The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-30
RegfmentaI Officers Criticised and
Their Men Blamed for Not Prop
erIy Caring for Themselves.
NO SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES
AN AVERAGE OF 100000 RATIONS
CONSTANTLY ON HAND.
Army Investigating Commission Di-
vided, and to visit Lexington
and Knoxville This Week.


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Oct 29.-Maj
Edward t. Comegys was the first witness
before the war investigating commission to-
day. He was medical purveyor here dur
ing the life of Camp Thomas. He stated
there never had been any delay in filling his
acquisitions on the surgeon general and that
he had always been able to meet all requi-
stions upon himself. Major Comegys adj
mitted that he had refused to fill some
acquisitions from the hospital CT the Second
Division of the Third Corps, because he was
satisfied the articles demanded were not
needed. He accounted for the sickness in
Camp Thomas by saying the men did not
know how to take care of themselves
''They seemed to Think he said, that when
they had put on the uniforms there was
nothing else to do; that they could simply
enjoy themselves, and their officers would
do the rest He thought the colonies and
regimental surgeons were to blame.
Lieut. James NJ. Arrasmith who acted as
chief commissary of subsistence for Camp
Thomas, said that while in the beginning
there had been some congestion on the
transportation lines there had never been
any shortage of supplies. There was con-
stantly on hand an average of 100000 ra-
tons. The rations were the best he ever
saw in his experience. He thought the
principal trouble in regard to rations was
in the matter of cooking. Lieutenant ARA
smith also said the sinks were very badly
cared for, and that the stencil in the camp
at night was simply sitting. He also said
discipline was very slack. The witness con-
sidered Chickamauga a natural camping
site, but that there were more men in it
than there should have been. Some of the
volunteer regiments never took down their
tents during their entire stay, and there
was general negligence of cleanliness and
sanitation. He did not accept the theory
that the formation of the ground was such
that sinks could not be made deep enough.
There was, he said, a general improvement
in the camp after General Breckenridge took
command.
Drs. Baxter and Boyd, local physicians,
were called to testify in regard to the case
of Sergeant Frank, who died here during the
summer as the result of a railroad accident
Dr. Baxter said that, notwithstanding the
man was in a state of profound shock after
the accident. DR.. Samuel d. Hubbard, sur
geon of the regiment, insisted upon remov-
ing the wounded man to Chickamauga Park
Frank died on the way out, as he predicted
he would. DIR. Baxter told of one train of
Wisconsin sick which he had seen on its
way home, without medical officer or
medical supplies
The commission closed It's sitting here to-
night by hearing the testimony of some res
luents, stating their observation of the con-
oltion at Chlckamauga Park while the
troops were there and giving their conclu-
SONS as to the causes of the sickness Of
the soldiers. They defended the climate as
salubrious and healthful, and generally at
trlbuted the prevalence of disease to the
habits or the volunteers.
AT midnight General Dodge's private car
was detached from the special train to per-
NIT the latter to depart for Knoxville, with
all the commissioners on board except Gen.
Dodge, Colonel Sexton and Dr. Conner.
These three members of the commission re-
when they will leave here for lexington,
KY, proceeding thence to- Cincinnati, Chi
cage and Detroit. and taking testimony at
each place in turn, They will probably oe
at Lexington Monday and Tuesday. The
majority of the commission expect to spend
those two days at Knoxville and then pro-
coed to Washington direct.
Edward Belts, engineer of the Chick
an.sesa PARK tonnilsslon, to-day gave the
particulars of the establishment of the
water supply system of the park for the
army, including the digging of wells and the
timony. included number of reports upon
the subject He said there was an ample
supply of water for the troops at all times,
1900 more troops on the pipe line
J. c, Howell. railroad station agent told
of instance in which ffty-four sick men.
being part of Wisconsin command. had
been placed on train and started to their
homes, without medical supplies physi-
clans and without furloughS or transpOrta-
ton papers. They were taken off the train
at Chattanooga and their wants admins
tered to by members of the relief societies.
Ira ]. Haines, a private, acting as mem
Der of the hospital corps. who said he had
been a practicing physician in Louisville,
KY, for eight years, was examined on the
lines of communication he had sent to the
commission. In this communication he had
charged that patients had been treated for
" n haU 10 n1xy bod
TENTS, and he gave the name of Vincent
Flora. of the Third Illinois, as one of them,
this. he said, being as plain a case of pneu-
pressed, he modified his. statements, saying
that he had had no consultations with the
said, however, that he considered some of
the physicians incompetent He also
charged that appointments were made in the
hospital upon political influence.
Captains Daniel E. Mccarthy and M. G..
Zalinski, of the quartermasters depot at
this point, gave testimony as to the conduct
tration of this department had been as eff
ficient as could have been expected under
had charge of the issuance Of clothing, said
it had been impossible in some cases to sup
ply certain sizes of clothing. but that other
wise the men had been well supplied.
DR.. F. b. Stapp. a local physician, de-
tailed a visit to the hospital of the Second
Division of the Third Corps in August, say
ing he had found it overcrowded and dirty,
and with no physicians in attendance at the
time. DR.. Stapp said he had seen a great
deal of drunkenness among the soldiers in
the city. but that he had never heard of
any especial effort to close the saloons and
other places of vice. He had seen drunken
sure much of the sickness at Camp Thomas
was due TO the habits of the men.
HAS COST 2.9O6 LIVES.
American Losses In Camp and ON