The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-23
HIS DUTCH UP!
Albert Capser Writes a
Breezy Letter.
ON THE FIRING LINE.
He has had Experience and
Feels that He Is now
a Veteran.
MANILA, p. l., February 10, ISo,

MANILA, p. L., February 10, 1899.
/. DEAR FATHER-Yoar welcome letter of
December II just received. We are having
such exciting times that hardly find time
to write. You say that you hope we would
get crack at the eonfounded "Goo-ioos''
as we call them-well, by the time you get
this you will see that we did, and gave them
He'll with all its horrors. On last Saturday
night they attempted to drive back our out
posts, and the boys let them have it, and the
firing started all along the line. This was
at 10 o'clock and they kept it up till mid.
night and then stopped until morning. The
gun boats went at them and threw those big
shells SO fast they thought that all the low
re regions had been let loose upon them.
We are still policing the city, but were
called out and have had little rest, as we
carry our rifles and hundred rounds of am
munition. We had our fighting blood up
and il was hard 20 keep the boys from going
out to the firing line. Our captain would let
about FIVE 60 at a time for a halliday only.
On Wednesday my turn came with four 9TH
ers. I marched out with blood in my eye
and m "Dutch up" Blu: there was nothing
to do all day. We got in with a Kansas
regiment and laid around until AGO p. M,
when the Captain said he thought there
would be no firing that evening, but one of
our boys and myself said we would stay all
night if we were court martialed for it-and
we did. We helped throw up breast-works
and dig trench, and with nothing to cover
US we laid down. At 1890 the Goo-Goos
thought we were asleep and tried to advance
on US. Our outpost shot one of them, and
then came back to the lines. have read of
war and of battles and had bullets whiz past
my ears on the 18th of August, but, say, l
wouldn't take a thousand dollars for my ex.
perience in that nights work! After the
first shot the Captain, kneeling behind US,
gave command :Attentlon! Load! Ready
FIRE! We pumped about forty volleys in
to the black devils 50 fast that it made their
heads swim. The battery had cannon in
the road about hundred yards from US and
it did fine execution. The firing lasted half
an hour and all that time the Mausers were
coming our way pretty fast, but not assingle
man on our side was hit. Then all was still
for little time and then you ought to have
heard the yell we gave! ri !
Now can truly say am an old Vet. Our
regiment did not go out in a body, but there
are not ten men in it who did not take "a
stand with some other regiment. Fighting
is still going on and we are under arms; as
write have my cartridge belt on and my ri,
fe on the bunk beside me.
Word has just come in that we have ia en-
Calacoon, small town where the insurgents
have been intrenched recently. The town
is on fire and we can see the flames from the
roof of our quarters. Before you receive
this you will learn much more than I am able
to write about it, but rest assured we shall
whip them we'll if they don't quit soon.
Everything is lovely, weather fine, ane
Gen. Reeve thinks we shall soon be on oul
way home. wrote Ed. on his wedding day
my turn next. Iguess am too stubborn
to get sick or be killed, anyway am in tn,
best of health. Love to mother and all tn,
others. Your loving son,
ALBERT CApsER.