Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-04-20
Tho Roebuok Investigation

From the testimony obtained thus far by the
Commission, it Is painfully apparent TINT the mis-
management and nefliciency of the late cabinet
administration have been rather moderated thnu
exaggerated. II thought that the CORES
ing their pictures. in the horrible aud revolving
accounts furnished by them of the suffering, Ini.
vntion aud mortality nmo,g the troops before ~.
ba4topol Tho evidence laid before Mr.. RurBucK
proves that these writer's were tender of the rep.
utaton of the army, and suppressed many details,
lest public Indignation at their recital might
transcend the bounds and barriers Of the law.
The Times gives summary of the evidence
from which we extract thc following II sample
of the helpless condition 10 which the army was
reduced for tho want Of the most ordinary implo-
mcnts:
One witness declared that ho found n whole
regiment incaple of suppl ying itself with fuel
because it possessed only three tools-that il,
two old spades and broken pick. 1t was much
tho Same with the rest of the army. The trenches,
the works of defence and of course tho road.
were all hndored by the fragile or yielding quail
ity of the TOOLS Captain Shakespeare, of tho
Royal Horse Artillery was President, hc snid.
of IL Committed who sat to report upon tools, and
.'nll were condemned except tho pickaAes.' The
billhooks were especially bad. In reply TO an
other question he said. Fresh tools were issued
before ho left, but they were rs bad AS the first"
At ono time the muinusoth steamer Himmdiayd
was sent from Constantinoplo to Balak lava with
coal for the army When she arrived, the coal
was not landed in consequence of some informal
ity. so it WAS taken back to Constantnopie, while
the British troops woro freezing TO denth, and
dcvouring raw food. We might fill columns with
similar testimony all demonstrating the most
senseless sy stem of routine, without tho slightest
regard for tho wants and suilorlngs of the sol =
diers. The following summing up of the evidence
must suffice:
1t was proved thnt in tn, middle of last month.
ut the very time when. not correspondent.
but Lord Raglan himself complaining that
the horses were perishng for want of hay,a large
supply had been for weeks detained at Constan-
tinoplc for want of orders; II was proved that
immense quantity of hay, as well rs clothing, am
muntion, medical stores. aud everything want
ed for tho siege, had persisted through the folly
and obstinacy of the man who, notwithstanding
strong remonstrances. would compel the ships
containing these stores TO keep outside the har-
bcr of Balakava, instead of entering inside
standing out to sea 1t was proved that hence
the horses had persisted, the land transport had
failed, the supplies of the camp mad been exhaust
l.
was proved that there such disorder at Ba-
| laklava as to the want of proper landing Places
| and the carcases and other filth left floating in
| the harbor. as would not have been permitted at
any port in England. though few boats crews
would have been glad to remove ii for n little OK
ira pay. 1t was proved of z ven ship, consign-
ed to tho Commls sarlat, that she lay for weeks
before she was unloaded and that most other
ships were detained in like manner, thus needless
! ~ occupying the area and the shore of the yery
small harbor 1t was proved that at this port
within fornghts sail of Apoihecares' Hail.
the mrdier officers of the army were usually al
lowed only one tenth OF the medicines they nbso-
lutely required, while some of the most niece
drugs had been entirely exhausted. 1t was prov :
G ed that the commonest medical comforts wcre
rarely procurable. 1t was proved that MANY h,,n.
dreds Of sick for whom transport could be found
were lying ut the camp the bare ground /,
crowded tents, in utter want of common convo.
| niences. 1t was proved that throughout the OK
y perience of mnn daily irrquenting the hos,it n
l marquees, for considerable time neither IN
Commander of the forces, nor the Quo r,erinnsto,
: General, the Adjutaut General, nor. as far a
: he knew, any member of the Staff, ever ontore
/ | them; that his own representations mt heaa-qua
y tiers as to the state Of the sick were, he b
% Eeyed not attended to; that there was 10 sue
thing as a regular medicine chest to be seen; To
the hospitals were so crammed he could not knc
Of in Them that, has requision, not another te
t.. was to be obtained, and that the dead were bu
"a ed without blanket, lest they should be disn.o
red for the sake of H. and that it comm
, belief the graves had been thus disturbed"
u In the history of warfare has the like ever DO
-, seen! Is it not time that so outrageous syst'
de should DO torn up by the roots if the whole AZ