GRAY - PEYTON letter

Dear Carl: Well, Carl, I got your letter yesterday and was not expecting to get time to answer as soon as I did because I am going to rifle school and have a great deal of writing and taking notes to do as you have learned in attending lecture. If I make good on the rifle I may be pointed out for an instructor of the Rifle to this Company or any other that needs instruction on the rifle or any other new recruit that comes in the army if any more come in. The way the papers look down here we may be home by Thanksgiving or Christman. Hope so at least. I am glad to hear that the corn and crops are doing well and are expecting a good yield for this is certainly the time for a good yield. It has been so long since I seen good corn that I may have to ask some one what it was growing in the fields. We have had a slight frost down here but for one night only, but have had several very cool nights, the altitude here is high and the air seems cold and damp at nights. We are sleeping on straw ticks and it is said that stoves are going to be put in our tents right away. Have you got your classification yet and when they classify you A-1 I suppose? Has gasoline raised in price up there it costs 26 to 28 c per gallon down here. There is going to be a parade in the town near camp Saturday 28th in honor of the fourth Liberty loan and this camp aims to have a body of men march in it. "Don't know whether this company and train will get in it or not. If so, and I am one of the bunch it will be the first time that I have been to town and out of camp. I sent the folks some souvenirs from down here so you may get to see some things that are used in this ... I picked them off the range. If I get to go to the range in rifle practice next week I may be able to explain more than I can now, hope so anyway. I haven't seen Everett Henthorn since I have been down here but see Nelson Nichols once in awhile. Most of the Montgomery County boys that left the same day that I did are down here in some company or other, but you may not run on any of them for a week or two at a time. Well hope you good luck and I think that you will not have to quit (sorry rest gone)