The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-02

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were reported to the higher authorities
w.thous action being taken
The doctor said that IL three lnontns and
half when he was at Camp Thomas he
knew Of DR.. Huidekoper. the corps sur
geon, having visited the camps OF the
Eighth Massachusetts twice. He had great
difficulty IN securing medicines, he said,
and had 20 buy drugs out OF a private fund.
The list OF medicines which he made reQui-
sition for always had about half OF the
most important drugs scratched on by the
higher authorities. He told of the red
tape" which required a requisit!on for
medicines to go through a dozen channels
and then back before the supplies could be
secured.
DIR. Seaman Had Positive Orders.
Capt. George B. Duncan. Of the regular
army, who recently served as adjutant
general in the district Of Ponce, Porto
REQ, testified before the commission. He
stated that he was wholly conversant with
the conditions connected with the sailing
OF the transport OLDHAM, and that Dr..
Seaman, who returned in charge OF that
vessel. had positive orders not 10 take
any man on board who was not entirely
corvaiescent-
Icewater Comes High.
DR.. Thomas {. Chalmers. CAPTAIN and
assistant surgeon of the Twelfth New
York. who saw six weeks service at
Porto Rico, esllfied that at Chckamauga
his regiment could not only not get medi-
make acquisitions for them. In regard TO
the transport Massachusetts,. on which he
went 10 Porto Rico, DR.. Chalmers said:
There was no regular cooking on board
and the men were unused 10 eating cold
rations. The reserve hospital men were
supposed 10 have been we'll men. but sub
se1uent 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 al sl.25 4 pitcher. The
matter was reported. but the custom was
not stopped. The mules and horses on
board went for twenty-four hours at one
time without water"
Rifles We're Slow I'm Coming.
Lieut.. Col. James Parker, Twelfth New
York. said that when the troops arrived
at Chickamauga the men had to sleep on
and no change of clothing. He said that
the First South Carolina regiment did not
receive their rifles for a month after their
ARRIVAL at the park, the men being COM
PEELED to do guard duty without guns.
The Twenty-frst Kansas also had to do
guard duty for two weeks.
THE volunteers first arrived at Chicka-
mauga," said Col Parker. with their
For three weeks they could not get water
enough to quench their thirst. Then the
PIPES were laid. but the water the men
got was not pure. in my opinion. There
were wells left at the park as landmarks
which contained water that was bad for
them to drink. The usual precautions
that are taken with troops in camp were
taken there. I have spent six years OF
my life in tents, having been captain in
the Fourth cavalry, and / think any regu-
lar army officer will agree with me that
the camp was established on the proper
pans"
Gen. Breckinr.dge. when he took COM
mand. did more to change for the better
the sanitary conditions than had been ac-
sompishea ,c a'ossthe ri before ,.d He had
vain before. furnished the hospitals. He
provided lime in great abundance: he had
new tentare suppEed he gave medicines
when needed.
Upon my inspection found the hospita,
of the First division, Third corps. OF the
Third division of the First corps and of
the Second division of the Third, corps.
very dirty. The first was placed alongside
a dump heap. The dirt in most cases how
ever, was due to the overcrowded condi-
ton of the hospitals. The surgeons were
worked to death and too sick themselves
to look after the cleanliness properly
so far as | knew. neither Gen. Brooke
nor Gen Wade ever made Il sanitary in
spection OF the camp. l think there was a
dis!nclination on the part of the govern
ment TO purchase lime II could have been
secured easily. or even been burned by the
troops TAe quariermaster's department
might nave accomplished much during this
war that 1t did not seem inclined TO do 1t
would have been just as easy 10 establish
AT Chiekamauga the ideal conditions that
prevail here al Camp Hamilton at the cost
of not more than 81 per man.
Night Session.
The night session began at s o'clock.
Lieut.. Frank Strange. quartermaster OF
the Third Kentucky was the first witness
called. He was at Caickamauga Park from
June l unit! the Eth of July. when he took
sick and left. He testified that while at
Chlckamauga his regiment was badly
equipped. His regiment was unable
10 procure quar;ermasrer s. supplies
consisting OF cloEhng. ten:age etc
because the supplies were not
on hand but in small quantities. They had
so many regiments to equip that when they
had supplies on hand they were distributed
among all the regiments. Often the QUAR-
termaster did not have equipment from a
lack OF knowledge as to what was required
Then. when the regsmentai quarternasters
went 10 the depot they were made to wait
for several hours,
Next We're called several REORGANIZATION
ed officers and priyates. who stated gem
orally thai the rations and clothing fur
nished were good. The witness, Ryan,
from whom DR.. Conner expected 10 obtain
valuable service, vas sick in the First d.
vision hospital at Chicamauga. He had
sent written statements OF a serious nature
10 the board. but was unable 10 substanti-
a'e hut few tie stated the surgeons were
guilty OF criminal neglect by not seeing
I4at The orders tnsy ISSUED were obeyed
m.nistereS. that on the day of Gen
ne hospitals when men were dying. that
ne case one man was almost drowned in