The letter is transcribed, spelling and all, as it was written:
“Near Port Arthur,
“Jan. 3d, 1905.
“Dear Sir:
“At last Port Arthur strongly defended and well known in the world came to the end quite late yesterday. Let me tell you a little about it. After you left here we took front part of Niryuzan as far as to the ditch which was 14 meters wide and deep. We made two roads into the ditch destroying two caponires and reaching the other side of the ditch, we dug four holes under the Russian bom-proof—the holes were about 14 meters deep. Then we filled them up with gun cotton to blow it up. On the 28th of last month we blew that up using 2.700 kirogram of gun cotton, at the same time our soldiers made an asolt, and took hold of it. By that explosion many Russians, large stones, and sand went up high into air. It was just like a volcano. The Russians increased and threw out many hand granates and very hard fighting went on. But about 5:30 of that evening the whole fort was occupied by our men, after six hours of continual fighting. After that we opened the road to push out beyond Niryuzan. On the 31st the first division captured Shojuzan greatly helped by our men in Niryuzan. Before the dawn of the 1st of this month this division took hold of all Russian line from H. peak to Banryuzan new fort, except Bodai. By a severe attack of the 35th regiment at 4:20 of that afternoon, Bodai was taken by us. Though we had a good battle on the happy new years day, yet the rest of the army did not have any. Early next morning General Stoessel sent in an officer and had the letter of surrend sent to General Nogi. On the 2nd negociation took place and the battlefield began to be entirely calm, by and by no sound of a rifle. I felt something.
“I really wished you could stay here till this time to walk in together to Port Arthur. I got slightly wounded after you left and lost hearing of one ear. Wishing to see you at Mukden and with best regards,
“Yours faithfully,
“Lieut. K. Hori,
“9th Division.”
THE END.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.