Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-08-12

HAAAl AbAAAFtlA1s AlAt ASANtA AAbEHAAuA AlllaAiA
obtaining limited transportation to the .
front. After a couple of days duty on !
board the Olivette, | was directed to
put the lroquOis in condition To receive
PATIENTS and to take the full capacity
of the ship on board. While doing this,
was able to set ashore considerable
hospital tentage and supplies found
aboard of her. and, having control of her
boats, | was able to visit other trans
ports in the harbor and land medical
supplies from them. While subsequent
ly outtitting the Cherokee and Break
water this work was continued as well
as opportunity and limited facilities
permitted. getting supplies from per
haps a third of the transports compos-
ing the fleet. Outside of this II is be
lieved that no other rt gimental medical
property was ever unloaded up TO the
time OF my departure with wounded on
July 10.
Appealing on several occasions for
the use of a lighter or small steamer to
collect and land medical supplies, was
informed by the quartermasters de-
partment that they could render no as
sistance in that way. and the medical
department was compelled to rely en-
tirely upon its own energies and i'm
pruVise its own transportation. | feel
Justified in saying that at the time Of
my departure large quantities of med
ical supplies urgently needed on shore
still remained on transports. number
of which were under orders to return
to the United States. Had the medical
department carried along double the
amount of supplies, it is difficult to see
how, with the totally inadequate land
and water transportation provided ny
the quartermaster's department, the
lamentable conditions on shore could
have been in any way improved.
The outtitting of transports for the
reception Of sick and wounded is a duty
demanding thought and experience. and
should never be entrusted to any one
hut regular medical officer 1t in
cludes the proper policing of the por-
tiOus Of the ship to be used by the
Wuuadcd the removal of hunks ana
partitions TO give space and air, the
utilization of the ships blankets, door
mats. rugs and carpets to render the
hunks more comfortable. ,Ae securing
of extra supplies such as canned soups
and fruits, limejuice and the assign
uent OF CunValcscents to specific light
duties which materially relieve the
uyerworked hospital corps.
Usually it Is necessary to ONerCom"
passive resistance ana opposition on the
part of the crews. and a tendency on
the part of the captains to disregard
or modify orders. In several instances
in my own experience this aCtiun Of The
crew amounted almost To- mulny. ami
MAS only 10 be dealt with by threats. a
sho,v Of force, and in one instance by tn
use ~ irons. While executive officer at
the general hospital at Fort Monroe,
| leaneu officially that the captain Of
thr steamship Seneca positively refused
to obey the orders emanating from you"
office given him by the surgeon in charge
to proceed 10 New York, he remaining
nearly an additional day at Hampton
roads with sick and wounded, and as
serting that he would obey no orders
! gwen DN lli" Hltuitul ut pal llIitIt' -
similar experience of my own at Bal
quiri which had to be settled by force,
emphasizes the fact that no one should
be plpCed in charge of such d ship who
! is not accustomed to command men and
/ enforce obedience.
With regard to the Red Cross society,
. - If tho lnftN t4G
of this organization were on the Santa
60 expedition subverted To individual in
terrsts. While at Tampa the Red
Cross ship. State of Texas, was formally
placed under the control of the chief
81 rgeon. Fifth corps, by DR.. Egan. the
representative OF the society, he acting
/ Under teIcgraphlc instructions to that
effect Colonel Pope accepted this offer
and directed that the State of Texas aC-
company the expedition of General shat
ter to It's destination. Although this
order was fully understood by DR.. Egan,
the state of Texas did not accompany
the expedition, nor did it arrive at Sill
oney until the forces had been landed
battle fought and our hospital eS-
tablishcd and in working order The
first offers of aid made by this society
dealt largely in generalities and mani
Tested reluctance TO subordinate the
organization to the medical depart
! ment. Too much praise cannot b.
given to the individual efforts of DR.
| Lesser and the Red Cross nurses, ant
the assistance rendered by them was OF
great value.
In conclusion, it is desired to empha.
size the fact that the lamentable condi-
tions prevailing in the army before San
tiago were due to the military necessity
which threw troops on shore away from
the possibility of supply without medi'
cines, instruments, dressings or hos
pital stores of any kind.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Edward l.. Munson.
Captain and Assistant Surgeon. com
manding Reserve Ambulance corps.
Washington, Aug. 9.-General Shafter
in a report to the war department, EN-
phatically denies that he is responsible
for the inadequate provision made fol
the sick and wounded brought from
Santiago on the Seneca and Concho
Evervthing possible, he SAYS, was sem