The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-05-25
FRESH FROM MANILA.
Albert Capser Writes Another In
teresting Letter to Home
Friends.
A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN REAL WAR.
The thirteenth Neither Coward.
ly Chumps, nor Fiendish Cut
thrOatS.

BOCANE, P. l., April IA, '99.
DEAR FATHER AND BROTHER-We have
been on the move about four weeks and there
is a shortage of writing material SO have to
write this to you both. Again l have to
thank God for preserving my life SO far as
He has the rest of our company We had
been in camp here nearly three weeks and
things were apparently quiet and peaceful,
but on the morning of April IL we found out
differently. l was on guard the night of the
10th, being 3rd relief. Two men were on at
time. We had stood over two hours and been
relieved about ten or fifteen minutes-long
enough to be in our blankets-when the cor
poral of the guard called out For Gods sake
get up. The Goo Coos are here" This was
at o'clock a. m. We had heard firing toward
G company about half an hour before, but
things were then quiet. We rushed out and
four of us only got to the captains tent,
when phiz, ping, bang, the lead began to sing
and spit all around us. The Goo Coos we're
shooting from the other side of the road, by
actual measure just seventy-five feet from
where we four were lying. Well, we did not
stop long, but crawled Indian fashion to the
camp, where everyone was making himself as
small as possible and firing whenever we saw
the flash of the enemy's guns We were I'M
der cross fire from all directions and at no
place over 200 yards. The fight lasted about
three hours and then we had a rest, but lay
at the rice ridges until morning. The entire
country is cut up with these ridges, six inches
to two feet high and about the same wide.
just as soon as it was light enough to see we
took position at the railroad track. This
gave u better protection; while an advance
guard of six men went up the track to the
station. All night we heard the Goo Goo
bugle blowing assembly" and they also sent
up rockets from the station. Those six men
were within POO yards of the station when
they were fred upon and came running back
to us. Captain Metz brought the entire COM
pany around facing the station, and we
marched double quick as far as the creek.
Then they poured the lead into us right and
left. Well, we forgot to stop, but rushed
through the water and on. You ought to
have seen the Goo Coos run. There were
about 200 of them and they left sixteen dead
and forty wounded. Company @ came across
the railroad bridge and then we gave them
HI. Last week we were given twenty-five
krak-Jorgenson rifles, and they gave eigh-
teen to the cOrpOralS and sergeants, and this
left seven to be given to the privateS. l was
one of the lucky ones and, you bet, l used it
in good shape too. So April II we again went
after them and drove them to Santa Maria,
and then drove them out of there and burned
the town. Captain Metz is the best captain
in the regiment. General Wheaton compli-
mented the boys very highly. If anyone
says the Thirteenth are not fighters tell them
to ask General Wheaton or any general here.
Will write more when get some more paper
Cousin Joe has the smallpox but l think he
is coming out all right again. We will be
home sometime If we are not killed.
ALBERT CAPSER.