The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-22

but upon inquiry it was ascertained that
very few of these cases, comparatively,
were yellow fever when it was at once de-
cided to bring the army home as speedily
as possible. Everything that human in
genuity could devise has been done TO sue
cor the army-not the ingenuity of the sec
retary of war, but the result of the COM
bined counsel of those who have had a life
long experience in the field That some
men have been neglected on transports COM
ing home there is no doubt-all against pos
tive orders, due perhaps to carelessness
and negligence but largely on account of
not having the medical force to spare
(many of whom were sick) from the camp
at Santiago. Many medical officers sent
with transports were taken i'll on the way
home.
ITO give you little idea of the work that
has been done, append the following:
The work of the adjutant generals de-
partment has been TO muster and order to
their station. to be precise. 216. 400 volunteers
and 24.9o0 for the regular army. This, with
a reduced force, as many staff officers from
all of the departments had been promoted
and ordered to the field.
THE chief of engineers reports an ex-
penditure of s5.S3O000 for harbor defenses.
building emplacements of heavy guns, NOR
tar batteries ard mines.
THE SURGEON GENERALS WORK.
THE surgeon general has had the enorm-
Gus work Of fitting up hospitals. organizing
the medical corps, employing male and fe-
male nurses, contract surgeons, being sur
geons who are employed from civil life, be-
sides those commissioned as corps, division
and brigade surgeons, furnishing medical
supplies and answering the demands from
all over the country and from camps at
Santiago, Porto Rico and Manila The work
done in this line is almost beyond COM
prehension.
The commissary general had purchased
and distributed, up to Aug. /, 49, 9O7 235
pounds of rations, which have been trans
ported and distributed to all armies in the
field here and at Santiago Porto Rico and
Manila, besides the large quantity dis
tributed among the destitute Cubans.
The quartermaster generals report is too
long 10 even give an approximate idea of his
work. In. the way of transportation to
Honolulu. Manila, Santiago and Porto Rico.
and return home, there have been sent 50 63S
men, with artillery equipment and supplies.
BY rail in this country there have been
transported 9700 officers, 233 1852 enlisted
men, also 4c,5S2 animals, besides thousands
OF wagons, artillery and other quartermas-
ter, commissary, ordnance, medical and
signal l-service stores. The total numoer of
articles Of clothing and camp equipage dis
tributed to the army by the quartermaster' s
department has been 6,274,4SS, of which 1
can only mention few articles, as follows:
Blankets, 2SS,7S9; blouses, 2S3 1872; trousers.
4O642S; hats, 334,106; canvas field uniforms.
SS.2OO; shoes, pairs, 1873; undershirts, 1885,
800; tents, 1912, etc. The total weight
OF food and forage distributed daily to the
army is approximately nine hundred tons.
Added to this is the large fleet of transports
chartered and purchased, the MANAGEMENT
of the same in conveying troops, supplies
and ammunition.
The paymaster has promptly paid the
army, and is deserving of very great credit
for his work.
THE signal corps has provided most eff
cient service, furnishing cable, telegraph,
telephone and signal services to the differ
ent commands in the field.
If you had a day or two to spare I
would like to sandwich in a little work for
you. I would like to send you these state
ments in detail, which 1 think would be-
wilder you, if anything can. Sincerely
yours, r. A. AIGFR
Hon. Chauncey M. DepeW. New York"