The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-01
VOLUNTEERS At SAN FRANCISCO
Account Of the Unhappy Condition OF
Soldiers at Camp Merritt.

SOiIlcrS AT camp MerFit'.
Tit following letter has been received
from a friend OF The Times in San
Francisco under date Of June 23d, and
gives a gloomy account Of the condition
Of the United States Volunteers there:
am much concerned about the gene
raj state Of our soldiery here 1 do not
know VINO IN particular Is TO blame.
Every license IS permitted both 10 the
troops and the civilians and after the
harm is done then a hslf-hearted effort
Is made at closing the avenue 70 dis
order. | have talked freely with both
officers and priyates and each and al
confess to a lamentable laxity IN dici-
pline and ordinary precautions against
disorders. loss of morals and rapid
growth towards INSTRUMENTATION dlscon-
tented and much needless suffering ana
sickness. Never In my whole experience
have ! ever seen 20 much drunkenness
I'm open day and debauchery OF every
sort at night. chinatown" and the
"Barbary coast" IS over run by our boy
soldiers. who ought 10 be camped twenty
miles away from any town. Not SIM
gle regiment from here has gone on the
transports i'm a half way CONDITION OF
body fitted for a sea voyage 10 Manila
] think that I wrote you Of my expert
ence by sea on the ship "Umatilla' which
brought down the second battalon OF
tho First Washington Regiment. Their
condition aboard the steamer was shame
full and distressing Men should not
have the free run OF a city and 10 IN
dulge themselves in every disorder IN al
dition TO being stuffed with every sort
81 food II they are 10 be confined in a
troop ship for several days 70 say moth
ing OF weeks.
see from the press that the horses
and mules on the transports between
Florida and Cuba suffered greatly and
many died. Had they been In low order
but hardened and full muscled half FED
and restricted in water. they could nave
stood a voyage that no fat or full bellied
horses could endure. The same applies TO
men travelling from what l learn and 1t
IS generally reported disease from vice
among the troops is very common here
and IS much more so than measles, dip
liberia, pneumonia and bowel complaint.
The huxter or peanut vendor and rot
ten fruit seller and bunco man and adj
venturess has the camp and soldier at
their mercy.
Again. I observe that tho troops are
very noorly clad The uniforms that the
respective States gave and l have eN-
amined thsm from Tennessee, washing
ton. Montana, South Dakota, are FAR
superior 10 what the United states
them Certainly never during the war
of the sixties was the cloth for either
Confederate dt was imported) or for the
northern troops nearly as inferior as
what the troops here are being provided
with. Where did 10 come from?
What does such suits OF cotton duck
and pretended woOllens cost the soldiersF
I mean TO look into the matter. for while
am not prepared tocharge any one with
~. .avfa fVtfr fnnflnfgnnU
cheating is going on. My experience IN
the QuarteTmaster Department OF the
Confederacy enables me 20 know when
and where and how men and horses
should be treated and how to care FOR
them. This war IS 10 be far more Sc
rlous and Is 10 cost millions In money
and no end 10 suffering and death before
the War Department throws OF us
apathv and men Of real ability and eN-
perience and nerve, rise and grasp the
reins that control all avenues where the
rogulsh contractor and the lazy officer
finds pelf and comfortable living. | feel
a disgust creep over me every time
go out to Carmp Merritt and see the
state OF affairs there. I am not
kicker nor do 7 make charges specihcal-
". but / know that there Is an unpardon-
able and unnecessary laXity that for the
good OF the country should be speedily
corrected Inc papers mere scum i''ii"i
Of California; and San Francisco's repu-
tation and they certainly cannot be relied
ON 10 tell the truth II any pressure is
brought upon them. l have been asked
70 write a article for the press here but
that would involve following II up and
10 tell facts and bring proofs as ] would
insist on doing would raise howl that
the press would shiri from. We need
fearless dispassionate press now II ever
and men who know what war means and
what IS the duty Of the citizen ana SOL
dior should rise ND and speak the
truth and only the truth without fear
80. farr,r