Evening star., 1898-12-15
CHICKAMAUGA CAMP
General Brooke Witness Before the
Investigating Commission.
Vas A SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES
He Made Frequent Personal In
spections While There.
W A Z E r UPPLY GOOD

Maj Gen. John r. Brooke, the military
governor of Cuba, was the most important
witness before the war investigation COM
mission today. He was examined in chief
by former Gov. Beaver. He stated the
Iength of his service in the United States
army and said that during the war with
spain he was stationed at Chickamauga
Park and in Porto Rico.
Now, general said Gov. Beaver state
n your own way the story of the forma-
ton of the Chic kamauga camp and the
problems that confronted you in the man
agement of it,
Bnd Equipment at Chickamauga.
Gen. Brooke quietly and slowly related
that he went to the camp on April 20 and
remained until July % last. Altogether
about 10000 men We're in camp while he
was in command He described the arrival
Of the regular and volunteer regiments.
The majority of the men were volunteers.
tie SAID that the latter wore the National
Guard uniform, which was generally old
ana was soon hardly serviceable, owing to
the severity of the weather. The equip
ment was poor and had been aptly de-
Scrlbed as representing the ''parslmonious
Pollcy of the War department during twen-
and there was not enough of it.
Inc men came with what were stated to
be the ten-days' rations, but all We're hun
cry. The first thing done was to have
tneir urgent need supplied by the commits
aary department, and this was done, he
said, with commendable alacrity. He oh
served that there was considerable diff
Guilty in getting uniforms for the regulars.
The army supply department had been or
ganized on The basis of supplying 25O00
men, and was not in shape 10 handle the
rush. He was ordered by army headQuar-
ters to send eight regiments to Tampa. In
getting them ready there was such a lack
of equipments that other regiments had to
be stripped of various articles they pos
sessed, and these were given to the men
TO be sent away.
The War Department a this time had
exhausted all the canvas and tentage in
the country, and the mtn were obliged to
use all sorts of makeshIfts. They lacked
also pots, canteenS, knives, forks and
cooking utensils. In June last he was or
dered to send away three divisions of an
because they were better supplied than the
others.
Made Frequent Inspections.
General Brooke said he had nothing to
do with the selection of the camp ground
Having been assigned, however, to the
command of the place, he deemed it his
the greatest care and to see that necessary
sanitary regulations were promulgated and
enforced. In order to do this he made per-
sonal inspections frequently. He said that
criticisms of the Cave spring water were
groundiess, as he had personally inspected
II, and also had it analyzed frequently here
in " aShlngton. His strenuous efforts to
regulate the entry of hucksters into the
camp resulted in a reduction of the sick
report from 80 10 30 per cent. This he
had learned from verbal reports made to
hum by the surgeons.
Gen. Brooke said he had heard statements
that he had not inspected the camp sinks
and kitchens. He amphatically denied the
truth of these, and said he had personally
seen to ii constantly.
There is plenty of testimony before u.s."
said Gen. Dodge, that you did this fire.
Quently."
More than frequently" added the wit
ness. Daily"
Scarcity of Medicines.
Gen. Brooke said that in the beginning
there was a scarcity of medicines. In these
matters he relied on the experience and
statements of the chief surgeons. In case
direct complaint was made to him, as was
not infrequenty the case, a prompt and
full investigation was made.
The supply depots We're established by
myself said Gen. Brooke. and most of
of 100000 men not SO well supplied. The
Army of the Potomac in 1861 was not near
ly well situated. There was abundant
space in the commissary' storehouses for
ten days ratiOns for G0,UOD men"
General Brooke said he never hesitated to
assume responsibility, and often did it by
concentrating authority in his own hands
He did not know of an instance where there
was not prompt and energetic compliance
with his orders.
Il was surprised and pained' sad he, ito
observe that one of my staff officers testi-
fed to you that the headquarters camp
was in a diStreSSlngly filthy condition.
This is not true
Site of the First Division HOspitaI
IN justice to myself / want to say" re-
marked General Brooke, that the 1st~ Di-
vision hospital site was not selected by me-
That was left to Colonel Hartsuff, my chief
surgeon, and it is a fact that it was the
only one l condemned l visited the hos
pital and found it working badly. 1t was
due probably to the surgeon in charge"
Gen. Beaver said that there had been
very general complaint as to the use OF
non-use of the sinks by the men. He sad
that in fact it was stated the nuisance be-
came so intolerable as to render the camp
practically unlnhabitable.
Gen. Brooke admitted that there was a
great deal of nuisance from this cause, but
said that 1t was soon gotten under control
to you at any time the removal of the en-
tire camp?"
Gen. Brooke-"No, SIR"
Gen. BeaVer-"Was there any recommen-
dation of change from one location to an
other within the limits of the park?'
Gen. Brooke-"No, SIR"
Gen. Beaver-"How long did you remain
in one location without a changer
Gen. Brooke-"All the time, with the ex-
ception Of one regiment"
Gen. Beaver-.What limit of time should
there be to the occupancy of one piece of
ground for camp?
Gen. Brooke-"That is hard to answer. 1t
depends on circumstances
Gen. Beaver-"Were the locations of the
camps at Chickamauga suitable for all
weathers?'
Gen Brooke-"Not all of them Those on
rocky ground best withstood the rainy
weather"
Major Parier's Report.
Gen. Beaver then read report from Mai.
Jas Parker, sanitary inspector of the 18th
New York Volunteers. describing the IN
sanitary conditions at Camp Thomas dur
ing Gen. Brooke's incumbency. The report
states that when the volunteer troops ar
rived here in May they were inexperienced