New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-30
HOME FROM CHICKAMAUGA.
THIRTY-FOUR FOURTEENTH REGIMENT
MEN RETURN.
MUCH SUFFERING on THE TRAIN THAT BROUGHT
THEM NORTH-ACCOUNTs OF THE coNDi'
TON OF CAMP THOMAS MUCH EX-
AGGERATED.


AGGERATED
Thirty-four members Of the 18th Regiment
reached Bro ,klyn yesterday morning from
Chickamsuga PARK They have received
thirty DAYS furlough each The men travelled
in two Pullman cars called hospital traih
During the trip the men suffered terripiy' -
they provided with neither doctors nor
hosrital attendants The men have been taken
by friends 70 their homes. where they are now
able to receive medical treatment and good
nursing.
First Lieutenant Charles w Bridges. for
many years connected with the business ONCE
Of The Tribune. was at his home. No. lOl
Prince-st last night. For tYenty-one years
Lieutenant Bridges has been a member or COM
pany K of the l4th Regiment. When Tribune
reporter called at tho house last night he found
the solder lying on sofa. lie is suHer'hS
from a fever. and says that he feels miserapie.
Fn had not expected 10 return to Brooklyn, ana
his family surprised when he reached nome
Yesterday morning. He much incensed at
some OF the exaggerated accounts OF the con-
diton OF the 1ith Regiment. and told the truth
of the situation in n Straightforward manner.
II was not Lieutenant Bridges. as stated. VINO
was wheeled ION the train to the boat but
Private Cowles. OF Company NJ. Lieutenant
Bridges said:
although sick and weak walked from the
train to the Annex boat Cowes was all but
dead We had no nurses ncr hospital men. and
the suffering terrible. For the trip each
man vas allowed 81 30 a day for rations. but
| many Of the men i'll that they could
not get off the to purchase any food.
Two raen one from the 14th and another.
Mr.. Christy from the sth Regiment. did great
deal for the rest Of u.s. especially Mr.. Christy.
who worked hard for two hours yesterday az.
ternoon with Cowles. who was extremely sick.
He vas finally brought around all right. All
through the night Chrsty took care OF me.
high fever having developed
AS TO the sanitary condition Of the camp at
Chickamauga. it is better in many respects
than the neighborhoods where some CT the
fanatics live Swill is not allowed TO remain
about the camp any length Of time. Garbage
wagons make tour Of camp three times DAY.
II any swill is left about the streets II Is the
fault of some individual man. Scrupulous care
Is taken of the sinks and lime is used freely
LAS for four inches Of dust being about the
company quarters. IT is not so, as me men nav:
! To clean their quarters every day When II
rains the tents sometimes mucn soaked
There can lie doubt that the hospital ac-
commodatons are inadequate There have been
from 200 to 2oc sick men In the lith ReSi'
ment for the last month. OF these sixty are
In the division hospital. twenty are In the reei-
mental hospital. and the balance are In their
| quarters Men have been discharged as well
| from the division hospital who have dropped
| from exhaustion before reaching their COM
! pany street. They would then lie III FOR weeks
/ in their tents Some of these poor fellows
would he marked down to DO police duty.
| There is only enc doctor TO attend To the sick
! In our camp. when there IL really enough work
| FOR three This one doctor does not belong to
| the regiment. OF our regular surgeons. Dr. J.
| l.. Maccumher detailed TO the ambulance
corps Or Spence is sick with typhoid fever IN
! Chattanooga ard DR. Bogart IL away on fur.
| Tough. "a
We arrived In Camp Thomas on May 70
any While the sanitary conditions In some OF
the camps is bad ours Is good II Is the
| climate I think that causes the sickness. we
have had much 81 IL all the time. great deo
| in the fore part Of July. II is now increasing.
| other regiments have great deal ~ sickness.
and the camps are In poor shape. This Is tho
| fault Of their individual officers.
LAS to rations. they have been good. We had
! hardly anything h eat the first TWO days we
struck camp. but since then they have been all
| right We have received extra money from
canteen which has enabled US 10 have a few
! luxuriss.
I'm Camp Thomas the 18th Regiment was
| known as tho Chickamauga Land and Improve
ment Company. this because the men have been
! So Jealous in fixing up their camp. There are
a number Of civil and practical engineers In
the regiment who have mapped out what the
! other men have carried out.
! From, talking with the returning members OF
! the 18th Regiment II is evident that at least ~
| per cent Of the wish To return 10 their
| homes Colonel Wilder Is anxious 10 have his
regiment assigned 10 Cuba. but the mer d. NOT
| relish the idea Of doing guard duty. IL is said
! that q number Of officers will hand T.. their
designations within the next ten days