The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-12
Fitzhugh Lee on the Staud.

sions to-day. In the forenoon Gen.
II. Y. BOynton concluded his testimony
which he had begun yesterday, and
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was heard in the
afternoon. Gen. Boynton dwelt to-day
on the causes of disease at Camp
Thomas, charging the increase toward
the close Of the camp to the lack OF
sufficient care on the part OF the regl-
mental and brigade commanders in
covering the sinks. He said there was
no foundation for any reasonable COM
plant in regard to food. He also de;
MED that there was any intentional
neglect in the hospitals. In discussing
with Capt. Howell the question of
rations supplied to Camp Thomas,
Gen. BOyntOn volunteered the sugges-
ton that there had been no complaints
from Southern soldiers in the camp,
"and," he continued, 81 do not believe
we would have heard half the outcry
! that has been raised if all the soldiers
had been from the South"
Gen. Dodge said that only two or
three charges had been received from
the South, and they were not from
soldiers.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee was before the
commission at its afternoon session. He
had no complaint to make in regard to
| the supplies. In June, while the eXpe-
ditions at Tampa were being gotten
Oft, there was some delay, but that was
natural, and since then supplies OF all
kinds had come with regularity and In
abundance. ,
"There have, of course" he said,
"been some complaints. Soldiers are
like school boys, they sometimes COM
plain even when there is no occasion
for complaint" He thought the army
ration was abundant, and in the main
well suited to a campaign in a tropical
climate. Yethe thought some changes
might be made. He was of the opinion
that il would be better to send live
animals to Cuba than to send refr1lge-
ratOr meat, as at present. According
| to his ideas the men should have more
fruit and less meat.
During the course of the questioning
it developed that Gen. Lee had been
notified that he would be expected to
move his corps to Cuba, in the vicinity
of Havana. and that he considered his
troops properly equipped for the cam
paign. :.
He considers the Spanish uniform
the better adapted. to a tropical climate
than ours, as it is cool and can be
washed. He was fearful that the shirts
and blOuseS of our men would be found
to be too heavy for comfort.
Gen. Lee made the Significant an
nOuncement that he was counting upon
landing in a friendly country, as he
had received direct information that
the American troops would be welcome
Il. I>,,f 1l1-f 10
Spaniards as well. He said that the
conservative and property owing Span
iards were especially desirous 10 have
the American troops come for the pre-
servatiOn Of order.
Speaking of his command, he SAID
that the health of his troops had been
good, only about 2 per cent being SICK.
He had insisted on a very thorough IN
spection of the camp and upon having
his forces thoroughly instructed by the ne
staff officers, who had practically
organized schools for that purpose.
He said the meat was received IN re-
frigerator cars and that as rule 1t was
good. In a few instances the outer
edge pieces of the meat were spoiled as
also tie hardtack in one or two cases.
A shipment of potatoes was reported to
be in bad condition, and board was
appointed, which condemned all the
goods. AS to the efficiency OF officers
appointed from civil life, Gen, Lee
said some of them learned duties very
promptly, others were very slow to
learn; others never learned, but ma
jority did. He believes that volunteers
would always become effective, espec-
tally when confronted by the enemy.
Governor Beaver read a letter COM
planning of the situation i'll the Jack
s0nville camp. The letter stated that
the camp was filthy, the bread nodded,
the doctors generally drunk, etc.
'Is that from my commando" Gen.
Lee asked in evident surprise.
He said he was astonished and asked
for the name of the author.
In this connection complaints had
come to him which he examined anq III
every case found them to be nnfounded.
"Then," said Governor Beaver, after
some further questioning, ''you con-
slider yourself in good condition IN
every way to start i'll the expedition to
Cubaw
Il do" replied Gen. Lee. ''T0uch a
button and we are prepared even to go
to Madrid"
He expressed the opinion that it WAS
impossible for any foreign troops to 90
any great amount OF campaigning III
the summer months on account OF the
heat. Not even the Spanish and Cuban
forces had ever been very active i'll the
summer season. He thought troops
going to Cuba should have ample pro-
lection against the sun. Complaints
against regimental surgeons were read
to the General from members OF the
4th Virginia volunteers, but he replied
that he could not speak definitely OF
the regimental doctors in this case.
Some Of them he knew were not as
competent as they should be. The
surgeons of higher rank were all COM
petent men.
Gen. Lee expressed the belief that
division hospitals were too large. lie
advocated brigade hospitals as 4 COM
promise between the division and regl-
mental hospitals. He expressed the
opinion that the site of the camp at
Jacksonville was we'll selected.
Capt. Howell asked Gen. Lee it he
considered that he had been side
tracked in the campaign. 81 don't
think So" he replied. 81 have from
time to time seen something IN the
newspapers to the effect that it was not
the intention Of the authorities that |
should have an opportunity for active
participation in the campaign. |. OF
course had no claim to go to Santiago
or Porto Rico, as other officers Ill the
army ranked me. 1t was always the
understanding that my corps was or,
ganized for the Havana campaign.
had some ambition to go there, because