Connecticut western news., 1918-01-10
CANAAN, CONN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 191s
IRVING GAYLORD WRITES
 FROM CAMP GORDON, GA.
Believes That Army Training is a Great Benefit for All
 the Men.

The following letter was received by Dr F H Lee from Irving Gaylord, formerly of East Canaan, who s now in training at Camp Gordon, Georgia Dear Doctor:
 Little did dream at the beginning of .9l7 tat the end of the year would find me in the Army 1900 miles from home in the state of Georgia.
 But such is the case and with it has come some wonderful experiences which will be to me as I grow old "mile stone".
 We left Camp Devens on the 23-d of October at II a. m. Our train was made up of Pullman cars and one bag gage car which was used for our cook ing There were 15 cars in all. We were three days and nights on the road.
 The trip and time spent was one of great interest to me and will never be forgotten.
 After leaving New York everything was new to me like the state of Vir- ginia very much. The old plantation homesteads which at one time showed signs of comfort and luxury now have the hard worn look which was brought about from the Civil war and Lave never fully recovered. About 40 miles north of Richmond we passed the house that "Stonewall" Jackson died in dur ing that war.
 We passed many acres of cotton and corn. At that time it was the picking season. The land is rolling covered with a good deal of timber which is mostly pine with somes mixed timber, The soil is very dry and i'll places a good deal of clay or what we would call clay in the north This clay gets so hard that it is impossible 10 dig it with a shovel without first using 8 pick.
 Our training now is very interesting. The Semaphore code which we are now learning is the sending If messages with flags moving them iI certain positions n make different letters. We are also learning the wig wag code Thic.i is tnn Dot and Dash system. l The machine gun whIch we are tC nse kas rating of shots minute We have to know how to take these guns apart and put them to .ether again being able to give the name of each part no matter how small We have ( great deal of other drilling, hiking physical exercise all kinds of sports which help to harden and tougheu tht muscles. Then there is the Manual o Arms, observation hikes. squad drills and range finding. Beside our drilling we have lots of things to learn by hear having it ready on our tongues erd at l, mon ents notice.
 Chri stmas passed off quickly mucf like other holida Fs. was we'll remem bered with gifts and cards. We had fine dinner consisting of celery. olives crackers and soup. roast turkey, bread and butter cranberry sauce and gil lIert gravy, mashed potatoes, greer peas, apple mince and peach pie, lave cake, aprles, oranges, bananas, mixed nuts, mixed candy, chocolates, grap julce, cigars and cigarettes. Gu Thanksgiving dinner was much tn same.
 have been over to Atlanta twic since being here. The city is IA mile from Camp. Can go by trolley O jitney. 1t is large city about 250, OO population. It is the capital of Georgia There is large German prison ther where Upcle Sam is caring for tn : prisoners which were taken from tn German boats when war was declared lam getting along all right and feel ing tine have no trouble since I hav beeu. Tn training and lay it to the phy sical exercise. Taking it all in all tn training is doing me lots of gocd anC when l return will be glad of the tim. spent.
 l was very glad to hear from yo, and again wish to thank you. Trustin, this finds you and family enjoying tn, best of health am
 Your old patient.