The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-13
CONDITIONS AT.CAMP AS FuuNp
BY rHe Des. MONIES LEADER.

on TIC OES. MO!NeS leAOER.
Since the regiment went into camp
here there has been great deal of COM
plant on the part OF the men against
regimental and line officers. Nearly
every commissioned officer has came in
for his share of 'scussing," and nearly
every man seemed to have d grievance
against some one of them. First inn
pressions were that the officers had
treated the men like SO many dogs and
that there was real merit in the COM
plants, and possibly there is, but if so
the men do not cite specific instances.
Colonel Humphreys has been severely
criticised by the men. They have said
that after they are mustered out of the
service they will reckon with him. A
reporter who has endeavored to ascer-
tain the cause of complaint has been
wholly unable to find men who will
make specific charges against him.
They merely indulge in generalities,
and the nearest thing to charge is
that some claim he did not afford Gov
ernor Shaw the proper facilities for as
pertaining the condition OF the camp at
Chickamauga upon the occasion OF his
visit there, and others that he has been
disposed at times to make light of the
sickness in the regiment and to charge
the men with ''piking" to get out of
doing duty. No one was found who
would say that he has been severe with
the men or has required thea to do
duty when they were not able to. In
his case it appears that the men, sore
and disappointed at conditions existing
at Camp Thomas. and at not having an
opportunity to see active service, are
disposed to criticise him and in a meas
| ure to blame him for things that he had
no control over.
Many complaints have been made
against the surgeons for lack of care
tor the sick and of roughness, harsh
treatment. ETC.. and criticisms have
been INDUCED in of severe aracter,
but as in the Tease of Colonel Hum
phreys, when the men are pinned down
and asked to cite particular instances,
they seem to be unable tn contribute a
great deal to support the general
charges. A great many men were found
who said that they had personal knowl-
edge that this man or that one had not
been removed from quarters as soon as
he should have been, or had not been
prescribed for, or that the surgeons had
merely looked at them without evinc
ing interest in their cases, but when
further questioned all have admitted
that they knew that the hospitals were
overcrowded; that many men preferre
to stay in quarters to going to the hos
pitfalls, and that the surgeons were over
worked and did not have the time tt
give to individual cases that they
. should have had. The sick records show
/. that at one time there were 100 fevel
. cases in the regiment and that DIR
Frank j. Murphy was the only physi
clan detailed to care for them, while a
other times Drs. Bergen and Knot
We're in practically asdifficult positions
The complaints that the men did no
have sufficient rations have been nu
merous, but the records of the commls
sary show that every company received
every ounce they were entitled to un
der the rules of the department, ant
that boards OF survey were appointed
IN a.number of instances to inspect Ia
lions to see that they were up to tn,
requirements, and in many instance
ordered them DESTROYED.