The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-07-28


the boat for home and yesterday
they drew three days rallons and
were sent out on the south line out
to Parmaque. When we first land
cd on August 7th they had about
$500 Rebs surrounded out there and
they are going to close on them Sun
day and they will have to surrender
or die. We have artillery on three
sides of them and it is trap that
has been set sor two months or more
and the Nigs have been coming in
all the time, they have all kinds of
trenches and pits just as they had out
where we went through from April
23rd until May 9th, mile after mile
all counected, it is wonderful how
they build them.
Well, you ought to see me do my
washing and meuding this morning.
l have big joD but am now com
plete master of it, as the Irishman
says.
l saw iu the papers there was not
much trouble in getting into Calum-
pit and no fight was made, only
few shots fired. Well, that is news
to me, we lost 48 killed and some so
odd wounded in ths three days of it
took to get the city it is amusing to
sec how the papers get things. ]
got about ton of papers when we
came hack to the railroad, but only
few letters, and [ have not written
any only to you since March 5th or
9TH, SO l guess I am forgotten. You
are likely very busy now days with
your garden and such; we'll, 1 hope
we will be home in time to help
thresh, do the fall plowing and gath
er the melons. Say, 1 guess l don't
spell very good but just wait until
write to my girl I will spell just too
utter too, too, etc, etc. III We had to
throw up some hreastwo1ks out on
one side Of the camp the other day.
[ guess the General expected the
Nigs to dig into as but they have
not bothered US yet, they may when
the south line moves out, but l don't
think so. Several of the boys that
we're in the hospital came out and
reported for duty when we got back
here and l am glad they did for we
had all the work we wanted. Manila
's jam full of regulars but the volun-
teers all kept out in the front and
the government pets lay around in
the shade and saloons and drink
beer.
[ have not seen Harry or Dan since
we came back. only just saw Harry
when we came through above Blgae,
they were not out with the Flying
Column; there was Co. X, L, Nj, Il,
D, E, H, and @: two batallions of the
18th.
Well, Mother, I am getting so fat
| can't hardly write and [ bet if you
should see me now you would not
know me. l have got sweat leath-
eer in my hat now, 1 found one yes
terday and put it in Eyes indeed) as
long as it is possible l shall dress
good because it is bound to pay
in the long run. You can::see on the
map if you have one the large cities
we took in on the last trip, the first
was Nasagray, Augot, Mosingo, San
Rafel, Baliaque, Massin, Elfons, San
Maguil, Sabacot, San 1sador. We
crossed the Reogrand at the foot OF
| Mt. Arat and then down past the
city of Arat and St: Louis and
struck the railroad at Columpit, they
had us on about half rations, field ra
tions at that, from the river before
we took San Izador until we got
down here. The boys are drawing
clothes today, some they ordered
when we got here, some of the boys
were in bad shape for want o
clother. I saw by the Rushmore pa
per that w. Willis was back from {
visit with his daughter at Eota. Say
there is mess call, l will now go anc
Iget some grub.
| Now l feel better and will finish
those things you sent me Christina
are just the stuff here and l go
good use of the mosquito bar las
night, the mosquitoes are very thicl
here on the river and the swami
lands.
The letter wrote you at San Ma
gull I think I told you about tn
: government trying to get us to re- eli
list, but they can't get ten men in
regiment, the boys are no fools, the
have already beat them out of trave
pay and now they offer to make
good if we will re-enlist for two NOR
years and then they would dun
| them here without any way to g.
back but to use up the money the
get when they enlist. l will clos
for this time. Write when you cal
Love to ALL Your loving son,
.~s f. 81. BAssETr,
18th MINI, u. S. v.