert Cladwell for getting that place at Cracrafts, the little fool.
Well this is all so answer soon. Be sure and come to the box social
Good Bye, as ever Cleo
Have a lot to tell you if I ever see you ha ha
As she indicates, Cleo and Les have a falling out for some reason.
In a letter dated a couple of months later, February 1, 1918, Les writes:
“I recd a letter from Cleo too. she says she isnt going back over to No 2 any more. she also says hers and my picture hangs on the wall no more. I wonder if any body cares. She told me of going to church too. she says you did something to her before she left wouldn’t tell what it was. she says if wouldn’t get mad she wouldn’t do it any more. mabe I am not going to tell her a few. I knew you and her would have trouble. you dont need to think I care in the least…”
Ten days later, on February 11, 2018, Les reveals the severity of the problem:
“Cleo is trying to apologize now but that dont go with me. I would like for you to see the letters she wrote. they remind me of the notes the Kaiser used to use to the president. I may write to her once more..”
Comparing your girlfriend’s letters to the Kaiser’s letters while your country is at war with the Kaiser’s country is serious business. No doubt.
Then on February 24, 1918, Les writes:
“I haven’t heard from Cleo lately. ”
And on March 1, 1918: “I haven’t heard from Cleo any more. did you ever hear what was the matter with her. I dont care if she doesn’t write to me. ”
And a month and a half later on April 16, 1918: “I never hear from Cleo any more. wonder where she is.”
And as we’ve heard in Episode 48 of our podcast series, one month later on May 10, 1918, Les’s father, Christopher Columbus Scott said of Cleo:
“I was talking to Cleo Hewett and she says she is afraid she is left on you now. she looks as fat and ragged as ever. I think she is getting ring boned.”
Which prompted Les to write, 2 days later to his sister Minnie:
“if you know what he meant about Cleo, he has me guessing.”
And a few days later on May 18, Les inquires poignantly of his sister: “what has become of Cleo?”
So what has become of Cleo? And what will become of Les after he’s shipped to France to fight for the American Expeditionary Force against the German Empire?
Stay tuned.
And don’t miss the next regularly scheduled episode of “From Camp Lee to the Great War,” to be published on June 18, 2018.
To listen to the podcast, visit our SoundCloud page, or subscribe through your favorite podcast app.
Listen to Special Episode 52 of “From Camp Lee to the Great War: The Letters of Lester Scott and Charles Riggle” – The Cleo Episode
To subscribe to this podcast, go to iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, or your favorite podcast app, search for “From Camp Lee to the Great War,” and click “subscribe.”
From Camp Lee to the Great War: The letters of Lester Scott and Charles Riggle” is brought to you by Archiving Wheeling in partnership with the Ohio County Public Library (Wheeling, WV) and the Wheeling Academy of Law & Science (WALS) Foundation.
Jeremy Richter is the voice of Lester Scott. Liz Richter is the voice of Cleo Hewitt. Sean Duffy is the voice of Christopher Columbus Scott. The letters of Lester Scott and Charles Riggle were transcribed by Jon-Erik Gilot. This podcast was edited and written by Sean Duffy, audio edited by Erin Rothenbuehler with music courtesy the Library of Congress.
[Music for May 23, 1918 episode: “Poor butterfly,” Jaudas, Eugene. (performer)Jaudas’ Band (performer), 1917, https://www.loc.gov/item/00694036/]
Many thanks to Marjorie Richey for sharing family letters and the stories of her uncles, Lester Scott and Charles “Dutch” Riggle, WWI soldiers from West Virginia.
▶ To listen to the prior Camp Lee podcasts, visit our SoundCloud page.
▶ To learn about the background of this project and watch an introductory video about the podcast, click here.
GOOD SERIES.AS A HISTORY BUFF I REALLY ENJOY YOUR WORK.
,
Thanks Jack.