Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-10-20
WAR INVESTIGATION
Dr. Hoff Examined as to Conditions
at Chickamauga.
SHORTAGE OF TENTS At The CAMP.
rhe Commlasion Examines the Papers Sub
nitted by secretary Aiger- Apparent
Conflict Between the SECRETARY
OF War and Gen. Miles.

Washington, Oct l4.-Lieut. Col. D..
q. Hoff was before the war Investigate
ing commission at its forenoon session
yesterday. lie regular army officer
and was chief surgeon in the Third
army corps at Chickamauga. lie
said he did not consider the camp to
have been in the best sanitary con-
dition, but expressed the opinion
that it was the best it could be
under the circumstances. The men
were encamped somewhat closer
TO each other than they should prop
erly have been and it had been impos
sible, without blasting, to make the
sinks as deep as good sanitation re-
quired, owing TO LAYER OF limestone
which lay two or three feet below the
surface OF the ground throughout the
camp. Furthermore, twas impossible
10 compel men to use the sinks and he
thought it probable that this difficulty
had led to injurious results.
DR.. Hoff said that in the beginning
the camp was deficient in medical
supplies. There were at this time
many cases OF diarrhHa and 1t had not
been possible TO meet all demands for
remedies. The shortage was due to
the fact that it had been expected
the troops would come to camp sup
piled with remedies.
Continuing, DR.. Hoff said the ca.
pacity Of the division hospitals was
often doubled and trebed. 1t some
times occurred that there were eight
men in tents which were intended
should accommodate six, because of
delay in securing tentage to care for
the increase OF disease, which was un.
cxpectedly rapid. On one or two oc'
casions patients were necessarily
placed In beds made upon the floors
because Of temporary deficiency in
cots. He said that the shortage in
medical supplies had continued for
several weeks, but there was generally
sufficient to meet the immediate de-
.mands. lie also said that some requi.
sitions had been returned by the Wash
ington authorities because improperly
filed, and he was under the impress
sion that there had been complaints
Of some suffering on this account
There was considerable delay in secur
Ing flooring for the tents.
"Was there any deprivation on ac
count OF the shortage of tents" asked
Gov. Woodbury.. ut was so reported
responded Dr. Hof. Whose fault was
it?" was asked. Not mine," he re.
Piled. ~ did nil that | could do"
The troops Of the Third corps were
more closely crowded than they should
have been. He knew Of no case In
which men in hospitals had been com.
PEELED 70 lie on the ground, but he
thought there were probably cases
when sick men had been kept under
dies for several days. He was asked
II II was true that at night there was
an average Of only one nurse
70 each 40 patients in the
hospital of the second division
Of the Third corps, and said this
could not be true. DR.. Conner read an
extract from the letter OF the Arkan-
sas governor. saying that he had made
personal investigation OF the condi.
tions in this hospital and that he had
found 1.-THE conditions deplorable--
simply disgraceful." He charged that
the doctors In the institution were oil
northern men, unfamiliar with dis.
eases incidental to the south; that
there were cases of fever In which
fever patients had gone without water
for "a hours and in which sick men
went without attention from a sur
geon or without receiving dose Of
medicine for week.
Replying, DR.. Hof said that severa
southern physicians were engaged a
the hospital and that he did not think
IL possible that men could have beer
neglected as indicated by the gov
ernor's letter, lie had heard Of II,
such cases. lie said that during tn,
last few weeks Of the second division
hospitals existence II had been S,
overcrowded that 1t was found neces
sary to stop receiving patients then
but that the congested condition wa
relieved as soon as the Sternberg hos
pital was completed.
The war investigation commission
then gave the remainder Of the da,
TO the reading Of papers submitted by
Secretary Alger, with his statemen
concerning the conduct Of the war
The documents reveal the fact tina
Gen. Miles recommended the occupa
ton Of the Isle Of Pines about the tim
Of the battle OF Santiago. and tina
Secretary Alger disapproved the sug
gestion. 1t also appears that Gen
Miles recommended that some point be
tween Santiago and Porto Rico be take
previous to the beginning Of eithe
campaign. The correspondence ais
developed the fact that there was a
apparent conflict Of authority betwee
Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter at lamp
before the Santiago campaign was ii
sugurated. 1t also shows that order
were issued by the secretary of wa
that In the event that Gen. Shafte
should be disabled by sickness or othe
cause the command of the troops a
Santiago should devolve upon Ger
Wheeler and upon the next in con
mand in case of the disability of bot
Shafter and Wheeler.
Washington, Oct i5.-Dr. Louis l.