Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-01
some time after the regiment went to

some time after the regiment went to
Chickamauga-
TO division hospitals and could not be re-
ceived because the hospital was already
overcrowded." said Colonel Caffee.
I'VE had no medicine in the regiment.
visited the hospital daily while l had
men there, and 1 frequently found the
tents unfoored, the cots crowded so close
together that one could net pass between.
The tents were SO leaky that when it was
raining the men in the hospital had to be
covered with ponchos and rubber blankets
to be protected from a drenching-
'Dr. Griffith was in charge of the hos
pital and, after visiting all the others, l
concluded that this was the best conducted
one at the park. DR.; Griffith and his as as
means at his command. This objection
able condition Of affairs lasted eight or ten
weeks; The nurses S were IN n many man c6ncn. GasG.
sion that this was necessary evil under
the circumstances.
Colonel Caffee said that his regiment re-
ceiyed not only not enough barrels to boil
the drinking water, but not even enough
TO haul il the four miles necessary, de-
spite acquisitions made.
Then we could not get men in the di-
vision hospital on account OF its over
crowded condition said Colonel Caffee.
I'VE had no medicine to give the sick We
made acquisitions for it. and they were
returned with this Endorsement from the
chief surgeon of the corps: Medicines are
issued only to men in division hospitals,
and not TO those. in quarters.
I'm my opinion II was a great mistake
10 do away with the regimental hospitals,
but had the division hospitals at Chicka-
manga been anything like the one here at
Camp Hamilton, there would have been
no fault TO find"
Colonel Caffee gave some Of the most
valuable testimony obtained by the COM
mission.
Johnston, now depot quarCermaster at
Camp Hamilton Captain Johnston screwed
as assistant TO the chief quartermaster or
the Fifth a Santiago and served a
Montauk Point until that camp was aban-
doned, when he came to Lexington.
AT Santiago" said Captain Johnston.
from the time landed until left, there
was an abundance of clothing. Many Of
the troops had only dog tents, but in my
opinion these were good and healthful. No
complaint could be found with the trans
port in which went to Cuba, or that in
''At Montauk Point visited both the re-
tention and division hospital and though
not a competent judge in such matters,
considered both excellent.
There is an abundance of clothing and
other supplies here. all of good quality
winter clothes have been issued. have no
complaints. To my knowledge there is no
regiment here now whose men are wearing
unlined blouses. Some of the tents here
have been condemned and they will be i'm
rnediately replaced. There is 4 great deal
of clothing in the depot and an abundance
on the way. Requisitions have always been
Colonel William A. Pew, of the Eighth
Massachusetts,, was called. The principal
complaints he made We're of the difficulty
his regiment experienced in securing medi-
cal supplies He said his surgeon would
make out acquisitions and hand them in 10
the proper officers and they would return
them saving there were no supplies, and
II was of no use to make acquisitions.
Colonel Pew said that his regiment had
difficulty in securing its wagons at Chick
amauga park. He said his campground
was very poor.
Colonel w f. Leonard. of the Twelfth
New York testified that the surgeon OF
his regiment was continually clamoring foI
medicine to give the men in quarters. He
could not secure this. he said. so the col
onel spent 500 out of his own pocket for
medicine.
Colonel Leonard admitted that his men
were sometimes not sent TO the division
hospital because they. were so much op-
posed to il.
needed medicine to division hospital, how
can you lay blame for not receiving medi-
eine?" asked DIR. Connor.
''If we had sent all our sick men to di-
vision hospital replied the colonel, we
would have had no need Of our sur
Colonel Leonard said the commissary sup
plies had been good. and so abundant that
the men could not consume them. In con-
sequence. each company has fund of 81
or more obtained by selling superfluous
supplies. The colonel complained of the
auarteTmaster,s supplies. especially the
shoes He said that he had spent nearly
$500 out of his own pocket for shoes 20!
He said that the supplies were issued
piccemeaI, and frequently the quartermas-
ier's department got the acquisitions bulleG
Colonel Thomas ]. Smith. of the Third
Kentucky. said that his regiment was not
entiinped with clothing for three weeks aft.
for a month. He had no complaint. how.
ever, TO make, as he thought everything