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
WWP15662
Date
1919 February 6
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Dearest
Thursday night Excuse paper, please, but it is all I have. We are spending the night in a poor little hotel which has been bombed or shelled and things are in rather poor condition.
We arrived here about six o’clock from Chalons where we lunched and I inspected one of our hospitals. I am writing this standing up by an old mantle piece, and the room is cold—The comforts are poor but I wouldn’t miss being here for a lot. My bed has no blankets but I borrowed a steamer rug from the President and one from BMB. In addition there is something on top of the bed that looks like a small feather bed mattress which will cover me from my liver to feet; so I think that I can sleep all right. The ground is covered with snow & it is now snowing a little but it is very crisp & cold.
To-day we visited the emplacement of the big German gun which shelled Paris at a distance of (70) seventy miles, also visited the wine cellars of Moét and Chandon at Eperney. They now have in stock thirty two million bottles of champagne. The cellars extend eighteen miles. This may all sound incredible—but I am not writing under the influence of any of the wine.
We are due for breakfast at six o’clock & at seven go into the Argonne forests where you have read so much about, etc— I wish for you on this trip. It is the kind of outing and roughing it that you would glory in. I miss you & wish for you so often that it is almost a constant—every minute wish—Good–night, my love and dearest one—Friday Morning—6. 15 A M—Just a line before I go for 6.30 breakfast. Had a good night in the circumstances. It was warmer in my room after opening the windows. I failed to mention the names of our party last night. My old friend—Col. Percy Jones, Medical Corps arranged the schedule & all and did it to the perfection. He is the head of the Army Ambulance Corps. and has traveled over the battle fields many, many times. In addition we have a fine French officer—Lieut. Rodocanachi who fought around Verdun for two years and is a perfect encyclopedia on the war; he knows every inch of the ground fought over & all the side incidents—He Speaks good English. In the second car is are—Murphy, Corcoran, Swem and a Captain Brower—We go through the Argonne forest this morning and expect to reach Verdun by lunch time. We have our lunch with us—By–By–sweetheart—I wish you were here.
Yours—
Thursday night Excuse paper, please, but it is all I have. We are spending the night in a poor little hotel which has been bombed or shelled and things are in rather poor condition.
We arrived here about six o’clock from Chalons where we lunched and I inspected one of our hospitals. I am writing this standing up by an old mantle piece, and the room is cold—The comforts are poor but I wouldn’t miss being here for a lot. My bed has no blankets but I borrowed a steamer rug from the President and one from BMB. In addition there is something on top of the bed that looks like a small feather bed mattress which will cover me from my liver to feet; so I think that I can sleep all right. The ground is covered with snow & it is now snowing a little but it is very crisp & cold.
To-day we visited the emplacement of the big German gun which shelled Paris at a distance of (70) seventy miles, also visited the wine cellars of Moét and Chandon at Eperney. They now have in stock thirty two million bottles of champagne. The cellars extend eighteen miles. This may all sound incredible—but I am not writing under the influence of any of the wine.
We are due for breakfast at six o’clock & at seven go into the Argonne forests where you have read so much about, etc— I wish for you on this trip. It is the kind of outing and roughing it that you would glory in. I miss you & wish for you so often that it is almost a constant—every minute wish—Good–night, my love and dearest one—Friday Morning—6. 15 A M—Just a line before I go for 6.30 breakfast. Had a good night in the circumstances. It was warmer in my room after opening the windows. I failed to mention the names of our party last night. My old friend—Col. Percy Jones, Medical Corps arranged the schedule & all and did it to the perfection. He is the head of the Army Ambulance Corps. and has traveled over the battle fields many, many times. In addition we have a fine French officer—Lieut. Rodocanachi who fought around Verdun for two years and is a perfect encyclopedia on the war; he knows every inch of the ground fought over & all the side incidents—He Speaks good English. In the second car is are—Murphy, Corcoran, Swem and a Captain Brower—We go through the Argonne forest this morning and expect to reach Verdun by lunch time. We have our lunch with us—By–By–sweetheart—I wish you were here.
Yours—
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 February 6, WWP15662, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.