Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-07-20
THE AUDUBON SOLDIER BOYS
Good Letter From Clyde Baker at
San Fernando.

San Fernando, P. l., June 7th, 1899
Dear Friends:
AS it has been some time since I hav,
written / thought would spend few
moments in writing today. hope yor
are all we'll and enjoying as gooG
health as / am at present. We are
still in San Fernando doing outpost
duty. We have commenced cleaning
the streets and vacant lots and in q
short time it will look much nicer
We get outpost duty about every foul
days so we are having an easy time OF
it while here. The insurgents are in
their treanches about 700 yards in
front of our outpost but they lay pref,
ty still Once in II while few shots
come our way and we could start a
good heavy fight if we would answer
the fire. As it is getting near the time
for the rainy season to set in, the enemy
are building shelter over their trenches.
They would like awful we'll to capture
this city and make it their headquarters
but we Americans don't think they
will. They have attacked our outpost
three or four times at about o'clock
in the morning hut we had our eyes
open. The troops were aroused and
marched about eight miles before
breakfast and stopped them.
l don't think there will be much
more fighting until after the rainy sea-
son because the troops on both sides
could not stand it, l don't think the
volunteers will have much to do when
it begins to rain. 1t is nearly time for
us to be mustered out of the service
The eleventh of this month makes the
sixtieth day after the notifications of
peace and We are supposed to be ont
by that time. We, have been on the
line since the fourteenth of March and
are now anxious to get home. The
regular troops are coming fast but
General Otis does not seem to want
the volunteers sent home. The paper
states that the Oregon regiment will
be on their way home in few days.
There is strong talk in the regiment
about sending applications for a dis
charge but it will be of no use. The
General has orders out for re-enlisting
and those who desire to do so can re-
enlist six months, two years or three
years. There is very few who will en-
list to stay in this country. The
country is all right but it is the way
things are run. If this country was
closer to civilization l would rather
live here than elsewhere. I never had
better health in my life than
have had since l have been Oh these
islands. 1t is Il bad place for malaria
and our bodies are full of germs and
we must all be very careful when we
return or we will all be sick. The hot
climate is making our blood as thin rs
water. l saw a fellow bathing and he
rubbed himself until the blood came
through the skin in places. 1t is n
good place to get sick quick rs some
of the bo.'s do to get out of doing work
and guard duty.
The natives come back to town and
sell us eggs, milk, bananas and man
goes. The milk is not like the milk
we get ut home. 1t is caribou milk. I
don't care for any of it. These natives
claim to be Macabees but we all think
they are insurgents who have put on
their omega clothes and come in from
the enemy's line. They get our money
and go back to the lines and buy am
munition and then fire it at us when we
show ourselves. Hoping this will find
you all we'll | will close with my best
regards to all of you.
Your friend,
CLYDE w. BAKER.