The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-13
THE WAR INVESTIGATION.
GEN. GRAHAM ON THE CONDITIONS
Ar CAMPS lL0ER AND MEADE

Other Delloaoisa Auothsr-lTuoh of the
Suffering Due % the Ineniciency of
brigade and Regipsntal stan oHicers.
WARRINGTON. Oct. 12.-The War InvestiRa-
tlon Commission TO-DAY continued the exam
ination OF Maior-Gen. William NJ. Graham.
In answer to questions. Gen. Graham said
that there we're only two regiments encamped
in the woods at Camp Alger. and though he
objected to this, the rcgimental commanders
were sollcitous to be allowed TO remain. as It
afforded them shade. He stated his opinion
OF the cause OF Illness at Camp AlEer. The
atmospheric contact was one condition. The
ground was limited and the tents of. ~necessi-
ty were close together. causing tho men to
breathe the air from each others tents. The
lack Of bathing facilities was also mentioned.
This was partially remedied, however. and
men were marched seven miles from camp
for bathing once each week. Another cause
was the eating Of ice cream aud other deli
cacies. An instance was given OF one man
who ate Toe cream between 9 and z O'Clock In
the morning. and the next minute called for
q box OF sardines, Gen. Graham said he did
not know IL the man got the sardines or not.
Such food was purchased outside of the
camp from vendors.
The chief medical officer at Camp Alger.
0Ohs hAio buihAt Woo WI a. ~. OAAeAN
There was q general division hospital. and at
one time an order was issued for the estab-
lishment In addition OF small regimental hos
pitfalls. where a man taken suddenly Ill could
be treated. Gen. Graham approved Of the
division hospital system. rs 1t allowed the
chief medical officers to be in close contact
with oil cases. There was no lack OF medical
supplies. There were q lumber OF volunteer
medical officers. though. in regiments. who
were green and did not know what to do.
They had to be broken in.
The General Subsistence Department was
pronounced most efficient and the officers. as
a rule. were very attentive. But either through
Ignorance or inattention regimental commits
sary officers neglected their men. One COM
plaint:had gone to Secretary Alger that the
Third Virginia Regiment was living on salt
tiRated. and the Colonel In command said tho
men preferred salt meat TO fresh beef. Gen.
Graham said he informed the Colonel.that fresh
meat was required seven days out OF the ten.
Then he discovered that the men in the reRi-
ment did not know how to make out q ration
send at once to Dunn LorinR. at the depot
He learned several days later that the Third
at ali. This was an evidence that not much
Importance was, attached to the order. In an
other instance the commlssary officer OF the
Twenty second Kansas Regiment refused to
draw his supply Of fresh beef. He was told by
Capt. Little. the Depot Commissary. to draw
the meat and replied that he was not going to
do so until a saw was given him 70 saw 1t up:
This case was reported to the Secretary OF
War. who directed that the man be disci-
Gen. Graham described the use OF the diff
ferent arms In the service. and. said he thought
arm for recruits than the 30-calibre rife. The
tendency Of green soldiers is to fire at range
S AND With the w 11Fhte Iftt fsn e TSalif Tssse wish %ish
der DIRE. After, much practice the 3Q-callbre
the smoEeless powder Springfield was the bet
ter. ,Withithe 3O-calibre.Gun green troops could
Dr.. Connor Brought to Gen. Graham's at
tOntion q. report from DR.. Smart that the tents
were badly crowded. so much SO that bat
talions occupied space too small for COM
That is untrue said Gen. Graham.
,,R he s afd5m lite. ,t that the S sinks were to9 close.
did the surface drainage run into the
7 am sure that 1t did hot" Gen. Graham
of PhiIsdeiphia rslstins 70 the conditions ss sur,
rounding the Philadelphis City Troop. Mr..
RoTle said his son charged that the troop, was
decayed garbage left by an entire regi-
Gen. Graham said that Cart. Groome of the
made the selection himself. The Sixth ILL
nois had occupied, the site before that and they
the wood had to som extent deaied it. The
place was cleaned up. though, and some time
later. when Cen iraham offered Capt. Groome
Gen. Graham was asked about the neces-
1t was not justified by any Ill health
the troops or inDroper facilities; The re;
1aD Graham haliayad the nrdar wna Ipa
largely to, public clamor.. He did not know
hat the, change resulted in a decrease OF the
Gen. Graham testified that there was moth
ing that had not been done, for the comfort,
health and convenience Of the men at Camp
He paid a high tribute to the ability of Col.
Lusk. his engineer officer. who he said was
sick and is now in a hospital In Wash
Ington IL with typhoid fever.
Gen. Graham said that none Of the mem
life. but there were civilians on brigade and
regimental STATS. They were moi, all compe-
did not so develop, and were what might be-
termed as 'incorriRibles."
Did you report these incapable menP"
Why not9"
We'll. 1 see a great many instances where
| failed to do what l ought to have done and
l had It to do over / would do different and
Col. DENLY inquired of Gen, Graham what
he would recommend In the care OF
he sick. the organization Of camps. and what
in general he would make, The
irst recommendation Gen. Graham announced
that volunteer regiments be commanded
BY regular officers. In addition to this there
should be a regular ohicer or .reRlmental
staifs. Then the tactics should be changed
With respect to the organization Of the camps.
There is nothing. in the tactics to guide an
ohicer. Company-camps should be enlarged.
he intervals between tents should be greater:
There should be no less than five feet be.
,ween tents and seven feet between back and
back. Garbage should be eremated and wher-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. should be under regular
lrmy men: In the regular service the SEQ
-etary OF War appoints these men. but In the
army the EegImental, commanders
had the selection, He believed the appoint
nent Of regular cooks g Companies would
ness was. caused by the soldiers eating pastry
md candles. He related an experiehce of
OF the men In Troop A Of New York,
The men In that troop had an excellent social
in New York. and one day some la
Hes drove up to their camp ip a carriage and
The men entered their tents and emerged |
with their hands full Of candy. |
The second case Of typhoid fever DEVELOPED
n.E-. ia uo-.l.tk -