The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-01
HAULING WATER IN BARRELS.

since the wells givs out by much pump.
ing.
HAULING WATER IN BARRELS.
1.-The springs which afford any great
volume Of water are situated outside Of
the park, Blue Spring from which most
of the drinking water is obtained, being
four miles from some of the caIrps. The
water is hauled in barrels. carried on
the regimental wagons. The supply Of
wagons and barrels being Short the
amount of water which can thus be OBJ.
| tanned is necessarily limited. Under ia.
yorable circumstances eighty barrels, Or
to regiment, hut often only half this
quantity is obtained. This is the princi-
pal drinking water used by the men.
While charged with lime and magnesia it
is said to BIZ free from injection.
'The main source of water is Chioka-
manga river. This is q narrow, rather
sluggish, typical Western winding creek,
marshy borders, sometimes With banks
oyerrnn With vines and trees. Much rot
ting driftwood is to be seen In the creek.
1t rises about twenty miles above tho
camp.
Just above camp Is CFawfish Spring q
very large sprina, from which the creek
receives . considerable supply of good
reputation for healthfnlness. The appeae-
ance of the Inhabitants Of the vicinity,
seldom robust and almost uniformly thin
and sall0W, would seem to indicate that
on account of the water and other reasons
this is not healthy locality.
Typhoid fever Is Of common occuSr.
ence here. A case of typhoid fever was
OF %hCa 800 80 40 Rv%od
near Alexander Bridge, as early as June
]. 1t is probable that others existed along
the stream when the volunteers moved
in here. The water of the creek is
pumped in six.inch mains over a hill and
thence flows by gravity, to the hydrantg
in'the vicinity Of the camps. Although
the soldiers dislike 1t, this water, on ac-
s S Of the sao ndh say Of s gs5 saa
ing and drinking. For drinking it Is
boiled. Itshould be noted, however, that
it is impossible to prevent some soldiers
from Obtaining and drinking uDbOiled
winter. Even this water is not piped d.
rectly to the camps, but, in many cases,
has to be obtained by hauling it from a
considerable distance. As consequence,
there is rarely enough for general wash
ing. and in some regiments men have
been known not to wash for an entire
week. g.
INEXPERIENCED CAMPERS.
Sufficient has been said of the charac .
ter Of Chiickamauga Park, its spil and
its winter, to indicate that it has certain
drawbacks which prevent it from being
an ideal camping place for troops. These
disadvantages have been increased by
certain facts in connection with its occu
panoy. When the volunteer troops arrived
here il May they were inexperienced in
the details of camping. Moreover, they
were poorly supplied with materials and
tools Of all kinds 1t Is absolutely neces-
sary in this climate that latrines be dug
deep and boxed and rooted in. Many
regiments had no picks or even shovels;
they had no lumber, and. in conseq uence,
of these obstacles, insufficient latrines
were dug.
81 know of one old camp which has
over 200 old latriues on its outskirts filled
by rain. The holes for garbage near
kitchens became filled with water in the
same manner. All these places, shallow
trenches, with a thin covering of soil,
the decomposing material beneath. The
camps have been changed to new sites
only to extend foulneSs and infection.
The whole park reeks with it.
SIT is estimated that S,000 tons of gar
bage, manure and sweepings now inject
it. The troops now have better methods
of treating their offal and garbage. The
latrines are properly closed, the garbage
in some instances is burned and the man.
ure and refuse burned if possible.
TROOPS LEAVE TOO LATE.
"The troops are camping in the open
drill fields, where they get plenty of sun
and air. Every preoantion is being
taken, but it is too late. The mischief
has been done. This park as camping
place is incurably infected. Every breeze
carries stencil. The sick report mounts
day by day. A. general lassitude is ap-
parent in men ana officers.
1.-The months in which typhoid fever
and malaria are most common are at
hand. The cases of typhoid fever have
reached 500, and the whole situation
presages general epidemic.
"Under circumstances detailed above,
no remedy ext SITS except a general depart.
ure of the troops of this place.
Every respectfully,
GAMES PARKER,
'Major Twelfth N. Y. Vols, Inspector of
"True copy. 6. R. CECIL, Assistant
Adjutant General"