The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-16
LIEUT.. HARRY T. GRAY.

ing to Lieut.. Gray's hosts of friends in
this city. He says: Il have been here
since Sept. 10th. l arrived on Sunday
morning, but was relieved until Mon
day at l o'clock, when l reported to
the colonel and was assigned to the
command of company E. 1 had the
distinction of being the whole company
for two days. On Wednesday the re-
cruits began to arrive and then my
troubles began. l would get from l
to 20 recruits each day for the next
ten days and they would have to be
equipped with clothing and instructed
in the duties of the soldier.
Everything would be going smooth
ly when more Rockies would come
and the same operation would have to
be gone through They would arrive
at all times of the day and night, and
I would have to hustle about and get
them blankets and bed sacks. Each man
is provided with a canvas bag filled
with straw for bed. The clothing is
drawn on a schedule which has to be
made out and ruled before the clothing
is drawn.
"Then there was the quartermaster' S
stores to be drawn the ordnance stores
to be drawn and issued, the company
books to make out and start going, the
men to drill and discipline, the rations
to draw and four hundred other things
to do. / covered 20 miles day for the
first week. The colonel told me today
that / had a good company and l feel
well satisfied as long as my superior
officer is pleased. In about week l
would nut company H to shame. This
is no reflection on company II, for l
am proud of that company, but we
have the benefit of four solid hours
drill every day except Sunday, and
ought to learn something.
EVERY Saturday we have an inspec-
ton of quarters and arms and our COM
pany street has been favorably COM
mented upon each time. Our colonel
is fine man and a stickler for disci-
pline. AS long as an officer does MS
duty all is we'll, but when anything
goes wrong an explanation is in order.
our camp is a fine one. 1t is situated
on sloping ground. The sinks are
cleaned out every day and flushed with
water so that no bad odor leaves them.
We have two cooks who draw the pay
of sergeants, and they are equipped
with field ovens and plenty of tools to
work with. The food is good and there
is plenty of it.. 1 have good quarter
master who looks out for everything
and l am not bothered with making
out ration returns except to sign.
Tell Sergt. Smith that / would like
to have him as first sergeant of my
company. 1 have had 113 men in my
company but have only 1903 now, on ac-
count of discharges and assertions.
This is quite bunch to handle, but 1
have got the most of them tame by this
time. While have been talking OF
my company it is really not my COM
pany now, for yesterday l was relieved
and made acting battalion adjutant, so
now l am enjoying a snap. do not
know as this will keep, but hope so,
anyhow. The officers here are fine
LOT and I am having a fine time. They
come from all parts of the country, but
mostly from the south.
each company officer has tent
for himself and is very comfortably
situated. It's rather cool here nights,
but l have an oil stove IN my tent ana
keen very worm" The letter closes
with the desire to be remembered to
all worcester friends