Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-02-25

| MR.. EDITOR :--llaNllig confluence III
your integrity as public journalist, and
believing the position you have taken since
your connection with the Ciriim and Td-
eguph. rs Editor, in reference to The
military management 81 the Department
of West Virginia, has been prompted by
conscientious motives that the public
be benefited ly an exposure OF any inc!-
fcicncy ON the part Of those in charge
thcletore, ] have no doubt that miy cr-
roncous charges you have made uhou@'l
they are not specific resulted from II lncl;
of thorough investigation. Therefore
ask the liberty to present M views
through your paper of the abuses com
planned in your issue of the 18th inst.
which refer more directly to the subor-
dinatc departments. .....,
During the winter of 1862, as You
say. there were about 800 patients i'll
the various hospitals of the town, which
were in buildings located principally on
Baltimore street. to the great annoyance
of the business community and citizens
generally, who were loud in their calls to
have them removed The bnillings then
occupied were not large enough 10 acccm-
modate more than 500 patic.;s, with any
regard for thcir cmntprl ard Fna! rccov-
cry. As Il result of this crowded condi-
ton Of the hospitals, I've or ten died
daily; but their condition could not be
made any better under the circumstances
"a large army had been suddenly trans
tcrrcd to our vicinity, and no more build
ings could be had. After new Buildings
had been erected, and Old ones repaired,
both at C!arysyi!le and in the suburbs Of
our town. our sick aud wounded soldiers
we're rendered much more. comfortable,
their recovery more rapid, consequently
the mortality greatly decreased. Now,
to save this expense to the Government, Of
erecting hospital buildings, Hou'd have
been culpallc neglect for the comfort Of
the sick soldier, and injustice to our citi-
zens to have continued 50 many sick in
the business part of our town. Thonew
bu;ldings were erected principally BY SOL
ders. who were unfit for field service,
under the supervision Of Il practical car
penter. and will not accommodate more
than 600 patients, therefore | have yet
to learn that it,wotI!l have been moas-
ure of economy to have continued renting
buildings at high rates than the mode
aduptcd to erect new ones. Thclrest ot
the Government buildings located here
are certainly more extensive, and are
frequently crowded to their utmost eapa-
city. Another large building could be
used to advantage for Quariermaster's
stores. and the intercsto the Government
promoted by building more eetrels. i
therefore believe that all the money used
in this department for the above named
purposes was advantageous to thc Cow
ernmcnt, and alolqse investigation would
corroboratc the truth of my statement.
At New Greek large sums ofmoncy were
undoubtedly spent in the erection OF me-
cessary buildings, in 1869, BY, order 81
General Fremont, while he commanded
the Mountain Departments who was pro-
verbal for his extravaganza. ,tal
The abuses and delays certainly have
no reference to our present able, etioeni
and accommodating Post Quartcrmastcr
/, who is a very close pnrehas;eE and When
he has funds on hand, after paying hi
own bills, always cheerfully pays thos'
| !, II - g.. 1,,.. ii,,sl,n,, in "a, Il