The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-02-24
many who can attest, at this day, to the proprie-

McKelvy, Chief Commissary Department of
Washington, was assigned to the command of the
camp, which consisted of tents, poorly provided
for the comforts of the troops who were quarter
ed in them. The erection of the barracks for the
new camp had already been commenced under
the supervision of Capt Joshua Norton, A. @.
NJ of Gen. Heintzleman's staff. Soon after the
formation of the new camp, Surgeon Chas. Page,
U. S. A., then in charge OF the Medical Depart
ment of the Camp, secured the institution of
proper medical boards for the examination of
men, and a large number of cases were thus dis
posed of whose disabilities totally disqualified
them for active duty, and whose discharge from
service was alike profitable to themselves and
the government. Under the supervision Of Sur
geon Page, the Medical Department of the camp
was established on an efficient practical basis,
and when superseded by Surgeon Sanford B.
Hunt, is represented to have been in admirable
working order.
In February, 1868, Mr. Winters informs us,
Capt Norton turned over to Lieut.. Col. Nickel
Wy, fifty barracks with all the necessary kitch-
ems, dining rooms, ETC., necessary for the accom-
mediation of the men, well as hospitals with
capacity for. three hundred and fifty PATIENTS
He now had the accommodations for the men,
but the duty of organizing and systematizing
the government of the camp was no light task
To bring order out of the chaos which had char
acterized the administration of the old camp,
and secure efficiency and precision in all its de-
partments, was an undertaking of considerable
magnitude. Summoning to his assistance Surg
S. b. Hunt, Lieutenant NOW Captain) r. p.
Crawford, and few other equally skillful and
energetic officers military and medical Lieut..
Col. Mca{elvy proceeded to work. There wasno
precedent for such camp in regulations or else
where, and they were thrown upon their own
sources to dsvise and execute. Slowly the camp
began to show the results of their combined
counsels and skill, and as their systems gradu-
ally developed and the workings of the camp
became more effective, the prejudice and stigma
which had been produced by and attached to the
old camp began to soften and disappear, and it
was discovered that from being i" the spittoon of
the rmy,''-as it was not inappropriately term
ed by high military functionary-itwa was begin
ming to command the respect, and even admira-
ton of ali who were eognizant of its operations.
AS day after day disclosed new necessities, they
were promptly met, and the whole camp became
as massive piece of machinery, fifty and skill
fully Joined together, every department and aux
iliary working in perfect harmony and precision
with the motive power, until it had won for it
self reputation for perfect organization and
efficient discipline, as enviable it had before
been disreputable. Our space will not admit OF
our entering upon a detailed retrospection of the
different departments of the camp, but this
much we may say, that as an example of what
| administrative skill and untfing exertion can
accomplish over popular prejudice and almost
] ungovernable Generalization, this camp stands
| unriValled
We last week published and alluded to the orr
der changing the camp from convalescent de-