The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-19

| General Lee, Was Ocf0re lne COMMISSION
! at it's afternoon session He had occu-
pied this position since the 21st of May
| and he had been able during all this
| time to fully meet all requisitions made
| upon him for supplies. and there had
never been any lack of them. As a rule
| also the quality was excellent. At first
| there had been trouble with the bacon
and about 10000 pounds Of it had been
| spoiled and therefore condemned and or
dered destroyed. There had also been
| weavils in some of the hard bread, but
it had never been issued when found to
be bad. All the fresh beef was secured
from Armour & Company and was
brought to the camp in refrigerator
cars.
Ar rule the meat was excellent, and
in case where the meat was not good
the contractors had replaced it without
requiring official condemnation. Yet it
was necessary either to cook refrigera-
tor meat or put it on ice in order to pre-
vent its spelling in this climate. In this |
connection Colonel Wood read a letter
he had written to General Lee in re-
sponse to Il complain made by Colonel |
William Jennings Bryan concerning the |
beef In this letter he said that if beef
was spoiled it was generally due to the
almost criminal negligence of regiment
and company officers. He said also in
the letter that the beef must be inspect |
ed when issued; that this inspection must
be final and after this no complaint |
could be entertained.
COMMAND SHORT OF STORES.
Capt. Chauncey V, Baker, chief quar-
tcrmaSter. was also examined during the |
afternoon session. He had been in
Jacksonville from the beginning OF the
camp on the Dist of May but at that
time was quartermaster for the Second
corps. He said that when he arrived
the command was short of all kinds of
stories, and that he had been
unable in the beginning to meet all requi-
sitions for supplies when made by the
regiments as they arrived There had
for instance been some trouble in secur-
ing tentage. There was also shortage
i'll clothing. and in most cases he had
assumed the responsibility of making
purchases. and his course had afterwards
been approved. The first clothing re-
ceiyed was not of good quality. but it
was afterwards improved. However the |
men We're, as n rule. glad enough to
get anything and there was no complaint. |
Indeed the troops had manifested a dis |
position to be satisfied with whatever !
they received. Captain Baker said that
he attributed whatever delay had been
experienced to the necessity Of equipping |
so large an army in 50 brief time. |
and he thought that under the circum- |
stances it was no greater than was TO (
have been expected.
Explaining General Lawton-s selection |
of the first camp here he said it was /
due to the fact that the railroad company !
could offer good facilities here and to |
the additional fact that water could bs |
secured conveniently. Where the site was
lowest men were moved when the rainy |
season began. General Lawton had eX-
pected the troops to be ordered almost |
Immediately to Cuba, and this circum- |
stances controlled him entirely in the Sc
lection of the site for the first encamp-
ment. He said that the volunteer regi-
mental quartermasters had all worked
hard to learn their business and that
their service had been satisfactory.
COL. GUILD ON VOLUNTEERS.
Captain Baker was followed by Colo
mel Curtis Guild, Jr., inspector general
of the corps. Colonel Guild said he had
been on duty in Jacksonville since june
1st. He said he had made it his business
to make an early morning inspection of
the camp each day with regard to sani-
tation and he knew that this had been
the custom Of others in his department.
He had also invented form of weekly
report which had given excellent salts
faction. Colonel Guild said he had
found the officers of the volunteer forces
willing to accept suggestions and i'll
many cases he had been thanked for
them. He had also made frequent in
spections of the hospitals. In the be-
ginning there was n lack Of government
supplies for these institutions. But the
deficiency had been supplied by the Req
Cross. The witness testified to the de-
| votion of the medical department and N
referring to the interest Of all in thc
| care of the sick, he instanced the fact
| that in the recent cyclone here not a
single hospital tent had been blown
down. In some instances in this 2mer
gency an entire brigade turned out to pro-
| tect the hospitals and held them down.
Colonel Guild mentioned some cases in
which goods had been received III poor
condition. In one case a large lot of
canned beef had been received which was
putrid and effervescent, but the con-
tractors had replaced it with acceptable
goods. The Second New Jersey had suf-
fered on account of the frequent changes
of the commissary, aud they appeared
| to experience the want of food because Of
the ignorance of the officers of the regi-
ment.
Colonel Guild SAID tnat lie had never
found a case of deprivation due to the
failure of the Goyefnmeqt to furnish
proper supplies. lie was also unable
to recall any ease III "hi:n there had
been any suffering in a hospital ON ac-
count of neglect and was satisfied that
all had been done for the sick that was
practicable.
Asked if he was still of the opinion
that there would have been Il shortage
of supplies for the sick but for the great
activity of the Red Cross, Colonel Guild
said he had changed his opinion some
what as he had since learned that steps
might have been taken to secure Govern
ment supplies. but he was still of the
opinion that there would have been de-
lay Here the commission adjourned for
DINNER.