The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-19
WAR PROBERS
DOWN SOUTH.
Affairs at Gen. Lees Camp
Described by Witnesses.
BAD BEEF DUE To NEGLECT.
Col. Wood Held Reglmental and Company
Officers Were to Blame.
REPLY TO COL. BRYANS COMPLAINT.
Col. Guild Testified That al Beginning There Was
Shortage Of Supplies and Some Goods We're
Received In Poor Condition.
REPLY TO COL. BRYANS COMPLAINT.


tigation commission held three sessions
Tuesday, dealing during the two day ses-
sions with the general staff officers OF
the Seventh army corps and at night
hearing the testimony OF officers and
men OF the Second South Carolina regi-
ment. The general officers examined in
cluded the chief surgeon and chief com
missary. the chief quartermaster and
the inspector general OF the corps, and
all gave detailed information as 10 their
respective departments Of the service.
General Wilson and Captain Howell,
who investigated the selection Of Fer
nandina as a camp. reported their APP
proval Of The selection. They made spe-
cial inquiry into the report that ;he camp
had been located there for .he purpose OF
enhancing the value Of land owned by
son OF Secretary Alger going through
the county record a S part of their work.
They failed to find his name In any Of
these documents, and their investigation
convinced them that he had never owned
any real estate in that vicinity, or had
been in any way interested in any.
sary al Camp Cuba Libre. under General
Lee was before the commission at its
afternoon session. He said that he had
occupied this position since May II. and
he had been able To meet all requisi-
tions made upon him for supplies. and
there had never been any lack OF them.
AS rule also the quality was excellent.
About $50, pounds Of bacon had spoiled.
and therefore ordered destroyed. There
had also been weevils in some OF the hard
bread, but it had never been issued when
found TO be bad. All the fresh beef was
brought to the camp in refrigerator cars.
In cases where the meat was not good
the contractors had replaced 1t without
requiring official condemnation; yet il
was necessary either TO cook refrigera-
tor meat or put Il on ice in order to pre-
vent its spelling in this climate. Colonel
Wood read a letter he had written to
General Lee in response TO a complaint
made by Colonel W. J. Bryan concerning
tae beef. In this letter he said that IL
beef was spoiled it was generally due to
The almost criminal negligence of regi-
rlent and company officers. He said
also in the letter that the beef must be
shSpNANCh Nh-h hhoN NhiS PNNN
tion must De final, and after this no COM
plants could be entertained.
Captain Chauncey v. Baker chief
ciartermaster, said that he had been in
Jacksonville from the beginning OF the
csmp on the 21st day OF May. He said
that when he arrived the command was
short of all kinds OF stores, and he had
been unable in the beginning to meet all
acquisitions for supplies when made by
the regiments as they arrived. There
had, for instance, been some trouble in
securing tentage. There was also short
age in clothing a1d In most cases he had
assumed the responsibility of making
purchases; and his course was after
wards approved. The first clothing re-
ceived was not Of good quality, but il af-
terwards' improved. The men were, as
rule, glad to get anything, and there was
no complaint. Captain Baker said that
he attributed whatever delay had been
experienced TO the necessity OF equip
ping so large an army in so brief a time.
Explaining General Lawton's selection
of the first camp here, the witness said
1t was due to the fact that the railroad
company could offer facilities. and TO the
additional fact that water could be se-
cured conveniently. The site Uas low,
and the mon were moved when the rainy
season began. General Lawton had ex-
pected the troops TO be ordered almost
Immediately to CuDa, and this circum-
stance controlled him entirely in the Sc
lection OF the site for the first encamp-
ment. He said that the volunteer rsgi-
mental quartermasters all worked hard
TO learn their business, ard their service
had been satisfactory,
Colonel Curtis Guild, Jr., Inspector
general of the corps, testified that he had
been on duty in Jacksonville since June
]. He had made an early morning in
spection of the camp each day with re-
gard 10 sanitation. and he knew this had
been the custom OF others I'm his depart.
ment. He had also invented form Of
weekly repors which had given excellent
satisfaction. Colonel Guild said he had
found the officers OF the volunteer forces
willing 10 accept suggestions. lie had
made frequent inspections OF the hospi-
tails. In the beginning there was a lack
OF government supplies for these insti- =
tutions, but the deficiency had been sup
piled by the Red Cross. The witness tes-
tilted to the devotion OF the medical de-
partment. and instanced the fact that i'm
the recent cyclone here not a single hos
pital tent had been blown down. In some
instances entire brigades turned out Ia
protect the hospitals and hold them
down.
-calanal Guild nahnliaRad- some -es.see n,
which goods had been received i'm poor
condition. In one case "A large lot OF
canned beef had been received which wa,
putrid. but the contractors had replaced
IL with acceptable goods The Second
New Jersey had suffered on account OF
frequent changes of the commlssary. ane
they APPEARED 10 experience the want OF
food because Of the ignorance OF the offi
GERS OF the regiment. The witness had
never found a case or deprivation due "a
the failure Of the government to furnish
ufoper supplies.