Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson
Title
Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP15633
Date
1919 January 26
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Text
Dearest.
We all got up this morning at 6.30—and motored to Reims—via Meaux—the nearest point the Germans ever came to Paris—Then, we went over to Belleau wood where the US Marines did such wonderful fighting. Lunched at Chateau Thierry at eleven o’clock—Crossed the river Marne several times on temporary bridges built by the American Engineers—at times, we alighted from the motors and walked over the battle fields—inspecting & viewing the trenches etc. The saddest sight of all to the lonely isolated graves of the Americans in some field or on some lonely hill, with the American colors on a little wooden board marking their graves. It all seemed so sad and lonely and so far from home.
Reims is a complete ruin, Miss Edith told me that you and she once visited Reims and that it was a beautiful city. To-day, it is a sight of desolation and ruins. Although, the surrounding country is not as desolate and does not show as much destruction as I had expected.
Among the few people at Reims, I met Miss Porter—who knows you. She is a Red Cross nurse. With very few exceptions, the sole living places are in cellars. Once there were more then 150,000—inhabitants—now there are less than 3000. This is coldest day we have felt and it is snowing—the first snow of this winter in Paris. We returned to Paris at ten o’clock to-night.
I thought about you a lot to-day. I hope you are well and keeping free from the Influenza—Please be careful & take extra good care of your precious self. You mean so much more to me than you can imagine. Love to Gordon and a heart full for Trudie, dear—
CTG
We all got up this morning at 6.30—and motored to Reims—via Meaux—the nearest point the Germans ever came to Paris—Then, we went over to Belleau wood where the US Marines did such wonderful fighting. Lunched at Chateau Thierry at eleven o’clock—Crossed the river Marne several times on temporary bridges built by the American Engineers—at times, we alighted from the motors and walked over the battle fields—inspecting & viewing the trenches etc. The saddest sight of all to the lonely isolated graves of the Americans in some field or on some lonely hill, with the American colors on a little wooden board marking their graves. It all seemed so sad and lonely and so far from home.
Reims is a complete ruin, Miss Edith told me that you and she once visited Reims and that it was a beautiful city. To-day, it is a sight of desolation and ruins. Although, the surrounding country is not as desolate and does not show as much destruction as I had expected.
Among the few people at Reims, I met Miss Porter—who knows you. She is a Red Cross nurse. With very few exceptions, the sole living places are in cellars. Once there were more then 150,000—inhabitants—now there are less than 3000. This is coldest day we have felt and it is snowing—the first snow of this winter in Paris. We returned to Paris at ten o’clock to-night.
I thought about you a lot to-day. I hope you are well and keeping free from the Influenza—Please be careful & take extra good care of your precious self. You mean so much more to me than you can imagine. Love to Gordon and a heart full for Trudie, dear—
CTG
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Alice Gertrude Gordon, 1892-1961
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson to Alice Gertrude Gordon Grayson,” 1919 January 26, WWP15633, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.