Howard Lyford

(2)

P.S. When you tell me where Co C. went I think I can tell whether we are going to stay here. I is in the last battalion so that don't do me anyway.

and most of the women let out a yell. It was really funny, but we couldn't laugh. The top told us we did fine, as it sounded like one shot every time we fired a volley. I aimed at a picket on a fence every time I shot, but I didn't hit it. It's getting pretty dead around here when it takes a funeral to break the monotony. Anyway that funeral was carried out in a strictly military manner and we are very proud of -- the part we took in it. Just before we fired the salute the bank president of the town said, "ladies and gentlemen

possessed. After the coffin is lowered in the grave we had to fire a salute of three shots over the grave. We didn't have any blank cartridges, so consequently we were forced to use ball cartridges. The crowd was told to stand back before we fired, but you know how a crowd is when they are about to witness some thing they have never seen before in their life, they kept crowding up until the first volley was fired, and then you should have seen them. I'll bet more than one corn got tramped on. Anyway it didn't take them long to get back. We couldn't here the last shot the babies were crying so loud.

the men you see in the W S uniforms are of Co D. Second California infantry! The secretary of state and one of the other speakers gave us a sendoff during the services too. There is some class to us, you can't get away from it. The bank president took us down to his house and gave us a big dinner after every thing was over. Believe me when I say it was a regular dinner I mean it.

The company clerk just came in, and I asked him if he would go to the show with me tonight. He said nothing doing, I embarrassed him too much last night by going to sleep and then snoring. He woke me up twice last night, and said he wasn't surprised at people laughing at me, as he couldn't see how they could look at that face of mine and do otherwise, but the snoring was too much for him. He is a card anyway, and he has had to pay my way to the show the last two nights a I am betting on Chicago and he is for New York.

I met a girl last night that used to live in Campbell Cal. She knows Rev. Atkinson well, and says she knows where Mtz. is. I don't remember her name as she is only fourteen.

We have one Act. Corporal of the guard here that has got the swell head so bad his hat won't fit him. He is only a buck

private when the Co. is together. Night before last another fellow and I went over to the guard house to sleep. It has always been a practice that the first one in a bed claimed it. We came in and four of them were playing cards, all friends of the Act. corp, and we started to take one of the beds, two of them said they had the bed. I said I don't see your name on it, and at that the swell head spoke up and told us to take another bed, after a lot of words between the three of us. He said I will show you which bed you are going to take, and strapped his side arms on and pulled out his automatic. I told him to go ahead and shoot, and at that he put the gun down. He could get courtmartialed for ever pulling a gun on us, and it is a good thing for him my gun wasn't loaded.

Well Neevah I am going out and play ball so will say "olive oil" for the present. Love to all Duke

Ancient Order of Watchmen Garfield Utah October 18th

Dearest Neevah! -

I received your late report on Co C., and it was better late than never, as it gave us hopes of going to Fort Mason before we depart for Linda Vista, which means I will have a chance to come home.

I am going to try and get a four day furlough if its possible, but am doubtful whether I can get off that long as we will be the last company into Fort Mason and I suppose they will rush us