The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-01-13
The Thirty-First Regiment.

TERRr HAuTE, January IL, 1862.
My attention has been called to an article
in the local department of the Journal Of
Saturday evening last, in regard to the great
suffering. gross negligence and bad conduct
Of the officers in command Of this regiment
| wish TO state in the commencement of this
communication that il IS no; my purpose
hero or hereafter 10 defend Col. Cruft or
any officer in that regiment. if they have
neglected their duty to the soldiers. sick or
well, for be il remembered that my heart
and sympathy ere always with the soldiers
who have 30 willingly volunteered and left
home and friends TO fgh, in defence Of the
Constitution and the Union.
! wish TO state here however. some things
that came under nv observation lately,
while on n visit TO the 3lst and other regi
mer.s AZ Camp Calhoun. ! arrived at Cal
houn on Sunday the 18th inst. and left there
the "Wednesday following. On the evening
of the day I arrived there. Col. cruft invited
me 10 90 with him 10 Gen. Crittenden's
head 6uarters We remained there about
one hour and started for Col. Cruh's head
quarters. going by the way Of the eneainp-
ment OF the 3ist regiment. We called ut
the Surgeons tent. where we remained over
one hour. during which time Col Cruft and
the Surgeon were talking OF the condition of
the sick la this regiment. observed par.
l~icularly that the Colone! inquired Of the
condition Of each individual case. aud they
both appeared 10 me 10 exhibit a deep soil
citude for the welfare and speedy recovery
Of the sick. The Surgeon complained to The
Colonel that one or two that we're sick In
their tents had refused To be taken 70 the
hospital.
On the day after my arrival there | va. on
a visit 10 another Indians regiment IN that
e~ncsmpmeni. and there Cor the .6ra time
heard that the sickness ia the 3lst had been
caused by hard drilling in mud and water.
| returned % the 3lst in The afternoon to en-
quire into this. AMI ! found some of the sol.
diers who said they believed this wa- the
cause Of the sickness. while the greater pOr
ton | converssd with. denied Il.
Ny opinion j.. the sickness in that Reg
meni. and throughout the camp. Is caused by
the constant wet. freezing and ihawing
weather which keeps the ground in abon, the
same condition a. = bed Of clay. when fully
prepared for moulding brick. this together
with the muddy river water. does moro than
all else 70 bring on sickness. and | believe
those that have beer there will agree With
re In this. never. during my siry there.
heard Of any soldier dying with a billet Of
wood under his head for a pillow" Que
nan died In his tent while | was there, and
noticed a matiras-. quilt. comforts ADD
blankets placed out 10 air on which he had
lain. 50 far as the hospital arrangements
are concerned. | cannot speak much Of them
or OF the Treatment, OF the sick there. a. |
WAS 10 the hospital but 4 few moments. I
Herv Asard. while there. from n person Of
any III treatment or negligence to the siek,
and the fra, ! heard Of /, was on nv ~av
anc after | arrived AZ home. 50 far a. the
incampe;ency Of the surgeon DE-. Arm
sircng) l. concerned I cannot speak. Tie
has the reputation o fbeins a good physician.
having had msny years practice IN Green CO.
this State. ard The benefit Of some three
years study at the best schools IN Europe