Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-14
The MAINE TROOPS.
DR.. Hof Tells About the
End Division Hospital
And Other Chickamauga Affairs to the
War Investigation Board.
Miles Made Many Suggestions Which AIaer
Objected to.

Washington. Oct 13.-After devotine
the forenoon to hearing the testimony
of DR.. Hoff. chief surgeon of the Sd
Army Corps, stationed at Camp Thorn
as, the war investigation commission
gave the remainder of today, to the
reading Of papers submitted by Secre-
tary Alger with his statement concern
ing the conduct of the war. The pa
pers include orders for the movement
of troops. communications to the sec
rotary OF war fronl> the officers in the
field and from the secretary to them
and various other documents bearing
upon the subject of the investigation.
The documents reveal the fact that
General Miles recommended the occu-
patton of the Isle of Pines about the
time of the battle of Santiago and that
Secretary Alger disapproved the sug-
gestion. 1t also appears that General
Miles recommended that some point
between Santiago and Porto Rico be
taken previous to the beginning of
either campaign. The correspondence
also developed the foot that there was
an apparent conflict of authority be-
Tampa. before the Santiago campaign
was inaugurated.
1t also shows that orders We're is
sued to the secretary of war, that, in
the event that General Shafter should
be disabled by sickness or other cause,
the command of the troops at Santiago
should deyolve upon General Wheeler
and upon the next in command in case
of disability of both Shafter and Vince
Ter. The commission has summoned
Major Louis l.. Seaman, surgeon in
the LIST Volunteer Engineers to appear
before it and he is expected to testify
at tomorrow's session. He has recent
ly been quoted in New York as saying
that 200 men had died daily because of
the administration of the quarter
masters department.
Lieut.. Col. ]. G. Hoff is a regular
army officer and was chief surgeon in
the Sd Army Corps at Camp Thomas.
Chickamauga park.
(The Sd Corps, it will be remember
ed, was the one to which the LIST Maine
volunteer Infantry was attached).
He 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 under the circum-
stances. The men were encamped
somewhat closer to each other than
they should have been but it had been
impossible without blasting out sinks
as deep as good sanitation required
Furthermore it was impossible to COM
pei men to use the sinks and he thought
if nraha h1p that tbic diff I,oJ 1ad
to injurious results. Every effort had
been made to have the sinks properly
covered and disinfected and to have
the men use them.
DR.. Hoff said that in the beginning
the camp was deficient in medical sup
plies. The shortage was due to the fact
that it had been expected the troops
would come to camp supplied with
but some of them failed in
this respect, making greater demand
than had been counted upon.
Continuing, DR.. Hoff said the capa-
city of the division hospitals was often
doubled and trebled. 1t sometimes oc-
Cured that there We're eight men in
tents which We're intended to accom-
modate six, because of delay in secur-
ing tentage to care for the increase of
disease which was unexpectedly rapid.
On one or two occasions patients were
necessarily placed in beds made up on
the floors because of temporary de-
iciency in cots.
DR.. Hoff said that the shortage in
medical supplies had continued for sew
aral weeks, but there was generally
sufficient to meet the immediate de-
mands. He also said that some re-
QUESTIONS had been returned by the
authorities because i'm
filled, and he was under the
that there had been COM
plants of some suffering on this ac-
count. There was considerable delay
n securing flooring for the tents
WAS there any deprivation on ac-
,ount of the shortage of tents and of
medical supplies?" asked Gov. Wood
bury.
1T was so reported" responded DR..
Ioff.
Whose fault was it?'' was asked.
mot mine.'' he replied. II did all
hat l could do"
He said the troops of the Sd Corps
we're more closely crowded than they
'IiOufu nave Ueeu, out lie UNDERSTOOD |
hat the crowding had been supposed
o be military necessity in the be-
Ginning.
DIR. Connor stated that the Governor |
f Arkansas had complained of the ne |
;lect of the troops from that state. |
NE witness replied that the Arkansas
roops received the same medical care
nd attention that had been given to
Their soldiers under like conditions.
lie knew of no case in which men in
ne hospitals had been compelled to
e on the ground, but he thought there
fere probably cases in which sick men
ad been kept under flies, for several
avs. He was asked if it was true that /
t night there was an average of only
ne nurse to each 40 patients in the
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