The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-22

FED A5 SEN63s3A9 4444A4
MAJOR MENTIONS. AND WHICH
He v1sIrED-vnE ISLANDERS
REFuTED.
Mr.. B. Walker Peterson recently
wrote to Major W. ]. W. cowden,
paymaster in the volunteer army, ask
ing fo- information as 70 the conditions.
especially with reference to the food
given the men and the treatment ac-
corded them in the army hospitals. The
1ntelligencer Is permitted to reproduce
Major cowden's reply, which refutes
the vile ISLANDERS put in circulation by
individuals and journals who would
serve a selfish political purpose. Says
Major cowden:
ATLANTA, Ca, oct. 10, 1895.
B. W. Peterson, esq. Wheeling, W. Va.
DEAR sIR:-I am in receipt Of your
recent favor asking If the reports in
circulation as to mis-treatment of the
soldiers, short and poor ratlons. neglect
of the sick, ETC., are true. In reply /
viii only state my personal observa-
lions of the camps and hospitals I have
visited.
will begin with Camp Thomas,
chIckamauga Park, Ca, where was
the first part OF July when the weather
was extremely hot and dry and when
fifty-fiVe thousand men were In the
camp. Most Of these were volunteers
inexperienced in camp life and in the
transition period from citizen to SOL
der. There was much sickness IN the
camp at the time, mostly malaria and
diseases incident to the manner OF Nv
ing. 1 talked freely with the men and
never heard a complaint OF harsh or
cruel treatment but some complained
OF the rigid discipline which prevented
them from wandering over the park and
restricted them to the regimental lines,
except when they had a pass, which
could only be had every ten days. The
ratlons were abundant in quantity and
Of excellent quality. and have never
heard In any camp OF damaged or
spoiled rations being issued. The cook
ing was not Of the best, the cooks being
generally without experience and the
health OF many suffered in conse-
On July s Congress passed a law au-
fhorlzing the enlistment OF company
cooks, who are paid as corporals, and
as q result nearly every company now
has a cook OF experience and more or
less skill. General Scott said that dur
ing the Mexican war beans killed more
soldiers than bullets, but 1t was solely
because they were not we'll cooked.
have messed with the men on black
coffee, corned beef. or canned salmon,
beans, hominV, good fresh hard tack
land often fresh bread, and found 1t
very fsir living.
I twice visited the Letter general hos
pital, located at Crawfish Springs, just
outside the park, in large summer
hotel, belonging to Mrs. Letter. of New
York, who gave the use of the build
inRs and grounds free of charge. At
the time there were three hundred pa
TENTS, about one-half the number hav-
ing typhoid. The building was furnish
ed with iron bed steads, wire and cot
ton mattresses. clean clothing and pill
lows, nurses from the hospital corps.
Many pslVates OF this corps, as well as
stewards are MEDICAL students and
much interested in their work.
also visited the First division, Third
corps hospital, and found it in large
airy tents, everything clean and tidy
and so far as could see everything was
being done for the sick that could be
done at home. did not get to visit the
Second division hospital. BUT THE
FACT THAT MAJOR Fl. b. BAGU-
LEY WAS IN CHARGE is SUFFI-
GENT GUARANTEE TO WHEEL
ING PEOPLE THAT NOTHING
WOULD BE NEGLECTED.
/ have seen the hospitals at Jack
sonville and Fernandina, Fla, Hunts
Vile and Admission, Ala; Lexington,
KY; Charleston, s. C.,and Atlanta, Ca,
and HAVE NEVER DISCOVERED
NEGLECT, MISMANACiEMEST OR
ILL TREATMENT, nor heard a com
plant which seemed justified. / have
hoard convalescents complain with
tears that theg were being starved,
when to give them what they wanted
would have insured their death within
twenty-four hours.
At Charleston, S. c., I visited the st.
Xavier, city and colored hospltals.where
many soldiers we're being cared for.
Wheeling Is Justly proud OF the
Wheeling and City hospitals, hut they
are no better, nor better equipped and
cared for than those at Charleston, the
Letter. or Fort Mcpherson at Atlanta.
The latter Is four miles from the citS
and has six or seven hundred sick.
mostly typhoid cases, and the good
people OF this city furnish every luxury
THERE NEVER WAS A WAR
WHEN SUCH CARE WAS TAKEN
OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED. 1t
seems to me they are supplied with ev-
erythinE ingenuity can devise and mo-
ney purchase for their comfort DUR
ING THE CIVIL WAR THERE NEW
Err WAS a HOSPITAL IN EITHER
ARMY so THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED
AND CARED FOR AS THOSE l
HAVE MENTIONED. The country Is
richer and will not spare money when
II will help It's soldiers Mg opinions as
expressed above, ore fully sustained by
all the officers and men have mot
many OF them coming sick or wounded
from Santiago.
My conclusion is that THE GOV
EMINENT is DOING EVERY
THING POSSIBLE FOR ITS SOL
DIERS and grateful. patriotic nation
approves It's course and will gladly pay
the bills
I would like to tell you much more
about the camps and soldiers. but have
not the time. am under orders TO pro-
coed 10 san Antonio Galveston and