Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-10-14
VISIT TO CAMP WILLIAMS.

luat WAS assembling the eastern SKY IN Oil
its glory to look pityingly upon our
plague-stricken city, we in company Of
a young friend took horses and started
on a visit to Camp Williams.
Riding through the city and along the
fernando road, we we're greeted by the
same signs Of desolAtion that have made
our hearts sad for two long months past.
Evacuated residences, with closed shut
tiers, and neglected yards, weeds making
unchecked inroads on e%xotics, we're elc-
quSnt signs that our suburban populaee
had been stricken with the same fear
that had depopulated our city. After
passing these signs of desolation, we
emerged into the open country, and here
the sight Of cotton fields going TO waste
for want of laborsrs to pick it, was not
calculated to wipe out the sad impression
left on us by the remembrance of a delo-
lated city.
We found the first camp about four
miles from the city aud thence to Camp
Williams the glitter of white canvas,
seen by glimpses through the woods,
right and left Of the road indicated the
existence of numerous small camps.
After an hour and a halt's leisurely ride
Camp Williams was in sight. The first
building that we came to, entering the
camp from the north, is the hospital"
so called. 1t was originally intended for
a barn, though its present appearance
reminds one Of a large corn crib, the
construction Of which does away with
the necessity Of fumigating and disin-
fIeting the premises, as the numerous
openings in the four walls, reaching from
basement to roof, create q ventilation
that carries all miasms along. DR.. Nall,
the efficient and polite camp physician,
informs us that los patients have been
accommodated at this hospital, of which
only SO have died, and" he added, 'of
these 81 tour-ffths we're drunk
when they took sick and continued
drunk until they died" This is q good
showing, rejecting great credit upon the
skill Of the doctor and the faithfulness of
his corps of nurses. At present there
are FIVE patients ia the hospital suffer
ing f%rom.chronic diseases OF years stand.
ing, but the camp and hospital are en-.
irely free Of yellew fever.
We presently met the military com.
mander of the camp, Captain John F
Cameron. He was calmly surveying
a battery, in the shape of two corpulent
women, formerly Of Pinch, who threat
ened destruction to him and the whole
camp; at least the volleys Of abuse that
were belched forth from the mouth OF
these cannon made a cold SILVER run
down our spinal column, a feeling un.
known TO US during four years hard
service in the army. Not so with the
valiant commander. The coolAess which
characterized him in former years has
not forsaken him now, as the good disci-
pliDe in the camp proves. Calm as he
ia in listening to the grievance of dissat.
isfed inmates, he 10 as firm in settling
the disputes and furnishing the offenders.
Some six hundred persons are scat
tered over the camp, and what We could
see Of them impressed us with the idea
that a greater portion Of them are better
satisfied with their lot than they were
before the epidemic. Thanks to a mu.
n%idcent generosity, poured down ca US
from the North, these people are placed
beyond want. A great many camper,
have turned their time to good account,
having built arborl before their tents
asd %improvised various commodities.
The saVery scent Of cooking Wand,
that began to greet our nostrils, about
that time. and a peculiar sensation expe
rienced by travellers who have had theil
last meal six hours previous, reminded
Us that dinner hour had como, and W,
, instinctively turned toward the head
quarters Of the csmmissary department
: Our instinct did not prove
We we're warmly welcomed by our ole
friend, Mejor William Gay, present com
( misslry aud quartermaster, whose &C
complished steward, Jesse Clayton, for
n merly one OF Captain Nat. Green's cabin
boys and now an attaches to the major
K person in the capacity of nurse, clerk
and il need be, cook; did in a short tim
spread the most tempting table Of cam
y fare with which TO restore the inner mar
{ Major Gay, though he is "out of th
n woods but :hree weeks, fills the CON
bined position Of quarterma ster en-
commissarJ, whose arduous duty he fu'
Ellis 10 his accustomed prompt, exact au
" thorough otyle. He issues rations I
about 800 persons every two days, an
supplies also all the small camps {
refugees scattered within a radius Of lei
. miles. He has inaugurated a perieC
system in his department and therefor
the machinery Of it works smooth.
The inner man being restored, v
. mounted our horaes and started for th
Bluff City, veil satisfied with what "
III had seen and heard.
=" We could not help, however, to gravel
entertain SONS serious thoughts on OF
n homeward ride. What will become
" these perfectly destitute men, wome
.nd ch;idron whau the fever ceasaa 10 !