The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-16
It WAS A DIFFICULT TASK
Volunteers Brought Antiquities
Equipment to Camp Thomas.
A PARSIMONIOUS P0LICr
General Brooke Testifies Before the Wa
Investigation Commission-Made
sDaily Inspsction-One Hos
pitsl Condemned.

Washington. Dec. 15.-Major General
j. r. Brooke testified before the war
investigation commission to-day that
most Of the volunteers at Camp Thomas
came supposedly with ten days rations.
but this was the so-called field ration
and at first they were hungry. This
was remedied by the commissary de-
partment quite promptly. The volun-
teers were supplied with all sorts OF
tentage. most OF il antiquated. their
uniforms were old and their equipment
i'm general was waat had been accum-
ulated through the parsimouious policy
of the war department throughout the
preceding % years" Some were un-
armed and some in their citizens cloth
ing with only one blanket.
The whole energies of the command
ing officer were bent on equipping this
heterogeneous mass OF men, but the
work was necessarily slow. Early in
June the commanding general was or
dered TO send eight OF the best equipped
regiments TO Tampa and TO do this. IL
was necessary to strip some OF the reg
iments to help out others. Even with
this expedient, some of the regiments
left for Tampa poorly equipped. Cen
eral Brooke noticed the 18th Indiana
regiment. which left camp with Its
belts tied together with strings. The
war department at this time had ex-
hausted all the canvas and tentage in
the country. Canteens. knives. forks.
cups and the like. were also short and
this condition he said. continued practi-
cally Up to the end OF his adnnistra-
ton a Camp Thomas. General Brooke
said that he had nothing to do with the
selection OF the camp ground. but. being
assigned there, he made IL his busi-
ness To look after the water supply and
70 see that the necessary sanitary reg
ulations were promulgated and en-
forced. He made personal inspections
as frequently as his time would permit
| and made strenuous efforts to regulate
the entrance OF hucksters to the camp
and as a result of this. he said that the
sick report fell OFF from thirty to fifty
| per cent.
| Il deem II proper to say" continued
| General Brooke, in controversfon Of
certain reports that have heard that
I did inspect the camp sites and kitch-
ems continually.
US. said General Dodge, that you did
this frequently
1T was more than frequently" said
General Brooke. 1t was daily"
General Brooke said that there were
in the beginning great many COM
| UldlniS OF OF fntQlclntS.
| that the armv had abundant food sup
plies. The army of the Potomac in
1861. he said was not nearly so well
supplied. While there was some short
| age in shoes and some varieties OF
| clothing at times. IL was only what
might have been expected when three
armies were being rushed to equip
/ ment. at three points. Chattanooga.
| Tampa and san Francisco. He en-
phatically denied a statement by one
of his staff officers that the headauar-
ter's camp was in distinctly filthy
condition.
Speaking OF the hospitals. General
I Brooke said: In Justice to mvself
should say that the location OF the first
division hospital was not of my own
selection. l left this to Colone! Hart
sun. my chief surgeon. and II was the
one location | condemned. | visited
this hospital and il was working badly.
due probably to the surgeon directly In
charge"
General Brooke testified that he gave
his personal attention to the sinks. the
care Of the camps. the striking of tents.
policing the sinks. etc. and by this
means got things under control
| Governor Beaver read a report from
James Parker sanitary inspector of the
l2th New York volunteers. detailing
an unprintable and Disgusting state
of sanitary affairs at Camp Thomas
during General BrOo<es administrs-
ton and General Brooke was asked
what he had to say regarding IL.
Il will say" he replied. that IL IL
not only not true. but n you will give
me a copy of that report. will see that
that young man goes before court
martial for those statements unless he
is protected i'm his testimony by this
| commission"