Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-21
SLEPT In DAMP SHEETS.

SLEPT IN DAMP SHEETS.
The Ouartermaster OF the Provisional Bril-
gade Explains Why tho Boys Had No
Shelter for Two Nichts-An Investiga-
tion Prob1ble
The Inconvenience and exposure suffered
by the Tenth and Fourteenth Regiments oc-
casioned by delay In securing canvas and
other camp equipments has developed a
lively correspondence between Colonel
Hawkins, commanding the Provisional
Brigade, and his Brigade Quartermaster, E
E. Robbins, of the Tenth Regiment.
Before the command secured their can
vas and supplies Colonel Hawkins wrote
Quartermaster Robbins, asking the cause of
the annoying delay. Yesterday Lieutenant
Robbins replied to Colonel Hawkins in the
following pointed way:
In regard to the delay in furnishing camp
equipage. tents, ETC., to that part Of your
command composed OF the Tenth and Four
teenth Regi ments, for use during their tour
of duty in OF about camp, 1 have the honoy
to report:
These regiments, together with the re-
manning portions of your present command,
II, 1892, between and 8 O'Clock A. NJ. AL
though ordered to carry three (0 DAYS
cooked rations, 1t was discovered that the
rations had either spoiled or were not suffi-
cient, and at 2:30 o'clock p. NJ. of the same
day, by your command, a ration was issued.
No information could be obtained concern
ing canvas.
Your entire command, consisting of the
Second Brigade, and the Fourth Regiment
and Battery OF the Third Brigade, passed
the night on the steep hill opposite Home
the following day. Wednesday, July ls. 1892,
l went in person, accompanied by my SER
geant, to brigade headquarters of the Second
Brigade. and applied to Major A. J. Logan.
necessary camp and garrison equipage re-
quired for the Tenth and Fourteenth Regi-
ments, which were detached from his brigade
to your command.
Promised to Furnish Comforts.
He directed me to return to the cars on
the Pittsburg, Virginia and Charleston Rail-
road, near Homestead station, and he.would
send the proper canvas to the cars: that the
canvas had all been hauled from the train,
distance of about u mile, to his headquar-
ters, from which point it would be dis
tributed.
l wish to inform you, sir, that at this time
70 o'clock A. ny the other regiments of the
second Brigade had RECEIVED their canvas,
pitched their tents and had spent the night
AS directed by Major Logan, returned to
the cars and remained there with my
sergeant until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
During this entire time canvas and poles
were being hauled from the cars to brigade
headquarters, but none were turned over to
me for your command
1 then applied to Quarterrnaster General
Mcclellan and Commissary. General Ed
wards, by whom l was referred back to
brigade headquarters with the information
that when the car was loaded 1t would be
promptly transported to Swissvale station
on the Pennsylvania Railroad. being the
nearest to the location OF your command.
l then returned to brigade headquarters,
where was informed that large part OF
the canvas which properly belonged to the
Tenth and Fourteenth Regiments had been,
through some oversight, distributed to regi-
ments encamped near brigade headquarters,
and that as soon as 1t could be recovered IL
would be sent to your command.
tents for the Tenth Regiment instead OF l2O;
81 "A' wall tents instead OF "a; 2hospital
tents instead of 8; no equipment w hatever
instead OF 9; no mauls; no mattresses: NO
iron cots: no blankets; no stable fly; only 100
large pins and 1000 small pins.
Sleeping on the Wet Grass.
This partial equipment for the Tenth
Regiment was loaded in pennsylvania Rail-
rond car No. 72,43l amid a drenching rain,
and at $50 P. NJ. / sent an orderly from
brigade headquarters and reported the mat
ter, giving the car number and destination
to Colonel E. D. Mcclellan, with the request
that the same be forwarded at once to
Swissvale station. 1 then returned to your
command and reported this fact about
PM
found your command unprotected and
lying on the damp ground: then visited
Swissvale station and remained there until
about O'Clock P. NJ, awaiting the arrival of
the car, when returned to your camp, thes
car not having arrived.
On Thursday morning, repaired to SWISS
vale station, (this being JulyA), and found
that the car had not yet arrived. Iapplied
to the agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company for in formation as to its location,
and he was unable to give any information
whatever.
then telegraphed Colonel E. o. McCIel-
Ian and Major A j. Logan, stating that the
car had not arrived and receiving no an
the yardmaster. at Brinton, the point OF
transfer to the Pennsylvania Railroad and
Robert Pitcairn, Superintendent Pennsyl
vania Railroad and the station agent of the
Pittsburg. Virginia and Charleston ut Home
stead. then waited until about o'clock
Pm.
Receiving no information, again tele-
graphed Colonel Mcclellan. Major Logan
and General Wiley, stating that no canvas
had arrived and no trace OF it could be
found.
1 reported the condition of affairs then to
you, and was directed to remain an hour or
two longer and then return to camp. re-
turned to your camp at 6 O'Clock P. NJ, and
received shortly thereafter telegram from
the agent of the P. r. r. Co., stating that the
car containing the canvas had been shipped
at $50 P. NJ. that day, July IA, 1892, and shortly
before o'clock it arrived at the Swissvale
station, from which point had 1t immedf-
ltely transferred to your camp. the last OF
1t being unloaded at about 1880 O'Clock P. NJ.
This canvas was partly distributed that
night, but owing to the lateness OF the hour
and the condition of the men the complete
Of the partial issue was i'm
possible.
Not Enough for the brigade.
The canvas for the Fourteenth Regiment
,f your command came in a separate car at
The same time, and was distributed early
The next morning.
The canvas received was not sufficient for |
the accommodation of the Fourteenth and !
Tenth Regiments, and an additional requisi- |
ion was necessary, which was sent over by |
wagon.
These two regiments of your command |
ire still imperfectly supplied, having OH the |
lverage about Is tents to the company and |
;wo tents to the line officers.
This, sir, is the best explanation l can |
make of the reason why your command wus
'ecent storms. and why was unable to fur |
lish camp and garrison equipage promptly |
II accordance with your orders. i might |
i'd that the Fourth Regiment and Battery |
: of your command received their canvas |
through the Quartermaster of the Third |
Brigade the second day after camp was |
pitched at this place, and Though the kind
less Of Quartermaster Cameron, of the |
fourth Regiment, was able to supply can |
'as to Company ID, Tenth Regiment IL new |
company entirely without any equipment, |
uch as cook tent, etc., for their protection) |