Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-02

UNMENTIONABLE ABUSES.
Dr CogswelI attributed the typhoid
fever TO the water. milk, and lemonade
dr,,nL NV the men. He said that the
cIothing and blankets belonging to PS
nen who died OF typhoid-fever "ere
brought back without having been WASH,
ed or boiled. and used by other men VI
Tho regiment. He mentioned other ABUSES
Zoo degrading TO write, which, he SAID
nero renorted TO the highest authoritleS
without action being taken. The DoctoI
said that in three months and hail'
while he was at Camp Thomas ne khe"
OF DIR. Huidekoper. the corps suIston
having visited the camp Oh inc His''"
Massachusetts but twice. ,,.,,o
lie had difficulty in securing mediclIl'
he cold and had TO buy drugs out OF
nrivate fund. The list of medicines ne
r,ade reouisition for always had about
ha,f of the most important drugs
scratched off by the higher authorities
ra told NJ the "red tape" which re-
ouired reouisition for medicines TO go
tbrough q dozen channels and then BACK
bofore the supplies could be secured.
CASE OF THE OLDHAM.
CAPTAIN George Il. Duncan, OF the regu-
lar army. who recently served as adJu-
! tant-qeneral of the District OF Ponce
Porto Rico. testified that he was Wholly
conversant with the conditions connect
cd with the sailing Of the transport op-
dam and that DR.. Seaman, VINO returheu
In charge of that vessel had positive or
ders not TO take any man on pooru WIZ
was net entirely convalescent'
Dr Thomas C. Chalmers. assistant sur
geor of the Twelfth New York, who saw
six weeks service in Porto Rico. tcsti-
| fed that at Chickamauga his regiment
| could not only rot get medicines. but
| could not even get blanks to make re-
| ouistion for them
| In regard to the transport Massachu-
sets. on which he went to Porto Rico,
| DR.. Chalmers said:
NOT ENOUGH TO EAT.
"There was no regular cooking on
] hoard and the men were not used to
| eating cold rations. The reserve hospital
| men were supposed to have been well
cared for, but subsequent events proved
| that they did not have enough to eat
| The men never could get enough water
| to satisfy their thirst. Ice water was
sold at a.25 a pitcher. The matter was
reported but the custom was not stop
ned. The mules and horses on board
went for twenty-four hours at one time
| without water"
| Tjeutenant-Colonel James Parker
| Twelfth New York. said that when the
| troops arrived at Chickamauga the men
had TO sleep on the wet ground, with only
| one blanket and no change OF clothing.
| He said that the First South Carolina
Regiment did not obtain their rifles for
| q month after their arrival at the camp.
the men having TO do guard duty with
sticks for guns. The Second Kansas also
had to do guard duty for two weeks
with sticks.
MEN PERISHING OF THIRST.
"When the volunteers first arrived at
| Cbickamauga." said Colonel Parker,
their tongues were literally hanging out
| for water. For three weeks they could
not get water enough to quench their
thirst. Then the pipe lines were laid
| but the water the men got was not pure
"The usual precautions that are taken
with troops in camp were not taken there
+ have spent several years of my life IN
tents. having been a captain in the Fourth
| Cavalry. and | think any regular army
| officer will agree with me that the CAM
was not established on proper plan.
BRECKINRIDGE IMPROVED THINGS.
General Breckenridge, when he took
| command did more to change for the
better the sanitary conditions than mao
| been accomplished altogether before. lie
had lumber, which had before been ap'
piled for in vain. furnished to the hos
pitaIs: he provided lime in great album
dance he had new tentage supplied, ana
gave medicines when needed.
7'Typon INV inspection 1 found the hos
pitals Of the First Division, First Corps
Third Division, Third Corps, and Second
| Division, Third Corps, very dirty. I'M
first was placed alongside dump-heap
The dirt in most cases, however, was du'
| Ia the oyercrowded condition OF the hos
pitals. The surgeons were worked e
death. and too sick themselves to pro
perly look after the cleanliness OF TIT
camp. g.,
Brooke nor General Wade ever made ;
sanitary inspection of the camp.
oI-ARTERMAsTER's DEPARTMENT
BLAMED.
IT think there was Discrimination OF
the part of the government to purchas
lime II could have been secured easily
and even burned by the troops. the guar
termasters Department might have ae
complished much during the war that ]
did not seem inclined 10 do. IL woul
have been Just as easy 10 establish a
Chickamauga the ideal conditions tina
prevail here at Camp Hamilton, at tn
cost Of not more than 81 per man."
COULDN'T PROCURE SUPPLIES.
The night session began at O'Clock
lieutenant Frank Strange. quartermaste
OF the Third Kentucky Regiment, bein
the first witness called. He was at Chick
amauga Park from June LIST until Jul
nth. when he was taken sick and lef
He testified that while at Chickamaug
his regiment was badly equipped. Hi
regiment was unable TO procure quarter
masters supplies, consisting OF clothing
tentage. etc, because the supplies wer
not on hand. except in small quantities
| often the quartermaster did not hav
equipment because of lack CT know
lodge as 10 what was required. Then whe
the regimental quartermasters went
the depot they were made TO walt &c
several hours.
Next were called several non-commi'
l -sxna oRrara and privatQs who stat