, 1864-01-05
THE TWELFTH ILLINOIS CAVALRY
Col. Davis and the SuHcr1nEs Of the
Men on Thursday Night.

A great deal has been said, both in and out OF
the papers, respecting the exposure Of portion Of
the 18th Illinois cavalry, 1t Camp Fry, to the re-
cent terrible weather. In our structures on the
case we stated thnt II the men were kept there In
muslin tents during that awful night, by the OF
der OF their Colonel, OF by his neglect, while he
himself sleptina Luxurious hotel, ho had 'eous-
mitted grave oAense." Since the appearance Of
that article VIC have convcrsed with Colonel Davis
and Major Dox in respect to the treatment Of the
men Of the 18th Illinois cavalry at Camp Fry. We
have also conyezsed with several other persons
possessing more or less information on tho sub
jeet, and the whole may be thus stated:
About tho first OF December the War Depart
ment telegraphed to Its ocsr in charge here. that
the 18th Illinois cavalry WAS coming 70 Chicago.
Temporary accommodations were provided for the
men at the ArmoEy. Camp Douglas being full the
War Department authorized the o. 8. Quarter
master here to construct barracks for the regiment
This was the 1rtt week In December. The Quar-
termaster advertised at once for proposals, allow
Ing twelve days In which to build the barracks.
The contractor refused to give bond un.ess the
time w.ns extended ten days. Meanwhile Col.
Davis was ordered to establish camp in Wrighte
Grove, and having no other shelter, was obliged
to put his men under wall tents until such time
as the barracks would be constructed. Most
Of his men were 1T home recruiting for the
regiment, among their friends: not
more than s. % Of tho men being at Camp Fry: In
this condition Of things the tearsn! storm Of Thurs
on the forenoon Of that day. It was showing fast,
observing that she weashet vas growing worse,
the wants Of the men, with authority TO proyidc
any temporary shelter possible, and that falling.
to tel them 70 les1s eamp and come to town. Co.
da; in making temporary arrangement tor the shell
ter Of the men when they arrived. Major Dox
proceeded to the camp. and eonsqlted with the sol
who that day had reacaed camp, and whose
teuts could not be pitched, to return to
town. which most Al Of them did.
citizen near the camp and had him cared for; he
then Visited several saloons In the vicinity md
ried TO induce the keepers to glEe the men cover,
camp ia I'D she men they iii 60 to
ir they wished. 4 few started, but the majority
declined, saying that they would try and stand 1t
n! morning. o5 ~ he storm @ bfoks A4!or 20.
hozsn. Next day the men were al brought away,
some in sleigla, some On foot. and quartcred at
Metropolitan Hall. WheIe they are now
II IL proper at this point to state, that number
Of the eoldiers declare that neither Major Do1 nor
my other officer gave In they hearing,
ofeers on daty states that hs beard no such order
or permission, and the officer Of the day did not In
form the men Of the supposed authority to leave.
This important point In the case Is not cleared up,
although Major Dog states positively tha. he was
authorized b. Col DaV1St to allow the men to leare
camp and seek other shelter.
But there ie another feature In the case that re-
mains to be noticed; there IL one man who plays
TN important part In the game not heard from
ne mean the contractor. The public would like ia
know why he had not 1t 1easr ono OF the barracks
completed before the storm Of Thnreday. He hsd
been pottcrpg at the job for fortnight, and has
| not set the firzt one OF the barracks finished.
How happens Il that II this city,
plain rhed made ofrough boards In fortnight, fol
that would have sAved the men from the horrors o.
ThuyEday night. How long does tt take in good
working weather to nail together few Thousand
feet Of boards In the form Of "a shed? We crc.
| dItably Informed that Adjutant General Fulei
closed contract yesterday with some entefprtslnG
mechanic brid b.rracLs for 900 soldiers, at the
rate OF tne 1orTaek day from that dats, and thai
TOO, at priee mEchlefs than the camp Fry con
! F1y ba.rnck builder IL, but ae the matter no u
etnnds, he Is the man On whom the heaviest re-
epopeihility rests for the misery the brave boys
| the 1eth Ils., hRve suffered.
No one can doubt that the contractor might have
erected eomc at least Of those barracks, week be
fore the storm came, had he used dispatch aud en-
tefr,la-. He cav and knew the men were suffering
every day and night in those himay tents. aud mus
| continue to suffer until be had provided shelter
tract did not oblige him to sleep IN one OF then
until his job was done. That would have put th.
poor fellows under comfortable shelter at least
week before the horrors Of Thursday night II b
has good excuse to offer, Our coamns arc opcl
for II.