The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-04
TESTIMONY OF MAJ. HILBURN
WHO INVESTIGATED CONDITIONS AT
CHICkAMAUGA PARK.
DR.. Hartsuff Questioned by Col. DENLY
statement of am Officer of the
First TerritOriaIs Denied.


ing. In company with Major Hall, who is
the surgeon in charge of the hospitals at
that place, the commissioners proceeded on
a tour of personal inspection through all
the wards of the hospitals. They also in
spected the camp of the Sixth Regiment,
which is in tents on the grounds adjoining
the hospitals. This regiment was cut to
pieces in the Santiago campaign and has
since been recruited. General Dodge put
many questions to the patients in the hos
pitfalls concerning their treatment, but
found no one complaining. He was especially
interested in. those transported on the pre-
VlouS day from Lexington. They We're all
in good spirits and apparently not unfavor-
ably affected by the railroad journey. The
inspection of the camp was thorough. It
extended into the dinner hour and General
Dodge and Colonel Sexton went to the mess
tents and inspected the food.
The afternoon session was occupied in
hearing three witnesses, mostly on the con-
dition of the division hospital at Chcka-
manga. The first witness was Major E. F.
Helburn, of the Second Kentucky, now
mustered out. The death list of his regi-
ment, he stated, was stwenty- most of
whom died at home on furlough. The sick
ness in Chickamauga increased very rapid
ly. He knew there was a shortage of cots
in the hospital, as well as of tents. In an
swer to questions by DR.. Conner he stated
that he served on a committee appointed
on account of a complaint of the colonel
of the First Arkansas to investigate the
division hospital. Dr. Ward the witness
and Major Johnson formed the commission.
This committee was appointed in the latter
part of August and reported about Sept. 5.
The patients were then being removed 10
the hospital and the hospital was in
chaotic condition. The sinks were as close
as $50 feet from the wards and Were in an
unclean condition There was Il dumping
ground where other refuse vas thrown.
There was a gully running right through
the site. The sick were in fairly good condi-
ton The committee examined two or three
hundred witnesses, including commander,
chaplain privates, hospital corps, nurses
and visitors The committee concluded that
at first the hospital was in a bad condition,
but IT got better. During Major Smiths
control it was in a good condition The
committee found that the cause for it's bad
condition arose from the fact that It was
not intended to be more than a temporary
Hospital, but the sick increased so rapidly
that it was overcroWded Another cause was
the incompetency of men detailed from regi-
ments for nurses. In many regiments the
most worthless men were detailed for that
duty. The detail was made according to reg
ulation. The fault was not IF the medical
department, but of the system.
TENTS AND COTS SCARCE.
The committee found unnecessary suffer-
ing because of lack of tents and of cots, so
that the patients were exposed to the rain
and compelled to lay on the ground. This
was the fault of the Quartermaster's de-
partment. acquisitions were not filled for
from two to ten days, and in some instances
were not filled at ALL When asked if there
were many deaths resulting from these neg
lects, he said there was order from DIR.
Hoff to Major Smith to send fifty of the
worst patients to Sternberg hospital. OF
these two died in a short time after the re-
moval. 1t was claimed by Dr. Hoff that the
order was to send fifty patients, and not tif-
was not produced. The witness admitted
that he would not charge these deaths to
neSIocI, out 10 want OF Juugment IN sen1lns
men out not fit to bear the fatigue. The
only complaint against the medical corps
was In the case of one Major Hubbard VINO
required the sick to stand at attention while
attending sick calls. The medical corps
was not neglectful, but was disheartened
because of inability to gel supplies, medi-
cine and proper nursing. The witness cited
an instance of a thermometer given to an
orderly to be- used for taking the tempera-
ture of patients, and when asked for it the
next day he said he did not know what it
was good for and had given it away
AS instances of neglect the witness said
his committee had much testimony that pa
tients Were allowed to remain filthy in their
bed, and were actually fy-blown. This
neglect was chargeable to the nurses direct
ly. The nurses were frequently changed,
and the officers in charge were also fire.
quently changed. Some We're asked to
sign and others broke down. The witness
saw many patients on cots on the ground.
The wards were not all fioored until in Au-
gust. The evidence before the committee
showed that the medical officers were con-
Scientious and did their utmost to remedy
the evils prevailing in the hospitals The
witness read the statement of Major Smith
and of Colonel Hoff made to his committee:
The former was a Scathing arraignment of
the inefficiency of the supply department.
Medicines, medical apparatus, ice and drink
ing water and other necessities were not
furnished He also complained bitterly of
the incompetency of the nurses. In answer
to question by General Dodge. the witness
said he did not know at the time he made
this investigation that the hospital com
mandant had any authority to purchase
any medical and commissary supplies, and
he did not think the commandment knew II,
for all the medical corps complained of in
ability to get supplies.
Speaking of the water supply being un-
wholesome. he said he got his impression OF
its unwholesomeness from an order issued
by the division commander that all drink
ing water should be boiled.
COLONEL HOFFS STATEMENT|
OOlOnel Holt statement DeIOre the cOIil-
mittee dealt with a defense of the field hos
pital, which he said was originally intended
to accommodate 200 sick. but the sickness
increased so rapidly and Unexpectedly that
the supply department was not able to meet
the demand. He bought cots himself twice
to meet the wants that could not otherwise
be supplied. acquisitions for supplies met
many obstacles. The railroads were said to
be unable TO carry goods. Then the equip
ment of the First Corps before the Third
was given as a reason why supplies could
not be furnished.
The witness being asked his own opinion
about the great amount of sickness at
Chickamauga. said he thought that two
thirds of it was due to negligence of the
men themselves. In his own command men
who were temperate and reasonably care
full of their health kept healthy. Many of
them drank stale beer after hot drills and
would law about cooling off suddenly. There
was a vast amount of unwholsome food and
drink sold by hucksters until they were pro-
hihited. The witness cited the Eighth and
Ninth New York Regiments, which had can
teens. and he said almost the entire regi-
ments were stricken by disease.
This witness also read the statement of
CAPTAIN Charles Price, of the Second Ken
lucky. who told of hearing shrieks from the
Ninth New York ward. and, upon investi-
eating he found that Major Hubbard was
trying to administer medicine to a patient.
The Tor was brutal Price interfered.
and Hubbard said that was the only way TO
humor patient. The only explanation he
gave was that the patient refused to take
the medicine.
The reading was at this point interrupted