The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-03-15


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practicable. 70 the wants and comforts Of the
men ia euppiyine them aith fuAL Their state
nsnts, made In the reports 10 the Secretary o,
Ws., were enI hrmed 10 us IN the sxaminatinn
We made at tho interview we had with thsee
emcers. 1t appears that the men wsrs fur
pished with AL the wood allowed by the army
reg0iaticns The supply wss stated to be am
pie In Ordinary weather, but during An OF
treme!y Rigorous spell Of cold. such rs oc
cn'rei about the middle cf february, i. wa,
admitted that 'hS qu,nti'y Of wood was not
xdsqnate That ronis discomfort was exps
risns.d by some Of The conscrip.s for want oi
saMaisIt Ere is aaite pr b,b's, q. we could AZ
certain Do individual ease Of the kind, and q iad
nothing in the cizcuwsssnses aud evidence 10
hx culpabifsy upon the AfssIe Ia charge cf 'ha
troops at Camp Lee, much less to sustain the al
legation meg through .hs press Of inhnms, Wy
sBd cruelty 10 the censc'ip.s, or Of any ezra
ordinary degree OF. aH ,riog resulting In LOAD
nffns or deASh, or even Of illness from cnld
= nsy D. psopee hsrs to etate, ho wever, a. a
tact devslcpsd n the course Of eur inveztiga'
tion. thAs many Of the newly.srrived s9a
scr.p,s do s,2sr for tho want Of clothes an
blankets. Tbis is not tho fxait of the con.-
mancer or Ills offesrs. Il Sesalts from the cir-
camsts1ca that cousaripts recently enrolled
axe semstimes hursied - camp without an op-
p0ssueity being afforded them 10 visit hcms
aid provide the n ie!ves with clothes and
tIanksts, and rsaEe o;har preparations iof
G ANN Ple, bot Oftel from tAsir o~a neSseof,o
d. 80 after ample nctica. ff there be BIB N
any here, it is sttril n.>b.s to ths careessnexs
or il if,Esnee Of the enrolling officer in the
country 10 the wants and cor forts of the IN.
serip:s, or to defects 10 the provisions or exc
e1tion OF the law. Tas fsult lies here, and NOT
as your com0'ttee are assured, in the acminjs-
trstidn of tue lgbcrious and responsible de-
parsm-nt, under the management Of the
commandment, Colonel Shields, whoss high
character, ufbSne manners, delicate feel.
ings of humanity, and eminent qualifications
for his pos, forbid the conclusion that bs
would exercise his au.hoIity otherwise than
IN shs mos. ouid-rs,ss and humaue mAnaer
- F,:sds tie ccnscrists under his charge, or
~cGld prac'ice Or tolerate ,suy other than e
prcpsr care aud attention to their wants and
necess.ilts. Aa far, tnefsiors, Ns your clM
mtteo could pafs9e their investia ipn ana i.
wac AZ searching a. the natisr Of tho cas.. and
.heir soure-s o: Information admitted, they
could discover 10 instance Of a death. cruelty,
iuhumsni'y. or even Of sxtrcms suffering OF
Ii ,siehips thsrs undoubtedly are
ard have been; bus OILY such and not mora
:evofe than srs inoid mt to camp fare and
soldiers life. We wers informed by the sur
gscn, d.. PAiu.sr, II case whsEe mau fell
il tit; tut hs was known to be yabjscs to d Z.
and :hey were not produced by exposure to the
cold, se The surgeon, Ia isves. I. happened
. u-ing .,ie sevsre weather Ii February, sad
probably gave origin to tie report Of inhu-
nanity ut tns camp. which wac go widely
p'opagated a1i exoissd ths esnsbis.ty cf the
G .iersi A ssmbiy snd tho people.
foIr committee dii not consiier them.
ssises United ia thsis inquiries 10 the runor
II suffering anioug ths conscripts sJr the want
OF wool. Thei. d1'y embraced wider scope.
L. gas to examine whether ,.uy ABUSES or iu-
l:nmanisy was pracliesd or tolerated at Camp
l. - In the treatment OF cons ssipts, il any way
OF iu any form Tns General Assembly Of
Virginia hid a special interest in the investi
gation, as tds camp is nsar her capital, ami
the place OF rendezvous for her cnnscrip. SOL
diers. Over them she was bound TO exercise
d pareEts. care. Your committee, therefore,
proceeded to Camp Lee, and taas pleas.
ure Ia sssiicS were received with po.
liseEess srd courtesy b. Colore. Shields.
the oommandact. and al the ofaoers at
the pesa Every facility sal opportu.
nifty were afforded than for examination AMI
iDqlisy into the condition of the camp, and Of
the wants. necessities, accommodations and
comforts of tbs usa. Col. Shields, himself,
and all of his osiicsrs, frankly aud with alae.
rity, respond TO every iIYairy addressed to
thsm touching the matters to which We di.
Sscted cur inqu;ries We were allowed unre.
striessd .eeeass every place we desired t.,-
visit, si,: an tic ,r accompanied ns to show
Us tarcuEh tho hospital, the barracks, and
Gua.ters Of the msp, which We iuspected as
closely AS time and cur Inexperienced habits
in relation to such N alters woa!d en- .bls us.
Ws'foasd the h1spisal eisan, wei! provided
with comfortable beds and bed clothing,
and, We do nOs doubt, tho patients are
a,tsn'ioualy nufssd, and attended with
skil ful meaieai treatment Ths large build
ing appropriated AZ the principal Qu .rters OF
the men, we wcuid remark ie by reason OF
the open t1,ors, being m ado OF green piaUk,
aud the sm-l fire .iAcaa, difficult to Do warmed
sniff cientiy so be conf rabls in sxtre mely cold
westaer Baa othsrwise the quarters are dry
and well saned, AID as we'll adapted to the
sleeping usss Of ths healthy s0ldisf as Gould
De expected. C.np Lee Is situated upOa an
elevated plain, remarkably diy, and repre-
ssnted to be unusually healthy. Although 1t
was generally understood .. camp that the
committee had made the visi. to ascertain If
there existed or had been prsc'iced any abuses,
to inquiries could we learn that any existed
upon which complaints could be founded. No
facts, at lesst, were brought to on, knowledge
Your committee take plea, urs in reporting
this as the result Of their inquiries. They 5s-
i-ye that the investigation will have good
eff,ct, al was, under the circumstances and
gravity of the charges, alike due to our con
ec.ipts and the off ,ers of tas post. /. will
show 10 orr people that the General Assem-
bly, are uos inseusibe to the wants I'D suffer
legs Of our nobls soldiers, in whatever held
or c@mp they ara called to render ser vice to
their country LOT faithlsss to her solemn ob.
legations to extent 3 parental care ovsr them,
ard 70 shield and protect them whenever Op
preston end d stress may come upon them
II vii. accomplish more it will relieve the
minds of distant families and frisnos As TO the
supposed msltr eatment of husbands, sons, and
brothers In Camp Lee, and mitigate come.
thing Of that repulsivsness and dread vita
which tbat military post is viewed BY con
scripts who are sent there pursuant to military
regulations. g. w. LEwIS,
Chairman Senate Com.
b. Fl MAanUDIR,
Chairman House Com.