In view of the fact that it has been such a long time since I have written you or seen you, I think tonight would be as good a time as any to drop you a line and let your know how things stand with one of your old pupils.
    I am with the Guard, as you know, and we are stationed at Demming, New Mexico. I am with the Artillery branch of the service, on the Headquarters Company, (the brains of the Battalion.) In time of peace I am the battalion clerk; when out on marches and in time of warfare I am a scout. The battalion went out on a march, and another scout and I were detailed to go in an opposite direction and locate and draw maps of any road on which the battalion might return. At 12 o'clock we were exactly 20 miles from the balance of the battalion. We had ridden all day in a vain effort to locate new roads but without avail; returning to camp sometime in the evening very tired but much wiser. I don't know whether the major framed up a deal on us or not.
    The day you saw me on the road to Ft. Logan I was handling one end of the telephone from Battery B to the battalion commander. The two batteries were having a sham battle and were giving their data to their respective commands and to me, which I recorded in order to test the efficiency of the battery commander. We knew the exact position of the enemy and checked his data with what it actually was.
    Everything is lovely down here on the border and very interesting too. This is all new to me and I enjoy myself every minute of the time. The trip here, also, was fine. Everything I saw was very interesting. We passed through small Indian villages and Mexican towns with their quaint adobe huts, and the ever-present adobe mission characterized by the cross placed on the roof of the building. Here and there one would see the people working at their various means of livelihood: farming for the men and the making of trinkets and beaded affairs by the women, to be sold at the nearest railroad station.
    Just to mention the training one receives at your institution, take my case for instance. I was taught the fundamental principles of drilling. When I enlisted in this outfit I could step around with any of them. I was taught the beginning of topography. When I stepped out into the world to make my living I found a place in a print shop whereby I was able to manage very nicely. I was also taught a little music. I found a very good use for that. We had a band at the Rifle Range, and I played there. Since coming here I have played with some of the infantry bands at various places. While office boy I picked up a little typewriting. Right away I landed the job of battalion clerk in the guard, a very good position, and one of responsibility inasmuch as everything to and from the War Department goes through my hands. Particularly I was taught discipline. Since I have been here I have had no trouble with any of my superior officers because I knew that it would be pure folly to buck any of the officers. There are several of your students here, for instance: Withey, Curtis, Camley, Davidson, who is with the Arkansas Infantry, and several more whom I do not recall right now. Withey, who took up the harness trade there, is now the saddler for the battery of which he is a member.
    Tattoo is just blowing and I have quite a bit more work to do now I will close, but now without sending my best regards to all the officers with whom I was aquatinted and who helped give me a start in life. Do you know that some "Pickings" would be very acceptable and warmly received by myself? Also a Magazine now and then? But a letter in answer to this at an early date would make everything much nicer.
Think this last paragraph over deeply, and So-Long.                                                                                         F.D.M.

Dear Sir: Colorado Springs, Colo., July 26, 1915

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Last modified June 18, 2003